Ever since Lost debuted back in 2004, the networks have sprinkled their Fall seasons with any number of genre fair looking to bottle that same lightning. And, for the most part, none have come close to finding their Lost, X-Files or Twin Peaks. I think these shows that instantly capture the zeitgeist before paring down to a carefully cultivated cadre of fans who would follow the show down whatever dark rabbit hole it travels, are few and far between. It’s as if mankind hasn’t the mind strength to tackle these brain benders but once a decade.

So, knowing the end was coming and that the Fall schedule would likely be chock full of another round of also-rans (Threshold, V, FlashForward, Heroes, etc.), I had the sneaking suspicion that my last Lost post would be truly bittersweet. What the hell else was I going to write about, aside from my standard nonsensical ramblings about family and whatnot? Who wants to read that, anyway?

Then it hit me. Perhaps I should pass the baton. While Lost is occupying my fever dreams of late, I have really cottoned to J.J. Abrams’ X-Files homage, Fringe, which is weeks away from closing out a stellar sophomore season.

Fringe is a curious show. I started watching it last season, lured by the Abrams stamp. I’ll watch anything this guy has his hand in – yes, even Felicity which really was a pretty decent show – and this is coming from a guy who doesn’t watch a ton of TV and when he does, sticks to the comedies or dense mythological character dramas. But Abrams won me over as a fan awhile back and I’m always eager to see what he has in store.

So, Abrams set the snare and the X-Files vibe was the bait. After all, that’s my all-time favorite TV show and although Mulder turned in his badge almost a decade ago, he’ll always be that man crush.

With all that said, Fringe should have been a slam dunk but for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it. There was a chill to the atmosphere that instead of leaving me breathless just rendered me bored. For those that don’t know, the show follows an FBI agent who is partnered with a disgraced “mad” scientist and his son to investigate strange cases that reside on the fringe of science – think things like teleportation, time travel, etc. Essentially – Fringe Division is the X-Files – which in a neat scene earlier this season got a shout out as a forebearer to Fringe division when a Congressional sub-committee classified their work as case files formerly designated ‘X’.

I had an on-again, off-again affair with show last season, until I started watching it near the end of the season last May and suddenly it clicked. The mythology they concocted (involving parallel universes) was genuinely cool, and led to a jaw-dropping finale that acted as a seed for things that are beginning to flourish now. Where I finally grabbed the hook last season, I found myself completely ensnared this year. This is a show that is rivaling Lost in terms of balancing the grand mythological beats with the smaller character drama, and it does the X-Files one better by effortlessly layering in the mythology into the stand-alone episodes. You never get the sense that the viewer is asked to sit back for a spell until the next sweep session for their next nugget of overarching plot development. They’ve been ladling this stuff all season and where it’s heading is truly compelling.