"Deathwalker" discussion [spoilers]

[ruuger]

This is the discussion post for the episode 1X09, "Deathwalker". 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 "Deathwalker" at Lurker's Guide.

Comments

[widsidh.livejournal.com]

This is the first real evidence of the Vorlons' paternalistic attitude, whereas previously they had just been distant and mysterious.

Depends how far you stretch the meaning of "paternalistic"
(the Vorlons themselves would probably use the term...)

This is also the first time we see just how ruthless the Vorlons are. The obviously premeditated execution of Jha'Dur, after the refusal to take part in any negotiations shows how far the Vorlons are prepared to go to force their views.

It is also interesting how their role in the Shadow war makes us forget this kind of incident and casts them as the good guys. I remember the shock of Kosh2 at the beginning of season 4, when in fact the clues had been there all along.

This is quite a clever and interesting manipulation of the viewers' perception, especially in the way that it mirrors manipulations hapening in the real world.
remeber, at the time this went out, the first Gulf War was still recent, and there was civil war in (then still partly) Yugoslavia, from which one of the cast was a refugee.

[alexcat.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes the Vorlons actually thought of themselves as 'gods' even more than paternalistic. They certainly did not mind making decisions when they weren't asked and they refused to be accountable to anyone. And the Minbari seemed to perpetuate this myth ot the other races, especially the humans.

[shapinglight]

Depends how far you stretch the meaning of "paternalistic"
(the Vorlons themselves would probably use the term...)

I'm sure they would, though of course their brand of paternalism, as you rightly say, isn't always benevolent. In fact, sometimes quite the opposite.