Millennium

I've watched all three seasons of Millennium now and thought I'd blog about the program.



Season One
Frank Black is a former FBI profiler with a unique ability to put himself in a killer's mind. This led to a breakdown, which resulted in Frank leaving the FBI. Now, he and his family, a wife and daughter, move to Seattle to make a fresh start. Chris Carter (creator of the X-Files) created the series.

Frank still uses his abilities as a consultant with the Millennium Group, which includes other former law-enforcement officers. This show is dark, violent, and gory; the first season is especially gory. I found it best to watch one or two episodes at a time. Any more was too much.

Lance Henriksen plays Frank Black, and he's perfect for this part. He skillfully portrays both a focused investigator and a man who loves his family. I love this combination. Megan Gallagher plays Frank's wife, Catherine. Brittany Tiplady plays their daughter, Jordan.

This season is my favorite of the three. Favorite episodes: "Pilot," "The Thin White Line," "Covenant," and "Lamentation."



Season Two
Chris Carter was busy with the X-Files series and movie, so he wasn't involved much with this season. I ended up liking it the least of the three. There are a few significant changes (spoilers coming ahead; click the beginning of the white space and scroll over it if you want to read it): Catherine and Jordan move out after Frank kills the man who kidnapped Catherine.

I found it difficult to accept Catherine's abrupt shift. She was so supportive of Frank's work before, and now she's hostile about it. This season also takes a mystical turn. The Millennium Group turns out to be a mysterious group with mysterious agendas. Frank is conflicted about his involvement with the group, and this conflict keeps him separated from Catherine. In the last episode of the season, Catherine dies from a virus that Frank believe was created by the Millennium Group.

Favorite episodes: "Monster," "The Curse of Frank Black," "Midnight of the Century," and "The Mikado."



Season Three
This season has big changes. Chris Carter is more involved behind the scenes. Frank is now a single parent. He also leaves Seattle and rejoins the FBI. He has a new unofficial partner, Emma Hollis.

I liked the shift away from mysticism and back to Frank investigating crimes. Emma makes a good partner. I miss Catherine, but it is also great to see Frank interact more with Jordan. The actress who plays her does a terrific job, and she has a larger role in several episodes.

Millennium was cancelled after three seasons. The third season finale is one of my favorite episodes, and while it doesn't resolve everything, it is a nice series finale. The scene near the end where Frank gets Jordan offers one of the most memorable visuals of the series.

Favorite episodes: "Borrowed Time," "The Sound of Snow," "Via Dolorosa," and "Goodbye to All That."

I enjoy this series very much. Any other fans of Millennium out there?