The week is wending away and I haven't commented. Such is the way of life.
First, Jack Maynard is one of my favorite background characters and I deeply regret not seeing him again. I liked the friendship between him and Sheridan. I was still becoming reconciled to Sheridan at this point, and I consider this episode part of the Meet the Captain series, always a bit expository, but that's what they are for.
I caught a whiff of Finnegan about Jack (altho he is much nicer) in his needling John about settling for the desk job. To me, this is v. much an episode about well meaning friends interfering in your life, and people who 'knew you when' not understanding changes in you. Both John and Delenn pull rank on underlings as they work through how they feel about their choices. It plays into the 'right people at the right place at the right time' theme developed throughout this season. I especially like Susan's part in John's thought process; 'make up your mind cause I've got a job to do here, and I need to know both where you stand, and if you're up to doing your part.' She's a good XO, and a good friend.
Second, the diet subplot shows Stephen at his self-righteous best, and I really like the scene with him and Garibaldi bonding over bagna cauda. It's a preview of their friendship, and their various battles with their addictions. Stephen knows what's best, for everyone but himself. Did anyone else feel that Stephen buckled over Garibaldi's father story because of his own issues with his dad? Father issues abound in this series.
Third, the Flying Dutchman story which occurs over and over again, a variant of the 'you can't go home again' storyline. The idea of being lost, drifting, helpless and alone, is a powerful and scary one, to me at least. JMS goes to it first with Babylon 4, then here with the Cortez, and later in WWE and The Fall of Centauri Prime. Even at the very end, with John's being unable to stay in the military, losing his home on Earth. I do wish they had thrown in a line about the lifeboat scenario having been tried before and not worked, or that they were trying some new variant on it. Because it's really an obvious solution. It would have shown in Sheridan either an ability to think outside the box, or his determination to preservere in a 'no-win' situation.
As for Keffer's return, whatever. It's a silly thing, and only necessary to put in motion his White Whale fixation, and to preview what will happen to him anyway. I like to think that somewhere there's a copy of this script, with this part scribbled out, and an addendum by JMS-- "And Warren Keffer was never seen again. The. End."
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-07-14 02:03 pm (UTC)First, Jack Maynard is one of my favorite background characters and I deeply regret not seeing him again. I liked the friendship between him and Sheridan. I was still becoming reconciled to Sheridan at this point, and I consider this episode part of the Meet the Captain series, always a bit expository, but that's what they are for.
I caught a whiff of Finnegan about Jack (altho he is much nicer) in his needling John about settling for the desk job. To me, this is v. much an episode about well meaning friends interfering in your life, and people who 'knew you when' not understanding changes in you. Both John and Delenn pull rank on underlings as they work through how they feel about their choices. It plays into the 'right people at the right place at the right time' theme developed throughout this season. I especially like Susan's part in John's thought process; 'make up your mind cause I've got a job to do here, and I need to know both where you stand, and if you're up to doing your part.' She's a good XO, and a good friend.
Second, the diet subplot shows Stephen at his self-righteous best, and I really like the scene with him and Garibaldi bonding over bagna cauda. It's a preview of their friendship, and their various battles with their addictions. Stephen knows what's best, for everyone but himself. Did anyone else feel that Stephen buckled over Garibaldi's father story because of his own issues with his dad? Father issues abound in this series.
Third, the Flying Dutchman story which occurs over and over again, a variant of the 'you can't go home again' storyline. The idea of being lost, drifting, helpless and alone, is a powerful and scary one, to me at least. JMS goes to it first with Babylon 4, then here with the Cortez, and later in WWE and The Fall of Centauri Prime. Even at the very end, with John's being unable to stay in the military, losing his home on Earth. I do wish they had thrown in a line about the lifeboat scenario having been tried before and not worked, or that they were trying some new variant on it. Because it's really an obvious solution. It would have shown in Sheridan either an ability to think outside the box, or his determination to preservere in a 'no-win' situation.
As for Keffer's return, whatever. It's a silly thing, and only necessary to put in motion his White Whale fixation, and to preview what will happen to him anyway. I like to think that somewhere there's a copy of this script, with this part scribbled out, and an addendum by JMS-- "And Warren Keffer was never seen again. The. End."