Recap and discussion for 3 x 2 – Convictions

We open the episode with Drazi pilgrims wanting to touch something that has seen their religious icon – the one who Kosh appeared as. Zack finally send them to a plant, telling them that he touched it.

Ivanova tells Garibaldi that she has a note that says “Chaos is coming.”

There is an explosion in Downbelow.

A group of monks board B5 – Brother Theo and his group and Theo assures Ivanova they’ll be staying awhile.

Garibaldi thinks the explosion might be a bomb.

Brother Theo tells Ivanova that they have applied for permanent residency and that they are there to study all the names of God. He also says they are prepared to earn their keep as they are experts in various technical fields.

Garibaldi finds bomb evidence.

Lennier is waiting for Delenn and a man (Obnoxious man) is telling a story. Lennier quietly tells him he has Netter’s Syndrome, which is spread by touch. The man moves away. Delenn comes in the door followed by Londo AND a bomb. Lennier shoves Londo into the station and closes the door. He’s hurt badly by the bomb. As they take Lennier to Medlab, Londo says Lennier saved his life. Garibaldi says the bomb was similar to plastique. Susan mentions the note.

A man watches.

Lennier is unconscious but his bone saved him. G'kar thinks the Centauri did it and Londo believes the Narn did it.

Londo goes to Medlab to see Lennier and tells him that no one has saved his life before. And he tells him the awful ‘how many Centauri does it take to screw I a lightbulb?” joke.

Another bomb in Brown 7 – Garibaldi says they guy is not a pro. They trace the explosive and find it was used in bombs on Proxima 3 as well. To find their bomber, they need to sift through all the station data for him. Ivanova knows just who to get to help them.

Londo tells Lennier he has an errand.

Susan gets Brother Theo and his monks to help comb the station records.

G’kar is in the tube that Londo attempts to board and Londo dives in when a bomb explodes on the floor. Londo and G;kar are stranded together and G;kar tells Londo he hopes they both die and he will not lift a finger to help Londo.

Brother Theo and his monks find a man who was at every bombing – Robert J. Carlson.

G’kar sings the fishie song.

Garibaldi and Sheridan go to Carlson’s quarters. He says he lost his job, his wife, his home and people said it’s nothing personal. He is angry. He had a dead man switch and G has his men lok for something BIG that could blow up the ship.

They find a bomb on the fusion reactor and remove it. John beats up Carlson and they take him in.

Delenn peeps in on Lennier and tells him they caught the bomber, even though he is out. Franklin tells Delenn the lightbulb joke and Lennier wakes and delivers the punchline. Delenn says Londo is grateful and Lennier says he has served the present by sacrificing the future.

Londo and G’kar are rescued.

*Notes:
JMS says the lightbulb joke was a nod the internet fans.
Netter’s Syndrome is a nod to producer Doug Netter.


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Quotes:

This is a wonderful exchange between Londo and G’kar:
Londo Mollari: There, you see? I'm going to live!
G'Kar: So it would seem. Well, it is an imperfect universe.
Londo: Bastard.
G'Kar: Monster.
Londo: Fanatic!
G'Kar: Murderer!
Londo: You are insane!
G'Kar: And that is why we'll win.
Londo: "Go be the ambassador to Babylon 5," they say. "It will be an easy assignment!" I hate my life.
G'Kar: So do I.
Londo: Shut! Up!


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Questions:

1. Did you find the whole bomb thing to be a flowing part of the B5 narrative or a plot device to trap G’kar and Londo together?
2. Did you expect to see more of Theo and the monks than we actually do in the rest of the series?
3. Do you think a part of Lennier really does regret saving Londo?
4. What did you think about Londo? I felt sort of sad for him… he still had some of the humor that he had before but he seemed to know that he was doomed already.

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Sources:

The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/046.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Convictions
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convictions_(Babylon_5)
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517641/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
Wikiquote: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Babylon_5#Convictions