| Fringe | |
|---|---|
| Season 5 | |
 Region 1 DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | September 28, 2012 – January 18, 2013 |
| Season chronology | |
The fifth and final season of the American Fox science fiction television series Fringe premiered on September 28, 2012, and concluded on January 18, 2013.[1] The series is produced by Bad Robot in association with Warner Bros. Television. The show was officially renewed for a 13-episode fifth season on April 26, 2012.[2] The fifth season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in region 1 on May 7, 2013.[3]
J. H. Wyman served as a sole showrunner during the last season, with four other writers: Alison Schapker, Graham Roland, David Fury and Kristin Cantrell. Lead actors Anna Torv, John Noble, Joshua Jackson, Jasika Nicole reprised their roles as Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, Peter Bishop, and Astrid Farnsworth, respectively. Previous series regulars Lance Reddick, Blair Brown and Seth Gabel returned as special guest stars.
This season takes place in 2036, the Observer-ruled dystopian future previously seen in Season 4's "Letters of Transit". The opening sequence for the season retains the one featured in "Letters of Transit", with terms including community, freedom, joy, imagination, individuality and free will.
The ninth episode of the season, "Black Blotter", serves as a "19th episode", showing hallucinations from Walter's drug trip. The hunt for the tapes which contain the plan to defeat the Observers, serve as the way to contain one story into one episode, thus creating a procedural side of storytelling.
The fifth season was received positively by television critics, earning 78 out of 100 on the aggregate review website Metacritic, indicating a "generally favorable" critical reception. Reviewers praised the conclusion of the story, with most critics lauding the final scene. They said that the finale satisfied hardcore fans, created a great integration of elements from previous seasons and made a natural conclusion for the characters.
- ^ Jensen, Jeff (July 1, 2012). "Comic-Con Exclusive: Sneak peek at 'Fringe' poster... and Observageddon!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ Hibberd, James (April 26, 2012). "Official: 'Fringe' renewed for final season!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
- ^ Lambert, David (January 23, 2013). "Fringe - Spring Date, Pricing, Extras and Early Art for 'The Complete 5th and Final Season'". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.