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"Behind the Script of Genesis" by Dan Owen
"Genesis" was a strange and difficult episode to write because I hadn't watched "Goodbye To All That" (the season 3 finale) so it was like writing part 3 of a trilogy I hadn't seen!
It was also on a tight deadline because "Blood & Water", which had already been written, had to air at a certain time for that script to work. Therefore we had about 3 weeks to not only write "Genesis", but decide on our overall basis for VS4 and get out writing staff working on their own scripts.
After being briefed on "Goodbye To All That" thanks to an indepth synopsis from Anne (Andrews), we quickly tried to resolve the three key issues left hanging from season 3: is Peter Watts dead?, what was in the file-folder?, and where was Frank taking Jordan in his jeep?
The question that caused the most deliberation was whether or not to bring back Peter Watts. There was some concern that we didn't have a "mentor" figure that could lead Frank around akin to Watts' role in season 2.
However, Matt and I both agreed it was ridiculous to bring back Watts for many reasons. He'd already been "resurrected" from apparent death in "Exegesis", his character's life-span was effectively over thanks to "Goodbye To All That", he would know too much about the Group now - which would destroy the secretive aspects of them, and it was also a clear reason for Frank to continue the fight.
My own personal idea was to have Frank stay with Tom and Helen (only ever seen way back in season 1!) I thought it was a logical thing for Frank to do, plus it would allow some "family moments" missing since season 1, and provide a more ensemble feel to the show. Giving Jordan a "surrogate brother" - in the form of her cousin Charlie, was also a bonus. It would be nice to play with a Black family unit - and the obvious dangers of Frank staying with them could form a basis for future episodes.
Next up, was Emma Hollis. Overall, a character widely condemned during season 3 by fans. Personally I just found her poorly utilized in Millennium. We also remembered the outcry when Lara Means was whitewashed out of the show in season 3, so we didn't want to fall foul of the same condemnation with Emma. It wouldn't be fitting to just drop her from the Millennium scene.
It was decided to continue Emma's journey - with obvious parallels to Frank's situation in season 2. Like Frank, Emma gains a Patron "mentor" to help her initiation into the Group - in the form of Carol Finley (seen throughout season 2). No special reason for choosing Finley, besides the fact she always struck me as an interesting secondary character and was female. Together they form a parallel to Frank's past in season 3 - which he sees and wants to save her from.
One of the biggest changes in VS4 - and a successful one, I'm pleased to say - was the introduction of another new character: Ryan Frost. His inclusion was another parallel to Frank's past - being in a mixed situation similar to Frank during seasons 1, 2 and 3 (working for local authorities and an ex-Group candidate).
Ryan would later develop a home life that was probably similar to Frank's own early marriage to Catherine before Jordan's birth. So in many ways Ryan is a "younger Frank", and to him and Emma, Frank also forms a "grandfatherly/mentor" figure to the two "youngsters" of VS4. Which I thought was interesting.
VS4 was also a more ensemble show - which was a mixed blessing, in hindsight. We had a lot of characters and 4 main areas where characters interracted: the Black Family, Frank and Ryan's investigations, the FBI investigations, and the Millennium Group's machinations.
Therefore, on occassion, the sheer difficulty in servicing all the characters and getting them involved in the mytharc stories, took its toll and some characters suffered from being put on the sidelines.
Speaking of characters, "Genesis" also introduces a minor character I have a funny affection for: Detective Hart. Effectively, a brash veteran cop who has no time for psychics. It just always seemed perculiar to me that nobody in Millennium ever questioned Frank's ability, and just seemed to accept it. Hart was an antidote to this, being a complete sceptic.
Story-wise, "Genesis" was actually very straightforward and merely answered some things from season 3 and set-up a lot of stuff for VS4. But it worked fine, and was an entertaining way to "get up to speed" on our continuation of this "universe". It even tied together some elements of "Skull And Bones", and a slight answer to Roedecker's dismissal from the Group in season 2.
Along the way we established another goal - to mix the previous seasons successes together - by allowing Mabius extra screen time, returning to The Elder and The Old Man (poorly utilized since season 2) and initiating a recurring image throughout VS4; the infamous buzzing flies...
There are perhaps a handful of episodes in VS4 which, if read together, form a mini-series which continues the mytharc of Millennium in a condensed form. "Genesis" is the beginning of that important bunch of episodes, and when judged together with its polar opposite (the finale), it's a very clear and concise start to our season.
TRIVIA:
- Since the final season was always meant to build towards a Biblical apocalypse, using the first and last books in The Bible seemed fitting. Thus, the premiere was "Genesis" and the finale was "Revelation." The title "Genesis" also represents a new beginning for Frank following his departure from the FBI.
- Emma's Millennium Group passphrase - "We all go a little mad sometimes" is from the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie "Psycho", spoken by Norman Bates.
- 5312 Ogden Parkway was the building first seen in season 3's "Bardo Thodol".
- One of the assassinated Group members - Robert Shaw - is the name of a famous actor.
- Peter Watts' tombstone gives his birth as March 26th -- which is also my birthday.
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