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b5_revisitedRecap and Discussion for 2 x 9 – The Coming of Shadows
JMS himself said this is THE episode in the B5 story so far. It was a game changer and also won a Hugo award on 1996. This one is big.
It is the episode in which several characters come to the point of no turning back. Londo, G’kar and Sheridan as well.
The elderly Centauri Emperor readies himself to travel to Babylon 5. He has something important to do, he tells the Prime Minister, as he bids him stay behind and also bids him goodbye.
G’kar, on B5, makes a formal protest over the Emperor being allowed to come to B5. Sheridan tells him that the Emperor is coming and perhaps he take the opportunity to open a dialog with him.
After the break, we see a man we do not know come aboard the station. So does Garibaldi.
Londo and Refa are discussing the emperor’s trip to B5. Londo is to get up after the Emperor speaks and hint that under the old Emperor, there could be coming crises, crises which Refa has assured him WILL happen. Thus when the bad things happen, it’ll be out with the old and in with the new, a nephew who is in league with Refa and his group. After Refa leaves, Londo says this upsets him to Vir.
The Emperor comes aboard, meets Sheridan and his staff and says he’d love to see a Vorlon.
G’akr plots with a member of the Kha’Ri to kill the Emperor.
The Emperor tells Sheridan that he is here to seize a moment to do something on his own, something important.
The human who boarded before is watching Garibaldi in the Zocalo.
G’kar makes his will and prepares to kill the Emperor. He goes to the reception.
The man follows Garibaldi, who is following him and Garibaldi catches him and has him put in a holding cell until after the reception for the Emperor.
The Emperor collapses on his way to the reception. His telepaths immediately let the other two telepaths on Centauri prime and thus the Prime Minister knows too.
Franklin tells the Emperor of his grave condition and the Emperor insists that Franklin give someone a message from him.
Refa and Londo meet and they decide they need to do something to sure themselves of control so Londo says they can a Narn colony in Quadrant 14 as a show of strength. Londo assures Refa that he can make this happen and when Refa leaves, he asks Vir to contact Morden. Vir begs him not to but Londo insists.
While G’kar is ranting about not killing the Emperor, Franklin gives him the message that the Emperor is truly sorry for all the wrongs done to the Narn people and in particular the wrongs his own family has done. G’kar is stunned. .
Shadow ships attack Quadrant 14, destroying the Narn colony. Refa leaves to order Centauri ships to Quadrant 14 and, unbeknownst to Londo, orders the PM killed.
G’kar runs into Londo and buys him a drink, drinks the Emperor’s health. Londo can’t understand why G’kar is so happy… he has no idea what the Emperor has said to him.
When the Centauri and the Narn arrive at Quadrant 14, there is devastation. The two sides fight.
Zack tells Garibaldi that the man wishes to talk to him. The man hands Garibaldi a data crystal. The man on the crystal is Sinclair.
He tells Garibaldi a little about the Rangers and their mission and warns him to watch out for shadows.
Word comes in to B5 of the attack at Quadrant 14. Word comes to G’kar as well. He goes on a rampage, stopped by Sheridan and a security detail. G’kar finally returns to his quarters, where he weeps.
The Vorlon visits the dying Emperor, who asks, “How with this end?” Kosh replies, “In fire.”
Garibaldi mentions the shadows to Sheridan, sort of.
Refa and Londo visit the Emperor and tell him about the attack and the old man whispers something to Londo, who lies and says he said “Take my people to the Stars” then he dies. Outside he tells Refa the Emperor said they were both damned. Refa laughed it off, saying it’s a small price for immortality.
They hold a council meeting, Sheridan insisting that an oversight group go to see that the civilian population is freed but Londo agrees that they will be to keep a committee away.
The Narn declare war on the Centauri Republic.
Refa leaves.
The Ranger says one other person knows of his presence. We see Delenn watching a Data crystal from Sinclair…
*
Quotes:
"I understand just fine. By this time tomorrow, we will be at war with the Narn. May the Great Maker forgive me."
– Londo Mollari
Questions:
1. Did you suspect the human who came aboard at the beginning was good or bad? Were you surprised by the disc from Sinclair?
2. What did you think of the old Emperor? I have to say I found him quite grandfatherly.
3. Do you suppose Morden is still nearby or is he where the Shadows are?
4. Hoe DO those Shadow ships get to places soooo quickly?
5. Were events already so set in motion that nothing could have stopped them? Or could Londo not sending the Shadows to Quadrant 14 have saved the situation? Would the Emperor have died by Refa’s machinations had he not died from illness?
6. Do you consider this episode as pivotal as JMS did? Was it worthy of a Hugo?
*
Sources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coming_of_Shadows
The Lurker’s Guide: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/031.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/The_Coming_of_Shadows
Babylon 5: The Coming of Shadow by Jane Killick, pages 85-91.
JMS himself said this is THE episode in the B5 story so far. It was a game changer and also won a Hugo award on 1996. This one is big.
It is the episode in which several characters come to the point of no turning back. Londo, G’kar and Sheridan as well.
The elderly Centauri Emperor readies himself to travel to Babylon 5. He has something important to do, he tells the Prime Minister, as he bids him stay behind and also bids him goodbye.
G’kar, on B5, makes a formal protest over the Emperor being allowed to come to B5. Sheridan tells him that the Emperor is coming and perhaps he take the opportunity to open a dialog with him.
After the break, we see a man we do not know come aboard the station. So does Garibaldi.
Londo and Refa are discussing the emperor’s trip to B5. Londo is to get up after the Emperor speaks and hint that under the old Emperor, there could be coming crises, crises which Refa has assured him WILL happen. Thus when the bad things happen, it’ll be out with the old and in with the new, a nephew who is in league with Refa and his group. After Refa leaves, Londo says this upsets him to Vir.
The Emperor comes aboard, meets Sheridan and his staff and says he’d love to see a Vorlon.
G’akr plots with a member of the Kha’Ri to kill the Emperor.
The Emperor tells Sheridan that he is here to seize a moment to do something on his own, something important.
The human who boarded before is watching Garibaldi in the Zocalo.
G’kar makes his will and prepares to kill the Emperor. He goes to the reception.
The man follows Garibaldi, who is following him and Garibaldi catches him and has him put in a holding cell until after the reception for the Emperor.
The Emperor collapses on his way to the reception. His telepaths immediately let the other two telepaths on Centauri prime and thus the Prime Minister knows too.
Franklin tells the Emperor of his grave condition and the Emperor insists that Franklin give someone a message from him.
Refa and Londo meet and they decide they need to do something to sure themselves of control so Londo says they can a Narn colony in Quadrant 14 as a show of strength. Londo assures Refa that he can make this happen and when Refa leaves, he asks Vir to contact Morden. Vir begs him not to but Londo insists.
While G’kar is ranting about not killing the Emperor, Franklin gives him the message that the Emperor is truly sorry for all the wrongs done to the Narn people and in particular the wrongs his own family has done. G’kar is stunned. .
Shadow ships attack Quadrant 14, destroying the Narn colony. Refa leaves to order Centauri ships to Quadrant 14 and, unbeknownst to Londo, orders the PM killed.
G’kar runs into Londo and buys him a drink, drinks the Emperor’s health. Londo can’t understand why G’kar is so happy… he has no idea what the Emperor has said to him.
When the Centauri and the Narn arrive at Quadrant 14, there is devastation. The two sides fight.
Zack tells Garibaldi that the man wishes to talk to him. The man hands Garibaldi a data crystal. The man on the crystal is Sinclair.
He tells Garibaldi a little about the Rangers and their mission and warns him to watch out for shadows.
Word comes in to B5 of the attack at Quadrant 14. Word comes to G’kar as well. He goes on a rampage, stopped by Sheridan and a security detail. G’kar finally returns to his quarters, where he weeps.
The Vorlon visits the dying Emperor, who asks, “How with this end?” Kosh replies, “In fire.”
Garibaldi mentions the shadows to Sheridan, sort of.
Refa and Londo visit the Emperor and tell him about the attack and the old man whispers something to Londo, who lies and says he said “Take my people to the Stars” then he dies. Outside he tells Refa the Emperor said they were both damned. Refa laughed it off, saying it’s a small price for immortality.
They hold a council meeting, Sheridan insisting that an oversight group go to see that the civilian population is freed but Londo agrees that they will be to keep a committee away.
The Narn declare war on the Centauri Republic.
Refa leaves.
The Ranger says one other person knows of his presence. We see Delenn watching a Data crystal from Sinclair…
*
Quotes:
"I understand just fine. By this time tomorrow, we will be at war with the Narn. May the Great Maker forgive me."
– Londo Mollari
Questions:
1. Did you suspect the human who came aboard at the beginning was good or bad? Were you surprised by the disc from Sinclair?
2. What did you think of the old Emperor? I have to say I found him quite grandfatherly.
3. Do you suppose Morden is still nearby or is he where the Shadows are?
4. Hoe DO those Shadow ships get to places soooo quickly?
5. Were events already so set in motion that nothing could have stopped them? Or could Londo not sending the Shadows to Quadrant 14 have saved the situation? Would the Emperor have died by Refa’s machinations had he not died from illness?
6. Do you consider this episode as pivotal as JMS did? Was it worthy of a Hugo?
*
Sources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coming_of_Shadows
The Lurker’s Guide: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/031.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/The_Coming_of_Shadows
Babylon 5: The Coming of Shadow by Jane Killick, pages 85-91.
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