I'd count this episode as the threshold where Millennium shifts focus from police drama to the supernatural. If you're expecting to get behind the good guy (Frank in this case) as he steams in to save the day then you will be disappointed.
5 Reviews
RG Armstrong is Pelmen the Powershaper
XweAponX7 April 2022
There is some aspect of this episode that reminds me of the third book of Robert Don Hughes' great "Pelmen the Powershaper" trilogy.
And that had to do with "dogs that are not dogs..." as well.
In the third book of that series entitled "the power and the prophet", Pelmen the Player/Prophet/Wizard/Powershaper encounters demondogs that are part of an ages old conundrum, in this episode Frank Black encounters demondogs that are part of the spiritual balance of... the world. And the focus of an imbalance is in this town, right where "Michael Beebe" (played by casting Director Randy Stone) has built his "escape house". He built it there because he wanted to escape the Rodney King riots of Los Angeles, and other "evils", that are part of life. There is also a slight similarity to the Demogorgons of Stranger Things season 2. But because of Beebes' stubbornness in building on a prohibited lot, he puts not only himself but everybody else at risk.
The main purpose of this episode was for Frank to meet "The Old Man". RG Armstrong is the actual leader of the Millennium group, he is "the old man of the millennium group".
In the previous episode, we had seen Peter Watts meeting with a person who seemed to be an authority figure, this was the person who told Peter Watts to "help Frank" with his Doug Hutchinson problem. We were misdirected into believing that this unseen person (we only saw the back of his head) was the leader of the group.
Administratively, maybe that person is the de facto leader. But we see here that RG Armstrong, who is simply called "the old man", is the actual leader of the Millennium group. This is a seasoned and knowledgeable old man and the perfect person to deal with Frank in Frank's unfortunate state of mind after his incident in the first episode, RG is "frank with Frank", tells Frank how it is and deflects nothing.
This episode is a very strong introduction to this important character. Played by one of the most prolific character actors of Hollywood. And he apparently has some kind of spiritual authority because the demodogs do not come after him and move out of his way when he is near. So, Pelman the Powershaper...
Now let's get back to the DemoGorgons. The people who live in this town simply know to not go out when it's dark. They don't know why, and therefore when people come from out of town they can't really tell them why they should be concerned because "the suns going down".
So when Frank is inspecting the signs of the DemoGorgon's repast-feast at the Winnebago and the man in the truck drives by to inform him "suns going down", Frank must be thinking, "obviously"... but then the man in a fit of almost desperation repeats his phrase, "suns going down".
You would think that the denizens of this town would give people a bit more detail, like, "you better get inside before it gets dark otherwise demondogs will eat you". Or, maybe even open a door or two when Frank is desperately knocking...
It's like they are prohibited from even thinking about giving somebody this information, which could probably save lives. Or to make it simpler, "if you see a pack of dogs, run!"- nobody thinks of telling the elderly couple in the teaser any of this, nor Frank when he comes to inspect and measure the gobbets of meat and bodily goo and blood on the Winnebago...
Now... The elderly couple had a little dog that looks a lot like the dog that Skully had for a few episodes in the X-files, named "QueegQueeg". It is difficult to tell, it's the same breed of Corgi but we cannot tell if it is the exact same dog. Probably not, because Millennium was being filmed in Canada while the X-files had moved to Los Angeles, the very place where Beebe/Randy Stone was escaping from.
As I was saying, the introduction to the old man character was very strong but it was an opportunity wasted, you will see why in the episodes "owls" and "roosters"...
At this point we think of the Millennium group as one solidified Organization, this is incorrect. But the games have not even begun yet.
And there are other agencies interested in Frank as well as the Millennium group. Some of them even try to use Catherine as a point of access, which is a big mistake...
And that had to do with "dogs that are not dogs..." as well.
In the third book of that series entitled "the power and the prophet", Pelmen the Player/Prophet/Wizard/Powershaper encounters demondogs that are part of an ages old conundrum, in this episode Frank Black encounters demondogs that are part of the spiritual balance of... the world. And the focus of an imbalance is in this town, right where "Michael Beebe" (played by casting Director Randy Stone) has built his "escape house". He built it there because he wanted to escape the Rodney King riots of Los Angeles, and other "evils", that are part of life. There is also a slight similarity to the Demogorgons of Stranger Things season 2. But because of Beebes' stubbornness in building on a prohibited lot, he puts not only himself but everybody else at risk.
The main purpose of this episode was for Frank to meet "The Old Man". RG Armstrong is the actual leader of the Millennium group, he is "the old man of the millennium group".
In the previous episode, we had seen Peter Watts meeting with a person who seemed to be an authority figure, this was the person who told Peter Watts to "help Frank" with his Doug Hutchinson problem. We were misdirected into believing that this unseen person (we only saw the back of his head) was the leader of the group.
Administratively, maybe that person is the de facto leader. But we see here that RG Armstrong, who is simply called "the old man", is the actual leader of the Millennium group. This is a seasoned and knowledgeable old man and the perfect person to deal with Frank in Frank's unfortunate state of mind after his incident in the first episode, RG is "frank with Frank", tells Frank how it is and deflects nothing.
This episode is a very strong introduction to this important character. Played by one of the most prolific character actors of Hollywood. And he apparently has some kind of spiritual authority because the demodogs do not come after him and move out of his way when he is near. So, Pelman the Powershaper...
Now let's get back to the DemoGorgons. The people who live in this town simply know to not go out when it's dark. They don't know why, and therefore when people come from out of town they can't really tell them why they should be concerned because "the suns going down".
So when Frank is inspecting the signs of the DemoGorgon's repast-feast at the Winnebago and the man in the truck drives by to inform him "suns going down", Frank must be thinking, "obviously"... but then the man in a fit of almost desperation repeats his phrase, "suns going down".
You would think that the denizens of this town would give people a bit more detail, like, "you better get inside before it gets dark otherwise demondogs will eat you". Or, maybe even open a door or two when Frank is desperately knocking...
It's like they are prohibited from even thinking about giving somebody this information, which could probably save lives. Or to make it simpler, "if you see a pack of dogs, run!"- nobody thinks of telling the elderly couple in the teaser any of this, nor Frank when he comes to inspect and measure the gobbets of meat and bodily goo and blood on the Winnebago...
Now... The elderly couple had a little dog that looks a lot like the dog that Skully had for a few episodes in the X-files, named "QueegQueeg". It is difficult to tell, it's the same breed of Corgi but we cannot tell if it is the exact same dog. Probably not, because Millennium was being filmed in Canada while the X-files had moved to Los Angeles, the very place where Beebe/Randy Stone was escaping from.
As I was saying, the introduction to the old man character was very strong but it was an opportunity wasted, you will see why in the episodes "owls" and "roosters"...
At this point we think of the Millennium group as one solidified Organization, this is incorrect. But the games have not even begun yet.
And there are other agencies interested in Frank as well as the Millennium group. Some of them even try to use Catherine as a point of access, which is a big mistake...
Lacks substance and detail in the writing
derangedxzombie15 October 2022
A poorly written episode. It starts off with promise and is a slight departure in that Frank isn't investigating a crime scene with police. Instead he's been sent by the Millennium group and the town doesn't seem to have any police, also the crime at the beginning is kind of just swept under the rug.
The culmination of events in the episode involving the dogs of which the episode is titled, and what they're symbolic of, is quite poorly explained. No fault of the actors, just poor writing that lacks detail so apparent in past episodes. Hopefully this won't be a common trend as it goes further along into season 2.
The culmination of events in the episode involving the dogs of which the episode is titled, and what they're symbolic of, is quite poorly explained. No fault of the actors, just poor writing that lacks detail so apparent in past episodes. Hopefully this won't be a common trend as it goes further along into season 2.
Weak.
bombersflyup22 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Beware of the Dog is quite weird. I still don't see why the guy at the beginning asked the old couple to move the caravan, I get that they had to be in the zone but I must have missed something here. Also why did Frank put himself in danger like that, when he knew there had been an animal attack and was warned by the townsfolk. Then there's the annoying eccentric Michael Beebe chatterbox as well. Frank's so important that he's sent to deal with this and Peter's literally waiting for his response, yet wasn't entrusted with access and information until now.
Dogs are not dangerous
CursedChico24 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Dogs are not dangerous
They were with humans in old times, now they can be still together but humans occupy their lands. They behave badly to them.
As i understood correct, this episode is about something like that.
Humans destroy nature. Building houses, cutting trees and in this episode, dogs are taking revenge of that.
I did not like episode so much because they used probably dogs to record this episode. Maybe they hurt also.
ALso, i thought dogs were killed in USA. There were no stray dogs but maybe in past, it is different.
And why dogs did not attack that old guy? He has also a house. What is difference?
Burning house was also nonsense. When they burned house, nature was also damaged. Insects for example can be harmed.
The house was really luxury.
That old guy could say to michael to get away but millennium wanted frank to experience this. I could not understand exactly. To gain his ability back? Maybe.
In diary, frank black was written. Frank did not question it too much.
They can give food and they can live peacefully together but they chose to stay at homes after sun goes down.
It was nonsense episode. That is why i give 5 / 10.
They were with humans in old times, now they can be still together but humans occupy their lands. They behave badly to them.
As i understood correct, this episode is about something like that.
Humans destroy nature. Building houses, cutting trees and in this episode, dogs are taking revenge of that.
I did not like episode so much because they used probably dogs to record this episode. Maybe they hurt also.
ALso, i thought dogs were killed in USA. There were no stray dogs but maybe in past, it is different.
And why dogs did not attack that old guy? He has also a house. What is difference?
Burning house was also nonsense. When they burned house, nature was also damaged. Insects for example can be harmed.
The house was really luxury.
That old guy could say to michael to get away but millennium wanted frank to experience this. I could not understand exactly. To gain his ability back? Maybe.
In diary, frank black was written. Frank did not question it too much.
They can give food and they can live peacefully together but they chose to stay at homes after sun goes down.
It was nonsense episode. That is why i give 5 / 10.
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