| Fringe | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Region 1 DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | September 23, 2011 – May 11, 2012 |
| Season chronology | |
The fourth season of the American science fiction television series Fringe premiered on Fox on September 23, 2011, and concluded on May 11, 2012, consisting of 22 episodes. The series is produced by Bad Robot in association with Warner Bros. Television, and its showrunners were Jeff Pinkner and J. H. Wyman. The show was officially renewed for a fourth season on March 24, 2011.[1] Lead actors Anna Torv, John Noble, and Joshua Jackson reprised their roles as FBI agent Olivia Dunham and the father-son duo Walter and Peter Bishop. Previous series regulars Lance Reddick, Jasika Nicole, and Blair Brown also returned. Previous recurring guest star Seth Gabel was promoted to series regular. Prominent guest star Leonard Nimoy and first season guest star Jared Harris reprised their roles in the alternate timeline storyline. Former main cast member and previous recurring guest star Kirk Acevedo, however, did not reprise his role.
The season follows the truce between the two inextricable universes through a bridge Peter created after his consciousness was driven forward fifteen years to make a different choice in activating the doomsday device, as seen in the third-season finale. The first part of the season establishes an alternate timeline through the premise of one single character's absence: Peter himself. After being erased by the Observer named September (Michael Cerveris), subtle and drastic changes occur. An amber title sequence replaces the traditional blue opening sequence, and thus the new timeline was dubbed the "Amber timeline". The differences in history without Peter are remarked upon casually in each episode.
The fourth season received generally positive reviews by television critics. Despite its low ratings, viewership was more stable than the previous season which saw a 2.5 million viewership drop from its premiere to the finale. The season premiered with 3.48 million viewers and concluded with 3.11 million viewers. Reviewers reacted well to the reintegration of Jackson's character in the alternate timeline, the return of David Robert Jones (portrayed by Harris), and the performances of Torv and Noble, who each played differing versions of their original characters. Criticisms toward the season were pacing issues in its first-half, unanswered questions regarding strong similarities in established history despite Peter's absence, and lack of answers. The series was renewed for a reduced thirteen-episode fifth and final season on April 26, 2012, of which this season's episode "Letters of Transit" serves as an introduction.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (March 24, 2011). "'Fringe' renewed for a fourth season". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 24, 2011.