"And the Sky Full of Stars" discussion [spoilers]

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X08, "And the Sky Full of Stars". 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 "And the Sky Full of Stars" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[wychwood]

Wow. This is definitely one of the big episodes, isn't it! And, interestingly, an episode with, essentially, no B-plot. Everything in the 42 minutes feeds into the attempt to break into Sinclair's memories.

Major air-time for the Requiem for the Line, still one of my very favourite B5 themes.

The biggest thing I noticed here was how well-adjusted Sinclair is! His speech about the line was so powerful, and I really believed that he wanted to kill the Minbari he saw afterwards - "I saw the death of the whole human race", indeed. But we know from the show that he actually has an excellent relationship with Delenn, that he's clearly able to deal with Minbari, despite his past. That takes some doing. And again - they try to guilt him with Mitchell, and though he clearly remembers and mourns that death, he isn't willing to take responsibility for things that aren't actually his fault. Mitchell died disobeying orders, not because of them, and Sinclair knows that, even under stress and drugs and torture.

Other minor Sinclair notes: he's a Marsie! I hadn't remembered that. Although we're also told that he was an Earthforce brat, which might translate to higher status. Also, he apparently sleeps wearing a belt, which I find a little disturbing!

Delenn is the other important character here... I love her little conversation with Franklin about the war; it's set up as her being all grateful for his ethical stance, etc etc, poor little alien protected by the brave human *g*, and then Franklin's question turns it around on her, pointing up the comparison with her own rather bloody history! Which I guess we-the-viewer don't know at this point, any more than Franklin does, but in retrospect it's quite a striking moment.

And at the end, watching her walking out like that when he's armed and crazy: that takes serious guts, and a real solid belief in the relationship that she has with Sinclair, that she'll be able to reach him when even Garibaldi can't. And she's right; Sinclair, even maddened and hallucinating and taken right back to his lowest, remembering the fear and the hatred of the Minbari that he had back on the line, remembering Delenn there as one of his torturers - he still doesn't shoot her. I'm not sure, on a plausibility level, that I find it that convincing, but it's a powerful enough moment that I don't care!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

And at the end, watching her walking out like that when he's armed and crazy: that takes serious guts, and a real solid belief in the relationship that she has with Sinclair, that she'll be able to reach him when even Garibaldi can't. And she's right; Sinclair, even maddened and hallucinating and taken right back to his lowest, remembering the fear and the hatred of the Minbari that he had back on the line, remembering Delenn there as one of his torturers - he still doesn't shoot her. I'm not sure, on a plausibility level, that I find it that convincing, but it's a powerful enough moment that I don't care!

It showcases Delenn's courage at a point where the new audience just has been given reason to be suspicious about her (would a newbie know she's not a villain?), and thus deepens her as a character. I also think that in addition to her trust in Sinclair and the friendship she's established with him, she believes she'll be able to reach him because of the Valen factor. Don't forget, later we find out Delenn as a child was lost and thought she saw Valen then, helping her; and she does have that iron conviction she's a woman of destiny. She's definitely a woman of faith. So she believes in him both because of Sinclair and because of Valen.

[wychwood]

she does have that iron conviction she's a woman of destiny. She's definitely a woman of faith

True! And I think she'd have to be, to pull a stunt that stupid *g*. I think you have a good point with the Valen thing, too, that perhaps she thinks she can reach the Valen part of him even through his disorientation.

And I agree: it's particularly interesting in the light of the other revelations in the episode, Delenn getting more complex all the time...

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

Perhaps since she "knows" his destiny, she is sure all will come out well when she walks up to him.

[wychwood]

I don't think she does, though - I mean, my understanding is that the Minbari think that Sinclair is the reincarnation of Valen; they don't know he's actually "Valen in the flesh", as selenak put it. So she thinks she knows what he was and did in his last life, but not anything about his future.

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I was always under the impression that by this time ten years after the war, they knew his identity and sent Delenn to guide him toward the actions that would make him Valen. But perhaps not.

[swashbuckler332.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think so... don't forget the Minbari in Delenn's quarters who recommends she kill him if he figures anything out. They know something was up with Babylon 4, but they until "War Without End" I don't think they ever put all of it together.

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

If not for the Minbari in her quarters, I'd argue with you *grin* but I agree. I don't think they'd kill Valen under any circumstances!

[swashbuckler332.livejournal.com]

Perhaps... but if he was reincarnated once, maybe he'll be reincarnated again. And possibly in a properly Minbari instead of one of those smelly ape things.

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

This is true! A real Minbari would be SO much better!

[kitoky.livejournal.com]

I was under the same impression, but perhaps Delenn and Sinclair hadn't known the specifics. Sinclair is related to Valen in some way, and Delenn knows that, and maybe they finally knew the truth when WWE rolled around and they both opened the chests.

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

I'm not so sure she does either, but for a different reason.

Was the Sinclair = Valen plotline in existence before Michael O'Hare left?

Otherwise, if JMS didn't know, neither would Delenn...

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Also, he apparently sleeps wearing a belt, which I find a little disturbing!

To be fair, he's already in the simulation when he gets up; maybe he doesn't wear a belt in bed in real life, but in the simulation, he just imagines himself wearing a belt as soon as he gets up...