MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode review
by 4Q2
Submitted 1-2-00 (Don't worry. My reviews are Y2K compliant.)

"Akuma Odori" #410
Original "Air" date: 9-17-99
Writer: Eric Davis

In Brief:
Scientists employed by the Millennium Group during WWII are tormented by
the souls of those who suffered from their experiments.  A sequel to the
events in Season Three's "Bardo Thodol."

Overall Impression:
DAMN... it was nice to see *someone* try to make sense of the wildly
confusing plot of "Bardo Thodol."  Now, does it make any sense after
reading "Akuma Odori?"  Well, it was certainly creepy...

Details: 
Generally, I make it a rule never to swear when posting to this board.
But, I have to be honest when I say that my reaction to viewing last
year's "Bardo Thodol" was nothing less than "Holy shit... was THAT weird
or what?"

Unfortunately, that episode (which I am *convinced* was meant to lead to
bigger things and the answers to boot) came at a time when FOX was
undoubtedly deciding to axe Millennium in probably the same meeting in
which they green-lighted "Time of Your Life" or some such nonsense.

I'm certain that Virginia Stock & Chip Johannessen had *something* brewing
when they wrote "Thodol" that would have blown our socks off in Season
Four had it been allowed to happen.  This is why I want to give special
praise now to Mr. Eric Davis for having the balls to tackle the wildly
bizarre loose ends and plot devices of "Thodol."  You're a braver man than
me simply for taking a whack at it.

Now then... The most important question to ask here is, does the whole
mess make sense now?  Well, yes and no.

What seems clearest now is that the poor Steven Takahashi (whom we saw
rotting away in "Bardo Thodol") was hired by the Millennium Group to
conduct some sort of stem-cell research and/or create a way for humans to
survive the after-effects of a nuclear attack.  What linked him to this
originally was a case of human hands... hands that seemed to be *growing*
despite their disembodied state.  However, what was never made clear was
whether or not the hands were caucasian or Asian in nature.  Going back to
"Thodol," the *official* report said (and this is the first time I've ever
heard *this* word) that the hands were "caucasoid," despite evidence
uncovered by Emma Hollis that they were almost a match to Takahashi.  This
is one mystery that seemed to have some very big plot issues attached to
it.  Sadly, they are not resolved here in "Akuma" either.  Almost as big a
disappointment is that Emma doesn't even *appear* in this episode.  Having
a mystery remain unsolved is certainly nothing new in the "Chris Carter
Universe," and indeed it is one of its charms, but I feel kind of cheated
here this time.  I was very much hoping to get some sort of closure to
this particular plot point rather than just wonder (yet again) if my
suspicions about Takahashi and his work were correct.  Were these hands
once part of human bodies, or were they grown in labs from scratch?

Another almost maddening aspect is that "Akuma Odori" raises even MORE
questions.  Who was the "Dark-Suited" man masquerading as the late
Takahashi?  My gut instinct told me it was originally Mabius (established
by this point as a linguistic superman as well as an obviously
supernatural being), but as with most things in this plotline, no real
clues... just vague suggestions.  I can't even guess *who* the guy in the
dark-suit is now.

That's not to say that "Akuma Odori" was bad, and I did enjoy the concept
of the tormented souls coming back to drive the original scientists to
their deaths.  Ultimately however, it was almost as maddeningly confusing
and frustrating as "Bardo Thodol."  

Who sent that virus to Frank last year?  What's the story with the hands?
Where *did* those guys go with that truck just moments before Peter Watts
was caught bursting onto the scene (and obviously not expecting Emma or
McClaren to be there)?  Well, it seems we will never know the answers.

There was a can of worms left wide open when Millennium was cancelled, and
it feels more like an all new can was opened before the first one was
taken care of. 


4Q2's Goose-Bump Moment:
The teaser.  Imagining hearing the sound of glass being etched by an
invisible force was a hell of a lot of fun.  Nicely written moment.


Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story?  (Did 4Q2 get it?):
Both were relevant, but I really paid attention to the second one, which
basically reiterated what I already believe.  Nuclear research doesn't
kill people, the maniacs that build the bombs do.


TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of:
"Bardo Thodol," "Matryoshka"


Score: 7.5 (out of 10)
Well written and somewhat intriguing, but leaving me wanting a *lot* more
defined answers.  This was a plotline that I felt deserved resolution
here.

NEXT IN THE PIPELINE: 4Q2 finally gets to the incredible "Rapture"
two-parter, resolves to get to the rest of the season before 2001, and
copes with turning 30!!  (A touching half-hour in which I will be\
comforted by the cast of "Blossom")  Onward!

-Dr. 4Q2, licensed driver.