Fringe: The Complete Fifth and Final Season

Although this J.J. Abrams–created series of weird science, alternate realities, and time travel was both clever and visually creative, it was also expensive to produce and never became a mainstream hit. But its fans were passionate, and the Fox network rewarded them with a final short season to wrap up the story. Jumping a couple of decades into the future, the Observers have become despots slowly poisoning Earth's atmosphere, and the Fringe division—Olivia (Anna Torv), Peter (Joshua Jackson), Astrid (Jasika Nicole), and the addled but brilliant Walter (John Noble)—arrives to help the resistance defeat the overlords. Joining them are older versions of Phillip Broyles (Lance Reddick) and Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), who work for the Observers but are inspired to join the other side now that the old team is back. Although the storyline features plenty of strange inventions and concepts, this last run boasts less humor, and—oddly enough—is more linear. In fact, this future war just doesn't offer as much creative opportunity as the dimension-hopping and warped-mirror doubles of previous seasons. But the characters—who will experience regret and redemption—hold it together, and the crazy science keeps it interesting. Compiling all 13 episodes from the 2012–13 fifth season on DVD and Blu-ray, extras include audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a Comic-Con panel discussion, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Recommended, especially for those collecting the series. (S. Axmaker)