Kind of a weak episode for a variety of reasons – mainly because the Streib plot takes time away from the more interesting Delenn and General Hague plots, and also because Sheridan’s dream ends up not really going anywhere.
Then again, even if Sheridan’s dream had proven meaningful, I still wouldn’t have liked it – compare it with Londo’s dream. Londo’s dream works because even on a first viewing it’s fairly clear what it means – the mystery is how these events will come to pass, not what they are. Sheridan’s dream is a collection of random symbolic images that would have been impossible to interpret correctly the first time around even if they were pointing at anything specific.
And if Kosh is sending the dream, as is implied – well, why’d he wait until Sheridan was several sectors away in hyperspace before sending it to him? And how can Kosh know about the things the dream is about? Admittedly, since most of the dream turns out to be not that meaningful after all, that’s not that much of a problem – I guess Kosh just decided to send some random symbols at Sheridan to get his attention.
Delenn plot – same as selenak, I found myself rather more sympathetic to Neroon than I was expecting, and was rather hoping we’d get more of him mocking Delenn instead of yet more “Sheridan tries to lever open a suspiciously slightly open door”. In “Legacies”, Delenn used her power as Satai to force Neroon to assist in her deception; it’s clear he’s quite relishing the opportunity to deliver a little payback. And it’s rather hard to disagree with his assessment that the Grey Council is out of touch with Minbari society.
Random thought – it seems Delenn has never bothered to let anyone know that she consulted with Kosh before undergoing her transformation... you’d think that would carry some weight.
General Hague: Can’t help but feel the tone of the conversation would be a lot less dubious if Hague had been instead a senator or something – hell, they could have used Marie Crane, the opposition leader mentioned in “Midnight on the Firing Line.” Unfortunately there series is fairly consistent in portraying Earth’s entire political class as complicit in Clark’s regime.
Just me, or did the dialogue between Sheridan and Hague need rewriting a little bit? As it is, their conversation can be paraphrased as: Hague: Your record makes you look like the sort of jarhead who’d go along with Clark’s plans. Sheridan: How do you know I won’t turn you in, then? Hague: A man’s record says a lot about him, and yours tells me you’re not the sort to go along with Clark’s plans. Sheridan: ...alright.
Minor notes:
- Damnit, if you’re going to do an alien abduction episode, give the aliens a flying saucer! I know, I know, the Vree already have them – but the makeup’s the same anyway; go all out! And don't try and do Geiger-esque techno-organic interiors unless you've actually got the budget for it...
- Ramirez seems to get more characterisation and a more meaningful death than Keffer did in an entire season...
no subject
Date: 2009-09-01 04:45 am (UTC)Then again, even if Sheridan’s dream had proven meaningful, I still wouldn’t have liked it – compare it with Londo’s dream. Londo’s dream works because even on a first viewing it’s fairly clear what it means – the mystery is how these events will come to pass, not what they are. Sheridan’s dream is a collection of random symbolic images that would have been impossible to interpret correctly the first time around even if they were pointing at anything specific.
And if Kosh is sending the dream, as is implied – well, why’d he wait until Sheridan was several sectors away in hyperspace before sending it to him? And how can Kosh know about the things the dream is about? Admittedly, since most of the dream turns out to be not that meaningful after all, that’s not that much of a problem – I guess Kosh just decided to send some random symbols at Sheridan to get his attention.
Delenn plot – same as selenak, I found myself rather more sympathetic to Neroon than I was expecting, and was rather hoping we’d get more of him mocking Delenn instead of yet more “Sheridan tries to lever open a suspiciously slightly open door”. In “Legacies”, Delenn used her power as Satai to force Neroon to assist in her deception; it’s clear he’s quite relishing the opportunity to deliver a little payback. And it’s rather hard to disagree with his assessment that the Grey Council is out of touch with Minbari society.
Random thought – it seems Delenn has never bothered to let anyone know that she consulted with Kosh before undergoing her transformation... you’d think that would carry some weight.
General Hague: Can’t help but feel the tone of the conversation would be a lot less dubious if Hague had been instead a senator or something – hell, they could have used Marie Crane, the opposition leader mentioned in “Midnight on the Firing Line.” Unfortunately there series is fairly consistent in portraying Earth’s entire political class as complicit in Clark’s regime.
Just me, or did the dialogue between Sheridan and Hague need rewriting a little bit? As it is, their conversation can be paraphrased as:
Hague: Your record makes you look like the sort of jarhead who’d go along with Clark’s plans.
Sheridan: How do you know I won’t turn you in, then?
Hague: A man’s record says a lot about him, and yours tells me you’re not the sort to go along with Clark’s plans.
Sheridan: ...alright.
Minor notes:
- Damnit, if you’re going to do an alien abduction episode, give the aliens a flying saucer! I know, I know, the Vree already have them – but the makeup’s the same anyway; go all out! And don't try and do Geiger-esque techno-organic interiors unless you've actually got the budget for it...
- Ramirez seems to get more characterisation and a more meaningful death than Keffer did in an entire season...