Recap and discussion of 3 x 15 – Interludes and Examinations

Despite the innocuous name, this episode packs a wallop. JMS notes that we should always watch out for eps with dull names.

We open with Ivanova making a diary entry. She mentions the Shadows are hitting randomly all over the Rim area. That things are crazy on B5 since they went out on their own. What we see us Norden coming onto the station and passing something to member of what we assume to be station security, who gives Morden a bottle.

She mentions that people have different ways of coping as we see Franklin becoming a complete ass in Medlab and almost costing a patient his life.

She says Kosh has been scarce. And says “When the Vorlon goes to ground, I worry.”

She mentions that Londo is the same. We see him telling Vir that he needs a suite prepared – Lady Adira is coming to visit him and he wants to pull out all the stops.

We see Mprden leave a dead guard then we see his Shadow companions appear all around him.

Next, Morden visits Londo and tells him they are disappointed that he has turned Refa against them and that the Centauri have stopped their attacks on their neighbors. He tells Londo they’d like Refa to continue as he was before. Londo blows him off, saying, “There is nothing you can do me, Mr. Morden, that has not already been done.” (You should know that something really bad will come of this!)

Baribaldi goes to talk to Franklin about his stim use and Franklin denies ha has a problem and blows Garibaldi off.

Delenn and Sheridan in the War Room. She mentions that he needs reast and he mentions the Shadow hits all over. Delenn confirms that this is what they did last time as well. When Sheridan asks why, Delenn can’t or won’t tell him.

He says they need allies but the other aliens will not throw in with him unless he can show them he has some kind of superior strength and he can’s show that unless he has allies. Delenn says he is sounding more like Kosh. He gets an idea.

Garibaldi sits down in the Zocalo with one of Dr. Franklin’s staff, Dr. Hobbs, and asks her if she will help him access the results of Franklin’s too tests for the last year. She tells him she will not, that he should go through proper channels. He asks her if she’ll tell him where to find the files for when he does have legal access. She wrote it on a piece of paper and hands it to him as Franklin watches angrily.

We switch to Vir ordering the amenities for Adira’s suite and becoming embarrassed ordering intimate things for her. He notices Morden, who greets him though Vir actively tries to avoid him. Vir tells him to drop dead and goes on his way. Morden talks to the man who Vir was ordering all the Amenities from.

Garibaldi goes to Medlab to access the files but can’t bring himself to do it. Franklin walks in, asks him why he didn’t do it. Garibaldi said he figured Franklin kl ew on some level that he had a problem. Franklin said he checked his own bloodwork and he found out what he already knew. He has a stim addiction. Garibaldi tells him the ball is in his court.

Sheridan goes to see Kosh, to ask for their help but Kosh refuses, saying it is not yet time and that their numbers are not sufficient yet. Sheridan presses, yelling at Kosh. Kosh shocks him with something then yells at him, calling him impudent. After a bit of arguing, Kosh finally does agree, but he tells Sheridan that the will not be around to help him if he goes to Z’ha’dum.

Sheridan comes into the C&C as Ivanova reports more attacks then reports that the Vorlons have attacked the Shadows and driven them back.

Londo and Vir await Adira’s arrival and become concerned when she does not disembark from her ship. A few moments later, Dr. Hobbs md a team from Medlab emerge with a body bag on a gurney. It is Adira and they don’t know what killed her. Londo tells Dr. Hobbs to check for poison, remembering when he poisoned Refa.

Morden pays someone in diamonds and another man comes and whispers something that makes Morden frown – one must presume it is news of the Vorlon attack.

Ivanova says the other worlds are now eager to join them and Sheridan says he should thanks Kosh but Delenn says he should get some rest as it is after 2 am.

We see Morden make his way to Kosh’s chambers and let himself in with something like a key (or the tool R2D@ used in Star Wars to tap into computers). His shadow companions attack Kosh.

Sheridan is dreaming of his father, who tells him he is sorry he did not finish with him and tells him to fight the war his way. He also tells him, “As long as you are he, I’ll be here.” Sheridna realizes it’s Kosh and he wakens when Kosh dies.

All that is left is his encounter suit and his ship. Delenn says they will put his things ion his ship and it will do the rest. They have nothing to tell them who killed Kosh. Delenn says the Vorlons will send a replacement.

Londo reads the autopsy report. She was poisoned. Morden tells Londo how upset Refa was with him, making Londo believe that Refa had Adira poisoned. Londo tell Morden wants his help for revenge on Refa and the for the safety of his people – he no longer cares about anything else.

Franklin resigns to straighten his life out.

Kosh’s ship takes off with his stuff and will burn itself in a nearby sun after it grieves.

*

Quotes:

Morden: Anything I can do to help?
Vir Cotto: Um…Short of dying? No, can't think of a thing.

Londo: And you will help me, Mr. Morden, to strike them down. Give me this, and the safety of my people…and let the rest of the galaxy burn. I don't care anymore.

Sheridan to Kosh: Up yours!

*

Questions:
1. Were you surprised to see Morden? Did he cause most of the trouble or was he just there by coincidence and decided to help stir it up?
2. Was Kosh’s death a surprise?
3. Do you think Londo can’t see through Morden’s actions or that he won’t? Or maybe both?
4. Why did Kosh appear as David Sheridan?
5. Do you feel sympathy for Dr. Franklin? Is he a sympathetic character?
6. How were the Vorlons going to increase their numbers? To get ready for the Shadows?

Sources:
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Interludes_and_Examinations
Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/059.html
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517659/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
Wikiquote: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Babylon_5#Interludes_and_Examinations