Babylon 5

[Asbo Zaprudder]

With the typical contemporary mindset, Babylon 2 might have been commissioned after Babylon 1 was lost but to persist after losing four I never thought very credible. It also seemed JMS didn't really get the scale of the Galaxy, placing B5 only ten and a bit light years from the solar system. It might have been more credible for there to be a number of such waystations scattered around known space although I guess it depends on how hyperspace maps to real space and the topology of the gate network. It's a convenient setting for drama but perhaps shouldn't be analysed too deeply. At least DS9 acknowledged it was not the only major space station and it was lucky to find itself near a Galactic shortcut.

Babylon 5 is Crossroads in space without the brummies but with the wobbly scenery? Who are the analogues of Benny and Miss Diane? Only older British readers will get the reference.

 

[Triple-F]

http://www.b5scrolls.com/#Screen1_01_13

Little red link in the last question on the page has some additional information . . . All the "offical" material lists the station at 5, but that was because those making that material just assumed. They literally didn't ask folk like Thornton who came up with the design, rotation speed, etc. and jms just liked the number 5.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Yep, working with numbers too much does tend to make one a bit anal retentive about accuracy. I have yet to calculate if the stated mass make any sense given this revised size. It really doesn't matter. What I would like to have seen were more cylinder interior scenes but the CGI wasn't really up to the job. The matte paintings of the interior seen through windows also often looked mostly like paintings. However, having spent a fair amount of time attending live theatre performances I found it easy to ignore such shortcomings.

 

[Farscape One]

"How many miles do you see?"

"I see 4 miles."

"You're mistaken. There are 5 miles."

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I'm very disappointed that they're still using archaic units such as miles in the 23rd century. I mean the US and UK even have different ideas about how big a gallon (128 and 160 fluid ounces) and a ton (2000 and 2240 pounds) are. Even the fluid ounces that make up the respective definitions of a gallon are slightly different. Use the bloody metric system FFS.

 

[DonIago]

They're actually saying kilometers, but for the convenience of us pesky American viewers the show translates it to miles.

Much like when Klingons appear to be speaking in English.

 

[Gov Kodos]

They did for the first four stations but they gave up without explaining why for the fifth.

 

[Snaploud]

They did for the first four stations but they gave up without explaining why for the fifth.

It was a condition of the conservative North American bloc. It was the only way to get funding for a fifth station: making it smaller, making it cheaper, and having the crew use miles instead of kilometers.

 

[Ithekro]

From what I recall, they kept trying to complete the Babylon Station, with Four being the final result. Babylon Five was a result of the Minbari and others adding monetary and political weight to the concept and getting a smaller station finished for the original project's goal. Earth wasn't going to build a Babylon 5, but the other nations insisted and provided money. And Earth likes money.

 

[David cgc]

Yeah, the trouble was that up until Babylon 4, they always had material and infrastructure left over, either stuff that wasn't destroyed by whatever sabotage there was, or stuff that hadn't been assembled yet. With B4, the whole thing was gone in a puff of smoke and there was nothing left to recycle. The monetary support from the Minbari (and Centauri, and probably the other member races, though not to the same extent) was the only thing that let the project continue.

 

[BlueStuff]

"In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum"

One of my favourite long-form storytelling moments is when the paths of two important characters who'd previously been kept apart by distance or the plot finally intertwine.

It wasn't until Sheridan began interrogating Morden that I realised such a moment was happening. But of course, I thought, why has it taken this long? The prominent station chief and a puppet of dark, powerful forces come to face to face and once again, this feels like the "start" of the real Babylon 5.

Indeed, Delenn essentially sat Sheridan (or the audience) down and explained what's really going on, what this whole thing's really about, what it's going to look like from now on. And yikes - no wonder Kosh hadn't really done much up to this point. He's watching, he's waiting. He stands ready for the time - has the time come?

In other news, the Night Watch made themselves known (and not the watchers on the walls) - despite their seemingly benign directive, why do I get the feeling that they're not necessarily good news for the station?

This episode was pretty heavy on the exposition - in fact, seemingly every important scene involved a speech of some kind. Fortunately, I didn't find this detrimental - I found the whole thing to flow very well, and enjoyed the ratcheting intensity as more and more people called for Morden's release. Poor Winters, by the way, sent right into a telepathic trap. But what a slap to pay Sheridan back in kind.

A highly entertaining show, even it seemed to serve more as another prologue/tease for what's to come.

Rating: **** (though probably the best of the 4-star offerings so far)

-Vir's smile and wave to Morden! I wonder if he'll get his wish?
-One thing I wasn't clear on; are the Vorlons, as a race, the last remaining First Ones? Or just Kosh himself? The dialogue seems to suggest both. "All but one." "There's still one of them out there?" "For centuries the Vorlons stood alone, watching and waiting." "Aside from the Vorlons, we do not have the First Ones to help us this time."
-So Morden's never alone - does he (and by extension, do the Shadows) know Kosh's identity? I presume not.
-"If you go to Z'ha'dum... you will die."

 

[DonIago]

One of those episodes I can rewatch pretty much anytime!

Talia's slap was perfect.

Also, a great example of who John Sheridan could be if/when he's not careful. His ability to dig his heels in on things he believes in, rightly or wrongly, is potentially both his best and worst attribute.

 

[Booji]

The look on Rich Biggs' face after Talia slaps Sheridan is priceless

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Something I caught watching the season two premiere. Will spoiler tag it just in case.

Spoiler

Lennier mentioned that the souls being born are 'Not as good' as the souls being lost. So Minbari even have a spiritual aristocracy. Upper class and lower class souls.

 

[David cgc]

Something I caught watching the season two premiere. Will spoiler tag it just in case.

Spoiler

Lennier mentioned that the souls being born are 'Not as good' as the souls being lost. So Minbari even have a spiritual aristocracy. Upper class and lower class souls.

As "The Missing Lines" put it, "On Earth, every generation says that, especially about the next generation's musicians."

 

[Reverend]

-One thing I wasn't clear on; are the Vorlons, as a race, the last remaining First Ones? Or just Kosh himself? The dialogue seems to suggest both. "All but one." "There's still one of them out there?" "For centuries the Vorlons stood alone, watching and waiting." "Aside from the Vorlons, we do not have the First Ones to help us this time."

The former. Recall that in 'The Gathering' a whole fleet of Vorlon ships showed up, and their government was vocal in their displeasure at what happened to Kosh. So he's by no means the only Vorlon left, but they're still very protective of one another.
This revelation should bring a few things into tighter focus. Indeed, rewatching the first two seasons knowing this makes literally everything Kosh says and does make WAY more sense. Especially that time he ran into Mr. Morden in season one...

 

[JirinPanthosa]

As "The Missing Lines" put it, "On Earth, every generation says that, especially about the next generation's musicians."

The next generation has great musicians, they're just not the ones getting recording contracts.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Again, not really a spoiler, but since I think somebody is in season 1 and this pertains to early season 2 revelations, spoiler marking as precaution.

Spoiler

How does Delenn's bone work with her hair? Is it connected all the way across, and she cuts her hair on the top not to go over the bone, or is it like a barette, connected only at the sides and she runs her hair under it? In the shower does she pull it out to wash it then run it back through?

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Somebody ask for next generation's musicians?

 

[David cgc]

Again, not really a spoiler, but since I think somebody is in season 1 and this pertains to early season 2 revelations, spoiler marking as precaution.

Spoiler

How does Delenn's bone work with her hair? Is it connected all the way across, and she cuts her hair on the top not to go over the bone, or is it like a barette, connected only at the sides and she runs her hair under it? In the shower does she pull it out to wash it then run it back through?

According to some BTS stuff, the Minbari crest grows out from the pointy parts at the temples and curves back around, like antlers, and not directly out from the skull. When a Minbari baby is born, they just have four little bumps on the sides of their heads. So there's probably a gap between the bone and the back of the skull.