"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

[vjs2259.livejournal.com]

I remember not really liking this episode the first time through. Better now.

What struck me first was the two questions...Who are you? and What do you want?, that Sinclair asks Knight Two right off the bat.

The empty station was scarier this time (as imhilien said). But I think that I'm one of those people (like Sinclair apparently, and definitely like Sheridan) who get attached to places. It's a big part of who they are; it's Their Station, their baby, their commission, their responsibility. Since the first four, and especially B4, came to bad ends, I would be a trifle worried, waking up to silence and desertion. Good evocation of a nightmare.

I thought Delenn's smile at Franklin when he asked what she did during the war was a little creepy and off-putting, knowing what we know now. Not a sign of the guilt that she shows later. Her thank-you immediately before that is so sincere, too.
I remember thinking on first viewing that Delenn must be some sort of junior Satai, and not completely trusted. After Sinclair's speech about wanting to strangle every Minbari he sees, the assumption she makes that he will recognize her as his friend seemed foolish and naive, if terribly brave. The Minbari in her quarters I thought was checking up on her, making sure she was still aware of her mission, and committed to it. Maybe he was afraid she was 'going native', getting too sympathetic to the humans.
I don't think they knew more than that Sinclair had all or part of Valen's soul at this point. Not what it meant, and certainly not that he WAS Valen in a very real way. And if they did suspect it, there would be denial and disbelief.
They are being conservative and cautious and balancing shock and dislike at this point. I'm pretty sure that Delenn says they had only recently found the pictures she showed the others in WWE; but it may have been the pix of the White Star, not of the B4 station. I got the impression that study of that one thousand year ago period was a little eccentric, and most Minbari believed the Shadows were never coming back, hence their letting the Rangers lapse into a second rate, not well supported, relic of past times.