"Born to the Purple" discussion [spoilers]

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X03, "Born to the Purple". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Extra reading:

The article for "Born to the Purple" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[wychwood]

Though the not-recognizing-the-station-commander thing is a bit more believable than not recognizing the regular customer; presumably Sinclair doesn't go to the Dark Star otherwise

Slightly more! But we know he was in there with G'Kar and Londo only, what, two days earlier? And Londo must have been in there all the time. Craziness, anyway. *g*

That's very true about Ivanova - she's very alone here, more so than even after Marcus' death. It's funny - she's never terribly open to people, but in comparison with how she is a couple of years later, she seems desperately closed in on herself. (Though the speech from her father was hilariously As-You-Know-Bob... exposition is hard!)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Exposition is. The funny thing is, JMS swings it far better in Centauri scenes. I mean, Midnight on the Firing Line has Londo give Sinclair the all important information about his death dream and it doesn't feel forced, and in Born to the Purple, Londo and Adira convey information about a society they both come from which still doesn't feel redundant (presumably because when Adira says "I am Centauri; your title pleases me", it comes across as half-teasing, half serious and conveys something about the relatioship as well.

...and then we have Lorien in season 4. Who could be called Walking Exposition. *cringes*