The top 10 standalone episodes of Fringe you can now stream for free

The spiritual successor to The X-Files combines horror and science fiction

Pluto TV started 2026 by bringing The X-Files to its free streaming library, and it’s following that up by adding all 100 episodes of the series’ spiritual successor, Fringe. Fringe ran for five seasons from 2008 to 2013, and while it’s well worth watching its entire run, there are plenty of standalone episodes that will give you a taste of how weird showrunners Jeff Pinkner and J. H. Wyman could get.

Fringe borrows a lot from the sci-fi mystery formula The X-Files established in the 1990s. Highly competent and disciplined FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) teams up with mad scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson) to solve bizarre cases as part of the bureau’s new Fringe Division. Olivia and Peter have that classic Mulder and Scully romantic chemistry, while Walter brings in plenty of bizarre humor. Lance Reddick plays their often exasperated supervisor Phillip Broyles.

Wyman and Pinkner established a rich mythology that was far more coherent and satisfying than the alien conspiracies on The X-Files, and many of the show’s best episodes focus on that larger narrative. However, they also peppered the series with classic Monster of the Week stories, which were often really gross and disturbing. Many move the plot forward a bit, though it shouldn’t be too hard to keep up if you’ve seen other shows or movies that involve the multiverse or psychic powers. If you’re curious about Fringe, investigate these 10 episodes.

10 “The Same Old Story” season 1, episode 2

After introducing all the characters and a big conspiracy in the pilot, Pinkner and Fringe’s co-creators J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci established their spin on the Monster of the Week with “The Same Old Story.” The episode opens with some gruesome pregnancy-focused body horror that inspires the Fringe Division to go on the hunt for a serial killer. “The Same Old Story” also shows off how the team uses mad science to hunt mad scientists, as the way they gather evidence is almost as bizarre as the case itself.

9 “The Transformation” season 1, episode 13

Creating a whole new reason to be afraid of flying, “The Transformation” kicks off with a passenger on a plane who turns into a porcupine-like monster and goes on a rampage. The episode has some disturbing body horror and bizarre humor from Walter, whose investigation involves counting the creature’s nipples and delivering fun mammal facts. It also builds on Fringe’s novel approach to the Monster of the Week format by connecting the case to other seemingly unrelated episodes.

8 “Unleashed” season 1, episode 16

While the animal right activists that break into a lab in “Unleashed” don’t release anything as bad as the Rage virus in 28 Days Later, their mission does get them all messily killed. The culprit is a chimera – a fusion of numerous dangerous creatures including parasitic wasps. One Fringe Division team member is infected with its larva, setting off a race to come up with a treatment. That infection also has hilarious results later in the show’s run.

7 “August” season 2, episode 8

Wyman and Pinkner use “August” to dig into the mystery of the Observers – hairless men in suits who are often spotted watching significant events. But you don’t need to be caught up on their previous appearances to appreciate this episode. Like Wim Wenders’ beloved romantic fantasy Wings of Desire, “August” looks at what happens when an Observer falls in love with a human and decides to intervene to save her life.

6 “Johari Window” season 2, episode 12

Oscar-winner Josh Singer (Spotlight) wrote “Johari Window,” which feels very much like a classic episode of The X-Files. The Fringe team investigates the murder of two state troopers and discovers a community willing to kill to hide its secrets. The episode includes several staples of the show: the U.S. government’s wrongdoing, Walter's twisted past work, and the Fringe team wondering if some mysteries are better left alone.

5 “The Bishop Revival” season 2, episode 14

Nazis always make good villains, and “The Bishop Revival” follows one who is somehow 100 years old and using a tailored poison to kill people with specific genetic traits. It’s a disturbing story with a very fitting ending that also adds depth to Walter’s angst about his legacy and the questionable moral choices he’s made.

4 “White Tulip” season 2, episode 18

Wyman and The X-Files veteran Jeff Vlaming skillfully weave rich character development into a case-of-the-week episode in “White Tulip.” RoboCop star Peter Weller plays an astrophysics professor trying to use time travel to save his fiancee’s life. Walter finds common cause with the man based on the ways he used questionable science to deal with grief, and tries to help him with his quest even though he knows it’s likely to have unforeseen consequences.

3 “The Plateau” season 3, episode 3

This episode may be set in another universe, but Olivia is still investigating a classic case of the week. A man who took an experimental drug to raise his IQ gains such a masterful understanding of cause and effect that he can kill people by setting off complicated chain reactions with something as simple as a dropped ballpoint pen. However, there are forces at work even the killer can’t predict.

2 “Marionette” season 3, episode 9

This deeply creepy episode follows a scientist performing reverse organ donation — collecting all the pieces of a woman he was obsessed with in an attempt to rebuild her. The core case, visual effects, and somewhat sympathetic villain make this a winner as a standalone, but it’s even better if you’ve watched everything that came before as it delves into Olivia’s traumatic time in another world and her attempts to reintegrate into her old life.

1 “Making Angels” season 4, episode 11

This episode will definitely be best if you’ve gotten attached to Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole), the least appreciated member of the Fringe team, as it shows two versions of her coming together and learning about their very different lives. Even without that context, you can appreciate its case, which involves a serial killer who uses his knowledge of the future to try to prevent as much misery as possible.