Season 1
1. Pilot

gs: Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Paul Dillon (The Frenchman) Brittany Tiplady (Jordan Black) Stephen E. Miller (Det. Roger Kamm) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Geibelhouse) Kate Luyben (Tuesday) April Telek (Calamity)

After ten years as an FBI profiler, Frank Black relocates from Washington to his hometown Seattle with his wife, Catherine, and their daughter, Jordan. However, a series of sexual homicides coaxes him from retirement. He offers his support to Lt. Bob Bletcher, a former colleague with Seattle´s Homicide Unit, and is in turn offered the ressources of the mysterious Millennium Group, a corps of former law enforcement officers. Blessed - or afflicted - with an uncanny ability enabling him to see the world through the killer´s eyes, Frank must pursue the murderer through Seattle´s underground scene and stop his killing spree.

b: 25-Oct-1996 pc: 4C79 w: Chris Carter d: David Nutter

NOTE: This episode features the songs "Head Like a Hole" and "Piggy" by Nine Inch Nails, "More Human Than Human" by White Zombie, "Roads" by Portishead, and "In the Hands of Death" by Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper.
• In 1997, Elizabeth Hand wrote a novelization of this episode that was published under the title The Frenchman. This title serves as the "unofficial" title for the pilot in syndication.
• Stephen E. Miller who plays Detective Roger Kamm in this episode would later appear in a recurring role in the third season as FBI Assistant Director Andrew McLaren.
• The actor playing Detective Pete Norton is uncredited.

2. Gehenna

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Brittany Tiplady (Jordan Black) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Robin Gammell (Mike Atkins) Chris Ellis (Jim Penseyres) Sam Khouth (Dylan)

Frank investigates a cult and its powerful leader.

b: 01-Nov-1996 pc: 4C01 w: Chris Carter d: David Nutter

NOTE: Lewis Gannett wrote a novelization of this episode which appeared in late 1997.
• In this episode we are introduced to two more members of the Millennium Group. Mike Atkins brought Frank to the group in the first place. Frank sent him the Polaroids he received at the end of the pilot episode for analysis; Atkins, however, couldn´t do anything with them. He will appear next in "Powers, Principalities, Thrones, and Dominions" (#19). Group member Jim Penseyres worked with VICAP (Violent Criminals Apprehension Program), a real database built by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, "just after (Frank) left". Presumably he is no longer in official law enforcement either. Penseyres appears next in "Dead Letters" (#3).
• Features the songs "Hits From the Bong" by Cypress Hill, "Insane in the Brain" by Cypress Hill, and "I Wanna Get High" by Cypress Hill.
• When Frank looks up the word Gehenna he reads the following definition: "Gehenna /ge'hene/ n. 1 (in the New Testament) hell. A place of burning, torment, or misery. [ecclesiastical Latin via Greek from Hebrew ge hinnom 'hell' originally the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where children were sacrificed.]
• When Frank does a websearch for Gehenna he finds a website for "Gehenna International" at http://www.ghi.com/index.html. Currently this http holds a website for "Group Health Incorporated."
• The cult's projector offers four messages: "CREATE DESIRE"; "EVERYBODY WANTS BEAUTIFUL HAIR"; "FACILITATE ENVY"; "WORK WILL SET YOU FREE."
• Bob Wilde who plays Ricardo Clement, the cult leader, in this episode returns during the third season as Mabius.

3. Dead Letters

gs: Chris Ellis (Jim Penseyres) Ron Halder (The Killer) James Morrison (Jim Horn)

Against the initial resistance of the Group, Frank travels to Portland, Oregon, to investigate a murder at an animal shelter. He meets with Jim Horn, a profiler and candidate for the Millennium Group. But Horn is distracted by his imminent divorce, and there is tension between him and Frank.
When the killer strikes again, Horn is losing control, and Frank not only has to catch the killer who leaves grisly messages on his victims, but he has to contend with Horn as well who is more than ready to stop the murderer with terminal prejudice.

b: 08-Nov-1996 pc: 4C02 w: Glen Morgan and James Wong d: Thomas J. Wright

NOTE: Group member Jim Penseyres appears next in episode #4, "The Judge".
• The Killer sends leaves two messages on the bodies of his victims. The first is "Hair today, gone tomorrow." The second is "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained."

4. The Judge

gs: Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Marshall Bell (The Judge) John Hawkes (Mike Bardale) Chris Ellis (Jim Penseyres) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Geibelhouse) Brian Markinson (Det. Teeple) CCH Pounder (Cheryl Andrews)

When Annie Tisman opens a parcel containing a human tongue, Bob Bletcher asks Frank Black for help. This is the fourth package within the last four years containing fingers or other members cut from living victims - but no bodies were ever found.
When Cheryl Andrews, expert pathologist of the Millennium Group, checks the tongue she discovers that it has been removed postmortem - the killer has changed his MO.
When Bardale, a career criminal, is released from prison, a man who introduces himself as the Judge makes him an offer - to carry out his verdicts in exchange for immunity. His first job: to kill his predecessor, a man named Carl Nearman who botched the last job, the killing of former police officer Jonathan Mellen.
Mellen´s body is discovered in the woods. When Frank visits the morgue, Carl Nearman´s body is on the table. In a vison he sees a connection between Mellen and Nearman. When Catherine tells him that Annie Tisman´s husband died twelve years ago in prison where he was sent because of a wrongful statement from Mellen. Frank pins the mastermind behind Nearman as a vigilante with a special brand of justice.
Bardale does another job - he amputates the leg of Mr. Biggs, a nasty house owner who neglects his tenants. The police arrive toolate. Biggs bleeds to death.
Frank finds the bar where the Judge recruited Nearman and, later, Bardale. The latter escapes, but a car leads to the Judge. The vigilante makes Frank an offer - to work for him in exchange for safety for himself and his family. The evidence against the Judge is not sufficient, so Bletcher has to let him go.
Later, Frank finds Bardale at the ranch of the Judge who he has fed to his pigs and talks him into giving up. The question remains: Who was the mastermind behind the Judge?

b: 15-Nov-1996 pc: 4C04 w: Ted Mann (I) d: Randall Zisk

NOTE: Many fans are supporting the theory that Frank Black´s fight is really against the Devil in his many guises. The Judge seemed to know quite a lot about Frank, and he made a tempting offer - to do his bidding in exchange for immunity. So - was the Judge only a messenger or an avatar of the Adversary?
• This episode also marks the final appearance of Jim Penseyres, played by Chris Ellis.
• In this episode, we are introduced to yet another member of the Millennium Group - Cheryl Andrews, as played by CCH Pounder. Although she appeared in a mere handful of episodes , she gained something of a cult following. Her next appearance was in #11, "Weeds".
• Features the songs "Short End of the Stick" by Donnie Fritz, "Danger" by Steve Goodman, and "Ten Foot Pole" by Donnie Fritz.

5. 522666

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Sam Anderson (Agent Jack Pierson) Robert Lewis (Agent Sullivan) Joe Chrest (Raymond Dees/The Bomber)

Frank and Peter assist an FBI investigation of a serial bomber in Washington, D.C.

b: 22-Nov-1996 pc: 4C05 w: Glen Morgan and James Wong d: David Nutter

NOTE: Features the song "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" by X.
• The title of this episode 522666 stands for KABOOM. KABOOM translates to 522666 in virtue of the pairings of numbers with letter on a telephone.
• Frank's cell phone number is 202-555-1367.
• There are a number of acronyms in this episode: A.T.F. stands for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms; N.S.T.L. stands for the National Security Threat List; N.C.I.C. stands for the National Crime Information Center; C.P.I.C. most likely stands for the Canadian Police Information Computer; INTERPOL stands for the International Police Organization; RDX stands for Rapid Detonating Explosive; C-4 stands for Composition 4 (an explosive).

6. Kingdom Come

gs: Lindsay Crouse (Ardis Cohen) Michael Zelniker (Galen Calloway) Tom McBeath (Detective Romero)

A man performing medieval tortures on holy men is hunted by Frank Black.

b: 29-Nov-1996 pc: 4C03 w: Jorge Zamacona d: Winrich Kolbe

NOTE: It is not made clear if Ardis Cohen is just a former colleague of Frank's or if she is a member of the Millennium Group.

7. Blood Relatives

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) John Fleck (Connor) Sean Six (James Dickerson) Brian Markinson (Det. Teeple) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Giebelhouse) Lynda Boyd (Mrs. Dechant)

A boy who exploits grieving families is at the center of an investigation when murders start to occur at funerals.

b: 06-Dec-1996 pc: 4C06 w: Chip Johannessen d: Jim Charleston

8. The Well-Worn Lock

gs: Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Paul Dooley (Joe Bangs) Michelle Joyner (Connie Bangs) Christine Dunford (A.D.A. Rhonda Preshutski) Lenore Zann (Ruthie Bangs) Sheila Moore (Clea Bangs)

Catherine helps a woman who was sexually abused by her father.

b: 20-Dec-1996 pc: 4C07 w: Chris Carter d: Ralph Hemecker

9. Wide Open

gs: Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Glynn Turman (James Glen) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Giebelhouse) Pablo Coffey (Cutter)

A young girl is forced to watch as her parents are brutally murdered. Frank must stop the killer before he can strike again.

b: 03-Jan-1997 pc: 4C08 w: Charles Holland d: Jim Charleston

10. The Wild and the Innocent

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Heather McComb (Maddie Haskel) Jeffrey Donovan (Bobby Webber) John Pyper-Ferguson (Jim Gilroy) Michael Hogan (Captain Bigelow)

Frank and Peter track a girl and her murderous boyfriend who are looking for the baby her father sold to a childless couple.

b: 10-Jan-1997 pc: 4C10 w: Jorge Zamacona d: Thomas J. Wright

11. Weeds

gs: Ryan Cutrona (Sheriff Paul Gerlach) Michael Tomlinson (Tom Comstock) Josh Clark (Edward Petey) Terry David Mulligan (Bob Birckenbuehl) Brian Taylor (Coach Burke) CCH Pounder (Cheryl Andrews)

Frank investigates a series of abductions in a small specially designed private community. The abductor makes his victims pay for the hidden sins of their fathers.

b: 24-Jan-1997 pc: 4C09 w: Frank Spotnitz d: Michael Pattinson

NOTE: Features the song "I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts" by X.
• Victor Koman wrote a novelization for this episode; but apparently this saw only print in Germany where it appeared as DIE SÜNDEN DER VÄTER (German for "the sins of the fathers"). This is the second time a Koman novel appeared in a German version before being published in the USA. His first novel, THE GOD CONTRACT, appeared as DER JEHOVAH-KONTRAKT. A question to the wise: Has this tie-in novel ever been published in the USA??

12. Loin Like a Hunting Flame

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) William Lucking (Detective Thomas) Hrothgar Mathews (Art Nesbitt) Harriet Sansom Harris (Maureen Murphy) Barbara Howard (Karen Nesbitt)

Frank Black and the Millennium Group investigate a series of bizarre sex crimes.

b: 31-Jan-1997 pc: 4C11 w: Ted Mann (I) d: David Nutter

NOTE: Features the songs "Frank Takes the Floor" by Glen Jordan and "Raveland" by Glen Jordan.

13. Force Majeure

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Brad Dourif (Dennis Hoffman) Morgan Woodward (Iron Lung Man) Timothy Webber (Sheriff Camden) CCH Pounder (Cheryl Andrews)

Frank investigates a series of suicides that may be connected to a celestial alignment that will occur on May 5th, 2000.

b: 07-Feb-1997 pc: 4C12 w: Chip Johannessen d: Cliff Bole

NOTE: The title of this episode "Force Majeure" means "greater force".
• It is not made clear what date the term of "the final 1,000 days" in this episode is referring to - either the turn of the millennium proper or May 5, 2000. Neither option puts this episode into proper chronological order.

14. The Thin White Line

gs: Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Jeremy Roberts (Richard Alan Hance) Scott Heindl (Jacob Tyler)

Frank must relive the past as he interviews a murderer he locked away years ago in order to catch the killer's copycat protégé.

b: 14-Feb-1997 pc: 4C13 w: Glen Morgan and James Wong d: Thomas J. Wright

NOTE: Features the song "How Deep is Your Love?" by the Bee Gees.

15. Sacrament

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) French Tickner (Store Clerk) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Giebelhouse) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Philip Anglim (Tom Black) Dylan Haggerty (Richard Green) Brian Markinson (Det. Teeple)

Frank's sister-in-law is abducted from her child's baptism and Frank searches for the killer.

b: 21-Feb-1997 pc: 4C14 w: Frank Spotnitz d: Michael W. Watkins

16. Covenant

gs: John Finn (William Garry) Michael O'Neill (County Prosecutor Calvin Smith) Sarah Koskoff (Didi Higgens) Jay Underwood (Michael Slattery) Steve Bacic (Deputy Kevin Reilly)

A man confesses to murdering his family, but Frank doesn't believe him.

b: 21-Mar-1997 pc: 4C16 w: Robert Moresco d: Rod Pridy

NOTE: This was Don MacKays final appearance as recurring character Jack Meredith. His role as nice but nosy neighbor of the Blacks may have served initially as a red herring for the viewers since in Frank´s world everybody is a potential suspect, and an obnoxious but harmless (?) neighbor is as good a suspect as anyone else ...

17. Walkabout

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Geibelhouse) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Zeljko Ivanek (Dr. Daniel "Danny" Miller) Gregory Itzin (Hans Ingram)

Franks wakes up in an alley with both memory loss and the strange feeling that someone was murdered.

b: 28-Mar-1997 pc: 4C15 w: Chip Johannessen and Tim Tankosic d: Cliff Bole

18. Lamentation (1)

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Giebelhouse) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Alex Diakun (Dr. Ephraim Fabricant) Sarah Jane Redmond (Lucy Butler) Michael David Simms (Special Agent Tom Babich)

Frank investigates the disappearance of a former nemesis, Dr. Ephraim Fabricant, and learns that his family may be the target of a murderer.

b: 18-Apr-1997 pc: 4C17 w: Chris Carter d: Winrich Kolbe

19. Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions (2)

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Stephen J. Lang (Det. Bob Geibelhouse) Bill Smitrovich (Lt. Bob Bletcher) Richard Cox (Alistair Pepper) Robin Gammell (Mike Atkins) Rodney Eastman (Sammael) Sarah Jane Redmond (Lucy Butler)

Frank and Peter investigate a series of Satanic murders and get caught in a battle between good and evil.

b: 25-Apr-1997 pc: 4C18 w: Ted Mann (I) and Harold Rosenthal d: Thomas J. Wright

NOTE: The title of this episode "Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions" refers to four different choirs of angels. The angels are ranked in a hierarchy of nine orders: (1) Seraphim (the most powerful), (2) Cherubim, (3) Thrones, (4) Dominions, (5) Virtues, (6) Powers, (7) Principalities, (8) Archangels, (9) [Regular] Angels.
• This episode marks the final appearance of Bill Smitrovitch as Lt. Bob Bletcher. Originally he was just contracted for the pilot episode but impressed Carter with his acting abilities and appeared in a total of 17 episodes. While they appeared as the best of friends on screen, tensions between Smitrovich and Henriksen may have contributed to the former´s exit from the series. On the other hand, the death of Bob Bletcher jarred viewers out of the illusion that the good guys are always safe, and it served as a hint of the coming disasters for the characters.

20. Broken World

gs: Jo Anderson (Dr. Claudia Vaughn) Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Van Quattro (Killer Willi Borgsen) John Dennis Johnston (Sheriff Falkner) Donnelly Rhodes (Peter Dumont)

Frank tries to stop a killer of horses before he escalates.

b: 02-May-1997 pc: 4C19 w: Robert Moresco and Patrick Harbinson d: Winrich Kolbe

21. Maranatha

gs: Terry O'Quinn (Peter Watts) Bill Nunn (Lt. McCormick) Boris Krutonog (Yura Surova) Levani Outchaneichvili (Yaponchik)

Frank and Peter track a Russian killer with links to Chernobyl. They discover that he might be the Antichrist.

b: 09-May-1997 pc: 4C20 w: Chip Johannessen d: Peter Markle

NOTE: The title of this episode "Maranatha" may refer to 1 Corinthians 16:22, "If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha." Though Maranatha means "The Lord is come", in the context of 1 Corinthians it suggests a severe form of censure or excommunication.

22. Paper Dove (1)

gs: Barbara Williams (Dawn) Mike Starr (Henry Dion) Linda Sorensen (Marie France Dion) Ken Pogue (Tom Miller) William Nunn (C. R. Hunziger)

Frank tries to clear the man who accidently might have murdered his wife.

b: 16-May-1997 pc: 4C21 w: Walon Green and Ted Mann (I) d: Thomas J. Wright

NOTE: Features the song "Stranger in the House" by Wayne Kramer.
• Marie France Dion has a French-Canadian accent.