Fringe - "6995 kHz"

Fauxlivia (Anna Torv) watches as the excavation crew uncovers something very important.
Photo Credit: FOX

Review by Paul Steven Brown

'Fringe'
Season 3 - Episode 6
"6995 kHz"

'Fringe' has been on freakin' fire this season and tonight's episode was a bit of a game-changer as far as the overall mythology is concerned. We've been told that The Machine that Walternate had Peter working on is a piece of "ancient technology". Now we have our first clue as to who created it. Apparently, there was a race of people that lived on Earth before humans, created or tapped into something called "The Vacuum", and were wiped out completely and thoroughly, since there is nary a trace of them anymore.

So who where these first people? I wouldn't be surprised if there is a connection to the lost city of Atlantis, which Walter mentioned as possible connection. I bet the Observers are directly connected to them. Speaking of which, other than the usual "Where's Waldo?" cameos, September and his pale, bald friends haven't popped up at all this season.

Also, the first real doubts about her mission are beginning to show in Fauxlivia. She orders the shapeshifter agent to stop the memory wiping broadcasts because enough innocent people have died. She's defending people on our side, her supposed enemy. Maybe her deep cover has given her some perspective, much like the shapeshifter cop that had a wife and son in "Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?" if not a growing affection for this alternate world. She did appear awfully happy with the prospect of seeing U2 in concert and we know that she knew nothing of Bono when she first crossed over.

Another interesting development was the emergence of our Astrid as a code cracker. While at first Astrid's eventual deciphering of the number stations may appear way too convenient, it actually points to her actually having an innate ability to see patterns and break down sequences. Alt-Astrid is something of a living computer and she is constantly spitting out percentages and discerning patterns in world around her. Maybe "over there" Alt-Astrid's natural gifts were artificially enhanced due to their more advance technology.

I was glad to see Nina used in more than an exposition capacity this episode. She and Walter have known each other for a very long time and now that he is in charge of Massive Dynamic, I hope we get to see these old friends interact more. I wonder if the writers will address her strongly hinted at relationship with Broyle ever again. It seems to have been pushed to the side after the end of the first season.

"6995 kHz" was another winner and this season has been nothing but that so far. It looks like our Olivia will be coming home soon given the nature of tonight's ending. (By the way, I loved that Statue of Liberty green-to-bronze transition!) How's Peter going to react when he realizes he's been sleeping with the wrong Liv? How will Olivia react? Will Fauxlivia come to realize that Peter is right and there has to be a solution that allows both worlds to co-exist?

I bet only Gene the Cow knows for sure.