Recap and discussion for 5 x 19 – The Wheel of Fire

Another busy episode that moves us all closer to the end of the arc.

G’kar returns to Babylon 5 to a huge crowd of Narn chanting his name – he had hoped this “cult of personality” would go away but it has only grown bigger. He is not pleased.


Franklin calls Garibaldi about a meeting and he shows up drunk. John cancels the meeting and tells Garibaldi that he is disappointed that he didn’t feel that he could come to him for help. He tells him he is suspended for as long as it takes to get his shit together. He tells him his problem is between “you and you.”

Franklin goes to see G’kar. One of his devotees hands Franklin a G’kar doll. Franklin tells G’kar that Kha’ri have contacted them and half want him back home and the other half want him to give them his blessing to govern. G’kar is saddened and tells Franklin he can’t stay on B5 because the Narn will soon overrun the place and he can’t go home because his message will be lost and he does not want to rule Narn. G’kar ponders “Why does the universe give us puzzles without answers?”

Zack tells Lochley that there is an emergency transmission form earth and he wants her to listen too. There have been several attacks on Psi Corps and all have the message ‘Remember Byron”. The money trail leads to Babylon 5 and they want Lyta arrested and returned to Earth.

Lochley goes to visit Michael. He is rather nasty to her, telling her she must be happy. She tells him that she understands and she can help. He sneers at her and she tells him pretty much exactly how he feels right down to his inability to do anything about Bester. She tells him her own father was a drunk because he could live the life he wanted so he drank and lashed out. Garibaldi still tells her she doesn’t know anything. She tells him about her own alcoholism and drug abuse and how she changed when she lost someone she loved. She tells him she knows every day is a struggle because it still is for her.

Zack and Lochley are getting ready to arrest Lyta. They ask her to come with them and tell her the charges are aiding and abetting terrorist activities. She talks to them while she control the actions of everyone in the room then she tells them she chooses not to be arrested and that they can’t stop someone who has been touched by a Vorlon. Everything is tense until Sheridan appears and holds a weapon to her head and tells her that she is not the only one touched by a Vorlon. Lochley knocks her out and they take her away to a cell controlled by computers rather than people.


Garibaldi thanks Lochley and she tells him to wait. Lise arrives from Mars, telling him she came to his call… which Lochley made.

Lyta is in a cell and Franklin is talking to Sheridan about how angry she is. Sheridan says everyone has gone nuts and Delenn comes in cursing the Narn for threatening to boycott Babylon 5 unless G’kar comes home.

She faints and Franklin has her taken to Medlab.

Garibaldi tells Lise about his suspension and she tells her it’s okay since he was going to leave soon anyway. She tells him that she needs him to run Edgars industries. He tells her he needs to make everything right and she tells him that live is life and it’ll never be perfect. She says she needs helping running one of the biggest companies on Mars and you can see the wheels turn…

Franklin tells Sheridan that Delenn is pregnant and since she is young and strong, there is no reason to think things will not be all right.

Garibaldi goes to see Lyta. He tells her he can help her since they both hate Psi Corps. He says if she will remove his neural block from Bester, he will get Earth to lessen her charges. She tells him she has a counter offer.

Garibaldi asks Lochley if he can make a deal with Lyta. G’kar overhears and offers to let Lyta leave with him. He says he may never return to B5. Garibaldi says Lyta’s money from her DNA deal with G’kar can be used to legitimately help telepaths and he thinks he can get her charges lessened.


Lise finds Garibaldi back in quarters and compliments him on the deal he made and then we see what it was: Lyta also wanted a second secret account set up for the real funds and at the end of 2 years, if Michael is doing what he said, she will remove the block. He asks her what made her like she is… she says she believes that she is the Vorlon’s equivalent to a thermonuclear weapon of mass destruction, their doomsday device.


Michael is not so sure he made a good deal

Delenn and Sheridan talk about Londo and wonder what he is doing…

We close with him sitting all alone on his throne.

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Quotes:
Sheridan: "What could make her turn like this?"
Franklin: "Well, let's see. She was adjusted by the Vorlons, dumped by the Vorlons, used as a weapon, quit the Corps, lost the only man she ever loved and dedicated herself to finishing his work. Pick one or all of the above and, let's face it, she's pissed."
Lyta: "You know the Vorlons used telepaths as weapons during the Shadow War, but what no one stopped to consider was that, in a war, you have a certain number of small weapons, a certain number of medium size weapons, and one or two big ones. The kind of weapons you drop when you're out of small weapons, and the medium weapons, and you've got nothing left to use."
Michael: "Someone like that would be the telepathic equivalent of a thermonuclear device. A doomsday weapon."
Lyta: "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Garibaldi."


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Questions:
1. Did Lochley’s confession and offer to help surprise you, given how she and Garibaldi have gotten along so far?
2. Did Michael accepting Lise’s offer to go back to Mars and run Edgars Industries seem a little like running away from his problems? Or did he really hate being Garibaldi, head of security the way Lochley’s father had hated his work?
3. Do you think that John is immune to all of Lyta’s powers then?
4. How exactly will either Lyta’s or G’kar’s problems be fixed by G’kar’s proposal?


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Sources:
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517717/quotes/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/107.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Wheel_of_Fire
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Fire_(Babylon_5)
Sadgeezers Cult Scifi Portal: http://sadgeezer.com/Babylon-5-Season-5-19-Wheel-Fire.htm
cap-that.com: http://www.cap-that.com/b5/519/