# Whic was the better show: X-files or Fringe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 8, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127 "2013-04-08T02:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/1 "2013-04-08T02:15:05Z")
Both are off the air now and were quite similar. Overall, considering the two shows, which was the better one? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/2 "2013-04-08T02:25:36Z")
_X Files_ kept my interest. I disliked _Fringe_ intensely and quit watching after a few episodes. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/3 "2013-04-08T03:11:46Z")
I thought that _X-Files_ was primarily episodic with only a few season-long or series-long story arcs, and that _Fringe_ had a lot of arcs and only occasionally had stand-alone episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/4 "2013-04-08T07:21:49Z")
\*X-Files \*was more revolutionary, but \*Fringe \*had much more coherent plot lines, better characters and, on average, better writing. Besides, while the last season was less than completely satisfactory, the fact that they even \*tried \*a season like that shows they have far more imagination and \*cojones \*than X-files ever had. Fringe wins. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/5 "2013-04-08T16:31:38Z")
Fringe wins because it wasn’t allowed to drag on past its expiration date. Plus, Bolivia was hot. (X-Files was excellent, though) ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/6 "2013-04-08T17:04:00Z")
I think that Fringe was a bit better in quality. I enjoyed both shows quite a bit, but I think the later X-Files seasons were not as good. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/7 "2013-04-08T17:07:10Z")
Fauxlivia was hot, Bolivia was creepy. Another vote for Fringe. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/8 "2013-04-08T17:52:54Z")
Neither was all that interesting, but at least there were a handful of X-Files episodes that didn’t send me pushing the “off” button. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/9 "2013-04-08T18:14:28Z")
It’s tough to compare them given how they started at different times and were handled very differently. However, even in the bad seasons, I looked forward to the next episode of X-files and to see what they were doing. Fringe lost me at some point and while I want to get back into it, I still haven’t. Of course, X-Files has a line that really hit home for me. “Hey, I didn’t play Dungeons and Dragons all those years without learning a little something about courage.” Further, Jose Chung’s From Outer Space and Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose are still awesome. I saw X-Files years ago and it’s stuck with me more than Fringe. As someone said, though, they are different in that X-Files had stand alone episodes, with a few two or three parters, but Fringe was about an arc. So, it’s easy to come back to X-Files, knowing that it could be by a writer I like or something different. If the story arc loses me, as it did in Fringe, it’s tough to keep watching it. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/10 "2013-04-08T19:00:09Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > It’s tough to compare them given how they started at different times and were handled very differently. However, even in the bad seasons, I looked forward to the next episode of X-files and to see what they were doing. Fringe lost me at some point and while I want to get back into it, I still haven’t. > > Of course, X-Files has a line that really hit home for me. “Hey, I didn’t play Dungeons and Dragons all those years without learning a little something about courage.” > > Further, Jose Chung’s From Outer Space and Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose are still awesome. I saw X-Files years ago and it’s stuck with me more than Fringe. > > As someone said, though, they are different in that X-Files had stand alone episodes, with a few two or three parters, but Fringe was about an arc. So, it’s easy to come back to X-Files, knowing that it could be by a writer I like or something different. If the story arc loses me, as it did in Fringe, it’s tough to keep watching it. The two “X-Files” episodes that you mentioned were my favorites! The “alien conspiracy” stories were just not that good, in my opinion. I think “Fringe” did a better job with its long story arcs than the X-Files did. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/11 "2013-04-08T20:49:33Z")
We watched almost all of “Fringe” (just missed the last couple of episodes), and are currently re-watching “X-Files” - I have to give it to “Fringe” (partially just for the character of Walter alone). It was just better in all ways that I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/12 "2013-04-08T21:05:26Z")
The X-Files. Because I didn’t know Fringe existed until just now. Are they really comparable? Or is this the SDMB’s JJ Abrams bias talking? ETA: I think I’m confusing Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams again. I don’t know if the SDMB has an Abrams bias. Redacted. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/13 "2013-04-08T21:55:08Z")
The X-Files, for the incredible stand alone episodes with amazing production values. The main plot famously fell apart (after looking very promising early) but the stand alone episodes save the day. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/14 "2013-04-08T22:02:47Z")
Fringe. More coherent plot, better scripting, better acting. X-Files had a few episodes that are among the best things ever on TV, but as a whole, the series doesn’t hold together. ---
**Author:** ![knight4444](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@knight4444](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knight4444)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/15 "2014-08-30T00:12:34Z")
I’ve been watching sci fi since Star Trek aired in late 1966 and I’d say Fringe was one of the best sci fi shows EVER!! even better than the x files, but leave it to so idiot to say Anna was hot, as a factor in a show just reeks of the typical brain dead american television viewer. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/16 "2014-08-30T00:30:54Z")
> [@knight4444](#): > > …, but leave it to so idiot to say Anna was hot, as a factor in a show just reeks of the typical brain dead american television viewer. 1. Huh? 2. This was 16 months ago we were discussing it. Anyway, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/17 "2014-08-30T00:35:14Z")
I loved X-Files from the beginning, although I lost interest a bit in the last couple of years. Still, I’ll go back & watch certain episodes again, gladly. Tried to watch Fringe. It’s on Netflix. (Is it, still.) Haven’t been able to get past the first episode or 2… ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/18 "2014-08-30T01:12:02Z")
Over a year later, we finished watching all of Fringe. My wife would say equal. I’m now torn. On the one hand, Fringe had a very good overall story that was much more cohesive than X-Files. However, no individual episode of Fringe topped the ones I mentioned before, or several others, including Home, which we still talk about, Bad Blood, for the awesome perspectives, Monday, and X-Cops. (Plus Lone Gunmen episodes, which were usually good.) On the other hand, the fourth season of Fringe was a bit strange, the fifth was VERY strange, and I’m not sure the ending was as strong for me. But X-Files also ended on a very “eh” note as well, with the new cast not pulling me into it as much. So I guess I would switch my vote to equal as well. X-Files might edge them out for more overall good or fun episodes but that’s not fair as it could be a function of having been on the air for longer. A fun discussion! Thanks for the reminder about it! ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/19 "2014-08-30T01:23:00Z")
I’m still working my way through Fringe on NetFlix right now, but I’ll take it as a given that the plot does end up coherent. That would be the only point at which it beats X-Files. Better characters and better actors. Better music. A consistent mood that let you know you were watching X-Files even if you missed the opening credits. Actual suspense. In fact, Olivia and her boss are the only Fringe characters that don’t annoy me, and I liked her best in the opening season when she seemed to have a little more depth than merely playing straight man to the dysfunctional Bishop circus. The Bishops (and probably Astrid too) should have been written as the Fringe equivalent of the Lone Gunmen - there for laughs now and then, but only a couple of times a season. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127/20 "2014-08-30T01:24:45Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Tried to watch Fringe. It’s on Netflix. (Is it, still.) Haven’t been able to get past the first episode or 2… I’d give it the first season before quitting, though it actually improves quite a bit as it goes. However, if you really don’t like it at the end of season 1, it’s too much to ask to keep going. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whic-was-the-better-show-x-files-or-fringe/655127.md?page=2)