The Rogue's Eye View
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M I L L E N N I U M
114. SACRAMENT

Written by Frank Spotnitz
Directed by Michael Watkins
Original Air Date: February 21, 1997


Brief summary: A peaceful family reunion is turned into a horrifying ordeal for the Black family when Frank's sister-in-law Helen is abducted by a man who believes Satan is controlling him.

Rogue's Review: This episode opens in a such a lovely way, with the Blacks together, happy and smiling, as Frank's nephew and godson is baptized in a charming ceremony - and then we're plunged into a truly dark outing as Frank's sister-in-law is kidnapped right outside the church. And only Jordan Black, exhibiting new signs of the "gift" she has inherited from her father, knows what happened...

A very straightforward ep in which Frank must act upon his gift to track a killer, "Sacrament" propels Frank's personal vendetta against darkness into overdrive. With Bletcher trying to keep him out of the investigation because of his personal involvement, and Frank's tangled, complex relationship with his brother Tom (excellently played by veteran actor Philip Anglim, notable in HAUNTED SUMMER and TESTAMENT), "Sacrament" maintains edge-of-your-seat tension throughout.

Good screen-time for MILLENNIUM's other characters - there's a darling sequence between Catherine and Jordan in which she follows timeless childhood procedure and continuously asks "Why?" to each of Catherine's remarks. Bletcher shines, clashing with Frank in this outing rather than relying on his special talents to help close a hairy case. Peter has a minimal role, providing Frank with help outside the Group's purview - moments like these are why the person Peter evolves into at the beginning of Season Two is so hard to accept. Peter is a good friend, and an understanding compatriot.

Even Giebelhouse manages to get in on the action here... though partially because he flubs badly at a stakeout, where Frank's distraught brother manages to get to the door of the accused's house WITH A GUN before the cops react. Duhhhh... Come on, Giebs!

The episode provides a unique twist on the age-old Biblical idea of "the sins of the father" - a more satisfying twist than the similarly themed episode "Weeds" managed to do. This is also a good early alert to some of the reasons Frank is the way he is - glimpses of his past that are built upon further in second-season eps like "The Curse of Frank Black" and "Midnight of the Century." Whereas "The Thin White Line" helped paint a clearer picture for us of Frank as a lawman, this episode helps show us Frank as a man, a brother, and a father - elements that drive him in "Sacrament" in a completely personal way.

"We don't want to get confused here about who the bad guy is," Giebelhouse says at one point - nicely stating aloud one of the overall themes of MILLENNIUM's second season. And Frank's brother says something else that helps foreshadow the inescapable events of the season finale and second season opener: "It's a sickness, Frank! You can't just keep it locked in the basement!" It's isn't the implied handgun Tom is talking about - it's the violence building within Frank himself. Violence that has nowhere to go, sooner or later, but outward. [Rating: 7/10]

"It's all these... images, uh, running through my mind. I--I don't know what life was like before yesterday. All I--All I see are... pictures of her... suffering... and I'm not there to save her." -- Thomas Black


reviews by Rick Smith (1996 - present) and website by Matt Asendorf (2004)
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