Lost Tales: Voices in the Dark: Over Here discussion

[ruuger]

Changing the schedule a bit so that we're discussing the two stories in Lost Tales separately (thanks for the suggestion, widsidh).

This is the discussion post for Lost Tales: Voices in the Dark: Over Here. 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:
Lochley joins forces with a Catholic Priest when a man arrives on B5 claiming to be possessed by a demon.

Extra reading:
The article for Lost Tales: Voices in the Dark at The Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

I actually liked this one. Whether he was a demon or not, he was some sort of creature bent on manipulating those around him. Telepath? No, I don't think so. Perhaps he was simply another early inhabitant of earth that got swallowed up by humans and lurked around in the darkness as the shadows did.

The priest reminded me of Father Theo in appearance but doesn't seem to have the great humon that Father Theo had. NOr the great faith. I suppose it is no coincidence that the priests look like priests are 'supposed' to look.

Lochley had aged a bit but then don't we all. I liked her determination and found it to be very much in character for her. She'd have made a good detective.

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Oh, we're doing these seperatly? And I already wrote up my thoughts on both... Ah well, guess I'll save my rant about the Sheridan story for next week.

Anyway, this half was a perfectly servicable little science fiction story. My only quibble is that it really reinforces the sense I get from all the attempts at spin-offs that the B5 universe really doesn't have any stories left in it - this story felt like it would have been more at home as part of the Twilight Zone or some other anthology series, even compared to some of B5's own stand-alone stories. The connection to the rest of the B5 universe seemed tenous at best - no mentions of the Vorlons, telepaths, Brother Theo, or any of the many other established setting elements that seemed like they should have come up in this situation.

(And it did seem like Lockley ended up in the story more because she's practically the only character who's religious beliefs haven't been established rather than because there was any real reason to use her - not so much a good fit for the story as much as everyone else would have been a bad fit...)

And if it is to be taken as part of the B5 setting, then it rather requires that setting be placed in a Christian – or at least monotheistic/Abrahamic – cosmology. Yes, there’s other explanations for the demon, but none of them are even mentioned in the story, and the story doesn’t work unless we believe he’s a real demon.

But, no, I did enjoy it. A fun spin on demonic posession, and while the low budget was obvious, it didn't seem to limit the show that much - this was a story that would always have been little more than a couple of people in an empty room.

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

In a way the Lost Tales feel like B5 again the way Crusade (&c.) didn't.

I particularly like this one; it is a neat little tale about faith in the space age. I like Fr Cassidy's realistic attitude to his faith, and I think he had a similar kind of humour to Theo, just a bit more quiet ("not even a delinquent seraphim left behind afte the general evacuation"...!).

I also loved Lochley quoting (well, paraphrasing) Revelations at a self-proclaimed denizen of hell.

I don't think it is necessary to believe that the thing possessing Burke really is a demon the way the Abrahamic traditions understand it. We've seen beings taking over the consciousness of others before, for better (Exogenesis) or worse (Keepers). I liked the fact that the question of its true nature was left open (Star Trek would have gone on to say "look, it's just another alien").

And, last but not least (and arguably first), I loved the opening titles with G'Kar's voice.

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

The problem is that if it is some sort of alien, the story doesn't make any sense - the thing clearly wants or needs to be exorcised by a priest to escape its imprisonment. That seems like pretty clear evidence that it really is something supernatural.

Its true nature isn't left open - it pretty much has to be a demon and no other options are considered.

[dragonladyk.livejournal.com]

Its true nature isn't left open - it pretty much has to be a demon and no other options are considered.

Which is why the true title of this one should be "Anvilicious." This bit felt more like being preached at than a fictional story, and therefore seriously depleted my viewing pleasure. I'm just glad I didn't pay for the thing.

DragonLady