I should preface this piece by saying that previewing new shows based on pilots is never a perfect art. Often the show will undergo many alterations, from storylines to music and characters - sometimes major re-casting - before finally making it to screen.

That said, pilots should serve as a very good indication of whether the series is a hit or a miss. After all, international broadcasters often make the decision whether to buy a show based on what they see in this draft version.

It is somewhat regretfully, therefore, that I pass judgment on JJ. Abrams new series Fringe as "less-than-overwhelming".



The show, in case you missed Tube Talk's advance preview earlier this year, is about the spread of unexplained phenomena from the world of "fringe science". Things like mind control, invisibility, teleportation, re-animation... all the good sci-fi ingredients of shows such as Heroes and the similarly-themed X-Files.

It's easy to see, then, why expectations are so high. JJ should be able to have a field day with this stuff, effortlessly taking us from wanting to scratch our brains out with the latest storyline twist, to wetting our pants in terror as a horrific event occurs. Yet after watching the two hour pilot, my brain was sadly still in its rightful place and indeed, my underwear was still dry.

It just didn't quite work for me.

So what went wrong? Well, the show ticked all of its necessary boxes. A big budget opening scene set on a troubled passenger flight. A government conspiracy. Male and female leads who butt heads but are destined to end up together. Colleagues with hidden agendas. Witty dialogue making light of an awful situation.

These boxes were ticked, but only for the sake of ticking them. There was little cohesion between, none of the magic glue that makes a great TV show, nor spark that still keeps you interested when the pace slows. It's what Simon Cowell might call 'The X Factor'. As much as I willed myself to get into this, I couldn't quite manage it.

As regular readers know, I'm a particular fan of Mr Abrams. Cloverfield rocked my socks. Alias was sublime. Lost continues to astound. But Fringe? I expected better.

Have you seen Fringe yet? What did you think? Click the link below to add your comments to this entry!