The Rogue's Eye View
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M I L L E N N I U M
120. MARANATHA

Written by Chip Johannessen
Directed by Peter Markle
Original Air Date: May 9, 1997


Brief summary: Ritual executions in New York's Russian community suggest an ancient legend has come to life and Frank finds himself chasing a killer who may in fact be the Biblical Antichrist.

Rogue's Review: This starts out as one gripping episode! THE X-FILES toyed with the legacy of Chernobyl in the outing "The Host," but even that excellent monster story can't compare with the way that tragic real-life event is woven into the mythology of MILLENNIUM... as Chernobyl's meltdown is explained as the first move of the long-prophesied Antichrist to initiate the Apocalypse.

It's too bad such a killer idea gets bogged down in muddled plots about stolen religious icons and organized crime within the Russian community of Brooklyn, New York, because at its best, it SMOKES, promising a completely new twist to Frank's ongoing search for the truth about the coming Millennium and the Group's interest in it. I mean, did you know that "Chernobyl" is Russian for "Wormwood," the name of the star fabled in Revelations to fall to earth and poison a third of the waters? Whew! This is scary stuff!

When a series of seemingly mob-related shotgun executions draws Frank to New York, he finds a superstitious Moscow cop named Yura (Boris Krutonog, also excellent as one of Sean Connery's crew in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER) blocking his investigation into the mysterious "Yaponchik," a Russian boogeyman who seems to have materialized in Brooklyn to wipe out anyone standing in the way of his rise to power.

And what wipe-outs! Some of the most unpleasant gore of the series can be found in this episode, as Yaponchik blasts his victims at close range with a shotgun sawed so short it's a handgun. (He also chops off their fingers to make IDing them difficult, something we see a couple times in loving closeup.)

The affable Bill Nunn (DO THE RIGHT THING, THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD) is great in a small role as a New York police lieutenant chasing around after Frank and Yura as they seek Yaponchik for different reasons. Frank wants him brought to justice... but Yura wants something else altogether. To stop the Antichrist from coming to power. What he doesn't realize is the old truth... sometimes those who seek to prevent an event manage to bring it about themselves, despite all their best intentions. And suddenly, it is up to Frank to rescue Yura from his misguided crusade.

Interesting to see how Peter seems to be the believer in this instance, readily accepting Yaponchik's reality, as opposed to Frank the skeptic, who for a time thinks the killer is merely using an ancient legend to fuel his power struggle within the Russian community. But the evidence of Yura's actions and our access to events Frank and Peter are not privy to suggests otherwise.

Unfortunately, a truly thrilling finale - in which Frank implores Yura to free himself of his role in the prophecy - is marred by the boneheaded efforts of someone on the production team to reinforce the idea that Yaponchik is more than he seems, by adding the flight number "666" to the underbelly of his escape helicopter. Thanks for the whack over the head, fellas, but the point had already been well-made.

It's too bad this episode seems to be a standalone, as it suggests both a rebirth of Frank's spiritual convictions and opens a potential story arc with far-reaching ramifications for the series. [Rating: 7/10]

"In the last days, the Antichrist appears and slaughters the faithful. The Bible doesn't say he has horns and a tail. He's an evil man, not supernatural. He can't walk on water." -- Frank Black


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