FARK.com: (7073825) Fox renews Fringe for a fifth and final season to wrap up its storylines. How wonderful

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		Fox renews Fringe for a fifth and final season to wrap up its storylines. How wonderful (avclub.com)		112
		More: Followup, fall schedule, Fringe

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2152 clicks; posted to Entertainment » on 27 Apr 2012 at 4:16 AM | Favorite | share:

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DamnYankees		2012-04-26 10:05:35 PM

While this has certainly been a choppy season with some, IMO, bad creative choices, I'm happy to see this. Fringe should go out on its own terms.

jake_lex		2012-04-26 10:33:27 PM

This strikes me as a very wise decision long-term. It probably isn't making much money for Fox now, but this is a show that will have staying power, that people will watch on the Internet on sites like Hulu or Netflix, and might buy on DVD or on iTunes, and so it'll continue to generate income well into the future. Kill it early, leave those plot lines dangling, and that potential for future revenue deeply declines.

Blues_X		2012-04-26 11:12:28 PM

This makes me happy.

That last episode was great.

Confabulat		2012-04-27 12:05:12 AM

That's good news. The season started out a bit rough (it's not exactly Fringe if the Fringe team is busted) but it's been firing on all cylinders again lately. And it would have been a shame to try and wrap up the events of last week's episode in 2 hours or whatever's left of this year.

13 episodes sounds better than the usual 22 or so as well, they can just focus on the storyline and forget about the occasional monster-of-the-week filler.

SamFlagg		2012-04-27 12:22:15 AM

Mmmmmm.........strawberry flavored death.

rynthetyn		2012-04-27 12:31:02 AM

Good, they'll be able to tie up loose ends. Five seasons is a good run and it's ending before they have the chance to jump the shark.

unyon		2012-04-27 01:39:30 AM

Fox cancels Firefly, and Fringe gets renewed for a 5th season.
i.qkme.me

ShawnDoc		2012-04-27 01:52:54 AM

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 04:23:16 AM

Yes yes yes yes YES

this is the best Universe. I was so glad when I saw that.

i hope the 5th season is all in the future.

Confabulat		2012-04-27 04:57:45 AM

Tatsuma: i hope the 5th season is all in the future.

After last week's episode I think they could pull it off, if Olivia somehow is still around.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 05:01:36 AM

Confabulat: After last week's episode I think they could pull it off, if Olivia somehow is still around.

I have never been so excited about Fringe since like, the end of Season 2, as I was for that episode.

They brought back ruthless, amoral Walter!

I am sure they could bring Olivia back as well

Confabulat		2012-04-27 05:07:24 AM

Tatsuma: They brought back ruthless, amoral Walter!

They just didn't bring him back, they turned our Walter into him!

Confabulat		2012-04-27 06:35:52 AM

Between the two time frames and universes now, they have set themselves up for some great TV storytelling if they don't screw it all up now.

stoli n coke		2012-04-27 06:37:15 AM

unyon: Fox cancels Firefly, and Fringe gets renewed for a 5th season.
[i.qkme.me image 625x352]

Is there a thread about any Fox show where someone doesn't cry about Firefly?

It's over. It's been over for a long time. It's time to move on.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 06:45:30 AM

Confabulat: They just didn't bring him back, they turned our Walter into him!

I know!

Confabulat: Between the two time frames and universes now, they have set themselves up for some great TV storytelling if they don't screw it all up now.

Agreed, I really really am excited.

stoli n coke: It's over. It's been over for a long time. It's time to move on.

Yeah I have to say I agree.

It's been 10 years, and Fox has made up for that. New management included.

Guuberre		2012-04-27 06:50:38 AM

In the finale, the camera will pull waaaay back and we'll find out it was some 'tard playing with a snowglobe.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 06:53:55 AM

Guuberre: In the finale, the camera will pull waaaay back and we'll find out it was some 'tard playing with a snowglobe.

www.reverseshot.com

GibbsNCIS		2012-04-27 07:06:47 AM

I wonder if the ratings will go any lower in season 5.

stoli n coke		2012-04-27 07:25:44 AM

GibbsNCIS: I wonder if the ratings will go any lower in season 5.

Hasn't it been in the Friday night death slot for years? Their ratings were never very good.
I liked the episodes I've seen, but I can admit that every time they got renewed was an act of charity from the network.

Cybernetic		2012-04-27 07:43:20 AM

Guuberre: In the finale, the camera will pull waaaay back and we'll find out it was some 'tard playing with a snowglobe.

Now THAT would be funny.

elvisaintdead		2012-04-27 07:47:02 AM

Blues_X: This makes me happy.

That last episode was great.

absof*ckinglutely.

Radioactive Ass		2012-04-27 07:50:42 AM

I wish they would start to do this with other shows that have long story arcs. It's probably the number one reason why people don't bother to start watching shows like that, because past experience tells them that the story will most likely get cut short after a season end cliffhanger.

Nobody wants to invest the time in something that doesn't get resolved at the end. Imagine cutting off Return of the Jedi right after they got to Endor. That was only an investment of time of about 6 hours or so (counting the previous two movies) while in Fringes case it would be a time investment of about 100 hours. Hell, look at the Sopranos. They cut it off on purpose and people went ballistic on the writers and HBO over it. Even sitcoms get resolved more often than shows with long story arcs.

Oysterman		2012-04-27 08:17:50 AM

I'll allow it.

/I'm sure this has to be funny in some alternate universe.

OtherLittleGuy		2012-04-27 08:20:37 AM

Telegoths, HELLS NO!

Dead Marines in manshirts, yes!

ActionJoe		2012-04-27 08:28:09 AM

Hooray. A shorter season is a much better option too. No need for any stupid mid season breaks. Just tell a crisp story line that goes for a straight 13 weeks. No filler episodes, no monster of the week with no ties to the plot, just start off where ever this season ends and run with it in a way that finishes off the series.

I am very excited about what this new future storyline could produce. I hope it is not just some one off thing that will be resolved at the end of this season. It seems like a pretty random plot line to suddenly introduce the observers as bad guys. But this season has been all about random plot lines. I hope they tie Jones together with the observers in some way other wise it would be pretty ridiculous.

Confabulat		2012-04-27 08:34:26 AM

How often has a broadcast network renewed a series for essentially half of a normal season before?

I wonder if Fox is finally learning something from HBO, AMC, BBC, and all the other networks that have figured out TV.

Sta-Hi		2012-04-27 08:34:39 AM

HURRAH!

Strawberry milkshakes and LSD for everyone!

Time Traveling Bunnies		2012-04-27 08:35:24 AM

Allow me to go on record as saying WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

bulsd		2012-04-27 08:38:03 AM

Vagenda

alwaysjaded		2012-04-27 08:38:23 AM

jake_lex: This strikes me as a very wise decision long-term. It probably isn't making much money for Fox now, but this is a show that will have staying power, that people will watch on the Internet on sites like Hulu or Netflix, and might buy on DVD or on iTunes, and so it'll continue to generate income well into the future. Kill it early, leave those plot lines dangling, and that potential for future revenue deeply declines.

Yep. I was a huge fan but stopped watching after Peter disappeared cause I thought it was going to be cancelled and I got really busy. Now that I know there will be an ending, I'll go pick up the past seasons and catch up. Love the characters in this show.

/ heard the last episode focused on the Observers. That's an episode I can't wait to see.

mohron		2012-04-27 08:39:33 AM

stoli n coke: unyon: Fox cancels Firefly, and Fringe gets renewed for a 5th season.
[i.qkme.me image 625x352]

Is there a thread about any Fox show where someone doesn't cry about Firefly?

It's over. It's been over for a long time. It's time to move on.

I'm still not over them cancelling Til Death.

Time Traveling Bunnies		2012-04-27 08:40:52 AM

Confabulat: Between the two time frames and universes now, they have set themselves up for some great TV storytelling if they don't screw it all up now.

It's my understanding that last week's episode was basically a pilot for Season 5. They'll wrap up all the major storylines with this season finale and jump into the war in the future next season.

Unfortunately I'm afraid that means my favorite Aussie has to die.

/What did Bell do?!?

Boxcutta		2012-04-27 08:42:57 AM

So, like Lost, they'll have the opportunity to tie up loose ends. Rather than use the opportunity, however, they will keep expanding the universe as to time and space and location and doppelgangers until ultimately there's no time left to do anything except answer some new question they didn't introduce until the final season. The answer, by the way, will be "love."

(And I actually like both of those shows)

Carth		2012-04-27 08:52:51 AM

DamnYankees: While this has certainly been a choppy season with some, IMO, bad creative choices, I'm happy to see this. Fringe should go out on its own terms.

I had problems with this season's pacing as well but I'm really glad the show is going to get a conclusion instead of ending on the season 4 cliffhanger.

Carth		2012-04-27 08:55:35 AM

Confabulat: How often has a broadcast network renewed a series for essentially half of a normal season before?

I wonder if Fox is finally learning something from HBO, AMC, BBC, and all the other networks that have figured out TV.

There was a story a few weeks ago about all the principles saying they wanted a 15 episode season without monster of the week episodes to wrap up the plot. I guess fox listened and gave them 13. It will be interesting to see if they let them do just serialized episodes or they make them do a few stand alones.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 08:56:53 AM

ActionJoe: I hope they tie Jones together with the observers in some way other wise it would be pretty ridiculous.

My guess is that Jones is the reason why they decided to intervene in 2015. They saw the havoc he was creating, then said 'Welp, clearly they can't be in control of the universe, they are about to destroy it even hundreds of years before we did, fark these guys' then took over.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 09:03:20 AM

Confabulat: How often has a broadcast network renewed a series for essentially half of a normal season before?

NBC with Chuck, for starters.

In fact, there are very real parallels between Chuck and Fringe

Chuck was screwed by the writers' strike
Fringe was nearly screwed by the writers' strike

Chuck was beloved by the critics but failed to attract a larger audience
Fringe is beloved by the critics but fails to attract a larger audience

Chuck has a very rabid fan base
Fringe has a very rabid fan base

Chuck's second season was far from assured and there were fears of cancellation
Fringe's second season was far from assured and there were fears of cancellation

Chuck's first season was good, then hit its stride during season two and the last episodes were mindbowingly awesome
Fringe's first season was good, then hits its stride during season two and the last episodes were mindblowingly awesome

Chuck was still in danger of cancellation even though the quality dramatically went up
Fringe was still in danger of cancellation even though the quality dramatically went up

Chuck had a strong third season, yet again the show had to fight tooth and nail to get renewed
Fringe had a strong third season, yet again the show had to fight tooth and nail to get renewed

Chuck's fourth season started slow and fans complained, but by mid-season things were back to great quality and adoration
Fringe's fourth season started slow and fans complained, but by mid-season things were back to great quality and adoration

Chuck's fans were mostly sure the show was not going to have a fifth season due to ratings stagnating, only to be given a 13 episode victory lap to wrap things up
Fringe's fan were mostly sure the show was not going to have a fifth season due to ratings stagnating, only to be given a 13 episode victory lap to wrap things up

Hopefully Fringe's last season will be as satisfying and awesome as Chuck's last season

Carth		2012-04-27 09:03:40 AM

Fox uploaded a season 5 trailer It is mostly a recap of where we've been so far but sets the mood for season 5 as well.

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 09:05:18 AM

Also

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 09:06:51 AM

Time Traveling Bunnies: It's my understanding that last week's episode was basically a pilot for Season 5. They'll wrap up all the major storylines with this season finale and jump into the war in the future next season.

I hope that's what happens, too. And what they said implied a very bad situation for Olive, but not necessary death.

And its not that I am sick of our Walter, but I really really really want to see Walterenegade.

Carth		2012-04-27 09:08:21 AM

Tatsuma: Time Traveling Bunnies: It's my understanding that last week's episode was basically a pilot for Season 5. They'll wrap up all the major storylines with this season finale and jump into the war in the future next season.

I hope that's what happens, too. And what they said implied a very bad situation for Olive, but not necessary death.

And its not that I am sick of our Walter, but I really really really want to see Walterenegade.

September told her she has to die though. But I guess he wasn't very specific about when.

Lernaeus		2012-04-27 09:10:04 AM

Who are you and what hav you done with the FOX I know?!?

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 09:12:44 AM

Carth: September told her she has to die though. But I guess he wasn't very specific about when.

Maybe that's why Bell did to her what he did, and Walter doesn't know it. Found a way to save her somehow.

Or maybe we'll just have Bolivia. I am fine with that.

Vash's Apprentice		2012-04-27 09:16:35 AM

Carth: Tatsuma: Time Traveling Bunnies: It's my understanding that last week's episode was basically a pilot for Season 5. They'll wrap up all the major storylines with this season finale and jump into the war in the future next season.

I hope that's what happens, too. And what they said implied a very bad situation for Olive, but not necessary death.

And its not that I am sick of our Walter, but I really really really want to see Walterenegade.

September told her she has to die though. But I guess he wasn't very specific about when.

Maybe the two Olivias have to complete their merge, effectively creating Amalgolivia.

LittleKidLover		2012-04-27 09:17:19 AM

Anyone else fist-pump the air...only to have their face fall halfway through that headline? Even bad Fringe is better than great episodes of all the other junk on right now.

/Just hoping the "lets set our own end date" strategy works out better for Fringe than it did for Lost...

Time Traveling Bunnies		2012-04-27 09:22:00 AM

Tatsuma: Maybe that's why Bell did to her what he did, and Walter doesn't know it. Found a way to save her somehow.

Or maybe we'll just have Bolivia. I am fine with that.

There was also the vision in Season 3, during the cartoon episode, where she saw the man that was going to kill her. He was the guy in the grey shirt with the black X on it.

They've been forecasting this for a while.

Carth		2012-04-27 09:23:08 AM

Tatsuma: Carth: September told her she has to die though. But I guess he wasn't very specific about when.

Maybe that's why Bell did to her what he did, and Walter doesn't know it. Found a way to save her somehow.

Or maybe we'll just have Bolivia. I am fine with that.

Well we know she was alive in 2015 and time travel has been in the show for awhile. It is possible they'll find a way for 2012 Olivia to fight in 2036, she'll get to meet her grown up daughter, get pregnant with Peter then they'll either change the timeline so she can go back in time and live or she can die and save humanity.

Carth		2012-04-27 09:24:29 AM

Vash's Apprentice: Carth: Tatsuma: Time Traveling Bunnies: It's my understanding that last week's episode was basically a pilot for Season 5. They'll wrap up all the major storylines with this season finale and jump into the war in the future next season.

I hope that's what happens, too. And what they said implied a very bad situation for Olive, but not necessary death.

And its not that I am sick of our Walter, but I really really really want to see Walterenegade.

September told her she has to die though. But I guess he wasn't very specific about when.

Maybe the two Olivias have to complete their merge, effectively creating Amalgolivia.

That is possible too. I got the impression in 2036 there was only one world. Maybe DRJ managed to merge the two worlds and the observers stepped in to stop it from collapsing upon itself since they are descendants

Tatsuma		2012-04-27 09:28:11 AM

Or simply September lied.

Or he was in fact evil as well. Or many other things.

There are many many many ways they can get out of that situation. I highly doubt they'd kill Olivia.

Bloody William		2012-04-27 09:32:00 AM

I was really confused by the last episode, because the time jump seemed so abrupt, but if they're going back to normal to set up the time jump and complete the season, that's good.

The evil Observer invaders also means that Evil Three Names will finally get some sort of motivation and purpose beyond supervillainy. I always hated him because he didn't really have even the flimsiest of reasons to do the insane crap he did, but if it was to avert the Observers it actually makes sense.

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