Millennium Season 2: Episode 12: "Luminary"

Directed by Thomas J. Wright

Written by Chip Johannessen

Air Date: January 23, 1998

Guest Star: Brion James (Sheriff Bowman)

Partly inspired by the Jon Krakauer book Into the Wild about a privileged young man who decided to explore the Alaska wilderness (also a 2007 film), "Luminary" follows Frank going to Alaska to find a missing young man against the wishes of the Millennium Group.  

The episode opens with a rare view into the inner workings of the group. Peter Watts leads Frank to a room where senior members are seated in a circle and request Frank to sit in the center. They ask him accusatory questions about his methods and the negative effect on his personal life. On an evening outing to a planetarium with Catherine and Jordan, Frank is introduced to the Glasers whose son recently disappeared. Frank takes an interest in the case after visiting their home and decides to search for Alex.

Frank pursues his search and comes into psychic communication with Alex. After some red herrings (a body is found), Frank finds him, after a harrowing journey Frank gets Alex to the hospital only to learn Alex left overnight. Frank connects the young man's quest to the Italian writer Petrarch climbing Mount Ventoux, an event connected to the start of the Renaissance. Peter informs Frank that he passed the first "election."

The first scene exposes the cultish structure of the group and Peter's evolving role from mentor to antagonist with Frank, even though their friendship appears to be repaired by the end of "Luminary." The episode meanders at times, never quite reconciling its disparate plot elements. We never get to know Alex except through some hokey narration, betraying his naivete through some banal observations. The astrology motif suggests a connection to ancient history, but never pays off either. Yet the hopeful tone at the end suggests the possibility of a future.

Millennium Season 2: Episode 11: "Goodbye Charlie"

Directed by Ken Fink

Written by Richard Whitley

Air Date: January 9, 1998

Guest Star: Tucker Smallwood (Steven Kiley)

Opening Quote: Let us go in; the fog is rising. - Purported last words of Emily Dickinson

"Goodbye Charlie" is an outlier Millennium episode in that it takes a sympathetic approach towards the story's antagonist. Frank and Lara are sent to investigation recent "murders" of people who have one thing in common: they are all terminally ill. 

"Steven Kiley" is well played by Tucker Smallwood, a veteran TV and film actor. We are introduced to him on the prologue. Set in a motel room he's singing "Seasons in the Sun," the unlikely 1974 hit by Terry Jacks about the death of a friend. It's clear he's administering a lethal injection to a man on the bed. Later it's revealed he's helping people end their lives, even creating a peaceful scene, perhaps taking inspiration from the death room in Soylent Green. We later see him working at a crisis hotline and as a hospital nurse. 

The episode is asking, how American society handles death. Steven feels he's doing humane work by providing mercy to those who are suffering. He's also violating many laws. When Frank and Lara finally get him in for questioning, he and Frank engage in a perplexing debate. Tim argues end of life care in America is nothing more than a cash grab for doctors. Frank replies:

What if everything you're saying could be proved, absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt. There is still the law. Without the law, there's chaos. The end of order is the end of the world.

Steven replies:

Obeying immoral laws is the end of the world.

While the episode never makes an issue of Steven being a Black man, his response to Frank speaks to how white and Black people view America's system differently. History has shown immoral laws aimed at African Americans continue to plague America from its inception to the present. 

The episode ends with Steven evading any capture, Lara and Frank are left wondering why the group sent them on this case. Frank concludes it was not a question of right and wrong, but whether Steven was from heaven or hell.

Perhaps a trite observation, but it's clear Steven views himself as doing good in defiance of an unjust system. In this case the health care system in America, a political debate of the 1990s that continues to rage today as medical costs continue to skyrocket. There will always be individuals acutely aware of injustice that remains hidden to many, and some will take action. "Goodbye Charlie" asks how far should one go?

As an addendum Bobby Darin is referenced once again. Frank and Steven are both fans of his music, Steven spoke of Darin being ill from a heart condition his entire life and after a series of operations failed to help, he decided to refuse treatment and keep going until it gave out, living a dignified life. 

Anyway, as Frank observed, "Goodbye Charlie is a cool song."

Millennium Season 2: Episode 10: "Midnight of the Century"

Directed by Dwight Little

Written by Kay Reindl & Erin Maher

Air Date: December 19, 1997

Guest Stars: Darren McGavin (Henry Black) Lara Means (Kristin Cloke)

"Midnight of the Century" takes place over the Christmas holiday of 1997 as Frank Black once again faces his past in a reflective and ultimately emotional episode. The episode smoothly captures momentary respite the holiday season can provide. Like "The Curse of Frank Black" we learn more about Frank's past.

The teleplay begins with Frank preparing for Christmas, shopping for gifts, and decorating his house. He goes to a holiday party at Peter's and finds him reflective and pensive about the passage of time. Lara Means is also at the party, she and Frank discuss their conflicting feelings about the holidays. Frank confides that Jordan probably has his gift and he's unsure of how to handle it, Lara sees it as a blessing since her parents never had any understanding of her gift. 

The stress of the holidays triggers memories from Frank's own childhood. He faces the fact his mother also had visions and was ostracized by society and her own family. His father Henry never understood her gift and would react with anger and contempt towards his wife. When Catherine informs Frank they received a note from Henry, Frank reluctantly goes over to visit him after years of silence. 

In one of the best scenes of the entire series, Frank has a melancholy but ultimately emotionally reconciliation with Henry. Henriksen and McGavin are mesmerizing as they speak honestly with each other, Henry confesses regret at not understanding his wife. Frank comes away with some closure and they bond over Jordan. Reunited with Catherine and Jordan at a midnight mass, it's revealed Henry has passed on as Frank and Jordan witness his spirit passing by.

Mark Snow's music creates a mood that's both comforting and haunting, similar to Danny Elfman in The Nightmare Before Christmas, but less playful but more cathartic. There's a humorous scene when Allan Zinyk returns as Brian Roedecker, part of the Millennium Group's Geek Squad, as he and Frank analyze Christmas themed slasher movies (Do profilers watch them for research purposes?) A first-rate production from beginning to end, well-acted and sharply written, nicely evoking the spirit of Millennium with the rituals of the holidays.

Millennium Season 2: Episode 9: "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense"

Written and Directed by Darin Morgan

Air Date: November 27, 1997

Guest Star: Charles Nelson Reilly (Jose Chung)

Fun is rarely an adjective one would use to describe an episode of Millennium, but "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense" is a sharp self-parody of the series, written with the precision of a peak era Simpsons episode. 

The episode is narrated by cult writer Jose Chung, played brilliantly by Charles Nelson Reilly, in a performance that earned him an Emmy nomination. Reilly was reprising the role of Chung who had earlier appeared in the The X-Files season three episode "Jose Chung From Outer Space." The character took elements of Reilly's own persona and a composite of cult writers from the post-war era, thinking Truman Capote or George Plimpton. He writes non-fiction bestsellers on perplexing social trends like self-help gurus and conspiracy theory culture. Chong's latest book is about new religions springing up around the turn of the Millennium, which brings him on a collision course with the actual "Millennium Group."

The amusing prologue tells through a montage the life story Onan Goopta, a struggling writer of detective fiction who went on to invent his own religion named "Selfosophy," a system designed to program people to eliminate negative thoughts. Goopta's story is clearly a satire of L. Ron Hubbard, the famed Sci-Fi writer who went on to start Scientology. Chung's current book satirizes Selfosophy, partly from his own experience since he knew Goopta when they were struggling writers. A member of the group was excommunicated and later found murdered for reading a short story Chong wrote satirizing modern cult movements. 

A series of surreal crimes occur that draw in Frank and Peter Watts. In one fantastical scene we get a rare glimpse of Lance Henriksen breaking character, playing an exaggerated version of Frank Black making wisecracks at a crime scene. When Chong is confronted by an angry follower of Selfosophy for lampooning their beliefs, Chong concludes humorless people are the most dangerous ones. Chong is also interested in the Millennium Group but promises he won't write about them, but you can imagine his interest as a writer. The group itself would make a good chapter in his book (Watts is quick to point out the group is not seeking publicity). Frank reminds Chong they are alive at the most crucial moment in human history, but Chong reminds Frank everyone from every age thinks they are alive at the most important time.

Unfortunately, Ching doesn't survive the episode, but his book Doomsday Defense gets published posthumously. The episode ends with Frank reading the book, Ching's final prediction about the next millennium, "one thousand years of the same old crap."

Millennium Season 2: Episode 8: "The Hand of St. Sebastian"

Written by Glen Morgan and James Wong

Directed by Thomas J. Wright

Air Date: November 14, 1997

Guest Stars: CCH Pounder (Cheryl Andrews); Phillip Baker Hall (Group Elder); Gottfried John (Josef Heim)

A myth building episode speculating on the origins of the Millennium Group, "The Hand of St. Sebastian" follows Peter Watts and Frank Black to Germany where they investigate a murder that may lead to answers about the group's history. The pacing of the episode is methodical and by turns abrupt. It also sets the stage for the second season's deep dive into the group's mythology.

The prologue is set in 998 AD, following a monk being betrayed by his companion, revealed to have markings on his body that connect him to the group. Watts has a growing obsession with the group's origins and asks Frank to accompany him to Germany to investigate the murder of a doctor whose lab held mummified bodies. Watts informs Frank he's investigating without permission.

While in Germany they butt heads with German authorities who are suspicious of them and their motives. Frank and Peter narrowly escape a car bomb and find more surprises. Peter discovers the German scientist heading the lab is still alive, but later gets framed for the actual murder that occurs later in the episode. CCH Pounder reprises her role as Cheryl Andrews and informs Frank she was sent to keep tabs on Peter. Their investigation leads them to a bog where they discover another mummified body with markings relating to the group (for a harrowing moment Frank almost sinks and must be pulled out). Frank discovers Cheryl has betrayed Peter by trying to frame him for the murder. The episode ends with Frank dissuading Peter from his pursuit of ancient relics and suggests they rely on their own reasoning abilities.

Frank's observation at the end made for a clever ending: although their trip to Germany was foolhardy and put them in unnecessary danger, Frank realizes they must stay focused on the present and not get trapped in the past by searching for relics. Yet Peter's cryptic motives and Frank's ambivalence suck the energy from this episode at times, their usual chemistry feels a bit off. Cheryl's turn also seemed random. The group's motives and history are left to be more mysterious than ever, hinting at something nefarious and complicated yet to be discovered, epitomized by the great Philip Baker Hall appearing as an elder with lots of secrets. Veteran actor Gottfried John also adds some gravitas as a German detective who loves quoting American cop shows.