Favorite B5 character moments

[Neroon]

G'Kar: "You are right, nothing would have been changed. Except that my people would now be a dead race."
Delenn: "You have come a long way, G'Kar. Further than I would have guessed. Sheridan's promise binds me as well it does him. We will take you into the Council, G'Kar. And someday, when all this is over, perhaps you will find it in your heart to forgive me."
G'Kar: "Perhaps...but not today."

I am very glad that you mentioned this one. It all-too-often gets overlooked in the pantheon of character moments in B5, a quintessential character-based series.

This seen shows Delenn's bravery as well as G'Kar's. Yet it also paints G'Kar in a very sobering moment. Like him, I doubt I'd be able to forgive her in that moment. My head would understand and even agree with her rationale, but my heart would still break at the mere thought of how many lives had been lost. A very raw, emotional moment for sure.

 

[Reverend]

Babylon 5 is easily one of the most quotable shows in history, so even it's slightly more forgettable lines are gold.

Here's a little rarely remembered one.

"Oh, this is a moment you can tell your children about, Captain."
"I'll get on to having some right away."
"What?"
"I said I have an appointment with the Brakiri ambassador. I'm on my way."
-- Sheridan and Lochley in Babylon 5:"Day of the Dead"

I don't know why eveyone loves that Ivanova "death incarnate" quote so much. To me it seamed a little out of left field, even for Susan.
I've been doing a bit of article writing for the "Babylon Project" wiki and they have that quote at the top of Ivanova's bio. I think I rather need to change it now...

And since G'Kar quotes are the most fun:-
"Are you Ambassador G'Kar?"
"This is Ambassador G'Kar's quarters. This is Ambassador G'Kar's table. This is Ambassador G'Kar's dinner. What part of this progression escapes you?"
-- Tu'Pari and G'Kar in Babylon 5:"The Parliament of Dreams"

One small thing, in that bit in "The Very Long Light of Londo Mollari", did anyone else think Andreas was having a little too much fun playing the role of G'Kartagi?

 

[Neroon]

I've been doing a bit of article writing for the "Babylon Project" wiki and they have that quote at the top of Ivanova's bio. I think I rather need to change it now...

Coolness! Have any links to any of your articles there?

 

[Orac Zen]

I am very glad that you mentioned this one. It all-too-often gets overlooked in the pantheon of character moments in B5, a quintessential character-based series.

Every "Your favourite B5 moment"-type thread there's been here, I've included that as my first pick.

 

[Reverend]

I've been doing a bit of article writing for the "Babylon Project" wiki and they have that quote at the top of Ivanova's bio. I think I rather need to change it now...

Coolness! Have any links to any of your articles there?

In a nutshell - http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/User:Blind_Wolf Though I've done a ton of tinkering here and there. Correcting all the misspellings of "Earthforce" took an absolute age. Someone on there insists it's supposed to have a capital F, which aside from being wrong looks bloody weird.
I did a few logos for it too, which you can see in my thread over in Trek Art.
Mostly I'm adding crap as I'm reading "City of Sorrows", though I tend to favour the little obscure stories like why Morden always wears that pendant or more of the background of Sakai.
Mostly I'm trying to make sure it all stays as canon as possible when I first signed up they actually had Rathann down as a Ranger!

 

[Jan]

DELENN: Why do your people always ask if someone is ready right before you're
going to do something massively unwise?
SINCLAIR: Tradition.

A lot of my fave moments are ones where no words are spoken.
- Londo watching the bombardment of Narn.
- Londo seeing G'Kar brought into Cartagia's presence in chains.
- Londo contemplating the glass that G'Kar just drank out of when he said that he'd sign the joint statement - but not on the same page.
- That wonderful camera move on Sheridan in 'Severed Dreams' that so perfectly captures the stomach-sinking moment he realizes that he's royally, eternally frakked.
- Delenn watching the sun come up with a Sheridan who's no longer there.
- "one moment of perfect beauty."

And many, many more.

Jan​

 

[Neroon]

Mostly I'm trying to make sure it all stays as canon as possible when I first signed up they actually had Rathann down as a Ranger!

Thanks for the link! I look forward to reading it on my lunch break today!!

Rathenn was a part of the Anla'shok, though. He may not have worn the uniform of the Ranger, but he was Anla'shok, wasn't he? Or is that delineated in "To Dream in the City of Sorrows"?

I will be adding a few more of my favorite character moments, as soon as I can.

 

[Starbreaker]

Vir's wave to Morden's head in Into The Fire.

Well... I was going to try and be original, but this is my favorite scene from B5. That was a great payoff.

 

[Neroon]

So many to list, and so little space. I certainly don't want to deprive anyone of listign their own favorites ... and shy. Here are a few not mentioned yet, which dont' even begin to scratch the surface:

- Delenn crumbling before the monitor, when she receives Sheridan's goodbye message. Not only has he gone to the place she fears most, she is convinced he will die in doing so. And this after their last moments together had been seared by Sheridan's anger at her deception.

- Sheridan's final confrontation with Anna and her Shadow bodyguards. She walks towards him, softly, seductively cajoling him to come back inside. But she isn't the woman he once loved. Notice ... past tense. Now there is no waffling, no ambiguity. No time left to wonder what to do. Then ... he jumps. Pushed by that moment of revelation into his moment of transition.

- Br. Theo's granting absolution to Br. Edward. The fatherly, strong and kind priest administers the last rites to the tortured Edward, whose last thoughts are "I think I would have stayed."

- Marcus' fatal decision once he finds out about the alien healing device. It's a moment of resolve with no question what he is going to do. What he will give up.

- "If you value your lives ... be somewhere else." Who among us has not quoted this bit thousands of times? Delenn's voice is stern without being raised, carrying undoubted violence if she is not obeyed.

- Ta'Lon's "confronting" of G'Kar, who feels he needs leave the station to prevent further violence back home. What is Ta'Lon's reply? "I carry my sword in my hand. You carry yours in your heart and in your mind. As I see it, that gives you a two to one advantage in arms. Be fair, Citizen G'Kar." Ta'Lon is motivated by honor and duty, yet knows how to implement a little bit of humor to drive his point home.

- Londo's plea to Mr. Garibaldi to have a drink with him. Londo knows people are afraid of him, and he knows why. But that doesn't change how he knows his need for companionship. He does nto want to be alone. "It is good to have friends, is it not Mr. Garibaldi? If only ... for a little while?"

- "Sleeping In Light" ... the whole damn episode.

 

[Mistral]

First Season: Vir is calling Londo over the com. Londo is in bed with some women.

Londo,"What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?"

Always cracks me up. And for chilling moments-Londo answering Morden's "What do you want?" question.

 

[Mysterion]

Ivanova: "This is the Whitestar fleet. Negative, on surrender. We will not stand down."
Earthforce: "Who is this? Identify yourself!"
Ivanova: "Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova. Commander. Daughter, of Andrei and Sophie Ivanov. I am the Right Hand of Vengeance, and the boot that is gonna kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth.

I am Death incarnate, and the last living thing that you are. Ever. Going to see...

God sent me."

If the ever do an Honor Harrington movie, Claudia Christian must be involved somehow.

 

[Caleuche]

'Sunday drive' and 'Only one captain has survived battle with a Minbari fleet' go without saying.

G'Kars whipping/torture on Centauri Prime. Painful scene. Also highlighted how the characters have changed. G'Kar would have been to prideful to scream even if did save his people earlier in the series and Londo would have been thrilled to see such pain inflicted on the Narn. Londo didn't look too thrilled here.

Bester releasing Garibaldi from his mind-conditioning. The look of joy on Besters face as his revels in what he has done and the control he has had over a lesser being tells you all you need to know about this man. Hes evil, gets to play God and he enjoys it.

The scene where Londo walks to his coronation as emperor alone, as Centauri burns. Hes spent four years plotting and scheming to get to this point and you can tell he now knows it wasn't worth it.

When Ivanova softens and you can see below all the quips, coldness, hardness, attitude and 'why me' looks, theres actually a very lonely and empty person.

John respecting years of friendship and not sugarcoating the truth to Ivanova when shes fatally wounded at the end of season four.

Any scene where Delenns jaw sets and her eyes fill with fire. This usually precedes a White Star battle or a big Minbari-stick fight. Delenns look when she wins is also usually a good moment too.

Lenniers dry quips.

Lyta and Zack Allens never-going anywhere almost-flirting.

Any scene where Kosh speaks profound gibberish.

Any scene where Byron lets himself be punched repetitively to prove some point or other. There weren't enough of them.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If the ever do an Honor Harrington movie, Claudia Christian must be involved somehow.

BLASPHEMY!!

*pause*

Sadly, that's not too far from the truth: I have heard her name mentioned as a possible candidate in the upcoming film (or TV series, I don't know which it will be).

(Anyone who's seen Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow knows who really should play Honor.)

 

[Reverend]

Mostly I'm trying to make sure it all stays as canon as possible when I first signed up they actually had Rathann down as a Ranger!

Thanks for the link! I look forward to reading it on my lunch break today!!

Rathenn was a part of the Anla'shok, though. He may not have worn the uniform of the Ranger, but he was Anla'shok, wasn't he? Or is that delineated in "To Dream in the City of Sorrows"?

I will be adding a few more of my favorite character moments, as soon as I can.

Satai Rathann was one of the Grey council and although he was a big part of helping Sinclair remake the Rangers, he was never trained as one, unlike say Sech's Turval & Durhan. But yeah, "To Dream in the City of Sorrows" clarifies his role allot more than those two brief appearances in the show and as I recall in the first comic (the one written by JMS) he was the one that met with Sinclair and Clarke at Earth Dome, when Sinclair is told he's the new Ambasador to Minbar. Apparantly he was on the Grey council all the way through the war too and all that that implies.

It's little stuff like that that makes the story for me. Not so much what the main characters are up to as what the supporting characters are about.
Case in point, one thing I only recently cottoned on to was that Morden was always seen wearing a necklace and belive it or not there's a story behind that that's central to his entire character arc.

If the ever do an Honor Harrington movie, Claudia Christian must be involved somehow.

BLASPHEMY!!

*pause*

Sadly, that's not too far from the truth: I have heard her name mentioned as a possible candidate in the upcoming film (or TV series, I don't know which it will be).

(Anyone who's seen Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow knows who really should play Honor.)

Oh you had to bring that film up!
Regardless, methinks Ms. Jolie's rates are slightly higher than our dear Claudia.
I dare say though, I think Claudia Christian may be getting a little to old to play Harrington and it might not be very fair on her as any performance she gives would inevitably be compared to Ivanova. Though I've not read much in the way of Honor Harrington (not my poison)I gathered enough to know that in terms of characterisation, she has very little in common with Susan.

 

[Mysterion]

If the ever do an Honor Harrington movie, Claudia Christian must be involved somehow.

BLASPHEMY!!

*pause*

Sadly, that's not too far from the truth: I have heard her name mentioned as a possible candidate in the upcoming film (or TV series, I don't know which it will be).

(Anyone who's seen Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow knows who really should play Honor.)

Well, fair 'nuff. But good luck flying that casting choice past David Weber.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If the ever do an Honor Harrington movie, Claudia Christian must be involved somehow.

BLASPHEMY!!

*pause*

Sadly, that's not too far from the truth: I have heard her name mentioned as a possible candidate in the upcoming film (or TV series, I don't know which it will be).

(Anyone who's seen Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow knows who really should play Honor.)

Well, fair 'nuff. But good luck flying that casting choice past David Weber.

Weber doesn't seem that opposed to it. I think he said that Claudia was not the same physical type (too short) as he envisioned Honor to be. Plus, would Claudia play Honor as Honor, or as Ivanova? But he didn't seem completely soured to the idea.

You want to know who I think Claudia *should* play...dammit, I hope this possibility comes up in the future as well... link

 

[Anthony Sabre]

- Garibaldi offering to show people his "favorite thing in the universe."

- Garibaldi and Delenn watching Duck Dodgers together; Delenn spitting out the popcorn.

- Lennier building a Kawasaki Ninja and riding it with Garibaldi

- The Invanova sex dance

- The first scene with Delenn and Lennier. They seemed almost intimate.

- Anytime Zathras speaks

 

[RoJoHen]

- Anytime Zathras speaks

Which Zathras? Do you mean Zathras or Zathras?

 

[Anthony Sabre]

- Anytime Zathras speaks

Which Zathras? Do you mean Zathras or Zathras?

Sorry. I meant Zathras, not Zathras. Should have been more specific.

 

[Neroon]

Go to the CCG cards and you can find Z'athras, Za'thras, and even Zath'ras.