Recap and Discussion: 2 X 18 Confessions and Lamentations

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Confessions and Lamentations is my favorite Babylon Five episode. Season 2 is where Delenn loses, and then finds her way after her transformation at the end of Season 1. And she is my favorite character. And this is one of her best episodes, where her penchant for straight-forward and uncompromising morality shows to her advantage. Her vulnerability is also on display, and I am a sucker for that. There is some quite reasonable science, some tour de force scenes and backstory for Stephen, and a great secondary character in Lazarenn. Oh, and two big J/D scenes!


( To the Recap! )

Questions? I have no questions. I have always admired that the science behind infection, the uselessness of hiding from an airborne infection on a station with recycled air was used as a plot point. However they should have thrown out a statement that they couldn't filter or decontaminate the air since they didn't know enough about the pathogen to set the parameters. Because they must do that or everyone would have colds and common infectious disases, assuming they still have those in 2259.

The yellow and green cell stuff was a little whack though.

Anyway...we have a progression in John and Delenn's relationship, more evidence of Lennier's hero worship of Delenn, confirmation of Stephen's single-minded dedication to his work and his addiction to stims, all very good stuff. JMS describes this as not a 'wham' episode, but I think it packed a lot of emotional punch.

Discussion Points:

1. The Markab are one of the few races that have ancestral memories of the Shadows (see 'The Long Dark'). Do you think the Shadows are taking out the races that remember them--the Markab and the Narns? The Minbari might be let alone because they are protected by the Vorlons, or they might be too big to take on this early.

2. Apparently JMS put in the little story of Delenn's getting lost as a child and having a vision (of Valen??) before being found by her parents as more evidence that she sees herself as having a destiny. This will come up again very soon, in Comes the Inquisitor. Is she being vainglorious or is she 'special'? Was it Valen she saw?

3. I'm not sure Stephen Franklin is a good manager. Inspirational certainly, but his drive and uncompromising nature seem to intimidate his staff. Not to mention his burgeoning drug problem becoming an issue. Is brilliance enough to maintain a working team of professionals in an area where you might not have a ready pool of qualified and trained replacements? Or are these are all military folk who can't quit?

What did you like/dislike about Confessions and Lamentations? Let me know!