Sci Fi TV Genre Gems: Forgotten magic and hidden treasures from the worlds of sci fi TV
What Is It? This series focuses on ex-FBI agent Frank Black who previously worked for the Burea as a criminal profiler and who has a unique ability to “see” the crime scene from the eyes of the killer. He now works as a consultant for the Millennium group solving crimes while also looking for evidence to support the group’s belief that evil forces are coming together and present a threat to humanity as the end of the second millennium approaches. Frank also tries to balance his work life with the one he has with his wife Catherine and daughter Jordan to help himself from being overcome by the darkness he faces.
Aired: FOX, 1996-99, 3 Seasons Totaling 67 Episodes
Created By: Chris Carter
Starring: Lance Henriksen, Megan Gallagher, Brittany Tiplady, Terry O’Quinn, Kristen Cloke, Klea Scott
Why It Stands Out: This series went to some really dark places, but it provided well-written stories and good drama that explored that darkside of human nature that was its focus.
Is It Must-Watch Sci Fi? Yes. The first two seasons are definitely must-watch, and the third season had its share of good episodes as well (though it leaves the viewers on a cliffhanger).
The Skinny: When The X-Files proved to be a hit for FOX, the network offered Chris Carter the chance to produce a second show which he quickly jumped on. He had already come up with an idea for a series while working on the X-Files episode “Irresistible” and he wanted the show to focus on human monsters as opposed to the alien and paranormal creatures his other series explored. The first season delivered mostly serial-killer-of-the-week episodes, though it fully utilized the formula to explore the darkness of humanity as well as apocalyptic themes while juxtaposing Frank’s relationship with his family as a beacon of hope.
Starting with the second season, Glen Morgan and James Wong came onboard as showrunners and they explored more of the supernatural themes hinted at in the first season while also taking a deeper look at the Millennium group. That season ended on a very apocalyptic note that suggested it would not return, but FOX did decide to bring the show back for a third year. The tone changed again (Morgan and Wong had departed by that time), and the new season offered a mix of procedural stories along with episodes that continued to delve into the motivations of the Millennium group.
Even though the show had differences in approach and tone across its three seasons, it did have a thematic consistency relating to the mysteries of the Millennium group (even if their role did change throughout the show’s run) and the looming fear of a pending apocalypse. But what really held the show together was the characters and the actors who portrayed them. Lance Henriksen is of course at the center as Frank Black, and his performance is spot-on perfect as the ex-profiler who gives the appearance of being in control but who is fraught with inner turmoil. His family plays an important part of the story as well along with Terry O’Quinn’s gripping performance as Peter Watts, the Millennium operative we never know if we can trust. Also adding to the strength of the cast was Kristen Cloke as Lara Means during the show’s second season and Klea Scott coming onboard as Emma Hollis in the final season.
Sadly, this show has mostly fallen off the radar since it originally aired, and it is typically not mentioned in best-of conversations relating to genre television. The X-Files usually gets the most attention among Chris Carter’s creations, and that one truly counts as a sci fi TV classic. But Millennium accomplished a lot during its run as well. It was very different from the other offerings on television at the time it aired and in many ways acted as the predecessor to the dark TV that would follow with shows like The Sopranos, Dexter, and Breaking Bad. It also delivered a very cinematic experience, something we have taken for granted of late with the high production values we see from the streaming originals and other high-profile series, but which was not common at that time. This is definitely a show that is worth seeking out, if you have only watched it during its first run or if you have never seen it at all, because it still holds up and it delivers an excellent television drama.
Cancelled Too Soon? Yes. The show faced cancellation during its second season and wrapped up on a rather apocalyptic note. But FOX decided to bring it back for a third year and change up the format to go back to more of the investigation episodes we saw in the first season. That did not help the ratings, though, and the network cancelled the show on a cliffhanger ending. A crossover with The X-Files followed the next year, but that hardly proved to be a satisfying conclusion. (You can read more about the cancellation at this link.)
Should It Be Rebooted? A complete reboot? Absolutely not! But a revival similar to what The X-Files had a few years back definitely needs to happen. This show needs to return for at least a shortened season or perhaps even a movie to give it the conclusion it deserves. Much of the cast and crew are onboard with this and Lance Henriksen has lobbied for a revival several times. The excellent documentary Millennium After the Millennium takes a look back at the show and its influence and also suggests how it could move forward and wrap up the tale that it started. The Back to Frank Black movement has tried for years to get something moving on this front. And Millennium fans should stay tuned and be ready for a Call to Action as efforts continue to try and bring the show back for at least one more round.
Interesting Fact: FOX executives wanted William Hurt to play the part of Frank Black. Chris Carter insisted on Lance Henriksen for the role and eventually won out. Carter previously had to fight for Gillian Anderson to get the role of Dana Scully in The X-Files as the network preferred an actress who was “taller, leggier, blonder and breastier”.
Where Can You Watch It? The complete series has been released on DVD, though the third season appears to be out of print and third-party sellers are asking a hefty price for the entire run. Sadly, it is not currently available for streaming, though efforts are underway to interest Hulu, Shudder or other streamers to pick the show up (more on that at this link).
Read More About the Show: Wikipedia | IMDb.com
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