Season 3: Episode 6: "Skull and Bones"

Written by Chip Johannessen and Ken Horton

Directed by Paul Shapiro

Airdate: November 6, 1998

"Skull and Bones" resolves as a tale of the Millennium Group's sinister machinations. Ironically, the episode inverts a claim made by the Group in the "Pilot" episode that there might be connections between all crimes, as if some dark force is pulling the strings.

After six bodies are found beneath a highway overpass in Maine, Baldwin and Hollis are sent to investigate the grisly discovery. Meanwhile, Peter Watts shows up representing the Group's interest in the site. Meanwhile, Frank learns about a series of murders that are connected by letters received by the FBI, one of the letters mentioned the town in Maine where the overpass discovery was made. Forensic investigation of the skulls also reveals evidence of bizarre surgery being performed. Meanwhile, a man named "Ed" who introduced in the prologue has been keeping detailed records and making connections of many murders over the past 15 years. 

The crux of the episode comes to down to the Millennium Group's role in all these murders, many of them scientists and other researchers who've made troubling discoveries. In the big reveal, Peter reveals the group is behind the killings to protect the stability of society. The Group is killing people considered dangerous so there is indeed a pattern to the crimes, and Watts justifies them! Watts is trying to drive a wedge between her and Frank, grooming her for a possible future position with the Group. In the most memorable scene, Hollis discovers the house where some of the murders took place as "Love Hurts" by Nazareth plays on the diegetic soundtrack (a message?).

"Skull and Bones" is an elliptical episode that's both intriguing and frustrating. It's quite a jarring shift to learn the Group is revealed to be an organization fearful of knowledge and is willing to kill innocent people. CCH Pounder (Cheryl Andrews) returns in flashbacks, as we learn of her fate. Frank is mostly on the periphery to the story, setting up a showdown between him and Watts.