Directed by Jim Charleston
Air Date: December 6, 1996
Opening Quote: This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it . . ."
Luke 11:29
"Blood Relatives" is one of the grimmest episodes of Millennium. Filmed with a pitch black noir visual style, the story involves a series of killings targeted towards those in deep grief. The cold open begins with a funeral of a young man, a stranger named James claims to have been a good friend and comforts the family. Later that night the grieving mother is murdered.
Frank Black and Peter Watts are called in to investigate what appears to be a rash or murders following funerals. The episode allows Catherine to utilize her training as a social worker to conclude the killer is a full of rage and was probably abandoned by his parents. Detective Bletch observes that if a child has no human contact in the first two weeks of its life it will go "feral," some kitchen sink psychology the episode explores. Through a forensic investigation of the victims, Frank links the murders to a halfway house for troubled young men. In a twist Frank discovers an even more devious mastermind behind the murders.
Catherine muses that millions of parents abandon their children every year, creating a repeating cycle of rage aimed at the world. The crimes themselves are a manifestation of that rage. That's a troubling theme throughout the series, many of our own social ills come down people being deprived of the essential necessities of life - food, shelter, and love.
A potent episode, but a chore to watch due to the heavy emotional pain in every scene.
No comments:
Post a Comment