Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)
First Aired: September 8, 2008
The first episode is always important, no matter the show, but Fringe's pilot is especially so due to how often the rest of the show refers back to it, even past the first season. It's Olivia-heavy (before she was a real character), but does well to leave an impact and a driving vision for what this show would become.
The first episode is always important, no matter the show, but Fringe's pilot is especially so due to how often the rest of the show refers back to it, even past the first season. It's Olivia-heavy (before she was a real character), but does well to leave an impact and a driving vision for what this show would become.
The Arrival (Season 1, Episode 4)
First Aired: September 30, 2008
The first so-called "mythology episode," The Arrival heralds the...well arrival of the Observer into the storyline, and his interaction with Peter near the conclusion had the same effect on me as it did the younger Bishop: I had to know more.
The first so-called "mythology episode," The Arrival heralds the...well arrival of the Observer into the storyline, and his interaction with Peter near the conclusion had the same effect on me as it did the younger Bishop: I had to know more.
Ability (Season 1, Episode 14)
First Aired: February 10, 2009
The episode prior to this, "In Which We Meet Mr. Jones," is very good and helps understand the still-burgeoning ZFT plot, but it's this episode that sees it hit the next level, and along with introducing Olivia's Cortexiphan storyline, serves to usher in the first season-spanning plotline in the show's run. Plus, it's really good.
Inner Child (Season 1, Episode 15)
First Aired: April 7, 2009
Inarguably the weakest of the Season 1 episodes highlighted here, this episode is important because it introduces the Observer Child (whom Season 5 viewers know as Michael), a long-dormant plotline suddenly brought back up in time for the finale. That being said, this is a good example of a stand-alone Fringe episode, and it helps flesh out Olivia's character a little more, something the first season desperately needed.
Inarguably the weakest of the Season 1 episodes highlighted here, this episode is important because it introduces the Observer Child (whom Season 5 viewers know as Michael), a long-dormant plotline suddenly brought back up in time for the finale. That being said, this is a good example of a stand-alone Fringe episode, and it helps flesh out Olivia's character a little more, something the first season desperately needed.
Bad Dreams (Season 1, Episode 17)
First Aired: April 21, 2009
By most counts, this is the first truly great episode in this show's run. Expanding the Cortexiphan storyline while simultaneously bringing an intriguing, mysterious and satisfying mystery plot, this is the standard which the rest of the first season aspires to.
By most counts, this is the first truly great episode in this show's run. Expanding the Cortexiphan storyline while simultaneously bringing an intriguing, mysterious and satisfying mystery plot, this is the standard which the rest of the first season aspires to.
The Road Not Taken (Season 1, Episode 19)
First Aired: May 5, 2009
The unofficial first part of the Season 1 finale, The Road Not Taken manages to tie together the seemingly disparate ZFT and Cortexiphan plots, while deftly doing away with the regrettable Agent Harris plot (the less said about that character, the better). What makes it even more impressive is the way it just sort of sneaks in the alternate universe stuff, which would come to be the trademark of the show in Season 2.
The unofficial first part of the Season 1 finale, The Road Not Taken manages to tie together the seemingly disparate ZFT and Cortexiphan plots, while deftly doing away with the regrettable Agent Harris plot (the less said about that character, the better). What makes it even more impressive is the way it just sort of sneaks in the alternate universe stuff, which would come to be the trademark of the show in Season 2.
There's More Than One of Everything (Season 1, Episode 20)
First Aired: May 12, 2009
Continuing that thread, the Season 1 finale accepts the challenge that alternate universe sideplots seem to pose to sci-fi shows, and does it so suddenly and confidently that to this day, the final shot of this episode remains one of my favorite in any episode of television. Also, Leonard Nimoy shows up.
Continuing that thread, the Season 1 finale accepts the challenge that alternate universe sideplots seem to pose to sci-fi shows, and does it so suddenly and confidently that to this day, the final shot of this episode remains one of my favorite in any episode of television. Also, Leonard Nimoy shows up.
Momentum Deferred (Season 2, Episode 4)
First Aired: October 8, 2009
Grey Matters (Season 2, Episode 10)
First Aired: December 10, 2009
Jacksonville (Season 2, Episode 15)
First Aired: February 4, 2010
Peter (Season 2, Episode 16)
First Aired: April 1, 2010
White Tulip (Season 2, Episode 18)
First Aired: April 15, 2010
The Man From the Other Side (Season 2, Episode 19)
First Aired: April 22, 2010
Over There, Parts 1 and 2 (Season 2, Episodes 22/23)
First Aired: May 13 and 20, 2010
Olivia (Season 3, Episode 1)
First Aired: September 23, 2010
The Plateau (Season 3, Episode 3)
First Aired: October 7, 2010
Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep? (Season 3, Episode 4)
First Aired: October 14, 2010
Entrada (Season 3, Episode 8)
First Aired: December 2, 2010
Subject 13 (Season 3, Episode 15)
First Aired: February 25, 2011
The Last Sam Weiss (Season 3, Episode 21)
First Aired: April 29, 2011
The Day We Died (Season 3, Episode 22)
First Aired: May 6, 2011
One Night in October (Season 4, Episode 2)
First Aired: September 30, 2011
Subject 9 (Season 4, Episode 4)
First Aired: October 14, 2011
And Those We've Left Behind (Season 4, Episode 6)
First Aired: November 11, 2011
Back to Where You've Never Been (Season 4, Episode 8)
First Aired: January 13, 2012
Welcome to Westfield (Season 4, Episode 12)
First Aired: February 20, 2012
Letters of Transit (Season 4, Episode 19)
First Aired: April 20, 2012
Worlds Apart (Season 4, Episode 20)
First Aired: April 27, 2012
Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11 (Season 5, Episode 1)
First Aired: September 28, 2012
The Bullet that Saved the World (Season 5, Episode 4)
First Aired: October 26, 2012
An Origin Story (Season 5, Episode 5)
First Aired: November 2, 2012
Through the Looking Glass and What Walter Found There (Season 5, Episode 6)
First Aired: November 9, 2012
Five-Twenty-Ten (Season 5, Episode 7)
First Aired: November 16, 2012
The Human Kind (Season 5, Episode 8)
First Aired: December 7, 2012
Anomaly XB-6783746 (Season 5, Episode 10)
First Aired: December 21, 2012
Honorable Mention
The Equation (Season 1, Episode 8)
First Aired: November 18, 2008
Safe (Season 1, Episode 10)
First Aired: December 2, 2008
Safe (Season 1, Episode 10)
First Aired: December 2, 2008
Earthling (Season 2, Episode 6)
First Aired: November 5, 2009
August (Season 2, Episode 8)
First Aired: November 19, 2009
Snakehead (Season 2, Episode 9)
First Aired: December 3, 2009
What Lies Below (Season 2, Episode 13)
First Aired: January 21, 2010
Olivia. In the Lab. With the Revolver (Season 2, Episode 17)
First Aired: April 8, 2010
Northwest Passage (Season 2, Episode 21)
First Aired: May 6, 2010
The Abducted (Season 3, Episode 7)
First Aired: November 18, 2010
Marionette (Season 3, Episode 9)
First Aired: December 9, 2010
Firefly (Season 3, Episode 10)
First Aired: January 21, 2011
Reciprocity (Season 3, Episode 11)
First Aired: January 28, 2011
Stowaway (Season 3, Episode 17)
First Aired: March 18, 2011
Neither Here Nor There (Season 4, Episode 1)
First Aired: September 23, 2011
Enemy of My Enemy (Season 4, Episode 9)
First Aired: January 20, 2012
The End of All Things (Season 4, Episode 14)
First Aired: February 24, 2012
Everything in Its Right Place (Season 4, Episode 17)
First Aired: April 6, 2012
Brave New World, Part 1 and 2 (Season 4, Episode 21/22)
First Aired: May 4 and 11, 2012
