Fringe
Deep worldbuildingDense lore that rewards immersion.This show: 8/10Mystery boxCentral riddles sustained across whole seasons.This show: 8/10SerializedContinuous arcs where every episode builds on the last.This show: 8/10Intellectual challengeRewards close attention and theorizing.This show: 7/10Genius leadExceptional intellect as the protagonist's engine.This show: 7/10Space & sci-fiSpace, aliens and grand-scale science fiction.This show: 7/10TenseSustained suspense and pressure from start to finish.This show: 7/10
Rate this series
Starring
Anna TorvJoshua JacksonJohn NobleJasika NicoleLance ReddickBlair Brown
Written by
J.J. AbramsAlex KurtzmanRoberto OrciChristine Lavaf
Starring
Anna TorvJoshua JacksonJohn NobleJasika NicoleLance ReddickBlair Brown
Written by
J.J. AbramsAlex KurtzmanRoberto OrciChristine Lavaf
Ratings per Episode
Votes per Episode
Fringe Episode Ratings Heatmap
| Avg | E1 | E2 | E3 | E4 | E5 | E6 | E7 | E8 | E9 | E10 | E11 | E12 | E13 | E14 | E15 | E16 | E17 | E18 | E19 | E20 | E21 | E22 | E23 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.1 | ||||
| S2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 6.8 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 9.2 | |
| S3 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 9.0 | ||
| S4 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.9 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.7 | ||
| S5 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
Download Infographic
About
"Weird science procedural that grows a soul"
An FBI agent teams up with an institutionalized genius scientist and his estranged son to investigate a wave of bizarre, biologically impossible crimes tied to a mysterious pattern of events. What begins as a moody X-Files-style case-of-the-week show gradually reveals a sprawling mythology involving parallel universes, fate, and family. The first stretch is uneven, but the show deepens considerably, anchored by a magnetic performance as the damaged, brilliant Walter Bishop. It rewards patience, mixing genuine scientific creepiness with surprising emotional weight between its three leads.
Watch it for
the transformation of Walter Bishop from comic-relief mad scientist into the show's emotional core.
Maybe skip if
you need a tight, fast payoff and can't sit through a shaky, procedural-heavy first season.
Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.
All Seasons
▶
Season 12008
8.064K2018h 39m
As the first season begins, FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is called in to investigate a mysterious outbreak that nearly kills her partner. The only person with any answers is an institutionalized scientist, Dr. Walter Bishop who can only be released under the care of his estranged son. Together, the three discover that the answer to this mystery is only a small piece of a much larger, more shocking truth.
▶
Season 22009
8.364K2316h 41m
Unable to police a world in which science has advanced beyond our wildest dreams — and nightmares — FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham seeks help from brilliant but damaged scientist Dr. Walter Bishop and his estranged son with a dark past, Peter. Under the direction of Agent Phillip Broyles, they solve gruesome mysteries and prevent imminent attacks.
▶
Season 32010
8.352K2217h 47m
Season three continues the rabbit-hole journey of three unlikely souls — FBI Agent Olivia Dunham, Fringe Scientist Walter Bishop and his jack-of-all-trades son Peter — through mind-bending investigations, parallel realities and threats growing in the borderlands between science and the unimaginable.
▶
Season 42011
8.249K2216h 2m
The fourth season of the American science fiction television series Fringe premiered on Fox on September 23, 2011 and concluded on May 11, 2012, consisting of 22 episodes. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. The show was officially renewed for a fourth season on March 24, 2011.
▶
Season 52012
8.529K139h 8m
Season five picks up from events depicted in season four's flash-forward episode the seemingly peaceful Observers seized control of our universe in 2015. Now, in 2036, they have become ruthless rulers who stand unopposed. What awaits in the future, however, is the Fringe Team's final stand to protect our world.
Full Cast & Crew
Cast
Anna Torv Olivia Dunham, Alternate Olivia Dunham, William Bell
Joshua Jackson Peter Bishop
John Noble Dr. Walter Bishop, Walternate
Jasika Nicole Astrid Farnsworth, Alternate Astrid Farnsworth, Esther Figglesworth
Lance Reddick Phillip Broyles, Alternate Phillip Broyles
Blair Brown Nina Sharp, Alternate Nina Sharp
Michael Cerveris The Observer, September, Gemini
Kirk Acevedo Charlie Francis, Alternate Charlie Francis
Seth Gabel Lincoln Lee, Alternate Lincoln Lee
Ryan McDonald Brandon Fayette, Alternate Brandon Fayette
Crew
J.J. Abrams
Alex Kurtzman
Roberto Orci
Christine Lavaf
Jeff Pinkner
Similar Series
Popular picks Shows that people who know this one usually know too. From our AI taste analysis.
Our recommendations Specific picks with the reason, including shows you may not have heard of. From our AI taste analysis.
Counterpart
35K 20 2017–2019
parallel-universe espionage with same melancholic sci-fi tone
Travelers
73K 34 2016–2018
time-travel conspiracy thriller with emotional character focus
Continuum
67K 42 2012–2015
time-bending procedural with a shadowy conspiracy backbone
Utopia
56K 12 2013–2014
UK conspiracy thriller with unsettling sci-fi undertones
Flashforward
63K 23 2009–2010
network-era mystery serial with a fringe-science mystery box
The Glades
16K 49 2010–2013
British genre-bending mystery mixing horror and quiet dread
The Fades
7K 7 2011–2011
British genre-bending mystery mixing horror and quiet dread
Almost Human
54K 13 2013–2014
J.H. Wyman follow-up with near-future noir mystery vibes
Close in taste Nearest neighbors in our taste profile comparison: shared tone, themes and style.