Millennium (pilot episode)
Encyclopedia
The pilot episode for the crime-thriller television series Millennium
which aired between 1996-1999. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on October 25, 1996 on the Fox Network
, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by series creator Chris Carter
, and directed by David Nutter
.
The pilot episode follows the renowned but now retired FBI profiler Frank Black
(Lance Henriksen
) retires to Seattle with his family and becomes a member of the Millennium Group
, a secretive "criminal investigative consulting firm" of former law enforcement officers. Using his incredible profiling skills, Black helps in an effort to catch a vicious murderer who believes he is fulfilling apocalyptic prophecies. The episode received a high Nielsen household and syndication rating and was generally positively received by fans and critics alike.
(Lance Henriksen
) and his family. Frank spots a newspaper about the local murder, and immediately contacts his old colleague Bob Bletcher. Frank joins the investigation as an advisor of an unnamed group
.
When he views the body, Frank gets various vivid visions of the crime. His knowledge of various details unknown to the others spooks Bletcher. Frank and a fellow member of the Millennium Group named Peter Watts (Terry O'Quinn
) officially join the investigation.
In the meantime, the killer is hunting for his next victim. While unknown to him, the murderer is trapped in a world of grotesque hallucinations. Later that night, local police officers spot his latest victim. Frank visits the crime scene, which gives him a vision of the crime, again startling his colleague Bletcher. Later on, Frank presents his finding to the local homicide department, saying that the murderer is obsessed with apocalyptic prophecies and maddened by twisted sexual guilt.
After Frank presents his finding, Bletcher demands Frank tell his secret. Frank tells him he can see what the killer sees. After telling him, Frank rushes to hospital when his daughter, Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady
) is stricken with a high fever. Getting another vision, Frank leaves the hospital and gathers local law enforcement officers to another victim.
This follows with Frank tracking down the killer to the local police department's own evidence lab. In a mad rage the killer attacks Frank, but Bletcher shows up and shoots the killer, saving Frank's life. After clearing up the case with the local authorities, Frank returns home and opens up a newly-arrived anonymous piece of mail containing pictures of his family.
The X-Files
. The strip club, Ruby Tip was inspired by a club in Seattle, Washington
named the Lusty Lady which is located on the main street in Seattle. The director David Nutter
had been a long-time staff member of The X-Files crew. Carter said the episode was "directed beautifully by David Nutter who added to the project in so many ways, even as it came on, things that he saw visually that were able to actually change and make the script more concise."
Chris Carter
called it a "pleasure" to cast Kate Luyben, because she was "good"-looking. On The X-Files much of the casting was of "character actors", so Carter saw the casting of Luyben as a refreshing change. The same thing applied to Turkish-Canadian actor April Telek
. Luyben would later make an appearance on The X-Files and playing a prominent role on Harsh Realm
.
The idea behind the character, "The Frenchman" (played by Paul Dillon) came from a prophecy by Nostradamus
. According to Carter: "The idea that there is something approaching at the millennium
, this series being produced I think four years before the end of the century, that we were headed toward something grave and foreboding."
The name of recurring character
Bob Bletcher came from an attorney Carter had worked with previously. Another name, Giebelhouse was another name Carter had gotten from his childhood years. Carter said "This idea of the hard-boiled detective is a kind of cliché." But felt that the characters came "very real to life", when compared to real law enforcement personnel.
and in demographics it got a 9.0/27 in adults 18-49, which was at that time a record holder for being the most watched Fox program.
Millennium (TV series)
Millennium is an American television series created by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. Millennium aired on the Fox Network from 1996 to 1999. The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, though most episodes were ostensibly set in or around Seattle, Washington...
which aired between 1996-1999. The episode first aired in the United States and Canada on October 25, 1996 on the Fox Network
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
, and subsequently aired in the United Kingdom. It was written by series creator Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
, and directed by David Nutter
David Nutter
David Nutter is an American television and film director and television producer. He is best known for directing pilot episodes for television series, being known as "the pilot whisperer."-Career:...
.
The pilot episode follows the renowned but now retired FBI profiler Frank Black
Frank Black (Millennium)
Frank Black is a fictional character in the American Fox television shows Millennium and The X-Files, two series concerned with crime, conspiracies, and supernatural phenomena. Black was a renowned, highly skilled criminal investigator with the FBI who had the gift to put himself into the killer's...
(Lance Henriksen
Lance Henriksen
Lance James Henriksen is an American actor and artist best known to film and television audiences for his roles in science fiction, action, and horror films such as the Alien film franchise, and on television shows such as Millennium....
) retires to Seattle with his family and becomes a member of the Millennium Group
Millennium Group
The Millennium Group is a fictional secret society and "criminal investigative consulting firm" featured in the television series Millennium...
, a secretive "criminal investigative consulting firm" of former law enforcement officers. Using his incredible profiling skills, Black helps in an effort to catch a vicious murderer who believes he is fulfilling apocalyptic prophecies. The episode received a high Nielsen household and syndication rating and was generally positively received by fans and critics alike.
Plot summary
In downtown Seattle, an unnamed man is mumbling obscure phrases and hallucinating sheets of blood pouring over a blond stripper, with a wall of fire surrounding her. Later that night, the stripper is murdered. Just arriving in Seattle is Frank BlackFrank Black (Millennium)
Frank Black is a fictional character in the American Fox television shows Millennium and The X-Files, two series concerned with crime, conspiracies, and supernatural phenomena. Black was a renowned, highly skilled criminal investigator with the FBI who had the gift to put himself into the killer's...
(Lance Henriksen
Lance Henriksen
Lance James Henriksen is an American actor and artist best known to film and television audiences for his roles in science fiction, action, and horror films such as the Alien film franchise, and on television shows such as Millennium....
) and his family. Frank spots a newspaper about the local murder, and immediately contacts his old colleague Bob Bletcher. Frank joins the investigation as an advisor of an unnamed group
Millennium Group
The Millennium Group is a fictional secret society and "criminal investigative consulting firm" featured in the television series Millennium...
.
When he views the body, Frank gets various vivid visions of the crime. His knowledge of various details unknown to the others spooks Bletcher. Frank and a fellow member of the Millennium Group named Peter Watts (Terry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn is an American actor, most famous for playing John Locke on the TV series Lost. He made his debut in a 1980 television movie called F.D.R.: The Last Year. Since then, O'Quinn has had minor supporting roles in films and TV movies such as Young Guns, All the Right Moves, Silver Bullet,...
) officially join the investigation.
In the meantime, the killer is hunting for his next victim. While unknown to him, the murderer is trapped in a world of grotesque hallucinations. Later that night, local police officers spot his latest victim. Frank visits the crime scene, which gives him a vision of the crime, again startling his colleague Bletcher. Later on, Frank presents his finding to the local homicide department, saying that the murderer is obsessed with apocalyptic prophecies and maddened by twisted sexual guilt.
After Frank presents his finding, Bletcher demands Frank tell his secret. Frank tells him he can see what the killer sees. After telling him, Frank rushes to hospital when his daughter, Jordan Black (Brittany Tiplady
Brittany Tiplady
Brittany Alexandra Tiplady is a Canadian child actress best known for her role as Jordan Black in the television series Millennium . She won a 1998 Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Supporting Actress"...
) is stricken with a high fever. Getting another vision, Frank leaves the hospital and gathers local law enforcement officers to another victim.
This follows with Frank tracking down the killer to the local police department's own evidence lab. In a mad rage the killer attacks Frank, but Bletcher shows up and shoots the killer, saving Frank's life. After clearing up the case with the local authorities, Frank returns home and opens up a newly-arrived anonymous piece of mail containing pictures of his family.
Production
The episode was shot in Vancouver, Canada in early spring to give it a "gray" and "bleak" look. The decision to film it up in Vancouver, was to give the show the same dark feel as its sister showSister show
Sister shows are two or more television shows which exist in the same fictional universe and which may have crossovers. They differ to a degree from spin-offs in that shows may air simultaneously, rather than being derived from, and replacing, another. The popularity of most shows is limited to a...
The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. The strip club, Ruby Tip was inspired by a club in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
named the Lusty Lady which is located on the main street in Seattle. The director David Nutter
David Nutter
David Nutter is an American television and film director and television producer. He is best known for directing pilot episodes for television series, being known as "the pilot whisperer."-Career:...
had been a long-time staff member of The X-Files crew. Carter said the episode was "directed beautifully by David Nutter who added to the project in so many ways, even as it came on, things that he saw visually that were able to actually change and make the script more concise."
Chris Carter
Chris Carter (screenwriter)
Christopher Carl Carter is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is the creator of The X-Files and Millennium.- Ten Thirteen Productions :...
called it a "pleasure" to cast Kate Luyben, because she was "good"-looking. On The X-Files much of the casting was of "character actors", so Carter saw the casting of Luyben as a refreshing change. The same thing applied to Turkish-Canadian actor April Telek
April Telek
-Early life and career:Telek was born and raised on the North Shore of Vancouver, British Columbia. In Japan she pursued her modeling career and won a Shiseido Cosmetics contract for Asia from 1989-1990. In April 1994 she won the title of Miss Canada and represented Canada in several International...
. Luyben would later make an appearance on The X-Files and playing a prominent role on Harsh Realm
Harsh Realm
Harsh Realm is a science fiction television series about humans trapped inside a virtual reality simulation. It was developed by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files and Millennium, and began airing on the Fox Network on October 8, 1999. The series fared poorly in the ratings and was removed from...
.
The idea behind the character, "The Frenchman" (played by Paul Dillon) came from a prophecy by Nostradamus
Nostradamus
Michel de Nostredame , usually Latinised to Nostradamus, was a French apothecary and reputed seer who published collections of prophecies that have since become famous worldwide. He is best known for his book Les Propheties , the first edition of which appeared in 1555...
. According to Carter: "The idea that there is something approaching at the millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
, this series being produced I think four years before the end of the century, that we were headed toward something grave and foreboding."
The name of recurring character
Recurring character
A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...
Bob Bletcher came from an attorney Carter had worked with previously. Another name, Giebelhouse was another name Carter had gotten from his childhood years. Carter said "This idea of the hard-boiled detective is a kind of cliché." But felt that the characters came "very real to life", when compared to real law enforcement personnel.
Reception
The episode gathered a total viewership of 17.72 million in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in demographics it got a 9.0/27 in adults 18-49, which was at that time a record holder for being the most watched Fox program.