Millennium (TV series)

Millennium
Millennium intertitle
Created by	Chris Carter
Starring	Lance Henriksen Terry O'Quinn Megan Gallagher Klea Scott Brittany Tiplady
Country of origin	Canada United States
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	67 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	Approx. 43 minutes per Episode
Original release
Network	FOX
Release	October 25, 1996 – May 21, 1999
Related
The X-Files The Lone Gunmen Harsh Realm

Millennium is an American thriller and crime drama television series produced by Chris Carter (creator of The X-Files), set during the years leading up to the year 2000. The plotline followed the investigations of an ex-FBI officer, Frank Black (Lance Henriksen), into serial murderers, which were often involved with both the supernatural and a sub-governmental authority known as the Millennium Group and their prophecies for an oncoming apocalypse. Millennium aired on the Fox Network in the USA from the fall of 1996 (winning the People's Choice Award for Best New Drama in 1997) to the spring of 1999. Three full seasons of the series were produced, totaling 67 individual episodes. Each season of the series had its own distinct style and unique elements as a result of the regularly shifting executive producers who supervised its creative process. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were set in or around Seattle, Washington. The series theme music was composed by Mark Snow who also had created the series theme music for The X-Files. Despite the series' cancellation, it has gained a cult following with several websites set up dedicated to the series and a campaign for a revival.

Production

Origins

After Carter's success with The X-Files, FOX broadcasting asked him if he would produce another series for them. He already had an idea for creating a show based around the coming millennium of the year 2000, and it was this idea which he followed up.

Regarding his casting of Henriksen for the lead, Carter stated that:

I had tried to cast Lance Henriksen on The X-Files several times, he had always been either unavailable or uninterested. Anyway I remained a fan of his, I was in bed working in Vancouver and I realized he was working there too. So I found out where he was staying, wrote a note and had a fan note slipped under his door and told him that I'd tried to get him on the show and hoped to work with him in the future. Little did he know when I was then writing Millennium I was writing with only him in mind, with no idea whether or not he'd actually do the project. So I wrote the project, approached him, he was very excited about it, we made a deal and the rest is now history.

The FOX executives were not initially convinced that Henriksen was right for the role, and they suggested using William Hurt, until they discovered that he had no interested in acting for television. Carter was therefore able to get Henriksen for the role. The executives gave Carter a budget of nearly $1.5 million per episode, and allowed him to create his own "look" for the show. As influences, Carter has quoted the Bible, Dostoyevsky and Mary Shelley as among the most important.

Carter pitched Millennium to Fox as "Seven in Seattle." The setting of a dark, rain-soaked city and a world-weary detective's hunt for a religiously-inspired serial killer have clear parallels with the pilot episode. One of the shows working titles was 2000, though Millennium was chosen over it.

Season Two

For the second season, the handling of the show was given to Glen Morgan and James Wong while Carter focused on the fifth season of The X-Files and The X-Files motion picture. Morgan and Wong had only been consulting producers for the first series, but took over production, implementing several changes that FOX wanted in an attempt to boost ratings which had declined during the first season. Morgan said that:

There was too much gore in the first season, and it was for shock's sake. There was no humor. Everybody wanted to know more about the Millennium Group. What was Frank's role with them? We needed to develop Frank. We had a good actress, Megan Gallagher, playing his wife, and what could we do with their relationship? Where can this go?

Morgan and Wong made several significant changes to the series, taking the emphasis off of serial killers and on to government conspiracies and the machinations of the Millennium Group. They also tried to provide more of a "narrative drive" for Frank Black by breaking up his relationship with his wife. Along with this they introduced new characters such as Lara Means and computer hacker Brian Roedecker, who was introduced for comic effect, toward which fans reacted generally negatively.

Season Three

For season three, which aired in 1998, Carter took back control of the series, with Morgan and Wong leaving to follow their own cinematic careers. Carter admitted that he took it in a different direction from that of Morgan and Wong and, as a part of this, he attempted to take the show back to its "roots" from the first season. Reacting to criticism that the series had become confusing, and out of touch with audiences, the show's production team hoped to make "the stories a little more accessible", moving the action from Seattle to Washington DC.

Cancellation

The ratings for season three had dropped significantly, it falling to the 134th most watched show out of 200 for that season. Carter had hoped that there would be a fourth season to Millennium, although this was not to be the case. FOX announced that they were not picking up Millennium for a fourth season, leaving the third season ending on a cliffhanger.

Characters

Black Family

• Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) -- Born 12 July 1947 to Henry and Linda Black, Frank Black has a unique and disturbing ability which can take him inside the mind of a killer. His gift is also his curse. As an FBI agent specializing in hunting down serial killers, Black was one of the Bureau's most effective detectives. Yet his immersion into the vilest recesses of the human soul took him too close to the edge. A loving husband and father, Frank could no longer allow the shadow of evil come between him and his family. He left the FBI and settled in Seattle with his wife and young daughter. Frank however, couldn't leave the horror behind. As the Millennium approaches, so will the ultimate battle between good and evil as foretold by ancient prophecies. Frank is being recruited by the Millennium Group, an underground organization dedicated to battling the forces of darkness for purposes yet to be exposed.

• Catherine Black (Megan Gallagher) -- A devoted mother to Jordan, Catherine Black was also a clinical social worker who counselled crime victims. This profession compelled her to confront many of the same dark forces as Frank. Yet Catherine knew she must never show any fear, no matter how appalling the evil. For if she did, Frank would ignore his mission, and dedicate himself to protecting his family. Catherine was willing to sacrifice her own peace of mind - and in the end even her safety - for the safety of us all. She was infected with a deadly virus that is mysteriously connected to the Millennium Group. Offered a vaccine for the virus she refused, insisting it be used to protect her daughter instead.

• Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady) -- Jordan, daughter of Frank and Catherine, represents the light in the dark world that Frank works. She is what's good - and why Frank must catch the "bad man" to protect her. Jordan must eventually come to terms with a terrible loss, while learning to deal with her own mysterious gift - one that offers her visions into the dark world that her father investigates.

Law Enforcement

• Lt. Robert Bletcher (Bill Smitrovich) -- (Season 1) A homicide detective for the Seattle police. Best friend of Frank's and often enlists him to help out the crimes committed on cases in Seattle. He is murdered by Lucy Butler.

• Det. Bob Giebelhouse (Stephen J. Lang) -- Seattle detective with a cynical view of humanity and a penchant for gallows humor. Initially Bletcher's partner, he becomes the head of Homicide in Season 2.

• Agent Emma Hollis (Klea Scott) -- (Season 3) Emma is a young FBI agent who becomes Frank's protege when he begins working in Virginia. She struggles to understand the criminal mind, as her sister was murdered by a man with no motive. Emma also has to deal with her father's bout with an Alzheimer's-like disease (possibly induced by the Millennium group) the cure for which Peter Watts uses as leverage to coerce her into cooperating with the Millennium Group.

• Assistant Director Andy McClaren (Stephen E. Miller) -- (Season 3) An FBI Assistant Director who worked with Frank when he was an agent. He makes contact with Frank during Season 3. Miller also plays a store owner in the 2008 film X-Files: I Want to Believe.

• Special Agent Barry Baldwin (Peter Outerbridge) -- (Season 3) An FBI agent who works on the Critical Incidents Response team. Approaches every case with a smarmy, ex-captain of the football team bravado. He is killed in an ambulance by someone he believes to be a paramedic after surviving an explosion set off by the Millennium Group.

• Doug Scaife (Trevor White) -- (Season 3) An FBI computer specialist, Scaife appears throughout Season Three, becoming especially prominent during the final few episodes. This character provides Frank critical information in the Finale.

The Millennium Group

In Season 2, the Millennium Group is shown as divided into two factions - the Owls and the Roosters. A civil war is shown to be occurring between The Owls (who believe in a scientific natural form of Armageddon) and The Roosters (believing in a religious Apocalypse). The Owls believed that if a theological event did not occur in 672 days, a secular Millennium would result - leaving them in control. Most in the group believe that the best solution is that the Old Man unites the factions. The Millennium Group utilized the following phrase to indicate their membership to members and candidates: 'This is who we are' which also served as a tagline in the series titles.

Later in the season, the Old Man would explain that in the waning days of World War II, the Nazis began a secret project known as Odessa, in which high-ranking SS officers fled to countries south of the equator. One of these men, Rudolph Axmann, helped defeat their greatest enemy, Communism, in the 1980s. Now Odessa had turned its attention towards the Millennium Group and the Old Man in searching for many of the artifacts related to Judeo-Christian religious belief including the Hand of St. Sebastian and a wooden piece of the true Cross of Jesus Christ.

• The Old Man (R.G. Armstrong) -- The leader of The Millennium Group, the Old Man was responsible for educating candidates on the nature of Evil. Among them was Frank Black who visited Bucksnort on the request of Peter Watts. The Old Man traveled to Seattle and, through his death, reunited The Millennium Group, which had begun disintegration through the influence of Odessa. When questioned by Lara Means on what faction he believed (Owls or Roosters), he replied that he had already "seen the end of the world" when Rudolph Axmann had his parents gassed at Auschwitz. It's later revealed that The Old Man approached Peter Watts with an offer to join The Millennium Group. Watts, going through an especially difficult period, saw comfort in The Group, and agreed.

• Peter Watts (Terry O'Quinn) -- Peter Watts, a mysterious ex-FBI agent, is the first of the Millennium Group to contact Frank as soon as he arrives in Seattle with his family. Watts is extremely intelligent, knowledgeable and experienced. A man of few words, his seriousness commands the respect he deserves as a ‘Patron’ of the Millennium Group. Peter Watts left his position as Assistant Director of the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force to join The Millennium Group, which promised him, like Frank, understanding in a chaotic world. He later became a senior member of the Group and 'Patron' to Frank Black, assisting him on numerous Group assigned cases.

• Lara Means (Kristen Cloke) -- (Season 2) A Millennium Group member who shares visions similar to Frank's, but in the forms of angels, which are bringers of warning of imminent danger. She works with Frank on several cases. She is eventually inducted into the Millennium Group, but goes insane due to the secrets they reveal to her and the visions she receives as a result. In these visions Lara Means sees the end of the world, and also sees Frank in the form of a demon, causing viewers to question which side of the Good vs. Evil paradigm Frank is really on.

• Mike Atkins (Robin Gammell) -- (Season 1) Atkins was responsible for Frank's initial introduction to the Millennium Group. While investigating a doomsday cult in San Francisco, he is seriously injured upon stumbling into a crematory oven (episode "Gehenna"). He later became the final victim of Alistair Pepper (episode "Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions").

• Dr. Cheryl Andrews (C.C.H. Pounder) -- The Group's brilliant medical and forensic advisor in season one. In subsequent seasons she is portrayed as either betraying or betrayed (and killed) by the Group. Her body is placed in a mass grave under a highway construction site where roadworks were due to start.

The Demon Legion

Legion, also known historically as the Gerasene demon, is a demon found in the Bible in Mark 5:9, 'And He asked him: What is thy name? And he saith to him: My name is Legion, for we are many'; and Luke 8:30, 'And Jesus asked him, saying: What is thy name? But he said: Legion; because many devils were entered into him.' (Douay-Rheims Bible). Whilst there were many evil characters and killers throughout the Millennium television series, not all were directly connected with the Legion mythology which was introduced early in Season One.

Although references were made about a supernatural raw evil in Millennium's earliest episodes, it was not until the character of the Judge stated a name and thereby an explanation was directly given by the writers for the various manifestations and mortal instruments of Legion characters. The Legion character would continue to taunt Frank in various forms with visions and knowledge of a more happier and safe life for himself and that of his family throughout the series. Most Legion characters were direct manifestations, demonstrating supernatural abilities and methods.

• Lucy Butler (Sarah-Jane Redmond) -- (Seasons 1 - 3) Among the most dangerous of Frank's supernatural opponents, Lucy is described as "The Devil's Liege" by a terrified serial killer. Lucy powers include the ability to change shape into an animal or a male or female human being, superhuman strength and clairvoyance.

• Mabius (Bob Wilde) -- (Season 3) It's unknown to what capacity Mabius served The Millennium Group, but he was obviously a menacing threat to Frank and Emma. He appeared in Fingus, Maine, as Emma unearthed the skulls of Cheryl Andrews and other victims (Skull and Bones). Frank's psychiatrist Dr. Luanne Chase was murdered by Mabius who had approached her as Special Agent Boxer and then literally transformed himself - a hint he was more than human (Seven and One).

• The Judge (Marshall Bell) -- (Season 1) Employed ex-convicts to carry out the rulings of his personal court - twisted vengeance for those mistreated by the United States' corrupt justice system. Among his offenders: Biggs (a landlord whose negligence caused the death of an elderly tenant) and Jonathon Mellen (a detective whose false testimony sent an innocent man to prison). The Judge while possessed by Legion propositioned Frank to join his cause, but was, of course, refused

• The Instruments -- (Seasons 1-3) There were of course other characters in Millennium who were instruments of Legion conducting the requirements and tasks that they were required to perform, some more directly than others. For example, Alistair Pepper, Danielle Barbakow, Del Boxer, Long-Haired Man, Lucas Sanderson, Martin, Mr. Crocell, Ricardo Clement, Selwyn Wassenaar, Tamara Shui Fa Lee, and Teresa Roe.

Serial Killers

• Polaroid Man (Paul Raskin, Doug Hutchison) -- (Seasons 1-2) After receiving menacing Polaroids of Catherine and Jordan, Frank retired from the FBI and relocated his family to Seattle. However, the Polaroids continued to arrive and Catherine was later abducted from the Sea-Tac airport by the stalker himself. It was revealed The Millennium Group had withheld information about The Polaroid Stalker and Frank, understandably upset, continued his pursuit without their involvement. He found Catherine within the basement of an abandoned home and struggled with The Polaroid Stalker who died brutally at Frank's hand. Disturbed by these events, Catherine asked for a temporary separation in her marriage.

• Ed Cuffle (Matthew Glave) -- (Season 3) The son of a cleaning woman, he witnessed his mother performing sexual favors for wealthy men to procure extra income. He would later establish a pattern of videotaping upper-class couples having sex and ultimately murdering them, to release his rage. He was sentenced to death and executed in the presence of Frank.

• Lucas Barr (Jeff Parise) -- (Season 3) The copy-cat killer of Ed Cuffle, he saw himself as suffering like Christ and carved the stations of the cross in the homes of couples he murdered. Peter Watts explained to Frank that the Millennium Group was responsible for Barr's behavior by "switching on" the psychological process that usually ends development in infancy.

Cross-Over Episode

The X-Files: Millennium

Episode 4 of Season 7 of The X-Files, entitled "Millennium", sees Lance Henriksen reprise his role as Frank Black as a supporting actor alongside Mulder and Scully in a tale of Necromancy and Zombification of former Millennium Group members in the final month of 1999 leading to the 2000 Millennium. In the episode, it is claimed by Scully and Mulder that the Millennium Group inevitably fell into disrepute and was banned from working with the FBI after the close of the Millennium series and subsequently disbanded. However, the necromancer continued to carry out the group's final plan to bring about Armageddon by creating four zombies out of group members as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Necromancer is quoted as saying that Frank had always been intended to be the Fourth Horseman. Frank denies his deadly destiny with the group by rescuing Mulder and destroying the other three zombie horsemen. In the closing scene, Frank is shown as having been released from observation and is reunited with Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady in a cameo appearance); and Mulder finally kisses Scully at the turn of the 2000 Millennium celebration. Despite that this was not the end of the true Millennium, Mulder states: 'See the world didn't end after all'. Many fans have been critical of the cross-over episode, claiming that it is not an adequate ending for the series since not all of the underlying plots of the Millennium series were brought to an end, leaving many fans to campaign for a future motion picture.

Motion Picture

Lance Henriksen has been asked in the past, notably at the Scandinavian SciFi Convention about the future of Millennium. Henriksen answered that based on what he had heard from Chris Carter, Carter's next project after the release of The X-Files: I Want to Believe in 2008 would be a Millennium motion picture. The rumor of a film was aledgedly proved more plausible by a user uploaded video link from http://millennium-thisiswhoweare.net/millennium_movie_faq.php. In response to the heightened interest in the character generated by Lance's comments and those of Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, a campaign was subsequently launched online with a view to returning the character to the screen. A website was created as the campaign hub to coordinate the efforts of fans and admirers in direct response to the words of the franchise's creators. On September 30th 2008, Frank Spotnitz displayed his support for this campaign by allowing a press release to feature as an entry in his blog. In December 2008 the individuals behind the campaign to return 'Frank Black' made contact with Lance Henriksen, who shared encouragement and support regarding their efforts. On Thanksgiving Day a member of the campaign team spoke to Lance regarding his time as 'Frank Black' and the potential for a return to the role. This interview can now be found at the campaign website, backtofrankblack.com.

The recently released Millennium DVD Seasons 1-3 Collection has Henriksen thinking that the numbers behind those box sets sales might be the key to reviving the series. "I wonder if the sales of these will tell us how many people loved the show and whether or not the movie ought to be made," Henriksen commented. "I mean, [Frank Black] still is alive. Maybe it's a good thing there was no closure for Millennium because now, if we did a movie, it would be good closure for me." Millennium fans are being encouraged to purchase the series on DVD to voice their vote.

Awards

Won

• 1996 People's Choice Award for Favorite New Television Drama Series
• 1997 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan)
• 1997 Genesis Award for Outstanding Communication of Animal-Rights in Dramatic Television Series ("Broken World")
• 1998 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan)
• 1998 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Young Actress (Brittany Tiplady)
• 2000 Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography in a Television Series (Robert McLachlan, "Matryoshka")

Nominated

• 1996 People's Choice Award for Favorite New Male TV Star (Lance Henriksen)
• 1997-1999 Golden Globe Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series (Lance Henriksen)
• 1997 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Pilot (Pete Wunstorf, "Pilot")
• 1997 Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actor (Lance Henriksen)
• 1997 Saturn Award for Best Genre Network TV Series
• 1997-2000 Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Young Actress (Brittany Tiplady)
• 1998 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "The Thin White Line")
• 1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Dialogue & ADR
• 1998 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Effects & Foley
• 1998 Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Clarence Williams III, "Sense and Antisense")
• 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Charles Nelson Reilly, "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense")
• 1998 Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series ("Owls")
• 1998 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television Drama Series by a Guest Starring Young Actress (Lauren Diewold, "Monster")
• 1999 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing-Television Episodic-Sound Effects & Foley
• 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Horror Screenplay (Darin Morgan, "Somehow Satan Got Behind Me")
• 1999 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "Skull and Bones")
• 1999 Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actor (Lance Henriksen)
• 1999 International Horror Guild Award for Best Television
• 2000 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Regular Series (Robert McLachlan, "Matryoshka")

Merchandise

Books

Several novels based on Millennium episodes have been written:

1. The Frenchman, by Elizabeth Hand (1.00 "Pilot")
2. Gehenna, by Lewis Gannett (1.01 "Gehenna")
3. Force Majeure, by Lewis Gannett (1.12 "Force Majeure")
4. Weeds, by Victor Koman (1.10 "Weeds")
5. The Wild And the Innocent, by Elizabeth Massie (1.09 "The Wild And the Innocent")

Some titles were also released as audiobooks read by actor Bill Smitrovitch.

Soundtracks

As of 2009, two soundtrack albums by Mark Snow have been released. The first ("The Best Of Millennium") was released in 2003 on iTunes only. It comprised of 22 tracks from all three seasons. The second was released in 2008 as a limited edition 2 CD set of 2000 copies by La-La-Land Records.[19] It comprised of 51 tracks. Some of the tracks on the two releases are the same.

X-Files Action Figure

A 12 inch Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) figurine (ASIN: B0007XOF2O) was issued by Sideshow in the same mold as X-Files Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) figure features over 30 points of articulation and includes a Webley revolver, old school .45 & holster, pager, cell phone, flashlight, Millennium case file with photos, and an X-Files 12-inch figure display base. It can be purchased on most common auction and marketplace websites.

DVD Releases

On 28 October 2008, 20th Century Fox released Millennium: The Complete Series - an 18 disc boxset featuring all 68 episodes of the series.

	Season	Nr of episodes	Extra features	Release date
	1st (1996-1997)	22	Commentary by Chris Carter on The Pilot, Commentary by director David Nutter on Gehenna, "Order in Chaos: Making Millennium Season One" documentary, "Chasing the Dragon: A Conversation with the Academy Group": a look at real-life profilers, Creating the logo and title sequence, Pilot TV spots.	July 20, 2004
	2nd (1997-1998)	23	Commentary on two episodes by director Thomas J. Wright and writer Michael R. Perry, "The Turn of the Tide: Making of Season Two" featurette, "Academy Group: Victimology" featurette.	January 4, 2005
	3rd (1998-1999)	22	Commentary by Lance Henriksen and Klea Scott on The Innocents, Commentary by director Thomas J. Wright on Collateral Damage, Bonus episode: The X-Files season 7 episode "Millennium", "End Game: Making Millennium Season 3" documentary, "Between the Lines" featurette.	September 6, 2005

Currently Airing

NBC Universal's horror channel, Chiller, began airing Millennium weeknights at 7PM Eastern (and again at 3AM Eastern the following morning) on Monday, February 4, 2008. This is the first time the series has aired on U.S. television in close to a decade; FX aired Millennium briefly from 2000-2001. In the UK beginning Monday, October 6, 2008, Zone Horror began airing Millennium week nights at 8PM GMT, commencing with the first three episodes back to back.

External links

• Campaign to make a Millennium movie
• The Millennial Abyss
• Millennium - This is who we are
• This is who we are (TIWWA) - Millennium Message Board
• The Rogue's Eye View
• Millennium books at FantasticFiction
• Lance Henriksen Magic - Millennium

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• Millennium at IMDb
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