8 p.m. tomorrow on KSWB/Channel 69 (Cable 5); 9 p.m. Tuesdays thereafter.

BEN MARK HOLZBERG / Fox In "Fringe" Anna Torv plays an FBI agent who goes to great lengths to investigate a conspiracy known as "The Pattern."

From the freaky mind of “Lost” co-creator J.J. Abrams comes a thriller about a deadly plane accident, an unlikely bunch of heroes and a shadowy conspiracy known as “The Pattern.” Hmmmm. Anna Torv stars as the dogged FBI agent who gets the ball rolling, with John Noble (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”) and Joshua Jackson (“Dawson's Creek”) as the men of science who back her up.

Good news first: Top-notch cast (including Lance Reddick of “The Wire”), awesome car chases and explosions, and some devilishly clever lines delivered by the foxy Noble. And young Jackson has grown up quite nicely.

Second thoughts: Surprising bouts of sluggishness brought on by too much scientific mumbo-jumbo. A twist that's not as surprising as it should be. Did we mention “Fringe” is also confusing?

Early verdict: It doesn't have the Saturday-matinee appeal of “Lost,” but this intriguing drama is well worth a second or third look.

– KARLA PETERSON