"Ceremonies of Light and Dark" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 3X11, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
Nightwatch targets Delenn because of her involvement in Babylon 5's secession. Londo attempts to sever the ties between Centauri and the Shadows.

Extra reading:
The article for "Ceremonies of Light and Dark" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Bit of a weak point in this run of episodes – one wonders if it might have been better if there had been no attempt at an action plot whatsoever, and it had just been pure denouement for the last few episodes. As it is… eh, the Nightwatch plots always had problems when it came to subtlety, and while I understand what JMS was going for, it feels a bit obvious – and faintly medieval as a storytelling technique – to have the ‘true face’ of the Nightwatch be actually physically uglier than the clean cut officers seen in previous episodes.

Londo once again manages to overshadow the entire rest of the episode with only a few scenes. Of course, one of those scenes is Londo explaining that the Centauri are far more entertaining than the Minbari, so there’s a bit of meta-commenting there *grin*.

One aspect that bugs me a little is the Marcus scenes – Delenn comes across as extremely pushy. Now, granted, a big part of the ritual does seem to be pushing people out of their comfort zones and forcing them to admit uncomfortable secrets, but I don’t have the sense that Delenn knows Marcus well enough to justify her refusing to let the issue of his non-participation drop. I don’t know – on rewatching, it feels to me like Delenn and Marcus are treated as if they’ve known each other a lot longer than they actually have. It’s a little awkwardly handled.

It’s funny, but while I’m not a big fan of Sheridan/Delenn, but when I rewatch the show, I end up finding myself supporting them just to spite Lennier. I mean, alright, you’ve got a crush on your mentor – who hasn’t? But a ‘perfect, pure love’? I think I hurt myself rolling my eyes enough to take in that statement.

Ergh, the AI subplot. I had vague memories of this plot, but I couldn’t remember what episode it was in or find any mention online to it, so I ended up assuming it was actually from a different show and I’d misremembered. Anyway it’s… it’s not very good, is it? I mean, it could theoretically be funny, but the execution is just the same punchline over and over again until it just fizzles out unresolved. And outside of this ‘story’, AI technology doesn’t seem to exist in the setting, so the setup feels very contrived.

I like to imagine there’s some ISN propagandist on Earth working out how to spin things when the station goes back on the air. He gets a tip off from an unammed source that B5’s command crew have ditched their Earthforce uniforms for all-black ones of alien design… he thinks about it, then decides it’s ‘too obvious’ to use as propaganda material.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

He gets a tip off from an unammed source that B5’s command crew have ditched their Earthforce uniforms for all-black ones of alien design… he thinks about it, then decides it’s ‘too obvious’ to use as propaganda material.

Bwahahaa. True that.

I mean, alright, you’ve got a crush on your mentor – who hasn’t?

While Delenn certainly crushed on Dukhat, I don't think Na'Toth did on G'Kar. As for Vir, he clearly loves Londo to bits, but in a family type of relationship fashion and without idealizing him at the same time. It's a pure love. *g* Okay, more serious now, Lennier is deluded as hell here, and maybe it's because I recently listened to Camelot, but I expect him to start sing C'est Moi any time now in the Marcus scene. Maybe because the self delusion is that obvious I don't think "what a prick" but "oh, Lennier, you really need to grow up, poor guy".

Delenn and Marcus: not sure, because while she nominally turned over command of the Anla'shock on the station to Sheridan, she seems to be the one in actual charge of the Rangers on B5. So it's in a way her job to push Marcus, especially if she think he'll just internalize and stew and explode at a future point otherwise, since she's his sort-of-boss. Though perhaps the more tactful thing to do would have been to sic Lennier on him to begin with, since Marcus clearly finds it easier to tal to Lennier as an equal.

[beatrice_otter]

I like to imagine there’s some ISN propagandist on Earth working out how to spin things when the station goes back on the air. He gets a tip off from an unammed source that B5’s command crew have ditched their Earthforce uniforms for all-black ones of alien design… he thinks about it, then decides it’s ‘too obvious’ to use as propaganda material.

ROFLMAO.

Yes, THIS.

They really are snazzy uniforms. But seriously, folks? Seriously? And JMS is usually so careful about his symbolism, too.