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.


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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?


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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
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