"The Summoning" Discussion

[aris-tgd.livejournal.com]

This is the discussion post for the episode 4X03 "The Summoning." Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Summary:
Zack makes a discovery in the search for Garibaldi. Delenn's plan to attack the Shadows runs into trouble. Ivanova and Marcus attempt to solicit aid from more First Ones.

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

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Again, I shall try my best to comment on non-Centauri events first and keep the raving to the last.

"Everyone I hold dear is gone": so much for you, Lennier. :) Seriously, I think it's simply a script oversight by JMS rather than Delenn intentionally slighting her devoted aide, but in my heartless moments, I am inappropriately amused, especially since Delenn not only lists Sheridan, Ivanova and Marcus but even Londo and G'Kar in her "missing from the station" account. Speaking of Delenn, it's good to see her active again, and in my head she had a brilliant speech of her hown all worked out to convince everyone when Sheridan arrived. And speaking of Lennier and his less than thrilled face upon that arrival, this is one of those scenes why I don't think events in Objects at Rest are out of character.

The Lyta/Kosh II scene is even more obvious a metaphor for domestic/sexual abuse than the last time. I guess JMS wanted to make sure we're all on board with Sheridan's "let's kill Kosh II" plan the next episode.

I don't ship them, but the Marcus/Ivanova exchanges are cute at this point.

Poor Garibaldi. All in all, I think it was the right choice to make it clear from the start that he's Under The Influence, but I still regret his upcoming arguments about Lorien and the difference in reactions to Sheridan's return versus his own thus get deflated from the start.

Meanwhile, on Centauri Prime, G'Kar is in for more biblical torment (39 lashes), and the director does the highly effective budget saving lighting of a few actors in a dark room again (see: Comes the Inquisitor, and all Grey Council scenes), and this particular version is my particular favourite. It's everyone's facial reactions that make the scene so extraordinary, Cartagia staring, Vir nearly throwing up on Londo's shoulder, Londo and G'Kar looking at each other while the flogging goes on. In terms of emotional importance to the characters, I find it interesting that this is one of the things Londo (or his inner G'Kar) blames himself for because as opposed to his early dealings with Morden, the bombing of Narn or later the matter of G'Kar's eye, this actually isn't a time when Londo speaking up would have made a difference to what happened to G'Kar, imo. And I find it downright fascinating that when Londo's subsconscious restages this scene in The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari, he doesn't simply switch roles with G'Kar, which would have been the obvious thing to do, no, while he takes G'Kar's place G'Kar takes Cartagia's.

The Londo and G'Kar scene in the cell before the flogging is as intense as ever; I must be dull and repeat my "gods of acting" praise from last week for the actors. G'Kar has taken humiliation for the sake of his people before (in his dealings with Sheridan and Delenn in Acts of Sacrifice, for example), but not on the advice of his nearest enemy so far, and yet in this particular situation, I don't think anyone but Londo could have persuaded him...