With the epic island drama that was Lost now over (it breaks my heart), I’ve been wondering what could possibly serve as a satisfying, meaningful and entertaining replacement. Luckily for me I already know the answer since I’ve been following this show just as passionately since it started back in 2008. That’s right, FRINGE, is the natural successor to the Lost throne.
Now, I’m not saying that Fringe will ever be as big as Lost (nor am I ruling it out), but in terms of filling the gap left by it’s sister show (both are under Bad Robot), Fringe is by far the best mystery/mythology/character show on network television. I don’t say this lightly, but last season there were times when Fringe regularly outdid Lost in terms of storytelling and entertainment, and whatever you may think of Lost‘s final few episodes, I think that is some achievement for a show that was in its second season.
Below the jump I offer FOUR reasons why Fringe can replace Lost.
1. Fringe already has an established and passionate fanbase. This fanbase will surely increase now the show has found its voice and other serialized/mythology show’s, such as Lost, Heroes and others, have ended. Many of those fans will be looking for a suitable replacement, and looking at the 2010/11 broadcast line-up, Fringe is certainly leading the pack in my eyes.
2. Mystery Fix: While Fringe isn’t quite as dense with mythology and mystery as Lost, it definitely uses these aspects to amplify the character stories. Lost kept audiences guessing “what will happen next!?”, and Fringe draws from a similar creative slant. This type of storytelling encourages fan participation which ensures that the show is continually being talked about and dissected. If Lost set the benchmark, Fringe isn’t far behind.
3. Characters to care about. One of the amazing things about Lost was that it had a sprawling cast of characters from many different walks of life, cultures, backgrounds and circumstances. These characters were not only interesting in their own right, but they captured and represented a diverse audience.
People could identify with Locke’s search for mysticism in spite of adversity, or Jack’s struggle to let go of rationality, or Sayid’s bid for redemption, or Michael’s desire to get his kid to a better place. These characters, who were thrown into fantastical and testing conditions, were our proxies into the world of the show.
Fringe, while having a smaller cast, is also blessed with sympathetic and endearing characters. In many ways Fringe trumps Lost in character exploration – particularly when it comes to Walter Bishop and Olivia Dunham. Fringe focuses on the human aspect in almost every beat of the story – the actions and consequences of human decisions are never far from the narrative, along with themes of redemption, faith, science, identity, alternate universes, and more. These themes are tightly wound around the characters and provide an emotional anchor for the show. Honestly, I’m not sure character will ever top my love for John Locke or Benjamin Linus when it comes to epic TV characters, but Walter and Olivia are both beautiful and tragic characters that have me invested in their individual and collective journeys.
4. If Lost was a risk-taker, Fringe is a dare-devil. The island drama took risks through narrative choices and extended universe elements, while Fringe never fails to do SOMETHING out of the ordinary several times per season. While I don’t always agree with the risks that Fringe takes (the musical episode turned out OK in the end, but it’s not something I’d like to see happen again), the show earns respect through its boldness and fortitude. Fringe is not a show that stays in its comfort zone – if there’s a way to open up the story or further engage the audience, then it is a consideration. There’s an element of danger in doing this, but don’t we all watch with those risks in mind?
What do you think – can Fringe fill the gap left by Lost?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post, Roco. I really enjoyed reading the things you had to say about Fringe and how it can be a suitable replacement now that Lost is no more (and, by the way, I just want to add that you've been coping with the end of Lost much better than I expected you to do!).
Can Fringe fill the gap left by Lost? That's an interesting question. I still haven't watched Lost… Truthfully, I'm intimidated by it… But that's a different matter. Putting that aside, I agree with your belief that Fringe is a very logical show for Lost fans to turn to. Of course, Fringe will never replace Lost. Fringe is its own show, not another Lost. So any Lost fans who decide to try Fringe will have to keep that in mind. It won't do them any good to try and compare Fringe to Lost, because they'll constantly be dissatisfied that the characters are different and the stories are told differently, etc. I have no problem with people who like Lost — even if they claim Lost is better than Fringe. But when Lost fans start talking about how Fringe pales in comparison and will never live up to the same level as Lost, and is only failing in an attempt to copy the success of Lost, that bugs me. They have to at least be willing to give it a chance. I think if Lost fans will try out Fringe with an open mind, they will find that it can be just as compelling, intriguing, and entertaining as Lost was.
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Hi mlj, thanks for your comment.
(I think I've surprised myself too! I guess I accepted that it was coming to an end some time ago – and Fringe has also helped. I do miss it though
).
You make good points. Fringe definitely has its own thing going on. Creatively, I feel that both shows are similar, but it would be a mistake for Lost fans to think that Fringe is another “Lost” – as you said, they may be disappointed if they approach it in that way.
I adore Lost but I've been impressed by the evolution of Fringe over the past two years and have come to appreciate that the show has done some things better than Lost, especially during season 2. I agree that if Lost fans are open to a different story and style, then Fringe could be just the ticket they are looking for.
P.S. I hope you give Lost a try sometime though – I agree that it can be intimidating, especially with 6 seasons under its belt and the rather dense mythology. It would be great to hear your thoughts on the show and its characters if ever you do manage to watch it – I think you'd like the character aspect in particular!
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So, I thought I should tell you that I finally got around to watching the Pilot for Lost. I've been meaning to do that for awhile and your recommendation finally gave me the incentive to actually do it. That, and the fact that I figured that if I expect Lost fans to give Fringe a chance, then I should be willing to give Lost a chance. And I thought it would be best to do that while the first five seasons are all still available on Hulu.
Anyway, I have to say I like it so far and I'm definitely intrigued. I'm not sure that I agree with the popular opinion that the Lost Pilot is the most incredible thing ever and has set the standard for what all Pilot episodes should be like. It was definitely good, I'm just not convinced that it's the best Pilot ever. I know a lot of people compared the Fringe Pilot to the Lost Pilot and claimed that the Fringe Pilot failed to meet the same excellence that the Lost Pilot delivered. I don't think I agree with that. I think the Fringe Pilot was pretty amazing and I would go as far as to say that the two are equally as good.
I agree that the characters are all fascinating and they're all portrayed really well. I like Jack, though I imagine everyone is supposed to like him. I also really like Kate… something about her is just very likable, though I'm quite intrigued by the mysterious, criminal past that has been implied. Charlie is rather amusing, Locke is quirky and I'm not really sure what to think of him yet, and Sawyer is obnoxious and annoying.
It also has several really good themes that are evident, even from the beginning, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they elaborate on those.
In general, I'm still somewhat skeptical and cautious about it. While I pretty much like it all right now, I'm worried that it gets rather complicated and complex and loses some of the “magical quality” in the later seasons. A lot of reviews I've seen seem to claim that the first two or three seasons are really great, but people lost interest in the later seasons because it got to be too much and too hard to follow and there weren't enough answers. So I'm proceeding, though rather cautiously.
I'm wondering if there's a Lost website that you would recommend. I'm sure there are plenty of sites out there, so I figured you would know where the best ones are. I'm not planning to dive in too deeply to everything, but I would enjoy reading some well written reviews for the episodes as I watch them. So, essentially I guess I'm looking for the Lost equivalent of Fringebloggers. Any suggestions?
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Hey mlj, it's great to see that you've decided to give Lost a chance!
To be honest, I'm in the camp that believes the Lost Pilot is one of the best TV show Pilots of the past decade, but I would also say that it grows in value with the following episodes and even seasons. I wont say too much as I don't want to spoil you or give you any expectations!
Like you, I also thought the Fringe pilot was pretty great – although in retrospect would disagree somewhat with those who say that it's similar to the Lost pilot. The only real similarities are that they both involved plane disasters and contained several eastereggs. Other than that, the style and tone I find to be very different. Personally I would say that the Lost pilot is better than the Fringe pilot because it's more mysterious and expansive, but that's not to dismiss what the Fringe opener achieved.
It's really interesting (and fun) to get your take on these characters who I've come to know so well. I think you're in for one or two surprises along the way providing you don't get spoiled. It's completely up to you, but if you want to get the most out of the experience, I'd recommend avoiding spoilers as much as you can. It's one of the advantages and disadvantages of the show in that it really is serialized and dense with mythology – although to narrow it down to just being about the mystery would be to undersell it's value.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the later episodes (or seasons, if you stick with it) pull you in further, or whether you find it less interesting as time goes on. Personally, I wouldn't listen too much to those who claim that the series loses its magical quality over time, everyone really has a different opinion on the show – for some it gets better, while for others it gets worse. I would say that Lost has several different stages – each season really is a different chapter of an on-going thread. For me, it remained pretty consistent throughout, in terms of my enjoyment and appreciation of the show, but I definitely have my favorite seasons.
There are some elements of the show and its storytelling that I don't agree with – and at times the creators lost their way, but again, if you're planning to give it a real go I would hate to spoil you so I wont say too much! My prediction is that you'll like seasons 1, 3 and 4 in particular. You may find some some of the dense mythology unappealing, but I think you'll appreciate the character arcs – even if Lost is not as character orientated as their creators like to claim (IMO)!
As for Lost websites, I was more of a forum user when it came to Lost. I'd recommend one of the sites in our network: http://fandomforums.com, which had some good discussion over the years. Also, http://www.lostblog.net/ was one of the better Lost blogs for discussions.
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I like that, Fringe as a daredevil! LOL I haven't really compared Lost with Fringe yet, even though they are by the same creator and company (Bad Robot). To me Lost is a sprawling tale of an island adventure, with a huge cast of characters. Fringe is different, exploring how the past has affected the present, and like you say is about choices. I know Lost eventually moved to showing alternate realites, but it's not the same as Fringe is doing, and i found what Lost was doing annoying at times. I think Fringe is more linear in its story telling, and even if we explore some past events, it's always to propel the Fringe team forward, and the story forward. This is something I really enjoy in Fringe. I also like that it is much darker than Lost in the horror aspects, and more of a mystery every week. That said, Lost had amazing characters, which are also Fringe's strength. I have to admit that Lost lost me at the beginning of this season because I hate the character of Ben so much that I ended up blocking scenes with him in them. And what they did to Sayid and the temple. Ugh. That was too much for me. On the other hand, my eldest son absolutely loved it and raved about it. So I think Lost appeals to a wide range of people too (except Benjamin haters!). I much prefer Fringe to Lost. Why? The characters move me – I am invested so much in Peter, Olivia and Walter -, the stories are interesting and there is a mythology and backstory that gives so many levels to watch that I am able to rewatch this show, and have to, in order to see all the links. Not because it's bad, but because it's complex storytelling and asks interesting questions that it then goes on to explore through the characters and the stories of the week. I think it's tight and well-told and very very good television. Put it this way, i could drop Lost and pick it up later and not feel I missed too much, but I can't miss an episode of Fringe because I will miss something that has some bearing later on in the season. Or the next season. So, I have to say I agree with your four reasons Fringe can replace Lost (and Heroes, which I think overall had a great first season and then went downhill after that). Fringe as a daredevil. I like that!
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Great points, SF!
I have to say, I disagree with you regarding Ben – he's my favorite character alongside the great Locke!
You also raise an interesting point when you said that you could drop Lost and pick up later without feeling that you missed too much, while with Fringe it's different. Due to the heavy serialization of Lost, I would say that Fringe is easy to miss and pick back up – in terms of getting back into it – because it has more standalone episodes. That said, it's interesting to get your take on the relative merits of the two shows.
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