"In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 2X17, "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
Sheridan finds out about a connection between Morden and Anna. Night Watch begins to recruit members on Babylon 5.

Extra reading:
The article for "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

One of the classics. During original broadcast time, this was the episode which made me finally accept Sheridan emotionally, precisely because we see his darker side here, I guess. (It's one of the few times where the show does intentionally show him in the wrong.) It made him three dimensional to me, I could understand without condoning what drove him in the episode. I also remember how much that moment where Zack hits upon the frequency which makes the Shadows in Morden's cell visible for just a second scared me. Great horror film effect. And of course I loved Vir's scene with Morden.

Rewatch thoughts with the benefit of hindsight: This, Interludes and Examinations and Z'ha'dum are probably the best Sheridan-centric episodes of the show, and if I had to choose between the three, In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum would win. The moment early on when he says "my wife and my career" were the two things which defined him resonates with the central "who are you?" question as he's going to have to give up the career and in a way kill his wife again. "Who are you?" is also a question for the viewers who up to this episode have only seen Sheridan in the standard "heroic captain/leading man" role. What I admire about this episode is that the show doesn't try to justify his treatment of Morden with "but he's a villain/Morden is guilty". That's why the scene with Garibaldi is so important. (Also for Garibaldi's characterisation, btw. As opposed to Zack, whose willingness to join Night Watch in the subplot is paralleled with his willingness to accept Sheridan's orders even though he knows as well as Garibaldi did what Sheridan does is illegal.)

The very brief Shadows materialisation scene is still as effective as ever. So is Vir's scene with Morden. I find it interesting that Morden is the one person whose death Vir really rejoices in later on; as opposed to even Cartagia. (Though you could argue Vir getting drunk after Cartagia's death is because he's the one who had to do it, I suppose, and that he wouldn't have if the assassination had happened as planned with Londo as the killer.) Oh, and since Londo obliges Vir by really putting Morden's head on a pike, I wonder who told Londo of Vir's words to Morden - Morden or Vir?

This episode also marks the return of Delenn's determined and steely side, and a welcome return it is, after seeing her crumble in tears in the last couple of episodes. Incidentally, I don't think she had actual confirmation about Anna's alive or dead status, but she knew it was a possibility, and also that she couldn't afford Sheridan to contemplate an alive Anna. Hence point blank economy with the truth.

Franklin's "do you believe in God?" talk with Ivanova: back then, it struck me as another example that this show has its characters have religious beliefs of various kinds as opposed to most other genre shows. It's more common now, but I still like the way JMS uses religions convictions, or lack of same, for his characters.

[beatrice_otter]

I never saw the Zack parallel before; thanks for pointing it out.

I don't think anyone told Londo about what Vir said to Morden. Putting criminals' heads on pikes as a warning was fairly common in a variety of Earth cultures; the way Vir mentions it so casually and so concretely, I'm fairly certain the Centauri have the same system. He wasn't talking about something he was going to do, or something he was having to make up; this was the natural consequence of Morden's actions, and Vir just wanted to be around to see it, and he wanted it to happen sooner rather than later.