Rewatch for Season 5, Episode 1 – No Compromises

Here are the recaps:
Dreamwidth
Livejournal
And The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5.

We have a new day dawning.

Lochley comes aboard as the new CO of Babylon 6 as John gets ready to be sworn in as president of the Interstellar Alliance.
Just another crazy day on Babylon 5:
An assassin sends them a gift of a dead Ranger and comes for Sheridan/
Byron and the telepaths ask for sanctuary on B5 – Lochley says no and Sheridan overrides her. Bad choice.
Garibaldi digs and bitches at Lochley.
And all on her first day!

Not the best version but here is G’kar swearing Sheridan in:

“Fine. Done. Let’s eat!”

Lochley was actually not a bad character. She was a by the book soldier and MUCH cleverer than anyone wanted to give her credit for. Sheridan, of course knew this.

Byron was a very annoying character from day one. He was pretty, though.

Sheridan and Delenn are keeping up appearances by living at both of their quarters by turns. That would be fun!

This is arguably the worst season of Babylon 5 but it did have its moments.

Questions:
1. What was your favorite bit of this ep?
2. Lochley – yea or nay?
3. What did you think of the telepaths? Of Byron?

Recap and discussion for 5 x 22 – Sleeping in Light

And I cried all the way through it. I always have but in 2005, my daughter went out for a Sunday drive with a friend and never returned so it’s always doubly sad to me. It’s like saying goodbye all over again.
And again.

JMS gave the series a lovely and poignant ending.

We open with John dreaming of Lorien. Delenn wakes after he does and she tells him that dreaming about it 3 nights in a row may not mean what he thinks but he tells her it does… that he knows it is time.

He tells her to go back to sleep and he gets up. She joins him a short time later and he says he has never seen the sun rise in Minbar. They watch. He tells her to send the messages.


We see Ivanova in her office listening as her assistant reads her schedule for the day. Suddenly the door pops open and a man says he tried to stop him, the person who came in. It’s a Ranger with a message but sh3e knows as soon as she sees him what it is, a message from Sheridan.

Vir is in bed with his wives, giggling and such, when an aid knocks on the door and says a courier has arrived from Minbar. It’s a Ranger with a letter from Sheridan. He tells the aid to cancel his meetings and arrange for him to go to Minbar.

Garibaldi is reading the financial section when his daughter and franklin come in from a tennis game. They chat and Garibaldi tells his daughter that he’ll be out to play her soon. She runs out to the court and is back in a moment with someone to see her father. It’s a Ranger with the message. He and Stephen are heading to Minbar.

Franklin is examining Sheridan and tells him, after a bit of hemming and hawing, the he may have 4 or 5 days left. He asks John how Delenn is taking it and John says she will be fine. Delenn comes in and Franklin leaves. John asks her if she got everything and tells her he was a celebration, not sadness.

We join the scene with everyone laughing, eating, drinking and talking about their days on Babylon 5. Vir tells a story about hearing the Pak’ma’ra singing and Londo getting teary and saying that that sound must be what god sounds like. He says he misses Londo still.

Joh makes a toast: To absent friends, in memory bright.”
Garibaldi: “G’kar.”
Vir: “Londo.”
Delenn: “Lennier.”
Franklin” “Mar-“
Ivanova: “Marcus.”

After dinner, Ivanova asks Delenn how she is handling it. Delenn tells her she is ready. Susan asks about David and Delenn says he is on a Ranger training mission and his father would rather he remember him as he was. Delenn mentions that she is now president of the ISA and that John has been spending his time with the Rangers. She asks Ivanova if she will be Ranger One in John’s stead. Ivanova says she’d like to think about it.

John asks Delenn if she talked to Susan.

John isn’t sleepy and tells Delenn that tomorrow would be Sunday back on Earth and he tells her about the Sunday drives that he and his family went on every Sunday afternoon. He says he’d like to do that as well, to feel space beneath him one more time.

“I’m going to go for a drive…” he will rise and leave before the others get up, to save the sad goodbyes. He says it will be something everyone will remember, like the Minbari going to the sea.

He puts on his uniform and tells Delenn goodbye. She is dressed in her ‘Sunday best” as well. It’s a perfect day for a drive.

At Babylon 5, a jumpgate opens and John’s White Star comes through. He comes on board the station and finds out that the station is being decommissioned so there is only a shut-down crew there. He walks around and sees Zack, who says every part of the place has people’s fingerprints – layers and layers of people’s lives.

Zack asks Sheridan where he’s heading and he tells him the Coriana system.

He is there and is fading fast as he sees a light and Lorien is with him, asking the questions he asked so long ago, the questions the whole story has revolved around: "Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here? Where are you going? "

He then asks Sheridan, “Did you really think we had forgotten you?”

Lorien reassures him and he sees a bright light: “"Well look at that, the sun's coming up."

We then are on Babylon 5 after the decommissioning. Ivanova narrates then, telling us that Sheridan’s ship was found, but he was not in it. They all go… Garibaldi last. A workman, JMS himself, turns the mli8ghts off for the final time.


They leave in a shuttle, passing through a line of alien ships on either side, paying final respects to the station (and to Sheridan, too, I suspect).

The station blows up in slow motion.

As we see Garibaldi back at home, Franklin with a Pak’ma’ra patient, Zack on Centauri Prime with Vir, Delenn on Minbar in uniform, Ivanova continues:
"Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future, and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future...or others will do it for us. It showed us that we have to care for one another, because if we don't...who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Mostly though, I think it gave us hope that there can always be new beginnings......even for people like us. As for Delenn, every morning for as long as she lived, Delenn got up before dawn and watched the sun come up. "



That’s all. There aren’t any questions left to ask.

Thanks for taking this ride with us and join us soon as we rewatch the movies and Crusade.

I forgot to post this yesterday!

~

Recap and discussion for 5 x 20 – Objects in Motion

IN this episode, everyone is getting ready to leave the station.

Tessa Holloran is arguing with customs as she comes onto Babylon 5 – she is Number One from the Mars resistance and she explains to Zack and the rest that Mars has its own passports. Franklin sees her and tells Zack he can vouch for her. Tessa says she needs to see Garibaldi.

Meanwhile Garibaldi is going through some detoxing as his visitors arrive. Tessa tells him that she has come to warn him that someone is going to try to kill both him and Lise. Tessa is now a member of the new government on Mars and she is trying to uncover the corruption in many of the large corporations, including Edgars Industries. Lise tells her that she was not part of the dark contracts or the corruption in her husband’s company. Tessa tells her and Michael that the corrupt ones in the company want to get rid of her and Michael so they won’t expose them.

G’kar, still hounded by fans, visits Lyta to talk to her about their trip. He is excited though Lyta is skeptical of his motives. A little offended, he tells her the trip is just in time then. He tells her “we are the same in many ways. We are all the sum of our tears. Too little and the ground is not fertile, and nothing can grow there. Too much, the best of us is washed away. My rains have come and gone… for now. Yours are just beginning."

Zack and Franklin brief Sheridan and Zack has a plan to have a celebration and party at G’kar’s leaving. He thinks it will give them time to flush out the assassin and catch him. Meanwhile, Sheridan is housing the two in more secure quarters.

Two men are on the tube, one an officer and the other, is of course the killer. He kills the officer and steals his comm and replaces it with a fake. Zack believes the hit was a pro when they find the body.


Tessa is talking to Sheridan about Mars’ problems with Earth, which is trying to bury them in so much red tape that they are able to take over again but Mars is resistance. She also mentions conflict among people of Mars as well since they are now independent. John tells her that they want Mars to be part of the Alliance and that they’d love to have Mars have a diplomatic presence on Minbar and that they could offer some financial aid outside Earth’s jurisdiction. He tells her he’d like her to stay a few more days, that he has an idea.

The assassin is working on the comm but he can’t yet get into the security feed.

G’kar is watching the decorations go up for the celebration and a young Narn tells him he spent all he had to come here to B5 to learn from G’kar and that he has an obligation to either remain here and teach or go to the Narn homeworld and lead. He has one of the G’kar dolls and G’kar becomes upset when he learns this is the maker of the dolls. G’kar tells him he should go home.


Zack is going through the dead man’s personal effects when he and Franklin figure out the comm is a fake one. Zack is sure the man can hack into the station security.

The man has finally got his stolen comm working so now it’s time to kill some Garibaldi!

Time for the party. Sheridan speaks and Zack sends a squelch over the comm that exposes the killer so they catch him but there is more trouble as G’kar begins to speak, the young Narn from earlier tries to shoot him. Zack pushes G’kar out of the way and the stray shot hits Lise as she and Michael as beside G’kar.

Garibaldi talks Zack into letting him speak with the assassin. He has Lyta there too and she reads the man’s mind, finding out that the whole board at Edgars Industries had hired him to kill both of them. as a parting shot, Lyta reminds Garibaldi of their deal. She is fairly unpleasant.

Sheridan goes to G’kar’s quarters to tell him goodbye. He tells him he will miss him and that he meant all the things he said about him.

Back by Lise’s bed, she wakes and Michael tells her he wants to marry her right now. She agrees.

G’kar and Lyta get ready to leave. No one comes to see her off but Zack watches sadly where she can’t see him.

Garibaldi calls the board of Edgars Industries and they are a right nasty lot, telling him that the head of security sent the assassin and that he has since hanged himself. Garibaldi tells them he k nows what they did and he has dirt on every one of them. He also says he has a 500,000 credit account set up for someone to kill each of them should something happen to him or Lise. He also tells them he expects them to resign immediately.

Tessa and Franklin have a little time together.

Delenn is home and they are there to see Garibaldi and Lise off. Then Delenn tells John she’s never walked the whole length of the ship…



*

Quotes:

G’kar to Sheridan: I believe that when we leave a place, part of it goes with us and part of us remains. Go anywhere in the station when it is quiet, and just listen. After a while, you will hear the echoes of all our conversations, every thought and word we've exchanged. Long after we are gone, our voices will linger in these walls for as long as this place remains. But I will admit that the part of me that is going will very much miss the part of you that is staying.

Sheridan: "How are things on Mars?"
Halloran: "We've had nothing but trouble with Earth since we became independent. They're treating us as if we were still a colony. Everything has to go through Earth: supplies, money transfers, documents. They couldn't kill us with bullets, so they're drowning us in red tape. Frankly, I preferred the bullets. At least there I could shoot back."
Sheridan: "Well, that's the problem when you go from being a soldier to a politician. You have to sit and listen to people you would've shot six months earlier."


*

Questions:

1. Did it all seem to go too fast? Perhaps because we know what comes next?
2. Was I the only person who really didn’t give a flip about Lyta by this time? I never liked her much and this new and nasty Lyta was not an improvement.
3. Do you think the G’kar worship will lessen or become worse in his absence?


*

Sources:
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517676/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
Sadgeezers Cult Scifi Portal: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-20-Objects-Motion.htm
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objects_in_Motion
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Objects_in_Motion
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/108.html

Recap and discussion of 5 x 18 – The Fall of Centauri Prime

And I cried.

At Londo’s sacrifice. At G’kar forgiveness. At Lennier’s confession.

Fire rains down on Centauri Prime as G’kar watches from his cell. Just as his cell is hit, Londo runs in and rescues him, telling him he will find a doctor for him.

Sheridan and his fleet are heading hell bent for leather toward Centauri Prime but they know it’s too late. Garibaldi reports that there has been no sign of Delenn and Lennier yet.

Londo goes to see the Regent and he meets the Regent’s “they” as a Drakh steps out. “Now it’s YOUR turn,” the Regent tells Londo.

Londo knows they worked for the shadows as he asks who they are. The Drakh says: “What are we but a shadow of a shadow? An echo of what was…we remembered you.” Londo remembers Morden saysing the Shadows had many allies. These are they. The Drakh tells him they want a new home and the Centauri are a beaten and resentful people, useful to them. They want Londo.

Sheridan tells the Narn and Drazi to stand down or be attacked but they tell him it’ll just look like he is part of the attack when the Centauri warships return momentarily.

The Regent says that Londo can blame him for everything once he is dead because he has NO CHOICE. At this point, he shows Londo the Keeper attached to him and tell him how it can control him but that it will leave him alone if whatever he is doing does not concern it. The Keeper detaches and the Regent dies.

When the White Star Fleet is almost to Centauri space, Sheridan tells them not to fire. He also asks that someone hunt Delenn.

Delenn asks how much time they have left before life support fails and he avoids her question.

Londo goes to visit G’kar. He tells him that he can no longer be his bodyguard, that he will soon be emperor and that he may never see G’kar again so he wanted to tell him goodbye. He also says that his behavior may be strange over the coming years. He says he hopes that G’kar never understands why.

As he is about to leave he says: "Isn't it strange, G'Kar? When we first met, I had no power and all the choices I could wish to make. Now I have all the power I could ever want, and no choices at all. No choices at all."

G’kar’s answer broke my heart: "Mollari, understand I can never forgive your people for what they have done to our world. My people can never forgive your people. But I...can forgive...you."

Londo goes to the Drakh and gets his Keeper.



There is a transmission from Centauri Prime to their ships but it is scrambled. Then one comes in from Londo. He tells Sheridan that the Regent ordered the attacks on Alliance shipping and they surrender and will not come in firing.

John wants to land and talk about Delenn. Londo talks to the Drakh and begs that she not be killed.

Londo tells John that the Centauri will no longer be part of the Alliance. John says they will be made to pay high restitution. He tells John that the shadow tech on the attack ships was something the Regent got from the Black Market. He tells Londo to order his ships not to harm Delenn. Londo says they ships can only check in at certain times.

Delenn and Lennier are drifting. Their thrusters are dead. Lennier says perhaps they should fire their weapons to attract someone’s attention. They do it and soon Centauri ships come towards them.

In what may be his last chance, Lennier says to Delenn, “I love you.” And in true Han solo fashion, she answers, “I know.”

When it becomes apparent that the ships are not going to attack and use a tractor beam instead, they sort of do a take back about the whole conversation.

Vir bursts in while Londo is dressing and Londo yells at him. Vir says Centauri can’t afford to pay the reparations. Londo tells him it doesn’t matter.

Londo explains to Sheridan, Delenn, G’kar and Vir that the Regent is to blame and that Centauri Prime will no longer be a part of the Alliance. He tells them that he will be crowned emperor alone and that he wishes them to leave, including Vir. He says Vir will be the ambassador to Babylon 5. He says that he will take the oath in silence and the bells will ring once for every Centauri who died.


The bells ring as he walks across to the palace alone.



Back on B5, Franklin talks about what happens when other people inherit or get tech they didn’t even make… cites the Sand Diego bombings. Zack reports the attacks on the Centauri have stopped. And all agree that winning the war may not have been such a good thing this time. They may have lost more than they gained.


*

Questions:
1. Was Londo’s only reason for the isolation the Drakh or did he perhaps think their anger might serve them well in the long run?
2. So did you think that the new Earth mentioned in an earlier ep might actually be the Vorlon home world when humans were old enough to go there (In a million years)?
3. Why did the Drakh let Londo save Delenn?
4. Was the Keeper a part of the Drakh or something leftover from the Shadows too?
5. If the Drakh were leftover servants of the Shadows, did that make the telepaths the leftoivers from the Vorlons? Were they as menacing? Were there plans for telepaths all that different from Bester’s?
6. Didn’t the Narn and Drazi betray the Alliance as badly as the Centauri?


*

Sources:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517702/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon : http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/106.html
Project Babylon: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/The_Fall_of_Centauri_Prime
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_of_Centauri_Prime
Sadgeezers Cult Scifi Portal: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-18-The-Fall-Centauri-Prime.htm
Cap-that.com

Recap and discussion for 5 x 16 – And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder

The episode opens with Sheridan getting up to find Delenn already awake and looking teary eyed into a candle. Later he tells her the shower is free and she still sits, staring. He puts on his slippers letting one fall...


A gavel sounds in the council chambers. When Londo and Vir try to go in, Zack blocks them and tells them it is a closed session. They finally go to their quarters.

Delenn and Sheridan tell the council what they’ve found. Franklin delivers a copy of his findings to Londo then testifies that tests done on the bodies prove that Centauri weapons were used. Garibaldi does the same, telling of the button he found on the Drazi homeworld. Lennier testifies and shows his video.

G’kar comes to Londo quarters to tell him the council wants to see him.

Londo goes before them and denies the whole thing. Londo is shaken by the video and he says he must consult with his government. Sheridan says that the Centauri will be blockaded and any Centauri ship found in Alliance space will be boarded.

Londo contacts his government and he and Vir wait. After a long wait, Minister Cholini comes on and tells Londo that the video is not real, that the attacks are someone else using ‘faked’ or stolen Centauri ships.

Londo goes back to the council and tells then the government position:
1. The allegations are a lie.
2. They withdraw from the Alliance.
3. Centauri does not recognize the blockade and will send warships with each ship from now on.

Then he flounces out and says he’s leaving. Sheridan tells him he will not be allowed to return. Londo tells Vir that he must stay on B5.

Delenn comes to see G’kar. He tells her that he will be going with Londo because he believes that Londo doesn’t know what is really happening and will try to fix things, thus getting himself killed. He gives Delenn the last chapters of his book to get to the Narn if he does not return.

Zack is hunting Garibaldi for Sheridan. He’s passed out in his quarters. Zack tells him he k nows he’s drinking and reads him the riot act but then finally agrees to give him another chance.

BAD idea. Sheridan says even the Centauri will back down in the face of the White Star fleet so he wants Garibaldi to b3e in charge of coordinating them. VERY Bad idea. Garibaldi says he can depend on him then he’s passed out the first time a White Star contacts him and costs lives because he’s drunk again.

War has begun

Vir tries to call Londo but is told he cannot. Franklin comes to fetch Vir and whisk him away to somewhere safe. They are attacked in the hallway but fight their way out.


The Alliance is screaming for protection from the entire White Star fleet. Sheridan tells them they finally have what they wanted all along: War.

"Now we gave you a promise, and we are bound by that promise, and damn you for asking for it! And damn me for agreeing to it! And damn us all to hell, because that is exactly where we are going! We talked about peace. You didn't want peace! We talked about cooperation. You didn't want cooperation! You want war! Is that it? You want a war? Well, you've got a war!"

Londo and G’kar arrive just as the Regent declares they are at war. They come to arrest G’kar and Londo refuses so they both end up in a cell together.

We end with Delenn crying in front a candle:

Sheridan: What does the candle represent?
Delenn: Life.
Sheridan: Whose Life?
Delenn: All Life. Every Life. We are all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars. Molecules that do not understand politics or policies or differences. Over a billion years, we foolish molecules forget who we are and where we came from. In desperate acts of ego, we give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps, and pretend that our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that lives on inside us. The spark that tells us: "You should know better." The flame also reminds us that life is precious as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone forever. And there will never be another quite like it. So many candles will got out tonight. I wonder some days if we can see anything at all.

*

A couple of personal observations:
I was struck by the scene with Zack and Garibaldi, that both actors died of the same causes as their characters had. It was very sad to see, actually.
Also I was struck by how many of the actors are gone: Franklin, G’kar, Vir, Garibaldi, Zack…
Oh and this episode was directed by Mira Furlan’s husband, Goran Gajic

*

Questions:
1. Did you get the visual pun in the first bit? HINT: Shoes!
2. On your first watch, did you initially understand what was happening on Centauri Prime?
3. Did you want to kill Garibaldi? I did.
4. Do you think the ambassadors wanted war all along, as Sheridan said?
5. Whose dreams are torn asunder?

*

Sources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_All_My_Dreams,_Torn_Asunder
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517626/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/And_All_My_Dreams,_Torn_Asunder
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/104.html
Sadgeezer’s Cult Sci-fi Portal: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-16-And-All-My-Dreams-Torn-Asunder.htm

Recap and Discussion for 5 x 14 – Meditations on the Abyss

Delenn is sleepless, then a triangle by the bed begins to glow. She gets up and makes some excuse to John about going to her quarters for something. She goes to a very sleazy bar somewhere and is hit on by a rather rude man then when he threatens her, someone steps in and saves her. It is Lennier and he has come to her summons.


She tells him they need proof that the Centauri are the ones who are raiding the shipping lanes and she wants him to find it. She says she does nnot want John to know because his caring for her would color his actions. She has made arrangements for him to go on WS 27 as a recruit being trained in combat. This will place him where he needs to be.

He tells her that on the Day of the Dead, Morden came to him and predicted he would betray the Rangers.

Londo is home and Vir comes in with an armload of supplies. He admits he’s been eating junk food at McBari’s while Londo was gone. Londo discovers a bug on the package from the Drazi vendor. After disposing of the bug, he tells Vir that he will be the new ambassador to B5.


Lennier reports to his ship and his captain, Montoya. Montoya says their ship is called the Maria after his sister.

G’akr tells Delenn, John and the Drazi ambassador that he must leave soon to get his matching eye. The Drazi ambassador tells John that they believe that he knows who the raiders are and that they demand action soon. John says they will do something as soon as they have proof.

Londo comes in and tells them there was a listening device in his quarters.

Montoya sends Lennier and Findell out to train in fighters. Their air somehow is limited to 1 hour’s worth. Lennier tells the other Minbari to relax and use his training but he panics. The Maria returns just as their air is about to run out. The captain explains that this may happen to them someday and a Ranger knows that the mission is all… Death is not important.

Franklin replaces G’kar’s eye with one that matches and tells G’kar that he has been reading his book and would like to come to one of his teachings. G’kar agrees. Franklin asks about a brown circular stain on the book… G’kar says holy books are reproduced exactly as they are and that is a coffee stain from Mr. Garibaldi.

G’kar is speaking to his followers about learning to laugh at ourselves and one of them asks, “What is truth? What is god?” G’kar uses a metaphor of a lamp and how we perceive the light but all his followers want is a quotable thought so he tells them the truth is a river and god is at the head of it… that satisfies them but Franklin is smiling. He understood.

Vir goes to the merchant who planted the bug and yells at him and the Drazi merchant tells him he is weak and foolish and to go away. Vir goes to Londo’s quarters, takes a sword off the wall and returns to hack the Drazi’s shop to pieces and to give him a piece of his mind too. He makes the Drazi apologize. Londo tells Zack that he is now ready to be ambassador.


Montoya tells the recruits that they are hunting 39 devices in a debris field and that each one must bring back 10 … there are 4 of them. Findell says he didn’t want to be a Ranger but did so because some of his family members had died as Anla Shok.

When they go out to do their test, Findell turns off all his communications and guns and decides to die. Lennier ignores his mission to save the boy by shooting his engines.

Montoya yells at them and gives Lennier a failing grade. He sends Findell to Tuzanor to find out if recruits TRULY want to be Rangers. After Findell is gone, he tells Lennier he knows what he did and he shouldn’t assume that no one is listening just because his comm is set to private.

John, Delenn, Franklin and Zack are eating and talking about Vir. Delenn says she invited Garibaldi and wonders where he is.

Garibaldi is drunk in his room.

**

Quotes
G'Kar: If I take a lamp and shine it toward the wall, a bright spot will appear on the wall. The lamp is our search for truth, for understanding. Too often we assume that the light on the wall is God. But the light is not the goal of the search; it is the result of the search. The more intense the search, the brighter the light on the wall. The brighter the light on the wall, the greater the sense of revelation upon seeing it! Similarly, someone who does not search, who does not bring a lantern with him, sees nothing. What we perceive as God, is the byproduct of our search for God. It may simply be an appreciation of the light, pure and unblemished, not understanding that it comes from us. Sometimes we stand in front of the light and assume that we are the center of the universe. God looks astonishingly like we do! Or we turn to look at our shadow, and assume that all is darkness. If we allow ourselves to get in the way, we defeat the purpose; which is to use the light of our search to illuminate the wall in all its beauty - and in all its flaws. And in so doing better understand the world around us.

Montoya: ...Death is not the enemy. Death simply is.

Vir: "Now...wanna finish our little conversation, spoo-for-brains?"

*

Questions:
1. Did you find Findell to be quite whiny?
2. Did you think Lennier’s reasons for joining the Rangers were as wrong as his?
3. Did you think the first mission with the fighters was a lesson or an accident at first?
4. Do you think John has any idea of what Delenn is up to?
5. What did you think of G’kar’s explanation of the light?


*

Sources:
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/102.html
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517667/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Meditations_on_the_Abyss
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations_on_the_Abyss
Sadgeezers: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-14-Meditations-the-Abyss.htm

Recap and Discussion for 5 x 12 – The Ragged Edge

We are done with Byron!!! Oh and this will be the last one until after the New Year, so Happy Holidays!


John is heading to a meeting of the council but no one is there. They are boycotting because of the attacks on the shipping lines. As Alliance members they are not allowed to attack anything outside their own space but the attacks are happening outside their borders.

We see an attack and an escape pod leaving.

Londo and G’kar arrive on B5 to a crowd staring at G’kar. They begin to bow to him.

Zack calls Michael, who is still in bed with an empty liquor bottle beside him. He tells he missed one meeting and is expected to attend one soon with Sheridan.

At the meeting Delenn says there is a transport with a missing escape pod. They believe they were human smugglers in Drazi space. Michael says the attacks and embargoes on certain goods have driven people to buy them from smugglers. He says he knows someone on the Drazi homeworld and he will go there and find the pilot of the escape pod. Franklin volunteers to go but Garibaldi insists on going alone.

G’kar still has people bowing and he goes into his rooms. Ta’lon says that people believed he was taken prisoner and someone took his book back to Narn, where it became an immediate bestseller. “You are now a religious icon,” Ta’lon tells G’kar.


Michael is briefing Zack when Franklin asks him if they are okay. Garibaldi assures him that they are fine.

Narn are following G’kar and Londo about with copies of the book.

Garibaldi lands on the Drazi homeworld and goes to his hotel. His friend, Tafiq Azir, comes in and tells him that the pilot will meet him in the park. He will shine a light up to the room when it is time. And he and Michael start drinking. A bit later we see Michael passed out as Tafiq is finishing the bottle. He leaves and is shot in the hall by a Drazi.


Back on B5, Franklin gets a priority message from earth.

Michael wakes and sees the light from the park. He finds his friend dying outside his room. A drazi attack him and he ends up throwing the Drazi over the balcony. He rushes to the park and a group of hooded men chase him and shoot at him. He finds the pilot dead. He also picks up something and puts it in his pocket. Garibaldi runs, calls John and gets Delenn. He asks her to send a White Star to extract him and she does.

Ta’lon calls on G’kar. He tells him that the Narn would like him to speak to them. He says he is not a leader. Ta’lpon remoinds him of the conversation where he referred to G’kar’s sword in his heart. He tells him he obligated to teach the Narn now to unlearn fear and hatred. When G’kar asks, “what if I show them wrong,” Ta’lon assures him he will kill him if he does. G’kar goes out to talk to the followers.

Garibaldi tells John and Delenn what happened, claiming he had jetlag. He says the men who beat him are also the ones who are responsible for the attacks on the shipping lanes. He shows them the button. About that time, Londo comes in and identifies the button as belonging to the Imperial Palace Guard on Centauri Prime. Garibaldi lies to him when he asks where he got it. Delenn says she doesn’t think Londo knows of the attacks and G’kar says they mustn’t tell him or he will try to find out the truth and get himself killed. He tells them about the attack on Centuari Prime from those who do not want Londo to become Emperor. He says they will return to Centauri Prime in 4-6 weeks.

Franklin tells his personal log that he is going to miss B5.

G’kar is speaking to followers, talking about learning from those who are different. One Narnargues that the book does not say this at the front… and G’kar cannot argue with a divinely inspired text. He slams the book on the face of the man.

Franklin comes to tell Sheridan that he has been asked to be the head of Zenobiology on Earth, taking the place of Dr. Kyle, who is retiring as of January 1. He says even though it means leaving B5 and his friends, he has accepted the offer. He can continue to work for the Alliance as well. John is not happy he’s leaving but congratulates him.

Franklin says Garibaldi will take it the hardest since they are the only two left from the original crew and he has a call in to him.

We see Garibaldi passed out with an empty liquor bottle again.


*

Quotes:
Londo Mollari: [referring to the book of G'Kar] And am I in here?
G'Kar: Not by name. By description: Na'Tak Burella. It's a colloquialism.
Londo Mollari: Which means?
G'Kar: Prideful wind catcher.
Londo Mollari: Well, as Mr. Garibaldi says, "I think I'll wait for the movie."

G'Kar: I worry, Ta'Lon, that my shadow may become greater than the message.
Ta'Lon: If that happens, I give you my word that I will personally kill you.
G'Kar: And this is supposed to put my mind at ease?*

*
Questions:
1. Who do you think the Drazi was who tried to kill Garibaldi?
2. Did Garibaldi start drinking because he cannot kill Bester? Or is because he also cannot tell anyone what Bester did to him?
3. Would the trip to the Drazi homeworld have gone better if Garibaldi were sober?
4. Did you enjoy the interplay between G’kar and Ta’lon? They are quite funny together.

*
Sources:
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/100.html
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517713/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/The_Ragged_Edge
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ragged_Edge

Recap and discussion for 5 x 10 – A Tragedy of Telepaths

And more telepath stuff.

Lochley’s personal log opens with her saying ‘this place is one long exercise in frustration.’

Byron’s telepaths have welded themselves in in Brown Sector and there are also some running around free somewhere on the station as well. Lochley says they are about to start a hunger strike and no one wins with those.

She says Sheridan is too busy with the attacks on the shipping lanes and trying to keep the ambassadors from killing each other to help.

She says she will deal with the telepath problem but no one is going to like her solution. She doesn’t think they will get out of it without a lot of dead people.

She calls C&C and has them call Bester and tells him she needs his help. Then she goes down to where Zack’s guys are trying to cut their way into Brown sector but the telepaths are making the men see things and they are getting nowhere. She asks if there are any other ways in and Zack tells her about the maintenance ducts. She says she’ll go in that way.

Meanwhile on Centauri Prime, G’kar is eating fresh spoo and this makes him wonder why there is fresh spoo being sent to the south end of the palace if he is the only Narn there. He makes Londo take him to the cells under the south wing and they find Na’toth, who has been there for 2 years, since Narn was bombed by the Centauri before the Shadow war.

When G’kar insists she be removed, Londo says he cannot o9untermand the orders of the dead emperor without committing treason. G’kar does not care. Na’toth must be freed, no matter what.

Zack shows Lochley the tunnel he found for her to use,

Sheridan is incredulous. Garibaldi says the free teeps are the real problem.

The Drazi have found a piece of Brakiri ship metal in the debris of an attack and think the Brakiri have attacked. Sheridan says things are getting harder as the edges begin to fray. Garibaldi says people like excitement of war to see things fall apart.

Lochley reaches Byron and his people. He tells her he will not back down and she tells him that he will not get a homeworld for them. He tells her he allowed her in to say goodbye.

G’kar tells Londo that their ship will be intercepted halfway toward Babylon 5. Londo says the hard part will be getting her out of the palace and onto the ship. A Centauri woman comes in and he asks for her clothes.

Delenn introduces the Drazi ambassador who makes a big deal about how they wi9ll attack any ships coming into their space. The Gaim ambassador says they found Drazi debris near their shipping lanes. They argue and Sheridan tells them they are all being tricked by someone who wants them to fight among themselves. He says both pieces has been cut and left for them to find so they’d blame each other. The Drazi act like their usual ass selves.

Londo takes a guard into Na’toth’s cell and tells him never to come back and to have this hall walled up in 3 days. Na’toth thinks he has come to kill her but G’kar comes in and they hurry.

Bester arrives on B5.

Londo is trying to hurry Na’toth and G’kar. She is dressed at a Centauri woman. He pours some liquor on them and drinks a bit then tells G’kar that the court has been trained to ignore inappropriate behavior so he acts like he is drunk and as he escorts Na’oth, with her head covered, away and onto his ship.

The teeps outside Byron’s compound force a guard to let them into the armory after they feel Bester come aboard and they attack Bester, Lochley and the security personnel outside Byron’s compound. Lochley has told Bester he can take the teeps if he can get them out.

Byron says he must stop the killing in his name.

Sheridan and Delenn tell the Drazi, Gaim and Brakiri if they attack one another, Alliance ships will attack them and it is within their rights as Alliance members to do so. This really angers the Drazi. John again tells them that he does not believe anyone in the Alliance is doing this and they need more time to find.

Londo and G’kar watch Na’toth’s ship take her home. Londo said he found it exhilarating and is hungry but G’kar sits and broods as he watches her ship leave.

Bester’s Bloodhounds land at Babylon 5.

Lochley says that tomorrow the storm and the killing begin.

*

Quotes:
G'Kar(to Londo): Well, with everyone now on the same side, perhaps you're planning to invade yourselves for a change. I find the idea curiously appealing. Once you've finished killing each other, we can plow under all the buildings and plant rows of flowers that spell out the words "too annoying to live" in letters big enough to be seen from space.

Drazi Ambassador: Every great fall begins with a single mistake.

Capt. Elizabeth Lochley: Personal log June 18, 2282. I don't think I've had a good night's sleep since I got here. Tonight's no exception. But I have to sleep. Tonight is the calm before the storm and I may not get another chance for some time. Tomorrow the storm comes. Tomorrow the killing begins. And God help me, I can't think of any way to stop it.

*

Questions:
1. So are the Drazi just stupid? They are shown proof that someone is manipulating them all and still, all they want to do is attack.
2. Was Zack right in an earlier episode when he said that Byron was a cult figure with a martyr complex? Do you see any way Byron gets out of this?
3. Were you surprised to see Na’toth? Did you think they would get her out? What did you think of Londo’s plan?
4. Will this telepath stuff ever end????

*

Sources:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517620/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/098.html
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tragedy_of_Telepaths
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Babylon_5:_Season_Five
Wikiquote: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Babylon_5#A_Tragedy_of_Telepaths

Recap and discussion for 5 x 8 – Day of the Dead

First, I had originally had our shows in the JMS order from the Lurker’s Guide but had already rewatched half of the episode before I realized that the DVD order was not the same so we will be doing them in DVD order and I will change the listing to reflect that.

If the last 2 episodes were some of the worst ones in the entire series, this was one of the best, I think. It was written by Neil Gaiman. JMS says that Neil already had an idea and he studied the characters, etc. and wrote a script. JMS added the message from Kosh.

The episode opens with Rebo and Zooty arriving.


Lochley agrees to sell a part of Babylon 5 to the Brakiri for the night for a religious ceremony.

The Brakiri are selling skull candy and one of them asks Londo who would he talk to if he could talk to the dead? He answers the first Centauri emperor. The Brakiri says “May the comet bring you wisdom,” as he hands him the skull.


Lennier comes aboard and says hello to Delenn. He says he has come for the Day of the Dead and is pleased when he finds out Rebo and Zooty are on the station.

Delenn tells him that John is hosting a cocktail party for the comedians – we see John introduce them and we see that Lochley is not amused at all. Rebo says Zooty has never broken character expect once to say “why?”

She leaves for her meeting with the Brakiri ambassador when a Brakiri hands her a skull as well. She agrees even though G’kar tries to stop her, telling her that strange things happen on the Day of the Dead.

John arrives at the cocktail party with Delenn. Delenn finds Rebo and Zooty funny.

Lochley is in her quarters an can only find Rebo and Zooty on her tv.

At sunset, an actual line forms to cordon off the Brakiri part of the station.

G;kar shows up in the C7C and asks Corwin oif he can sleep there as he does not want to be caught in the Day of the Dead in his own quarters.

Lochley’s power dims and the light is red. She tries to call C&C.

Londo is drinking and talking to a painting of the first emperor when someone ‘appears’ in his room. It is Adira. He is thrilled, telling her he’d give up everything to have her back. She doesn’t seem inclined to waste what time she has.


Garibaldi wakes from sleep and hear someone in his shower. He grabs his gun from beneath his pillow and goes to the shower, where he finds Dodger, his GROPOS friend who was killed in battle right after she left B5. She knows she’s dead and thinks it’s some sort of trick.


The computer tells Lockley that Sheridan is out of range. A young woman comes in and asks where she is. Elizabeth Lochley tells her that she went home with her father and joined the military. Lochley asks Zoe if it was an accident. She says she doesn’t remember. Zoe seems to remember that they had lots of fun but Lochley says all she remembers is being cold sick and hungry all the time. We can see that Zoe has little in common with Lochley now.


Corwin calls Sheridan and tells him about how part of the station has kind of disappeared and what Lochley had done. Sheridan tells Delenn and the comedians to continue without him. He leaves to investigate.

Dodger tells Garibaldi that she doesn’t have any wisdom that she didn’t have before she died: she doesn’t believe in ghosts and any Emily Dickinson song can be sung to the tune of The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Lennier is meditating when his visitor arrives. His visitor is Morden. He says he’s dead and this is his job. Lennier says he has come for the wisdom and Morden tells him wisdom does not come from the dead. Lennier tells him to go away but Morden says he can’t. Lennier tries to leave but he can’t.


Sheridan walked into the C&C and sees G’kar. Corwin tells Sheridan that G’kar did not want to be in Brakiri space for Day of the Dead. John asks Corwin if they can find a way to contact Lochley.

Morden tells Lennier that he can’t walk away. He tells Lennier that he will betray the Rangers and Lennier doesn’t want to talk anymore.

Zoe tells Liz that they are on the Brikiri homeworld. Liz tries to figure out a way to contact B5.

Dodger asks Garibaldi about Lise and she says she’s jealous because Lise is alive and she has him even if he’s old.

Lochley contacts Garibaldi and asks him to help her contact C&C and he does.

Londo is in bed with Adira and Lochley comes on, telling everyone what has happened and he turns the sound off. Adira tells him she is a dream.

Garibaldi doesn’t pay attention to Dodger until he gets Lochley’s task done.

Rebo and Zooty tell Delenn that they want to stop comedy and do something more important. John tells them their work is important.

Lochley calls John from Brakiri space.

Morden leaves, telling Lennier to think of him as a brief electromagnetic anomaly that tried to tell him some things for his own good then he disappears.

Dodger quotes:
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
and she leaves.
Zoe says she has a message from someone named Kosh and that she remembers and she did kill herself.

The Brakiri are cleaning up the next morning. John asks Lochley why she sold part of the station for the night and she told him that she thought it was a metaphor. She gives him Kosh’s message: "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning."

G’kar says he regrets having missed the Day of the Dead, as the people who experienced it seem at peace.

Londo thinks Rebo and Zooty are funny. Zooty whispers a message to John: “Because it tells me to.”


*

Quotes:
Customs Guard: Anything to declare?
Rebo: [brightly] I have nothing to declare, my dear man, except my genius!
[He unzips the bag, and Zooty unfolds from inside.]
Zooty: [through his machine] And I have nothing to declare but Rebo's genius either! Zootyzoot, zoot, zoot!

Lt. David Corwin: There seems to be a slight problem, sir. It's kind of hard to explain. We seem to be missing a piece of the station. We can't reach it. We can't communicate with it.
John Sheridan: That piece is almost a square mile across. You can't just lose something that big.
Lt. Corwin: I agree, but it's still missing.


*

Questions
1. Do you think they were really in Brakiri space and the ‘ghosts’ were real or was it some telepathic trick or dream?
2. What did you think of Rebo and Zooty?
3. Which of the ghosts was your favorite? Why?
4. Was Zoe annoying?
5. Did you catch it the poem that Dodger sang that was not Emily Dickinson?


*

Sources:
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517643/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead_(Babylon_5)
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/096.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead
Wikiquote: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Babylon_5#Day_of_the_Dead

Recap and discussion for 5 x 6 – Strange Relations

Byron and telepaths and Bester – oh yuck!

I do not love telepaths. They are my least favorite people in the B5 universe – I even like Shadows more (well, not much more). Just thought I’d throw that out in the front of the recap.

The episode opens with Delenn and Lochley talking. Delenn is telling Lochley that John explained why he chose her for the job as captain. Lochley tells her she’d appreciate her not sharing that info. Delenn agrees. Garibaldi is hiding, listening to them but finds out no more than he already knew.

Londo is watching outside and waiting. Zack tells him his ship has arrived. Londo looks rather sad and tells Zack that this is the beginning of the end, that the regent is unwell and he’ll now have to divide his time between B5 and Centauri Prime and then when the regent is gone, he’ll be emperor and will have to say goodbye to B5 forever. Zack says he’ll be Emperor Mollari I but Londo tells him he will be II, that the first Mollari did not come to a good end.

The Centauri liner has an accident as it comes in. We see Capt. Lochley outside inspecting the damage and she tells Corwin she want it done in 11 hours. In the same shot, we see a Psi Corps ship coming in.

Lyta is in Medlab getting supplies for Byron’s people. Delenn calls Franklin and wants to speak with him.

Lyta takes the things to Byron’s people. She brings him some vitamins and he babbles some vapid parable about something I already forgot. Suddenly he comes alert as do the rest of his people. They know that Psi Corps has come aboard – Best has brought Bloodhound units to hunt them.

One of the Station security men tells Garibaldi that Bester is there and Garibaldi runs to find him, meaning to kill him when he catches him. He just happens to be talking to Capt. Lochley when Michael comes crashing in after him. She punches Garibaldi and has him arrested.

Delenn and G’kar ask Franklin to come on board with the Alliance to study alien biology and cross-species diseases and such. Franklin likes the idea. G’kar tells Delenn that he doesn’t feel like he does enough – Delenn tells him they will find him something to do.

John asks Lochley why she arrested Garibaldi and she tells him why Bester has come – the Telepaths that he granted sanctuary were NOT granted immunity from prosecution and that they are wanted by Psi Corps and she has no choice but go by the rules since they are still a part of the government. He agrees and says he’s caught in the web of his own good intentions.

The Centauri liner is heading home but cannot get navigational control of the ship. Londo is not on board. It blows up. Zack later tells the captain that they found a bomb and detonator and Londo was the target.

Zack asks her when she will let Garibaldi go and while she looks at his reports, she notices that someone has accessed her personnel file and that someone was Garibaldi. Furious, she heads to the brig.

Bester and his gang are hunting the telepatshs. Lyta tells him they aren’t there. Bester doesn’t pick up anything at all and tells him men to check the hall – Lyta pushes him with her mind. Bester taunts her and she tells him she might accidentally kill one of them with her mind. He tells her he will be back with station security. After he’s gone, Byron comes out and she tells him that they must hide.

Lochley confronts Garibaldi and he tells her that he does not know her and therefore he does not trust her. She tells to get over it and he asks why she was chummy with Bester. She says that he once saved two of her crew from a rogue telepath. Garibaldi says he is obligated to put Bester’s head through a bulkhead. She tells him to do it where she can’t see it.

Garibaldi asks why Sheridan picked her. She asks him if that’s why he went through her file. She says Sheridan needed someone from the other side in order to make nice with Earth and he needed someone he could trust and he knew he could trust her. She and Sheridan were married when they were young and even though it didn’t work out, they are friends and know that they can trust one another.

She tells Garibaldi that she will not release him as long as Bester si on the station.

Speaking of which, security calls and tells her that Bester wants their help in rounding up the rogues and that he has Earthdome authorization. She tells them to go ahead. We see them arresting the telepaths. Lyta is nearby and Byron calls to her. He tells her he was wrong to trust others and says he must go to his people.

Corwin tells Lochley that the cargo lifts are working again. Zack tells her that they should have all the telepaths by the end of the day. Franklin tells her of Delenn and G’kar’s request. She tells him this should not be a problem. She asks him about cross species diseases and tells him she needs a repoirt about it in half an hour. She has an idea and is about to ruin someone’s day.

They catch Byron

Delenn tells G’kar they must talk. She says they have to protect Mollari and finally asks him if he will be Londo’s bodyguard. G’kar actually agrees and says he can’t wait to see the faces of the Centauri court when a Narn comes to guard Mollari.

B4ester tells Lochley he has them all and she tells him they must be quarantined on Babylon 5 for 60 days and then he can have them. They could have been exposed to dangerous diseases in the places they’ve been. He has no choice but agree.

She tells Byron she’s gotten him a 60 day reprieve but he can’t leave the station. Zack says he’s dangerous, he’s a martyr.

Delenn tells Londo who his new bodyguard is and Londo and G’kar argue.

Corwin congratulates the captain and she remembers she hasn’t let Garibaldi out yet.

Lyta removes her Psi Corps badge and joins the singing telepaths.

*
Quotes:

Sheridan: I'm caught in a web of my own good intentions.
Lochley: Well, the road to hell is paved with them, sir.
Sheridan: I know. But why does it have to go through this office?

Bester: Not bad. Tell me, is that really telekinesis, or are you just pushing the nerve endings, making them feel as if they've been slapped? Either way, it's taken a lot out of you, Lyta. You're sweating, flushed. How many times can you do that, Lyta? Can you do just one at a time? Maybe two? How about three? How about a half dozen of us?
Lyta: I don't know. Like you said, I'm new at this. I could even make a mistake. Maybe even pop a blood vessel in someone's head by accident by pushing too hard. Feel like playing the odds, Mr. Bester?

*

Questions:

1. Was Lochley’s revelation to Garibaldi what you expected?
2. Since G’kar could not have protected Mollari from the bomb onboard the ship, is his selection as bodyguard more symbolic than real?
3. Did anyone find the telepath song as smarmy as I did? JMS wrote it, by the way and made it that way on purpose - I think it’s the B5 version of Kumbaya.
4. Not a question but the new Londo and G’kar situation reminds me of the video with Paul Simon and Chevy Chase - You Can Cal Me Al. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA

*

Sources:

Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/094.html
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517694/?ref_=ttep_ep6
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Relations_(Babylon_5)
Wikiquote: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Babylon_5#Strange_Relations
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Strange_Relations
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA