Paul1957

Warner Home Video has announced DVD ($59.98) and Blu-ray ($79.98) releases of Fringe: The Complete First Season for the 8th September. Extras will include 3 full-length commentaries from the writers and producers, featurettes ("Evolution: The Genesis of Fringe", "Behind the Real Science of Fringe", "A Massive Undertaking: The Making of Fringe", "The Casting of Fringe", "Visual Effects"), unaired scenes, a gag reel, a Gene the Cow montage, and a Roberto Orci Production Diary. The Blu-ray release will also include an additional Pattern Analysis feature. We've attached the official package artwork for each release below (lenticular cover):


http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/fringe.html

James Lafleur

Never watched one episode but I think based on what I've heard and JJ Abrams track record I might just pick this up blind.

DJariya

Again, TV on DVD release dates just don't make any sense. Since season 2 probably starts in September, you would think that they would want to release this in July or August to give viewers, who chose not to or have not seen season 1, enough time to catch up. But, then again I know this show is produced by Warner Bros and not FOX and they probably don't care.

Anyways, this sounds like a great TV on DVD set. Will definitely be picking this up. Season 1 was solid.

critterdvd

Yeah, I really think a week or two between the DVD release and the new season is a little short. I would much prefer a month or so. But July might be a little early...

marty888

Doesn't Fox start series later than other networks due to the World Series? That would give a much longer window for people to buy/watch Season 1.

DJariya

No everything starts in September. Some shows will take a few weeks off in October for baseball.

kenbuzz

That cover has me worried. Does it take batteries, or is it just gonna strobe like that forever?

hindolio

prolly already noticed, but it seems from the op that the cover is a lenticular

jjcool

This is great news. I agree with DJariya that the release schedule for TV on DVD doesnt make sense. I would love to have the releases come out at least a month before the new season, so I can watch it (again) before the next season starts. I think that the studios probably think that people dont think about tv shows much during the summer months, and won't until september. Which is why they schedule releases then. Of course the studio release schedule oftentimes does not allow for people to get caught up before the new season, so it could only hurt the viewership for the new season.

critterdvd

I'm curious about the blu-ray exclusive commentaries. Are there a lot of them or just one or tow?

Sessa17

I don't know how many commentaries, but there are a lot of features exclusive only to the Blu-Ray. I'm reading the back of my Blu-Ray box set now, & among the cooler one's it says:

"Exclusive to Blu-Ray: Fringe: Pattern Analysis - Take a look at 6 select scenes with experts who evaluate w/ notes, Photos, & Diagrams, + Exclusive writer & producer commentaries, + unaired scenes, & Roberto Orci's Production diary" There are more features, that's just a few of them.

DJariya

I haven't bought the set yet, but read the 4th commentary track is accessed through BD Live.

horroru

Picked up the Target exclusive set yesterday with the bonus disc.

One note, the bonus disc is NOT 45 min as advertised but rather 30 min. Still great though, panel discussion with Abrams, the cast, and creators, and some info on Nimoy...

Gizmo

Of course it is. Because the disc only has 10-15GB of free space and that 300MB file simply could not fit on the disc.

DJariya

Picked up Fringe Blu Ray today.

For anyone who cares, the 4th Blu Ray exclusive commentary track is for episode 20, which was the season finale.

The track features Jeff Pinkner, JH Wyman, Akiva Goldsman and Bryan Burk.

critterdvd

Thank you for the info!

For some reason I thought Fringe would be like BSG or Heroes with commentary on every episode. But I'd rather have 4 high quality tracks versus 20 "meh" tracks.

DJariya

Okay, so another FYI:

Accessing the 4th commentary track is a little tricky. It's on disc 5 and the commentary/episode isn't actually on the disc

You need to 1st register on WB BD Live. Then when you access BD Live and login, the commentary track and episode actually stream off the internet from Warner Bros BD Live page. It probably depends on how good your internet connection is, but mine was a little blocky.

Gizmo

Wait - so you have to watch a SD episode to hear the Commentary track?

critterdvd

wait... the final episode isn't even on the blu-ray disc?!?!

Gizmo

No, it IS, but if you want to listen to the commentary track you have to watch a SD version streamed to your player.

DJariya

Gizmo is right. The HD version for episode 20 is on disc 5, but if you want to hear it w/ commentary it comes from BD Live streaming w/ the commentary married to it.

Josh-da-man

And what's the point of doing it this way instead of just putting it on the fucking disc?

Waste bandwidth? Push BD Live?

Wolf359

Is this worth a blind buy? I watched the very first ep, but stopped for some reason.

Gizmo

That. Each disc has numerous GBs of free space but they really want you to view advertisements for their upcoming Warner films.

DJariya

You know I thought season 1 was fantastic. Of course with any 1st season show there will be a few speed bumps, but overall it's a really well produced show w/ a very interesting serialized story arc. John Noble and Joshua Jackson are probably one of the main highlights of the show. I thought Anna Torv, who is the lead actor in the show, got much better and more comfortable in her character as the season progressed. Of course not everyone liked it (there were a few haters in TV Talk) If you have only seen the Pilot, I suggest renting at least Disc 1, than spending the money blind buying it.

If you want to compare this show with something I would say X-Files and Lost.