Without doubt one of the best episodes of the season, largely because of Londo.
For a long time I doubted Londo. I liked him, and even when I disagreed with him I understood his decisions. But I always wondered why he was a diplomat when he never seemed to make the kind of inspiring speeches the others made, instead delivering flat, boring and usually insincere governmental statements.
Of course, in part that's due to the Centauri governmental style. He's simply not allowed to deviate far from what the Emperor wants him to. It's also in part due to the writing, which becomes increasingly Narn-sympathetic through the series. G'Kar gets many chances to shine, while Londo doesn't.
Until now. Here, for the first time, you see Londo's diplomatic quality in full glory, showing exactly the talent that got him so far, and that the Drakh want to use against the Alliance. It's a forerunner of the speech he's going to make over Centauri Prime after the war - dramatic and inspiring. The only thing it lacks is knowledge, which is what immediately undercuts his effort to stop the accusation. This is rectified by the next time we see his speak publicly, which I will comment on when that episode comes up.
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Date: 2011-02-14 06:55 pm (UTC)For a long time I doubted Londo. I liked him, and even when I disagreed with him I understood his decisions. But I always wondered why he was a diplomat when he never seemed to make the kind of inspiring speeches the others made, instead delivering flat, boring and usually insincere governmental statements.
Of course, in part that's due to the Centauri governmental style. He's simply not allowed to deviate far from what the Emperor wants him to. It's also in part due to the writing, which becomes increasingly Narn-sympathetic through the series. G'Kar gets many chances to shine, while Londo doesn't.
Until now. Here, for the first time, you see Londo's diplomatic quality in full glory, showing exactly the talent that got him so far, and that the Drakh want to use against the Alliance. It's a forerunner of the speech he's going to make over Centauri Prime after the war - dramatic and inspiring. The only thing it lacks is knowledge, which is what immediately undercuts his effort to stop the accusation. This is rectified by the next time we see his speak publicly, which I will comment on when that episode comes up.