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For the uninitiated, fringe science is scientific inquiry that departs significantly from mainstream theories. It is classified in the fringes scientific theory and very rarely turns out to be plausible. To put it in perspective though, plate tectonics was once considered fringe science. This concept is a fertile idea for a serial such as Fringe and it allows J.J. Abrams and crew to tap into some very interesting areas of scientific theory and science fiction while playing with our post traumatic fears from 9/11.

Fringe’s pilot serves as an introductory lesson in fringe science for FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) when a mysterious plane lands in Logan Airport carrying a flesh eating toxin. I never thought I would see the day when a man’s jaw rots off and falls to the floor on network television, but leave it to Fox. In order to solve the mystery of the “oh my god I’m melting!” toxin and save another agent that is infected with it, Dunham goes into research mode and delves into a list of scientists who previously have worked with such chemicals. This path eventually leads to fringe science expert and recent mental patient Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his hapless son Peter (Joshua Jackson). Noble does a great job as the insane yet sympathetic Dr. Fringenstein. He provides the show with a much needed dynamic and also serves up handfuls exposition in very digestible helpings. Sadly his son Peter at this point is kind of a mook. Jackson does what he can with the character and he brings all of his drinker’s face charm to it. But the character’s bad boy image feels a little forced and serves no point other than being a conduit to his father and a bland character the 18-49 male demographic can identify with. At least he doesn’t guzzle red bull and participate in the X-games.

The writers of Fringe must not be lacking any ideas of where they want the series to go. So many concepts are thrown at the screen in the 90 minute pilot that it feels like three seasons of Lost all rolled into one. The “everything…and oh yeah we’ll take that kitchen sink too” writing style is meant to get the viewers’ mouth wet with anticipation for what is to come, but it occasionally overwhelms the narrative. We are introduced into a world that is so foreign so quickly I would be surprised if it didn’t isolate some viewers and leave them wishing they took the blue pill.

That’s why I bring Lost up, not just because J.J. Abrams is a key player in both shows. Lost skillfully eased the viewer into a very hard to swallow environment rife with science fiction elements. The general public was tricked into watching a sci-fi show because they were enveloped in the mystery. The last show that lived and died by that sword was “Twin Peaks” and as soon as the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer was solved it lost its entire fan base and was cancelled. “Lost” learned from that mistake.

Fringe however is choosing to focus on the sci-fi elements first and mystery second. I’m not sure how welcoming the audience is going to be to all this super-science being bandied about without a sufficient bread crumb trail of mystery for it to swallow. The stage is set for chat board conspiracy theorists though. The introduction of Massive Dynamics (Lockheed Lockheed Martin Marietta!) assures that. Massive Dynamics is a giant corporation that specializes in everything that is anything, including the fringiest of fringe science. If this entity is developed well enough, (think Hanso Foundation from Lost) Fringe may have many a season ahead of it.

Ultimately the pilot is a success. It sets up the general X-Files mystery a week structure that the show will take on (please no baseball playing aliens) and provides the viewer with enough gore, action, humor and popcorn spectacle to keep their eye holes temporarily satisfied. The show needs to be careful to pay attention to the tepid needs of the general public while not losing the interest of confessed “Battlestar Galactica” fans though. Even with its faults, Fringe is without a doubt the best new show on this season. It presents almost limitless storyline possibilities and provides us characters that are sure to evolve and change as the shows narrative twists and turns. We have a lot of super-science to look forward to in the oncoming months.

Go Team Venture!