Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[Orac Zen]

Grey 17 is Missing

So, a whole level of the station is suddenly found after all these years. It was built, then somehow just "vanished". Uh huh. Very believable. I'm completely convinced. And it's home to yet another group of outcast loonies. Who somehow survive without anyone ever noticing them. Suuuuuuuure.

The whole Grey 17 plot is as bad as B5 ever got. Garibaldi, the head of security, wanders off to investigate the anomaly without backup. He should have blown his fingers off with that particular method of firing the bullets. And don't get me started on the Zarg. Yeesh. Supposedly "one of the most dangerous aliens in the whole sector", yet it moves at a speed a snail could easily exceed while constantly flapping its arms like it's trying to take flight and screaming like there's no tomorrow. Dangerous? Try laughable. Any conscious and mobile person would have no trouble getting out of its way. A less "perfect form of the universe" is difficult to imagine.

Thankfully the other plot points are much better than that crap. Franklin's still feeling sorry for himself but at least he provides the data Ivanova requires. Quite logically, Delenn becomes head of the Rangers, although her tendency to always see the best in people isn't the most useful trait in a leader. Good thing Lennier points out the flaw in that:

"Unhappy? Delenn, [Neroon]'s planning to kill you!"
"That is one interpretation."
"He said he would use any and all means necessary. I respectfully suggest that he intends to go far beyond harsh language."

He does better than that later in the episode: "You cherish life. Life is your goal. But for the greater part to live, some must die, or be harmed in its defence – and yours. There is no other way." He's absolutely right – Delenn doesn't grasp that reality, or more likely doesn't want to. Yet.

Sheridan and Delenn have another of their quiet conversations. Best of all, Neroon finally starts to grow a brain. Marcus chose a rather painful way of speeding the process along but it serves well enough as further proof that the character is the self-sacrificing type....

A very, very odd episode – some very good stuff, and a subplot that represents about the lowest low the series achieved.

 

[OmahaStar]

Season 3 Week 6

And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place

Oh, boy. Another big one, hiding in the form of a little one.

Londo still believes Lord Refa murdered his only love, Adira Tyree (yes, yes, he's been married 4 times, and still is to Lady Timov, but his only love was Adira). And Refa is making a pest of himself. As usual.

With assistance from G'Kar (now, that also means the release of 2,000 Narn prisoners, and documents proving Refa was behind the attack on Narn that began the most recent war), Londo positions Refa into an inescapible situation on Narn. Refa is beaten to death. Bye bye bad-accent guy.

While all that's going on, there are several religious men coming together on Babylon 5, all old associates of Brother Theo. They have brought information from Earth - including news that the fight against Clarke is still waging there.

During one ceremony attended by Delenn and Sheridan, a choir sings the song "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place", which is played against both that and the death of Refa. It's unsettling having this happy, joyfull music playing while this guy's getting his lights knocked out. That's on purpose, though.

A note about the singer here. She's played by Marva Hicks, whom you may remember as Tuvok's wife, T'Pel, on Voyager.

Also guest starring are Erick Avari (Kasuuf from StarGate) and Wayne Alexander (last seen as Sebastian, but will soon be seen as his most famous B5 character).

This episode was the last time we'll have visits from Lord Refa or Brother Theo, barring possible flashbacks.

4/5

 

[Orac Zen]

Re: Season 3 Week 6

And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place

Wow.

Mollari decides to deal with one of his problems. In typical Mollari fashion he uses someone – in this case, Vir – to achieve his goal. Effective, but repellent. And good riddance to Refa, in one of the more surreal scenes in the series. Very pragmatic of G'Kar – "Leave his face and head intact. They will be needed later for identification." (One minor quibble: It's convenient that everyone stands in just the right place for the Mollari hologram to face them when he's speaking to them. )

Sheridan, with a bit of help, has a revelation. As revelations go it's not very revelatory – to the viewer, anyway. By the end of the episode he's fully on board with the rest of us – and about time, too.

An episode where not much seems to happen, but in fact quite a lot happens. Good stuff. :thumbsup:

Z minus 10 days

 

[Autobot]

Re: B5

Ok here are my last two reviews from week prior, I still haven't seen last week's yet.

A LATE DELIVERY FROM AVALON

A visitor to Babylon 5 believes he is King Arthur, while Garibaldi balks at the Post Office fees.

Enjoyable. Michael York (it’s Basil Exposition!) was fun, and his relationship with G’Kar was very fitting and the best part of the episode. “…And they made a very agreeable thump.” Ha!

Trek Connections:
- This is one of 14 episodes of B5 directed by Mike Vejar. He also directed 1 ep of TNG, 13 eps of VOY, and 10 eps of ENT.
-Michael Kagan portrayed the character of Emmett Farquaha, and apparently he was in the VOY episode “Q2” as ‘Alien Commander’.


SHIP OF TEARS

Bester asks for B5’s help in catching a ship of “weapons parts”, which turn out to be non-Psi Corps telepaths. The Shadows are using them to power their ships.

Interesting episode, it’s always fun when Bester’s around. Although, when we first see him in the Starfury and with that helmet on, I was instantly reminded of, “Botany Bay? Botany Bay!? Oh, no!”

So there’s a new “war room” or something for Sheridan's army against the Shadows, very cool. G’Kar gets in on it, while warning “Do not thump the book of J’Quon (sp).”

Trek connections:
- Walter Koenig played “Russian Creature” in a recurring role on TOS.

 

[Orac Zen]

Re: B5

Shadow Dancing

Z minus 7 days

Wow.

It's difficult to discuss something this amazing. I tend to just sit back and enjoy the way events unfold as naturally as if they were actually happening, the small character moments that build on what we've seen in the past, and the buildup to the final extraordinary moment when a character returns from the "dead".

One thing worthy of mention: The explanation of Sheridan's vision from "All Alone in the Night". It works pretty well. And who is "the man in between"...?

"Hello. You must be Delenn."

Completely useless random thought: Knowing what she saw in "War Without End", if I were Delenn I'd have thrown that damned snowglobe straight out the nearest airlock.

Fantastic episode.

Z minus 2 days

 

[Orac Zen]

Re: B5

Z'ha'dum

Wow.

So...Anna's not dead after all, and presents a reasonably compelling argument for Sheridan to go to Z'ha'dum – just as Kosh had foretold – and hear the other side of the story. Being Sheridan, he has a plan, which he executes...but just as Kosh said, he isn't there. But the part of him that Lyta picked up in "Walkabout" gives a timely piece of advice. Sheridan obeys, the day is saved...and the Shadows take someone along when they leave.

G'Kar's voiceover at the end is one of the most chilling things in the series. Andreas Katsulas was one of those actors who could have made a telephone directory sound like Shakespeare. Given material of that quality to work with... Wow.

"Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope...the death of dreams." What else has died here?

Wow. Just wow. There's nothing else to say about one of the best cliffhangers in existence.

 

[OmahaStar]

Season 3 Week 6

Shadow Dancing

Gods, finally, someone beat the shit out of Franklin. Mr. Goody-two-shoes wandered in where he didn't belong, again. Mr. High-and-mighty-I'm-superior-to-you came along and what happened? Nobody listened. Even the person he was trying to "save" ... And the thugs kicked the shit out of him, leaving him for dead.

His double finally appears. The one he was searching for, to "meet himself" ... And he *really* doesn't like himself. I like the double Franklin much more than the normal one. He's got personality, spunk, charisma, everything the real Franklin lacks. Fortunately, he'll be taking on some of his double's personality as time goes on.

Nearly dead, he is able to make it to safety, getting in to MedLab, where they patch him up just fine. He's baaaack.

In the "a" plot, Delenn and Sheridan con several of the League worlds into giving them ships to fight the Shadows. Sheridan sends Ivanova and Marcus on a suicide mission (thank Valen they got out ok!). They lose many ships, but are able to kill a good many Shadow ships.

But at what cost?

Arriving home, Delenn plans to spend the night with Sheridan ... It's Minbari tradition. When two become close, as they have, the female watches the male sleep. As he sleeps, his true face is revealed. If she approves of this true face, they get hitched. If she doesn't, it ends and they never see each other again. (and if the male tries to force a fourth night, the female has the right to cut off his .. well, you know)

As John is sleeping, Delenn snoops about his quarters, finding a snowglobe. The same globe she saw in her flash in time just recently.

And then the door opens. Sheridan's dead wife, Anna, appears. And in true Zombie-movie style, she's pissed.

5/5

 

[OmahaStar]

Re: Season 3 Week 6

Z'Ha'Dum

Now that is how you do a season finale!

Garibaldi's missing. Sheridan is dead. (yes, he did die, just as Kosh told him he would!) Anna is dead, again. Delenn lied to Sheridan about the possibility Anna was still alive, and that drove a wedge between them, causing him to leave her.

And G'Kar gives the most stirring voice over to date.

After this, nothing will be the same again.

5/5

 

[OmahaStar]

Season 4 Week 1

Hour of the Wolf

Once again, an episode where there is so much going on, there is no main "a" plot. There's 20 of them.

Sheridan is presumed dead. Susan and Delenn aren't sleeping. Delenn isn't eating. Garibaldi is missing, and nobody is looking for him. They're all concentrating on Sheridan.

The forces Sheridan pulled together have ripped themselves apart in his absence.

Londo finally meets the adult Emperor Cartagia. And he's nuttier than a fruitcake. He has given the Shadows an island to use as a base of operations, in exchange for them elevating him to godhood. Yes, godhood.

I told you he's nutty.

Morden is more dead than alive. But that's not much of a change, now is it?

Londo calls Vir to the homeworld. Together, they must kill Cartagia. But with all the listening devices planted in the Palace, does Cartagia already know of Londo's plan?

The 3 Power Chicks - Susan, Delenn, and Lyta - travel to Z'Ha'Dum in search of Sheridan. They don't find him. In fact, at the end of the episode, Susan has given up hope, declairing Sheridan dead.

But the question remains: Whatever happened to Mr. Garibaldi?

5/5

 

[OmahaStar]

Re: Season 4 Week 1

I came in here to post about the next 3 episodes, up through Falling Toward Apotheosis, since I've seen the disc this weekend, and already posted about Hour of the Wolf.

And then I looked up the page. There are only two others left, Autobot and Orac Zen. Even then, one is behind.

Other than this tiny core group, the interest seems to be gone. She who started this is no longer even posting, hasn't done so for weeks.

So. Why continue? I'll keep going on my own, but as far as this thread goes, I've dominated it, for all intentents and purposes. Reviews of 67 episodes plus the pilot. Most everyone else dropped out before the first season even completed. And other than Auto and Orac, it's dead.

It was a good idea. I'm not sure what killed it.

 

[chrisspringob]

Re: Season 4 Week 1

Well, I haven't been rewatching the series (or posting about it here), but I have been lurking to read Autobot's posts, simply because I love reading newbies' reactions to the show. It allows me to look at things through newbie eyes again. So I'm in favor of Autobot continuing to review every episode (either here or in another thread), assuming that he wants to continue.

 

[Lindley]

Re: Season 4 Week 1

OmahaStar said:

It was a good idea. I'm not sure what killed it.

I am. Varying watching speeds.

A few people thought we were going too fast, while the rest of us finished the series weeks ago. It's not that interesting to post reviews of episodes when they aren't fresh in your mind.

A better approach would have been, I suspect, to let people post reviews at any pace they like....simply spoiler-coding stuff with indications of which episode was being reviewed. (Of course, since spoiler code doesn't like hard returns, this would have made for lots of single-paragraph reviews. But that's workable.)

 

[Mr. Fergy]

This looks like fun, count me in.....

 

[Trubinator]

Evil Twin said:
Wow, only 15 minutes into "The Gathering" and the Shadows have already infiltrated the station! They work fast! Gotta love it.

Rofl!

 

[Autobot]

Wow I checked in on the forum today to see how far behind I am, and disappointed to see it's come to a screeching halt. It's too bad we couldn't keep this going I haven't been able to watch any eps for a month until today, when I watched Walkabout, and have 4 eps left in the 3rd season. Life, and summertime , sometimes takes precedence. I'm going to keep going when I get a chance to. Damn I just ordered Superman the Animated Series on DVD too...

 

[NCC1701]

I don't know about you people, but I'm still following the schedule - I watched disc 3 at the start of the week. I intend to keep going at one disc per week until the end of season 5.

 

[BigFoot]

Well, even if some of us aren't on schedule (like me, stupid work lol) it doesn't me we all can't post some thoughts on the episodes as we watch the show.

 

[Autobot]

Ok, I'll keep posting as I go through them. I've finished S3 now! Here we go:

INTERLUDES & EXAMINATIONS

Londo prepares for Lady Indira’s return, while Sheridan pleads for Kosh to get involved in the fight.

This was another sold piece in the puzzle. Loved Sheridan’s impassioned speech to Kosh to get involved, all if it was fantastic. I also enjoyed Sheridan’s conversation with his “father” which was really Kosh in his dream.

I was glad they had a flashback for Indira, sometimes it’s easy to forget.

Oh Morden, what a manipulator! Blaming Refa for Indira’s death, and then blaming Londo for Morden’s not knowing about the rising tension between Refa and Londo.

And wow, Dr. Franklin resigns… what will happen next for him?

To note: Rance Howard returns as Sheridan’s father, after having previously appeared in “Severed Dreams” earlier in the season.

Trek connections:
Jesus Salvador Trevino, director, has directed 3 episodes of DS9 and 5 episodes of VOY.


WAR WITHOUT END, PARTS I & II

Oh, THAT’S the deal with Babylon 4.

In a fantastic conclusion to the 1st season’s “Babylon Squared” (among others), we finally find out what Draal, the Big Machine, Zathras, and Babylon 4 are all about. This was a superb two-parter, loved every minute of it. It actually kind of felt a little out of place in the middle of everything with the Shadow war and all, but no complaint here. I watched both episodes twice to make sure I understood all the time shifts, and how they fit in with each other.

Items I noted while watching this episode:
-I do believe this is the first time we’ve seen the planet Minbar.
-How did Delenn get HER note? Sinclair’s waited 900 years in a temple.
-The intercutting with footage from Babylon Squared was seamless, SO well done.
-Sinclair. Aka Entil’Zha. Aka Valen. Aka The One. Aka Ranger One. Phew tough to get all those straight! Not sure why he was known by the Minbar as Entil’Zha. edit: figured it out a few episodes later...

Again played by actor Tim Choate, who previously played the role in “Babylon Squared”, I loved Zathras! Like when Sheridan’s time ‘anchor’ is broken, “Zathras can never have anything nice.” And when he’s speaking with Ivanova, speaking in such grand terms about life and time, “and this… wrong tool. Never use this.” Might have been improvised?

Another great line, by Sheridan: “Delenn, the question of who stole Babylon 4 is the biggest mystery of the last decade. Now you’re telling me it was ME?…”

So if by some reason they failed, the Shadows attack in a few days and B5 is destroyed. In that alternate timeline, Sinclair is fighting alongside Garibaldi? Not a nit, but just seems odd. Makes more sense given if Sinclair was the commander of the station as was originally planned when Babylon Squared aired, but just kind of an odd fit now that Sheridan’s the commander.

Ok I have problems with Ivanova’s acting in her video plea from the future, especially when she so dramatically covers her eyes with her arm… ay yi yi. BUT, I noticed in Part II when they showed this in the “Last Time on Babylon 5” bit, there was actually snowy interference over the video. Maybe this was a DVD error and the snow should have been overtop of the video in part one? It DID look better with the snowy interference, rather than just Ivanova at the camera.

In Part two… didn’t understand why Delenn was in the suit. Seemed perfectly logical with Sinclair and Sheridan, but then Delenn all of a sudden… where was she, and what was she doing?

The first appearance of Valen to the Minbari… and there are two Vorlons floating above him? When were Vorlons on the station, and why are they there? You can see two encounter suits underneath the “angel” visions.

And Centauri Prime. It’s been 17 years, and either a) fires are still burning from Shadow attacks, or b) Centauri today is not a happy place because the Shadows or their agents still exist on their planet today. I gather it’s the latter.

Trek connections:
-This is one of 14 episodes of B5 directed by Mike Vejar. He also directed 1 ep of TNG, 13 eps of VOY, and 10 eps of ENT.
-Time Winters played the character of Rathenn; he played one of the first Cardassians, Glinn Daro, in TNG’s “The Wounded.”


WALKABOUT

Franklin finds himself attracked to a singer in down below, Kosh’s replacement arrives on the station, and Lyta Alexander helps find out if the Shadows’ ships have a telepathic weakness.

Love stories are always difficult to do in one episode, convincing us that it all happens so quickly. Interesting to see that the doctor is still trying to fix things, trying to help. Moreso liked the storyline of Lyta and the Minbari telepaths being able to stop the Shadows’ ships.

“And so it begins.” -- voice of Kosh

Trek connections: none


GREY 17 IS MISSING

Garibaldi is trapped with a cult on an unknown level of the station, and Delenn is chosen to lead the Rangers.

Didn’t really like this episode too much. While Robert England’s character was very odd, in a fun way, I found it way too unlikely that some ruthless guy in a rubber monster suit was living on level 17 at the same time as the cult members.

And, OHHH now I see why Sinclair’s Minbari name was Entil’Zha. It’s a title for head of the Rangers.

Trek connections:
- John Vickery returns as Neroon, who has portrayed Orak in Enterprise’s “Judgement”, Gul Rusot in three episodes of DS9, and Counselor Hagan in TNG’s “Night Terrors”.


AND THE ROCK CRIED OUT, NO HIDING PLACE

Londo tries to entrap G’Kar to gain status with the Emperor.

Well… I fell asleep watching this episode. Granted it was fairly late, but it didn’t really hold my interest. I did wonder whether the Minister actually believed Londo or not at the end. And the overlapping of the gospel music with Refa’s attempted escape was slightly humourous, but I didn’t really like the mix.

Trek connections:
-Marva Hicks played the singer at the end of the episode. She was in three episodes of VOY as T’Pel: “Persistence of Vision”, “Bliss”, and “Body of Soul”.
-Erick Avari portays Rabbi Meyers here, who you may remember from DS9’s “Destiny” as Vedek Yarka, who told of the three vipers and other prophecies. He also was in TNG’s “Unification, Part I” as B’Ijik and on ENT’s “Terra Nova” as Jamin. He has also been in many other movies and tv shows like Daredevil (Elektra’s father) and SG-1 (Kasuf in three episodes).
-Reverend Will Dexter, portrayed by Mel Winkler, played Jack Hayes in VOY’s “The 37’s”.


SHADOW DANCING

We attack the Shadows when they don’t know we’re coming, and Dr. Franklin is injured on his walkabout.

Interesting to cast Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Boxleitner’s real-life wife, as Anna Sheridan! I enjoyed Franklin’s discussions with himself. Although, it was very particularly clear that the special effects shots are represented on video while other shots are on film. When Franklin is alone, it’s film; when they’re composited together, the quality is lessened and not as sharp.

I had forgotten about Marcus’s feelings toward Ivanova, they haven’t touched on that for a while.

Now, onto Z’Ha’Dum…

Trek connections: episode directed by Kim Friedman, who also directed 7 episodes of DS9 and 4 1st-season episodes of VOY.


Z’HA’DUM

Anna Sheridan convinces Captain Sheridan to come to Z’Ha’Dum.

Wow, what a great season-ender. I thought all of Sheridan’s parts were acted superbly, with the emotion and intensity that someone like him would be going through upon seeing the return of his wife after presuming she had been dead for five years.

Sheridan and Delenn’s relationship seems more to be about mutual respect and flirting up to now. Up until this episode, they hadn’t shared “I Love You”s, had only kissed, what, twice? And then Sheridan reveals that he was planning a life for them together? Seems far-fetched to me; the relationship hadn’t reached a point where that seems realistic.

Wow, Sheridan must have gone though SOME fight between scenes. He shoots a Shadow beast, and then the next scene he’s all bloodied and has a torn uniform! I wonder if maybe there was a mob of teen girls inbetween the room with the others, and the precipice! OR, maybe the Shadows ARE boy-hungry teen girls!

It’s too bad that it wasn’t shown whether Londo took Morden’s associate’s advice by leaving the station quickly… maybe this will be followed up in the S4 premiere.

I listened to the commentary after watching the episode, and it was interesting that JMS thought it was clear what Sheridan was doing when he gave the list of items for Garibaldi to follow up on. When I was watching the episode, Sheridan seemed a little ‘off’ so I thought perhaps a shapeshifter had taken the form of Anna, and was now impersonating John too. But, when he and Anna bumped into Garibaldi they did indeed ‘talk about the weather’, so that didn’t fit after all.

Onto Season 4! I wonder who does the opening narration in this next season…

Trek connections:
-Jeff Corey, ‘Justin’ in this episode, was the head of the cloud city in TOS’s “The Cloud Minders”. Funny, 30 years later and he still looks the same…

 

[Darth_Pazuzu]

Okay now...Completely apropos of nothing, here's the worst sci-fi/rock music joke in the universe:

What's the name of the famous Minbari warrior who took the Millenium Falcon back in time 1,000 years to planet Earth, where he became a famous heavy metal guitarist?



















Give up?



















EDDIE HAN VALEN!!

 

[Katrine]

I found this way too late to join, but what happened? How come there are no more posts? I've been trying to lurk, but there is nothing to lurk at! I loaned out my boexes of B5 tapes so I can't pick up & start watching. I remember what happened in some episodes by the name but without watching, I can't really be much of a contributor, sorry.