Every Tuesday night, I sit with my laptop, futzing around on the Internet while watching Fringe.

I knew I’d like it – it is J.J. Abrams, after all – but the first couple of episodes promised to be as infuriatingly mysterious as Lost, but not nearly as interesting and character-driven. Whoa – was I wrong.

Even characters who seemed almost a throwaway at the start of the series – Agent Charlie Francis and Astrid Farnsworth – have developed into interesting people. Astrid’s interactions with Walter Bishop (who is absolutely my favorite character on television at the moment – if I were 20 years older and unmarried, as I remarked on Twitter this evening, I’d totally propose to him) are truly enjoyable. She takes Walter’s complete insanity so well and even manages to keep her lunch down.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about Fringe, however, is how much was answered in tonight’s finale, while still leaving the door open for plenty more that could be answered in another season. Plenty. Puh-lenty.

Seeing as the powers that be hadn’t decided whether it’d be picked up for a second season when it was filmed, I appreciate that.

We also now know why Olivia sees these weird things from time to time – mirror images of reality, but just slightly different – was that burning city she saw from the world in which the Obamas had to move into a “new White House”? (The NY Post on William Bell’s table.)

We know why Olivia’s seen her former lover many times – he is still alive; just not the one from this version of Earth.

BLEW MY MIND: The Peter we know and have grown to love is actually from this alternate world. Did NOT see that coming. Thank you J.J. Abrams. The last time I was that shocked was the realization at the end of Season 3 of Lost that we were watching a flash forward. And when we found out who the final Cylon was on Battlestar Galactica.

BLEW MY MIND EVEN MORE: If you did not choke on your tongue when you saw Olivia was in the Twin Towers, you’re lying. LYING. LYING LYING LYING. Really. I gasped. A HUGE HONKIN’ GASP. For a native New Yorker, it was kind of heartbreaking, but in a bittersweet kind of way.

My favorite lines of the night:

Peter: What else aren’t you telling me, Walter?
Walter: Lots, I’m sure, but none of it relevant.

****

Olivia: What are you doing here?
Walter: We’re trying to plug a hole in the universe. What are you doing here?

And now it’s been picked up for a second season, and this line from the preview for Season 2 is just SO J.J. Abrams: “Answers will be questioned.”

Indeed.

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I’ve been catching up on all sorts of shows lately, so I thought I’d just wrap up some thoughts on some of what I’ve been watching:

Burn Notice

I think Michael Westen got his groove back. I absolutely adored Season 1. I enjoyed individual episodes in Season 2, but as a whole it left me feeling sort of meh.

But the bickering between Sam and Fiona, the weekly escapades of being a good guy, the decreased emphasis on the overarching mythology (c’mon, we have enough of that with Lost and BSG), Michael’s MacGyveristic tendencies and the goofiness of Sam’s love life (right now, I’m watching the scene where Sam is trying to talk to the lady of his dreams while taking down a bad guy) – nevermind Michael’s mom (Sharon Gless is totally awesome).

All of that adds up to a weekly 40+ minutes of goofy enjoyment.

And Romo Lampkin as a bad guy? Love it.

Fringe

OK, it’s J.J. Abrams, so I was bound to love it.

But the show has my favorite character currently on television – Dr. Walter Bishop.

The man opens his mouth and I laugh. The other week, I recall, someone said something about needing to cut someone open. His response: “Oh goodie, I love to cut.” Or something along those lines.

I giggle almost as much during Fringe as I laugh out loud during 30 Rock.

The whole underlying mythology? I can take it or leave it. I can’t expend that much mental energy on more than one J.J. Abrams special at a time, and Lost is taking up more than its share these days.

What I really like about the show is that even though there’s this mythology, each week can be taken in and of itself. It’s as close as I come to enjoying a procedural. Granted, it’s a procedural that involves the ability to enter someone else’s consciousness and other weirdness, but that’s par for the course with me.

Life on Mars

While I do wonder about the reason Sam’s back in 1973, I watch each week for Harvy Keitel and Michael Imperioli. Keitel’s cop is my second-favorite character on television these days, behind only Dr. Walter Bishop (see Fringe, above).

And Imperioli’s 1970s sexist pig is a joy to behold. Loved it when Annie basically saved his life this week. And Annie’s relationship with Sam is super-cute, too.

Brothers & Sisters

Loved it the first season.

Second season, started to wane.

This season? Pretty much over it, but I still watch most weeks. Dunno why. Can’t help it. Must stop.

Flight of the Conchords

If you’re not watching this show, you are missing one of the funniest things ever on television. “Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor” almost rival’s last year’s “HipHopOpotamus v. the Rhymenoceros.”

Please, for the love of all that’s holy, just watch this show.

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