Lunatic 'Fringe'

The first season of “Fringe” was an aimless knock-off of “The X-Files.” Its story arc was indistinct. Its single-episode plots lacked spice. The character development was so inconsistent that the story nearly deflated before it got off the ground.

The second season was better, but it was still bogged down by filler episodes.

But the third season was a knock-out punch. It began with episodes that alternated between two parallel universes and two parallel sets of characters — a set-up that in less capable hands would’ve given the audience televisual whiplash. The plot kicked into high gear while the characters came into their own, and each episode had such a slick visual style that the images alone were a joy to watch. From opening to finale, season three is TV sci-fi at its best.

The DVD set comes with a handful of engrossing featurettes and a quirky gag reel that suggests that the cast and crew of “Fringe” enjoyed making the show as much as its audience enjoyed watching it.