‘Fringe’ stays far from the edge

At its heart, “Fringe” is a show about the unknown and the many different ways it can kill you.

The show’s first episode carefully crafts the “Fringe” universe, but the show runs into problems with what does in that universe.

Too often, episodes devolve into “monster of the week” affairs. Sometimes the show is scary, but rarely are the scares more than “gotcha” moments.

“Fringe” hits its stride during the second half of season one, with increased focus on “The Pattern,” a series of incidents linked together by the appearance of Fringe science.

“Fringe” works best when the science is at the center and the audience is given the chance to be amazed.

It’s worth noting that while the special features are the typical behind-the-scenes fare, each disk is filled with them. For the diehard fan, each featurette offers an insight into a particular episode or special effect. 

Season one of  “Fringe” delivers a solid thrill ride.

Hopefully season two does more than just thrill us with empty scares.