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Season 1, Episode 1: Midnight on the Firing Line
This, the first actual episode, is action packed! So many things are going on that it must be confusing to a first time watcher. I had forgotten how busy it is.
We meet 3 new characters:
Susan Ivanova takes over for Lauren Takashima. Susan is all business and tough as nails.
Talia Winters is the new Telepath assigned to the station. I have to admit I found her beyond creepy. Always.
Vir Cotto is Londo’s new diplomatic aide and he’s really kind of a mess, a lovable mess.
The main plot points are:
1. The attack on Ragesh 3(or III), a Centauri agricultural colony by persons unknown. They become known soon enough though.
2. The raiders who rob cargo ships and kill the crews. There is an unexpected connection to the first plot point as well.
Minor plot points are the Earth elections and the fact that Earth wants to stay out of any interstellar conflicts. Also we find out that Ivanova has a deep dislike for Telepaths and the Psicorp and why. Then there is Garibaldi’s second favorite thing… his first, well, that is anyone’s guess.
We see just how ruthless the Narn are in their attack on a small agricultural colony with no defenses. We see how devious Londo is and we get a peek at how passionate he is about his people and his family. We see how Garibaldi has his finger on the pulse of everything that goes on on Babylon 5 and his dedication to his duty. Then there is Sinclair, who seems to stubbornly find ways to do what he thinks is right even if it means being a little tricky sometimes and taking advantage of any loophole he finds.
Here are some important things to remember as well:
The Centauri see their own deaths. Londo has seen his at the hands of G’kar.
Things and people on Babylon 5 are never what they seem. Never!
There are couple of quotes I love in this one:
Londo: “… Only one thing matters: blood calls out for blood.”
G’kar: “…What happened, run out of small children to butcher?”
Then there is this wonderful exchange, which, in the end, really says it all:
Kosh: “They are alone. They are a dying people. We should let them pass.”
Cmdr Jeffrey Sinclair: “Who, the Narn or the Centauri?”
Kosh: “Yes.”
Questions to ponder:
1. Did you wonder if perhaps Ragesh 3 was not strictly an agricultural colony? Why or why not?
2. What was your impression of Psi Corp from what Talia and Susan said?
3. Who did you like the best in this episode?
4. Are there unanswered questions you’d like to discuss?
5. Which seems more villainous: the Narn or the Centauri?
6. Favorite quote? Scene?
Sources:
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/001.html
http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Midnight_on_the_Firing_Line
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_on_the_Firing_Line
http://www.kayshapero.net/b5review/Midnight.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517669/
***** ALL POSTS REMAIN OPEN FOR COMMENT. *****
This, the first actual episode, is action packed! So many things are going on that it must be confusing to a first time watcher. I had forgotten how busy it is.
We meet 3 new characters:
Susan Ivanova takes over for Lauren Takashima. Susan is all business and tough as nails.
Talia Winters is the new Telepath assigned to the station. I have to admit I found her beyond creepy. Always.
Vir Cotto is Londo’s new diplomatic aide and he’s really kind of a mess, a lovable mess.
The main plot points are:
1. The attack on Ragesh 3(or III), a Centauri agricultural colony by persons unknown. They become known soon enough though.
2. The raiders who rob cargo ships and kill the crews. There is an unexpected connection to the first plot point as well.
Minor plot points are the Earth elections and the fact that Earth wants to stay out of any interstellar conflicts. Also we find out that Ivanova has a deep dislike for Telepaths and the Psicorp and why. Then there is Garibaldi’s second favorite thing… his first, well, that is anyone’s guess.
We see just how ruthless the Narn are in their attack on a small agricultural colony with no defenses. We see how devious Londo is and we get a peek at how passionate he is about his people and his family. We see how Garibaldi has his finger on the pulse of everything that goes on on Babylon 5 and his dedication to his duty. Then there is Sinclair, who seems to stubbornly find ways to do what he thinks is right even if it means being a little tricky sometimes and taking advantage of any loophole he finds.
Here are some important things to remember as well:
The Centauri see their own deaths. Londo has seen his at the hands of G’kar.
Things and people on Babylon 5 are never what they seem. Never!
There are couple of quotes I love in this one:
Londo: “… Only one thing matters: blood calls out for blood.”
G’kar: “…What happened, run out of small children to butcher?”
Then there is this wonderful exchange, which, in the end, really says it all:
Kosh: “They are alone. They are a dying people. We should let them pass.”
Cmdr Jeffrey Sinclair: “Who, the Narn or the Centauri?”
Kosh: “Yes.”
Questions to ponder:
1. Did you wonder if perhaps Ragesh 3 was not strictly an agricultural colony? Why or why not?
2. What was your impression of Psi Corp from what Talia and Susan said?
3. Who did you like the best in this episode?
4. Are there unanswered questions you’d like to discuss?
5. Which seems more villainous: the Narn or the Centauri?
6. Favorite quote? Scene?
Sources:
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/001.html
http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Midnight_on_the_Firing_Line
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_on_the_Firing_Line
http://www.kayshapero.net/b5review/Midnight.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517669/
***** ALL POSTS REMAIN OPEN FOR COMMENT. *****