Lincoln Lee

Actor Seth Gabel was initially hired as a guest star for one episode, the second season finale "Over There Part 1".[8] 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.[9] 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.[8] 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.[8]

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."[9] Gabel was upgraded to a season regular for the show's fourth season.[10] As executive producer Jeff Pinkner explained, "We just fell in love with him, which is why we wanted to bring him back. Thus far, we’ve spent very little time with one version of him, the Lincoln Lee on their side, so I think that we’ll probably want to explore his character as well."[11]

Despite identical life events, the personalities of the two Lincolns vary significantly between universes. This is a curiosity that the Lincoln from the primary universe dwells on after he crosses over to help with a shapeshifter related case in the alternate universe.

The primary universe Lincoln is a reserved "nice guy" whose thick black glasses and neatly side parted hair underscore his mundane sense of style. While he's a capable agent, he exhibits undertones of lack of confidences in himself with respect to relationships, and feelings of inadequacy socially and professionally. These feelings are amplified in the presence of his partner in the 2nd timeline, Olivia Dunham, who he expresses romantic interest in, but with whom a romantic relationship is out of reach.

Unlike his primary universe counterpart, the Lincoln in the alternate universe is upbeat and outgoing, and from the perception of primary universe Lincoln, grandiose, "arrogant" and "narcissistic". Forgoing the suit and tie, alternate universe Lincoln gravitates towards a more "bad boy" image, which consists of T-shirts, leather jackets, and spiked hair. He does not wear glasses. Despite their differences, commonalities can occasionally be seen in the personalities of the two Lincolns. In the episode "Immortality",[4] for example, when the Lincoln from the alternate universe is promoted to captain after the untimely death of the alternate universe Broyles, he confesses to his longtime partner, "Fauxlivia", his lack of confidence and feelings of doubt as to his abilities to fill Broyles' shoes, commenting that he "feels like he's missing something, that Broyles would see something he wouldn't"

Like the Lincoln in the primary universe, alternate universe Lincoln seems to possess a romantic interest in "his" Olivia Dunham (Fauxlivia) as well, and as in the primary universe, these feelings are not entirely reciprocated, the relationship remaining a friendship. However unlike primary universe Lincoln, alternate universe Lincoln doesn't seem to be nearly as bothered by this.

Seth Gabel has been praised for his performance as Lincoln Lee.

Gabel's character is popular among fans of the series.[9] For Gabel's third episode appearance, Jason Hughes of AOL TV 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.[12] 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."[13]

Numerous writers have praised the relationship between Lincoln Lee and Charlie Francis;[12][14][15] 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."[16]

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."[17] In April 2012, SFX ranked the character among the twenty things they love about the series, explaining that "Fringe has a way of subtly sneaking characters under your nose until you suddenly realise you adore them. Nowhere is this more evident than with Seth Gabel’s Lincoln Lee."[18]