Rev403

MILLENNIUM Virtual Season Four Episode reviewby 4Q2Submitted 11-23-99"Gestalt" #403Original "Air" date: 7/16/99Writer: Andrew WyattIn Brief: The assassination of a US congressman sparks an investigation into theexistence of an organization sworn to defeating the Millennium Group. Overall Impression: "Millennium" does the "X-Files"... only better. Seriously, the MM Groupdoes seem to be on an irreversible path toward becoming the Well-ManicuredMan's Consortium, dealing with the supernatural rather then aliencolonists. I can look past this though as long as the resulting storiestold keep me biting my nails. "Gestalt" does not disappoint. Details: First off, I made what in my book was a pretty thoughtless error with myrecent review of "The Dawn of Nothing." While glowingly admiring Dan Owenfor bringing that to us, I seemed to have shoved Andrew Wyatt into thewings when it was pointed out to me that Andrew had done the lion's shareof the work. I quickly apologized and emphasized yet again, what abrilliant episode it was. It is now with immense pleasure I put thespotlight on his first work for the VS, "Gestalt."There was only one miniscule complaint I have of this episode... I had oneheck of a time understanding the entire scheme, and I am not sure to thisday if I still do. There is something to be said for not having the entirepicture when the end credits roll, especially when it comes to somethingfrom the Chris Carter camp (and eveything cut directly from its cloth).Many times I would see either an XF or MM episode coming away with "Whatthe heck happened there?" while a goofy grin was pasted to my face. I wasconfused, but I was enjoyably confused, wanting simply to see what wouldhappen next. It was the endless plotting and counterplotting that made itenjoyable for me.This time was no different, but I still wanted a bit more clarity.Well, from what my feeble intellect could gather, this was more of astatement on the shortcomings of what we call our government, and the wayit has become something of a private service available to the highestbidder... or the strongest arm.In one corner, the inevitable presence of the Millennium Group (primarilyworking closely with Congressman Turning).In the other, The Board (or Foundation), which while not having thelifespan of MM, still has its own set of fangs. And they are fangsdangerous enough for the MM to have all their files on the Board availableto only its senior members.Now this was an idea that intrigued me so much, that the wholeinvestigation into Turning's death suddenly became secondary to me. Ijust sat here, giggling insanely at the story possiblities that couldarise from the presence of an "anti-Millennium Group." This was stuffthat seemed more suited to a Season Three or Tour X-Files two-parter.But since that show has more or less gone to the dogs, I had no problemwith accepting the idea here on MM, and even had faith in that it could bedone BETTER here... and it was.Now as I said, the idea of two frighteningly powerful organizationsdueling for governmental control was a fantastic one, but it should nothave distracted me from a good investigation story.Great story, but one that had me immediately forgetting the brilliantopening teaser, as well as re-reading several paragraphs.Best Moment: I've always wanted to see a politician being called onto the carpet forthe "gifts" bestowed upon them to win favor. This is a practice that hasalways churned my stomach and seeing Frank Black smack Plumberg right inher puffy face with it made my night. Great scene.Plumberg: There is nothing underhanded about it, Mr. Black.Frank: What else did they bestow? Your re-election?Tee-hee! Did The Opening Quote Seem Relevant To The Story? (Did 4Q2 get it?): The Rushdie quote seemed to suggest that humans (and especially thepowerful ones) are capable of the kinds of evil we'd like to think we ashumans could never do. TV Episode(s) that it most reminded me of: "Owls, Roosters" Score: 9 (out of 10) The political machinations had me reading certain conversations overagain, most notably where Frank and Ryan were digging through files tryingto make sense of everything... which left ME trying to make sense as well.Still very well constructed. Kudos to Mr. Wyatt, and thanks so much forbringing back Ed! He definitely was the right man to have his finger onthe pulse of this thing.NEXT IN THE PIPELINE: 4Q2 passes the "salt" Onward!- 4Q2
"Gestalt" review by Neil AnnaPREAMBLE
Thanks to all who read my reviews of Genesis and Blood and Water. Thanksalso to Dan Owen who responded to some of my criticisms in a confident andintelligent manner. Reviewing these episodes makes me realise what an easyjob it is compared to writing them!APPRECIATING THE ARCHITECTURE A very well put together episode... virtually every point covered, withgreat uses of drama, suspense, horror, intrigue and, to top it all off...... a great title! Not knowing anything about it apart from what my wife(Social Worker) has told me in the past, I decided to look in my 1974Webster's dictionary which defined the word as..."A configuration, form or pattern that, as a unified whole or a functionalunit, has properties which cannot be derived by a summation of the separateparts."Armed with this new found knowledge, interpretation of the episode becamequite simple. "The Board" is the unified whole/functional unit that usesits separate parts to do its bidding, but their reason for being cannot bedetermined by examining just the parts.And this is what is so frightening for our best loved omniscient homelessperson Ed - the man who can see everything. Did anyone else feel chilledwhen Ed admits that he doesn't know what the Board is doing? Here is theguy who can see every separate part - every single line of information -but when he puts it all together he can't understand it... because TheBoard is a Gestalt, and can't be defined this way.And this is the answer behind the "Foundation for American Stewardship andProsperity." This organisation acts as one the board's arms, but, whenexamined further, quickly disappears. Even poor Bridges, being tortured ina Reservoir Dogs type scene ("The Camera pans from Mabius' face into thedarkness of the room.. Bridges begins howling in pain...") is no more thana cog in the Board's machine.While "Blood and Water" watered down Frank and Ryan (pun intended),"Gestalt" gave these two, as well as Emma, some great roles... especiallyEmma. I understand that Emma became more "interesting" as season 3progressed so it is great to see her develop further here. It is almost asthough, by becoming alienated from Frank, she gains more of her ownpersonality (which is, incidentally, probably the reverse of Peter Watts inseason 3... he seemed to diminish by being Frank's enemy). The two sceneswhere Frank and Emma meet are rich with tension, frustration, anger and, tobe honest, bitterness.Frank and Ryan never leave each other's side throughout this episode (okay,maybe once or twice) and I am warming to their teaming together. Theirrudeness to that poor Congresswoman was a great scene! It was also greatfor Ryan to discover the lead through hard police work, while Frank, thoughcapable of ordinary investigative processes, is obviously gifted/cursedelsewhere.The re-appearance of Ed was a masterstroke, especially in the context ofthis new and dangerous threat. Moreover, his monologue was rich, yettempered by borderline insanity.The "channel-changing" openings to each act were great. A fragment of a TVshow viewed, but no idea of what the whole segment meant - again, theGestalt coming to the fore.The idea of the flawed Millennium Group coming up against an omnipresentfoe like The Board sets up the rest of the Virtual Season nicely. The Boardseem a worthy foe, and one wonders what their role is with "Odessa" and"The Family?" I wait in eager expectation!STRUCTURAL FLAWS Okay, so Ryan and Frank are working together now are they? When did thishappen? It is almost as if it is assumed that the viewer will realise this.But Frank has just ridden off into the sunset with Emma, his futureuncertain. Now he is with Ryan, doing the same sort of things he was doingbefore... but this time outside the FBI network?There needed to be a scene where Ryan makes an offer to Frank to work withhim. Ryan is a PI, and Frank gives him a powerful, and profitable, newpartner. Remember, both Ryan and Frank have "fallen from Grace." Frankespecially. He was, with the FBI, at the top of his profession. When he wasapproached by the MG he was given the chance to go even higher. Then heleft the group, and now the FBi have fired him. That is a BIG drop inprofessional reputation... and Frank should now have to face the prospectof having a job that is not a secure, not as glamorous, and not as wellpaid. Okay, he has a good reputation as a profiler, but word would getaround that FB was fired from the highly reputable FBI.Dan Owen posted me at Broken World to tell me that Ryan and Frank were nowconsulting together... but the scripts say nothing about this. This is abit of a continuity problem... from reading the scripts alone we should getthe picture of what is happenning.Mind you, this is a problem for the whole series, and not just for"Gestalt."Okay, other things. Jerry is Turning's aide, and admits that "Alan and Iwere friends." Yet Jerry's reaction to their presence and his boss/friend'sdemise is neutral. I can't really believe that they were friends. Jerryshould've had a lump in his throat, make some rash angry comment, crybitterly or whatever it took to show that he and Turning were actuallyfriends. His dialogue with Ryan and Frank is slickly professional, nothinglike that of a friend.And what's the point of Emma asking her next door neighbour about the key?Okay, I might be outa line here and this scene may be taking a season 3 ep.a bit further, but I just don't see the point of Emma asking her neighbourwhat the key is for.GOLDEN MOMENTS
* Emma and Frank outside Turning's house and outside the acadamy. TheTension between them, and their desire to be professional and communicateanyway, was wonderful.* Frank and Ryan in a room full of files and paper... welcome to aninvestigation of the government!* Whenever The Mysterious Figure turns up. * Emma lying to McLaren about the videotape, right after she blows Frank upfor not being as "accomodating or straightforward" as the MG. * Bridges being tortured in a Tarantino style scene.NIT PICKS
* What sort of person in their mid 50s smokes cigars while listening toAphex Twin naked? * The phrase "Smoke and Mirrors" spoken by Frank, then by Emma, indifferent scenes but on the same page of the script. * Dashing Man: "But I suspect that unanswered questions lead to with thesetwo. Especially one of them." A word or two is missing from this line,making it incoherent. * Photos taken through a telescopic rifle sight as a means of frighteningsomeone? A bit corny I think.FAVOURITE LINE Frank: "Public Record doesn't necessarily denote easy access."GRADING
9.0 out of 10. Fantastic effort.APPENDIX
I've been told that Emma's MG voice activation phrase is a line from"Psycho." I don't want to read too much into it, but could Emma be thehelpless, vulnerable woman that will suddenly and viciously be killed atsome point?