MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode review by 4Q2 Submitted 11-9-99 "The First Prophet" #407 Original "Air" date: 8/20/99 Writer: Dan Owen In Brief: The unearthing of a cave in France, containing what appear to be prophetic stone-age pictographs, brings Frank into the beginnings of what could be yet another face-off between the Roosters and the Owls. Overall Impression: Enormously entertaining and suspenseful. The control of the Group by the Roosters and their true vision for the future is really fleshed out here... with a bit of Indiana Jones (and another, ahem, well-known archaeologist) thrown in. Details: Money. Sex. Power. Temptations, some more powerful than others, have always led humans astray and commanded them to do the unspeakable. They have made allies into opponents and the unthinkable a necessary course of action. Knowledge of the future? Here's a little nugget for the noggin. Could you resist it? This question is the premise of Dan Owen's "The First Prophet," in which the works of a cro-magnon fortune teller are discovered in the French countryside. This Raiders of the Lost Ark-flavored dose of Millennium took off like a shot and didn't let up for a second, from the thought-provoking beginning circa 1943 to an equally affecting conclusion in which it was decided that mankind simply had no right to know what lay ahead, or the capacity to accept it. And, much to my own delight, the fires of rivalry were re-ignited between the Roosters and the Owls in a story that was even more compelling than the televised two-parter named after them. I also want to give kudos to one of the more believable characters to come along in the Milennium canon, that being the Frenchman Alexander Le Saux. His mysterious entrance and dramatic flair (although it scraped the edge of being *over*-dramatic) made him a memorable presence indeed, and his scenes with Frank, *all* of them, were a joy to read. The interplay between them resulted in some of the best dialogue the VS has had to offer thus far, and gives even the best Frank/Peter Watts scenes a run for their money. The story here and Le Saux's contributions to it make me want to see more of him in later chapters (which is impossible at best seeing as how "the time is near"). However, while finely-crafted the story goes, the entire philosophy of the Millennium Group and its factions was put under the microscope for all to scrutinize. Here's my beef... Blaylock: They think that if the Gallery proves we are wrong, we will try and create armageddon. Er... weren't they trying to do just that in "Hostile Elements" by having Pellier flood Iowa, undoubtedly setting the first step of "armageddon" in motion? Now, *knowing* that there could be potential opposition from not just the Owls, but any French citizen who knew of the legend of the Prophet Gallery (and don't even suggest to me that the Group doesn't know what happened to the Nazis who disovered the Gallery), why in the name of Inspector Clouseau would the Roosters be unarmed at the site. And just how could Le Saux be so sure that they would be unarmed. Seemed a little too convenient for me. 4Q2's Nitpick Central: Is Helen just that skittish a person after her abduction? Seems that an international phone call to tell Frank about what seems on the surface to be childhood imaginiation in overdrive is a bit much. What kid doesn't say weird things? Hell, I still do! Even Frank (knowing what Jordan is potentially capable of) thought it was no big deal. I'm thinking a better reason could have been conjured up for Helen to call him other than just to further the plot along ("Oh, and by the way... Jordan is drawing hairy elephants and black helicopters. WTF, over?"). There seemed to be some confusion over the date the Nazis disovered the Prophet Gallery. 1944? I thought the opening title card told us the Nazis found it in '43. At one point, Jordan's AUNT Helen is referred to as "her grandmother." Was the scene (or the entire story for that matter) originally written to have Jordan staying with Catherine's parents at some point, and the reference was never corrected? So, wrapping up, "The First Prophet" had all the right elements for a perfect score this time around. Dan Owen proves once again to be the Darin Morgan of the VS. Nice damn job. Oh... one more thing: British archaeologist *LINDA* Croft? Cute. Guess what image a was stuck in my head for the rest of the story? ("Let's go adventuring!") 4Q2's Casting Choice: Okay, so I know the man doesn't usually do TV, but even Jodie Foster threw 1013 Productions a bone for The X-Files. I couldn't shake the vision of Jean Reno as ALEXANDER LE SAUX. 4Q2's Goose-Bump Moment: The LARGE OUROBOROS painted on the cave wall. Man, that symbol just can't run dry when it comes to dramatic purpose. Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story? (Did 4Q2 get it?): Almost a contradiction at first glance, seeing as how the future *could* be built from the past if you had the gift of foresight. Le Saux however teaches us (quite convincingly) that future knowledge is something that can humanity is just not ready for. TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of: "Owls," "Roosters" Score: 10 (out of 10) Another Dan Owen triumph. Nuff said! NEXT IN THE PIPELINE: The controversial "Twilight Years" is reviewed. Onward! -4Q2 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "The First Prophet" review by Neil Anna APPRECIATING THE ARCHITECTURE ----------------------------- The idea of an ancient wall painting that contains images of the future, painted by some caveman in France 31,000 years ago, is actually quite an intriguing idea. The links between Frank, Jordan and Mr Caveman were well handled and well designed. Again we see a Millennium Group that is not only still powerful, but still divided into Owl and Rooster factions. That one faction would seek to undermine the power of the other faction - something both factions are attempting to do in this episode - is a frightening and intriguing twist in the Millennium Group mythos. How can this group seek to prepare the world for the coming millennium when there is so much infighting going on? Not only is the group sinister to outsiders and ex-members, it is sinister to its members too. Yet the group that is willing and able to murder its own members is not happy in retaliating against members of an opposing faction. Obviously Roosters murder Roosters and Owls murder Owls. That Frank moves out of the USA and into France is a good move - obviously there is more to the Millennium Group and more to the mystery than what goes on in America. No prizes, therefore, in working out that the author is not from America. STRUCTURAL FLAWS ---------------- The decision to go back in time and examine how the Nazis were interested in powerful artififacts with magical powers to help them win the war is, unfortnunately, too "Indiana Jones" for my liking. There is the link between the Nazis and the Millennium group ("Owls" and "Roosters" in season 2), but I actually think this went a bit too far. It may have been better if the original digging took place before or after WW2, with non-Nazi protagonists doing the digging. How about a group of French Communists? Just how many people know about Frank's "ability?" Okay, I've spoken about this many times before and I'll shut up about it now, but it seems that "every man and his dog" knows that Frank can "see" things... Next, we have a statement from The Elder outlining some of the important history of the Millennium group, dating back to the 16th century. This is important information... fascinating even. However, it needed to occur in a different place. The Elder discussing Millennium history in front of other high-level group members seems, well, unnatural - his audience KNOWS the history anyway, so why bother telling them about it? It is as though these important bits of information were tacked onto the scene, without really considering whether or not it fitted with the context. The ending really needed to be rounded off a lot better - Frank returning home and discussing things with Jordan. Instead we're left hanging with Jordan staring in a mirror and Frank probably off to drink some coffee. It ended far too suddenly and quickly. GOLDEN MOMENTS -------------- * Dan Owen obviously loves certain computer games. Notice British Arcaheologist "Linda Croft" and the fact that the Millennium group has snared both the Cross of the Crucifixion and the "Spear of Destiny" (the sequel to Wolfenstein 3D). Any more Dan? * Frank's conversation with Jordan in the car, resulting in him not seeing the green light and being honked at. Great touch! NIT PICKS --------- * "There were cave paintings dating back 31,000 thousand years"... thirty one thousand thousand = 31 million years... that's a very long time. * How come Uncle Tom is married to Jordan's Grandmother? * The cell phone coverage in France must be wonderful if Frank can recieve calls in the wilderness and at the bottom of cliffs. * The very fact that the wall continued for another 14 years beyond the collapse point indicates that the end does not come in 2000. This is made even more explicit by the image of the Cro-Magnon man painting pictures well beyond the future collapse point. These together point out that the world will not end in 150 odd days... obvious information for the Roosters to realise they are in the wrong. FAVOURITE LINE -------------- Frank: "Friends don't lie... they don't delude people" - wonderful irony! GRADING ------- 6.5 out of 10. APPENDIX -------- * I didn't understand the 3 circles bit... maybe it will be revealed later...