Through the Glass Darkly
The often forgotten television series is overshadowed by its more popular counterpart the X-Files.
Most might not remember the short lived, yet highly inventive, series called Millennium. A series so dark in its enriching tapesry, relentless gloomy, that one is not surprised at the shortness of its life. Millennium is like breaf glimpse into the dark heart of humanity. With whims of faith and biblical prophies wrapped around this series. The downhill struggle of people with their souls hanging on a thread.
A definite landmark in the horror genre.
The series was supposed to run for four seasons with a countdown rushing towards a conclusion in the year 2000. It never got that far. It ran for three seasons before seeing the fatal ax coming down. That ax to grind unfornately took away the last gasp this series had.
What were the reasons for the cancellation? Perhaps graphic content offended some. The use of children as victims, always a number one rule in the field of horror fiction. Leave the children alone. A rule that the series repeatedly broke at the face of some public outrage. The same rule Stephen King wrung in the book Pet Cemetery before children became fatal victims in a story.
The whole viewing grew morose, dark, like digging under the charred ruins.
Not exactly family entertainment for a late night viewing.
More than that.
It was a series that did push the evelope more. Probably one of the best horror TV shows to come out of the woodwork apart from the American Gothic series during the 1990s. There's a definite grand design in the series that unfolded throughout like a canvas, showing a downward sprial for all of humanity to suffer. It continued to give shunned photographs of television viewing into the most wretched.
Created by Chris Carter while cashing in on the popularity of his X-Files phenomena. And why wouldn't he? Though he came up with a show that surprisingly got passed the televsion censors at the time. It was a practice in darkness. Truly.
Some might not agree with the merits of the series. However, it was a courageous and headstrong series that offered a poetic storytelling while nuturing on the elements of horror to fit inside an episodic series. With repeated viewings of this series, and a laspe of time rushing passed us, there is a feeling that this series has finally become better fitting in today's retrospective. Considering the current presidential administration falling deeper into a religious war in the Middle East, the audience might've like this series better now. Such a show like Milleninum would have been a perfect showcase for today's audiences. Faith is now not trusted. The patheon of gods and deamons become martyrs for people to worship.
People of today are split up by diffences of opinions. More polorized, far more dischanted. The difference of religion driving a further spike between the people. The chasms always growing wider. Millenium does portray such things in the episodes.
It is probably second season that remains the most significant in storytelling and atmosphere, also direction. The X-Files creative writing team in Glen Morgan and James Wong weaved many stories here of dread and horror. And their intriguing mythology were solified here with the Millennium group, furthering their mystery and awe. A group of advisors, dealing with the religious events of the bible that may relate to today's world. There are appearances by many religous artifacts including a sampling of the cross of the cruxifiction that offers great powers. There is also the Hand of St. Sebastian that brings a wealth of power to the group.
The ongoing writing of these episodes, the mythology episodes, are always well done. You would also get to see a good performance by Charles Nelson Reily, reprising his role from the X-Files series. For those who are always interested in reading the book of the revelations, or just like the history of the bible, the series plunge into some interesting stories which discusses the importance of catastrophic events and the mayhem that religion may cause.
The series takes on a philophical look on the secular direction the human race is also taking. Episodes like "Owls" and "Roosters," a two parter story in the middle of the season, is a further thrust into this argument. Where the group becomes more increasingly sinister in its intent. Where brother is going against brother. It becomes fasinating. Then, setting apart from the rest of the serious attitude, there is a funny episode called "Satan, Somehow Get Behind Me," a very funny look at how demons pass the time at a donut shop.
Certainly one of the most imporant components of the series is the always wonderful performance by Lance Henrickson. He plays Frank Black, a forensics profilers, tortured with a gift. He brings to the series an incredible presence. His words sound like crushed glass, his eyes carry a looming grace of the mundane.
Frank Black sees through the eyes of seriel killers. That would be enough to drive any man crazy.
You can believe this man has a wounded soul. His ability to see into things, such as the future, makes him a dangerous man often. Henrickson is one of my favorite actors. It is always a pleasure to see him give 100% into his role.
For those worrying that the series never reached a conclusion, there's a kicker. On the third season DVD box set of Millennium, you can find the very final episode which wraps up everything the series intended. Perhaps a little too pat. However, the appearance of Frank Black in the X-Files is a much needed final resting place for the series to end. And it brings a certain finality which is somewhat satisfactory conclusion to the apocalypic series.
Despite the dark trends of the series, there are small shining beacons of light especially Frank Black's daughter Jordan, played to perfection by Brittany Tiplady, who always brings a great smile and a postive heart in the middle of all the fixed goom that hangs like a madness. The young actress is commended for her acting skills.
The series is ultimatly about belief. Whether the character Frank Black understands the undergoing changes of the world taking place, he is always protective of his own family. And it is his family that he loves very much. He is a good man caught in a middle of a moral storm. The fate of humanity falls like a shaking leaf. And leaves only a simple thing like belief to hang onto. And, for the rest of us, we need to believe in something in order to live. Frank Black believed in his family.
Most might not remember the short lived, yet highly inventive, series called Millennium. A series so dark in its enriching tapesry, relentless gloomy, that one is not surprised at the shortness of its life. Millennium is like breaf glimpse into the dark heart of humanity. With whims of faith and biblical prophies wrapped around this series. The downhill struggle of people with their souls hanging on a thread.
A definite landmark in the horror genre.
The series was supposed to run for four seasons with a countdown rushing towards a conclusion in the year 2000. It never got that far. It ran for three seasons before seeing the fatal ax coming down. That ax to grind unfornately took away the last gasp this series had.
What were the reasons for the cancellation? Perhaps graphic content offended some. The use of children as victims, always a number one rule in the field of horror fiction. Leave the children alone. A rule that the series repeatedly broke at the face of some public outrage. The same rule Stephen King wrung in the book Pet Cemetery before children became fatal victims in a story.
The whole viewing grew morose, dark, like digging under the charred ruins.
Not exactly family entertainment for a late night viewing.
More than that.
It was a series that did push the evelope more. Probably one of the best horror TV shows to come out of the woodwork apart from the American Gothic series during the 1990s. There's a definite grand design in the series that unfolded throughout like a canvas, showing a downward sprial for all of humanity to suffer. It continued to give shunned photographs of television viewing into the most wretched.
Created by Chris Carter while cashing in on the popularity of his X-Files phenomena. And why wouldn't he? Though he came up with a show that surprisingly got passed the televsion censors at the time. It was a practice in darkness. Truly.
Some might not agree with the merits of the series. However, it was a courageous and headstrong series that offered a poetic storytelling while nuturing on the elements of horror to fit inside an episodic series. With repeated viewings of this series, and a laspe of time rushing passed us, there is a feeling that this series has finally become better fitting in today's retrospective. Considering the current presidential administration falling deeper into a religious war in the Middle East, the audience might've like this series better now. Such a show like Milleninum would have been a perfect showcase for today's audiences. Faith is now not trusted. The patheon of gods and deamons become martyrs for people to worship.
People of today are split up by diffences of opinions. More polorized, far more dischanted. The difference of religion driving a further spike between the people. The chasms always growing wider. Millenium does portray such things in the episodes.
It is probably second season that remains the most significant in storytelling and atmosphere, also direction. The X-Files creative writing team in Glen Morgan and James Wong weaved many stories here of dread and horror. And their intriguing mythology were solified here with the Millennium group, furthering their mystery and awe. A group of advisors, dealing with the religious events of the bible that may relate to today's world. There are appearances by many religous artifacts including a sampling of the cross of the cruxifiction that offers great powers. There is also the Hand of St. Sebastian that brings a wealth of power to the group.
The ongoing writing of these episodes, the mythology episodes, are always well done. You would also get to see a good performance by Charles Nelson Reily, reprising his role from the X-Files series. For those who are always interested in reading the book of the revelations, or just like the history of the bible, the series plunge into some interesting stories which discusses the importance of catastrophic events and the mayhem that religion may cause.
The series takes on a philophical look on the secular direction the human race is also taking. Episodes like "Owls" and "Roosters," a two parter story in the middle of the season, is a further thrust into this argument. Where the group becomes more increasingly sinister in its intent. Where brother is going against brother. It becomes fasinating. Then, setting apart from the rest of the serious attitude, there is a funny episode called "Satan, Somehow Get Behind Me," a very funny look at how demons pass the time at a donut shop.
Certainly one of the most imporant components of the series is the always wonderful performance by Lance Henrickson. He plays Frank Black, a forensics profilers, tortured with a gift. He brings to the series an incredible presence. His words sound like crushed glass, his eyes carry a looming grace of the mundane.
Frank Black sees through the eyes of seriel killers. That would be enough to drive any man crazy.
You can believe this man has a wounded soul. His ability to see into things, such as the future, makes him a dangerous man often. Henrickson is one of my favorite actors. It is always a pleasure to see him give 100% into his role.
For those worrying that the series never reached a conclusion, there's a kicker. On the third season DVD box set of Millennium, you can find the very final episode which wraps up everything the series intended. Perhaps a little too pat. However, the appearance of Frank Black in the X-Files is a much needed final resting place for the series to end. And it brings a certain finality which is somewhat satisfactory conclusion to the apocalypic series.
Despite the dark trends of the series, there are small shining beacons of light especially Frank Black's daughter Jordan, played to perfection by Brittany Tiplady, who always brings a great smile and a postive heart in the middle of all the fixed goom that hangs like a madness. The young actress is commended for her acting skills.
The series is ultimatly about belief. Whether the character Frank Black understands the undergoing changes of the world taking place, he is always protective of his own family. And it is his family that he loves very much. He is a good man caught in a middle of a moral storm. The fate of humanity falls like a shaking leaf. And leaves only a simple thing like belief to hang onto. And, for the rest of us, we need to believe in something in order to live. Frank Black believed in his family.
posted by K.M. Paters at 5:15 PM
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