"Voices of Authority" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 3X05, "Voices of Authority". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
Ivanova tries to find new allies among the First Ones with the help of Draal, while Sheridan tries to keep this a secret from the station's new political officer.

Extra reading:
The article for "Voices of Authority" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[ruuger]

Much of the Julie Musante plot - just like Ivanova's sex dance in S2 - is one of those things that really rub me the wrong way now that I'm no-longer the 19-year-old who was watching this show back in the day :)

(although I have to admit that I do still find the "you are about to go where every man has gone before" line kinda funny *slaps wrist*)

That said, I do like the dinner scene and the "Earth has no homeless" discussion because Musante's arguments are eerily similar to arguments that you hear used in real life to explain away inconvinient truths.

[scifisentai]

*nods* I think the Julie Musante thing could have been done so much better. You want a liaison to keep an eye on the potentially problematic space station? Great idea, go for it. But did she really have to be a 'screws her way to the top' character? *sighs*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You know, I realized I must have always skipped this episode upon my dvd rewatchs before because I don't recall seeing it in English until now, and the dubbed version missed out that it was Ed Wasser's voice talking to Clark, i.e. that it was Morden who notified Clark of Santiago's demise.

I am amused that between the season opening and this episode, JMS seems to have redrafted Marcus' character. Now Mr. "I don't talk unless I've got something to say" the brooding hero has become the lightheartedly prattling Ivanova foil I usually think of when recalling Marcus Cole. (Good redraft, too.)

The Julie Musante plot: agreed that her hitting on Sheridan as a way of political control doesn't age too well, but that the whole "no homeless, no problems" discussion is still effective. Back then I thought Musante was a satire on both fascist and Orwellian types. (Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia...) These days, I'm more reminded of the more recent past.

The Zack-Garibaldi scene is my favourite thing about the episode, though, because of its emotional reality. And I really like that Zack's deepening dilemma of his involvement with Nightwatch versus principles isn't made easier by Garibaldi being nice, understanding and forgiving. (I'm thinking of the "oh, but character X would so have gone light side if only the good guys hadn't been so mean and judgmental" reactions in fandoms of other shows, about Lindsey MacDonald in the first season of Angel, for example.) It makes Zack's eventual choice far more effective.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Maybe the first episode Marcus characterisation was because he was trying to follow some official Ranger persona, but then he loosened up?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You could be on to something. As was observed last time, Marcus in the first episode is as cryptic as Soon to be Valen!Sinclair. Clearly, he was still following his role model then and now has reverted to his real self. *g*

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

Re: Orwellian character/recent past

The two are not mutually exclusive, as somneone (or probably more than someone) once said, those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it. Orwell and JMS are commenting on the same things, and since Orwell came first, JMS references. I don't think Mustante was meant as a satire, but certainly, she is an Orwellian character used to comment on the present (or the dangerous potential within it, which was to be come our recent past). There are quite a lot of explicit Orwellr eferences in B5., the Ministry of Peace itself being one of them.

Redefining language was also an Orwellian theme.
I am, however, impressed how candid she is about it ("since we rewrote the dictionary")- it shows how confident Clark's Regime already is. Dramatically, I like this line - it gives me the appropriate chills.

General: Back in the day, this was the second episode I watched properly ever, and between WFG and this, I think I pretty much saw the scope of the show...

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I have so many problems with the Musante character: she could have been so good, and wound up a badly-acted cliche. I wish they'd kept the Welles character from the end of season 2. And not just because I would have paid money to see him try and seduce Sheridan. Not that I ship Sheridan/Neroon or anything, because obviously Neroon would never betray Branmer like that. I just ... like it.

Also, it bugs me that the notion of assigning B5 a political officer never comes up again. Surely the Ministry of Peace could have spared someone? It seems like carelessness not to try.

[algeh]

Well, they only had a few more episodes (not sure how much in-universe time, but I'd guess a max of a couple of months) before the station isn't exactly putting out the welcome mat for the Ministry of Peace anymore...

[kathrid.livejournal.com]

From the context I'd say more like a month from this to the fighting starting. There's only so long Clark can spin out 'forensic tests' on the evidence before people become too restless to get away with it.

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

A much weaker episode than I remembered, largely due to a lack of subtlety in the Musante plot (Has “purge” ever had non-negative connotations?) and a lack of follow-through on both plots – the Great Machine never seems to be used as a Palantir again.

On the other hand, it is nice to get our first introduction to Marcus as he would be for the rest of the show, as opposed to the generic angsty Ranger in “Matters of Honor”. And Zack’s plot is very strong, starting with the amusing banter with Garibaldi in the teaser and ending with a state of absolute distrust between the two, developing very naturally and slowly.

I like seeing the Sigma 957 First Ones again, and think it’s a shame that they didn’t end up in Lorien’s role – they clearly don’t approve of the Vorlons, and it’s unclear whether they actually fought in previous Shadow Wars or if that’s just more Vorlon lies. They could have been the guys who fill everyone in on what’s *really* going on, and are just unwilling to do so at the moment since they think Ivanova’s just another Vorlon stooge.

Musante – well, as everyone else has said, her plot just doesn’t work right. To a degree, the script seems a little confused as to whether she’s a naïve true believer or self-aware schemer, and she seems to leap from challenging Sheridan’s authority to seducing him with little intermediate steps. It doesn’t help that Musante really isn’t attractive enough to make “abrupt nudity” seem like a reasonable strategy on her part…

It is a little surreal to see Sheridan arguing in favour of absolute military authority, while Musante is the one sticking up for civilian oversight over what is, after all, a largely civilian colony.

Minor Notes:

- I’ve mentioned before I’m not a fan of new Draal – here, he seems to be crossing a line from ‘light-hearted’ to ‘going insane’. Which, admittedly, would be an interesting plot. And didn’t the guardian of the Great Machine used to be a lot more securely wired into it?

- The Army of Light really needs to start coming up with cover stories for their secret meetings. You’d think they’d have learned their lesson after “Matters of Honor”

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Re: Palantir - forgot to say that Ivanova's encounter with the Shadows is one of the most blatant LotR homages of the entire show, though I was thinking less of the Palantirs than of Frodo looking into Galadriel's mirror.

The Sigma 957 First Ones in Lorien's role: that would have been fabulous.

There should be a competition as to who is worst in covering up secret meetings. The Army of Light is high up there, but Vir, bless him, asking Londo in front of the Imperial Guards "do you think they know?" is also a candidate.:)

[vjs2259.livejournal.com]

Catching up.

Code 7R. Used by Mission Control to indicate 'time to watch B5'. 7 Conspirators and a Ranger. Zack asks Musante about it? That always struck me as odd, and possibly a dangling plot thread. Shows Zack frankly as someone not to be trusted. If Garibaldi's instincts are too paranoid, Zack's are way too trusting. They are two sides of the same picture.

Marcus's attitudinal change. Jeez guys, the last time we saw him he had escaped from a colony being strangled to death by a blockade, seen a friend blown to bits, and almost died himself. He was a little low, okay? I like to think this is the real Marcus springing back.

Sigma 957 alien's attitude towards Vorlons. Foreshadowing of the 'squabbling siblings' concept of the First Ones. They're as bad as the rest.