"Walkabout" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 3X18 "Walkabout". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
Kosh' replacement arrives on B5, Sheridan and Lyta test Shadows' weakness, and Franklin tries to find himself on a walkabout in Downbelow.

Extra reading:
The article for "Walkabout" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Not so. Byron is still the universal champion of being more critisized than any other character. Honestly, I only ever met one B5 fan who actually liked Byron, and she was a teenage girl not on lj.

[ruuger]

I like Byron...

(well, more in theory (and through his relationship with Lyta) than in practice, but I don't hate him)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

:) I like his scenes with Bester. His with Lyta (and pretty much everyone else) make me cringe, but I do like that his death is the final step to her going Dark Phoenix. Anyway, with Byron I wonder whether another actor could have sold me on the character as this charismatic and flawed leader JMS seems to have intended him to be, or whether the writing wouldn't have worked even with a stellar performer, but be that as it may - he's lucky we got Jason Ironheart to compare him with. Is all I'm saying. :)

[kathrid.livejournal.com]

My opinion of Byron is similar. I feel he is over-hated because of the horribly sappy love arc, and his association with very bad community singing.

I've always felt that the whole pacifist/martyr thing he had going was intended to be an act. He rejected Bester so hard he was trying to be the complete antithesis, but then he's actually more sincere, interesting and likeable when he forgets his new persona, such as when he's talking to Bester in private or when he sets the telepaths on the station diplomats. The Real Byron is good to watch. The Fake Byron is just excrutiating.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

He rejected Bester so hard he was trying to be the complete antithesis, but then he's actually more sincere, interesting and likeable when he forgets his new persona,

*nods* That works for me on a Watsonian level.

[phoenix-silaqui.livejournal.com]

I like Byron too. Actually, I like Robin. He's hilarious.