I truly agree with you. When the renegade (?) FBI agent said, "This won't take long" and Olivia quipped, "I bet you say that to all the girls," I realized that it was just the writing that detracted from her character. Anna Torv can deliver the wit; it's just not there to give.

Agreed on all and I'd add another. I'm an angst addict. We need to see more about Peter and Walter's relationship. I'm willing to bet Peter has a whole host of daddy issues to get over, and Walter has some untapped guilt over what he's done to Peter. Nothing spells hit show like a little relationship angst.

Plus, let's get rid of some of the extraneous FBI people, they muddle the soup a bit. I don't know, let Olivia go really rogue with Walter and Peter a bit.

What really kills it for me is how Dunham doesn't really bring much to the table:

Broyles = the boss. Keeps the operation moving, and keeps Dunham in check. Gives orders. Provides higher-level access and information when he deems necessary.

Daddy Bishop = the brilliant, but mad, scientist.

Sonny Bishop = scientist's assistant and audience interpreter who rephrases Walter's pseudoscience-speak into folksy speak.

Astrid = gopher, grunt, secretary, office assistant. Walter's folksy-translator when Peter's not around.


And finally, we have:

Olivia Dunham = travels to and fro, asking what's that and where's what and saying 'Walter what have you found so far?', and then relaying the info to Broyles, and then traveling to the next logical location... all the while displaying her unique skill set which explains why she's part of this "team". And that skill-set is..... her sexy husky voice and how cute she looks wearing a black beanie.

I agree with these, but I'd expand on number 5 and say jut give all of them better things to say. I'd really like this show if the writing were better. Fire th ones they have andget new ones, I think its worth the risk.

Honestly, next time they put Olivia in the tank, would it kill her to wear something in a leopard print, maybe a lacy white combo?

I cannot believe that I disagree with you and obviously most of your readers on just about everything you've listed here. One of the great things about this show is it's subtlety. I think you are missing all of the things going on between the lines.

The romance IS working. Since day one I've seen chemistry between the characters and I couldn't imagine it any other way...she is the reason Peter stayed on in the first place.

I can't completely disagree on the Boston thing except to say that in the mythology, the evil giant company is also located there, so wouldn't most of their tests and workings be there also?

The mythology IS laced throughout the show. As far as you know, everything we've seen is related to the pattern. If they give you all of that information now, they've got no show. The key is taking time and investing in the characters and information BEFORE you learn each new piece of info.

I hated the Kung-Fu bit. It seemed totally out of character for the show...like they were suddenly trying to be Alias.

I wouldn't mind seeing more to Broyles, but I think that's where they are headed anyway. And Astrid does so much without speaking that I do feel like I already know quite a bit about her and love it.

Torv's history wouldn't hurt, but I believe they're holding out for the Peter/Anna scenes to come to bring out her soul...and I personally can't wait!

Well, if the problem with Olivia is actually the writing, then I would say we're probably screwed with ALL of the problems. If they can't get me to really like the main character, then it's pretty safe to assume that I'll eventually drift away from this show, regardless of how much I like it right now.

Also, the last two episodes were really good, weren't they? At least some small part of that was the personal moments we shared with both Olivia and with Walter. It's not a coincidence.

I want a Charlie-Liv hook-up :) They better not make him a bad guy.

I like Olivia being the serious humorless person that she is. Not everyone can be bubbly.

Agreed...

I can't believe no one has mentioned the outside consultant bureaucrat guy who Olivia put in jail and who is now auditing the department. Please, please, please get rid of this guy. When they introduced him, I turned to my husband and said, "Insert work obstacle for the character of Olivia here." He's so obviously a plot device and a bad one at that. A very, very obvious and bad one. Bad writers! Bad! *hits with newspaper*

I agree with everything on this list. This show has potential.

Why does it get a more chances than the better written, more thoroughly awesome Daisies? (still mourning the loss of Ned and Chuck, Olive and Cod).

I think of this show as "almost good." My husband and I keep watching it, but more as an unintentional comedy than a thriller/drama.

Also, the writing is across the board bad for all the characters, but the actors playing Walter and Peter are just good enough to sell them as full, interesting human beings. So far, A.T. has not been able to do so, but I believe she is a capable actress just not a great one.

I agree with all your points save one--the first one. I don't think that the show is leaning towards any type of budding relationship at all. I feel like the show has been more focused on Olivia and John. I would be shocked if there was any attempt at romantic involvement this season. Which(and I do agree with you here) is great because they have no sexual chemistry.

The biggest issue I have with the show is that you can't create a sense of wonder/awe/mystery for the audience if the characters always act like the crazy stuff they encounter is routine. Did you see the cast's "ho-hum" reaction to the ape-man at the plane crash scene? For me, that's the biggest reason this show isn't working.

I was surprised and disappointed with last week's episode in that it was essentially Monster Of The Week, a la X-Files. It was a clear time-waster and interruption in the mythology, and those are rarely interesting. They just need not to go there, especially so early on. Souped up genetics do not equal The Pattern.

And I agree about the govt. bureaucrat--this is far too early in the series to insert a hostile Skinner. It's not like Broyles already tells her everything and trusts her implicitly. What, was he on Lost that week and couldn't be bothered to film?

There is a lot to work with here, and some truly chilling moments, but they've got to watch it or the show will quickly go downhill.

And frankly, I don't like the sister/niece story line at all. It seems even more forced than the romance, and Olivia looks like she's never been around a child.

Plus, since they're so dang determined to make it X-Files The Return, we all know what happens to sisters who stay in mysterious agents' apartments. Hope she has a nice red shirt.

I totally agree with most of your points, and have talked about a few of them on my Wayne's Take On FRiNGE podcast as well. The actor that plays Broyles is awesome, but needs more and better lines. And, now offense to people in Boston, but the FRiNGE gang needs to get out of there more often.

I think Olivia's character is great, and is coming along nicely. And now that we, hopefully, have seen the last of John Scott, she can grow even further.

Thanks for posting this article. A lot of good things to ponder as FRiNGE moves forward!

-I too thought there was a nod in the direction of a Peter/Olivia's sister relationship. I'm totally in favor of that.

-I don't mind Olivia's lack of personality so much, because that in itself is personality. She's the uber-grownup with her bruised heart and her baggage and her crushing sense of responsibility for the entire world, etc ... but yeah, she needs some more room to play with that, and prove that's what it is. Fistfight with her sister when she's nosy about John? A nervous breakdown? Learning to make LSD from Walter "just for fun"? Give us something else.

- Being the only one in the world who hasn't seen The Wire or Lost, I don't know Lance Reddick's work. I trust you that he's great, but he also needs a chance to show it. I wouldn't mind an episode that's a day in the life of Broyles. He is definitely hiding stuff from Olivia, and I'm interested to know if it's because he chooses to, or because stuff is being hidden from him.

- You know what could accomplish lots of this? Flashbacks. I mean ones of live people, with no tank required. I know not everyone can do it like Aaron Sorkin, but West Wing did it beautifully. Two Cathedrals and In the Shadow of Two Gunmen felt like a payoff for caring so much about the characters. Maybe Fringe can use them like a bribe to care?

What about actually giving Peter some significance? Right now he doesn't have anything to do but babysit his dad.

~The other day Angel and I were talking about the show and came to the realization that if someone watching hadn't watched The Wire or Lost, and just had Broyles's scenes to go on, they might think Lance Reddick isn't worth crap as an actor~

Set your mind at ease on that count at least; I'd never seen the actor before Fringe, but Broyles is my favorite character. I agree that he needs more to do, though!

(And that 'outside consultant bureaucrat guy', AKA Vogler/Tritter, needs to go.)

I totally agree, especially with stop-forcing-that-wierd-romance point. That romance thing (namely "a man and a woman can't work anywhere near each other let alone together without getting involved") has destroyed a lot of great shows already, but they just don't seem to learn, do they... I'm cringing every time they try to force it down our throats with not-so-subtle hints, or worse - when 3rd party (Walter mostly) act like a cheerleader or something about the whole thing.

Also, I must say, there's one more thing that's been bugging me since episode 3. It's been nicely nutshelled by Livy above. I mean, Peter is supposed to be a friggin awesome genius, yet so far almost everyone (including Astrid and Olivia) seems to be much more smarter, and he's stuck with babysitting and translating for his dad. That's sooo not what I was looking forward to when he was first introduced in Pilot. They really should start utilizing his allegedly genius intellectual level more, cause for far it really feels like a letdown.

I agreeeee, I'm the same with Olivia, it pisses me orf she's the main character when she's so...blah.
I agree with Annie above me too, so far we've seen that Peter is smart to enough to yeah, translate for Walter. How about some moments of brilliance from him, or some more background, we know he's had an..interesting childhood and life to say the least, how about more of that, and more explanation as to his possible powers? In the episode the Observer first REALLY appeared in, Peter had knowledge he, we where told, couldn't have known. Then in last weeks episode it SEEMED he did the same thing, he came up with that stuff about Oxford either because he's a genius who retains things without knowing it, or because maybe he can pluck information out of peoples brains.
I also have a theory Peter isn't the original Peter, I think he's a clone and that the real Peter died either in that crash or the from the fever he had as a child, Walter has hinted Peter has no medical history, AND that stuff about fathers and sons in the Benjamin Button like episode with the rapidly aging baby. I think Peter is an expirment himself and i'd like to see that explored, but that's more projecting than anything =)
I'll stick with the show because I think Abrams has more of an idea and conclusion for this than he ever did with Lost(lets face it, they came up with the premise for that show and got handed wads of cash before anyone decided what the Island was) so I'd love to see it flesh out and believe it will...it...just needs to hurry its ass up!

I love the show, all the characters are great. I'm not a sci-fi fan but I love the humor. I wish for a romance between Olivia and Peter eventually. And Oh, Olivia and John Scott are married in real life.

I've kinda enjoyed the show. No where near as much as I enjoy Lost but its been a fun kill time. I think that if they took these suggestions though, that maybe this show would become something great.

I agree with most of the posters above, however I want to bring up the cavelier way Fox programs it. They showed perhaps one of the best episodes of the series and then it's gone for six weeks. Okay, I kindof get the holiday vacation, but then after it's return (on Inauguration Day?), and four episodes on, again ending with a great episode, it is now on hiatus for 6 weeks until April! So we can have more American damned Idol. I liked the show but this disregard for the viewers by the Fox programmers is unacceptable. As far as I'm concerned, the show ended last Tuesday.

6 ways to fix fringe.. Huh, really? :)