With the upcoming hullabaloo around the return of one of the greatest television shows ever – The X-Files – I decided to take a look at another show brought to us by creator Chris Carter, Millennium.
Millennium, like The X-Files, was a supernatural “monster of the week” show (although, in this case, they were serial killers… well, serial killers the first season then the villains got progressively more supernatural as the show went on…
But I digress.
Millennium came out at the height of the X-Files success, so naturally I was filled with glee when it came out in 1996. Plus, it starred Lance Henriksen – Bishop from Aliens!
The show is centered around Frank Black (Henriksen): an ex-FBI profiler now consultant for the feds working for the mysterious Millennium Group.
However, Frank has a very special power – he can see through the eyes of the killers he tracks.
The Millennium Group was formed around 100 AD. Towards the mid-20th century, J Edger Hoover started moving the group into a sophisticated web of investigative units that look in to various crimes. That was fine-tuned into what it is today; a seriously confusing plot hole that doesn’t really make sense.
The show spanned for three seasons and went off-kilter by season two – introducing more supernatural elements into the series. I feel this was because Carter released control to focus on The X-Files series and movie – this was a fatal flaw as the series was just gaining traction.
The second season focused on The Millennium Group, which was probably only half-formed at best. It also took a visual and thematic change in this season – something Carter spent quite a bit of time crafting as well as quite a bit of money from Fox. Although there were some solid episodes here, the changeup completely flipped the feel of the series.
I honestly think Carter left too soon.
By the time Carter returned, viewership had plummeted and Fox unceremoniously canceled the series after the end of the third season.
However, Henriksen killed it in the role of Black and the cast around him was solid.
The mystique and supernatural cues are pretty cool – taking it from a criminal profiler story (á la Se7en) into a grand, end-of-the-world epic. Although dated with the illogical fear of the upcoming millennium (if you don’t remember Y2K you don’t remember this show), it works.
And there were also some solid episodes, including a great one called Somehow, Satan Got Behind Me, where a group of demons discuss their lives as human corruptors and go through their own existential crises.
Although the series itself ended on a cliffhanger only to be suddenly replaced with Mad TV, there WAS a final episode within the X-Files universe in season seven. With the resurgence of the X-Files, it would be something to see if anyone were to revisit the franchise – if only for a movie.
However, I highly doubt that will happen. So, for now, we can enjoy old episodes in syndication and an Amazon rental or two – something I recommend if you’re all the way through your X-Files viewing.
Until next time…
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