With Ryan Coogler's The X-Files reboot moving full steam ahead, it's easy to feel a bit of déjà vu. Hollywood loves recycling IP, but the real gem from Chris Carter's '90s catalog isn't the one getting all the attention. While Mulder and Scully may ride again (without David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson), there's another Carter-created Fox drama that fans have been clamoring for: Millennium.
For the uninitiated, Millennium followed former FBI profiler Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) as he tried to escape the horrors of his past by moving to Seattle with his wife Catherine and daughter Jordan. But retirement from law enforcement doesn't last long. Frank joins a secretive group of ex-federal agents called the Millennium Group, only to discover that some members are actively working to bring about the biblical apocalypse. It's a dark, atmospheric thriller that blends crime procedural with apocalyptic fantasy—and it's been begging for a comeback for decades.
Now, 30 years later, the timing couldn't be better. The show's grim, thematic tone aligns perfectly with modern hits like Longlegs and other elevated horror-thrillers. Even if some '90s trappings feel dated, Millennium holds up remarkably well. The fact that IDW published a five-issue comic continuation tied to The X-Files series a decade ago proves there's still an audience. And unlike The X-Files, which wrapped its main arc in season nine, Millennium never got a proper ending. Frank and his daughter walked into the new millennium after foiling the Group's plans, but so many threads were left dangling: the fate of Peter Watts (Terry O'Quinn), Emma Hollis's decision to join the Group, and the demonic forces that haunted Frank throughout the series.
Time is running out. Lance Henriksen is pushing 90, and the show still isn't available on Blu-ray or digital—a travesty that needs fixing. Millennium may be lesser-known, but its best episodes, like the Halloween-themed The Curse of Frank Black, outshine much of today's television. Henriksen delivered the performance of a lifetime across 67 episodes, and there's still so much more to explore through Frank's weary eyes.
So how could a revival work? The Millennium Group's apparent defeat doesn't mean they're gone. Jordan, now grown, has inherited her father's psychic ability—a thread that could tie back to the recurring demon Lucy Butler. A limited series could follow Jordan as she hones her powers with Frank's help, or a made-for-streaming movie could wrap up the loose ends. Either way, the narrative potential is enormous.
For fans of forgotten fantasy gems, Millennium is the show that deserves a second look. And for those who love unrelentingly disturbing thrillers, it's a masterclass in tension. Here's hoping we get that six-episode event run—or at least a movie—before it's too late.
