Millennium

Mulder and Scully chase a man known as The Necromancer, after the bodies of several men, are tampered with, and show some signs of life.

I felt like there were a few missing jigsaw pieces, and as I never saw Chris Carter's Millennium series, maybe that's the reason why. I struggled to connect with this one.

Not one of my favourite episodes, but it does have some strong elements. Firstly, there are some true horror moments, and if you're a fan of the zombie movie genre, this will have several scenes that'll appeal to you.

Some interesting ideas surrounding The Four Millennium members, I would like them to have been developed a little more, the concept is a good one, their story seems half baked.

There is some very good imagery, scenes at the graveyard, and at the operating theatre look great, and or course there's some fantastic makeup used on the undead.

Wasn't that Octavia Spencer, The awesome Octavia Spencer playing the small role of a Nurse? This show always managed to surprise.

Not sure, after the excitement and originality of Hunger, this felt flat, 6/10.

The fourth episode of the seventh season of The X-Files, titled "Millennium," directed by Thomas J. Wright, serves as a crossover with Chris Carter's other series, Millennium. This episode not only connects the two shows but also delves into themes of mortality, the apocalypse, and the complexities of human nature. Written by Vince Gilligan and Frank Spotnitz, "Millennium" opens with a chilling premise: a former FBI agent's grave has been disturbed, leading Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) to investigate a series of bizarre events linked to necromancy and the Millennium Group, a secret society that believes in an impending apocalypse.

As the narrative unfolds, Mulder and Scully discover that four former agents have committed suicide, believing their deaths are part of a larger plan to bring about the end of the world. The pacing of "Millennium" is engaging, balancing moments of suspense with introspection as Mulder and Scully confront their own beliefs about life and death. A particularly striking moment occurs when Mulder realizes that the agents' suicides are connected to their desire to become the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This revelation heightens the stakes and emphasizes the episode's exploration of faith versus skepticism.

Visually, "Millennium" employs a dark and atmospheric aesthetic that enhances its themes of dread and existential crisis. Wright's direction captures both the eerie beauty of the natural world and the claustrophobic settings where much of the action unfolds. The cinematography utilizes shadows and muted colors to evoke feelings of unease, particularly during scenes involving the reanimated corpses. Critics have praised this visual storytelling for its ability to immerse viewers in a world where death is not an end but a means to an apocalyptic goal.

The performances in this episode are particularly noteworthy, especially from Lance Henriksen as Frank Black, who brings depth to his character's struggle with his past and his desire to protect his family. His portrayal captures both vulnerability and strength as he navigates the moral complexities of his involvement with the Millennium Group. Duchovny delivers an excellent performance as Mulder, showcasing his character's unwavering determination to uncover hidden truths while grappling with existential questions about fate. Anderson's Scully provides essential support; her skepticism grounds Mulder's theories while emphasizing her concern for those affected by the group's actions. The chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson continues to shine throughout this episode, adding layers to their partnership as they face overwhelming challenges.

Thematically, "Millennium" raises significant questions about belief, sacrifice, and humanity's relationship with death. The episode critiques how individuals can become consumed by their ideologies; it examines how personal relationships can be strained by external pressures such as societal expectations and existential fears. Additionally, it highlights societal attitudes toward authority; characters like Mulder represent those who seek to expose hidden truths despite facing ridicule from skeptics. This exploration invites viewers to reflect on their beliefs regarding justice, morality, and the ethical implications surrounding life choices.

In conclusion, "Millennium" stands out as one of The X-Files' more ambitious episodes, successfully blending elements of horror with philosophical inquiry while exploring intricate themes related to identity and existence. While it may not resonate with all viewers due to its heavy reliance on established mythology from both The X-Files and Millennium, it effectively maintains an engaging pace throughout its runtime. The exploration of these themes within a modern context encourages viewers to consider their perceptions of truth and morality in society while enjoying a richly layered narrative that showcases both character development and thrilling storytelling. As it reflects broader societal concerns regarding mortality and belief systems, "Millennium" leaves audiences contemplating their own relationships with faith and existence.

When a retired FBI agent dies an apparent suicide one of his colleagues knows the truth - as does retired FBI agent Frank Black, former member of the mysterious Millennium Group. When the dead man's coffin is found empty, Mulder spots clues to a necromantic ritual and demands Black's aid. Black's refusal to act may doom Mulder's investigation, as the resurrection of the dead seems to be running a few steps ahead of the end times!

"Millenium" was another Chris Carter series that lasted from 1996 to 1999. Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) was a retired FBI profiler who joined a group of ex-law-enforcement consultants secretly preparing for the apocalypse. While some members hoped to guide humanity through an end times starting in 2000, an inner group of religious fanatics plotted to clear the earth of all but the chosen few.

This is a decent episode with an OK plot without anything in the way of twists. My usual post-season-4 complaint is that too much of the story is straightforward witchcraft with no possible logical explanation.

This is a stand-alone X-Files episode, which is good since "Millenium"'s conspiracy didn't exactly jive with that of the X-Files! However this doesn't EXACTLY work as a wrap for "Millenium," which left off with Frank on the run and a demon having evidently penetrated the Group's inner circle. This episode is in a way a betrayal of the whole mythology of "Millenium" as the ending suggests that the whole threat of millennial apocalypse was occult-inspired self delusion.

I loved MillenniuM, it was a great show. I watched every episode of it. And I was very disappointed by Fox' treatment of the series. Not only Musical Producers, but they forced changes that Carter never should have allowed. In a sense, they no longer TRUSTED Carter to create quality Television like he had been doing for the last seven years with this, The X-Files.

And so part of Carter's Revenge was to end MillenniuM within an X-files episode. I did not like the non-resolution ending of the series, Fox held up announcing cancellation until the day the episode was broadcast.

Not giving Carter a chance to wrap it up.

So, in this X-File, Carter annihilates The MillenniuM Group.

It may be me, but I do not think Carter wanted to make The MillenniuM Group the heavies of MillenniuM - The actual group on which The MillenniuM group was based, the Academy Group, seems like it does a lot of good and being able to reach in where FBI may be bound by Law and Jurisdiction.

And so, what occurs in this special episode of The X-Files, Carter destroys the ERSATZ MillenniuM Group that was created during the time he was absent from Exec Producing MillenniuM.

Carter totally obliterates the last remnants of the Group - Who had gone Off Radar by this time. We don't know what happened to Black's FBI partner who had gone to the Group - And we do not know what happened to the Character played by Terry O'Quinn - Frank Black's former Boss in The Millennium Group. But we can safely watch this episode and not have to worry about those people.

Instead, we can watch Mulder and he digs into The X-File dropped in his lap - Which has to do with odd activity from The Group, and the suspicion of some kind of misrepresentation of The Bible End Times prophecies being carried out by the last five "Members" of the Group - Four of which happen to be Dead.

In relating this episode to MillenniuM, one has to remember this is an X-File, not a case Frank Black would be working on. So the overall story is simplified, because most of the story regarding MillenniuM Group was told in MillenniuM.

This episode, ends the MillenniuM Group but more importantly wraps up Frank Black's story. And gives frank a much-needed break from his MillenniuM-Group induced problems.

This episode is very much Carter's revenge to Fox on their treatment of his MillenniuM project. You can feel Carter stabbing it to them in every scene.

It does not really matter, that the world "Didn't End" at the end of the Episode, It didn't end that year, and may not end at the end of 2012, as The X-Files predicted in it's very last Episode.

What does matter is Mulder working with Black, and Black doing his very last work as a kind of Saviour - He does save Mulder at the end. Even though it is doubtful that the actual world would have ended - Mulder WAS in real trouble - And, it probably would not have been very good to have four Apocolpse-Zombies roaming about, would it?