"The Coming of Shadows" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 2X09, "The Coming of Shadows". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
The Centauri emperor visits Babylon 5.

Extra reading:
The article for "The Coming of Shadows" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

III. Consequences

[selenak.livejournal.com]

As opposed to Chrysalis, Morden doesn't show up on screen; it's not necessary, because Londo doesn't need to be tempted externally anymore, and certainly not unaware of just what is at stake. Since Points of Departure, he has known what kind of weapon he suddenly has at his disposal; and now, he decides to use it. When G'Kar catches up with him and buys him that drink, you can see the dawning horror on Londo's face. Like G'Kar, he hears words he never had thought he'd hear, and he knows they're sincere. But unlike G'Kar, Londo does not decide to act on this by reversing his previous behaviour. (Mind you, I don't think it would have stopped the war if he had - the attack was already proceeding - but if Londo had subsequently opposed the war, it might have ended very differently. See also the results he gets when he does decide to, err, make Refa change his mind in s3.) Londo, as opposed to G'Kar - who is a revolutionary at heart - is a traditionalist; acknowledging having been wrong about something basic and following up on this isn't impossible for him, but it will take far, far more for him to get there, and both the galaxy and himself will be the worse for it. For now, and for the rest of the season, he draws MacBeth's conclusion; he has steeped in blood so far that he has to go on.

"How will it all end?" the dying Emperor asks, and Kosh replies: "In fire."

(Sidenote: for the record, I take this as an indication Kosh is aware of the Vorlon idea of how to deal with Shadow-affiliated planets and people this time around, though he may already disapprove.)

Londo isn't the only fatalist around. However, there is one last irony waiting for them all, and that, too, is hidden in his dream. MacBeth might die full of sound and fury, signifying nothing; his death, brought about by the man whose children he killed, doesn't have any meaning for him (though of course it means a lot for the other people in his drama). Emperor Turhan, who realized that he let other people make the choices in his life, was robbed of the results of his own last choice; his death is a part of the last thing he would have wanted, another war with the Narn. G'Kar's choice to try peace seems to be flung back in his face, and his second important choice - to stop his rampage and listen to Sheridan - will take a while to bear fruit. Meanwhile, Londo's choice has immediate results, the ones he wanted (as empty as they already feel), and long-term wise, his choices seem to be the one winning out over the others, leading to that final image he sees in his dream, a death carried out in mutual hatred.

And yet: Turhan's words - "The hatred between our people can never end until someone is willing to say, 'I'm sorry' and try to find a way to make it right again, to atone for our actions" - will be prophetic in a two-fold way. (Vir's "I'm sorry" this very season and his subsequent actions, for one; Londo's entire s4 and 5 relationship with G'Kar, and again, that crucial phrase, spoken out loud in public to a Narn, by the head of the Centauri Republic, nearly three years after Turhan wanted to say them.) G'Kar's willingness to make an incredible leap of faith regarding one particular Centauri will result in freedom for his people. And by the time the last part of Londo's dream catches up with him, the meaning will have changed, changed utterly.

A terrible beauty was born.

Re: III. Consequences

[kathrid.livejournal.com]

MacBeth might die full of sound and fury, signifying nothing; his death, brought about by the man whose children he killed, doesn't have any meaning for him

I have to disagree with you here. MacBeth continues to value his life and power, even after all the prophecies come true. When MacDuff shows up the embodyment of them he chooses to fight on. He backs up his violence and ambition with the stubborn determination and courage that saw him lauded at the beginning of the play for his deeds in battle. Although he recognises the wrong in his actions, he is quite happy to live with the results and defy the prophecies if he can.

Londo, on the other hand has realised his errors much more fully as crimes and regrets them. Although he has played the part of the tyrant for the Drakh he always intended to rebel when he could, and has accepted his death so he can use it as a weapon against them. By choice he would not have fought it. It was the compulsion put on him that drove the prophecy to it's conclusion. As you say it is part of his decision to apologise that changes the meaning, but it is different from MacBeth's story in more than just meaning. From the freeing of Narn it is different in intent as well.

Re: III. Consequences

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Actually, I don't think we disagree. My MacBeth/Londo comparison doesn't apply for their respective deaths at all which are indeed very different. It's something that struck me during s2 and 3 (especially in episodes like Coming of Shadows and Knives), but Londo's story through the last two seasons is one of redemption, which is the opposite of MacBeth's. (BTW, when I said MacBeth's death doesn't have any meaning for him I didn't want to say he wants to die. But he knows that even if he should defy prophecy and defeat MacDuff, his kingdom is lost to him, his wife is dead, all his crimes were in the end for nothing. Whereas Londo when dying knows that Centauri Prime will be free of the Drakh again, Sheridan and Delenn will keep their promise, Vir will be Emperor. Which is as much the result of Londo's later choices - free Narn, pursue a friendship with G'Kar, apologize, accept the Keeper and the living hell this means instead of dying immediately and letting Centauri Prime be destroyed - as the Drakh on Centauri Prime are the result of his earlier choices (Morden, the war, keeping Turhan's words secret etc.).