MovieChat Forums > Millennium (1996) Discussion > That's it ?!

That's it ?!

posted 11 years ago by puirt-a-beul
7 replies | jump to latest

I have just finished binge-watching the whole three series, and wow — that ending was such a let-down.

Did Carter et al know the show was ending sufficiently ahead of time to do something with the last two episodes, or was it a surprise? Is that the problem? Because the final ep feels like they might have only found out after it had been shot, but perhaps in time to tack on a bundled-up (maybe reshot) ending, and do what they could. But it's an ending that really doesn't satisfy anything, unfortunately.

I don't need everything to be tied up neatly, but some resolution of some of the questions would have been good. I really disliked the way Emma was dumped by the wayside, and the way Peter Watts was suddenly marginalised from the Group for no apparent reason. (Actually, that last bit seems a bit typical of Carter's shows, but it still feels like an unexpected jump-cut to no purpose.)

Overall, I'm disappointed in the show. I did expect more, if that's not too unfair a thing to say. I agree with some in other threads who have felt the ultimate problem was that Chris Carter had no overall vision or direction for the show. There's a lot to like about it along the way, of course — the grimness, the tantalising apocalyptic mythology, Henriksen's sombre performance — but to me it feels like a show that never found its pulse or its purpose.

Oh well. At least now I've seen it.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] DingusStudley 10 years ago

"I feel the same way about the "Mytharc" episodes of the X Files. I don't think Carter had any idea what to do with that story so he just kept adding more and more confusing layers. "

Eh, i think it def dragged and meandered BIG TIME, but i don't know if this was to artificially extend its length or cuz carter didn't have a clear plan from the start. Season 6 offers some concrete meat and potatoes and direction and resolution to things though, so at least at a certain point Carter decided where things should go story wise.

Unfortunately, nobody had any idea whatsoever what to do after season 6. Show def blew its load story wise wayyyyy too soon. Seasons 7-9 are the worst of the mytharc, just awful. Satisfying conclusion at least though.

[–] AgentMulder123 10 years ago

Did you watch the X-Files 7th Season episode "Millennium" after you finished the series?

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] AgentMulder123 10 years ago

I know people have mixed feelings on the episode. I like some of the sense of closure it brought and I loved seeing Frank Black team up with Mulder and Scully for the grand finale of sorts. I saw this episode long before I ever saw the Millennium series, so I guess I never felt shortchanged or felt that it was shoehorned in just because I went into Millennium knowing this is how things were going to play out.

[–] DingusStudley 10 years ago

It was awful and it served as a HUGE downgrade in what the Millennium Group was, what they were all about, the amount of power and reach they held. I also didn't like that they tried to link it so strictly to the turn of the millennium. In the show sure, the Group felt the endtimes were coming and that date carried significance, but i never got the sense that the year 2000 was the be all end all of all their plans and everything. Plus, we learn that the Millennium Group is actually evil and one of its main goals is just controlling the population, which although i dislike the "they're evil" turn, actually gives the organization a lot more depth then them merely being some "we will end the world!" doomsday group. It cheapened the whole thing i felt.

Fun X-Files ep and always good seeing Frank, god awful when it comes to offering resolution to Millennium though.

[–] DingusStudley 10 years ago

I too hated the turn they took with Peter.

I found the finale episodes quite satisfying overrall though. Very creepy, ended the show on an onimous yet at the same time hopeful note. Open ended yet still satisfying.

The 3rd season on the whole was highly dissapointing though. I thought the finale was a saving grace somewhat.

" There's a lot to like about it along the way, of course — the grimness, the tantalising apocalyptic mythology, Henriksen's sombre performance — but to me it feels like a show that never found its pulse or its purpose. "

Very true. I don't think Carter had a clear goal in mind from the getgo, and then season 2 had different writers helming it and they had their own ideas, then season 3 it returned to someone else i think. There was blatant retconning throughout, nonsensical episodes/story arcs, it was bad at times.