"Millennium" (1996/I)TV series 1996-1999

Creator:

Chris Carter
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

25 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

We don't want to scare you. We want to terrify you. (1997 Advertisement)

Plot:

A former FBI profiler with the ability to look inside the mind of a killer begins working for the mysterious Millennium Group.

Plot Keywords:

Good Versus Evil | Disturbing | Surreal | Apocalypse | Religion

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Lance Henriksen	...	Frank Black (67 episodes, 1996-1999)
Brittany Tiplady	...	Jordan Black (40 episodes, 1996-1999)
Terry O'Quinn	...	Peter Watts (40 episodes, 1996-1999)
Megan Gallagher	...	Catherine Black (32 episodes, 1996-1999)

(more)

Series Directed by
Thomas J. Wright		(26 episodes, 1996-1999)
Paul Shapiro		(5 episodes, 1998-1999)
Winrich Kolbe		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)
David Nutter		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ralph Hemecker		(3 episodes, 1996-1998)
Dwight H. Little		(3 episodes, 1997-1999)
Allen Coulter		(3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Jim Charleston		(2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Peter Markle		(2 episodes, 1997-1999)
Darin Morgan		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Rod Pridy		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Kenneth Fink		(2 episodes, 1998-1999)

Series Writing credits
Chris Carter		(67 episodes, 1996-1999)
Glen Morgan		(15 episodes, 1996-1998)
James Wong		(15 episodes, 1996-1998)
Chip Johannessen		(13 episodes, 1996-1999)
Patrick Harbinson		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)
Frank Spotnitz		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)
Michael R. Perry		(5 episodes, 1998-1999)
Ted Mann		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Erin Maher		(4 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kay Reindl		(4 episodes, 1997-1999)
Ken Horton		(3 episodes, 1998-1999)
Jorge Zamacona		(2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Darin Morgan		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Robert Moresco		(2 episodes, 1997)
Michael Duggan		(2 episodes, 1998)
Marjorie David		(2 episodes, 1999)

Series Produced by
Chris Carter	....	executive producer (67 episodes, 1996-1999)
Chip Johannessen	....	consulting producer / executive producer / ... (67 episodes, 1996-1999)
John Peter Kousakis	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (67 episodes, 1996-1999)
Ken Horton	....	co-executive producer (66 episodes, 1996-1999)
Paul Rabwin	....	co-producer (66 episodes, 1996-1999)
Kathy Gilroy-Sereda	....	associate producer / co-producer (45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Julie Herlocker	....	associate producer / co-producer (45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Thomas J. Wright	....	producer (45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Frank Spotnitz	....	co-executive producer / co-producer (44 episodes, 1996-1999)
Robert Moresco	....	co-producer (44 episodes, 1996-1998)
Glen Morgan	....	executive producer / consulting producer (36 episodes, 1996-1998)
James Wong	....	executive producer / consulting producer (36 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jon-Michael Preece	....	associate producer (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Darin Morgan	....	consulting producer (23 episodes, 1997-1998)
Patrick Harbinson	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Michael R. Perry	....	co-producer / producer (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Ken Dennis	....	co-producer (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ted Mann	....	consulting producer (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jorge Zamacona	....	co-executive producer (12 episodes, 1996-1997)
Marjorie David	....	supervising producer (8 episodes, 1999)
Michael Duggan	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 1998)
Laurence Andries	....	co-producer (6 episodes, 1998)
Daniel Sackheim	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Mark Snow		(67 episodes, 1996-1999)

Series Cinematography by
Robert McLachlan		(65 episodes, 1996-1999)

Series Film Editing by
Stephen Mark		(8 episodes, 1996-1997)
George Potter		(8 episodes, 1996-1997)
Chris G. Willingham		(8 episodes, 1996-1997)
James Coblentz		(2 episodes, 1997-1998)
Peter B. Ellis		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Randy Stone		(26 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Production Design by
Mark S. Freeborn		(30 episodes, 1997-1998)
Sheila Haley		(10 episodes, 1996-1997)
James Cordeiro		(unknown episodes, 1998)

Series Art Direction by
James Steuart		(11 episodes, 1997)
Roxanne Methot		(8 episodes, 1996-1997)
Sandi Tanaka		(4 episodes, 1997-1998)

Series Set Decoration by
Mark Lane		(45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Erik Gerlund		(10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Louise Roper		(9 episodes, 1997)

Series Costume Design by
Diane Widas		(26 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Makeup Department
Brenda Gibson	....	hair stylist (24 episodes, 1996-1997)
Dianne Pelletier	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Carolyn Stewart	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 1997-1998)
Natalie Cosco	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1997)
Adam Behr	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Victoria Down	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Mike Fields	....	assistant special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Rachel Griffin	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Shauna Magrath	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Ryan Nicholson	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Michael Pachal	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Leanne Rae Podavin	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Geoff Redknap	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Deborah Slonowski	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Tony Wohlgemuth	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Vince Yoshida	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Kathy Gilroy-Sereda	....	production manager (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Julie Herlocker	....	post-production supervisor (15 episodes, 1996-1997)
Denise Pleune	....	post-production supervisor (9 episodes, 1997-1998)
David Jeffery	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Gina Lamar	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Brent O'Connor	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Hardy	....	first assistant director (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Craig Matheson	....	first assistant director (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jerald Schoenroth	....	second assistant director (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
David Klohn	....	second assistant director (11 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andrea Beardsley	....	second unit director / trainee assistant director (unknown episodes)
Tom Braidwood	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Suzan Derkson	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Alexia S. Droz	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Darius McKinney	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Kevin Parks	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Lance Peverley	....	trainee assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes)
Guy Roland	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Kimberley Regent	....	property master (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jim Pate	....	assistant property master (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Jenny Seinen	....	head painter (14 episodes, 1997-1998)
Mike Rennison	....	construction coordinator (13 episodes, 1997-1998)
Clare Davis	....	construction coordinator (12 episodes, 1996-1997)
Marko Lytviak	....	head painter (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Barbara Wilson	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1996)
Vaughan V. Baker	....	lead hand painter (unknown episodes)
Doug Byggdin	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Wesley Collier	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Michael Dundas	....	paint forman (unknown episodes)
Clive Edwards	....	props (unknown episodes)
Brentan Harron	....	production illustrator (unknown episodes)
G. Andrew Hussey	....	lead dresser (unknown episodes)
Catherine Ircha	....	draftsperson (unknown episodes)
Paul Jenkinson	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Eija Johnson	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Michael Jovanovski	....	dresser (unknown episodes)
Nancy C. Lee	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Kate Marshall	....	assistant set decorator / set decoration buyer (unknown episodes)
Colin Matthews	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Valentine Pavuls	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
James Philpott	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Hamish Purdy	....	assistant decorator (unknown episodes)
Paul Rinaldi	....	construction coordinator (unknown episodes)
Dennis Simard	....	on-set dresser (unknown episodes)
David Paul Hewitt White	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Sean Will	....	set painter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Patrick Ramsay	....	sound mixer (34 episodes, 1996-1998)
Mark R. Crookston	....	supervising sound editor (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Bryan Gladstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (22 episodes, 1996-1998)
Don MacDougall	....	sound re-recording mixer (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
James G. Williams	....	sound re-recording mixer (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steve Coker	....	re-recording engineer (11 episodes, 1996-1997)
Nello Torri	....	sound re-recording mixer (5 episodes, 1996-1998)
Peter Kelsey	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Douglas A. Turner	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Walter Lavash	....	re-recording engineer (2 episodes, 1996)
Tom Gerard	....	sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 1997)
Rob Young	....	sound mixer (2 episodes, 1997)
Donna Beltz	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Chris Fradkin	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gabrielle Gilbert Reeves	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Ken Gladden	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
David Horner	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Kurt Kassulke	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Michael Kimball	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Eva Madden	....	sound assistant (unknown episodes)
Maciek Malish	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gary Marullo	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Jarmil Maupin	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
James L. Pearson	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Christopher B. Reeves	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Debby Ruby-Winsberg	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Salvetta	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Doug E. Turner	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Susan Welsh	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Michael T. Williamson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Bob Comer	....	special effects coordinator (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Attila Vaski	....	special effects technician (4 episodes, 1998-1999)
Chris Sturges	....	special effects assistant (4 episodes, 1998)
David Gauthier	....	special effects (unknown episodes)
Barry Hebein	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Dan Keeler	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Toby Lindala	....	special effects makeup (unknown episodes)
William D. Ryan	....	special effects first assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Glenn Campbell	....	visual effects supervisor (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Tim McHugh	....	visual effects producer (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Justin Hammond	....	digital artist / CGI animation artist (21 episodes, 1997-1998)
Bruce Woloshyn	....	digital compositing artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Tom Archer	....	digital compositing artist (unknown episodes)
Mat Beck	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Trevor Cawood	....	3D animator (unknown episodes)
Mark Franco	....	visual effects supervisor: Los Angeles (unknown episodes)
Simon Lacey	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Rosano Lepri	....	digital compositing artist (unknown episodes)
Gordon Manson	....	2D animator (unknown episodes)
Tannis Mathers	....	rotoscope artist (unknown episodes)
Stephen Pepper	....	digital compositing artist (unknown episodes)
Marc Roth	....	3D animator (unknown episodes)
Sheri Rycus-Weston	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Adam Stern	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Siouxsie Stewart	....	visual effects coordinator: Encore Visual Effects (unknown episodes)
Marc Varisco	....	visual effects supervisor: Vancouver (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Lou Bollo	....	stunt coordinator (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Nick Allen	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
James Bamford	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Janina Dall	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mike Desabrais	....	stunt double: Mark Houghton (unknown episodes)
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Joe Doserro	....	stunt double: Chris Sowden (unknown episodes)
Bill Edwards	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Corry Glass	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dave Hospes	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Yuka Kobayashi	....	stunt double: Vivian Wu (unknown episodes)
Mitchell A. Lee Yuen	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kit Mallet	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kirk McMeekan	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jovan Nenadic	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Scott Nicholson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Lori Stewart	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Marshall Virtue	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Vince Laxton	....	gaffer: second unit / rigging gaffer (39 episodes, 1996-1999)
Gilbert Jamault	....	generator operator (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Michael Wrinch	....	camera operator (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Rod Pridy	....	camera operator / camera operator: "a" camera (20 episodes, 1996-1997)
Barry Donlevy	....	gaffer (18 episodes, 1996-1997)
Les Erskine	....	director of photography: second unit (17 episodes, 1996-1997)
Brian Smith	....	key grip (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
R.K. Hill	....	key grip (12 episodes, 1996-1997)
Blair McDonald	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 1997-1998)
James Alfred Menard	....	director of photography: second unit (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Trig Singer	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Terry Calhoun	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Carol Macdonald	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (unknown episodes, 1998)
Jonathan Beament	....	daily focus puller: second unit (unknown episodes)
Fraser Boyle	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Chris Cochrane	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
David Gray	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Dean Hannas	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit (unknown episodes)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Stephen Jackson	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Nick Kuchera	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Chris Meakes	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Klaus Melchior	....	video playback coordinator (unknown episodes)
Scott Mitchell	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Saubrie Mohamed	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
John W. Scott	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
David Jones	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Scott Wheeler	....	supervising animator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Nan Dutton	....	casting: Los Angeles (51 episodes, 1996-1999)
Lisa Ratke	....	extras casting (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Coreen Mayrs	....	casting: Vancouver (25 episodes, 1996-1997)
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting associate: Vancouver (24 episodes, 1996-1998)
Debi Manwiller	....	casting: Los Angeles (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Richard Pagano	....	casting: Los Angeles (21 episodes, 1996-1997)
Alfred Gomez	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (20 episodes, 1996-1997)
Linda Grigorian	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles (3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Chadwick Cohn	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Steven K. Dry	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles (unknown episodes)
Jan Lipsky	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (unknown episodes)
Kit Mallet	....	extras casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Michelle Sison	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandra Watson	....	costume supervisor (1 episode, 1996)
Isabel Bloor	....	set costume supervisor (unknown episodes)
Anne E. Bone	....	costume set supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Robert Hudson	....	assistant editor (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Jim Thomson	....	assistant editor (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Philip Azenzer	....	colorist: DaVinci / color timer (24 episodes, 1996-1998)
Bob Minshall	....	on-line editor (11 episodes, 1996-1997)
Brian C. Baxter	....	on-line editor (6 episodes, 1996-1997)
Rob Williams	....	on-line editor (4 episodes, 1997)
Brian Q. Kelley	....	electronic editorial (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
John Price	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 1997)
Janet Gratz	....	assistant editor: avid (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Laura Rosow	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jeff Charbonneau	....	music editor (26 episodes, 1996-1998)
Larold Rebhun	....	scoring mixer (26 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Transportation Department
Mike Sassen	....	transportation captain (44 episodes, 1996-1998)
James Perenseff	....	transportation coordinator (24 episodes, 1996-1998)
Steve Ellis	....	transportation (12 episodes, 1997)
Chris J. Clayton	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Rick Giles	....	transportation co-captain (unknown episodes)
Ian 'Moss' Urquhart	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Mary Astadourian	....	assistant: Chris Carter (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Ramsey McDaniel	....	title designer: main titles (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Joanne Service	....	assistant: Chris Carter (25 episodes, 1996-1998)
Briton W. Erwin	....	production assistant (23 episodes, 1997-1998)
Patrick Harbinson	....	story editor (23 episodes, 1997-1998)
Michael R. Perry	....	executive story editor (23 episodes, 1997-1998)
Erin Maher	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kay Reindl	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Amber Woodward	....	assistant: Chris Carter (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Danny McWilliams	....	location manager (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
Toni Pedersen	....	production coordinator (12 episodes, 1996-1997)
Kimi Webber	....	script supervisor (11 episodes, 1996-1997)
Matthew Chipera	....	location manager (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Charles Holland	....	story editor (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Beth Mercer	....	script supervisor (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Scott Steyns	....	playback coordinator (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Isabel Johnson	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 1997)
Anna Tkatch	....	vault librarian (8 episodes, 1996)
Michael Duggan	....	executive consultant (5 episodes, 1998-1999)
Clear Hadden	....	production associate (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Jennifer Metcalf	....	production associate (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Walon Green	....	creative consultant (4 episodes, 1997)
Roberta Cenedese	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1997-1998)
Christine Lalande	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 1997)
Susan Nestibo	....	location scout (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Adam Behr	....	supervising puppeteer (unknown episodes)
Tom Blacklock	....	first assistant effects (unknown episodes)
Ron Blecker	....	technical advisor (unknown episodes)
Jill Christensen	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ian Doig	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Dana Dubé	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Ross Framo	....	computer playback operator (unknown episodes)
Danny Ho	....	computer playback operator (unknown episodes)
Bonnie Judd	....	dog trainer (unknown episodes)
Ryan Judd	....	assistant animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Anand Kanna	....	assistant location manager: second unit (unknown episodes)
Lana Krotenko	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
David Kurvers	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Kit Marlatt	....	production assistant: second unit (unknown episodes)
Kelly Moon	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Ed Nesling	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Art Pickering	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jon-Michael Preece	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Geoff Redknap	....	puppeteer (unknown episodes)
Andrew Simpson	....	animal trainer (unknown episodes)
Shari Slattery	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Patrick Stark	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Noeleen Tobin	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Lisa Wilder	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Annie Wilkinson	....	set tutor (unknown episodes)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (unknown episodes)
Shane Zander	....	laboratory assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• Ten Thirteen Productions

Distributors

• Fox Network (1996-1999) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Sorozat (2008) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• CanWest Global Communications
• DeAgostini Japan (2006-) (Japan) (DVD)
• Fox Crime (2006-) (Japan) (TV)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Special Effects

• Area 51
• Lindala Make-Up Effects
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures

Other Companies

• Chrysler Corporation  vehicles
• Clairmont  camera and lenses by
• Encore Video  electronic assembly
• Gastown Film Labs  processed by
• Gastown Post and Transfer  telecine transfers
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures  telecine transfers
• Storm Media  main title sequence
• Transition Music  music provided by
• West Media Film  computer graphics design/playback
• West Productions  post-production sound

Also Known As:

2000 (USA) (working title)
MillenniuM (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

45 min (67 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | France:-12 | France:U (some episodes) | Ireland:15 (some episodes) | Ireland:18 (some episodes) | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 (some episodes) | UK:18 (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The title sequence in the first season includes the words "Wait", "Worry" and "Who Cares?". This changed in the second season to "This is Who We Are" and "The Time is Near". Season three combined the two, with "Wait", "Worry" and "The Time is Near".

Quotes:

The Old Man: The time is near.
[The Old Man's Millennium Group password on a micro cassette recording wielded by Peter Watts]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Millennium: Creating the Logo & Title Sequence (2004) (V)

MILLENNIUM: season one

Very few people understood what Millennium was about, but for its fans, it remains a very stirring drama. A lot of critics misrepresent Millennium as some kind of gloomy police drama, when the cases that Frank Black investigated during the course of season one were merely vehicles in which to explore the grayer shades of humanity.

Only about half of the twenty-two episodes during the first season were concerned with just serial killers--far less than critics like to think. Look closer and you'll see that episodes like the pilot, "Gehenna," "The Judge" and "Sacrament" had supernatural/apocalyptic elements to them, which make them far less mundane than some might initially think. ("Gehenna" even had visuals of a winged beast, or Legion as the fans dubbed him, descending from the sky.)

Regarding those other, say, eight or ten serial killer episodes, Millennium addressed the big questions: What made these men? What can society do to stop them? You won't hear the investigators on CSI or Law & Order ask these questions, unless in a glib, sarcastic way. Those programs are all about police procedure. To me, *that's* depressing. When Frank looked 'into the minds of killers,' he was trying to understand them, sometimes even sympathize with them. These killers weren't evil people. They were tragic people that did evil things--most were victims themselves. Millennium gave human faces to ghastly perpetrators.

The latter season one episodes stray from the serial killer motifs. "Force Majeure" involves a man in an iron lung who preaches about a planetary alignment that will have cataclysmic consequences. "Walkabout" sheds light on Frank's past when he participates in a clinical trial for an experimental drug that might suppress his 'gift.' "Maranatha" takes Frank to the Russian district of New York in pursuit of Yaponchik, who may be the Antichrist. And then there's the stunning "Lamentation"/"Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions" two-parter, in which devils and angels aren't merely a concept, but physically exist alongside Frank and his colleagues!

Millennium also isn't relentlessly gory or downbeat. Look at the endings of "The Well Worn Lock," "Powers," or especially "The Wild and the Innocent"--still one of the most uplifting hours of television I've seen to this day. A lot of the show's early work is about criminals taking responsibility, victims learning to heal, and how Frank, and his family and friends, come to an understanding about Why Bad Things Happen. Don't be so dark, critics. Millennium--seriously!--is not.

Season two of Millennium is nothing short of brilliant, but the foundation is laid here. Strong scripts, talented actors, exceptional production values, and timeless themes (the tolls of work on family life, humanity's struggle with evil, temptations of the Devil, faith and religion, corruptions in governments and organizations) make all three seasons of Millennium a MUST BUY. Don't let mistaken critics, or lackluster DVD sets (a show this rich needs more commentary!), dissuade you from owning one of the best shows of the 90's, nay, of all time.