The recap this week will come tomorrow as I am not feeling well today. It’s almost finished, just can’t keep my eyes open. So here’s some discussive bits to go on with this evening.

There are so many set-ups in these two episodes, some of which fizzle, some of which reappear and disappear, and some of which pay off later.

It was mentioned in a comment that a good work of art changes with time—that is, as we change, our concept and understanding of art changes with us. Also I have found that aspects of a show that are less important to me become more so, and those that held me fixed in the past, fade in fascination on re-viewing.

This time through I am riveted by Londo and Sinclair, although they have few, if any, scenes together. The choice presented to them, along with Draal, form the crux of the story. Sinclair’s choice this time is subverted by Delenn, who will prove to have a habit of doing that, and it will come to bite her in the end. Londo, well, there is so much pathos and foretelling it’s painful to watch. And also joyful.

‘One of us, will not return.’

‘That much is certain.’



‘As a young and foolish Centauri, I swore I would die on my feet, doing something noble and brave and futile. Perhaps it was not so wild a dream as I thought. Or as foolish. It is better than waiting for the inevitable.’

                Delenn gives him such a look at this speech. She likes him like this. She sees the good in him.

‘All my life I have searched for a way to serve others. To me there is no higher calling, no greater destiny, than to live for another, and if necessary, to die for another. To somehow make the world a better place.’

                Are you listening, Delenn? There will a test.

Delenn tells Garibaldi that Sinclair is looking for a purpose, and that he would have taken Varn’s place. ‘But his destiny lies elsewhere.’

Some things are better left buried. Garibaldi may be right about this.

So if the third principle of sentient life is self-sacrifice, what are the first and second principles?