A Smart Premiere And An Inconsequential Second: Babylon 5’s “Midnight On The Firing Line” And “Soul Hunter!”

The Good: Good establishment of characters, Good plots, Most of the effects
The Bad: Frequently stiff acting, “Soul Hunter” has no lasting consequences, Medium issues
The Basics: Split between one surprisingly good pilot episode and a scary, but meaningless episode, the video of “Midnight On The Firing Line” and “Soul Hunter” is distinctly mixed


Every now and then, I am surprised by how, even for a serialized series, early episodes of a television show can be startlingly erratic. This is true even for Babylon 5, which developed into an astonishingly good show episode after episode. With "Midnight On The Firing Line" and "Soul Hunter," the erratic nature of early Babylon 5 is illustrated.

"Midnight On The Firing Line" picks up after the events of "The Gathering" and already has the station’s first officer replaced. When the Centauri outpost at Ragesh is attacked, the uneasy sense of peace in the galaxy is instantly upset. The new first officer, Ivanova, uses the chaos engulfing the galaxy outside as an excuse to avoid the new telepath sent by the Psi Corps. As Earth’s Presidential election nears, tensions on Babylon 5 rise when it is revealed that the Narn were responsible for the attack on the Ragesh agricultural colony.

When Londo receives a directive to not move for sanctions against the Narn, G’Kar tries to extort him with information about his family’s dark past and the Centauri Ambassador tries to let the other representatives do his dirty work for him. Commander Sinclair gets a directive not to move for sanctions either, but he decides to leave Babylon 5 to lead a mission against raiders in a nearby sector in order to avoid directly disobeying the Senator’s order. With the political threat causing a menace of all-out war, Londo prepares to assassinate G’Kar in his rage!

A "Soul Hunter" arrives on Babylon 5 on his severely damaged ship, which Sinclair rescues out in space. The new doctor, Franklin, nurses the alien back to health, though Delenn makes an attempt to kill the alien when she sees it in the medical bay. Delenn reveals that the alien is a Soul Hunter and his type arrives only at moments of great importance to take the souls of influential people. Dr. Franklin disbelieves her story until a civilian is stabbed in the down below and the Soul Hunter is able to sense it happening from the medical bay. The situation gets worse for Delenn, though, when the Soul Hunter abducts her and tries to add her Minbari soul to his collection!

Both of these Babylon 5 episodes have important character elements to them, though “Midnight On The Firing Line” has stiffer acting than one would hope, even for a pilot episode (which the episode essentially is). “Midnight On The Firing Line” provides essential information about the characters of Londo and Ivanova, with a great deal of history for the Babylon 5 Universe being thrown into the episode. “Soul Hunter” serves as a far less useful episode, though it is essential to understanding the eventual Babylon 5 film River Of Souls (reviewed here!), though it has a lot of characterization for Delenn.

Londo is characterized in “Midnight On The Firing Line” as a patriot and not just an unsuccessful politician. He has a deep love for both his family and the Centauri Republic. That affection for his people and their history (however destructive) owes a lot to the performance of Peter Jurasik. Jurasik infuses his lines when talking about the fall of Centauri with so much passion that it seems like he is talking about a real place. Even with G’Kar’s angry protestations about how his people were treated under the Centauri, it is impossible not to empathize with Londo due to Jurasik’s portrayal of the ambassador.

Unfortunately, Claudia Christian is incredibly stiff in the same episode. Christian’s Ivanova is presented not as efficient or particularly Russian, but as an actress who was thrown into something she did not understand, playing a character she was not ready to make nuanced. Watching “Midnight On The Firing Line,” especially after having seen how good Claudia Christian’s performances can be, it is hard not to cringe while Ivanova is on screen and speaking.

As for “Soul Hunter,” the implication about Delenn from “The Gathering” is made explicit when the Soul Hunter outs Delenn as a member of the Minbari’s ruling body, the Gray Council. The Soul Hunter knows that Delenn is both a woman of destiny and that she was present at the death of the great Minbari leader, Dukat. In her scenes, Mira Furlan sells the menace of the Soul Hunter and her terror is enough to convince the viewer that her character is in mortal peril. “Soul Hunter” may not have a lot of lasting consequences, but it allows Sinclair to rescue Delenn in a way that makes their burgeoning relationship seem plausible.

While “Soul Hunter” is, ultimately, a simple horror episode, “Midnight On The Firing Line” is smartly-written and illustrates just how difficult establishing peace can be. War has consequences and immediately in the saga of Babylon 5, writer J. Michael Straczynski works to develop themes built around the importance of negotiating peace and struggling with the ramifications of racism and war. These two episodes make for a great start and a fair continuation of Babylon 5.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Babylon 5 - The Complete First Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the debut season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

For other works with William Morgan Sheppard, be sure to visit my reviews of:
Star Trek
Transformers
The Prestige
"Bliss" - Star Trek: Voyager
Gargoyles - Season 1
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
“The Schizoid Man” - Star Trek: The Next Generation

“Midnight On The Firing Line” – 8/10
“Soul Hunter” – 4.5/10
VHS – 5/10

For other television reviews, please be sure to visit my Movie Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Disney Beats Lucas And Spielberg To The Punch With Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

The Good: Decent characters, Engaging story, Good voice acting
The Bad: Erratic animation, Elements that are not as clear as they could be.
The Basics: Disney’s underrated Atlantis: The Lost Empire may be plagued by poorly-proportioned character animation, but it makes up for it with an engaging exploration story that was ahead of its time.


Today, before I have a day to myself as a gift from my wife, she got to choose our activities. She chose the movie we watched together and she went right for her wall of Disney. Today, we took in Atlantis: The Lost Empire, a Disney science fiction film that seems to have been very much ahead of its time. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is an Earth-based piece that instantly brought to mind Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (reviewed here!) and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (reviewed here!) and it worked out to be an engaging, generally well-conceived film.

In fact, my biggest issues with Atlantis: The Lost Empire were mostly in the special effects department (and, as my regular readers know, that is not a highly-rated portion of the filmmaking experience for me!). The character designs and especially the proportions of characters as they move on screen, are somewhat sloppy, especially in comparison to the visual effects for sequences involving landscapes and vehicles moving around the screen. In fact, there are some pretty cringeworthy moments when elements of disproportional characters interact with what are almost reality-quality effects for buildings and landscape shots! But, compared to the strengths of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, these are fairly minor quibbles.

Milo Thatch is a linguist and the grandson of a noted archaeologist, who is obsessed with finding the lost continent of Atlantis in 1914. Having been shunned by the operators of the museum he works for (relegated, as he is, to the boiler room), Milo is excited when he is summoned to the estate of the reclusive financer and friend of his grandfather, Preston Whitmore. There, Milo is given the book he needs in order to conclusively find Atlantis and he is shown the equipment and personnel that will take him to Atlantis. Accompanied by a doctor, miner, explosives expert, cook, mechanic, and mercenaries, Milo makes the descent to the ocean floor to find Atlantis.

After escaping the mechanical defense of the lost continent and losing most of their crew and possessions, Milo actually does discover Atlantis. There, he meets the King’s daughter, Kida, who is intrigued by Milo and his ability to read Atlantean. With his help, she rediscovers the dying power source of Atlantis. Unfortunately, that is when the mercenaries turn on Milo and the Atlanteans and prepare to remove the mysterious power source for their own corrupt reasons and return it to the surface!

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a rousing adventure that surrenders to remarkably few of the usual Disney animated conceits. Instead of a smartmouth sidekick, Atlantis: The Lost Empire features more of an ensemble, with only one of the characters (Mole) being a virtually indecipherable, pointless, comic relief character. The result is a Disney film that feels very much like an Indiana Jones archaeological adventure. By the time it stops feeling like that, the movie is very much into Star Trek territory, though the explanation of the Atlantean power source is a little more vague than it is revealing or truly philosophical.

Milo is an intriguing Disney protagonist. Educated and quick on his feet, his coming of age story (aren’t almost all Disney animated films coming of age stories?!) is a story of a young man who has the intelligence and the information and simply needs the opportunity. This, sadly, has the disturbingly realistic message that in life ability comes secondary to financing and simply knowing the right people. I suppose it is good that young people learn that sooner as opposed to later, though it might explain why the film did not do as well at the box office as many Disney films.

Kida is not really a Disney princess, though she is a literal princess in a Disney flick. She sits out the vast majority of the film and she is a very typical damsel in distress, though when she is actively a part of the movie, she is inquisitive and engaged.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire has a pretty incredible voice cast that includes Claudia Christian, John Mahoney, Jim Varney, Phil Morris, and James Garner. Led by Michael J. Fox (Milo), Atlantis: The Lost Empire features voice acting that is expressive, appropriately emotive and entirely comprehensible. The actors bring the characters to life and make the adventure one becomes easily invested in.

For other Disney animated films, please visit my reviews of:
Wreck-It Ralph
Brave
Tangled
Toy Story 3
A Christmas Carol
Up
Ponyo
The Princess And The Frog
Bolt
WALL-E
The Incredibles
Lilo & Stitch
Monsters, Inc.
Mulan
The Lion King
Beauty And The Beast
The Little Mermaid
Lady And The Tramp
The Sword In The Stone
Sleeping Beauty
Fantasia

7/10

For other film reviews, please be sure to check out my Movie Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Expanding The Universe Of Babylon 5: Babylon 5: The Movies

The Good: Generally good special effects, Interesting stories, Good acting, Decent extras
The Bad: Inconsistent character elements, Inconsistent movie quality
The Basics: While a must for fans of the Babylon 5 series, the self-referential nature of some of the movies make this a difficult sell to newbies.


When Babylon 5 moved to the TNT network, they were commissioned to make films to make an event of the move. In addition to recutting the pilot for the television show, the producers were given the chance to make four additional films. They are now collected in one boxed set which is the Babylon 5 Movie Collection.

"The Gathering" is the recut pilot episode for the Babylon 5 series and it is pretty much essential for fans or newcomers to watch before attempting to view the series. Introducing all of the major players in the universe, station commander Jeffrey Sinclair must deal with the arrival and subsequent assassination attempt on the Vorlon ambassador, Kosh. In the process, Sinclair himself becomes a target, inspiring the question that will rule the entire first season of the series.

"In The Beginning" is a prequel movie which tells the story of the Earth-Minbari war. Here we see more than what the series has told us previously, including Dr. Franklin's role, Londo Mollari's interventions and John Sheridan's victory against the Minbari as well as a secret mission to try to end the war.

"Thirdspace" - This problematic sidenote to the main Babylon 5 storyline revolves around the discovery of an immense alien artifact which seems to hold the key to a new form of travel. It telepathically affects many of the crew and threatens ruin on the station.

"The River of Souls" explores the philosophical questions initially raised in the first season episode "The Soul Hunter" by bringing Soul Hunters back to the station. This standalone film is fairly pointed and it makes its point well.

Finally, "A Call To Arms" puts the Earth under attack by the allies of the Shadows as a precursor to the series Crusade, the Babylon 5 spin-off. "A Call To Arms" feels like a Babylon 5 endeavor in terms of characterization and plot, though it works to pass the torch to a new crew.

What works with the Babylon 5 movies is that they flesh out the universe of Babylon 5 exceptionally well. These stories fill in gaps, make richer the known events, and give some opportunities to characters that we have not seen before.

The main problem with these movies - up until "A Call To Arms" is the lack of a credible threat. "The Gathering," being the pilot, is awkward in comparison to the polished look of the rest of the series and the rest of the movies. But, as it is the beginning, we know the universe will not end. Similarly, "In the Beginning" is the story of a war which has a known outcome. Fleshing it out is certainly interesting and while it is perhaps the best of the Babylon 5 films, the story falls mostly along known lines.

The real insult in this department is "Thirdspace." At the height of the action of the fourth season of Babylon 5, the station faces a deadly threat that could wipe out everything. But, of course, it doesn't. Why? Because there's the rest of season four and season five coming. "Thirdspace" is like watching a horror film when one knows there is a sequel and which stars have already been cast for it. The menace is diminished. Therefore, the threat represented by "Thirdspace" is never real. We know no one we care about will die, be altered and there are no ramifications from this on the series. This insults the larger tapestry by diminishing one of the fundamental notions of the Babylon 5 universe; all actions, all choices, here have a consequences.

"River of Souls" works mostly well as does "A Call To Arms." Where "River of Souls" fails to work is - again - in the big picture of the Babylon 5 universe. At the end of the fifth season of Babylon 5, the station is turned over to a new crew. While "River of Souls" gives Captain Lochley the chance to completely command the station, we never see her new doctor, nor any of her new staff that she likely came to depend on.

What keeps "River of Souls" in the winners circle is the acting. Martin Sheen portrays the Soul Hunter with his usual excellence and it's a shock to see such a prestigious actor in a made-for-television movie. He rules each of his scenes and it's easy to see why he was drawn to the role. The truth is, all of the movies have pretty great acting and the characters are interesting, as they always have been.

This set has remarkably few extras, basically each film has an introduction and commentary track.

Who will like Babylon 5 the movies? Fans of Babylon 5. It's a treat that illustrates that this universe J. Michael Straczynski created still has so many more stories to tell. It, as he notes in the boxed set's notes, fills in the gaps and it does it well. But more than that, the first two movies may give people not familiar with the Babylon 5 universe a chance to see if its somewhere they would like to invest their time and money (nothing is lost by watching the first two films, then going and watching the series). I suspect it's a way to get some new people interested in one of the greatest television series' of all time.

6/10

For other television reviews, please visit my Television Review Index Page for an organized listing of all the films I have reviewed!

© 2012, 2006 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Staying Strong In The Rebellion Against Tyranny In Babylon 5 Season Four!

The Good: Well-written and conceived, Excellent acting, Great character development, Extraordinary plot, Themes
The Bad: A pretty-terrible season finale
The Basics: In the climax of several important plots, Captain Sheridan returns to take on the Shadows and the oppressive tyranny on Earth in the fourth season of Babylon 5.


The third season of Babylon 5, "Point Of No Return" is a tough act to follow-up on. In its third season, Babylon 5 reached perfection and held the attention of the viewers for twenty-two episodes that completely rocked and are exceptionally rewatchable. The fourth season of Babylon 5, "No Surrender, No Retreat," has big shoes to fill and it succeeds, for the most part. This season is robbed of perfection by its season finale, which is weak, directionless and fails to end the season on a note that makes us want to come back to season five with the same intensity as the prior seasons. Indeed, listening to the commentary by J. Michael Straczynski on "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" (great title, regardless), the episode was not the original season finale and was produced only after the show was picked up for a fifth season. Unfortunately, it feels like it.

If you have not seen any episodes of Babylon 5, stop reading this review now. Go back, read my reviews for seasons 1, 2, and 3, go out, buy the DVD sets, watch them, then come back and read this review to make your final decision about buying "No Surrender, No Retreat." It is, quite simply, too late in the series to start watching if you have not already been watching. While season three is accessible to those who are just getting into the show, season four is anything but. This is a season that requires commitment from viewers, including doing the homework of watching the prior three years. This is a payoff season.

As with the previous three boxed sets, the mislabled "Introduction to Season 4" is truly a "Review of Season 4," completely ruining several of the key surprises in the season if viewed by one who has not seen the episodes already.

Beginning where season three left off, "No Surrender, No Retreat," finds space station Babylon 5 isolated at the edge of known space, alone in the night. Captain John Sheridan has jumped to his death on Z'ha'dum and the war against the Shadows has paused as a result. While Ivanova and Delenn search for Sheridan and try to salvage the alliance designed to stop the Shadows from killing every living thing in the galaxy, G'Kar goes on a quest to find Garibaldi. Sheridan and Garibaldi turn up soon enough, however, both significantly altered. Sheridan has found the abilities needed to help defeat the Shadows and the strength to take on Earth, while Garibaldi has become insular, paranoid and resentful of Sheridan, prompting him to abandon his friends and leave Babylon 5. And G'Kar, who went looking for Garibaldi, finds himself at the mercy of the insane Centauri Emperor Cartagia and the linchpin in Londo's plan to save Centauri Prime and his people.

This is a very intense season where major, climactic events occur on all fronts. When it appears that one character is fading to the background, they get a great plotline that pushes them back to the forefront. This is a season of profound intrigues and revelations and it is the story of the galaxy trapped in war. At the end of the day, it is pretty awesome.

Here is how the fourth season finds and develops the principle characters of Babylon 5:

Zack Allen - takes over as the head of security in Garibaldi's absence only to wonder what happened to the chief after he returns. While he becomes more responsible and more of an integral part of the station, he develops closer ties to Lyta Alexander,

Lennier - Still silently in love with Delenn, Lennier finds himself more and more isolated as Delenn and Sheridan grow closer together. He finds purpose when civil war breaks out on Minbar and he must put his love of his caste to the test,

Vir Cotto - Recalled to Centauri to aid Londo, Vir accidentally changes the course of his planet's history by being in the right place at the right time,

Lyta Alexander - Working with the new Vorlon Ambassador leaves Lyta abused and lonely, a vulnerable person who makes her susceptible to the advances of Zack and at the mercy of Psi Cop Bester,

Marcus - As the Shadow War reaches a head, the Rangers become even more important and Marcus takes on a leadership role. As well, his love for Ivanova continues to grow until he cannot deny the true depth of his feelings for her,

Dr. Franklin - Recovered from his addition to stims, he finds himself working as an ambassador to the underground rebellion on Mars, trying to insure that Sheridan's support is known on Mars and preparing the people there for a full revolution when the time is right,

Commander Ivanova - Discovers the full potential of her leadership abilities when she must command the fleet against the Shadows and against Earth's oppressive government. As well, she becomes a voice for the resistance, offering counterintelligence to the propaganda machine that President Clark has built,

G'Kar - His attempts to find Garibaldi put the Narn Ambassador in critical danger and provide him with a unique opportunity to save his people, provided Emperor Cartagia does not kill him first,

Londo - Witnessing the full degradation of Emperor Cartagia's mental condition, Londo becomes convinced he alone may save his people from Morden, the Shadow forces, and Emperor Cartagia. In the process, Londo must confront G'Kar, his own fears, and works to get everything he has ever truly wanted,

Garibaldi - Returned from his abduction without any clue as to where he was or why he was removed from everything he knew, Garibaldi begins acting erratically. Abandoning his job and going free-lance, Garibaldi becomes convinced Sheridan is a menace and must be stopped,

Delenn - Amazed to find Sheridan alive after his death on Z'ha'dum, Delenn admits her complete love of Sheridan and almost as soon as they are engaged, she finds that events on her homeworld require her attention and she must resolve the dispute between the religious and warrior castes or everything she has ever believed in will collapse entirely,

Captain Sheridan - is miraculously resurrected by a surprising new ally, only to find himself returning to Babylon 5 where everything is on the verge of collapse. As Sheridan struggles to end the war with the Shadows, by defeating them and the suddenly aggressive Vorlons, he finds himself wondering how long he has left. And when the treacherous President Clark begins waging a propaganda war on Babylon 5 and a series of outright attacks on civilians who rebel against him, Sheridan leads a force to retake his homeland, at any cost.

This season is the climax of almost all of the major plotlines of Babylon 5. Since the first season, there have been plots involving the Shadows, the takeover of Earth by Clark and the threats posed by the telepaths through the Psi Corps. By the end of this season, only the Psi Corp plot is unresolved, and - like the other two plots in previous seasons - it is ratcheted up in the last few episodes of "No Surrender, No Retreat." The problem is that in the penultimate episode of the season, the complications that are arising are stated and the ultimate resolution to the problems is revealed, and then the season finale comes and its something so different and so incongruent with the rest of the series, that it fails to leave the viewer satisfied after so many truly great episodes.

And the truth is, outside the complete dud of the season finale, this is an amazingly tight body of work. Unlike other seasons, where there were episodes interspersed that seemed questionable (even the perfect third season had "A Late Delivery From Avalon" with the appearance of King Arthur, that raised my eyebrows), this is a remarkably tight season. There are no weird or seemingly pointless episodes, no setups for payoffs outside the season that require a lot of faith. Instead, this is a season of revolution and resolutions.

And it works because the plots are well figured out and the characters are well portrayed. This is a season where every actor in the ensemble gives an incredible effort and achieves a magnificent payoff. Unlike previous seasons where Peter Jurasik, Andreas Katsulas and Bruce Boxleitner have shined and overpowered the rest of the cast, acting-wise, this is a season where every actor is given a change to rise up and blow us out of the water and they succeed admirably. Claudia Christian gives a heartwrenching performance, for example, in the penultimate episode "Rising Star."

This is a truly great season of television and only the poor finale brings it down. It is a worthy payoff to a series that has built itself up from nothing into something that makes for a compelling view. This season will be appreciated by those who have seen the other three seasons.

How wonderful is "No Surrender, No Retreat?" I sat down with a friend and it was so gripping, we watched the entire 22-episode season over the course of a single weekend and we're already chomping for season five and to rewatch this season again.

9.5/10

For other television reviews, please visit my Movie Review Index Page for an organized listing of all the films and television shows I have reviewed!

© 2012, 2005 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.

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Perfection In The Resistance Of Tyranny: How Babylon 5 Created A Perfect Third Season!

The Good: Excellent use of cast, Great character development, Well-conceived plots, Special effects, Themes
The Bad: Nothing serious, one or two end plot reversals, "King Arthur"
The Basics: The pressures of a totalitarian government and a universe descending into horrific war are set against the backdrop of an isolated space station over the 22 well-crafted episodes that make up Babylon 5 Season Three.


There are some television shows that slip under the radar because they are classified as "genre" or "experimental" and they do not get the audience they deserve when they are on the air. There are television shows that are created at a time when it is safe to produce their subversive messages and then become a rallying cry for those who watch them when times turn darker. Babylon 5 premiered when Star Trek: The Next Generation was at its peak and was beaten to air by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It was seen by many as a fledgling television show trying to squeeze into a market dominated by Star Trek. Many fans of Star Trek refused to watch Babylon 5 and many people who dislike science fiction never opened up to this show either.

Those people are wrong and they need to give Babylon 5 a chance.

Season 3 of Babylon 5, "Point Of No Return," is a perfect season of television and in its DVD presentation, it quickly becomes something to watch over and over again. For those unfamiliar with Babylon 5, entering here in the third season is like picking up a novel at its turning point. It can be done, but it won't be fully appreciated.

Season 3 finds space station Babylon 5 adapting to the serious changes going on in the universe around it. As the Centauri/Narn conflict settles into a difficult occupation, the mysterious Shadows begin to re-emerge from the darkness, threatening everything. While Captain Sheridan and Ambassador Delenn try to bring together the forces needed to stop the Shadows, the treachery of Earth President Clark is revealed, forcing Earth into martial law and Babylon 5 into independence.

First of all, one of the bonus features on the Babylon 5 Season 3 disc is mislabled. On the first disc, there is a featurette called "Season 3 Introduction." If you have never seen the third season of Babylon 5, don't watch this! It is not an introduction (i.e. setting up the story based on the events and highlights of the previous two seasons), it is a review of season three. Thus, most every important plot point or character point is explored in the "Introduction," ruining any and all sense of surprise for the impressive way these events unfold.

"Point Of No Return," the season title, not just the episode within the season by the same name, is a perfect season of television. The problems with it are mostly in the timing. If one has not seen the previous two seasons, it is difficult to understand the magnitude of all of the events in this season. So, for instance, the revelations in "Messages From Earth" that confirm the President Santiago assassination that has long been suspected by Babylon 5 crewmembers, carry less magnitude when one does not see how the show has been building to it.

But the real appreciation for the show might be revealed now, in these dark times where the United States Federal government has become monolithic and repressive. Watching episodes like "Point Of No Return" and "Severed Dreams" remind the viewer of the power an individual might have to change the course of tyranny and resist evil. This is a show with a powerful message about making difficult choices to try to do what is right as opposed to doing what is easy or popular. "Point of No Return" illustrates that freedom is an idea that must be fought for responsibly and that overbearing governments must be resisted if the human spirit is to endure.

Like all great serialized shows, the stories turn on incredible characters, not simply on plots that are incredibly intricate. Here is how the third season finds the principle characters:

Lyta Alexander - Now Kosh's assistant, Lyta turns up with more and more frequency, trying to help Sheridan build alliances against the Shadows,

Marcus Cole - The Rangers take on an impressive role with the witty, quirky Marcus joining the station and quickly bonding with those aboard. He is intense and powerful, but filled with a humor that is uncharacteristic of Rangers,

Kosh - Now revealed (in the second season finale), the Vorlon Ambassador does what he can to aid Sheridan in planning to do war against the Shadows. Kosh's aid comes with a huge price, which will change everything,

Lennier - His bond with Delenn grows and is strained as he watches how close his mentor and Sheridan are becoming, yet his love for her never wavers,

Zack Allen - The resident security guard and member of Nightwatch finds himself in a tug of war over where his allegiances lie when Nightwatch begins to pressure him more and more to use tactics he is uncomfortable with,

Vir Cotto - In an attempt to do some good, Vir orchestrates a plan by which he is able to save many Narn lives. When Londo wants him out of the way, Vir finds himself becoming a special emissary to the Minbari,

Garibaldi - The security chief finds himself at odds with members of his staff who have joined Nightwatch and his work to keep the station secure and running efficiently lead him to discover a great deal about himself,

G'Kar - His homeworld decimated, G'Kar learns who is responsible for his people's enslavement and while imprisoned, he reaches a stage of enlightenment that allows him to understand his place in the universe and the importance of his role in fighting the Shadows,

Dr. Franklin - The doctor finds himself using stims (stimulants) more and more as the Shadows strike more and more targets, leaving people in need of a medic. Franklin's drug addiction forces him on a path of self-discovery that leaves him very much alone,

Ivanova - Takes on more and more responsibility as she aids Captain Sheridan in assembling allies against the forces of the Shadows. She finds purpose and range in bringing together those who have been apart for their common good,

Delenn - Is challenged by the growing schism on Minbar between the Religious caste and the Warrior caste. As she and Sheridan grow closer together, she finds herself more isolated from her people and in a dangerous position as a leader against the Shadows. She becomes an enabler to Sheridan, allowing him to do his most important work,

Londo - The Centauri Ambassador decides that it is time to end his dark alliance with the Shadows and free his people. He is dismayed to discover, however, that when he severs ties with the Shadows, Lord Refa and Morden conspire to continue the work he began, placing Centauri Prime in the hands of a new Emperor and at the mercy of the Shadows,

Captain Sheridan - Following his life being saved by Kosh, Sheridan realizes that the Shadow menace is upon the universe with little time to prepare. With the aid of a new Ranger ship called the White Star, Sheridan works tirelessly to bring together the various alien races to fight against the evil Shadows. As he works against the Shadows, he finds himself in the middle of prophecy, falling in love with Delenn and at odds with the oppressive forces of the Earth Government. When the government of Earth starts bombing civilian targets, Sheridan is forced to choose between following the demands of duty and doing what is right and standing up against oppression.

This is a complex story with incredibly rich, well-defined characters. "Point Of No Return" illustrates beautifully how complex issues become when fighting against regimes that are repressive, degrading and wrong. There is much to be learned from this show about recognizing tyranny and how to fight it.

A large part of the success of this season of Babylon 5 is in the character development, but the characters would be diminished were it not for the fine actors portraying them. As in previous seasons, Claudia Christian and Mira Furlan give amazing performances as Commander Ivanova and Ambassador Delenn, respectively. As well, Peter Jurasik continues his impressive portrayals of Londo Mollari. As well, Stephen Furst is given more to do and shines as Vir, bringing new vitality and charisma to the previously laughable Vir.

But in this season of growth and change, there are three actors who stand out like beacons in the night. Richard Biggs blows away everything he has done before on the show by portraying Dr. Franklin with depth and issues that he has not been able to until now. Even more impressive, Biggs delivers the greatest performances of angst and realism while working alone or acting against himself. Very impressive.

Easily on par or exceeding Biggs is the acting of Andreas Katsulas. Katsulas works the season like a pro, portraying G'Kar as a man who has lost so much that he has nothing else to lose until he has an epiphany of his true place in the universe. Katsulas takes G'Kar from being an adversary (first season) to pitiable (second season) to being well-defined and grand in the most tragic ways in this third season. It is Katsulas that reminds us of the power of the individual through his incredible ability to emote using the full range of his facial expressions and eye motions, not an easy task considering he is in heavy prosthetic make-up and wearing contact lenses. But he succeeds and he makes the character into far more than it has been.

The show hinges - quite often - on the performances of Bruce Boxleitner as Captain Sheridan. Boxleitner is a master at presenting the complex issues and emotions of Sheridan with the emotional weight that is appropriate. Sheridan is out changing the world and Boxleitner presents his decisions with a degree of finesse and gravity that make the journey of the character seem quite real and appropriate.

Who would like Babylon 5 Season 3? Anyone who enjoys a great story of political machinations, freedom fighting and/or great science fiction. "Point Of No Return" is an opera, a middle act that is remarkably accessible, even for those who have never seen the show before, where the limits of human endurance and the drive for human freedom are pushed with wonderful consequences and results.

For other worthwhile third seasons of genre shows, be sure to check out my reviews of:
The X-Files - Season 3
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Complete Third Season
Angel - Season Three

10/10

For other television reviews, please visit my Television Review Index Page for an organized listing of all the shows I have reviewed!

© 2012, 2005 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Rising Action In A Darkening Galaxy Envelops Babylon 5 Season Two!

The Good: Excellent story, Intriguing character development, Decent acting
The Bad: Addition of Keffer, No "dish" in the extras!
The Basics: As Babylon 5 tries to remain a neutral port of call, major powers in the galaxy take up arms against one another.


I never expected to enjoy Babylon 5 as much as I have. Honestly. My favorite television show of all time is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine which I loved for its deep characters, serialized story and great acting. Babylon 5 is a completely different puppy from "Deep Space Nine" and in the "credit where credit is due" department, the advantage Babylon 5 has in its story is that the series creator, J. Michael Straczinski, knew the entire five year story from day one and had what he calls "trapdoors" for each character, so if an actor/actress wanted to leave, he always had a plan of where to go with the story. Thus, Babylon 5 has an overall more consistent portrayal of the characters and universe it has created (unlike the Bashir Revelation in season 5 or the Sisko lineage discovery at the outset of season 7 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine).

But these are two different puppies and there is little point in further comparison; they are both impressive. In the second season of Babylon 5, entitled "The Coming of the Shadows," the series continues its build-up in tension toward what appears to be an inevitable war. Opening with the usage of one of the character trapdoors (Commander Sinclaire is gone), Captain John Sheridan arrives to take control of Babylon 5.

"The Coming of the Shadows," the second season of Babylon 5 and not the episode within the season by the same name, explores the regrettable position Babylon 5 is put in as events begin to slide out of control. Following the assassination of the President of Earth, Captain Sheridan arrives to find the station in chaos. Ivanova, who worked with him previously, tries to help him get accustomed to life on the station while Garibaldi remains near-death in the MedLab and Minbari Ambassador Delenn remains in a cocoon in her quarters. G'Kar returns to the station soon thereafter with the firm knowledge that something evil has awakened on the rim of the galaxy that threatens everyone.

As Delenn adjusts to her knew physiology after coming out of her chrysalis, G'Kar does everything possible to raise the alarm about the creatures lurking in the darkness. G'Kar's attempts to garner support for his cause are complicated - despite one of the members of the crew seeing the ship of the enemy - when Londo's dark deal with Morden leads to an all-out war between the Centauri and the Narn. As Sheridan struggles to keep Babylon 5 neutral in the war between the Narn and Centauri, the greater threat gains ground and soon Sheridan finds himself learning the truths that could spell disaster for everyone.

The beautiful thing about Babylon 5 is how cohesive the show is. More and more in "The Coming of Shadows," the episodes gel together into a single story. There are a few "bottle" episodes, but even they have a thread that connects them to the main plots. As a result, the DVD boxed set is a great investment as when you sit down to watch episodes, their serialized nature makes it easy to sit and watch them one after another and become more and more engrossed in the rising threat posed to the heroes and villains in this universe.

Like all great serialized shows, the real focus is on the characters. Babylon 5 is no exception and here is how the second season finds the primary characters:

Captain John Sheridan - a former starship captain, Sheridan is the only human hero of the Earth/Minbari was as he led the only successful attack on a Minbari ship. Sheridan quickly adapts to life on the station, but finds himself drawn into a series of conflicts that put him at odds with the Earth Government and open him up to the probabilities of a galaxy erupting into the most horrific war ever known. He searches for his dead wife and discovers a growing relationship with Delenn,

Londo - The Centauri Ambassador finds that his allying with the mysterious forces marshaled by Morden may have come with a price he cannot pay. As the Narn reel from the destruction of their outposts, Londo finds himself gaining in prominence and becoming the backing to a political coup on his homeworld,

Ivanova - As first officer, she works to integrate Sheridan with the station and discovers herself building a friendship with the most unlikely person; Talia Winters. As tensions grow, Ivanova finds herself taking on more of the day to day responsibilities of Babylon 5,

Delenn - The Minbari Ambassador emerges from her cocoon with a startling revelation; she is no longer simply a Minbari, but a hybrid created as a symbol for the upcoming alliance between her people and the humans. She finds herself as an outcast and gaining strength from Sheridan,

G'Kar - The Narn Ambassador returns to Babylon 5 with the knowledge that the most ancient known evil may have returned to the galaxy. His quest to reconcile his animosity toward the Centauri is cut short when the Centauri invade Narn space and start an all-out war. His role as leader grows immensely as he fights for his people,

Garibaldi - The Security Chief recovers from his near death with little memory of who tried to kill him or why. After working with Talia, he learns the truth and finds that station security is more and more a tool for the corrupt Earth Alliance government,

Dr. Franklin - Saves many lives, but at the same time starts to use the stimulants to keep productive. While his devotion to his work is challenged, he manages to make peace with his estranged father and work to the benefit of humanity by fighting covertly the actions of the Psi Corps,

Talia Winters - The resident telepath on Babylon 5 begins to explore the powers bestowed upon her in the first season when she must resolve conflicts between Garibaldi and his memory, herself and her ex-husband and herself and the Psi Corps, conflicts that resolve themselves in such a way that they threaten all aboard the station,

Vir Cotto - Begins his rise to being an assertive, actualized character as he begins to openly question Londo and his associates,

Warren Keffer - A new character, Keffer is a starfury pilot who has nothing to do on the show save show up for a few episodes, see a Shadow ship, and become obsessed with it,

Zack Allen - A new security deputy under Garibaldi, Zack attempts to woo Talia and falls prey to the seductive advances of the Nightwatch, an Earth group that is hunting traitors,

and Morden - The recurring villain is fleshed out as we learn that he is tied not only to the ancient enemy, but to Sheridan's dead wife, Anna.

Lennier and Na'Toth are also in this season, though the latter disappears near the middle and Lennier is not given much to do but relay messages this season.

The reason the plots remain engaging is that the characters are interesting and the more we learn about them and their desires and efforts, the more compelling the story becomes. The show uses computer-generated special effects that often look disturbingly like they came off a PC, but the show works and excels because the focus is on how the characters are rising to the challenges that are sweeping them along.

The acting in this season is absent the flaws and occasional poor deliveries of the first season. In fact, the actors are able to contribute even more in this season, like Claudia Christian, who broke her leg early in the season and had the injury written into the script. Christian does a great job of adding humor to Ivanova and using her voice to expertly convey urgency with Sheridan when necessary.

Andrea Thompson and Richard Biggs both shine, when they are given the opportunity. Thompson makes Winters softer and, at times, even more lethal. She exhibits impressive range that makes her character a pleasure to watch. Biggs has an amazing ability to alternate between easy affability and uncompromising intensity. Watching Babylon 5 now, it is sad to watch Biggs because his recent death makes us think about what a fine talent was lost that day.

The three acting heavyweights, though, are Bruce Boxleitner, Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas. Boxleitner appears to flawlessly enter the mix, an impressive task for a new lead actor in the sophomore year of a show. Boxleitner adds an energy to the cast instantly that energizes the show from the first frames of the season. His ability to use that energy to create an instantly memorable character is what keeps the most far-fetched moments of the season watchable.

Peter Jurasik continues to do an excellent job with Londo as the character evolves from something of a buffoon to a credible leader of the Centauri. Jurasik does this by incrementally improving Londo's posture, vocal bearing and emotive depth with facial expressions. Jurasik is impressive in the role.

The big winner on the acting front in the second season is Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar. Katsulas overcomes the detriments of being stuck in the extensive make-up that he's in to create a character that is emotive, sympathetic and incredibly expressive. Katsulas has a vocal force to him that resonates when he roars and a softness to him when his character is broken. G'Kar has an intriguing character run this season, but Katsulas owns the character and he dominates every single frame he is in.

The only real drawback to "The Coming of Shadows" is in the character of Warren Keffer. The character seems added (which, according to the commentary on the last disc, he was) and does not add anything significant to the mix. In fact, he has a single arc in the season and he disappears for most of the season. Na'Toth, recast for this season, disappears after only a few episodes, but her absence is more conspicuous.

In order to appreciate "The Coming of Shadows," one must first see the first season of Babylon 5, "Signs and Portents." While a little more fragmented and not as polished, the first season establishes essential character and plot points that are not entirely covered here in the second season.

In the current age with political uncertainty and incredible decisions being made by very few individuals, Babylon 5 becomes more relevant and inspiring. And the last moments of this set will have you hankering for the next boxed set. Honestly.

For other ambitious science fiction television shows, be sure to visit my reviews of:
Invasion - The Complete Series
V - The Complete First Season
The Clone Wars - Season Three

7.5/10

For other television reviews, please visit my Television Review Index Page for an organized listing of all my reviews of television shows, series, and episodes!

© 2012, 2008, 2004 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Mysteries Abound On Two Above-The-Curve Episodes Of Babylon 5!

The Good: Pretty wonderful plots, Good acting, Good character development, Excellent sense of serialization!
The Bad: Decent special effects, Somewhat simplified resolution to "Legacies"
The Basics: When Minbari arrive at the station banging war drums and Epsilon 3 appears not-quite-uninhabited, things change dramatically on Babylon 5!


Part of the fun of dusting off the old video tape collection is remembering how, before the advent of DVD, the production companies would try to really get a buck out of buyers. With Star Trek, the formula was simple: you want it, buy it, sucker! Every episode was a video tape that cost $12.95 (most places). Man, I love Paramount. They knew they had their audience and they weren't afraid to show it. Warner Home Video was a little bit more compassionate with Babylon 5; you got two episodes for about $9.99. But even then they had their ways of trying to get fans to buy more, like putting part one of a two-parter on one tape and part two on another! I guess that's just the way the episodes broke down in production . . . The latest one in my series of dusted off classics is "Legacies" and "A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I." I suppose one of the nice things about Babylon 5 is that it does not try frequently to disguise cliffhangers; when it's a two-parter, they let the viewer know right up front!

"Legacies" finds Babylon 5 playing host to a Minbari warship when one of the great Minbari warriors dies. The Shai Alit was the Minbari warrior who led the Battle of the Line, the battle which nearly wiped out humanity. He is brought to the station as part of a memorial tour to celebrate his life and greatness, raising tensions among the staff. While Sinclair deals with the edgy Minbari, made more so when the body of the Shai Alit goes missing, Talia and Ivanova discover a young orphan on the run, one who has just discovered she is a telepath . . .

"A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I" has the crew of Babylon 5 on edge when the abandoned planet below them, Epsilon 3, suffers groundquakes when it appeared to be stable. When an expedition is sent to investigate the geological mystery, it is fired on by weaponry from deep within the planet. Sinclair and Ivanova prepare to investigate as riots break out on Mars and an uprising there threatens the stability of the Earth Alliance. As Garibaldi tries desperately to contact his lost love on Mars, Sinclair and Ivanova discover that Epsilon 3 may not be what it appeared to be.

Both of these episodes do what much of Babylon 5 did right from the very beginning: they focus on character and they feature serialized plot and character elements. In "Legacies," understanding Ivanova's hatred for telepaths becomes clear when one has seen "Mind War" (reviewed here!), but otherwise is only vaguely discussed in the episode. Similarly, the Narn lack of telepaths is mentioned in the pilot episode "The Gathering," but not since. The Battle of the Line is heavily mentioned in "The Gathering" and is the obsessive pursuit of those who want to know what happened to Sinclair during it in "And The Sky Full Of Stars" (reviewed here!). In that same episode, it was revealed that a rift formed between the Religious and Warrior castes as a result of the abrupt end to the Earth-Minbari War and "Legacies" threatens to expand that rift. Delenn even implies that the disappearance of the body could cause a new war with Earth or start a Minbari Civil War.

Epsilon 3 has been largely neglected for the series thus far and its abrupt appearance as something of note (other than being simply a decent special effect behind the station in every episode) sets up future storylines. Similarly, the Mars Rebellion is the start of a huge series of plot events that resonate through the series. And Garibaldi's desperate search for Lise Hampton is an important character element for him. So, as you can see, these episodes are certainly enhanced by knowing the backstory of the characters and plots.

That is not to say they do not stand well on their own. Indeed, "A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I" is a remarkably well-contained episode, which is ironic as it is the first part of a two-parter. The episode introduces Gral, a mentor of Delenn's and serves as a launching point for future stories, not the least of which is "A Voice In The Wilderness, Part II!" And the nice thing is, by the time these two episodes come up, the special effects team has most of the kinks worked out in the special effects and much of the detail on the CGI work looks better than it has in the past.

But the essential elements are always the character elements and these episodes are rich with them. In "Legacies," the a-plot seems to focus on Sinclair, who is forced to play host to some of the very Minbari who were shooting at him a decade prior. He is on edge, but committed to peace. At one point, in speaking with Garibaldi, he admits that he has to keep reminding himself that the war is over. This is a wonderful touch and an essentially human and very true moment. Overcoming history, hatred and fear is not about repressing the thoughts that lead one to feel something about a supposed enemy, but rather about tempering those feelings with reason. In short, writer D.C. Fontana wisely recognizes that a decade after humanity was almost exterminated, the fear and hatred against the enemy still exists, but the actions taken are much more important and Sinclair is a man who is very much in control of his actions.

"Legacies" appears to be about Sinclair, but it takes an abrupt left turn near the end of the episode to focus on Delenn. I shall not ruin the plot/character surprises that come from that twist of attention, but I will say that while the resolution is satisfying on one level, it is a bit oversimplified on another and that might be why I find myself not rewatching this one as much. This episode also introduces Neroon, who is one of the leaders of the warrior caste and who will resurface throughout the series.

On the b-plot front, character may be even more important. Talia and Ivanova are characterized almost completely as opposites and this episode serves to push them together in an adversarial way yet again. While Talia tries to enlist the orphaned girl into the Psi Corps, as is law among humans, Ivanova tries to give the girl other options. Ivanova seeks to thwart Talia and prevent the Corps from gaining a useful asset. Over the course of the episode, the two manage to not pussyfoot around their hostility toward one another and they act like adults in how they attempt to resolve their differences. This is refreshing, even if their issues are not completely resolved.

"A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I" is a little more plot-focused simply because it is an ambitious first part that sets up a number of elements for the second episode. The main character elements focused on involve Gral's planned departure and Delenn's reaction to the "retirement" of her mentor and Garibaldi searching for the woman he loves from a distance among the complete chaos of political revolution. Garibaldi's story is one that is very vital and may be appreciated by anyone who has a friend in harm's way and is worried about them. But it also sets up Garibaldi as someone who has a heart, which has not been evident in his character before now. We know of his troubled past, the viewer had no real notion that he had not gone through all of it alone.

What works consistently in the course of these two episodes is that the acting is pretty solid. Outside the young woman who plays the orphaned telepath, the acting is all-around impressive. The performer who plays Gral only appears in this episode and the second part (the part is recast for subsequent appearances), but John Vickery, who plays Neroon, makes an auspicious debut and becomes one of the actors who shines as a guest star such that one looks forward to his next appearance.

The main cast is much more honed as well. Andrea Thompson plays Talia with much more consistency in these two episodes than she had in prior episodes. It seems like she has become more comfortable with performing in a science fiction environment, which did not always appear to be the case in earlier episodes. Michael O'Hare is able to explore more of his abilities as Sinclair. We finally see him excited and elated in "A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I." His performance (nothing in the script) infuses a sense of exploratory desire and adventure into the Commander that had not been present before now. It's a nice touch and it works quite well for him.

But the real winner in the two episodes seems to be Mira Furlan. Furlan, who impresses viewers with her recurring role of Rousseau on Lost (reviewed here!), gives two performances that establish her as a true master. Burdened by prosthetics that almost completely obscure her ability to make more expressive facial expressions (she cannot, for example, furrow her brow in frustration), she is forced to act through her voice and her eyes. She has the ability to bring steely resolve to her eyes that perfectly expresses her character's mood of guarded resolve. And in the second episode, we see her smiling for one of the few times in the first season and her performance alongside her mentor is delightful and strikingly different from many of her others, yet she still makes the performance feel like it is in character.

These episodes work best for fans of science fiction and especially those who like Babylon 5 already or are interested in committing to the five-year story arc. "Legacies" is an interesting episode for those interested in dramas involving the difficulties with being at peace with an old enemy. "A Voice In The Wilderness, Part I" is very much for fans of science fiction. But they are both worthwhile.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Babylon 5 - The Complete First Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the debut season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

“Legacies” – 6.5/10
“A Voice In The Wilderness, Part 1” – 8/10
VHS – 7/10

For other television reviews, please visit my specialized index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2012, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Dr. Franklin's Medical Mysteries With "Deathwalker" And "Believers" On Babylon 5!

The Good: Excellent moral dilemmas, Decent character development, Mostly good acting
The Bad: Simple plots, Some shaky acting
The Basics: When medical ethics issues are brought to Babylon 5 in the form of war crimes experiments and religious zealotry, Babylon 5 does not shrink away from exploring the consequences!


Babylon 5 is not Star Trek. Never was, wasn't trying to be, didn't even enter into the equation. Yet, as a die-hard Star Trek fan, I find that Babylon 5 has a lot to offer and because it isn't bound by the conventions of the Star Trek universe, the cultures are distinct and the menace posed by threats is often quite real and binding with a permanence that Star Trek often lacks. Indeed, the great cited death in the Star Trek universe would have to be that of Tasha Yar from Star Trek: The Next Generation in "Skin Of Evil" (reviewed here!). As a result of death being a somewhat permanent condition in the Babylon 5 universe, the situations have an ability to take a turn toward the fatal and unexpected. Nowhere is this more true in the first season than with "Deathwalker" and "Believers."

Na'Toth is waiting for a transport to arrive when suddenly she assaults a woman who is boarding the station, yelling "Deathwalker!" The last of the Dilgar, the biogeneticist Jha'dur is nearly killed by Na'Toth before the Narn is dragged away. Jha'dur is Deathwalker, a corrupt scientist whose experiments on living beings has led to the development of an elixir that offers nothing less than immortality. While Na'Toth schemes for a way to kill Jha'dur, the races aboard Babylon 5 vie to obtain her research. Meanwhile, the Vorlon Ambassador, Kosh, has a scheme of his own in the works, a series of senseless negotiations requiring the presence of Talia Winters.

"Believers" finds Dr. Franklin caught in an ethical bind when the religious beliefs of a child's parents prevent the doctor from performing a simple lifesaving surgery on their son. When the child takes a turn for the worse, Dr. Franklin is forced to make an official request for Commander Sinclair to intervene. While the parents approach the various ambassadors aboard the station to prevent Sinclair's intervention, Ivanova is sent to escort in a passenger ship full of civilians that has been left adrift in Raider territory. But of course, the time comes when Sinclair has to rule . . .

As I said, this isn't the Star Trek universe, so medical dilemmas are not always handled with happy results. While Star Trek: The Next Generation explored end of life issues with shows like "Half A Life" (reviewed here!), only Star Trek: Deep Space Nine truly agonized the death of a character on screen with "Life Support" (reviewed here!). "Believers" pits religion versus science and Dr. Franklin's arrogance is in the assumption that his way is the right way. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the dilemma is that Dr. Franklin is one of the more spiritual characters on Babylon 5 and his belief in the power of medicine makes for an interesting dilemma that is hardly as black and white as a simple faith versus science argument. And the result is an episode that does not have any simple answers.

But it does have consequences. In fact, both "Believers" and "Deathwalker" are big on consequences. And those consequences are illustrated in painful detail right on screen; Babylon 5 does not tiptoe around them. Instead, Jha'dur gets beaten while we watch, Commander Sinclair's gambit to simply follow orders and extradite her to Earth is thwarted by an alien ambassador, and Deathwalker's revelation of the consequences of creating her serum are all unapologetically explored on screen. It makes for a poignant pair of episodes that resonate with anyone who wishes to explore medical and scientific ethics. Both episodes focus on the strengths and limitations of science and the exploration of medical science. With "Deathwalker," the viewer is treated to an argument exploring uninhibited research. Jha'dur's methods are easily considered barbaric and cruel. In "Believers," the episode explores the nature of intense restrictions on medical practices and many will find the prohibitions and mannerisms of the parents to be almost as barbaric or cruel.

Babylon 5 does not get excessively preachy about the issues, though, either. Instead, the consequences of the moral dilemmas are kept couched in character terms. Dr. Franklin's decision does not become a broad statement on medical ethics, nor does the willingness of every "civilized" planet in the galaxy to use Jha'dur to continue her research. And the character studies are compelling.

One of the very cool aspects of "Deathwalker," for example, is the use of character limitations for Commander Sinclair. He is not all-powerful and in "Deathwalker," he finds himself out maneuvered by one of the ambassadors from the League of Nonaligned Worlds. When the ambassador rounds up a posse on her own to blockade the passageways Sinclair finds himself unable to execute his orders and forced to grant the League a hearing for extradition of Deathwalker.

It's nice to see even the leaders of the galaxy limited by obstacles that equally smart and driven individuals scheme up. But moreover, Sinclair's determination not to use force in the situation to resolve it makes for a compelling character stroke as well. He becomes a man of principle who sticks to the principles, even when it is not easy.

Both b-plots have their merits as well. Talia's trial at the (proverbial) hand of Kosh is easily one of the most memorable b-plots in the entire series. The peculiar negotiations she is sent to monitor make for a series of intriguing scenes that are initially confusing but end up making perfect sense. In "Believers," the plot that has Ivanova confronting Raider ships keeps the nebulous enemy alive in the mind of regular viewers despite its somewhat inconsequential nature within the episode. It gives Ivanova something to do and that's always nice.

"Deathwalkers" highlights just how wonderful first season Babylon 5 can be on the acting front. Jha'dur is played with icy menace by Sarah Douglas. Douglas is probably best known in mainstream culture as one of the villains in Superman 2, though I fondly remember her as the Visitor commander Pamela from V: The Final Battle (reviewed here!). Douglas has two strengths she brings to bear in the role of Jha'dur. First, she proves that she can act around the extensive prosthetics and make-up she is given as a Dilgar. Even though she is covered in latex, she is able to emote and create a memorable character. Second, as someone who is accustomed to playing villains, Douglas is charged with making Jha'dur distinct and different. She does this by using a sense of understatement that she does not usually bring to her roles. Instead of playing Jha'dur as an outright villain, she plays her as a quiet scientist who simply did what she was trained to do. It's a nice twist and it works to create another memorable villain notch in her belt.

"Deathwalkers" also features Robin Curtis as an alien ambassador. Curtis, perhaps best known to genre fans for her role as Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (reviewed here!), has to match wits and stature with Michael O'Hare to convincingly lead the plot to a standoff and she does it beautifully. Curtis has very emotive eyes and she is able to stare down O'Hare in a way that freezes him . . . and the viewer.

Michael O'Hare, for his part, does well being jerked around in "Deathwalker" and playing complete discomfort in "Believers." While Franklin has a pretty sound ethical dilemma - made more complicated by Sinclair's actions in the pilot episode - Sinclair is in murky legal waters. O'Hare plays Sinclair smartly; not as a man who cannot make up his mind, but a man who does not want the burden of a decision that sets such dangerous precedent.

Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin) gives a solid performance that establishes his character as a determined and self-actualized healer.

Sadly, the performers playing the alien parents and the alien child are just plain terrible in the roles. Sure, they are supposed to be stiff and conservative, but half the time they look like they've forgotten their lines and are simply lost. And the child actor is, well, a child actor. This does not serve the episode well. Virtually every scene they are in is a weird combination of Biggs delivering flawless, emotional, poetic lines abruptly meeting with their stiff delivery of their parts. It just does not sit right.

The special effects in both episodes are among the better effects in season one with the CGI ships looking more real and less animated.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Babylon 5 - The Complete First Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the debut season by clicking here!
Thanks!]

“Deathwalker” – 6.5/10
“Believers” – 5/10
VHS – 5/10

For other television reviews, please be sure to check out my index page on the subject by clicking here!

© 2012, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Poetic Titles Reveal The Enduring Questions And Concepts Of Babylon 5!

The Good: Great character moments, Moments of acting, Plot issues, Moments of effects, Themes
The Bad: Moments of effects, Why are villains so dumb?, Some predictability.
The Basics: With two very good episodes of Babylon 5 that tackle race issues in the unique universe of the show, this tape has some enduring value to it!


As I plod through the few Babylon 5 videos I can find, it occurs to me that there has not been a show on television that has such consistently poetic episode titles as Babylon 5. With the old VHS tape for "The War Prayer" and "And The Sky Full Of Stars," I found myself thinking of the importance of episode titles and the potentially beautiful poetics of them. Here again, Babylon 5 lives up to a higher standard!

"The War Prayer" finds Babylon 5 taking on more ambassadors and an old lover of Ivanova's arriving on the station. Ivanova's friend turns out to be an Earth-only racist with an agenda of ridding Earth outposts of alien influence. Seeing an opportunity to harm the Home Guard and learn its agenda, Sinclair and Ivanova attempt to infiltrate the organization while Londo sorts out a lover's problem between two young Centauri who are eloping.

"And The Sky Full Of Stars" finds the question that was asked in the beginning of the series resurfacing. What happened at the Battle of the Line; why did the Minbari surrender instead of wiping out humanity? And what happened during Sinclair's missing day? Two knights arrive on Babylon 5, abduct Commander Sinclair and attempt to wrest from his mind the truths they believe are locked there!

For a change, the episodes paired on the VHS tape are thematically similar, allowing the buyer/viewer a chance to capitalize on similar forms of drama. The knights that capture Sinclair are Earth-only extremists, like Ivanova's old flame. This tape, then, features some of the racial politics of the Babylon 5 universe and asks the big questions about how everyone there gets along. This opens the door for the Home Guard, an Earth-based extremist group that resents "alien influences" on humans and seeks to eliminate them.

It is that same hatred that motivates the knights in "And The Sky Full Of Stars." On some level, the knights are convinced that Sinclair has been compromised by the enemy, the Minbari. Though the Minbari are no longer the enemy of the humans, the war that nearly wiped humanity out left its mark and their abrupt end to hostilities is a mystery that has captured the imagination of the galaxy for the ten years since the war ended. Learning the truth to that mystery and how it relates to Sinclair motivates the knights. The interesting aspect here is that many of the most noble characters - Garibaldi, Sinclair - and the least noble - the racist knights - share the same goal, they are motivated to find the truth about the same mystery and that makes for an interesting character dynamic.

Less intriguing is the b-plot in "The War Prayer." The eloping couple allows the viewer to understand more about Centauri culture, but is mostly just filler. Sure, it gives Vir a chance to express himself and in that regard, the b-plot hints at future developments with Vir. Vir may be the aide to Londo, but he is not a carbon copy. Where Londo is motivated to better his people by attempting to reclaim the past glories of the Centauri, Vir is motivated by the desire to help people and he is willing to work for change in order to do that. In this way, "The War Prayer" begins to explore his character and gives actor Stephen Furst more airtime and a chance to establish his character.

The only real character faults in this pair of episodes come in the villains. In "The War Prayer," the lead villain - Ivanova's former lover, is just a complete idiot. Writer D.C. Fontana smartly devises the plan by which Sinclair may appeal to the racist and it makes sense. Sinclair fought the Minbari, so he could be seen to have a secret hatred of them and that's a pretty clever way to allow the character to roll. The problem I have is that the Home Guard bigot buys it. He swallows the bait big time and I would think members of a secret hate organization would be a little less trusting and a little more suspicious. After all, every club that works in secret does an extensive background check on its members (just look at the CIA!). The message is a good one; that conversation and understanding are stronger than racism and secrecy, but I find myself wishing the villains were just a little smarter.

In the case of the second episode, the villains are plenty smart and I like the side plot of the security officer who has gambling debts. In "And The Sky Full Of Stars," the station rules are established for how much security officers can gamble and that's a brilliant touch. With Garibaldi's officer bought due to his debts we see the reasonable purpose behind such rules and the attempt by Sinclair and Garibaldi to give the officer the chance to get right speaks volumes to their characters.

Genre fans will be delighted to see Judson Scott playing one of the knights. Judson Scott is well known as a character actor to fans of science fiction, notably appearing in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (reviewed here!) and the final episodes of the terrible television series V (reviewed here!). Here he adds to his repertoire with a cold, efficient performance as the bigoted Knight One. He was well cast for the roll and he lends an air of brutal efficiency to the part that makes the bit role seem well fleshed out.

Both of these episodes heavily reference the Earth-Minbari War and those who have not seen "The Gathering" (the pilot episode for Babylon 5) may be a little lost with the allusions. Outside that, the shows are very straightforward and they tend to focus on Commander Sinclair and begin to establish more of a relationship between him and Minbari ambassador Delenn. This is a nice pairing and the resolution to the second episode asks more questions than it answers. It's a great episode to sucker viewers into coming back for more!

It is in these episodes that Michael O'Hare seems to truly come into his own as Commander Sinclair. O'Hare plays a rather sublime, calm character and at times that has come across as stiff in prior episodes. Until "Mind War" (reviewed here!), when he was playing off Julia Nickson, he did not have a very natural chemistry with anyone outside Jerry Doyle's Garibaldi. In these episodes, he seems less stiff and more comfortable within the role, even when his character is distinctly uncomfortable. He loosens up some when appropriate and when he has to play bewildered, shocked and hurt - especially in "And The Sky Full Of Stars," it works wonderfully. He is able to convey confusion and suspicion with a masterful sense of body language.

And finally, Mira Furlan, of late recurring as Rousseau on Lost (reviewed here!), finally comes into her own, even though neither episode focuses significantly on her character. Delenn is a rather formal character and in the early episodes, it's hard to tell how much of her character's awkwardness is in the character and how much is Furlan learning to work around her extensive prosthetics (she has a pretty big headpiece!). In these two episodes, Furlan seems quite confident with her role and what her character is doing. She brings a grace to the role, especially in "The War Prayer" where Delenn's poet friend is assaulted, that is the embodiment of kindness, calmness and rationality. She steals the scenes she is in. And in the second episode, Furlan has possibly the best part, forcing so many questions into the light.

These are wonderful episodes, but they feel very much like they are a part of the larger whole and not as self-sufficient as some might like. They are, however, excellent for fans of general drama, even those who are not so big into science fiction. "The War Prayer" especially used very little in the way of science fiction conceits and holds up well, even despite the stupidity of the antagonists.

[Knowing that VHS is essentially a dead medium, it's worth looking into Babylon 5 - The Complete First Season on DVD, which is also a better economical choice than buying the VHS. Read my review of the debut season by clicking here!
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“The War Prayer” – 6/10
“And The Sky Full Of Stars” – 7/10
VHS – 6/10

For other television reviews, please be sure to visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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