Those are the exact same three and only three that I'd give an 11. If I were to bring that rating back into my reviews, rather than capping it off at 10.
It'll be interesting to see that list and compare notes after I finish the seventh season.
Huh. In an alternate universe, this could have been Picard hunting Ro...except the character dynamics would be very different, partly because Ro wasn't a narcissist but, as PIC S3 would demonstrate in one of that season's few IMO really good episodes, she did feel that Picard betrayed her as much as she betrayed him.
I can list them now, or you can remind me when after you finish DS9 so I don't influence your score on those episodes.
Thanks! Let's wait until the end.
"Epiphanies" (B5 S4E7)
I had no idea what would happen next, but I knew it! Just simple deduction. With the Shadows gone, Clark has come back in the fold! After the first six episodes of the season, the major question was, "Okay. So, what's Season 4 about now?!" Sheridan tries his hardest to allow himself to enjoy the victory celebration everyone else is celebrating, but he knows the job isn't done. I liken it to World War II. The Germans were defeated, but that didn't mean the Japanese were.
Unfortunately, Garibaldi wants out because he thinks of it being done now that the Shadows and Vorlons are out the picture and he thinks of the war as being over. It seemed as out of the blue to me as it felt to Sheridan. And, for sure, it has to do with what happened to him while he was captured, which I'm sure we'll find out more about in the coming episodes.
In the background is aftermath everywhere. Including especially G'Kar. No surprise that G'Kar returned to Babylon 5. Franklin tells G'Kar he can get him a replacement eye, but it won't be exactly the same. So, there will always be a reminder of what happened. G'Kar also tells Londo that now that Narn is free, he wants nothing further to do with him. Since there's still under two seasons left, I think for sure there's going to be something that happens where they'll need each other. And I'm not talking about 20 Years into The Future.
Bester is back! Still in the gray area as much as possible. He knows what Clark is up to, but blackmails Sheridan into helping him to go Za'ha'dum to find some technology that will free Carolyn, so he can be with her again. That mission doesn't pan out. But ultimately Bester reveals that Clark wants to wage a propaganda war against Babylon 5, after having already made transport to Babylon 5 illegal for Earth citizens, and wants to make sure Babylon 5's loses all of its allies before he moves in to eliminate Babylon 5. He wants to attack Babylon 5 in stages. It figures that corrupt politician would want to come up with something as elaborate as this.
This feels like Lyta's biggest episode yet. Bester underestimated her as a Level 5 Psychic to his Level 12, before realizing how much the Vorlons had changed her. Bester will be back in this season for sure. And I can imagine that Bester and Lyta will somehow end up working together. This is only a guess, but I figure Bester will need Lyta for something he doesn't have the power to solve but she can. Beyond her abilities, some nice insight into her "regular" life, such as it is, and how no one wants to approach her, if they don't have to, because of her previous association with the Vorlons. Nice for Zach to see past that.
Garth's Log, Stardate -357261.3 (yes, I used stardatecalculator.com): I see that Sheridan's still keeping a Personal Log. So, I take it that's going to be a regular thing now and not just a one-off. But, there's no denying it is a good way for Sheridan to express thoughts he won't express to anyone under him or to Delenn. And it's also a good way to keep a record of his insights into these events so future Historians don't misunderstand to try to distort them.
Ivanova's already fighting the Propaganda War when her Starfuries rescue some Earth ships. They thought Babylon 5 were the Bad Guys, they find out B5 isn't, and hopefully Babylon 5's deeds will spread and more people will question Clark's stance.
That's all I have to say. Other than what the Hell is going on with Milo Virini at the end there?! Overall, a good episode setting up the stage for what's to come. But the streak is over. I give it an 8.
Unfortunately, Garibaldi wants out because he thinks of it being done now that the Shadows and Vorlons are out the picture and he thinks of the war as being over. It seemed as out of the blue to me as it felt to Sheridan. And, for sure, it has to do with what happened to him while he was captured, which I'm sure we'll find out more about in the coming episodes.
In the background is aftermath everywhere. Including especially G'Kar. No surprise that G'Kar returned to Babylon 5. Franklin tells G'Kar he can get him a replacement eye, but it won't be exactly the same. So, there will always be a reminder of what happened. G'Kar also tells Londo that now that Narn is free, he wants nothing further to do with him. Since there's still under two seasons left, I think for sure there's going to be something that happens where they'll need each other. And I'm not talking about 20 Years into The Future.
Bester is back! Still in the gray area as much as possible. He knows what Clark is up to, but blackmails Sheridan into helping him to go Za'ha'dum to find some technology that will free Carolyn, so he can be with her again. That mission doesn't pan out. But ultimately Bester reveals that Clark wants to wage a propaganda war against Babylon 5, after having already made transport to Babylon 5 illegal for Earth citizens, and wants to make sure Babylon 5's loses all of its allies before he moves in to eliminate Babylon 5. He wants to attack Babylon 5 in stages. It figures that corrupt politician would want to come up with something as elaborate as this.
This feels like Lyta's biggest episode yet. Bester underestimated her as a Level 5 Psychic to his Level 12, before realizing how much the Vorlons had changed her. Bester will be back in this season for sure. And I can imagine that Bester and Lyta will somehow end up working together. This is only a guess, but I figure Bester will need Lyta for something he doesn't have the power to solve but she can. Beyond her abilities, some nice insight into her "regular" life, such as it is, and how no one wants to approach her, if they don't have to, because of her previous association with the Vorlons. Nice for Zach to see past that.
Garth's Log, Stardate -357261.3 (yes, I used stardatecalculator.com): I see that Sheridan's still keeping a Personal Log. So, I take it that's going to be a regular thing now and not just a one-off. But, there's no denying it is a good way for Sheridan to express thoughts he won't express to anyone under him or to Delenn. And it's also a good way to keep a record of his insights into these events so future Historians don't misunderstand to try to distort them.
Ivanova's already fighting the Propaganda War when her Starfuries rescue some Earth ships. They thought Babylon 5 were the Bad Guys, they find out B5 isn't, and hopefully Babylon 5's deeds will spread and more people will question Clark's stance.
That's all I have to say. Other than what the Hell is going on with Milo Virini at the end there?! Overall, a good episode setting up the stage for what's to come. But the streak is over. I give it an 8.
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You've seen that before, in the second half of season 3.
Yeah Epiphanies is a decent enough episode but it's definitely a bit of a calm after the storm of the first six episodes. In fact it's similar to DS9's You Are Cordially Invited in some ways. Not many ways, but some.
In spoilers for Garth's sake
If I was picking my 11/10s I'd go:
1) Sacrifice of Angels 2) Far Beyond The Stars 3) Pale Moonlight
If not limited to 3 I'd add
4) The Wire 5) Empok Nor
It's a nice wrapping up the old arc to make way for the new one episode for sure, and Walter Koenig was one of the best things that ever happened to Babylon 5.
I'm a little surprised you didn't talk about the Sheridan-Lyta interaction after the Z'ha'BOOM, as among B5 folks that's often a discussion point in a broader context.
Isnt't The Wounded comparable to For the Uniform? Yes, there was some hand-wavy technical stuff, but it did not produce the resolution of the episode.
Up until now, I never thought about it, but you do have a point. Eddington and Maxwell both wanted to take the fight to the Cardassians. The way Sisko and Picard handled things, the character relationships, and the circumstances couldn't be any more different, but a war with the Cardassians had to be stopped, whether it was preventing Eddington from doing so, or Maxwell.
Then it all becomes a moot point with the next two episodes.
Here I was, about to put on "In Purgatory's Shadow", and then my entire street lost power!
So now, here I am sitting in the darkness like Batman. I'm also thinking if I hadn't cancelled my Paramount+ subscription (again!) after I stopped watching New Trek for good, I'd be able to watch on my phone...
... but would I really want to watch DS9 that way? No!
So, instead, I'll wait it out. And buy candles next time I go to the store, so I can live it up Victorian Style, the next time I lose power!
So now, here I am sitting in the darkness like Batman. I'm also thinking if I hadn't cancelled my Paramount+ subscription (again!) after I stopped watching New Trek for good, I'd be able to watch on my phone...
... but would I really want to watch DS9 that way? No!
So, instead, I'll wait it out. And buy candles next time I go to the store, so I can live it up Victorian Style, the next time I lose power!
You're living the title? 
Good thing Garth wasn't going to watch "By Inferno's Light"!You're living the title?
Back in business! Power's back. Let's get this show on the road!
"In Purgatory's Shadow"
You want to know how you know this episode is an event? It has the Mutara Nebula in it at one point. Even though it's not the Mutara Nebula. It was in The Wrath of Khan, it was in "The Best of Both Worlds", and now it's here. And what a Big Event this is. It feels like a season premiere in the middle of the season.
Coded Cardassian transmissions from the Gamma Quadrant. That turn out to be from Enabran Tain. Garak lying about it being something else, then trying to steal a runabout. How far did he think he'd get? Unless he wanted to be caught, and by Bashir. Or who he thinks is Bashir. When he comments on how much Bashir has changed, and how he's become mistrustful, knowing that this "Bashir" is really a Changeling throws some doubt into this character development. But if "Bashir" can fool Garak, he can fool everyone else too.
"Bashir" taking Garak to Sisko, and Garak convincing Sisko that going into the Gamma Quadrant to save several people including Tain was the way to convince Sisko. But the real kicker was having Sisko send Worf to go with Garak instead of Bashir. It's not stated in the episode, but I think Sisko knew that if a hard choice had to be made about taking action against Garak -- just in case -- Bashir wouldn't be able to do it. At the end of the day, he's too soft. But Worf would have no problem doing whatever he would need to do. The best exchange of the episode happens between Worf and Sisko, "At the first sign of treachery, I will kill [Garak], but I will bring body back intact." "I hope you're joking." "We will see." Not a joke at all!
Ziyal having feelings for Garak: not a surprise. Unfortunately for Ziyal, Garak's as straight as a curly fry. "They never said!" Oh, please. He's gay. The end. And he's fabulous for it. I don't care what anyone else says. But, even if he wasn't gay, her youth and not having enough wisdom in his eyes, makes her a poor fit. Deep down, I think Kira knows all of this too. Which is why she isn't worried about Ziyal spending time with Garak, despite any misgivings. Dukat, on the other hand, what a great way to make an appearance: "KEEP AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!!!!!" Quark and Garak have the best comebacks. "I'm sure Odo would love to have you in one of his holding cells!" and "That helped my back!" respectively.
Not only is Dukat on the rampage, but he also wants to be taken seriously. He can't stand that Kira doesn't take his threats seriously when Dukat says she betrayed him. But Kira made it 100% clear that she agreed to let Ziyal live on DS9 for her sake, not Dukat's. You can see in Dukat's face that he wants to restore Cardassia to its former glory and he wants revenge on anyone who betrayed him. It's all right there. And knowing what happens next makes watching it here even better.
Dukat's determined to make sure Ziyal gets off of DS9 and leaves with him before the Dominion come through the Wormhole. I think he's hurt on two levels when Ziyal refuses to go with him. First because she doesn't want to be at his side. And second because he lost rest of his family and his previous standing on Cardassia all because of her. And now, in his eyes, she rejects him. That has to sting.
Watching Dukat with a poker face when Sisko briefs the crew is insane beyond belief. They have no idea what Dukat has up his sleeve. None! They have a plan to close the Wormhole. I have to wonder what Dukat thinks about this. I have to wonder if maybe Dukat knows that "Bashir" is a Changeling? He doesn't seem worried at all about the possibility of DS9 being able to seal the Wormhole. He acts as if they'll be unsuccessful and the Dominion will come through. Although, knowing Dukat, maybe he doesn't know about "Bashir". Maybe it's just his arrogance. "I sided with the winner and they'll Make Cardassia Strong Again, they'll Make Cardassia Great Again!" (Yes I went there) "Nothing can stop us!" He's pretty delusional when he gets too caught up himself and so sure of victory ahead.
I haven't even gotten to Garak and Worf being captured yet. Well, now I am. The reveal of the real Bashir came as a real surprise to me back in 1997. Then there's Garak's farewell to Tain as Tain dies. In 1997, I thought that Garak and Tain were still lying even as they spoke as father and son! I still didn't believe them because I thought it was just more lies! But it seems that time has proven that they actually were father and son. Okay, well, that's just a case of even when they were telling the truth, I still thought they were lying. Shows how good they are at lying in general.
And of course, the reveal the of the real Martok. The Changeling "Martok" had real screen presence in "The Way of the Warrior" and "Apocalypse Rising", so I'm glad we have the real Martok know, and that he'll become a recurring character going forward.
Not too much else to say other than DS9 being screwed after "Bashir" does indeed sabotage DS9's efforts to close the Wormhole and the Dominion ships come charging through! At the time, I thought they were going to go for a straight attack at the beginning of the second part.
This episode had a very desaturated look. Between the First Contact Uniforms, the gray sets, the dim lighting, and lots of blues and beiges. The desaturated color scheme suits the nature of this episode and the feeling that Armageddon is on the horizon. To quote Sisko, "And may God help us all." I give it a 10.
"In Purgatory's Shadow"
You want to know how you know this episode is an event? It has the Mutara Nebula in it at one point. Even though it's not the Mutara Nebula. It was in The Wrath of Khan, it was in "The Best of Both Worlds", and now it's here. And what a Big Event this is. It feels like a season premiere in the middle of the season.
Coded Cardassian transmissions from the Gamma Quadrant. That turn out to be from Enabran Tain. Garak lying about it being something else, then trying to steal a runabout. How far did he think he'd get? Unless he wanted to be caught, and by Bashir. Or who he thinks is Bashir. When he comments on how much Bashir has changed, and how he's become mistrustful, knowing that this "Bashir" is really a Changeling throws some doubt into this character development. But if "Bashir" can fool Garak, he can fool everyone else too.
"Bashir" taking Garak to Sisko, and Garak convincing Sisko that going into the Gamma Quadrant to save several people including Tain was the way to convince Sisko. But the real kicker was having Sisko send Worf to go with Garak instead of Bashir. It's not stated in the episode, but I think Sisko knew that if a hard choice had to be made about taking action against Garak -- just in case -- Bashir wouldn't be able to do it. At the end of the day, he's too soft. But Worf would have no problem doing whatever he would need to do. The best exchange of the episode happens between Worf and Sisko, "At the first sign of treachery, I will kill [Garak], but I will bring body back intact." "I hope you're joking." "We will see." Not a joke at all!
Ziyal having feelings for Garak: not a surprise. Unfortunately for Ziyal, Garak's as straight as a curly fry. "They never said!" Oh, please. He's gay. The end. And he's fabulous for it. I don't care what anyone else says. But, even if he wasn't gay, her youth and not having enough wisdom in his eyes, makes her a poor fit. Deep down, I think Kira knows all of this too. Which is why she isn't worried about Ziyal spending time with Garak, despite any misgivings. Dukat, on the other hand, what a great way to make an appearance: "KEEP AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!!!!!" Quark and Garak have the best comebacks. "I'm sure Odo would love to have you in one of his holding cells!" and "That helped my back!" respectively.
Not only is Dukat on the rampage, but he also wants to be taken seriously. He can't stand that Kira doesn't take his threats seriously when Dukat says she betrayed him. But Kira made it 100% clear that she agreed to let Ziyal live on DS9 for her sake, not Dukat's. You can see in Dukat's face that he wants to restore Cardassia to its former glory and he wants revenge on anyone who betrayed him. It's all right there. And knowing what happens next makes watching it here even better.
Dukat's determined to make sure Ziyal gets off of DS9 and leaves with him before the Dominion come through the Wormhole. I think he's hurt on two levels when Ziyal refuses to go with him. First because she doesn't want to be at his side. And second because he lost rest of his family and his previous standing on Cardassia all because of her. And now, in his eyes, she rejects him. That has to sting.
Watching Dukat with a poker face when Sisko briefs the crew is insane beyond belief. They have no idea what Dukat has up his sleeve. None! They have a plan to close the Wormhole. I have to wonder what Dukat thinks about this. I have to wonder if maybe Dukat knows that "Bashir" is a Changeling? He doesn't seem worried at all about the possibility of DS9 being able to seal the Wormhole. He acts as if they'll be unsuccessful and the Dominion will come through. Although, knowing Dukat, maybe he doesn't know about "Bashir". Maybe it's just his arrogance. "I sided with the winner and they'll Make Cardassia Strong Again, they'll Make Cardassia Great Again!" (Yes I went there) "Nothing can stop us!" He's pretty delusional when he gets too caught up himself and so sure of victory ahead.
I haven't even gotten to Garak and Worf being captured yet. Well, now I am. The reveal of the real Bashir came as a real surprise to me back in 1997. Then there's Garak's farewell to Tain as Tain dies. In 1997, I thought that Garak and Tain were still lying even as they spoke as father and son! I still didn't believe them because I thought it was just more lies! But it seems that time has proven that they actually were father and son. Okay, well, that's just a case of even when they were telling the truth, I still thought they were lying. Shows how good they are at lying in general.
And of course, the reveal the of the real Martok. The Changeling "Martok" had real screen presence in "The Way of the Warrior" and "Apocalypse Rising", so I'm glad we have the real Martok know, and that he'll become a recurring character going forward.
Not too much else to say other than DS9 being screwed after "Bashir" does indeed sabotage DS9's efforts to close the Wormhole and the Dominion ships come charging through! At the time, I thought they were going to go for a straight attack at the beginning of the second part.
This episode had a very desaturated look. Between the First Contact Uniforms, the gray sets, the dim lighting, and lots of blues and beiges. The desaturated color scheme suits the nature of this episode and the feeling that Armageddon is on the horizon. To quote Sisko, "And may God help us all." I give it a 10.
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This is the first time I've ever taken a break between episodes during a two-parter. After "In Purgatory's Shadow", I put on the latest episode of Star City (a spin-off of For All Mankind from the Soviet Union's point-of-view), and now I've just watched S4E8 of Babylon 5. But here's the thing: after S4E9, from what I understand, it'll be safe for me watch the B5 TV Movie, In the Beginning, and I really want to watch that. First, because I just want to; and second, because it feels like a Rite Of Passage as a new Babylon 5 Fan. Third, most importantly, when we get right to down to it: "By Inferno's Light" is a Major Event for DS9 and In the Beginning is a Major Event for B5. And while I'm watching, I want one Major Event to be followed by another Major Event.
So, I'm watching Babylon 5 Season 4 Episodes 8 and 9 tonight, before going back to DS9 for "By Inferno's Light". Then after that is In the Beginning.
"The Illusion of Truth" (B5 S4E8)
I was going to post Episodes 8 and 9 of the season together in one post but screw it. I'll post this review now and other one next. I'm putting on the next episode momentarily.
So, I'm watching Babylon 5 Season 4 Episodes 8 and 9 tonight, before going back to DS9 for "By Inferno's Light". Then after that is In the Beginning.
"The Illusion of Truth" (B5 S4E8)
Dan Randall. That sounds like a play on the name Dan Rather. My parents used to watch the CBS Evening News. First it was Walter Cronkite, then it was Dan Rather. I'm not old enough to remember watching Walter Cronkite, since he retired in 1981 and I was a toddler. But I definitely remember watching Dan Rather, growing up. Walter Cronkite was regarded as one of the most trusted people in the news, from what I understand. Dan Rather was never held in as high of an esteem as Walter Cronkite, but he still represented The Establishment. He represented "Legitimacy". It seems to be that Dan Randall represents both The Establishment and "Legitimacy" as well.
There's more to it as well. There's tabloid news, which was huge in the '90s. It still is, but it was definitely a thing back then. And then there's the added level of Dan Randall and ISN being essentially an arm of President Clark's government. While US news wasn't acting as an arm of the government at the time this episode was made (we're not going to talk about my thoughts about today's news), it was in several other countries. Especially those that weren't free or only had the illusion of freedom. It would be easy for me to compare Dan Randall to reporters from FOX News, but FOX News was in its infancy at the time, and biased media is much older than that, so I'm not going to. Propaganda extends back through all of recorded history and most likely before.
I didn't trust Randall even for an instant. He told Sheridan what he wanted to hear, so Sheridan would let him onto the station. He said he would try to let the truth slip through, but that was also a lie. If he did that, he would be fired. I think Randall and Sheridan don't even agree on what the truth even is.
Sheridan didn't trust Randall either, but here was one fatal mistake Sheridan made: he thought he could stay ahead of Randall. He thought that if he and everyone else said as little as possible and spoke as plainly as possible, it would be impossible for ISN to twist their stories. Boy, was he wrong!
It's a real credit to this episode that it lets ISN just run uninterrupted through the second half of the episode, giving ISN's twisted take on everything. ISN would have you think Sheridan is deranged, delusional, suffering from PTSD, and seduced. Seduced by Delenn, the evil seductress who's leading continuing the Minbari's War against Earth, just in a different form: by turning Humans into Minbari and by making Humans hate themselves. ISN frames it as if alien influence has been what's led Babylon 5 to turn on Earth. He makes it look like Sheridan's not only being manipulated by Delenn, but dominated by Londo. What in the actual fuck?!
ISN makes it look like Babylon 5 has exploited Humans who live Downbelow and that it only cares about the officers of Babylon 5 and the elite, especially the alien elite. The way ISN spins everything, you can tell JMS had fun trying to see how many ways he could distort things.
Then there's the kicker. The thing that Randall thinks is the Smoking Gun. The bodies in stasis. They're psychics. But Randall thinks they're victims from Downbelow who've been abducted by Franklin for reasons I'm sure he has a ton of Conspiracy Theories about.
To top it all off: Garibaldi and his big mouth. He hasn't fully trusted Sheridan ever since Sheridan got back from Za'ha'dum. First, why would Garibaldi say anything to Randall? And second, Garibaldi saying he doesn't trust Sheridan anymore and that he thinks Sheridan is delusional makes it sound as if Sheridan has gone over the deep end and Delenn helped him there.
Okay, not quite the topper. This is the topper: ISN frames Babylon 5's aiding and repairing alien ships as Babylon 5 amassing a fleet to invade Earth. The Establishment's Voice of Legitimacy, which I referred back to earlier, is framing it up as if Babylon 5 is planning to invade Earth.
This is why I think news should stick to reporting. Once it starts to editorialize, it begins to shape opinion. It begins to shape perception. And now the gullible masses of Earth think Babylon 5 is going to attack Earth. It bears repeating. Of course, naturally, the grab the soundbite of Sheridan saying anyone who stands in their way will be taken care of. Sheridan was talking about people objecting to his love of Sheridan and how he could them to understand. ISN makes it look like Sheridan is a self-hating Human who wants to attack them and needs mental help.
At the end of the episode, Sheridan is speechless. No words even needed to be added. That ISN segment spoke for itself. He walks up the monitor, breaks the fourth wall, and turns the episode off. The End. I give it a 10.
There's more to it as well. There's tabloid news, which was huge in the '90s. It still is, but it was definitely a thing back then. And then there's the added level of Dan Randall and ISN being essentially an arm of President Clark's government. While US news wasn't acting as an arm of the government at the time this episode was made (we're not going to talk about my thoughts about today's news), it was in several other countries. Especially those that weren't free or only had the illusion of freedom. It would be easy for me to compare Dan Randall to reporters from FOX News, but FOX News was in its infancy at the time, and biased media is much older than that, so I'm not going to. Propaganda extends back through all of recorded history and most likely before.
I didn't trust Randall even for an instant. He told Sheridan what he wanted to hear, so Sheridan would let him onto the station. He said he would try to let the truth slip through, but that was also a lie. If he did that, he would be fired. I think Randall and Sheridan don't even agree on what the truth even is.
Sheridan didn't trust Randall either, but here was one fatal mistake Sheridan made: he thought he could stay ahead of Randall. He thought that if he and everyone else said as little as possible and spoke as plainly as possible, it would be impossible for ISN to twist their stories. Boy, was he wrong!
It's a real credit to this episode that it lets ISN just run uninterrupted through the second half of the episode, giving ISN's twisted take on everything. ISN would have you think Sheridan is deranged, delusional, suffering from PTSD, and seduced. Seduced by Delenn, the evil seductress who's leading continuing the Minbari's War against Earth, just in a different form: by turning Humans into Minbari and by making Humans hate themselves. ISN frames it as if alien influence has been what's led Babylon 5 to turn on Earth. He makes it look like Sheridan's not only being manipulated by Delenn, but dominated by Londo. What in the actual fuck?!
ISN makes it look like Babylon 5 has exploited Humans who live Downbelow and that it only cares about the officers of Babylon 5 and the elite, especially the alien elite. The way ISN spins everything, you can tell JMS had fun trying to see how many ways he could distort things.
Then there's the kicker. The thing that Randall thinks is the Smoking Gun. The bodies in stasis. They're psychics. But Randall thinks they're victims from Downbelow who've been abducted by Franklin for reasons I'm sure he has a ton of Conspiracy Theories about.
To top it all off: Garibaldi and his big mouth. He hasn't fully trusted Sheridan ever since Sheridan got back from Za'ha'dum. First, why would Garibaldi say anything to Randall? And second, Garibaldi saying he doesn't trust Sheridan anymore and that he thinks Sheridan is delusional makes it sound as if Sheridan has gone over the deep end and Delenn helped him there.
Okay, not quite the topper. This is the topper: ISN frames Babylon 5's aiding and repairing alien ships as Babylon 5 amassing a fleet to invade Earth. The Establishment's Voice of Legitimacy, which I referred back to earlier, is framing it up as if Babylon 5 is planning to invade Earth.
This is why I think news should stick to reporting. Once it starts to editorialize, it begins to shape opinion. It begins to shape perception. And now the gullible masses of Earth think Babylon 5 is going to attack Earth. It bears repeating. Of course, naturally, the grab the soundbite of Sheridan saying anyone who stands in their way will be taken care of. Sheridan was talking about people objecting to his love of Sheridan and how he could them to understand. ISN makes it look like Sheridan is a self-hating Human who wants to attack them and needs mental help.
At the end of the episode, Sheridan is speechless. No words even needed to be added. That ISN segment spoke for itself. He walks up the monitor, breaks the fourth wall, and turns the episode off. The End. I give it a 10.
I was going to post Episodes 8 and 9 of the season together in one post but screw it. I'll post this review now and other one next. I'm putting on the next episode momentarily.
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I've had this nagging feeling that SOMETHING about In the Beginning is a spoiler, but I didn't know what. So I finally went through the script looking for any line that might give something away you don't want to know. AND I FOUND ONE.
I now advise that you leave In the Beginning until after season 4.
Well...
... all I can say is you're lucky I didn't get any further with my plans! I just finished "Atonement". But I'll save my thoughts about that episode later. It's so late it's early, that's what I call 3:30 AM, so I'm turning in.
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