MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode review
by 4Q2
Submitted 3/06/00

"Diabolus Ex Machina" #420
Original "Air" date: 12/10/99
Writers: David Klein


In Brief: 
Frank returns to Seattle to investigate a murder perpetrated by what
appears to be a child-abuse survivor, but all is not what it appears to be
as Frank is made a tempting offer to return home permanently.


Overall Impression:
Dark.  Really, really dark, malevolent, gloomy... and a great story.
Seeing Frank back in Seattle (the perfect backdrop for the story) is also
long overdue.


Details: 
"Lord of the Flies???" A truly ironic choice of literature for Jordan, and
actually kinda questionable for a child that age.  But then again, who
knows what's gotten into her little friend Jonah since "Anthropophagi?"

Well, seeing this book in her hand kind of sets the appropriate tone for
"Diabolus Ex Machina," David Klein's swan song for the VS.  This little
diddy was oozing with more evil than any Lucy Butler episode.  And it
drove the point home that Frank's work for the Good Guys is just gonna get
tougher from here on out.  Yep... strong with the Dark Side, it was.

My first hint that disaster was on the horizon was when Lt. Quien urged
Frank not to "make me regret this" as he ascended the floors of the office
building to negotiate with The Bad Guy.  The feeling of hopelessness
played out very well by Klein's interpretation of Frank as the unthinkable
happened.  I must admit to my own shock as well when the bullets started
to fly.  This was a truly tragic scene, and not just for the innocent
victims of Royson.  Here, we see even further proof that Frank's resolve
is eroding, and probably why his hair has gone white as a ghost since we
first met him in 1996.  This was an outstanding chapter in the story of
Frank Black in that we see the formings of what could be a tragic hero.
Although I know better now (having read "Armageddon/Revelation"), I
seriously had my doubts that Frank would actually *survive* to see 2000.
As I read here, one could actually feel the life, and the determination,
being sucked out of Frank.  This lent an extremely dark and forboding air
to this appropriately titled chapter of MM.

This episode easily harkens back to the incredible "Powers,
Principalities, Thrones, and Dominions/Lamentation" arc in which Frank is
offered a bargain by the very evil he seeks to defeat, even when it seems
it's the best choice for him to just accept.

What's even more unsettling about the Forces Of Evil making a play for
Frank's allegiance here is that the offer this time is not only pretty
damn sweet, but pretty damn undetectable.  I certainly didn't expect Quien
as a member of Team Beelzebub, but it did answer the question as to why we
didn't see maybe another of Frank's old cop buddies, like Giebs or maybe
even Roger 'I'm *McClaren* now!' Kamm, making the offer to have Frank back.

Making it even more difficult to resist, it comes to Frank as he seems to
be at one of his more vulnerable states.  The condition he might have been
in as a result of visiting Catherine's Grave wasn't lost on me, and I as I
saw The Evil Janitor making a move on Black HQ, it seemed reasonable to
assume that Frank wasn't far from the list of targets.  I began to wonder
if the poor guy's hair could get even *whiter* at this point.

Klein's masterful tying together of the instances in which Evil has
reached out to Frank was a comendable move, and made for a great (albeit
looong!) monologue with Quien at the side of the lake.  And the portrayal
of ol' buddy Quien couldn't have been more convincing.  I truly didn't see
it coming, at least not from him.  The man's offer would literally have
taken Frank off the playing field and out of the fray that takes place in
"Swords of Armageddon/Revelation."

The literary references thrown in were also a nice bit of spice for the
whole stew.  Thinking back, I still find that "Lord of the Flies" might be
an odd choice of gift from one kid to another, but it worked better as a
storytelling device then say... a giga-pet.  And speaking of referencing,
I do wonder if Jonah was named that on purpose.  About to be swallowed by
the whale?  It seems *this* Jonah made it out of the jaws in time.  I have
some more fun-reference stuff to comment on after...


4Q2's Nitpick Corner: 
I get this feeling that the following may have been the result of a
necessary edit...

Frank's returning scene to the Seattle PD just didn't have that "coming
home" feel without a few words between Frank and Giebs.  In fact, Frank
walked *right by* the guy to head into Quien's office.  I can just see
Giebs, watching Frank waltz on by.  "Yeah, nice to see you too, Mr.
Sunshine."

And speaking of Frank and Giebs, their personalities seemed to be switched
at the beginning of Act Two.  Seriously folks, how easy is it to picture
Frank holding a steamin' cup of joe at a murder scene?

(Well, they're called *nitpicks* for a reason)


4Q2's Fun With Fictional Street Names:
Okay... now, we have in the last episode, "In Adventu Dominae," the
location of the MM Group's interview with Emma as 1616 Pandora Ave.  Yes,
I'm sure the box has been opened and the chaos soon to begin.  Nice.

Now, here in "Diabolus," the Black Family Residence is finally revealed to
be on a street called Keyser... as in Soze?  Intriguing, referring as it
does to a film character who also is characterized as pure evil, even the
Devil.  Funny.


Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story?  (Did 4Q2 get it?):
Oh yeah, I did.  I could feel Frank's struggle within himself as he spoke
of giving up the fight, while Quien sang sweet songs of regaining
structure in Frank's life.  Nice choice.


TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of:
"Powers, Principalities, Thrones, and Dominions," "Lamentation,"
"Gehenna," "The Judge," "Seven and One"


Score: 10 (out of 10)
In a word, awesome.  The final scene was a great touch with a great line.

NEXT IN THE PIPELINE: (read in gruff, Fox-style urgent voiceover) "The
countdown to series finale continues..."  Owen and Asendorf bring us Part
One of the final battle for the fate of humanity.  "The Swords of
Armageddon" are crossed (and reviewed, of course).  Onward!

-4Q2, the Insult Comic Dog