Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[OmahaStar]

Evil Dead - You are correct. Today is the start of the last week of season 1, with B2, QoM, and Chrysalis.

Eyes - A clip show without the clips. This episode in many ways tried to be The Drumhead of B5, but didn't work as well for me. It is a chance, I guess, for new viewers to get caught up with who is who and what's come before, in that everything we've been through is reviewed for us in dialogue.

Big whoop.

I really only liked two things about this episode. First, seeing Jeffery Combs as Harriman Gray, several months before his first appearance on DS9. He's a great actor, so thats always nice.

Second, seeing Susan's dream about her mother. We've met her father, now we get to meet her mother.

I *so* didn't like the dialogue given to the Colonel. If he said "Mister" one more time, I would have probably thrown up. Way too over the top, and didn't fit the established universe at all.

He was nuts.

1/5 stars.

 

[OmahaStar]

Legacies

Neroonie's favorite character was introduced in this episode ... I wonder who it could be? lol ...

This was one of the best of the first season, in my opinion. We get to meet a new recurring character, Neroon. We get to find out what happens when someone shows Psi talents off-world, and what might be the beginnings of a new friendship.

In short, I *love* this episode. 4.5/5 (took a .5 off for no Jane appearance. But she'll be coming up again in a few episodes)

 

[OmahaStar]

A Voice in the Wilderness

I watched this as originally intended - a "2 hour movie" ... As is covered on the Lurker's Guide, a bunch of money was promised to the B5 production team for a movie that could be possibly released either on tv or in theaters, and A Voice in the Wilderness was created to fill that. As things turned out, the money never came, and the producers were basically screwed. But it became a damned good 2-parter anyway.

Additionally, as you may note, part 2 ran a little long, and part 1 a little short, so they had to re-edit it slightly. Part 1 was originally supposed to end on Varn saying that if they don't help, they'll all die, while still down on the planet. With the new edit, it ends on Garibaldi going "What the hell?" ... Its a silly place to end it, when you see the rest of the line is "it's a heavy cruiser" blah blah ... but that's ok.

Draal is a major delight. <font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>It's a shame we don't get to see this actor reprise the character, but that's a subject for a later time</pre><hr /> And finally having Lise appear onscreen was a joy as well. She is one of my favorite recurring characters, mainly because every time we see her, she tortures Garibaldi in some way. Not in a bad or menacing way, but just because that's who she is.

I couldn't help it ... While Sinclair and Susan were down there exploring, I kept looking for you-know-who ... and remembering a certain scene coming up in a year or so that ties it all together ... along with the next episode, which is bittersweet.

That's three episodes in a row without G'Kar ... I need my G'Kar fix. Yeah I know he's got some great stuff coming up, but still ...

These episodes work, whether as one movie or two seperate episodes, and I give it a 5/5, even missing Jane.

Next up, perhaps the best episode of the season. Certainly one of my top 10 of the series.

 

[OmahaStar]

Babylon Squared

Woah, Nelly ... One of the best. Not just of the season, but of the series. Every minute of this episode is firmly located in Arc territory, and while we miss out on some of the regulars (Londo, G'Kar, their aides, Lennier, etc), we get to meet Major Krantz ... and Zathras.

Watching this episode was more painful for me than I thought it would be.

On the wall at the head of my bed, I have, among other pictures, a large picture, titled "Supporting the Present, Building the Future". It was done in 2002, as a way to raise funds for the victims of 9/11. There were 10 actors, from Babylon 5, Crusade, and Enterprise, who came together and posed for this picture and then autographed it, in a limited number ... 1000 were made. The 10 actors got #1-10, and I have #11 of that series, the first one available to to public.

In the top, left forern of that picture is Tim Choate, who plays Zathras in this episode. Tim died in September, 2004, in a motorcycle accident on his way to work, a play he had been in.

I see that picture every day, just as I see the "Babylon 5 Bird" picture hanging in the hallway, but this is the first time since his death that I've seen any of the episodes he appeared in.

And seeing him brought it all back, just how many we've lost already. Richard, Andreas, Tim ... several guest stars as well. And it makes me realize that, even if we do get some new Babylon 5 project, it will never be the same. There will never be another Dr. Franklin, or G'Kar, or Zathras.

And I cannot imagine Babylon 5 without them.

Yes, I know there was a Star Trek series with a new cast, set farther along into the future, but B5 is not Star Trek. It never was. It was about the station, and about the characters. The characters told the story. *depressed*

I suppose I should get back to the episode.

For Delenn's part, she is recalled to the Grey Council (yes, Grey, not Gray). They have chosen to elect her to lead the council, just as her mentor, Dukhat, led them. She would be elevated above the Council, and a new 9th would take her place, with someone else sent to B5.

In the thousand years since Valen constructed the first Grey Council, no one has ever refused. Delenn does. And her refusal to do so pissed off certain members of the Council, and this will have repercussions (sp?) to come for a few years, even.

In another bit about Delenn, skipping to the end of the episode, with the flash forward kinda thing ... There's a scene with older Sinclair taking off his helmet. As we saw in the original full frame version, Delenn's hand is touching Sinclair, and we can hear her voice. Now that I'm watching it in widescreen, look all the way over to the left, and you can see her nose and mouth. They're very careful not to show more than that.

One bit that's never been clarified, to my knowledge, is Sinclair's jump ... I had written it off as being a jump to some future fall of B5, but then as I'm watching this, something about the last episode seemed to click ... This might be a flash back to some time when Garibaldi and Sinclair were on Mars. How else to explain the white light on the outside when the invaders bust through the door? It's certainly not on a space station.

Good to see Lise ... again. Even if she's still in bitchy mode.

This episode gets a 5/5.

I'm debating what to watch next, though .. I might do Quality of Mercy, or I may skip to you-know-what from season you-know-which, with the return of you-know-who ...

 

[Lindley]

OmahaStar said:
One bit that's never been clarified, to my knowledge, is Sinclair's jump ... I had written it off as being a jump to some future fall of B5, but then as I'm watching this, something about the last episode seemed to click ... This might be a flash back to some time when Garibaldi and Sinclair were on Mars. How else to explain the white light on the outside when the invaders bust through the door? It's certainly not on a space station.

You-know-which episode suggests it does take place on B5, but it's vague enough that you can go with an alternate interpretation if you wish.

 

[OmahaStar]

Quality of Mercy

Another thing I had forgotten was that this was the episode which introduced Virini, who is shown here as just a Centauri Senator ... He will become a recurring character, one we will all love and adore ...

June Lockhart guests as Dr. Rosen, a dying doctor who has made it her life's work to help cure the helpless. She does so through the use of an Alien Healing Device, which drains the life energy of one person, and heals another with it. It was used as a means of execution by the alien race, but it is able to take a small amount at a time, just enough to heal.

It is another missed opportunity that Lennier and Dr. Rosen never shared any screen time. Bill Mumy and June Lockhart, as you probably know, were series stars in "Lost in Space" in the 1960s. It's kind of ok, though, since in one scene, you'll notice a Human redhead rush by in the background as Dr. Rosen is in the foreground ... So they do share screentime, though it got by jms.

There are some bits that don't work as well as others, but overall 4/5

 

[PKTrekGirl]

A Voice in the Wilderness I & II:

Well, these episodes are where we really start getting into what I call the 'meat' of Babylon 5. From here on out, things get more and more interesting.

We discover the resources on the planet beneath - the giant machine. And we meet Drahl, who I happen to really like as a character!

Of course, Londo is quite involved in these episodes - he actually is a bit of a hero, in fact! Interesting, considering where we will be with his character by this time in season 2.

I did get a really big kick out of Londo flying that shuttle. "If I were a landing thruster, where would I be?"

But IMO, the Londo Line of the Episode:

"Physics tells us that for every action, there must be an equal and opposite REaction. They hate us, we hate them, they hate us back. And so, here we are: Victims of mathematics."

Excellent!

Overall, a very strong two-parter. For sure one of the better episodes we have seen, up until this point.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Babylon Squared:

Okay, newbies! Hang on to your hats!

And yes....you are SUPPOSED to be confused about this episode at this point.

And you are supposed to STAY confused about this episode...all the way thru to the end of season 3. At which point, it will make alot more sense. Maybe.

However, keep this episode in mind - maybe even rewatch it toward the end of season 3 (we'll tell you when). Because it is a critical episode. Especially for....um.....I'm not gonna tell ya!

Hehehehehe......

Anyway, so at this point, we discover that Babylon 4 still exists. It is just being co-opted...for a great war...which at this point, we don't know anything about.

Actually, *no one* in this episode knows anything about what is going on...except for Zathras.

But remember mysterious 'Sinclair's' last words: "I tried. I tried to warn them. But it all happened. Just the way I remembered it."



Meanwhile, the B plot (if you want to call it that, cus this part is just as critical to the story); Delenn and the Gray Council; is less confusing...but almost as mysterious.

So positive that she is supposed to stay on Babylon 5 that she is willing to give up the opportunity to lead the entire Minbari people???

This B5 gig must be a pretty important calling.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Lindley said:

OmahaStar said:
One bit that's never been clarified, to my knowledge, is Sinclair's jump ... I had written it off as being a jump to some future fall of B5, but then as I'm watching this, something about the last episode seemed to click ... This might be a flash back to some time when Garibaldi and Sinclair were on Mars. How else to explain the white light on the outside when the invaders bust through the door? It's certainly not on a space station.

You-know-which episode suggests it does take place on B5, but it's vague enough that you can go with an alternate interpretation if you wish.

Yeah...I thought this too.

I think the give-away for me is Garabaldi's riot gear - I think we see this again later on...at sort of a key moment. And I always assumed this jump related to that.

Although I'm not exactly sure why they inserted it here, cus it doesn't have anything to do with the 'other' events that are taking place during Babylon Squared....

 

[The Evil Dead]

^

Spoiler: Minor spoiler regarding post-Babylon Squared B5 episodes - Don't read unless you've viewed the entire series

Are you refering to Severed Dreams? I've always been confused by the jumps in Babylon Squared. I don't think they sync up with later episodes. I'm sure it has to do with Michael O'Hare's departure. I'd love to know the truth regarding how Babylon Squared was meant to fit into the timeline at the time it aired. I hear different things all the time, all 'straight from the mouth of JMS'

My apologises if I messed up this spoiler code in someway.

 

[Lindley]

I would suggest putting a bit more thought into what you enter in the "About" section of the spoiler (is it major or minor, how is it relevant to the discussion at hand, etc), but otherwise you got it right.

 

[OmahaStar]

The Evil Dead said:
^

Spoiler: Regarding future Babylon 5 episodes

Are you refering to Severed Dreams? I've always been confused by the jumps in Babylon Squared. I don't think they sync up with later episodes. I'm sure it has to do with Michael O'Hare's departure. I'd love to know the truth regarding how Babylon Squared was meant to fit into the timeline at the time it aired. I hear different things all the time, all 'straight from the mouth of JMS'

My apologises if I messed up this spoiler code in someway.

Let's see ...

Spoiler: stuff here

War Without End was supposed to be the series finale. It still would have been 20 years into the future, but would have involved Sinclair and his wife, Delenn, and crew, going back in time. There would not have been a Sheridan character. Zathras would definately have been in there. Tim Choate, in an interview in the B5 magazine, said that when he was hired for Zathras, he was told the character would be brought back, but not for another 4 years, for the series finale. He also talked about making the clicking noises with his prostetics, etc.

 

[Llanita]

Um, this is off-topic but I was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem? For some reason, the tables on this particular thread have stretched and I have to sidescroll, yet I can't see any pics or anything that would have caused this problem.
Anyone else having the same prob or can help? Sorry to bother!

 

[The Evil Dead]

^
Yeah, it's stretched for me too. I'm pretty sure either OmahaStar or myself screwed up our spoiler code.

I looked at mine to try and edit it, but I can't figure it out.

EDIT: I tried removing all the spoiler code from my post and the thread was still stretched, so for once, I didn't mess up!

 

[OmahaStar]

Fixed it.

 

[Lindley]

Not entirely. The spoiler is visible.

 

[OmahaStar]

Lindley said:
Not entirely. The spoiler is visible.

You were saying?

 

[Jan]

The Evil Dead said:
^

Spoiler: Minor spoiler regarding post-Babylon Squared B5 episodes - Don't read unless you've viewed the entire series

Are you refering to Severed Dreams? I've always been confused by the jumps in Babylon Squared. I don't think they sync up with later episodes. I'm sure it has to do with Michael O'Hare's departure. I'd love to know the truth regarding how Babylon Squared was meant to fit into the timeline at the time it aired. I hear different things all the time, all 'straight from the mouth of JMS'

Well...for those who aren't reading the script books, I can offer this tidbit. For more, buy the script books. (This is from Volume 2):

Spoiler: If you really want to get confused by "Babylon Squared" and you've seen WWE:

The first scene in which we see Zathras goes to great lengths to avoid being specific in the timeline because of the need, mentioned earlier, to layer in alternate possibilities in the event of unforeseen changes between "Babylon Squared" and "War Without End." Zathras' babbling about dates was sufficiently broad that it could mean they could be pulling the station backward in time...or that they were bringing it /forward/.

What's become more and more obvious from the books is that there were *many* paths that would lead to where JMS wanted to go.

Jan

 

[Kira Nerys]

BABYLON SQUARED I like the overall arc of Sinclair and the furthering tieing of him to the minbari as for Delenn's coming to the grey council and rebuffing of leadersip role the way she stood up for her beliefs knowing that she could be removed is telling on her character and person.One of the best .Next up the Quality of mercy after I watch it that is.

 

[aladinsane]

"Babylon Squared"--I remember hating Zathras the first time I saw this episode, but this time I rather liked him. "Great war, but great hope for peace," he said referring to B4 and how it was needed to have a chance at winning the war. A dark but hopeful prognostication. There is so much mystery woven into this episode. Really well done. The Delenn story works as well. It's pleasantly surprising to see someone offered a tremendous amount of power, but turn it down for the right reasons. This shows how Delenn really lives by her faith and doesn't compromise her convictions/beliefs for anything. A wonderful episode.

"Quality of Mercy"--It was cool seeing Dr. Franklin running the free clinic. Like I mentioned about Delenn above, Franklin really practices what he preaches. The mind-wipe is interesting, and the Lenier/Londo moments are a lot of fun. Lenier sure is well trained in self-defense for a member of the religious caste. An enjoyable episode, but not a great one. The ancient healing device didn't do anything for me--sci-fi in general has too many objects/devices of power that can't be explained.

"Chrysalis"--Things really pick up here. We have the "sick" vice president staying behind while the Pres. is killed. We get Londo getting in bed with Morden. Is Londo so abmitious he blindly accepts Morden's help? I'm already missing the Londo who helped Delenn and Draal get to Epsilon 3 and takes Lenier to a strip club. Sector 37--"And so it begins." It's been so hard keeping season two closed after watching this episode. Great stuff again. This first season really finished strong. I do have one question. What's Delenn's promise to the Vorlons?