"By Any Means Necessary" discussion [spoilers]

[aris-tgd.livejournal.com]

(Sorry for the delay, folks! Working on a night shift + being in the pacific time zone == delays get stretched out.)

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X12, "By Any Means Necessary". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Extra reading:

The article for "By Any Means Necessary" at the Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite s1 episodes. Also nepotism done well, as the writer, Kathryn Drennan, was JMS' wife at the time. She also wrote the first decent B5 tie-in novel after a series of failures, To Dream in the Cities of Sorrows, about Sinclair between Chrysalis and War without End, which among other things showcases the often ignored Minbari working cast and Sinclair's growing sympathies for them, building on the themes developed here.

The idea of a union strike depicted in a sympathetic way was a good one, and Neeoma Connoly is one of my favourite one-shot characters. And a great example of a female character whose gender is immaterial to her job in the narrative. Both in the main plot and in the subplot with G'Kar and Londo, Sinclair displays his ability to think outside the box. The fact he gets away with his solution to the main problem is maybe wish fulfillment, but I like it anyway, plus Sinclair later does reap the results of pissing off the powers that be at home.

Naturally, I adore the Londo/G'Kar subplot. Both on a comedy and on a character level. And there is a character exploration level - G'Kar's religious side is for the first time on full display here. Incidentally, when Londo says that G'Kar just wants to maintain his social standing, I think he honestly believes that - and is completely wrong, of course. Londo is one of the few characters on the show who just doesn't get religion, or what it means to people. (Whereas he does get patriotism, by non-Centauri, I mean, hence his ability to come up with an alliance during the Cartagia days with G'Kar.) Whereas Sinclair gets religion very well, and the fact he can come up with something to satisfy G'Kar there that doesn't trivialize it is foreshadowing, if you like, of a certain future role. Seriousness aside, though, Londo and G'Kar arguing for a solid episode about a flower: as andrastewhite once said in a great review (http://andrastewhite.livejournal.com/195672.html), if this is not a slash cliché, it should be. Londo waving from the turbolift has me in stitches every time, too.

Lastly, it tickles me the Rush Act of Evil Anti-Union-Ness is named after Rush Limbaugh. (Otoh it's sad Limbaugh still hasn't disappeared from the publich consciousness, a decade later.)

[wychwood]

I've always liked this episode, and I love the handling of the union issues (although, um, having become a union member since the first time I saw this, I did have a number of flashbacks to union meetings *g*).

I also really noticed the way Londo gets it utterly wrong about G'Kar. It's another hint of the depths G'Kar is capable of later, his genuine and heartfelt beliefs (I expect social standing is a part of his upset, but more of it is a very real desire to practice his religion properly). And, as you say, of Londo's inability to understand religion.

Excellent stand-alone episode.