"Millennium", the second TV series from "X-Files" creator Chris Carter, was one of the best. A bit darker, more intense, violent and adult in content than "X", "Millennium" garnered great reviews and a huge premiere in late October of 1996. Similar to David Fincher's "Seven" and Jonathan Demme's "The Silence of the Lambs" in terms of look, tone and feel. It was apparent Chris Carter's new show, although cinematic and stylish, was too gloomy for the average TV viewer.
The show did have a little in common with "The X-Files". It had a great great visual atmosphere, the police procedural way of storytelling and scary stories. But the monsters of this show were serial killers. And while "Seven" had been the number one movie for about a month in the U.S. This is a subject that TV audiences did not want to watch week after week in the comfort of their own living room.
The main charcter, Frank Black, played by genre veteran Lance Henrikensen, seemed too dour, he never cracked a smile and the show seemed to take itself too seriously. Sure, it had more character and felt more real than "The X-Files", but Mulder and Scully's adventures were more enjoyable and more elastic. You never felt like were watching the same episode over and over again. Plus, it had a story arc.
Every TV show needs a story or character arc in order to draw the audience in. "Millennium" did have one, it just wasn't apparent, when it eventually did seem to come out, the season was close to ending. The basic premise is this: Ex-FBI profiler Frank Black has just moved into Seattle with his family to start a new life. He's been hired as consultant to the Millennium Group, a shadowy organization made up of ex-law enforcement types committed to stop heinous killers.
The Millennium Group believe we are living in the end times and there is some kind of connection to all these random crimes, EVIL is manifesting on earth. What their intentions are, besides to try to put a containment on it, is unknown to Frank. He bonds with Peter Watts, played by Terry O' Quinn, a member of the Group and the two became partners "Mulder and Scully"-style for most of the show.
Season 1 did seem to go nowhere for awhile, but the introduction of angels, devils and the Anti-Christ made it intriguing late in the game. In Season 2, new producers made the Millennium Group the bad guys and the show more lighter, elastic and fantasy-like. Season 3 mixed Season 1 with Season 2 and the result was interesting, but unbalanced. Regardless, I will be gettting all on DVD. Thanks Fox, you finally came through.
Now scratch out the idea of making a second "X-Files" feature film and do a "Millennium" movie.
The show did have a little in common with "The X-Files". It had a great great visual atmosphere, the police procedural way of storytelling and scary stories. But the monsters of this show were serial killers. And while "Seven" had been the number one movie for about a month in the U.S. This is a subject that TV audiences did not want to watch week after week in the comfort of their own living room.
The main charcter, Frank Black, played by genre veteran Lance Henrikensen, seemed too dour, he never cracked a smile and the show seemed to take itself too seriously. Sure, it had more character and felt more real than "The X-Files", but Mulder and Scully's adventures were more enjoyable and more elastic. You never felt like were watching the same episode over and over again. Plus, it had a story arc.
Every TV show needs a story or character arc in order to draw the audience in. "Millennium" did have one, it just wasn't apparent, when it eventually did seem to come out, the season was close to ending. The basic premise is this: Ex-FBI profiler Frank Black has just moved into Seattle with his family to start a new life. He's been hired as consultant to the Millennium Group, a shadowy organization made up of ex-law enforcement types committed to stop heinous killers.
The Millennium Group believe we are living in the end times and there is some kind of connection to all these random crimes, EVIL is manifesting on earth. What their intentions are, besides to try to put a containment on it, is unknown to Frank. He bonds with Peter Watts, played by Terry O' Quinn, a member of the Group and the two became partners "Mulder and Scully"-style for most of the show.
Season 1 did seem to go nowhere for awhile, but the introduction of angels, devils and the Anti-Christ made it intriguing late in the game. In Season 2, new producers made the Millennium Group the bad guys and the show more lighter, elastic and fantasy-like. Season 3 mixed Season 1 with Season 2 and the result was interesting, but unbalanced. Regardless, I will be gettting all on DVD. Thanks Fox, you finally came through.
Now scratch out the idea of making a second "X-Files" feature film and do a "Millennium" movie.