Season 3: Episode 8: "Human Essence"

Written by Michael Duggan

Directed by Thomas J. Wright

Airdate: December 11, 1998

"Human Essence" begins with Hollis being asked to clear her desk after testing positive for a drug test. Frank supports her and objects to the bureau not giving her a chance to explain, but he's taken aback when the drug test was for heroin. 

The cold open revealed a flop house hotel in Vancouver where addicts are becoming something inhuman with deformed faces and glowing eyes. Hollis learns her half-sister Tamara, a struggling addict, was at the den and sent her a sample of the tainted drug, accounting for the positive test. Hollis travels to Vancouver to help her sister and find the truth the behind the dangerous drug on the streets. She confronts dealers who physically attack her. 

Frank soon arrives and discovers links pointing to the Asian drug trade. The heroin has been poisoned and Frank finds connections linking the US Army to the experiments. He confronts his supervisor McClaren (Stephen E. Miller) about complicity between drug experimentation and the U.S. government. 

Although subject matter feels more like the X-Files, the pacing and action scenes are all well executed.