Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[OmahaStar]

Chrysalis

"Boom. Boom boom boom. Boom."

Yeah, Susan said it best, I think. Everything comes to a head in this episode, and there are so many plot threads dangling around, it's impossible to pick one main thread that defines this episode.

The President is dead. He was on a goodwill tour with the Vice President. The VP left the ship, saying he was ill, and the ship blew up shortly afterwards. Morgan Clarke is now the President.

Garibaldi, as we'd figured before, has lots of spies ... lurkers who spy for him, giving him information when needed. One of those dies in this episode.

Garibaldi's aide shoots him in the back. At the end of this episode, he is hanging on for dear life in medbay.

Sinclair and Catherine Sakai are now engaged. (*cry*) They asked Susan and Garibaldi to be in the wedding party.

Delenn has entered some kind of cacoon, after seeing Kosh out of his encounter suit. Whatever apperance Kosh has, he's got wings. Does he drink Red Bull, perhaps? *ducking*

Delenn uses the Triluminary given to her in "Babylon Squared" ... Great bit of continuity (although, since this episode was filmed about 2 months before that one.... lol)

10,000 Narns have been killed by Morden's associates, on Londo's behalf. Londo is feeling guilty about it, while at the same time, his "star is rising" back home.

5/5 stars ... Perfect episode.

 

[Kira Nerys]

Quality of mercy Franklin practices what he preaches and holds to his beliefs and of course the alien machine will be seen again.Seeing the look on Lenniers face when the dancer when she drops her clothes was kind of funny showing how naive the character was at that point.Londo and Lennier were just laugh out loud of funny at times throughout the entire episode.In sharp contrast to the A storyline .

 

[Kira Nerys]

Just finished watching Chysalis and all I can say is WOW I havent watched B5 in a while and it was like seeing the show for the first time again.All the threads that had been going from Midnight are there leading to this .Just one of the best seasons and season enders .B5 season one is my all time fav of Babylon 5 and seeing Chrsyalis again just reforced it.I will say it again Micheal O'Hare was awesome as Sinclair and I missed him in season two.

To Lianta At the end of the season MOH leaves there is a three part comic that deals with his character called In darkness find me and the book To dream in the city of sorrows.The former I would read after The COming of the shadows and the latter perhaphs after WW 2.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

*Grumble, grumble....stupid new board keeps eating my posts.


Well I HAD a nice long review for Quality of Mercy done...but since this stupid board ate the doggone thing, and I have a life outside of posting posts that don't take , I'll only provide the highlights, at this point.

The main storyline was about Franklin and the healing machine. Good story...and we will certainly see the healing machine again...although not for a while.

The "B" plot was about Londo and Lennier - "Londo and Lennier's Excellent MISadventure". I'm not gonna go back to my DVDs to find my "Londo Line of the Episode" again cus if I do, the board will decide I've waited too long and eat another post. But suffice it to say that really, this whole storyline was entertaining. Particularly the part when Londo and Lennier were sitting in Sinclair's office after the fight, and Lennier took the blame. Sinclair didn't believe it for a moment...but it was classic, I thought!

 

[romulus]

Babylon Squared:

I had thought this was another episode relating to B4 but it was still good. When I fist saw what I at first thought was B4's commander I was like this way to panicky for a commander. Latter I learned he was not a commander but he was still the highest ranking guy around so sheesh.

Quality of Mercy:

Good episode, felt sorry for the old woman at fist. Was kind of annoyed at Dr. Franklin but I also understood why he felt he had to say something.

I would of thought sci-core would prepare there people more especially when dealing with "murderers". Talia totally let that guy get to her. I mean damn I know there not supposed to get into peoples minds unless there doing it for business or for there government etc but still realistically I think they couldn't help but get into peoples minds occasionally.

Just like sometimes you can't help but listen to people’s conversation even though you do your best to pretend you’re not listening and never heard a thing. Having said that I sure you would come across wired minds occasionally and could not help occasionally "listening" in. Even "normal" people would have freakish thoughts sometimes I would think just that unlike freak murderers they can manage to keep them just thoughts...

About Lando in this episode, so that was a penis? WTF that’s nasty no wonder those guys were pissed. Kinky basterd I would of kicked his ass too. Touching the cards with his meter long pee pee.

Chrysalis:

Also good Ep. I knew what would happen by the end so it was no surprise this time around (even last time I kind of figured something like this would happen but still its different the first time around). It was still good because it’s nice to see people who you thought were asses turn out being ok and people who you thought were over all pretty good turn out being the asshole. Although most people probably won’t think this at this point but…..

Looking back at season one it was over all mostly good. Some cheesy dialog now and then but mostly ok. This season was the foggiest of all to me I think. It was almost like watching it for the first time so that was nice.

 

[Orac Zen]

I am incredibly behind, which I'd sort of promised myself wouldn't happen when Vash had this idea. So much for that plan.

Will try to get this week's episodes watched this weekend. Maybe. Thank God for the time difference.

 

[BigFoot]

Yeah, I'm behind aswell. I didn't watch B5 while on vacation (duh), so I need to catch up.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ I'd tell you guys to skip the lame-ish episodes so that you could catch up...but I think all the lame-ish episodes are behind us for a while!

 

[Orac Zen]

Short reviews. I'm too far behind to waffle on for too long. And everyone else has made some good points anyway.

Babylon Squared: What else is there to say about this episode? Another of the great ones where the events flow so naturally it's like they're actually happening. There's a certain amount of mystery involved too, isn't there?

The Quality of Mercy: As silly as it would have been I kinda wish Mollari's tour had seen Lennier wander past Rosen's clinic. Maybe a moment of eye contact - "Don't I know you from somewhere?" I suppose this episode is a bit by-the-numbers in some ways, but it's still a good one.

Chrysalis: Wow. Another of those episodes where an incredible amount of stuff happens, all of it significant. One of my favourite Kosh-isms. We finally see the use of the device Delenn has been working on at various stages - what could it be for...? And gee, how convenient that the vice-president was too sick to make the tour... (I really miss the old spoiler code at this point.)

"Nothing's the same any more." Talk about an understatement....


These are the first episodes I've watched since Andreas Katsulas died. All I can say is .

 

[Gul Dukat]

I started Season 1 for the first time in early Feb., and now I'm just about caught up. I finished disk five, so I still need to see "Quality of Mercy" and "chrysalis." I Netflixed the first season, so it'll be about a week before I get to wrap it up. Thankfully, I've already bought Seasons 2 and 3.

I've been a lurker in this thread for awhile, and it was fun to read others' opinions.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ Hope you won't be a lurker anymore!

Come by and post with us!

 

[OmahaStar]

Exactly!

Now, we're just about to start season 2, tomorrow. The schedule is below. We'll do 3 episodes per week, except for the last week, when we'll do 4. That week will be a test to see how everyone does with another episode ... If it goes well, season 3 will be 4 per week (maybe more?).

Vash and I have talked it over, and we know there are some who want to be in this, but are behind or struggling to keep up. This is why we're not going with 4, for the time being. Babylon 5 is all about being inclusive, not exclusive, and we don't want anyone feeling like they can't participate because real life has intervined. Hell, I was out of it for a week or two, and I've pretty much got the series memorized! lol

Week 1 - Points of Departure, Revelations, and Geometry of Shadows
Week 2 - A Distant Star, The Long Dark, and Spider in the Web
Week 3 - Soul Mates, A Race Through Dark Places, and Coming of the Shadows
Week 4 - GROPOS, ALl Alone in the Night, and Acts of Sacrifice
Week 5 - Hunter, Prey; There All the Honor Lies, and And Now For a Word
Week 6 - In the Shadow of Z'Ha'Dum, Knives, and Confessions and Lamentations
Week 7 - Divided Loyalties, The Long Twilight Struggle, Comes the Inquisitor, and Fall of Night

On a side note, I do want to say this ... If you're getting into the flow, and reach a point where you're sitting there going "come on, Sunday, I need my fix!" ... There's no reason to stop on our account. Go for it, and I'd say feel free to post up to a week early ... If you wanna have a mini marathon and post reviews for Points of Departure all the way through Spider in the Web, go for it, but please limit it to just one week ahead.

And so, it begins.

 

[Orac Zen]

Well, it's Sunday here so I'm starting now.

Better not read this if you haven't started season 2 yet and you're a newbie...



Points of Departure

Everything's going straight to hell, it seems.

Why was Sinclair reassigned? What's with this Sheridan bloke? Why did the new president go along with Santiago's choice of someone who the Minbari have major problems with? What's happening with Delenn? What's the big deal about what she's done? Have we learned the whole "truth" about the end of the Earth-Minbari war? Some of these questions are answered; others...we'll have to wait and see.

Much as I liked Sinclair, I'm a major Sheridan fan. The way he dealt with the Trigati situation – and his reaction after it, as evidenced by his conversation with Ivanova – says a great deal about him.

A good start to the new season.

"I can only conclude that I'm paying off karma at a vastly accelerated rate." Gotta love Ivanova.


Revelations

Aptly named episode. Plenty of revelations here.

More trivia about Sheridan. It's difficult to establish a character without it occasionally being a bit...clumsy (for example, I'm pretty sure Sheridan knows how his wife died), but we learn that Sheridan doesn't do things by half measures. He's still mourning his wife's death, beating himself up because he put work ahead of her. When he cares about something, it's all or nothing. (I must say his sister really annoys me with the "It's been two years" bit. There is no timetable for getting over a loss, and the guilt trip about how Anna would react if she saw him behaving thus is even worse.)

Sheridan doesn't even know Garibaldi, but he's willing to use the infamous machine to help revive him. Again, it says a lot about him IMHO.

"After a thousand years the darkness has come again." What darkness? The beginning of G'Kar's transformation is in this episode, and it's a fascinating journey – possibly my favourite in the series.

What the heck is the "new order" that Garibaldi's would-be assassin is going on about...? How...fascinating that the new president wants this individual returned to earth...and how fascinating that he (and all the evidence) didn't get there....

Does Mollari have even the slightest idea what he's gotten himself into with Morden? I doubt it. I doubt even more if he's concerned about it at this point. And why is Morden concerned about the Rim? What lies at Z'ha'dum?

Perhaps the most startling revelation is Delenn. Did the Grey Council really approve of this transformation? Sheridan certainly seems interested, doesn't he?

More terrific stuff.

Trivial note: I really don't like this version of Na'Toth.


Will get to "The Geometry of Shadows" later.

 

[Orac Zen]

The Geometry of Shadows

After the first two episodes of the season this is somewhat mundane by comparison, but there are still puzzle pieces that become significant later on.

Our first encounter with Refa. An...interesting individual who seems to have Mollari thoroughly pegged...and yet another puzzle piece is introduced.

Our first encounter with the Technomages. He also has Mollari worked out. Yet more clues that there's a great deal more to Vir than there may seem to be. How typical of Mollari to imagine that money and power – because they mean so much to him – will mean as much to others. More warnings about an approaching darkness. "Your victims" - how's that for a chilling prophecy?

...or am I going to have to spend the rest of my life paying for one little mistake? Could that end up being significant...? Shame Sheridan's last lines in the episode are so trite.

Gotta love the Drazi madness, and Ivanova's innovative approach to the problem. Priceless subplot. B5 does the best brawls. Garibaldi may irritate me immensely but his instincts are good – luckily for Ivanova, I suppose.

Nothing brilliant, but still makes its contribution to the whole.

(Yay - I'm off the hook for the week. )

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^

Wow! You've had a busy day!

And thanks, OmahaStar, for laying things out for season 2.

Those of you who are *really* behind might consider watching Babylon Squared and Chrysalis and then just skipping to season 2, so you can get in on the Sheridan action! I think our only B5 newbie is ahead at the moment, and the rest of us don't have to watch every *single* episode to know what's going on. With the exception of Llanita, consider that it might be better to skip some eps and continue to participate than to drop out completely!

 

[D Man]

Just popping my head in to say I'm still with you guys. I watched "Chrysalis" tonight for the first time in a while...wow. It's a real rollercoaster. The music during the destruction of Earthforce 1 is grand, and evokes the season 3 credits music, my favorite. Sinclair is at his best here, and I LOVE O'Hare's delivery of the "Well, good!" line after Sakai agrees to marry him. The whole episode just flows together, and manages to juggle a zillion plot threads without dropping anything. Looking forward to going on.

 

[BigFoot]

Vash said:
Those of you who are *really* behind might consider watching Babylon Squared and Chrysalis and then just skipping to season 2, so you can get in on the Sheridan action! I think our only B5 newbie is ahead at the moment, and the rest of us don't have to watch every *single* episode to know what's going on. With the exception of Llanita, consider that it might be better to skip some eps and continue to participate than to drop out completely!

I'm gonna try to catch up in the next couple of days so hopefully I can be back on track within a week.

 

[Kira Nerys]

Points of Departure,
Goodbye Sinclair and hello Sheridan nice way of tieing up the lose ends of season one and introducing the new captain of the station and his relationship if you can call it that with the minbari great start to season two.

Revelations,
more revelations on Sheridan the minbari and the new Delenn that's the only down part was seeing the half human verision I always liked her as a full minbari.When she became human she lost part of her brain .

Geometry of Shadows
Another suttle hint of the coming of the shadows with the moving of powerful beings the technomages .Another grade A episode.

 

[eastman23]

Orac Zen said:
Why was Sinclair reassigned? What's with this Sheridan bloke? Why did the new president go along with Santiago's choice of someone who the Minbari have major problems with? What's happening with Delenn? What's the big deal about what she's done? Have we learned the whole "truth" about the end of the Earth-Minbari war?

Some damn good questions there.

Trivial note: I really don't like this version of Na'Toth.

Yeah, I have to agree here. The first version of Na'Toth was much better in my ever-so humble opinion.

(Re: Geometry of Shadows)
More warnings about an approaching darkness. "Your victims" - how's that for a chilling prophecy?

Indeed. We got hints of that in "Chrysalis" when Mollari joked about eliminating the entire Narn race and Morden was dead serious about taking it one step at a time. There has to be some doubt in his mind about the path he's on...

 

[Orac Zen]

Steven said:
Some damn good questions there.

But of course. Nice of you to show up.