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Summary:
When Jordan tries to get Catherine involved in helping a mysterious
and beautiful woman who was rescued from the sea, Frank decides he
should have a talk with the stranger. The exchange they have does a
number on Frank's mental state as he lapses into a confusing
realization of what his life would be like without the Millennium
Group. The enlightenment, however, may have its price as four other
men have died as a result of this woman and her strange spell.
Season Two on DVD
Synopsis:
A squad of local police and I.N.S. vehicles converge on a
docked freighter, its passenger hold overflowing with
illegal Asian immigrants. Captain Law instructs two crew
members, Yee Chun and Lo Fat, to "kill the monster"
contained within a cargo hold area. A reluctant Chun and Fat
move towards the cargo doorway, weapons in hand. But their
mission is cut short when I.N.S. agents take them into
custody. The men warn the agents not to enter the hold, as
it contains something dangerous. The agents ignore the
warning and open the door. Inside is a beautiful Asian
woman, bound with steel chains.
While walking the corridors of
the hospital where her mother works, Jordan notices the Asian woman
inside an examination room. Jordan tells Catherine she must help the
woman, as she will save Frank's life. Catherine pays Frank an
unexpected visit, interrupting a meeting with Lara Means. She recounts
Jordan's story about the mysterious woman saving his life. She then
presents Frank with the woman's file. Acting on his own behalf, Frank
visits the camp where the Asian immigrants are interned. Yee Chun
reacts when Frank shows him a photo of the mysterious Asian woman.
Frank's interest in immediately piqued.
Catherine and an interpreter
attempt to communicate with the Asian woman, but their efforts are
in vain. Later, Frank, Lara and Gieblehouse inspect the freighter —
where they discover four bodies stuffed inside wooden crates. A
coroner concludes the men all died of exposure to the elements. The
threesome then question Captain Law, Yee Chun and Chin. All three
men give differing accounts of how the woman ended up aboard ship.
Law claims he rescued her from the sea; Yee Chun describes how he
found the woman and another crew member, Fung Lum, in a passionate
embrace; and Chin claims she just appeared out of nowhere. The men
explain that Fung Lum was discovered on the bow, frozen, and
following day, another body was discovered. Concerned for the safety
of the crew, the Captain chained the woman in the cargo hold. Chin
breaks into tears when Geibelhouse shows him a photograph of his
brother, who was one of the victims.
Frank uses the Millennium
Group's database to analyze the woman's photograph and fingerprints.
It is determined that the mysterious woman, Tamara Shui Fa Lee, is a
Chinese national from Hong Kong who was reported lost at sea in
1988. Frank believes she has been dead for ten years. Frank pays
Tamara a visit in her hospital room. Using an audio recorder, he
tapes their conversation (Tamara suddenly begins conversing in
English). During the discussion, Tamara mentions events from Frank's
life, such as killing the Polaroid man, and leaving his
family — things she should not know. Frank rebuffs Tamara's advances
and heads home. Along the way, he experiences a vision of Tamara
standing in the roadway. Frank slams on the brakes and ends up on
the side of the road. Not seeing any physical evidence of Tamara,
Frank heads home.
At the yellow house, Frank,
Catherine and Jordan share Chinese food and enjoy their time
together. When Frank retires for the evening, he is shocked to find
Catherine sharing his bed. Slowly, Frank realizes he is living
within an alternate universe, one in which he is the owner of a
private investigative firm, and not a member of the Millennium
Group. In the basement of the yellow house, he finds the Gehenna
Devil standing over Jordan's dead body.
Back in the "real" world,
paramedics fight to save Frank, who, it turns out, lost
consciousness after losing control of his automobile (when he
experienced a vision of Tamara standing in the road) and was exposed
to the elements. When Frank regains consciousness, he describes his
visions to Lara Means. He believes Tamara has given him a peek at
another path his life might have taken. But Frank is unsure if his
association with the Group is bringing horror to his family — or
keeping it at bay. He seeks out Tamara Lee, who has been relocated
to an internment center (where Captain Law and his crew members are
also being held).
Captain Law, Yee Chin and Lo Fat
conspire to kill Tamara and end her reign of terror. After
inadvertently killing an innocent woman, the men close in on Tamara,
who uses her powers to turn one against the other. Frank rescues
Tamara from the assassins, but when he attempts to pose his question
regarding the Group to her, she again speaks in an unknown Chinese
dialect. Frank realizes she does not possess the answer to his
question.
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Photographs:
- Frank and Lara meet with the I.N.S.
- Catherine addresses Jordan's concerns
- Tamara Shui Fa Lee, the
mysterious siren
- Tamara Lee
speaks with Frank
Abyss Rating:
(3/5)
Media Review:
"For
all its invocation of Eastern mysticism and classic Western mythology,
there is something that is not quite right about this episode. The
reason may be that it is a totally spiritual story wrapped up in a
standard death-under-suspicious-circumstances plotline. Still, 'Siren'
does signify a new test for Frank, one coming from outside the Group
and his own home life. If we are to believe in the supernatural,
paranormal or otherworldly elements of the show, then this is the
Devil tempting him, as our mysterious Asian lady offers Frank a
fear-free life, an existence with every need fulfilled and every
desire drenched in satisfaction. As a result, we want more of this
(especially the surreal dream sequence where Frank actually 'lives'
his new found happiness) and less of the routine cops and robbers. The
ending is also less than satisfying, promising something cosmic but
actually just giving us what we more or less expected. 'Siren' signals
a derailment of sorts for Millennium season two, a jump that
won’t correct itself for a couple of episodes." —Bill Gibron, DVD Talk
Trivia:
Vivian Wu, appearing in this episode as
the mysterious Tamara Lee, has had notable roles in such films as
The Last Emperor, The Joy Luck Club, and The Pillow Book.
She would go on to star alongside multiple other Millennium
guest stars on producer Howard Gordon's short-lived television series
Strange World.
Tzi Man, the actor who portrays
Captain Youfook Law, has appeared in such
television shows as L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, ER, and
Law & Order and has been seen on the big screen in such films
as Dante's Peak, Red Square, and Rush Hour.
Death Toll:
5
Title:
In Greek mythology, a siren
was any one of a group of sea nymphs who lured mariners to destruction
on the rocks surrounding their island by their sweet singing. The
voice of Tamara Lee, who was recovered from the ocean, has the same
damning effect on those she speaks to throughout this episode.
Soundtrack:
"The Forest on Fire" by the Peking Opera
Starring:
Lance Henriksen as Frank Black
Megan Gallagher as Catherine Black
Brittany Tiplady as Jordan Black
Guest Starring:
Kristen Cloke as Lara Means
Vivian Wu as Tamara Shui Fa Lee
Tzi Ma as Captain Youfook Law
Fulvio Cecere as Agent Brown
Cory Dagg as Stan
Colin Foo as Lo Fat
Derek Lowe as Ming
Bobby Magee as the Customs Officer
Heather McCarthy as Terri
Mikela Mikael as Diane
Alannah Ong as Jennifer
Eileen Pedde as the Doctor
Michael Puttonen as the Coroner
Darryl Quon as Fung Lum
Melanie Skehar as Ellen
Ricky Cheng as Yee Chun
Simon Wong as Chin
Production
Credits:
Production #5C17
Music by Mark Snow
Production Designer Mark Freeborn
Director of Photography Robert McLachlan
Associate Producer Jon-Michael Preece
Consulting Producer Chip Johannessen
Consulting Producers Darin Morgan
Co-Producer Robert Moresco
Co-Producer Paul Rabwin
Producer Thomas J. Wright
Co-Executive Producer Ken Horton
Co-Executive Producer John Peter Kousakis
Executive Producer Glen Morgan
Executive Producer James Wong
Executive Producer Chris Carter
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