More than ten years later Fringe stopped airing, the classic science fiction TV show remains a favorite among fans of the speculative fiction genre. In recent years, science fiction and fantasy TV series have grown in popularity and carving out a significant niche. Fringe took inspiration from classic science fiction television while it was on the air, and in turn became a starting point for many modern series dealing with time travel, alternate universes, and investigation. The extensive tradition and interconnected timelines in Fringe are some of the best parts of the show and similar series tackle these topics.
The best episodes of Fringe combine the best of the criminal procedural genre with that of science fiction. As the seasons progressed, Fringe became more focused on season-long arcs and serialized storytelling and fully embraced the more bizarre and unexpected stories. The cast of Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble and Lance Reddick commit to increasingly complicated stories, and Fringe never overloads the audience with too much information, always balancing plot with character. Likewise, these science fiction shows focus on developing their characters while also introducing thought-provoking speculative fiction elements.
10
Timeless (2016–2018)
One of the best time travel TV shows in recent years
However Timeless lasted only two seasons, left its mark on television as it relied heavily on the historical aspects of the story formula. As Doctor Who, Timeless saw its characters travel to different moments in time and try to blend into their surroundings. However, Timeless had an overarching plot, as the central trio were being sent to thwart the plans of a rogue agent with connections to a larger conspiracy. This generated great presumption and allowed Timeless playing with form and history throughout its execution.
In each episode, Timeless Fully immerses the viewer in a new part of the past and develops the compelling plot.
Mixing science fiction with crime, Timeless was inspired by Fringe and the other shows that it successfully combined previous genres. With lots of action and conflicting personalities, Timeless it leaned into its premise, allowing the actors to have fun and play with its dynamics. Timeless parallels Fringe with the tension between Lucy (Abigail Spencer) and Wyatt (Matt Lanter), with Rufus (Malcolm Barrett) providing balance. In each episode, Timeless Fully immerses the viewer in a new part of the past and develops the compelling plot.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Timeless (2016–2018) |
91% |
67% |
9
Lost (2004–2010)
Lost has not diminished its ability to attract audiences after many years
Twenty years later Lost First debuting with one of the best TV pilots in history, the show is still making waves and being discussed with the same fervor. Much of this is due to the many mysteries and unanswered questions that still plague audiences to this day. Lost holds up well after two decades because the show's writers and producers were skilled at creating twists and subverting audience expectations many times.
Fringe was described as LostThe perfect replacement for the sci-fi mystery show, as the series premiered during the last few seasons of Lost and touched on similar themes. The flashbacks, forwards, and sides of the timeline resemble multiple realities, and the explanations for time travel and the island's physical movement are attributed to scientific theories that can be found in Fringe. However, they are more comparable because both Lost and Fringe are not afraid to leave the audience in suspense and slowly hint at the truth behind its mysterious plot points.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Lost (2004–2010) |
86% |
90% |
8
Flashforward (2009–2010)
After seeing their future, Flashforward's characters have difficult choices to make
Based on the novel of the same name by Robert J. Sawyer, Flashforward is comparable not only to Fringe but also for recent programs like The leftovers. However Flashforward is science fiction, it mainly deals with the way people deal with understanding their destinies and how it affects their lives and relationships. Canceled after one season, Flashforward is a TV series that could have been more successful today, as its complex and dramatic narrative is on par with some of the most popular science fiction shows airing today.
While it may seem desirable to know what will happen in six months, this inevitable glimpse into the future that kicks off the series sends all the characters into a tailspin.
As Fringe, Flashforward uses the work of FBI agents as a framing device for the investigative side of its story, with a group of agents seeking explanations about the titular flashforward. While it may seem desirable to know what will happen in six months, this inevitable glimpse into the future that kicks off the series sends all the characters into a tailspin. Balancing character development with the mystery at the heart of the series, Flashforward It may only be one season, but it's undeniably memorable.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Flashforward (2009–2010) |
80% |
78% |
7
The X-Files (1993–2018)
One of the most timeless science fiction series of all time
There are few shows as synonymous with crime and science fiction as The X-Files. Starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as agents Scully and Mulder, The X-Files gained prominence thanks to the dynamics between the main characters and the equal time given to the fantastic side of belief and the skeptical side of science. Anderson and Duchovny's chemistry and their characters' positions as foils made each episode of The X-Files feel fresh and new, which was quite a feat considering its mystery week format.
The best episodes of The X-Files have inspired many of the most iconic pieces of science fiction television since the series debut, and The X-Files'influence on Fringe it goes without saying. Although it would be easy to say that Fringe simply copied The X-Filesthis is not the case. Fringe also used the FBI and had a convincing pair of leads with a will-they-won't-they dynamic, but it leaned much more towards the strange than The X-Files. Fringe rarely questions the existence of its strange occurrences, while this uncertainty is what The X-Files is based on.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
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The X-Files (1993–2018) |
74% |
86% |
6
Travelers (2016–2018)
Travelers puts a new spin on time travel in this morally complex series
Travelers is a fun exercise in the concept of double lives, as the TV series' main characters aren't exactly who they say they are. Sent from a post-apocalyptic future to try to prevent the collapse of society, the titular travelers have their consciousness placed within people of the past and must maintain their lives while carrying out their secret mission. This means that actors play extremely varied characters and have the difficult task of subtly communicating to the audience which character they are embodying.
Not surprisingly, it doesn't take long for travelers to begin to conflict with their own morals and inner directives and with their growing affection for the people in their host organism's life.
Not surprisingly, it doesn't take long for travelers to begin to conflict with their own morals and inner directives and with their growing affection for the people in their host organism's life. Just three seasons, Travelers it's easy to consume and turns into a much more complex series by the end of its run. The question of what it means to be human in the face of such monumental technology is a big part of Travelers and is directly related to the discussions found in Fringewhich also addresses time travel.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Travelers (2016–2018) |
100% |
97% |
5
The 100 (2014–2020)
A post-apocalyptic TV show that kept reinventing itself
Different Fringe, The 100 takes place many years in the future and faces the consequences of a post-apocalyptic world. However, the strong female leadership of The 100Clarke, played by Eliza Taylor, is similar to Fringefrom Olivia in his determination to lead his team and ensure everyone is treated fairly. Both Olivia and Clarke lose a lot in their quest to make the world a better place and are kept in the dark following larger conspiracies, making them relatable and aspirational to the audience.
As Fringe, The 100 I learned to adapt from an early age and was almost unrecognizable by the series' conclusion in season 7. The 100 is set in the future, the central characters have to return to humanity's earliest forms of survival as they are resettling the world and discovering how their society will function after living in space for so many years. The 100 incorporates several time jumps, similar to Fringeand uses them to explore new situations and conflicts for the characters.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
The 100 (2014–2020) |
93% |
67% |
4
Alias (2001–2006)
Jennifer Garner leads this spy thriller with sci-fi elements
Despite being best known for romantic comedies and heartwarming dramas, one of Jennifer Garner's longest stints on television was playing the deadly CIA agent Sydney. Created by JJ Abrams, Indeed sees Sydney struggling with her identity as an agent while trying to balance her normal life. However, Indeed It doesn't stop there, as each season introduces a new twist that turns Sydney's life upside down, as well as her perceptions about her loved ones. However Indeed leans into espionage with lighter sci-fi elements, it's just as exciting as Fringe.
Family dynamics are an important part Indeedas Sydney is part of a generational legacy of agents with the skills needed to be the perfect spy.
As Fringe, Indeed became more serialized as the seasons progressed, especially after the soft reboot in season 3, which also included a time jump like the final season of Fringe. Family dynamics are an important part Indeedas Sydney is part of a generational legacy of agents with the skills needed to be the perfect spy. In Fringethe father-son relationship between Peter and Walter is a big part of the story.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Alias (2001–2006) |
86% |
88% |
3
Black Orphan (2013–2017)
Tatiana Maslany presents Orphan Black with her incredible performance
Recently brought back with the sequel series, Black Orphan: Echoes, the original Black Orphan is a brilliantly plotted and acted sci-fi series that is the perfect sequel to Fringe. Long before she played the protagonist of She-Hulk: LawyerTatiana Maslany played Sarah Manning and her many clones. Each clone has distinct personalities, origins and desires. Without Maslany's work as clones, Black Orphan It wouldn’t be half as successful as it was. Furthermore, the existence of the clones was just the tip of the iceberg of the story.
Tackling issues of eugenics, conspiracies and government corruption, Black Orphan dives head first into the ethics of the company that created the clones. Black Orphan is similar to later seasons of Fringe, and the clones' attempts to distinguish their personality while clashing with each other are reminiscent of the conflicts with the parallel realities in Fringe. Although its original premise was already rich and drove the series for many seasons, Black Orphan continued to reinvent itself throughout the seasons.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Black Orphan (2013–2017) |
93% |
92% |
2
Termination (2022 – present)
Apple TV's sci-fi thriller is one of the best shows of the decade
As Termination Season two is quickly approaching, revisiting the initial season is a great way to remember all the twists and turns that made the series such a phenomenon. Although it's been a long time since the first season premiered, that hasn't changed how highly anticipated the next season was, especially since there are so many unanswered questions that viewers have been left waiting for. In Terminationthe science fiction element shines through in the attention to personalities, while in Fringethe characters are chasing leads about these types of occurrences.
However, the investigative side of the story becomes doubly difficult because the characters only have access to one part of themselves at a time and cannot share information. THE acting, direction and careful plotting of the story received praise from critics and audiences, and although expectations are high for the second season, they are likely to deliver. Touching on corruption, greed and sadness, Termination uses its strange format to deal with topics as serious as Fringe does throughout the seasons.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
|
Termination (2022 – present) |
97% |
88% |
1
Eureka (2006–2012)
Being a genius isn't always a good thing in this unique criminal case.
It's fun to imagine that there is a secret city full of innovative geniuses somewhere, but based on the events of Eurekathat city wouldn't be a very safe place to live. With almost all residents of Eureka dedicating himself to scientific innovation, There are many experiments gone wrong, and it's up to the less-than-genius sheriff, Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson), to clean up the mess. However, Jack quickly proves that while he may not have the same IQ as the other residents, he still has a lot to offer.
However Eureka takes on a much more comical tone than FringeThat doesn't stop the show from getting serious at times. Due to his extraordinary abilities, the characters in Eureka are rarely content to let tragedy and hardship prevail without taking matters into their own hands to change the past. It's not long before their attempts to make the world better, or their secretly selfish plans, plunge the city into chaos and unexpectedly change the fate of the world.
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Series |
Rotten Tomatoes critic score |
Rotten Tomatoes audience score |
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Eureka (2006–2012) |
81% |
89% |