Not much to add that hasn't been extensively discussed already. This is one of my favorites from S1 as well, and begins a run of four important episodes (to my mind at least).
I have to admit, the most important thing for me, is the arrival of Lennier, as he is one of my favorite characters. Such lovely innocence and curiosity. Delenn finally shows more of herself, especially her humor and empathy, but also some steel and authoritarianism.
I liked Catherine and Sinclair, or rather Catherine mostly. The 'can't live with you, can't live without you' relationship is more than adequately portrayed to my mind. (Has anyone ever written anything about her aunt and his brother, and why they only ever inquire about those relatives? Inquiring minds want to know.)
When we first watched this, my then-three-year-old, who was fixated on G'Kar, referred to the Narn ever afterwards as 'the man who was afraid of a flower.'
The rebirth ceremony (which apparently has many aspects, and will show up again in Ceremonies of Light and Dark, or rather won't show up) is fascinating, and that's the sexiest bit of ritual ever. Do Minbari really get married with an exchange of meaningful looks? After forty or fifty rituals leading up to the finale, I suppose a look might do.
The first time I really liked the parade of religions at the end, but this time it only raised questions. First, I don't think we can assume that the other races only had one demonstration each; the thing went on a whole week after all. The ambassador's presentation would be the most important, but there could well have been more. I also wonder that EarthGov would declare such an event and not dictate what Sinclair should do. It seemed to me that he was doing this on his own (Susan and Garibaldi didn't know what he was up to) and that this was a compromise on his part. It seemed more of a showcase for the whole 'humans build communities' riff that comes up later.
Do you think the aliens saw it as a comeuppance (we can tolerate more diversity than you) or evidence of the human's youth and unseriousness (they can't even settle to one religion!) And where did all those people come from? Were they all on the station? Was the delay in Earth's presentation due to their having to get there? I also wonder at the contrast between how humans are presented as tolerant of diversity within our own species, but then we're xenophobic and intolerant of aliens. Or at least some of us are.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2009-02-23 01:38 am (UTC)I have to admit, the most important thing for me, is the arrival of Lennier, as he is one of my favorite characters. Such lovely innocence and curiosity. Delenn finally shows more of herself, especially her humor and empathy, but also some steel and authoritarianism.
I liked Catherine and Sinclair, or rather Catherine mostly. The 'can't live with you, can't live without you' relationship is more than adequately portrayed to my mind. (Has anyone ever written anything about her aunt and his brother, and why they only ever inquire about those relatives? Inquiring minds want to know.)
When we first watched this, my then-three-year-old, who was fixated on G'Kar, referred to the Narn ever afterwards as 'the man who was afraid of a flower.'
The rebirth ceremony (which apparently has many aspects, and will show up again in Ceremonies of Light and Dark, or rather won't show up) is fascinating, and that's the sexiest bit of ritual ever. Do Minbari really get married with an exchange of meaningful looks? After forty or fifty rituals leading up to the finale, I suppose a look might do.
The first time I really liked the parade of religions at the end, but this time it only raised questions. First, I don't think we can assume that the other races only had one demonstration each; the thing went on a whole week after all. The ambassador's presentation would be the most important, but there could well have been more. I also wonder that EarthGov would declare such an event and not dictate what Sinclair should do. It seemed to me that he was doing this on his own (Susan and Garibaldi didn't know what he was up to) and that this was a compromise on his part. It seemed more of a showcase for the whole 'humans build communities' riff that comes up later.
Do you think the aliens saw it as a comeuppance (we can tolerate more diversity than you) or evidence of the human's youth and unseriousness (they can't even settle to one religion!) And where did all those people come from? Were they all on the station? Was the delay in Earth's presentation due to their having to get there? I also wonder at the contrast between how humans are presented as tolerant of diversity within our own species, but then we're xenophobic and intolerant of aliens. Or at least some of us are.