"The Long Road" discussion

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for "The Long Road". Spoilers for the whole of the series, including the spin-offs and tie-ins, are allowed here so newbies beware. If you have any fanworks related to this episode, you can also leave links to them in this post.

Summary:
The Excalibur is sent to help a mining company that's being terrorised by a techonomage.

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

Comments

[all_strange_wonders]

Oh, this episode. Alwyn. Dragons. Peanut butter. This is not one of my absolute favorite episodes (no Dureena and no Eilerson), but it certainly has its moments, and I do like the idea of PW's father Edward Woodward playing one of Galen's father figures. Personally, I prefer the little snippets of backstory on Galen better than what we get in the Technomage trilogy, but YMMV.

edit for a forgotten word

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I found this one a bit dull, as all the characters seem too sensible for anything really bad to happen. Also if you watch this after "Racing the Night" it's impossible to buy Alwyn's apparent death.

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

I liked this one. I loved The Equalizer when it came on TV and it was fun to see Edward Woodward acting with his son. I think this show was more tyo give us information than anything else, giving us some background on Galen and showing that he wasn't the only technomage who disagreed with the others and who felt that the world could still use their help.

Though we do see it reiterated that Galen's place is with Gideon. Those two were slashy when I first saw it and they still are.

Besides, who doesn't love a golden dragon.

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

I loved it.
Granted, there was not all that much by way of interesting plot, but it made up for it in random detail.

The conversation Galen and Alwyn are having while Alwyn's creatures are beating up the pub's clientele is priceless!

Haven't made up my mind whether I prefer the dragon or the peanut butter... ;-)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It's enjoyable, and I get a kick out of JMS taking the opportunity to fanboy Michael Ansara ("that voice", rave Alwyn and Galen about Elric). Also about "nobody does dragons anymore" which is clearly the author complaining about that. (And it was true at the time.) Not one of my favourite Crusade episodes (Galen in a central role, no Max or Dureena), but a good one to relax with.

I don't think we were meant to be taken in by Alwyn's fake death - otherwise the script would have had Gideon protest somewhat at shooting him so we'd believe he actually does it. Basically, the audience was meant to be in on the con just like Gideon and Galen were.