MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode review 
by 4Q2 
Submitted 1-11-00

"Rapture" #411 
Original "Air" date: 9/24/99 
Writer: Dan Owen


In Brief: 
The disappearance of a planeload of passengers and babies from a maternity
ward prompt Frank and Ryan to investigate signs of the prophesized
"rapture."


Overall Impression: 
Had my attention from the teaser, and just the fact that it was the
Virtual Season's first two-parter almost makes it worth checking out
alone.  Any Millennium fan knows you can't go wrong with a double-shot.


Details: 
Way, way back when I was a young 'un and had not quite made up my mind
about religion, I remember hearing a fantastic, almost frightening story
about a time when only the faithful would be saved.  The rest of us
sinful, Jerry Springer-watching heathens would be left here to rot as the
world went straight to hell.  The good would simply disappear in "the
twinkling of an eye."  Well, to a kid, it's enough to keep you up at night
knowing you could be left behind.  To a Millennium fan, it's the setup to
one *hell* of a story in which a group of folks, and a group of innocent
newborns, simply vanish into the night.  This is the Millennium story I
had been waiting for.  "Rapture" is the embodiment of the entire concept
for the show.  Who will be saved?  Who will burn eternally for overusing
that "Show me the money" nonsense?

Well, before we lapse back into the true "fire and brimstone" atmosphere
that is now firmly a part of the Millennium chain of events here, let's
not forget that we're still dealing with a group out for control of all
things doomsday....and the ones who would oppose them.  I'm a talkin'
about the Board.  And I'm a glad we didn't see the last of them in
"Gestalt."

Travelling back a year or so, I have to say I was also one of the many who
were extremely annoyed and disappointed in 1013 Productions when "The
Innocents" was presented as the opener for Season Three.  The utter
neglect of the terrifying "The Time Is Now" was an insult, but it did at
the very least leave us with a pretty decent story involving the Group's
experiments with "remote viewers."  This "Grillflame" project was neat
stuff to hear about.  Now, a year later, "Blueflame" comes along (I wanna
know who's sick idea of humor THIS is) and takes the story to a new and
welcome level.  We see not only the experiments in action, but the
intriguing ability of these people to project themselves not just across
distance, but time as well.  Some may complain that the premise is just to
"X-Filesy," but the end result was enormously satisfying.  Thank God that
the folks at the VS were able to salvage the injustice thrown at us at the
beginning of Season Three by giving us a damn good story.

Also doing this episode credit was a shock ending of the best kind.  I
knew things would get juicy once the Board was introduced, and Dan Owen
didn't let me down.  It was a damn ballsy move to abduct the *Elder of the
Millennium Group*, and the cliffhanger ending left nail-biting memories of
the final scene of "Owls."  Nice job.


Most dramatic moment:
The real estate agent finally confessing to Frank that a suicide took
place in a potential "yellow house" made for a very dramatic and telling
scene.  Seeing Frank take no chances on exposing Jordan to danger of *any*
sort drove the urgency of their situation home.  At the time of my first
read, I sensed a bit of foreshadowing.


4Q2's Nitpick Central:
Fast service on that plane!  The meal trays were collected roughly
thirteen minutes in to that flight.  Took me forty-five minutes to get a
friggin' Sprite!

The discovery of the "eye" drawn by hand on the plane was almost too
amazing a discovery to be made without Frank's help.  I can only see this
happening through dusting.  Hard to believe, this scene.

A video-tape from the hospital is being shown to Hollis and McGreevey by
man named "Jim Carter," who is later referred to as "Palmer."  Perhaps Mr.
Owen's mind was still on "The Dawn of Nothing" that night (as in Lt.
Palmer)?

Frank's gift (up until this point) has always been about his mind putting
together the pieces of whatever happened without actually having been
there.  The idea of him actually touching objects, and the cockpit
controls, in order to pick up "vibes" seems a bit hokey to me, especially
for Frank Black.


Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story?  (Did 4Q2 get it?):
About as self-explanatory as they come, considering the theme of the
episode.  


Priceless Line:
Frank: "I know you don't have faith in my ability, detective.  That
doesn't matter.  I'm not seeking your approval, or your gratitude.  I just
want to solve this."

You tell 'im!!


TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of: 
"The Innocents," "Exegesis"


Score: 10 (out of 10) 
Once again, Dan Owen comes through, this time delivering one of the most
shocking endings since "The Forth Horseman."  Bravo!

NEXT IN THE PIPELINE: Part Two - "Tribulation" and on to "Iso Bet Din."
Onward!

-Dr. 4Q2, licensed driver