Lincoln Lee
Encyclopedia
Captain Lincoln Lee is a fictional character
on the Fox
television series Fringe
(2008-). Lincoln first appeared in the season two finale
on May 13, 2010. He is portrayed by actor Seth Gabel
.
Initially, Gabel was cast for just the finale, and did not hear about his character's return until the end of the following summer. To date he has played two versions of his character, one in each universe. The actor as been promoted to a full time regular for the series' fourth season
.
, Captain Lincoln Lee was introduced as a team leader for the parallel universe
's Fringe Division. While confronting intruders from the prime universe, or the Other Side, Lee is severely burnt by firestarter Sally Clark, leaving his fate uncertain. Lee returned in the season three premiere, "Olivia"
, where he is recovering from his burns via his universe's advanced technology. He leads a team to find the previously incarcerated Olivia Dunham
, who has escaped from Fringe Division. He is unaware that she is the Olivia from Our Side (rather than his colleague Fauxlivia, who is infiltrating the prime universe). After the death of Colonel Phillip Broyles, Lincoln is placed in charge of Fringe Division.
In "Stowaway"
, the prime universe version of Lincoln Lee is an FBI agent unaware of Fringe Division. In their first case together, he aids Olivia and Peter
in an investigation of a suicidal woman incapable of dying. In the fourth season premiere
, in which the timeline has been reset due to Peter never having existed, Lincoln is unfamiliar with fringe science, and again meets Olivia for the first time. He helps her with a case regarding his dead partner, Robert and others, who were all attacked by shapeshifting human-hybrids.
was initially hired as a guest star for one episode, the second season finale "Over There Part 1"
. Describing the character as "a scientist-slash-FBI hero", Gabel first thought he was going to look like "such a doofus holding a gun"; he and the series crew contemplated "how to make me look like a scary intimidating person", and became convinced of his portrayal after seeing the finished episode. Gabel was unsure if the character would even survive the episode, much less be a recurring character. While during shooting the episode writer/director Akiva Goldsman
continually dropped hints to the actor that Lincoln Lee would be more involved in the story, Gabel had to wait the entire summer before finding out he would be returning. Upon Gabel's return for the third season, he had to undergo four to five hours of make-up in order to show his character's burns.
In the season three episode "Stowaway"
, Gabel began playing the prime universe version of his character. The actor described this Lincoln Lee as someone in the FBI who has "no idea about Fringe Division. He's more of a desk jockey [who] eventually comes to believe there is much more than reality suggests." Gabel was upgraded to a season regular for the show's fourth season
.
After being put in charge of Fringe Division, Lincoln expresses doubt about himself, explaining that he "feels like he's missing something, that Broyles would see something he wouldn't" but he gains more confidence after apprehending the culprit.
called Lincoln "too rich a character to just abandon," a reference to the perception that Lee would be appearing in one (and possibly soon-to-be-ending) universe. Comic Book Resources
contributor Josh Wigler wrote that "Gabel’s Lee comes at us without any real shred of history. It’s a testament to his acting that the decreasingly scarred agent is as compelling as he is, given the fact that there are already countless other characters to keep track of and worry about. Lee is a welcome addition to the Fringe cast, and I hope to see him (and Acevedo) stick around for a while."
Numerous writers have praised the relationship between Lincoln Lee and Charlie Francis; Los Angeles Times
contributor Andrew Hanson noted after the season three episode "Bloodline"
, "The Lincoln/Charlie relationship might be one of my favorites on the show. Those two guys seem so natural and fun together."
In the fourth season premiere
- his first episode as a series regular - Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly
believed Gabel "made an instant, positive impression -- on us, and on the team. Maybe that Peter-shaped void won't be so hard to fill after all."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television series Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
(2008-). Lincoln first appeared in the season two finale
Over There (Fringe)
"Over There" is the two-part second-season finale of the Fox science fiction drama series Fringe. They are the 22nd and 23rd episodes of the season, and the 42nd and 43rd episodes of the series overall. Both parts were written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, together with...
on May 13, 2010. He is portrayed by actor Seth Gabel
Seth Gabel
Seth Gabel is an American actor. Gabel plays the role of agent Lincoln Lee on Fox's television series Fringe.-Career:...
.
Initially, Gabel was cast for just the finale, and did not hear about his character's return until the end of the following summer. To date he has played two versions of his character, one in each universe. The actor as been promoted to a full time regular for the series' fourth season
Fringe (season 4)
The fourth season of the American science fiction television series Fringe premiered on Fox on September 23, 2011, and will consist of 22 episodes. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television...
.
Arc
In the episode "Over There"Over There (Fringe)
"Over There" is the two-part second-season finale of the Fox science fiction drama series Fringe. They are the 22nd and 23rd episodes of the season, and the 42nd and 43rd episodes of the series overall. Both parts were written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, together with...
, Captain Lincoln Lee was introduced as a team leader for the parallel universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
's Fringe Division. While confronting intruders from the prime universe, or the Other Side, Lee is severely burnt by firestarter Sally Clark, leaving his fate uncertain. Lee returned in the season three premiere, "Olivia"
Olivia (Fringe)
"Olivia" is the first episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe. The episode was written by executive producers J. H. Wyman and Jeff Pinkner, and was directed by Joe Chappelle. The third season spent its time alternating between the prime and...
, where he is recovering from his burns via his universe's advanced technology. He leads a team to find the previously incarcerated Olivia Dunham
Olivia Dunham
FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham is a fictional character and protagonist on the Fox television series Fringe . Olivia first appeared in the pilot episode on September 9, 2008. She is portrayed by actress Anna Torv....
, who has escaped from Fringe Division. He is unaware that she is the Olivia from Our Side (rather than his colleague Fauxlivia, who is infiltrating the prime universe). After the death of Colonel Phillip Broyles, Lincoln is placed in charge of Fringe Division.
In "Stowaway"
Stowaway (Fringe)
"Stowaway" is the 17th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 60th episode overall. It followed the Fringe team's investigation into a woman, Dana Gray , who repeatedly tries to commit suicide only to meet with little success...
, the prime universe version of Lincoln Lee is an FBI agent unaware of Fringe Division. In their first case together, he aids Olivia and Peter
Peter Bishop
Peter Bishop is a fictional character on the Fox television series Fringe. He is portrayed by Joshua Jackson.-Fictional character biography:...
in an investigation of a suicidal woman incapable of dying. In the fourth season premiere
Neither Here Nor There (Fringe)
"Neither Here Nor There" is the fourth season premiere of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 1st episode and the series' 66th episode overall....
, in which the timeline has been reset due to Peter never having existed, Lincoln is unfamiliar with fringe science, and again meets Olivia for the first time. He helps her with a case regarding his dead partner, Robert and others, who were all attacked by shapeshifting human-hybrids.
Development
Actor Seth GabelSeth Gabel
Seth Gabel is an American actor. Gabel plays the role of agent Lincoln Lee on Fox's television series Fringe.-Career:...
was initially hired as a guest star for one episode, the second season finale "Over There Part 1"
Over There (Fringe)
"Over There" is the two-part second-season finale of the Fox science fiction drama series Fringe. They are the 22nd and 23rd episodes of the season, and the 42nd and 43rd episodes of the series overall. Both parts were written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, together with...
. Describing the character as "a scientist-slash-FBI hero", Gabel first thought he was going to look like "such a doofus holding a gun"; he and the series crew contemplated "how to make me look like a scary intimidating person", and became convinced of his portrayal after seeing the finished episode. Gabel was unsure if the character would even survive the episode, much less be a recurring character. While during shooting the episode writer/director Akiva Goldsman
Akiva Goldsman
Akiva J. Goldsman from Walker Valley, New York is an American screenwriter and film producer. He received an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the 2001 film, A Beautiful Mind, which also won the Oscar for Best Picture....
continually dropped hints to the actor that Lincoln Lee would be more involved in the story, Gabel had to wait the entire summer before finding out he would be returning. Upon Gabel's return for the third season, he had to undergo four to five hours of make-up in order to show his character's burns.
In the season three episode "Stowaway"
Stowaway (Fringe)
"Stowaway" is the 17th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 60th episode overall. It followed the Fringe team's investigation into a woman, Dana Gray , who repeatedly tries to commit suicide only to meet with little success...
, Gabel began playing the prime universe version of his character. The actor described this Lincoln Lee as someone in the FBI who has "no idea about Fringe Division. He's more of a desk jockey [who] eventually comes to believe there is much more than reality suggests." Gabel was upgraded to a season regular for the show's fourth season
Fringe (season 4)
The fourth season of the American science fiction television series Fringe premiered on Fox on September 23, 2011, and will consist of 22 episodes. The series is produced by Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television...
.
Personality
Lincoln is a capable agent and a devoted friend to his fellow Fringe division agents, risking his health by prematurely leaving his nano-regeneration chamber to help them. He seems to be very bad at keeping secrets, as he immediately tells Fauxlivia that her fiance intends to propose to her after having been told in confidence.After being put in charge of Fringe Division, Lincoln expresses doubt about himself, explaining that he "feels like he's missing something, that Broyles would see something he wouldn't" but he gains more confidence after apprehending the culprit.
Relationships
Lincoln Lee harbors romantic feelings for his Fringe colleague, Olivia Dunham, and even attempted kissing her before learning she had a boyfriend.Reception
Gabel's character is popular among fans of the series. For Gabel's third episode appearance, Jason Hughes of AOL TVAOL TV
AOL TV was the name of both a thin client which uses a television for display , and the online service that supports it, both of which were launched in June 2000 to compete with WebTV....
called Lincoln "too rich a character to just abandon," a reference to the perception that Lee would be appearing in one (and possibly soon-to-be-ending) universe. Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources
Comic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
contributor Josh Wigler wrote that "Gabel’s Lee comes at us without any real shred of history. It’s a testament to his acting that the decreasingly scarred agent is as compelling as he is, given the fact that there are already countless other characters to keep track of and worry about. Lee is a welcome addition to the Fringe cast, and I hope to see him (and Acevedo) stick around for a while."
Numerous writers have praised the relationship between Lincoln Lee and Charlie Francis; Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
contributor Andrew Hanson noted after the season three episode "Bloodline"
Bloodline (Fringe)
"Bloodline" is the 18th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 61st episode overall.-Plot:...
, "The Lincoln/Charlie relationship might be one of my favorites on the show. Those two guys seem so natural and fun together."
In the fourth season premiere
Neither Here Nor There (Fringe)
"Neither Here Nor There" is the fourth season premiere of the Fox science fiction drama television series Fringe. It is the season's 1st episode and the series' 66th episode overall....
- his first episode as a series regular - Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
believed Gabel "made an instant, positive impression -- on us, and on the team. Maybe that Peter-shaped void won't be so hard to fill after all."