"It’s interesting that when Sheridan talks to G’Kar at the reception, G’Kar says he “makes no promises, but I will hear what he has to say” – when his contact on Narn had advised he assassinate the Emperor before the speech. Had G’Kar already decided to at least delay his attack until after the speech?"
Dude, he was lying. When you're set on assassination, who quibbles at untruth?
"Londo, I feel, seems to be as much motivated here by a desire to look cool in front of Refa as an actual desire to see the Narn crushed. He admits he’s just as uncomfortable as Vir, but he’s not willing to back out and look like the weaker man when this is his chance to be recognised as something other than a joke by the powerful."
I give Londo more credit for agency. Uneasy he is, but he does not hesitate to offer up the solution provided by his previous deal with Morden. This solution is not suggested/instigated by Refa. The attack is also the mirror image to the Narn's attack on Ragesh 3 which starts the series, and which didn't end well for Londo's nephew. I also found Vir's involvement questionable as well; he grows during the series, and deals with his guilt. But he is guilty. There may well have been nothing he could do; but nothing is exactly what he chose to do.
"The Rangers – man, I’d forgotten they were introduced here too. I wonder, exactly what sort of human heads to Minbar and agrees to join a new secret intelligence/paramilitary organisation there? Later on, once the Shadows are striking fairly openly, sure, but right now? You’d kinda have to be some sort of nut, yes?"
Sinclair is a nut. He's obsessive and suffering from survivor guilt and PTSD. He needs a purpose, a reason he's alive when so many others are not. When his 'connection' with Minbari souls and the reason for the end of the war was revealed to him after Santiago's assassination, I rather think he jumped at the chance to pursue his destiny on Minbar, and as leader of the Rangers. I myself am fascinated by Garibaldi's balancing act, as an officer of EarthForce, and loyal supporter of Sinclair and his new agenda.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-08-20 02:34 pm (UTC)Dude, he was lying. When you're set on assassination, who quibbles at untruth?
"Londo, I feel, seems to be as much motivated here by a desire to look cool in front of Refa as an actual desire to see the Narn crushed. He admits he’s just as uncomfortable as Vir, but he’s not willing to back out and look like the weaker man when this is his chance to be recognised as something other than a joke by the powerful."
I give Londo more credit for agency. Uneasy he is, but he does not hesitate to offer up the solution provided by his previous deal with Morden. This solution is not suggested/instigated by Refa. The attack is also the mirror image to the Narn's attack on Ragesh 3 which starts the series, and which didn't end well for Londo's nephew.
I also found Vir's involvement questionable as well; he grows during the series, and deals with his guilt. But he is guilty. There may well have been nothing he could do; but nothing is exactly what he chose to do.
"The Rangers – man, I’d forgotten they were introduced here too. I wonder, exactly what sort of human heads to Minbar and agrees to join a new secret intelligence/paramilitary organisation there? Later on, once the Shadows are striking fairly openly, sure, but right now? You’d kinda have to be some sort of nut, yes?"
Sinclair is a nut. He's obsessive and suffering from survivor guilt and PTSD. He needs a purpose, a reason he's alive when so many others are not. When his 'connection' with Minbari souls and the reason for the end of the war was revealed to him after Santiago's assassination, I rather think he jumped at the chance to pursue his destiny on Minbar, and as leader of the Rangers.
I myself am fascinated by Garibaldi's balancing act, as an officer of EarthForce, and loyal supporter of Sinclair and his new agenda.