No one can deny the similarities ... in fact, Fox's Fringe has more X-Files in it than The X-Files had once Mulder hit the road and abandoned the series. Despite the similarities of tone and subject matter, Fringe distinguishes itself nicely, thanks to a talented cast and behind-the-scenes conspirators, Lost's J.J. Abrams and Transformer's writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

The 95-minute premiere offers a terrific introduction to the series, which deals with extremes in fringe science that just might have a mysterious effect on the human race. The pilot episode is well written, with a balance of excitement, scariness and humor that keeps us entertained while the mystery is being uncovered. By the end of the episode, we start to get a hint about the bigger picture that Olivia and her unorthodox team is facing.

However, the script succeeds largely thanks to the wonderful Australian actress Anna Torv, in her breakout role as Olivia Dunham. Her Olivia has a vulnerability that makes us care what happens to her while still projecting a strength that makes her believable as a FBI agent.

While Joshua Jackson's Peter comes off a little glib and smooth in the pilot, this first episode isn't really about him. Hopefully we'll get to know him better in later episodes. On the other hand, John Noble is perfectly cast as Walter, with a depth of performance that is convincing whether he's childlike, muddled or brilliant.

There's a lot to like here in this promising pilot, from the production values to the strength of the story. That doesn't mean the episode is perfect. Fringe tends to operate in the world where travel is instantaneous, red tape is nonexistent, FBI agents don't have to answer to their bosses, and crimes can be solved in a few hours, after a concussion and a heavy dose of LSD.

That said, ignore the silly stuff and let's hope the writers keep the unbelievable bits to a minimum in the future, while expanding on the scary and fun stuff. After all, Olivia Dunham is on the trail of the truth, and the truth is out there.