MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode review 
by 4Q2 
Submitted 11-12-99 

"The Dawn of Nothing" #416 
Original "Air" date: 11/12/99 
Writers: Andrew Wyatt and Dan Owen 

In Brief: 
In New York, a seemingly unstoppable killer who specializes in "snuff
films" taunts Frank and Ryan to catch him before his final work is
completed. 


Overall Impression: 
I was getting visions of the Nick Cage film "8mm" as I studied the print
ad for this episode, although I've only seen the trailer to the movie and
not the whole film itself.  I was beginning to fear that this was going to
be an idea lifted from the movie and decided I'd better rent the movie
before reading.  "Naw," I said.  "Let's go into this untainted."  I'll bet
my money that anything the VS cranks out would beat Joel Schumacher on his
best day.  I was dead on. This was absolutely a joy to read.  Exciting,
suspenseful, and just what I have come to expect from Dan Owen. 


An Update:  
I have since had the opportunity to view the Joel Schumacher film, "8mm"
and I have to say it was very "Millennium-flavored."  The influence of
this film on "The Dawn of Nothing" is exceedingly apparent, right down to
a scene where the Nicholas Cage character is combing the grimy undersides
of L.A. and New York seeking snuff films.  Frank does the same things
here, although his search is limited to one shop (which spares the horrors
that Cage found in the movie).  


Details: 
Okay I want to start off by saying I absolutely *had* to break the
sequence of my reviews to sing the praises of this episode.  I'll get to
"Gestalt" in due time (Which by the way was a great effort by Mr. Wyatt).
If anyone has been keeping up with my reviews, you may be noticing that
this is the third consecutive perfect score given thus far.  Am I
butt-kissing?  Brown-nosing?  Think whatcha want, but "Genesis," "Blood
and Water," and "The Dawn of Nothing" are in my opinion excellent examples
of what Millenium was.  The third season alone could have used the talents
of the writers responsible for these stories.  Now, lemme say that not
*every* word of the VS has enthralled me, in fact some bits I found to be
quite disappointing, but like with "Gestalt"... all in due time.

Now, let's go to the videotape!

In the second season, an absolutely brilliant episode of MM aired called
"The Mikado," that featured a dark figure called "Avatar."  This
maddeningly clever killer was patterned after the infamous real-life
Zodiac Killer of the 1970's.  He was never caught and, like his real-life
counterpart, Avatar escaped justice, leaving behind one of the most
intricately-woven mysteries I've ever seen.  Subsequent episodes of MM
have been great in their own right, but for different reasons.  Anyone who
has seen "Mikado," and then watched the apocalyptic horror of "The Time is
Now" unfold knows what I mean.  They are both Millennium, both
outstanding, but are worlds apart as episodes.  I've been waiting for
something to come along and top "The Mikado" in terms of ingenius plot
twists and steel-warping tension.

Look no further than "The Dawn of Nothing."  Seriously.

The opening teaser alone is worth the price of a ticket, evoking memories
of "When a Stranger Calls" as a young woman is flirting online with an
unknown "Nice Guy."  This "Nice Guy" proves to be anything but as he
forces his way into her apartment, carrying with him a camcorder and the
laptop he used to chat with her.  Reading their posts in the chat forum
was about as chilling as they come, realizing that he has her under
surveillance... and he's coming in.

Niceguy789: (chat message) Nice cat. 
(Major goose bumps here... and this was just the teaser)

The subsequent investigation was a riveting read, and having Ryan along
for the ride invoked memories of the cameraderie of Frank and Peter Watts
in better times.

And while we are on the subject of Ryan (who I am convinced more than ever
was written for John Cusack), let's hear it for Mr. Frost in badass mode!
("Put the cuffs on this sack of crap!")

Great scene and one that echoed my own sentiments toward Travis.

One nitpick I do have is the seemingly slang-kissed dialogue of Minja
Kamdar.  Hearing her use phrases like "...into astrology" somehow didn't
click.  Also, she seemed to be aware of Ryan's identity although neither
he nor Frank introduced themselves upon their initial meeting.

"The Dawn of Nothing" also forces a few uncomfortable questions into the
mind of the reader.  Just who is capable of developing a fetish?  The
obvious answer is... anyone.  One does have to wonder what sort of people
fall into slavery to these "perversions."  It's a subject no one seems to
want to have out in the open, for the sake of our own peace of mind.  The
very idea that a policeman, or a school teacher, or a priest can fall to
their own dark curiosities is a petrifying one indeed, and it provides an
additional source of terror to "The Dawn of Nothing." 

Sometime after the posting of this episode, there were quesions posted on
the VS message board over who exactly the killer might have been.  Well,
ruling out Avatar (for reasons I will list shortly) my paranoid mind did
run through possibilities.  I was suspicious of the gentleman Chris,
encountered by Frank in the porno shop.  I'm sorry but anyone who just
walks up to someone in that sort of a shop and starts dispensing advice so
readily just HAS to have an agenda.  I figured this "Chris" was our man.

Okay, if you're not laughing at me now... I even suspected Ryan at one
point.  It was toward the end after Ryan's 'Rebel Without a Cause' joke
that I thought to myself, "Okay, he's left Ryan behind, and now facing a
killer with a hood on."  Okay... so I'm no Hercule Poirot.


4Q2's Nitpick Corner:
While it is important to educate readers somewhat on the idiosyncracies of
the Internet, the way Cassie explained things felt a little too much like
reading a textbook on the subject . The all-too-straightforward tone of
her dialogue took away the humanity and left... well, a textbook with
lines.

Frank's search of the porno shop was written in a way that portrayed him
as a bit shocked and dismayed.  The nit I have to pick here is that in the
pilot episode, we learn that Frank has spent "...ten years in 'Sexual
Homicide'."  I don't know much about police work of any kind, but I can
make a safe guess that if you've walked that beat, you've seen it all, and
very little in a porno shop's gonna phase you.


Priceless Moment:
Jill Dymek: You must be Mr. Frost and Mr. Black.  Bleak names.

I can just see Frank and Ryan trading a cockeyed glance.  And while we're
on the subject, how *did* Ryan get his last name?  The meaning of Frank's
last name isn't lost on me, but I do have to ask if the intention behind
Frost's name is the same.

I have to point out one last thing.  I asked Matt Asendorf a few months
back if there was a possibility that Avatar would return in the VS.  My
answer was pretty much "no" or words to the effect of "we couldn't
possibly squeeze him in with all the threads we have to wrap up."

In short, Matt A. lied to me.  Does 4Q2 care?  HELL NO!

In fact, posing this very question to him was the best thing I could have
done, because I didn't see Avatar coming in any way, shape or form.  Now
while I realize their are razor-sharp readers out there who may have
guessed by the second act who was behind the mayhem based solely on his
use of the Internet, I hadn't even *considered* Avatar's return.  The idea
never even floated through my head because I'd resigned to the "fact" back
around August that he was defintiely NOT coming back. 

This resulted in my jaw hitting the floor when Frank beheld the
cross-divided circle scrawled on the wall.  I actually said the word out
loud before Frank did. "Avatar." More goose bumps.  Perfection, Andrew and
Dan. 

I guess honesty isn't always the best policy, and with that I say thank
you to Matt for lying to me, otherwise I *might* have guess who was back.


Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story?  (Did 4Q2 get it?): 
I'll take a whack at this one... Seems that the "promises to keep" and the
"miles to go" before sleep would be a reference to Avatar's insistance
that his work is done forever once either Stacey is dead or himself.
How'd I do?  Do I win anything? 


TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of: 
"The Mikado" (To quote Marge Simpson, "Well, duh.") 


Score: 10 (out of 10) 
Superb job!  This has become my new favorite among the VS episodes, and
had this been an actual TV episode, it may have well been the best one in
my book. 


Afterthought: 
So... Kevin Spacey to play Avatar?  I'm just kidding.  Onward! 

-4Q2