When Peter Watts's daughter is kidnapped, Frank must decide whether to help his ex-friend, despite the fact that Watts' past actions may have caused his current problem.
Last week it was Frank's turn to suffer, and now it's the turn of the man many of us would like to see suffer due to his involvement in the shadier aspects of the Millennium Group. However, the writing of the episode is so good that it plays all sides extremely effectively, giving Watts a depth he's been missing through the way he's torn between his loyalty to the Millennium Group and his love for his daughter. There are moments where even the viewer is unsure on which side he will come down, and the same is true for Frank.
Having to choose between helping the people who killed his wife or standing aside, the nuances Frank goes through are well-played by Lance Henriksen, eventually agreeing to help Peter whilst trying to stop any further involvement by the Group and their shoot-first-ask-questions-later policy.
James Buffy Marsters also gives a sterling portrayal of a man betrayed by his country whose only desire is for someone to admit what they have done and free him of his guilt for the deaths of his countrymen. The bond of closeness developing between Frank and Hollis is also demonstrated here, as the FBI agent's distrust of Watts leads her along a similar tightrope to Frank, trying to do her job without helping the Millennium Group. Strong drama is something Millennium has always done well, and this story is no exception.
It's good to finally see Watts' back against the wall, and the shocking actions of his daughter at the end of the episode, despite her fears that what is being said about her father is true, a fact confirmed by his silence at the family dinner table.
****
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