Recap and discussion for 2 x 14 – There All the Honor Lies

The episode begins with Sheridan telling Ivanova that Earthgov has decided to sell B5 themed merchandise to raise revenue for the station. She jokingly asks if they’re going to open a shop in the Zocalo and Sheridan tells her yes and despite her objections, puts her in charge of it,

He then takes off for a ‘lesson’ with Kosh. A human bumps into him and lifts his Link. When Sheridan runs after him, a Minbari attacks him and knocks him down. Sheridan sees a PPG lying there on the floor. He grabs it as the Minbari prepares to attack. Sheridan orders the Minbari to stand but the man yells “Death First” and attacks. Sheridan shoots and kills him. A second Minabari is watching and runs away.

Sheridan reports this to Garibaldi and Delenn. She tells him Lavell, the boy he killed, was from a prominent family and this has caused problems back home. They have found no weapon with the body and the witness has not been found either.

Vir gets a message for Londo.

Garibaldi can’t find out anything because Lennier is there every time he tries talk to someone and Franklin finds no proof that the boy carried a weapon.

Lennier brings the witness, Ashan, to Delenn but he will not talk to her, calling her a freak. He is of the same clan as Lennier. Sheridan says to Delenn that he is lying but she explains that Minbari do not lie and to accuse one of doing so would cause an incident.

Ivanova goes to check out the shop and is not impressed.

A woman approaches Zack Allan and demands to be taken to the captain.

Ashan calls Sheridan ‘Starkiller’ and refuses to talk more when Zack shows up with the woman. Guinevere Corey, who says she’s Sheridan’s lawyer. She asks to speak to him privately and when they all leave, Delenn tells Lennier she finds Ashan’s story dubious. Zack is tasked with following Ashan.

Corey tells him Earth Dome has decided to go ahead with an indictment against him. If he’s indicted, he will lose command of B5. She leaves and Kosh shows up for John’s lesson. John doesn’t want to go but Kosh insists and so they go – down below and into a closed in place where people who appear to be some sort of monks sing a chant to Sheridan – Kosh tells him it is one moment of perfect beauty.

Londo tracks down Vir and finds that Vir ir being replaced with a ‘better’ assistant. Vir runs off but Londo is distracted by some Centauri women playing with an ambassador Mollari dolls.

Delenn has found something disturbing about Lavell.

Londo confronts John and Susan about the doll, saying it has no attributes – meaning it is not anatomically correct and he insists they be removed. Londo casually explains that Minbari ONLY lie to save face.

The Minbari representative on Earth contacts Sheridan.

He tell Delenn that the Minbari want Ashan sent home and the whole thing dropped but Sheridan says that will be his credibility in doubt. Delenn says she is having doubt too. She explains the clan thing to him and how important clan loyalty is.

They make a plan.

Ashan is called to Delenn’s headquarters and Lennier says he will take the blame since they are of the same clan. Ashan admits that the head of their clan made this plan because they consuider Sheridan’s attack in the war to be dishonorable. Sheridan, Delenn, and Garibaldi are recording the conversation and come in to take Ashan away. They decide to keep the motives a secret to save Lennier’s clan’s honor.

Hungover Vir tells Londo his family sent him to be Londo’s assistant because they wanted him gone and because no one else wanted the job. Londo says he has informed homewiorld hwe will go if Vir goes and he’s invited Vir’s family to visit.

Ivanova shows Sheridan the JS bear and he orders the shop closed up and takes the bear, which we see has been spaced later.

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Notes:
The music Sheridan heard was a Gregorian Chant, part of a Christmas mass.

Sheridan’s lawyer, Guinevere Corey, was played by Caitlyn Brown, Na’toth in Season 1.

Peter David, the writer, sent the bear to JMS and he wrote it into the show as a joke warning that he hated cute.

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Quotes:
“Welcome to Babylon 5, the last, best hope for a quick buck!” – Ivanova

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Questions:
1. What do you think the purpose of Kosh’s lesson was?
2. What did you think of the plot to discredit Sheridan? Did it seem well thought out? Weak? Discuss.
3. What’s wrong with a little merchandizing?
4. If we’d gotten to see Vir’s family, what do you imagine them to be like?
5. Does this loyalty to clan ideal that the Minbari have seem to fit within their culture well?

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Sources:
The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/036.html
The Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/There_All_the_Honor_Lies
Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517718/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu