Product Details

• Actors: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo
• Format: AC-3, Box set, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: Portuguese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 14, 2010
• Run Time: 1012 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (757 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002JVWRD6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,772 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #61 in Movies & TV > DVD > Horror
• Learn more about "Fringe: The Complete Second Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"Lost meets The X-Files" is a not inappropriate description of Fox TV's Fringe, especially considering that cocreator J.J. Abrams was also one of the Lost masterminds. But this ambitious and often exciting series (with all 22 episodes from its second season, plus plenty of bonus material, released here on six discs) merits more than that glib label. As before, the members of the Fringe Division, an obscure wing of the FBI barely recognized (and this season threatened with elimination) by the government at large, are the "cleanup crew" summoned when the universe is on the verge of shredding at the seams. Led by Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), brilliant but mad scientist Walter Bishop (with John Noble as the show's most appealing character), and Bishop's son Peter (Joshua Jackson), they investigate crimes and occurrences involving the seemingly inexplicable, ranging from garden-variety phenomena like ESP, mind control, and hypnosis to really strange stuff like "clairaudience" (receiving messages or thoughts from another realm), cryonics (as in frozen, disembodied heads), and the existence of a parallel universe. Once again there's also a healthy dose of scary monsters, including a hideous mutant who drags its victims underground before devouring them, a community of deformed victims of scientific tests gone awry, two-foot-long parasites with human hosts, and a walking shadow that renders whoever it passes through into dust and ash. But it all gets more personal for our three heroes this time around, as they realize that Walter's long-ago research and experiments had serious consequences not only for him (he spent 17 years locked up in a rubber room) but especially for Olivia and Peter, who must deal with shocking revelations about their childhoods.

If Fringe has a weakness, it's that its reach sometimes exceeds its grasp. There are so many ideas here that overarching themes like "the Pattern" (a series of terrifying, synchronous events throughout the world) disappear for episodes at a time; the notion of "the other side," a parallel universe where things are largely similar but different in very peculiar details (JFK lived to be an old man, while the Department of Defense is housed beneath the Statue of Liberty), is introduced in the first episode but then rarely mentioned until the second half of the season, which culminates with the Fringe team traveling to the other side and confronting their alternate selves (fortunately, the final two episodes help tie up various loose ends from this season and set the stage for the next one). But a surfeit of good ideas is a lot better than a shortage of them, and the series is rarely less than interesting even when it loses its focus, and the direction, sets, special effects, and other technical elements are consistently excellent. As was the case the first time out, bonus material is generous and varied. It includes a newly "unearthed episode," audio commentary, deleted scenes, features like "The Mythology of Fringe" and "Analyzing the Scene" (brief explications of key scenes in six episodes), and more. --Sam Graham

Product Description

From J.J. Abrams (Lost), Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci – the team behind Star Trek and Alias – and executive producers Jeff Pinkner, J.H. Wyman and Bryan Burk, Fringe returns for a second thrilling season and continues to explore the unexplained phenomena and terrifying occurrences linked throughout the world – known simply as "The Pattern“ – in pursuit of a larger, more shocking truth. Set in Boston, the FBI's Fringe Division formed when Special Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) enlisted the help of institutionalized "fringe" scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), to save her partner and lover from a mind-bending death. Through unconventional and unorthodox methods, the Fringe team imagines and tests the impossibilities while investigating unbelievable events, macabre crimes and mystifying cases involving teleportation, reanimation, genetic mutation, precognition, artificial intelligence and other fantastical theories. When the unimaginable happens, it's their job to stop it.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

152 of 174 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars if you havent seen FRINGE before, then I envy you! March 5, 2010

By Harry Abramowski

Format:Amazon Instant Video

This review covers my sentiments for SEASON 1 and SEASON 2. Its a good series in season 1 from pilot to episode 6 or 7......and then STRAP YOURSELF IN cuz its going to get way way way better from that point on.

Think LOST in SEASON 1. Thats Fringe. nothing to do with the story lines But with the excitement and anticipation each episode brings. Well mostly each episode. Yes sometimes they'll do an episode that doesnt advance the story line of the SERIES - which drives me nuts btw - but even in those few episodes, the story you will see in that episode will be greatly entertaining and leave you wanting more.

DO NOT start watching this at 11pm if you have an early morning. There is no way you will start and not watch at least three episodes. maybe if you are strong willed you might be able to just watch one or two among the first 6 episodes of season 1. But DO NOT TRY it with starting your viewing late in the evening with an episode that is after 6 of season 1. If you do that, I promise You WILL BE WATCHING 5 episodes back to back before you know it.

You have been warned...........

52 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars And Your New LOST Substitute Is... May 26, 2010

By Zachary Koenig

Format:DVD

For many avid TV watches, the series finale of LOST in May of 2010 tore a hole in their silver-screen world that one could drive a truck through. Shows like "V" and "Flashforward" have been heavily advertised as ABC's "new alternatives" to LOST, but neither has even remotely captured the imagination of the viewing audience. Fortunately, FOX has found a gem (once again from mastermind creator JJ Abrams) with "Fringe", the only network-TV show on the airwaves right now that can be deemed a worthy successor to "the Island".

Though the first half of "Fringe: Season One" was quite slow (almost to the point of boring), it really picked up the pace down the home stretch and, by the season one finale, was absolutely incredible. This second season doesn't backpedal whatsoever, continuing to provide entertaining, mind-bending fiction week after week.

For a basic season summary, all three of the primary characters have their own unique storylines that play out in tangent as the season progresses:

-Walter Bishop, the mad scientist turned mental patient turned eccentric scientist, grapples with the horrible things he did as a young man, and how he can ever begin to rectify himself for those actions.

-Peter Bishop, Walter's son, begins to realize the reason why large portions of his youth are unremembered, as he starts to piece together the fact that his familial roots may not exactly be from "around here".

-Olivia Dunham, lead FBI agent, also deals with the demons of Dr. Bishop's past, as she finds out that, as a child, she took part in one of his more large-scale experiments, which left her with strange abilities that she debates the merit of developing.

Of course, while each character goes through those personal battles, they still continue to investigate the mind-bending "fringe science" phenomena that the show is known for. I look at the show as a combination of The X-Files (for its investigative setting) and LOST (extremely ambitious plot angles that never fail to give you an emotional payoff).

Thus, if you are a bit "lost" after your favorite island castaways departed, give this JJ Abrams effort a look-see. It just may give you something to look forward to again next fall.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Where the heck have I been? What a hell of a SciFi series-Warning Possible Spoilers in my praises. October 2, 2010

By Boz

Format:DVD

Have been playing catchup for the past week and half having just discovered this show. Just as well, I couldnt keep the suspense from kiling me episode to episode so a two seasons in a row dose has done me good.

The Grass is not always greener on the other side. That is because John Nobles Prof.Walter Bishop has put the other side, in this case an alternate Earth Universe populated by, well us, living out our lives in a mirror image of our own, though with some major or minor differences, in danger when his grief at loosing his son caused him to break the laws of physics to save his sons alternate also dying of a seemingly incurable disease, when his doppelganger failed to notice that he had found the cure and our Walter Bishop, watching thru what you might call Universe-ision, a device that allowed him to look in on events on the other side nailed the cure and then he opened a portal to that side and took his doubles son and brought him back to our side and saved his life, but couldn't bare to take him back.
This action caused a rift in the wall between our Universes and all the horrible X-files/Outer Limits plague of horrible phenomena that have been occurring. At the core of the matter, only one Universe will survive in the end. Ours or theirs. They are more advanced Technologically speaking then us. There is the ZFT manual, written by ? that outlines a coming Alien holocaust not unlike the one envisioned by Alien Conspirators assisted by Cancer Man, but this time the enemy is our own selves but in another dimension.

I cant and dont have the room or time to rant and rave about this show and give it the full accolades it deserves, suffice it to say that John Noble is the heart and soul of this show and is the catalyst that makes the other characters he interacts with more then just two dimensional sidekicks or colleagues. He brings a smile a laugh and often a tear to ones face when he delivers his lines. His casting here was sheer brilliance and whoever in the studio thought of him for the part deserved a raise and hearty well done.

So who will win out? Their world is dying and they are getting desperate. Will Walter Bishop be able to regain his equilibrium and steadfastness after 17 years in the Mental Institution to face this challenge without his nerves unraveling in the face of what his brilliant mind brought about. Will Peter Bishop, whose life he saved and who is the only person Walter cares for and deeply loves and would gives his life for for, ever be able to come to terms and find peace about his whole past and realize that who you are born to dosent always determine who loves you the most as parent? Can nothing be done to avoid the collision of the Universes? Which food will Walter remember next as being a favorite of his? Who are the Observers, why what and where are they all about, and whats with the spicy food obsession.

Season 3 is here and some answers are forthcoming. Season 1, Episode 1, and you are hook line and sinker gonna become a fan and being of the old school Sci-fi movies and kind set in my ways, it says a lot about a series like this to hold my attention, oh and the wifes, Mrs Hallmark Channel, adores this show and John Noble as well. I just hope that they dont make the same mistake as X-Files. A brilliant series, wonderful performances by Ducovney and Gillian, for which we have as of yet to get a closure on Alien Invasion theme. I hope this series dosent fall into that trap and realize more is not always better. 3 or 4 good seasons beats 7 meandering seasons anytime.