"Mind War" discussion [spoilers]

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X06, "Mind War". 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 "Mind War" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[wychwood]

Chalk me up as another Bester lover *g*. He's so massively creepy here, and gets so many of the best lines! I like his introduction, where they're "talking" to the customs guard (and that's Jack, right? We'll be seeing him again!) and he doesn't realise they're not using their mouths *g*. They're really excessively nasty, though. I mean - the Psi Cops always *are*, rather, but I do wonder a little why they don't realise how counterproductive it is. Or perhaps that's a "tone" argument, and they're that nasty because everyone already hates them? And I hadn't realised that Black Omega showed up so early in the series - perhaps Byron is with them? *g*

I do get rather puzzled by Sinclair's strategy, though. I mean, he clearly hates Bester and Kelsey on sight, but he keeps trying to intervene when, actually? He doesn't have the right. I do understand why he wants to jump in when they're hurting Talia, for instance, but he keeps trying to order them around, and... he doesn't get to do that. I like the fact that they've got their official story set up at the end, though! They antagonise Bester, but not the whole corps. Though, if I were them, I'm not sure I'd rely on even a Psi Cop's ability to lie to telepaths! It's not a particularly safe game.

But actually, my favourite part of this episode *isn't* the Bester thread; it's Sakai (who is fantastic in this one) and G'Kar, who really shows his potential here. I love Sakai talking to herself, all sarky, when she gets to Sigma 957 and it all looks fine. And Sakai and Sinclair bickering in the morning; he's being all controlling, but she smacks him down (because she's still independent!) without either of them looking stupid. It's clearly not something they take personally, it's just... how the pair of them are, and I like the level of mutual respect behind it.

G'Kar has some brilliant lines; the "ant" speech, of course, but also his earlier exchange with Sakai - "Why?" "Why not?" "That's not an answer!" "Oh yes it is, it just isn't an answer you expected or wanted." *g*. I also like the way he responds to Sakai's mistrust of him; he's really classy about it, in fact. And it's a genuine honest warning, too; I can't see any real reason for him to do it, beyond what he actually tells her. I'm not sure I'd registered before, but the way it's set up, it looks at first as though G'Kar is setting up a hit on Sakai, and it's not until later that we realise what he's actually doing! Nice setup.

And little things: I don't particularly like the "Garibaldi's having dodgy thoughts about Talia!" scene, but I *do* like how well he takes the punch to the stomach. Ivanova's line to Bester is totally classic: "All the moral fibre of Jack the Ripper. What do you do in your spare time? Juggle babies over burning coals?" *g*. And I'm left wondering, watching Ironheart's destruction, what the insurance must be like on B5! There's always someone blowing up the station...

(...which, um. That's apparently all I have to say about Ironheart? I don't hate him, but... he doesn't do much for me either.)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

They're really excessively nasty, though. I mean - the Psi Cops always *are*, rather, but I do wonder a little why they don't realise how counterproductive it is. Or perhaps that's a "tone" argument, and they're that nasty because everyone already hates them?

Good question. You could make an argument either way. What's his name, Harriman from Eyes, isn't nasty but is a Psi Cop. On the other hand, Bester is perfectly pleasant with Lochley during his first s5 visit, and Lochley is the first station commander to treat him courteously instead of hostile when he shows up. (But then, she has another type of backstory with him.) It's a hen and egg question, I think, with both Psi Cops and "mundanes" bearing some fault.

Though, if I were them, I'm not sure I'd rely on even a Psi Cop's ability to lie to telepaths! It's not a particularly safe game.

Quite. Though as it turns out Bester is really good at lying to other telepaths, considering his secret alliance with Sheridan between late s3 and mid s4.*g*

Like you, I really like the way the Sinclair and Sakai relationship is presented.