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"Behind the Script of Anthropophagi" by Dan Owen
It was inevitable VS4 would do a Lucy Butler episode, especially since it became a tradition for each season to include one prime return of the "she-demon".
It was constantly in mind during VS4 that, when necessary, our episodes should attempt to clarify or conclude past events. Lucy Butler brings a lot of baggage and expectations - so it was daunting for me to try and live up to the successful history.
There were two primary ideas in my mind when brainstorming what would become "Anthropophagi" - cannibalism and season 1's "Lamentation". Cannibalism always seemed a topic Millennium would inevitably touch upon - yet never did, besides some murky comments in unrelated episodes.
Perhaps this was due to inevitable comparisons to Thomas Harris - an author who's book "Manhunter" (which featured the cannibalistic Hannibal Lecter) was a major influence on Millennium back in 1996. Or maybe cannibalism was just too risky a subject for American prime-time TV...
Whatever the reason, though, cannibalism had never been attempted. I had already been toying with the idea of writing a cannibalistic standalone episode since "The First Prophet". Being fairly fresh from finishing the mythology-intense "Rapture" and "Tribulation" two-parter, the notion of writing something more self-contained and "dangerous" was alluring.
When it became clear we'd need a Lucy Butler episode soon, Matt's eyes turned to me. And the prospect of returning Lucy back to her roots (i.e. more reality-based horror in the vein of "Lamentation") with cannibalism as some kind of backdrop, was very inspiring.
However, we couldn't dismiss the supernatural facets of the character, so more otherworldly symbolism and dynamics was necessary - in the vein of "Antipas". Basically, it became a balancing act between the two "styles" of Lucy Butler episodes.
As always with me, a few days of research into cannibalism was needed. Very freaky reading, incidentally, and it even seemed Hollywood was fast on my tail with "Ravenous" in cinemas!
Obviously, the spectre of Hannibal Lecter loomed large when trying to devise the cannibalistic antagonist (Zech). But this actually helped, since it suddenly dawned on me that - in reality - it's not very likely a cannibalistic killer would be as intelligent and well-bred like Mr Lecter. So Zech would be almost an exact opposite, making it an easy obstacle, especially when combined with Zech and Lucy's rich backstory.
I wanted a story which didn't directly involve Lucy, but she was the mastermind behind a lot of goings on. In that way "Anthropohagi" was similar to "A Room With No View". It was even intended at one stage to have Frank oblivious Lucy was involved throughout the entire episode! But this became a less intriguing prospect dramatically.
Okay, "Anthropophagi" is complicated. It's difficult to relate a train of thought I had during this episode, because so many things just gelled by themselves. Obviously, my own personal thoughts on Lucy Butler and her corruption of children's innocence is a big feature, and provides more of a sequel to "A Room With No View".
It's widely thought that Lucy Butler herself is a kind of "spokeswoman" for Legion (a possessive demon seen throughout Millennium). Ever since "Powers, Principalities, Thrones And Dominions" we've known this 'Legion' demon likely inhabits people who accept its "Offer" after a Near Death Experience while comatose. This is what happened to Al Pepper in that episode, it seemed.
Yet this totally logical line of thinking only seemed to find favour with fans, seeing as seasons 2 and 3 both chose a more simplistic view of things: Lucy is a demon. For "Anthropophagi" I really wanted to mix the styles of the 3 Lucy Butler episodes, but also make unofficial "fact" something fans had concocted. This is where the elements about Legion, the lure of her power, which both Zech and Jim (her lover) wanted to attain - but in different methods.
Yet "Anthropophagi"'s primary reason for being was as commentary on youthful innocence gone astray. Zecheriah Cobb, at one stage, was a child prodigy who'd nurse injured birds back to life. Yet ten minutes with Lucy Butler and he'd already taken a first step into his depressing life of cannibalism and low-paid work.
One of the more interesting elements of the episode, I find, was the short subplot involving a modern day "retelling" of Zech's initial encounter with Lucy Butler. In 1999, it's Jordan who's a target - being tempted to kill a mouse suffering in a mousetrap by The Janitor of her school. While her new friend, Jonah, looks to have already become a victim of The Janitor's influence...
It's always fascinated me how tempted kids are to do unnecessarily cruel things - the classic example being pulling the wings off insects, or the legs off spiders. Why do kids do that? What's the attraction? Is that a first-step into murder when mature? It is often documented that some serial killer enjoyed torturing their own pets when young. This social commentary just fitted so well into Lucy's established thoughts on children.
As a side note, the Doberman that watched over Zech throughout the episode, provided another link between episodes I wanted to make. The dog is of the same breed as those surrounding the Old Man's shack, and also featured in "A Room With No View". It was just SO apparent to me that the dogs (symbolising evil) were closely tied to Lucy and her minions, so one of them just had to feature in this script. Another piece of juicy continuity the real producers failed to capitalise on.
I could literally go on and on about this episode for hours - breaking the script down into every little nuance and scene, but above all I think "Anthropophagi" was the most satisfying of episodes I wrote. Personally.
For an episode that actually SAYS something in an entertainingly creepy and sometimes gruesome manner - look no further than "Anthropophagi". It may sometimes be confusing (a lot of scenes were cut) but keep an open mind, have a good knowledge of Millennium, and read between the lines. It's worth it.
TRIVIA:
- The title "Anthropophagi" is a medical term, which literally means "eater of your own kind," but is widely recognized as "cannibalism."
- The name 'Zechariah Cobb' is in homage to Ezra Cobb, a cannibalistic character from 1974 horror film "Deranged". The name Zechariah, like Ezra, also has Biblical origins.
- The books in Zech's collection are not fictional titles, each one can be purchased from real bookstores.
- The Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane is a real place, and was also the prison for Hannibal Lecter in "The Silence Of The Lambs".
- Jordan's new friend, Jonah, was aptly named. Of course, the most famous Jonah was swallowed by a whale in "Jonah And The Whale". In "Anthropophagi", Jonah had metaphorically been swallowed by "a whale of corruption", in the form of The Janitor (Legion).
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