This is the hand that makes gold
- Season 1 writers replaced.
- New writers buzzing with great ideas.
- Change..it’s a-coming.
..That’s according to Fringe co-creator JJ. Abrams. Speaking to E! Online, he responded to claims that the entire writing team (‘cept Jeff Pinkner) have been replaced for the new season by confirming that those rumours are pretty much true. He also said that the new writers are cooking up a storm in the writing room, coming up with some great twists and turns, which I’m sure will drive us all mad next season. *joy*
Here are the words of JJ.:
“There’s been a massive influx of strange new faces with incredibly talented brains who are replacing many of the previous, equally talented brains in that room. There are some who are the same talented brains; there are some talented brains who have nothing to do with last year. Like any show, there’s a rate of attrition that sort of just happens, but I have to say, the Fringe writing room—I was there yesterday—it was electric. On fire. Great ideas. Fun. So I was thrilled about last year, and I’m equally if not more excited about this year.”
It’s a shame about the “attrition” – the season 1 writers came up with some great scripts, most notably “The Arrival”, “Ability”, “Bad Dreams” and “There’s More Than One..”. There were also some other gems in there. Props to all involved, here’s hoping they left on good terms, though I suspect there’s more than one answer than the one JJ gave.
I mean, did someone just press the reset button?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
When JJ says ‘on fire’, does he mean in the Agent Harris sense?
I hope the new writing team is actually much more gifted in the area of building excitement and tension, and has a better feel for what needs to stay on the cutting room floor.
A quick check of IMDB shows that many of the first season’s writers had little experience prior to “Fringe” and I think it showed. On the other hand, “Alias” veteran J.R. Orci was at least partially responsible for penning “Unleashed: The Story of Puff the Magic Dragon”, so experience isn’t always the answer, I suppose.
Nevertheless, I look forward to writers who understand that Peter will not stay in the car and that there is nothing wrong with danger lurking around every corner. I’m more than willing to use the edge of my seat, which received precious little wear and tear in S1.
Definitely. More tension and less ‘puff the magic dragon’ moments! I’m really going to have to borrow that tag, it’s a perfect description for “Unleashed”.
Peter does need to get out of the car more often. Then there’s Walter who needs to get out of his own little world, Astrid who needs to get out of the lab and Belly who needs to get out of the shadows.
Actually, I don’t mind Walter being in his own little world, so long as he doesn’t become a caricature (they just about avoided this, I felt, towards the end of the season).
Going back to what you said about ‘tension’, for a show based around ‘fringe science’, there isn’t a lot of real danger. “Lost”, “Alias” and “X-Files” (to use 3 examples) have/had danger by the bucket load. If the writers can kick the suspense up a notch that would be great – especially since we’re seemingly heading into ‘unknown territory’ with the alterverse storyline.
We care (most of us) about Olivia and co..we’re invested. Now the writers should put that to the test. There has to be consequences for getting impregnated by a hybrid beast, for example.