It was the Dawn of the Third Age of Mankind

[Mal]

It's all in 'City of Sorrows', either directly or implicit. Plus I think JMS has mentioned something alone these lines somewhere.
For example, from page 65: -

And in all that time, thought Sinclair, almost four-
teen Earth years, the Grey Council had ruled Minbar-
and conducted a highly successful war against Earth-
without anyone occupying the office of Chosen One.
That might seem to indicate that the so-called Minbari
leader was only a titular head of government without
power, not unlike kings and queens had become on
Earth by the twentieth century. Except that Dukhat had
clearly been a powerful figure, the unquestioned leader
of Minbar. Jenimer's position was not as clear.
​

*flips open book*
Look at that, you're right! And just 3 pages later Ulkesh is named. Seems like I would remember something like that. Probably been way too long since I read To Dream.

Below the nine there's the 27 member strong Council of Caste Elders which has 9 Elders from each from the most dominant clans of the of the three castes ... Neroon for example was one of the nine Warrior elders on the Council of Caste Elders before getting Delenn's spot on the Grey Council.

In 4x13 Rumors, Bargains, Lies and 4x14 Moments of Transition, the warrior caste is led by Shakiri, and Neroon seems to accept that without question. Was Shakiri on the Grey Council before Delenn disbanded it? If so, was he the senior-most member from the warrior caste (Neroon was obviously the junior-most warrior caste on the Council)?

 

[Reverend]

In 4x13 Rumors, Bargains, Lies and 4x14 Moments of Transition, the warrior caste is led by Shakiri, and Neroon seems to accept that without question. Was Shakiri on the Grey Council before Delenn disbanded it? If so, was he the senior-most member from the warrior caste (Neroon was obviously the junior-most warrior caste on the Council)?

As I understand it, Shakiri was the Shai Alyt of the warrior caste (as was Bramner during the Earth-Minbari War) which is a military rank, not a governmental one.
It's possible he was a Satai too, but it was never stated. The way I read it though, Shakiri was the caste's highest ranking officer, their war leader and being warriors everyone in that caste followed him. Neroon was a lower military rank (Alyt) and so he served under Shakiri. With the grey council gone, being a Satai probably didn't mean anything anymore as, after all the religious caste followed Delenn who hadn't been on the council in years. Had in fact broken it. But she was also Entil'Zha which must have given her some huge clout in a civil war as far as the others were concerned.

Speaking of Lennon, there was something I always wondered, and I figure someone here might know. Does anyone know if Lennon's Ranger badge had a different design than the ones we saw in the show? I mean, logically, it would, because the Minbari would've had no idea what a human even looked like, much less why they should be entwined with one, but it was never shown in close-up in ITB, so I don't know if they actually made a new prop, or just used the old one and hoped that as long as it wasn't shown in detail, people could assume it was the pre-Sinclair design.

Follow-up, if it was different, what did it look like?

Yes it was a different prop. It had only one figure (on the left IIRC) instead of two, with the other side just being a decorative design encircling the gem and some engraved Minbari script.

 

[Mal]

2x12 Acts of Sacrifice

Six months ago they were hardly aware of me. Now, suddenly, everyone wants to be my friend.
​

Well, maybe not everybody:

Mr. Garibaldi, wait. A Moment of your time. Let me buy you something - I will make sure that it's chemically inoffensive.

I don't have any...

Mr. Garibaldi, a moment of joy in a lifetime of sorrow. Take it while you can..... Good. Good. Kat: my usual. Here, I have something for you.

You wanna tell me what this is?

[Laughing] Oh please relax, it's not a bribe. Over the years when my luck at the gaming tables has been, uh, less than salutary, you have always come to by rescue. And now, I repay you, in full, every. last. dukat.

Thanks.

That's all? Thanks?

I'll get you a receipt, cause I want to make sure everything is on the up and up -

I don't want a receipt.

Then what do you want?

I want you to stay. And have a little drink with me. I want you to be happy. And I want me to be happy. I want you to be happy for me, and me to be happy for you. Is that so much to ask around here?!
​

And Londo goes on, so vulnerable:

Now that things are changing, and I look around for someone to share my good fortune with, there is no one. Except you, my good close friend, Garibaldi.
​

But after Michael leaves, all he has is his barkeep:

That was my good friend, Garibaldi. It is good to have friends, is it not. Keep the change you filthy animal.
​

And later that night, after the Narn have killed that no-good Centauri trouble-maker:

It's late Ambassador. We're closing up. And you, you should go home. Oh, were you, uh, waiting for someone?
​

​

Yes. Someone.
​

In this episode you can really feel that the Narns have lost, that now it's just a matter of time before the end. Of course Mollari says as much to Garibaldi at the end. But it's clear throughout: G'kar spends much of the episode begging for help - using a Centauri attack on civilians to guilt-trip the League, or the Earthers or the Minbari - fuck, anyone! - to help him. He spends much of the rest of the episode trying to reassert control over his people. Sure Drazi are annoying and go around killing each other; sure Centauri are always up to no good; heck every race on B5 is up to something or another, but as far as Sheridan is concerned, the only race that he can threaten with throwing off the station is a race on the verge of defeat. Nothing like kicking a people while they're down.

That kind of attitude has trickled all the way down the command structure. In one scene, a few Centauri taunt a couple Narn at the bar, and a fight breaks out. Zack Allen breaks it up, and makes the Narns leave, while giving the Centauri a warning on the way out. Then, later, Zack shoots and kills a Narn all while protecting the same taunting Centauri. Way to go Captain Orange Juice. No wonder G'kar breaks down hysterical at the end when offered food scraps and left-over medical supplies.

Ivanova brown-bags the Lumati Ambassador and takes one for the team. Ah Hell.

It is good to have friends, is it not, Mr. Garibaldi. Even if maybe, only for a little while.
​

Damn I miss my Mollari handle.

 

[Mal]

2x13 Hunter, Prey

Sometimes, late at night, I just come here and watch it.
​

That's what she said.

Whether JMS always planned it this way or not (almost certainly not), Kosh didn't come to B5 for for Sinclair, he came for Sheridan. Sheridan's right: before he came on board Kosh hasd essentially nothing to do with Babylon 5 and the Council. Remember, when Sinclair tried to get Kosh to come for a meeting on the Narn/Centauri conflict, Kosh was clear in his demurrer ("they are a dying race; we should let them pass"). But from Revelations onwards, Kosh has been to the Council far more regularly. And then of course there was All Alone in the Night from two weeks prior, when Kosh came to Sheridan in the vision as he lay on the Stribe vessel. So naturally, it's time for them to start getting to know each other.

You wanted to see me.

You wanted to see me.

I guess everyone does. To see what you really are inside that encounter suit.
​

WTF!?! Tell me you didn't just ask a fucking Ambassador to strip for you?!?

They are not ready. They would not understand.

Am I ready?

No. You do not even understand yourself.
​

Sounds a bit like the Dalai Lama from Points of Departure.

Could you help me to understand you?

Can you help me to understand you?

Well I can try. Is that what you want? An exchange of information. I tell you something about me, and you tell me something about you.
​

OMG! It's like watching a retarded child.

No. You do not understand. Go.

Damn it, what do you want? What do you want from me? ... Now you call me here why? Just to throw me out? Are we just toys to you?
​

Great, now Sheridan sounds like a jilted lover.

What do you want!

Never ask that question.
​

Indeed.

So what'll it be, ambassador?

I will teach you.

About yourself?

About you. Until you are ready.

For what?

To fight Legends.
​

Legends? Well you're a Legend too. Oh right, that doesn't come till later.

Which is all just to say that Sheridan's visit to Bay 13 is not exactly out of the blue, but has been built up all season long. Yet it doesn't come off that way. Maybe my first time through I wasn't really paying attention, but it all seemed quite random - a little too convenient that Sheridan suddenly has an interest in Kosh, and in the same episode Kosh helps them keep Dr. Jacobs out of the hands of Earth Intelligence.

Speaking of Jacobs, I like how Garibaldi calls Franlkin out on the events of Icarus (though he does leave Franklin's girlfriend from The Long Dark out of it). Coupled with what we know of Franklin's work for the telepath underground, you can see why this guy is a serious serious security risk. No wonder Garibaldi keeps him close.

Indeed my favorite scenes in the episode are Garibaldi/Franklin scenes. First some fodder for the slashers (please tell me there is no Franklin/Garibaldi slash?!!)

As Garibaldi is getting ready, it seems he has clearly learned a few lessons from Season 1. First, maybe he keeps a slightly lower profile even while on the job - because in Survivors he was certainly recognized out of uniform, but here he is fairly certain that a cap is all the disguise he will need (Franklin: Why is my life suddenly passing in front of my eyes). To be fair, it is a magic hat - G'kar uses it successfully to free his planet in Season 4!

I love the Garibaldi/Franklin banter while on the stake-out:

[It was] quite a time: Earth had beaten the Dilgar and we were setting up outposts all over the place. Looking to the future with the reckless enthusiasm you have when you are 22 and your whole life's ahead of you.

Oh yeah, I remember. Back then it was like some long summer night. Crazy. Innocent. Optimistic as hell. I don't know. Somewhere along the line we lost something somewhere.

I think we lost interest in the future when all things we told were coming finally got here; it wasn't what we thought it was going to be. It's like when you keep bugging your folks for that one special toy for Christmas and when you finally get it it's not a great as the vid's made it look. It just doesn't run right. You're so disappointed, you shove it in a closet and never take it out again.

Maybe somebody should have labelled the future: "Some assembly required."
​

In the end Garibaldi basically pulls the same stunt he did in The Geometry of Shadows to rescue Ivanova. They get Jacobs, and have evidence that then-Vice President Clark was not ill when he disembarked Earth-Force-One.

When does that get leaked to ISN?

Interestingly, Sheridan doesn't let Garibaldi in on what the Resistance's Bat-Signal looks like (a red ribbon). Cranston goes back to work with the Maquis.

Ouch! ... Just try and keep both arms the same length.

 

[Mal]

2x14 There All the Honor Lies

We're not some... some Deep Space Franchise. This station is about something.
​

Begun, the flame-wars have

In the middle of an insanely crazy day at work, Kosh takes Sheridan to "pretty much the worst part of down below" to experience one moment of perfect beauty.

Sheridan's day is such a mess cause a bunch of guys from Lennier's extended family (the third fane of ch'domoh) are pissed that Sheridan Star-Killer was assigned to lead Babylon 5, and they've taken it upon themselves to LIE and frame him for murder (a Minbari actually does die at Sheridan's hand, Lennier's family tricks everyone - including, for a little while, Sheridan himself - into thinking that the death was not in self defense). The episode manages to cite the events from The Quality of Mercy not once, but twice ("attributes" and fight following the poker game).

Enter Sheridan's lawyer. I have said before, it's ridiculous that there aren't lawyers and JAGs permanently on B5. Don't get me wrong, I'm super happy to see the very hot Na'Toth out of makeup

I just wish she had been a permanent fixture on the station, somewhat like that political adviser Sheridan gets down and dirty with in Voices of Authority (Zack Allen even gives Catlin Brown the same lecherous look ).

Vir gets drunk off his ass in an arc that sadly falls flat, even if he does feel up Talia's boob. Still, he will get a fiancée out of it (even if she is slightly genocidal).

Here's one consistent problem I seem to have with B5 on my bajillionth viewing: the editing is all wrong. The episodes don't flow; some plot lines are wrapped up far too quickly, others drag. Scenes are just in a really awkward order. Maybe that's the director's job, in which case, he kinda sucks. B5 needs a phantom edit.

Wanted: Minbari. Bald. With a bone on his head.
(God this episode brings out Sheridan's racist side...)

 

[JoeD80]

Here's one consistent problem I seem to have with B5 on my bajillionth viewing: the editing is all wrong. The episodes don't flow; some plot lines are wrapped up far too quickly, others drag. Scenes are just in a really awkward order. Maybe that's the director's job, in which case, he kinda sucks. B5 needs a phantom edit.

Sometimes the editing might change the order of scenes to improve something (such as with War Without End Part II), but for the most part it's going to stick to the script because a television writer has to think in terms of act breaks when writing, to take you in and out of commercials. The flow isn't going to be constant through the whole episode. John Copeland & JMS made the final cut on every episode after the editors and directors were done with them. IMO, the series did very well on this. In the entire five-year run, there is only one scene that bugs me as an editing problem where I think five more seconds should have been cut.

 

[Mal]

^ and what scene is that?

 

[JoeD80]

The one that bugs me? I forget which episode it's in, but the one in the 4th season where Lyta goes on about suing people. Sure there are plenty of parts of the five seasons (or any TV show really) one can point to and say "this acting choice was odd" or "this EFX shot could have been done differently" or "this should have been staged differently" but that's the only part in the five years that's ever seemed out of place to me, because after everyone has left the scene except Lyta, she goes on some more, and then Jerry/Garibaldi calls from off camera "will you come on." Kind of feels more like an actor's moment than a character moment to me.

 

[JoeD80]

Of course the great thing about Babylon 5 is, since it's all a documentary produced by ISN, you can blame them for any issues with acting/editing/pacing.

 

[Mal]

Lyta goes on about suing people.

ugh, that scene in 4x19 Between the Darkness and the Light, is horrendous.

Of course the great thing about Babylon 5 is, since it's all a documentary produced by ISN, you can blame them for any issues with acting/editing/pacing.

well, speaking of ISN

2x15 And Now for a Word

In the last few years we've stumbled; we stumbled at 9/11; the wars; the economy; and on and on. And when you stumble a lot, you start looking at your feet. We have to make people lift their eyes back to the horizon.
​

Here we have a precursor to Season 4's Illusion of Truth. But unlike Season 4, where the Earth Alliance had every reason to make Sheridan look bad, ISN's hostility towards the captain seems to come a bit out of no where. Here, after all, is a man selected by Clark himself, and who was one of the very few heroes to come out of the Earth-Minbari war (we hear it said in Season 4's Intersections in Real Time). Then why the hostility?

Well, for sure, something similar happened just recently. And that's what makes B5 timeless.

Surely you all saw the Rolling Stone article that directly led to the demise of General Stanley McChrystal, who had been Obama's choice to run the war in Afghanistan.

Bottom line, reporters will be reporters. And like jackals, when they smell blood, there's no stopping them.

Cynthia Torqueman certainly senses blood talking to Delenn - drives her right to tears! (Seriously, where is Lenneir? No wonder Delenn starts reading Earth papers; I suppose reporters on Minbar are all suitably deferential to authority).

Where's Jane?

The story itself is pretty basic: Centauri are moving weapons through B5 space to be used in their war against the Narn; the Narn attack the transports even while they are in B5 space; hilarity ensues.

This episode shines in the diplomatic play: Londo is particularly perfect; always quick with doublespeak, and remarkably adept at spin:

A violent attack by Narn forces is an unacceptable response to a peaceful protest by my government.
​

Uh huh, blockading B5 with a war-ship: peaceful indeed.

Anyway, I'm glad that the tedious phase of B5 is nearly over. After maybe one episode or two, it'll be an straight sailing right through the next two seasons!

Bonus: Delenn says humans build communities. Drink!

 

[Reverend]

ugh, that scene in 4x19 Between the Darkness and the Light, is horrendous.

I actually find that moment quite amusing and they were clearly having a little fun with it. Mind you, I'm the sort that doesn't mind the odd fourth wall breakage, from time to time and I appreciate I'm most likely in the minority in that regard.

Here we have a precursor to Season 4's Illusion of Truth. But unlike Season 4, where the Earth Alliance had every reason to make Sheridan look bad, ISN's hostility towards the captain seems to come a bit out of no where. Here, after all, is a man selected by Clark himself, and who was one of the very few heroes to come out of the Earth-Minbari war (we hear it said in Season 4's Intersections in Real Time). Then why the hostility?

They're the press...do they need a reason?

Cynthia Torqueman certainly senses blood talking to Delenn - drives her right to tears! (Seriously, where is Lenneir? No wonder Delenn starts reading Earth papers; I suppose reporters on Minbar are all suitably deferential to authority).

There aren't any on Minbar, hence Delenn being totally blind-sided. That is not any Minbari ones. Aside from rumour and heresy, information filters down through official channels from the Council, to the Elders and so on and people are generally told only what those above them determine they need to know and no more. Information also tends not to cross Caste or even clan lines. Keeping a secret on Minbar is probably much easier than it is on Earth.

Where's Jane?

At another desk? On a different shift? On holiday? She's hardly the only reporter at the network.

 

[Forbin]

ugh, that scene in 4x19 Between the Darkness and the Light, is horrendous.

I actually find that moment quite amusing and they were clearly having a little fun with it. Mind you, I'm the sort that doesn't mind the odd fourth wall breakage, from time to time and I appreciate I'm most likely in the minority in that regard.

I feel bad for Pat Tallman having to deliver that speech - she really CAN act! But as bad as the lines were, I absolutely love Jerry Doyle's gruff "C'mon!" and Pat's adorable little growl back.

 

[Mal]

I absolutely love ... Pat's adorable little growl back.

it's a little like a purr

 

[Mal]

In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum

There are beings in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. Once, long ago, they walked among the stars like giants, vast and timeless. They taught the younger races, explored beyond the rim, created great empires. But to all things there is an end. Slowly, over a million years, the First Ones went away. Some passed beyond the stars, never to return. Some simply disappeared.
​

Not all of the First Ones have gone away. A few stayed behind, hidden or asleep, waiting for the day when they may be needed, when the Shadows come again.
​

The Shadows were old when even the Ancients were young. They battled one another over and over across a million years. The last great war against the Shadows was ten thousand years ago. It was the last time the Ancients walked openly among us. The Shadows were only defeated, not destroyed. A thousand years ago, the Shadows returned to their places of power, rebuilt them, and began to stretch forth their hand. Before they could strike, they were defeated by an alliance of worlds, including the Minbari, and the few remaining First Ones who had not yet passed beyond the Veil. When they had finished, the First Ones went away. All but one.
​

Drink!

The episode is a tour-de-force. So many things come together. Even more are set up. And yet somehow the hour is stitched seamlessly together.

In the main, Sheridan lets out his inner Col. Ari Ben Hitler, with such over-the-top lines as:

you damn well better start remembering, mister, because - by god - by the time I am done with you, you will wish you had died on the Icarus!
​

Sheridan tries to get legally sneaky - Morden is dead, so how can he have rights? No one buys it - not Garibaldi, who resigns; not Talia, who refuses to conduct an unauthorized scan. And certainly not Morden himself. Even poor Zack is so relieved when Sheridan cuts Morden loose at the end.

Sheridan resorts to force - forcing Talia and Morden into a hallway together.

On another front, Sheridan uses all the typical governmental dissembling of "confidential" investigation, and top-secret security, to simply cover up the fact that what he is doing is completely illegal (not to mention, morally wrong).

Sheridan: We're holding him for questioning.
Vir: Regarding?
Sheridan: I'm afraid that's confidential.
​

Amazingly, just last week, Wikileaks released a bunch of top-secret documents. It was basically stuff that anyone paying attention would have already known. Of course if Sheridan had been paying attention to G'kar all year, he would probably have known all this as well.

The best scene in the hour is Sheridan shocked out of his senses when Vir comes to spring Morden from jail. WHO IS THIS GUY. Then Delnn & Kosh too. WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY?!?

One nitpick: wouldn't Morden have come up with a better story, since he knew he was operating on Sheridan's station, and might, you know, at some point be questioned as to the Icarus?

The beauty of 2x17 In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum is that we the audience already know who Morden is, and who his associates are, and what all they have been up to (and I mean, even for those people who are watching for the first time around). What makes the episode epic is that the drama is not dependent on the revelation, the drama is in watching Sheridan get crushed with a ton of bricks!

God, so much happens, that I almost forgot to mention MiniPax - the ministry of peace - Talia refuses to sign on; but Zack goes along. The Nightwatch is perhaps the single most memorable feature of the whole Babylon 5 'verse, and this is where it all begins. For almost a year, we'll be riveted by it's machinations.

Final note: Franklin + stims = bad. Ivanova is not annoying during this hour.

If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die.

 

[Reverend]

One nitpick: wouldn't Morden have come up with a better story, since he knew he was operating on Sheridan's station, and might, you know, at some point be questioned as to the Icarus?

Wasn't necessary. For one thing, when Morden first came aboard it wasn't Sheridan's station, it was Sinclair's. Even so, the likely hood that Morden would 1) ever cross his path and 2) be recognised by him was extremely low. It's just blind luck that Garibaldi happened to walk in while Sheridan was going through the Icarus files and just happened to recognise his face from seeing him on the station.
Plus as Garibaldi said, Morden kept well off the radar. The station gets 50 ships a day and there's almost always people coming and going so it's completely impractical to run a background check on everyone that passes through customs. As it stood, even though he was legally dead there was no reason to flag his identicard. Again as Garibaldi said, B5 does not and could not get every single last death certificate from everywhere in the Alliance so without checking with Earth Central they'd have no way to know.

As for the story he did use, it sounds plausible enough on the surface. He was doing an EVA when the ship exploded and came to weeks or months later after being picked up by a passing transport. He wouldn't have had any ID on him so the ship that picked him up would have listed him as a John Doe and since Earth Central never received his message that he was still alive, there's no way to backtrack his story. So long as there's no evidence to the contrary, his story can't be disproved and once again, as Garibaldi said, not being dead isn't a crime.

 

[Mal]

Knives

Ahh yah vita, lestero, lestero vi-e-e-e-kri.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIfH7to_LQ
​

What ever else I might say about 2x17 Kinves, the scene is one of my all time favorites. Vir and Londo, happy, singing - singing beautifully, I might add! I have only been to a handful of operas, and I can't say I'm a fan, but the opera here perfectly sets the stage for a very Roman Centauri episode. Alongside long sessions of Bravari, splendid sets (for the Banquet), detailed and layered clothing, you get a real sense of the history, but also the decadence of the Centauri people.

When Vir speaks of Londo in Sleeping in Light, I know a lot of people think of There all the Honor Lies, but for me, the scene that brings the tear to my eye is this one, with Vir and Londo, singing Centauri opera.

I also love the long night of Bravari that Londo shares with his childhood friend Vocator Jaddo (aka, Urza, aka, Scaturro). Who hasn't had an old friend come to visit (after many years), opened up a bottle of wine, or maybe a case of beer, and slowly, methodically, gotten totally and completely hammered. And at these times, soaked as they are with nostalgia, the conversations almost always turn to old loves and new love interests. And so Londo (aka Passo Liati) tells Urza of Adira, and each of us nod our heads: yup, been there. They also talk politics, and Urza, likes most soldiers who have actually seen battle, is a pacifist. Londo is not. (Londo has also seen battle, we learn in Voice in the Wilderness).

The Centauri politics in Knives is ok (Londo asks Refa to help avoid a resolution again Urza but it turns out Refa was the one who brought the resolution, presumably because Urza is such a pacifist), but not on par with some other B5 outings. Londo has now lost a second friend (Prime Minister Malakai was the fist, and Adira will be next).

I will not even mention the Sheridan arc, except to say, that when someone does a Phantom Edit of Babylon 5, this should be the first things to go! Two things JMS should avoid: Gray Sector (ala Gray 17 is Missing) and duels (ala TKO).

Lastly, a question: what is the "Corridor" that the League wants to ban the Narn and the Centauri from?

Insanity is part of the Times! You must learn to embrace the madness; let it fire you.

 

[Reverend]

They also talk politics, and Urza, likes most soldiers who have actually seen battle, is a pacifist. Londo is not. (Londo has also seen battle, we learn in Voice in the Wilderness).

I'm not sure if it was ever specified, but I always attributed the difference in their attitudes to the fact that Londo was a pilot during a raid while Urza was a soldier on the ground. You don't see a lot of blood, guts, severed limbs and starving orphans from the cockpit of a fighter/bomber.
While we don't actually know what happened at Gorash (or Fralis XII for that matter) the fact that we later hear that Gorash VII is the Centauri's major supply world may indicate they conquered it and subjugated the natives because of it's strategic position.

Lastly, a question: what is the "Corridor" that the League wants to ban the Narn and the Centauri from?

It was actually mentioned twice in Knives: -

- "They're thinking about banning the Narn and the Centauri from the Corridor. There've been a few incidents around the trade gates."

- "He came in three days ago from the Corridor, registered a cargo...departing tomorrow. He was staying in the Markab Sector."
​

So from that I think it's probably a trade corridor; a series of jumpgates and beacons that serves as a major thoroughfare through the League worlds, probably maintained though treaties and trade agreements. Normally I'd say this was one of those things that DiTillio made up that is never mentioned again, but the term is indeed used again in 'Dust to Dust'; a JMS script. From the context it looks like there's actually more than one: -

- "Ambassador Mollari, what would you consider a reasonable buffer zone?"
- "The seven colony worlds in that particular corridor."
- "You asked for only two when this began."
​

 

[OmahaStar]

Where's Jane?

She's on the beach, having a vacation with her protege and eventual betrayer, Allison Higgins, aka Hix. Like other one-name celebrities, she needs a vacation now and then.

 

[Mal]

They also talk politics, and Urza, likes most soldiers who have actually seen battle, is a pacifist. Londo is not. (Londo has also seen battle, we learn in Voice in the Wilderness).

I'm not sure if it was ever specified, but I always attributed the difference in their attitudes to the fact that Londo was a pilot during a raid while Urza was a soldier on the ground. You don't see a lot of blood, guts, severed limbs and starving orphans from the cockpit of a fighter/bomber.
While we don't actually know what happened at Gorash (or Fralis XII for that matter) the fact that we later hear that Gorash VII is the Centauri's major supply world may indicate they conquered it and subjugated the natives because of it's strategic position.

It's interesting that Franklin's father, who is described as the Hero of Janos 7, is no pacifist. And I presume he was with the ground pounders, on the ground.

Lastly, a question: what is the "Corridor" that the League wants to ban the Narn and the Centauri from?

It was actually mentioned twice in Knives: -

- "They're thinking about banning the Narn and the Centauri from the Corridor. There've been a few incidents around the trade gates."

- "He came in three days ago from the Corridor, registered a cargo...departing tomorrow. He was staying in the Markab Sector."
​

So from that I think it's probably a trade corridor; a series of jumpgates and beacons that serves as a major thoroughfare through the League worlds, probably maintained though treaties and trade agreements. Normally I'd say this was one of those things that DiTillio made up that is never mentioned again, but the term is indeed used again in 'Dust to Dust'; a JMS script. From the context it looks like there's actually more than one: -

- "Ambassador Mollari, what would you consider a reasonable buffer zone?"
- "The seven colony worlds in that particular corridor."
- "You asked for only two when this began."
​

At first I thought it was simply another name for Sector 14. But maybe it's just one of those loosely used terms in the B5 'verse that was never really fully thought out.

Have you seen the map of the B5 'verse It's not as detailed as the Star Trek map, but it's still very cool.

 

[Reverend]

It's interesting that Franklin's father, who is described as the Hero of Janos 7, is no pacifist. And I presume he was with the ground pounders, on the ground.

Speaking as a civilian who grew up on an army camp surrounded by the military, I'd have to say that the idea that people who've been in real combat tend to be pacifists is something of a myth, in my experience. If they were truly pacifist they wouldn't be in the army for very long.

I think the disaffection you're implying only really sets in in situations where there's no sense of purpose to a conflict, or it's stated purpose bares no reality to what's actually going on. Though not details of either Gorash or Janos VII are ever divulged, by Jaddo's reactions and the Republic's MO it's pretty clear it was probably a massacre in which the other side didn't stand a chance and didn't really pose any threat to begin with.
No clue what Janos VII was about, but chances are it was probably a part of the Dilgar War since, which by all accounts was something akin to WWII in terms of righteousness of purpose. It was a campaign to liberate a swath of subjugated worlds from a ruthless aggressor, while at the same time kicking some snake head arse and showing the galaxy who's boss.

Also, in those two instances you have to take into account the personalities involved. Urza was, like Londo a young idealistic nobleman who lived a sheltered life of privilege and sighed up for military service because he was enraptured by the ancient stories of glory and honour of the Republic. Landing on some mud ball and cutting down a bunch of primitives because their particular mud ball happened to be strategically important probably shattered his illusions quite thoroughly. Later his time in the government let him see the type of isolated, out of touch, inbred loons who where issuing those insane orders from safe atop the ivory tower that was Centauri Prime.

Franklin on the other hand was by all accounts an old career soldier, a professional who spent most of his life in conflicts that were from his POV down in the foxholes, pretty cleat cut; aliens attacking humans = kill all aliens.

Have you seen the map of the B5 'verse It's not as detailed as the Star Trek map, but it's still very cool.

Really? It seems like an overwrought and under-thought mess to me.