"The Parliament of Dreams" discussion [spoilers]

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X05, "The Parliament of Dreams". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware.

Extra reading:

The article for "The Parliament of Dreams" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I was happy to get to this episode, because this is where I remember falling in love with the show -- specifically, with the scene of Londo at the banquet telling everyone they were cute. That was such a fun, spontaneous- seeming bit of characterization and it's the moment I remember thinking for the first time, "I'm really going to enjoy getting to know these people."

On rewatching, I was surprised how comedic the G'Kar assassination plot played out. I think that made up for it being a bit predictable -- the writers must have realized it was pretty obvious G'Kar wouldn't be assassinated, and just decided to have some fun with how he would react to those situations. Of course, there is a darker theme underneath, as we learn some sobering things about how Narn politics are conducted. But mostly it was just fun.

The Catherine/Sinclair romance, on the other hand, was stiff stiff stiff. I thought there was some decent writing in their exchanges, but it would have needed a lighter touch to come off well. Points for the Tennyson though; totally overdone, but as a 'Ulysses' fan I still enjoyed it.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You have to give JMS his endearing Tennyson fanboying; even when Sheridan showed up, and he couldn't just transfer literary fondnesses, he had Sheridan finding "someone's" copy of Ulysses in his quarters to quote from...

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Ha ha -- I'd forgotten that, how awesome!

I feel like I read something else where JMS quoted Ulysses recently. Maybe an issue of 'Thor.' Or maybe that was Lincoln (Sheridan's obsession) that he revisited. Either way, I do adore his earnest fanboying.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

He did revisit Sheridan quoting his father on "never be the one to start a fight; always be the one to win it" in The Changeling, when Angelina Jolie quotes it to her son early on. It made me grin. Aw, JMS.

[madrona.livejournal.com]

I call this episode the real first episode, and I always start the noobs on it rather than Midnight on the Firing Line.