Babylon 5

:lol

 

^I love the digital wireframe bear on Keffer's radar screen as it slides off.

 

But wait, there's more.





Peter David wrote both episodes.

 

That line "This isn't some Deep Space Franchise, this place means something!"

...Wasn't that a line Peter David dared JMS to put in there, and he was surprised he did?

 

I think bear was an actual gift to JMS by someone.

 

Yeah it was a gift from Peter David. JMS wrote its demise into David's script because he hates cute things. Then David wrote it into an episode of his own show as some friendly revenge.

 

I wanted one of those bears.

 

This is what I would have done...

"JS? Is this supposed to be me?"

"Nope. Jeffery Sinclair."

 

So did I.

 

I wish they would add Space Cases to Paramount+, I watched it as a kid back when it originally aired, before I knew who Peter David was, and I'd love to see again now that I'm a fan of his writing.

 

One of Jewel Staite's first roles!

 

I linked to the teddy bear bear episode on YouTube. It's the complete episode, and if you follow the episode to its channel, it's all there, both seasons.

The quality is poor, since its VHS rips that were under a bed, rotting, for twenty years before someone uploaded the series to the Internet.

Google says that the series is not on dvd, but there's a Web site promising to give you space cases on dvd if you give them 70 dollars US.

 

PAD wrote it in the script fully expecting it to be edited out and was surprised that it wasn't.

 

Pity that DS9 never got the chance to return the favor.

 

I usually only watch stuff on the official streaming services, but since there's no other way, I might just watch it there.

 

"Dust to Dust"

Watched this one twice a few months apart (didn't pay enough attention the first time).

There's a prevailing sense that the house of cards built by the station leadership crew's increasingly dangerous, almost treasonous undertakings is about to come crashing down. When will it happen? Something tells me soon.

Put Londo and G'Kar into a room together, compelling things are going to happen. This one has lasting implications and poses a bunch of questions - how much does G'Kar know (as opposed to believe or suspect) about Londo's alliance with the Shadows? Why did Kosh stop him from probing further and nudge him towards forgiveness? How much of the old G'Kar remains from this point on?

If not for this typically excellent pairing, this episode would have felt like a fairly standard random plot of the week tale that's forgotten almost as soon as it's over, with a little Bester/Garibaldi odd paring for extra flavour.

Rating: ***

-The "mountain's falling on me!" guy annoyed the heck out of me. Where did they find these actors?
-Marvellous acting from Andreas Katsulas; dusted-up G'Kar was the stuff of nightmares. And what an image, placing him in a position of dominance and control in the mind of his humbled nemesis.
-loved the presence of all the Minbari telepaths to "level the playing field" against Bester.
-the return of Vir!

 

What about the piñata line though, and especially Bester's response? Love it, or hate it? I'm on the side of loving it.

 

Bester's response was pure Bester. Loved that line and the character.

 

I read and largely loved a book that critiqued every B5 episode, but had to dock it a couple of points for hating that line.

 

'Dust to Dust' not only refers to dust but also the transformation of G'Kar. But also to death and rebirth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In G'kar's case a figurative death of the flesh and the birth of the spirit. G'kar using dust, his revenge mind attack on Londo, then his telepathic visit with Kosh nudges citizen G'Kar on a new path. One G'Kar was destined to take at one point or another.