Every Tuesday night, I sit with my laptop, futzing around on the Internet while watching Fringe.

I knew I’d like it – it is J.J. Abrams, after all – but the first couple of episodes promised to be as infuriatingly mysterious as Lost, but not nearly as interesting and character-driven. Whoa – was I wrong.

Even characters who seemed almost a throwaway at the start of the series – Agent Charlie Francis and Astrid Farnsworth – have developed into interesting people. Astrid’s interactions with Walter Bishop (who is absolutely my favorite character on television at the moment – if I were 20 years older and unmarried, as I remarked on Twitter this evening, I’d totally propose to him) are truly enjoyable. She takes Walter’s complete insanity so well and even manages to keep her lunch down.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about Fringe, however, is how much was answered in tonight’s finale, while still leaving the door open for plenty more that could be answered in another season. Plenty. Puh-lenty.

Seeing as the powers that be hadn’t decided whether it’d be picked up for a second season when it was filmed, I appreciate that.

We also now know why Olivia sees these weird things from time to time – mirror images of reality, but just slightly different – was that burning city she saw from the world in which the Obamas had to move into a “new White House”? (The NY Post on William Bell’s table.)

We know why Olivia’s seen her former lover many times – he is still alive; just not the one from this version of Earth.

BLEW MY MIND: The Peter we know and have grown to love is actually from this alternate world. Did NOT see that coming. Thank you J.J. Abrams. The last time I was that shocked was the realization at the end of Season 3 of Lost that we were watching a flash forward. And when we found out who the final Cylon was on Battlestar Galactica.

BLEW MY MIND EVEN MORE: If you did not choke on your tongue when you saw Olivia was in the Twin Towers, you’re lying. LYING. LYING LYING LYING. Really. I gasped. A HUGE HONKIN’ GASP. For a native New Yorker, it was kind of heartbreaking, but in a bittersweet kind of way.

My favorite lines of the night:

Peter: What else aren’t you telling me, Walter?
Walter: Lots, I’m sure, but none of it relevant.

****

Olivia: What are you doing here?
Walter: We’re trying to plug a hole in the universe. What are you doing here?

And now it’s been picked up for a second season, and this line from the preview for Season 2 is just SO J.J. Abrams: “Answers will be questioned.”

Indeed.