"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

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Probably the weakest episode in a very strong run on either side of it. Yeah, ‘Grey 17’ is silly – but it’s a fun sort of silly. This just feels like a waste of time.

I think the main problem is the A plot is focused exclusively on the least interesting regular character, Dr. Franklin. To a degree, the episode is almost commenting on the character as written – who is Franklin, besides his job? I don’t know, but unfortunately this episode doesn’t do much to make me care about him either. Londo might be an interesting enough character to justify an entire episode being written about him meeting an attractive woman and sleeping with her, but nobody else really is, let alone Franklin.

Oh, and can I just mention that the term ‘walkabout’ originated as something of a disparaging description by white landowners of the supposed tendency of Aboriginal workers to disappear for days at a time? In so far as ‘walkabout’ actually exists as an actual spiritual journey, it generally refers to coming-of-age ceremonies in which an adolescent will attempt to retrace the paths of his people’s mythical ancestors. Now it’s entirely possible that it’s intentional that Dr. Franklin has completely mangled the meaning and is cheerfully appropriating bits of a culture he knows nothing about, and that this is part of demonstrating he’s still a self-centred arrogant ass that needs a kick in the head, but it bugs me.

The plot with the singer might be also meant to illustrate that Franklin’s still being a judgemental ass – but it lacks any real bite since, well, Franklin is pretty justified in assuming the singer’s an addict after she’s, you know, asked him to buy her narcotics then stolen his wallet to buy some all without explaining that she has a legitimate need. It just feels pointless filler. Oh, and her looking through prisms thing? I guess it’s meant to be cute, but it seems like it’d really get on your nerves if you actually had to spend time with her.

Um. B-plot. I’m going to interpret it as symptomatic of Vorlon arrogance that Kosh2’s impersonation of Kosh consists entirely of saying “KOSH!”, rather than, you know, trying to get an encounter suit or ship that looks like Kosh’s. You will not question the Vorlon ambassador!

Man, Lyta gets no respect – I mean, I remembered nobody was really friends with her, but I’d forgotten that nobody even directly informed her Kosh was dead!

Oh, and what exactly is a Narn warship bringing to the fight that couldn’t be provided by, say, another Minbari cruiser?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

As one of the biggest Londo fans in the cosmos I still have to say G'Kar is also interesting enough to justify an A-Plot about him meeting an attractive woman and sleeping with her. :) (Not that we ever got it, but I always thought the backstory of his affair with Mariel would be fun, in a vicious Narn/Centauri kind of way, which is why I wrote it (http://archiveofourown.org/works/13991).)


Man, Lyta gets no respect – I mean, I remembered nobody was really friends with her, but I’d forgotten that nobody even directly informed her Kosh was dead!

To be fair, they probably didn't know how to reach her wherever she was, but Sheridan could have informed the customs people to let him know when she gets back to the station so he could tell her in person. Or have Ivanova do it, at least. But no, Lyta gets no respect. Which is why I always thought the s5 development when she finally hit her limit of being used was logical.

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

Oh, and what exactly is a Narn warship bringing to the fight that couldn’t be provided by, say, another Minbari cruiser?

Morale.

Also, Delenn may not have another cruiser to spare!