"A Late Delivery from Avalon" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 3X13, "A Late Delivery from Avalon". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
A man claiming to be King Arthur arrives on Babylon 5.

Extra reading:
The article for "A Late Delivery from Avalon" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

It’s funny that this episode and “Sic Transit Vir” were swapped because JMS felt there needed to be a lighter episode after the Severed Dreams sequence, when I feel this episode actually works a lot better as a bit of a break from the major event episodes. Now, admittedly, that’s partially because of the major problems I had with “Sic Transit Vir” as a comedy, but also because this episode despite having some very serious moments is much more fun to watch. It’s got Sir G’Kar, King Arthur returning to Babylon 5 is a fun idea for a stand-alone episode, and the post office plot is one of the few times I think the show’s done that sort of broad comedy in a way that makes me laugh out loud rather than cringe. Plus, “Sic Transit” ends on a bit of a downer, while “Avalon” ends with David largely cured and going off to help the Narn resistance – what’s not to enjoy about that?

On Marcus’s comparisons – I suppose there’s no reason to assume Marcus would be an Arthurian scholar, but it annoys me that ‘Merlin ages backwards’ is treated as a proper part of the Arthurian mythos when it’s purely a creation of T. H. White in the twentieth century. Of course, if we are accepting that trope, then Sinclair becomes a better choice for Merlin than Kosh.

If you like strained comparisons, then if Kosh is Merlin, Sheridan can be the Lady of the Lake/Nimue, in that he’s a student of Kosh who learns his secrets and who becomes the cause of Kosh’s death. Both Kosh and Merlin know their students will cause their destruction, but continue their instruction nonetheless.

The (presumably intended) comparison of Anna Sheridan to Morgan le Fay strikes me as a little insulting to the latter – Anna as seen on screen is a barely autonomous plot device, hardly in the same league as the Arthurian sorceress. Of course, Morgan wasn’t originally a purely villainous character, and despite her later characterisation as the arch-villainess, she still managed to maintain a benevolent role in later sources as one of the sisters who carry the mortally wounded Arthur off to Avalon… which I suppose would make her B5 counterpart Lorien. Which is also a little insulting to Morgan, but I guess it’s a step up from Anna.

So, where did Arthur/MacIntyre get the sword and armor from?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

the post office plot is one of the few times I think the show’s done that sort of broad comedy in a way that makes me laugh out loud rather than cringe

Same here, I forgot to mention this.

On Marcus’s comparisons – I suppose there’s no reason to assume Marcus would be an Arthurian scholar, but it annoys me that ‘Merlin ages backwards’ is treated as a proper part of the Arthurian mythos when it’s purely a creation of T. H. White in the twentieth century.

:) *g* Yes. Mind you, Marcus isn't the only one. After I marathoned Merlin the BBC show I read some meta and it amused me how often the objection "but isn't he supposed to age backwards?" was raised. Now Merlin takes about a thousand gazillion liberties with the traditional myth presentations, but this isn't one of them. Kudos to Mr. White for imprinting so much on people.

Oh, I like Sheridan as Nimue! It even works with Sheridan keeping a bit of Kosh inside him for a while.

Poor Anna isn't in the same league as Morgan Le Fay, yes. Lorien - well, we could stretch again and say the ambiguity of the character is kept by letting him be played by the same actor as Sebastian, so the one who hurts and the one who heals are the same, which is Morgan-esque. Of sorts.

So, where did Arthur/MacIntyre get the sword and armor from?

When in doubt, blame the Vorlons. Maybe they picked him up after the Battle of the Line and equipped him with some leftovers from earlier recruitments?