Classic 5-Part Sci-Fi Series Officially Streaming For Free On March 1, 13 Years After Cancellation

by

A highly-regarded science fiction series that ended prematurely 13 years ago is finding a new home on a streaming service.

Created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, Fringe centers around FBI Agent Olivia Dunham, the brilliant but eccentric Dr. Walter Bishop, and his son, Peter. Together, they form the Fringe Division – a special task force investigating strange and unexplained phenomena, often involving cutting-edge and unconventional science. Throughout the series, they also confront major threats attempting to break through from a parallel universe, a universe to which each of the main characters has a personal connection.

Fans of the sci-fi series Fringe will soon have a new way to watch! Just over 13 years after it ended, all five seasons will be available to stream for free on Pluto TV starting March 1st. It joins a growing collection of sci-fi favorites on the platform, including classics like The X-Files, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and Stargate SG-1.

Despite a rocky start with mixed reviews, Fringe eventually gained a dedicated following and critical praise. Starring Anna Torv (known from The Last of Us), Joshua Jackson (Doctor Odyssey), and John Noble (Lord of the Rings), the show received widespread acclaim from its second season onward. However, ratings declined, especially after the network moved it to Friday nights – a timeslot often considered detrimental to a show’s success.

Declining viewership led to the decision to conclude the show after a shortened fifth season. Fortunately, the show’s creators, Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman, had anticipated this and developed a satisfying ending that critics and fans generally liked. Since then, Fringe has gained a dedicated cult following, similar to J.J. Abrams’ earlier success, Lost, thanks to its distinctive use of parallel universes and complex storytelling.

It’s interesting and potentially a great move that Fringe is now available on Pluto TV. Previously shown on Fox, and more recently streaming on Hulu and Disney+, the series was also available to rent or buy digitally. This deal with the Paramount Skydance platform makes people wonder if other popular shows will follow and also stream on Pluto TV.

As a huge fan of sci-fi, I was thrilled to see Fringe land on Pluto TV! It’s especially interesting because The X-Files just arrived on the platform a couple of months ago and absolutely blew up – it quickly became one of their most popular shows, and the #1 VOD hit with men aged 35-49. Since Fringe was always compared to The X-Files back when it originally aired, I have a feeling it might see a similar boost in viewers now that it’s easily accessible again.

Now that ‘Fringe’ is available to stream for free, news of a potential ‘X-Files’ reboot starring Danielle Deadwyler has emerged. While the creators haven’t officially confirmed anything, executive producer Akiva Goldsman has mentioned previous discussions about reviving ‘Fringe,’ but they couldn’t come up with a compelling story. If ‘Fringe’ performs well on Pluto TV, the team might reconsider revisiting that world.

Read More

2026-02-27 20:58