Two (Mostly) Detached Episodes Of Babylon 5 Make For A Disappointing Volume: “Survivors” & “By Any Means Necessary”

The Good: Moments of character, “Survivors,” Themes of “By Any Means Necessary.”
The Bad: Frequently stiff acting, “By Any Means Necessary” is clunky and filled with stereotypes, Very little character development, Medium issues
The Basics: The video of “Survivors” and “By Any Means Necessary” has two episodes that are awkward early episodes of the series, neither of which has truly lasting consequences.


As I go through Babylon 5 with my wife (her first pass through the epic series), there are a few episodes where I find myself cringing at some of the episodes. It is hard to make her sit through the episodes that are far less compelling or connected to the rest of the series. "Survivors" and "By Any Means Necessary" are two such early episodes that make me appalled for how they fail to connect to the rest of the otherwise highly-serialized television story.

"Survivors" is the first episode that focuses primarily on Security Chief Garibaldi and works to flesh out his alluded-to tragic backstory that led him to take the position on Babylon 5 that has been characterized as his last chance to make good. As a follow-up to the Presidential Election on Earth in “Midnight On The Firing Line” (reviewed here!), the newly re-elected President Luis Santiago is on a goodwill tour of the galaxy. In advance of his coming, EarthForce Security sends Major Lianna Kemmer and her security force to secure the station for his arrival. Kemmer is bitter over her “Uncle Mike” and his role as chief of station security of Babylon 5. When there is an explosion in one of the Cobra Bays, Garibaldi begins an investigation. Soon, though, it appears that Garibaldi was paid off . . . by the Centauri and Kemmer hunts Garibaldi into down below. As she follows him on a relentless pursuit of personal vengeance, Garibaldi tries to find who the real culprits were in sabotaging the station and planning to assassinate the President.

In "By Any Means Necessary," a Narn ship visits Babylon 5, where the dockworkers have been overwhelmed by the demands of the job and the cuts in the Babylon 5 budget. When the Narn ship makes a maneuver, against Ivanova’s orders, the damage leads to casualties and damage to the station. The union leader for the dockworkers quickly organizes the beleaguered workers, including the brother of the worker who died. They approach Sinclair to resolve the understaffing and overworking problems.

As EarthForce sends in Zento, their top negotiator, to prevent an illegal strike of the dockworkers on Babylon 5, G’Kar has his own fallout from the near-destruction of the Narn transport. The cargo ship was carrying an exceptionally rare flower, the black G’Quan Eth, a flower he needs for a religious ceremony he has to perform. When the Centauri virtually enslaved the Narn homeworld, they left the planet virtually unable to grow the rare flower. Londo, however, has a G’Quan Eth of his own, which he wants to use for its hallucinogenic effect in his drink. After trying to buy the flower and have Na’Toth steal it for him, G’Kar turns to Sinclair for intervention.

“Survivors,” in addition to having an incredibly awkward and obvious bluescreen shot that makes the monorail look super cheesy, is a rare Babylon 5 episode that lacks a b-plot of any significance. While Garibaldi struggles with his past and his battle with alcoholism, “Survivors” works hard to belabor that with the relationship with Kemmer. Garibaldi is given a decent reason for Kemmer to go after him; her father was a good friend of Garibaldi’s and his death left Lianna fatherless. Lianna grew up, after Garibaldi left in disgrace, to become an integral part of EarthForce.

Unfortunately, the character arc for Lianna is exceptionally predictable and formulaic. At least as important, it is never followed up upon, robbing it of even marginal importance in the overall Babylon 5 Saga. Given how the first season ends, it is disappointing that Kemmer’s fate after this episode is never addressed. Elaine Thomas, who played Kemmer, is stiff, though her role required some emotional distance to make the part work.

John Snyder in “By Any Means Necessary” is not given a compelling character hook for why his character of Zento seems inhumane. Snyder seems to be simply trying to trade on his good looks and he delivers a performance virtually identical to, and as passionless as, his one-shot on Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “The Masterpiece Society” (reviewed here!). Unfortunately, “By Any Means Necessary” is thematically heavy-handed. The dock worker is the only Latino character viewers see in the Babylon 5 Saga and the union leader is little more than a baiting brawl-organizer who acts as a loudmouth without really presenting an enlightened view or an articulate argument.

It matters little, though; “By Any Means Necessary” is referenced once more and never again. “Survivors,” which should have been more integral to the overall arc of Babylon 5 is not afforded that courtesy, even though the Home Guard does pop back up multiple times. As a result, “Survivors” becomes a somewhat tedious character study that suffers from any number of “early episode” problems and is harder to truly care about.

[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!]

“Survivors” – 5/10
“By Any Means Necessary” – 2.5/10
VHS – 3.5/10

For other television reviews, please be sure to visit my Television 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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Garibaldi Searches For Lochley's Truths In Two Mediocre Episodes of Babylon 5.

The Good: Moments of character, Moments of performance
The Bad: Mediocre special effects, Fairly recycled plot, Some truly lame moments, Predictability
The Basics: With two mediocre episodes of Babylon 5, this video sinks, regardless of how essential the plots of the episodes are to the bigger story.


As I nab the final Babylon 5 VHS tape I had to review, it occurs to me how unfortunate it is that Babylon 5 ended on such a shaky note, that its final season was so uncertain. I wonder how much - honestly - had been intended as part of the five year planned arc by series creator, writer J. Michael Straczynski. With the fifth season episodes "Learning Curve" and "Strange Relations," with their peculiar mix of necessary plot and character moments and the recycled sense that the viewer has seen them before, it certainly is enough to make one at least question if Straczynski was desperately fleshing out the final season.

"Learning Curve" finds a new crime boss taking over Down Below on Babylon 5 and a series of murders, as messages to his competitors, confounding security. As Garibaldi continues to investigate and badger the station's new commander, Captain Lochley, a pair of Ranger teachers and their Ranger acolytes come to the station to provide Delenn with a status report. While there, one of the Rangers is beaten by the new criminal leader as a sign and left for dead. Supposedly terrorized, Delenn intervenes with station security and Lochley to help use the righting of this violence as a lesson for the Rangers.

"Strange Relations" returns the telepaths to the forefront when Bester and a Bloodhound Unit arrive on the station to hunt down the rogue telepaths given sanctuary on Babylon 5. When Garibaldi is finally told why Sheridan selected Lochley for the position of station commander, he is placated some, but forced to sit out intervening with the villainous Bester. As Sheridan and Lochley look for a way to prevent Bester from taking the rogue telepaths, Lyta becomes more involved with Byron and his movement. And Londo's planned departure for Centauri Prime is delayed by an assassination attempt, prompting him to take on a bodyguard.

Both "Learning Curve" and "Strange Relations" have some serious problems that make them difficult, if not impossible, to recommend, especially to a general audience. As a fan of Babylon 5, there is a troublingly familiar quality to "Learning Curve." In the first season of Babylon 5 (reviewed here!), there was an episode with a nervous character who was terrified of leaving the station and who slowly came into his own throughout the course of the episode. "Learning Curve" feels much like that episode and the problems of the nervous character notwithstanding, there is something unsettling about how familiar the two episodes feel to one another.

Mentoring younger characters and teaching them a lesson is not new in drama or science fiction. Indeed, Star Trek: Voyager has an episode involving teaching the next generation also entitled "Learning Curve.” The fundamental problem with the Babylon 5 episode by the same name is this: the latter half of the episode simply does not work. The Ranger who intervenes and stops an informant from getting killed is beaten to a pulp by the crime boss and his associates. As he lays near death in the medical bay, his mentors announce that he is terrified. The Minbari can't speak, can't really move and his wounds are being held together with small stitches and a lot of hope. I'm not sure he's even conscious enough to be terrified!

The point here is that writer J. Michael Straczynski asks the viewer to take on faith a condition just because two characters on screen say it is so. One says he's terrorized and therefore terrified and Straczynski expects us to all sit up and say "okay, I guess he is!" The truth is, the Ranger acolyte does not look like he is even able to hear his mentors at that point. So when the latter half of the episode degenerates into one young Minbari's quest to overcome his own feelings of terror, it's much more told than shown. And the message has to continue to be repeated to the viewer so that the actions of the Rangers rise to something above a streetfight. I'm not entirely certain it succeeds in getting there, even after multiple viewings.

And this whole plotline is so weak that by the end of the fourth act, it is over. The rest of the episode picks up the thread of Alliance Covert Security Chief Michael Garibaldi trying to figure out why Sheridan chose Lochley to succeed him as captain of Babylon 5. Delenn beats him to the truth and that leads to some tension between Delenn and Sheridan.

Garibaldi receives the truth he has sought, finally, in "Strange Relations." This second episode on the video is somewhat better than "Learning Curve" and is part of the essential Babylon 5 because of the plot elements that occur. Bester's return is of great interest to fans who were enthralled by the fourth season of Babylon 5 (reviewed here!) because he manipulated Garibaldi and almost cost Sheridan his life. So, it's natural for Garibaldi to want to settle the score and it is strangely satisfying to see him make a spectacle of himself in the attempt. No, this is not Garibaldi's best episode.

It's also not the high-water mark for Lochley or Bester. Indeed, outside the character elements of Lochley's revelations to Garibaldi about her past with Sheridan and the very minor G'Kar/Londo subplot, this episode is strangely devoid of interesting character development. One might point to Lyta, who is slowly pulled farther and farther away from the Psi Corps in this episode. This is not much of a development, as she was reluctant to work for the Psi Corps and always hated Bester anyway. Given the choice between the kindly and pacifistic Byron and the sadistic hunter Bester, the choice seems fairly easy and obvious to those who have an affinity to Lyta. Or anyone human.

The result is a Bester episode that is strangely unsatisfying. Lochley is content to work with the Psi Cop and the tension this causes between Sheridan and Lochley is surprisingly minimal. The only truly inspired element of the episode is that it is Lochley who solves the problem, thus bolstering the idea in the mind of the fans that she belongs as captain of the station. "Strange Relations" is not bad, it's just pretty blandly average.

Part of the problem - in both episodes - is the acting. Tracy Scoggins, who arrived in the season premiere "No Compromises" (reviewed here!) still seems a little uncomfortable with the role. She is unable to play passionate and angry without being loud and melodramatic. There is a soap opera quality to her scenes with Garibaldi that ring false and are even painful to watch for their somewhat hammy presentation of how a fiery woman speaks.

Similarly, in "Learning Curve," most of the Minbari are played by actors who do not seem quite at home within their characters. Ironically, when watching two of the Minbari joking with one another, Garibaldi has the epiphany that Minbari never walk away from a fight, whereas most viewers will have the epiphany that Minbari actually have a sense of humor. Actually, the banter in both episodes is decent with the rifts between the Warrior and Religious castes being healed in the Ranger movement and G'Kar and Londo coming to terms with one another even more than before. It is gratifying to watch the show attempt to portray some characters having normal balance with humor amid episodes where people are being hunted down and beaten.

And as far as the telepath plot goes, the idea is not a bad one, though the idea that Byron is something of a cult leader is troubling, even if it might be accurate. The problem there becomes that Byron does not seem to be attracting more people to his flock; the station has not become inundated with telepaths the way it becomes overrun with Narn when G'Kar reaches legendary status later in the season. The point here is that the idea of Bester arriving to hunt down the telepaths and even Lochley's willingness to let him do it, is not a bad idea, but it does ring flat and seem awkward, especially to a fan of the series.

And honestly, I'm not sure this pair of episodes is accessible to those who are not fans of the series. "Learning Curve" is just boring for those not invested in the Rangers. And "Strange Relations" hinges on extensive backstory, especially of the entire telepath subplot that began back in the first season. As a result, it's a shaky two pack.

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

“Learning Curve” – 3/10
“Strange Relations” – 5/10
VHS – 3.5/10

For other television and movie reviews please click here to visit an organized listing of all the film works I have reviewed!

© 2012, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Another All Right, Another Abysmal Episode Makes For Another Split Babylon 5 Tape Review

The Good: One good idea, Decent character development and plot, Good acting, Great special effects
The Bad: One truly lousy execution, Terrible characters, Insipid plot/alien race tailored specific to one episode
The Basics: Babylon 5 tries a change in narrative technique that fails and sucks another, already derivative episode down with it on this video!


There's something truly disturbing about some of the old VHS tapes with two episodes. Every now and then one comes along that has an episode that is good or excellent paired with an episode that I wouldn't even let my cats use for litter (if they were inclined to use VHS tapes in their litter boxes). One of the most poignant examples of this regrettable phenomenon was in the Babylon 5 season five episodes where "The Paragon Of Animals" was paired with "A View From The Gallery." At least the tape starts out strong; following that first episode, though, it goes bad real quick.

"The Paragon Of Animals" returns the telepaths to the forefront when Sheridan finds that getting the races of the newly formed Interstellar Alliance to adopt the Declaration of Principles is much harder than it initially seems. When his head of covert intelligence, Garibaldi, suggests using the rogue telepaths aboard the station to spy on the local alien races, Sheridan is reluctant. When a peaceful planet on the edge of Drazi space is nearly bombed out of existence by raiders and Sheridan is compelled to use the White Star fleet to save them, he begins to open up to more extreme measures to get the needs of the Alliance met. This puts Lyta on a collision course with Byron, leader of the rogues and the Drazi in a position where their culpability may become undeniable.

"A View From The Gallery" follows Mack and Bo, two maintenance workers who keep Babylon 5 up and running as their mundane tasks overlap with the prominent station personnel's jobs. With Babylon 5 under attack from an alien race that is intent to feel out weaker races that are ripe for conquest, Captain Lochley finds herself being given a trial by fire and a running commentary on how the station is run by two depressingly uninteresting characters.

I am all for trying new things and exploring the lens through which a show is seen. Star Trek: The Next Generation did an episode similar to "A View From The Gallery" called "Lower Decks" (reviewed here!). The episode was interesting and illustrated a mission the U.S.S. Enterprise was on through the eyes of junior officers who were vying for a promotion. The fundamental difference in the two episodes was that the plot was not concocted in a way that made it seemed tailored solely for the episode (i.e. the plot could well have been done from the standard perspective) and the characters were interesting.

I don't usually comment on the end of episodes, but "A View From The Gallery" is so bad that it inspires me to break from my usual tradition and style. As the denouement to the episode, Mack shouts out to Captain Lochley, "Hey! You're all right in my book!" and the thing is, we don't give a damn. This is such a terrible self-referential episode with the obvious goal being to establish Lochley as a credible character that fans feel welcomed to like - something similar was done when Bobby Simone joined NYPD Blue in the second season (reviewed here!) of that show - that writer J. Michael Straczynski oversells it. Mack is such a dull, ridiculous character that his endorsement of Lochley has the exact opposite effect; we feel more unnerved by Lochley. It's like when someone who one knows has terrible taste in food endorses a restaurant; their lack of credibility from one source taints all future evaluations.

Mack and Bo are basically stereotypes of blue-collar workers and the farce that is established to have them interact with virtually all of the main cast is just that. The circumstances that push Mack and Bo into proximity to G'Kar and Londo having a deep character-intensive discussion about their childhood is ridiculous. How the main crew, like Dr. Franklin and Ambassador Delenn interact with the workers becomes almost a parody of Babylon 5 with them lecturing these blue-collar folks like they are yokels. Now, they are, but that's a separate problem; the way Dr. Franklin talks down to Mack and lectures him like a child is very much a departure from his character in other episodes.

But the whole plot idea for "A View From The Gallery" is a ridiculous contrivance. Babylon 5 is beset by an alien force unique to this episode. They pop up to give the station a good pounding and then are never seen from again. Were the show episodic, this would not be so much of a problem, but Babylon 5 is largely serialized; things have consequences and the loyal viewer want elements of every episode to have consequences. This episode lacks them and given the nature of the presentation - through the workday of mundanes Bo and Mack - the episode ultimately has an air of being completely inconsequential. In other words, fans of the show are going to feel like they wasted their time after sitting through this one. Fortunately, it comes second on the tape so those not looking to be bored and troubled by the stupidity of what amounts to a filler episode, never have to watch it!

But "The Paragon Of Animals" is worth watching and it actually improved with the second viewing. The first time I watched "The Paragon Of Animals," I was troubled by its similarity to an episode in the fourth season (reviewed here!) where Sheridan essentially tricks the nonaligned worlds into accepting the White Star Fleet on their borders by insinuating nothing is wrong and letting the paranoia of the League members overcome them. "The Paragon Of Animals" has Sheridan facing a similar dilemma and his methods are not entirely dissimilar to the prior episode. As a result, the manipulating the nonaligned worlds to his will plot seemed a bit overdone.

With time and a little distance, though, "The Paragon Of Animals" holds up better because the episode seems to focus more on the telepaths. The rogue telepaths allowed a colony on Babylon 5 in "No Compromises" (reviewed here!) resurface, as does Lyta Alexander. Lyta is working for the Psi Corps and has been tired for some time been tired of feeling used. When she aids Dr. Franklin by scanning a Ranger before he dies - and thus managing to deliver his message about the planet under siege by Raiders - she begins to truly question her purpose and she finds herself in the presence of Byron who seems to have a legitimate interest in bettering the lives of telepaths.

Robin Atkin Downs seems much more comfortable in the role of Byron than he did in his first outing and he and Patricia Tallman play off one another quite well. It's easy to see why Downs was cast and now that he is coming into his own as the character, he and Tallman are able to start developing some on-screen chemistry and it works!

What works a little less well is the sheer amount of comic relief the episode seems to want to rely on. I like that G'Kar and Londo have taken up more of a camaraderie and their attitude toward one another is friendly, but in "The Paragon Of Animals," it is somewhat ridiculous. G'Kar makes jokes about Londo repressing someone else, which seems a bit soon as it is less than a year since his eye was plucked out by an oppressive Centauri. Similarly, G'Kar's appearance near the end with the revised Declaration of Principles and Sheridan's reaction to it, just reeks of a writer having fun at the expense of the bigger body of work.

That said, the performances in "The Paragon Of Animals" are decent. Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas seem like they are having fun as Londo and G'Kar. Mira Furlan has a great deadpanned demeanor to counter their silliness with and Jerry Doyle infuses Garibaldi with a decent sense of paranoia throughout the episode.

But it is Bruce Boxleitner who once again sells the episode. Boxleitner has a quality few would expect to be truly presidential and in this episode he seems less like a leader trying to strategize to win battles and a complicated mind attempting to work his way around the intricacies of developing peace. It's a decent performance and it keeps his character fresh and watchable.

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

“The Paragon Of Animals” – 6/10
“A View From The Gallery” – 1/10
VHS – 3/10

For other television reviews, be sure to check out my television and movie review index page by clicking here!

© 2012, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Wheel Turns To The End With Babylon 5 The Complete Fifth Season

The Good: Good character development, Interesting plots, Special effects
The Bad: Inconsistencies with prior seasons, "Tacked on" feel.
The Basics: "The Wheel Of Fire" finishes the story of Babylon 5, often after it is already ended.


The problem with Season five of Babylon 5 is that it brings outside (off-camera) issues into the series. Apparently, when season four was winding down, the network collapsed and the producers of the show were told to wrap the stories up. J. Michael Straczynski, creator and executive producer of the show, obliged and finished his five year novel-on-television at the end of year four. The series was then picked up by TNT, a new season finale was shot for the fourth season and the fifth season tried to get the momentum back that it had been forced to compromise with the ending of several significant storylines in season four.

The President of the Interstellar Alliance, John Sheridan, is sworn in on Babylon 5 shortly after turning control of the station over to Captain Elizabeth Lochley. Lochley and Sheridan have a past history, which Garibaldi becomes keen to learn about. While Sheridan and Delenn work to get the new Alliance headed in the right direction, a colony of telepaths is established aboard the station. While conflicts between mundanes (non-telepaths) and telepaths under the influence of Byron, the colony's leader, begin to erupt on the station, out in the vastness of space, shipping lanes are being attacked by raiders. Raiders who will forever change the destiny of soon-to-be-Emperor Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic.

The stories that deal with this main plot work fairly well. The problem is, there's not enough to stretch those plots to a full season and with the addition of the new Captain, some time is spent dealing with things that have little relevance. Take "A View From The Gallery." The season's fourth episode finds Babylon 5 inexplicably under attack by a scouting party of aliens that we've never seen before and will never see again. It's the story of two maintenance workers who weave in and out of the lives of the main crew. Reminiscent of Star Trek The Next Generation's "Lower Decks," "A View From The Gallery" fails because Mack and Bo - the workers - aren't interesting and the story that revolves around them feels very forced. Coming on the heels of big character episodes like "The Very Long Night Of Londo Mollari" and "The Paragon Of Animals," that episode falls woefully short of maintaining interest, much less contributing to the overall narrative of Babylon 5. Sadly, it is not alone.

The telepath plot is an interesting one. Byron, a guest character, makes for an interesting addition and gives Lyta Alexander a purpose now that the Vorlons are gone. Byron becomes a blurred mix of leader and cult fanatic and his story is an interesting one, even if it feels a little drawn out. And, unfortunately, because of the season four finale, fans of the show know that the main purpose behind this whole arc is to lead to the Telepath War, which we do not see in the series. And amid all of the telepath stories in season five, we never learn what happens to the telepaths still in cold storage on Babylon 5.

The biggest loss in this regard is that of the character of Ivanova. When actress Claudia Christian left the show at the end of the fourth season, the well-developed character of Ivanova was lost. Her antipathy toward telepaths would have made the story so much more interesting and added some real conflict between her and Sheridan. With Lochley as captain, too much time is spent establishing the character to allow for such moments that seem to have been hinted to in the past. Again, the off-camera issues altered the story we see.

The other half of the plot, the alien force attacking the shipping lanes, sets up the final arc for Londo Mollari and that is fairly well done. The problem there is that it feels somewhat rushed. Centauri Prime has been undermined by the Shadow's allies, the Drakh, which was alluded to in season four. The rushed feeling comes in understanding the time line. The Drakh take control of elements around Centauri Prime for their own purposes, resulting in the planet getting bombed extensively. That's fine. Londo makes a supreme sacrifice to become Emperor and rebuild Centauri Prime. That's fine, too. However, in the film In The Beginning (reviewed here!), which has Mollari telling the story of the Earth-Minbari War in his last hours of life. Centauri Prime is burning in that and the question I have to ask is, who is attacking it then?! Is that the end of the Drakh War we hear alluded to at the end of Season 4? It's an annoyance only a fan of the story would actually make, but it illustrates the problems season five seems to have with making it feel like it's part of the story we've enjoyed all along.

That's not to say it is all incongruent or rushed. No, there is much here that works quite well. However, most of that is either character related or in the latter half of the season. So, it is prudent to see where our characters are in this final act:

John Sheridan - Now President of the Interstellar Alliance, Sheridan finds his duties much more broad and his ability to adapt tested by the needs of many minor alien races,

Delenn - Leading the Rangers and organizing the Interstellar Alliance leaves her often busy and political, neglecting her spiritual side,

Michael Garibaldi - Recovering from his run-in with Bester last season, Garibaldi finds his life spiraling out of control and into old, familiar patterns of addiction while trying to make it as the Alliance's new head of Covert Intelligence,

Dr. Franklin - Often neglected, the Doctor becomes the new head of xenobiological research for the Alliance and has the chance to study the various alien races,

Lennier - Feeling without purpose now that Delenn and Sheridan are married, Lennier leaves to become a Ranger,

Vir Cotto - Now representing the Centauri as Ambassador to Babylon 5, Vir finds himself having to deal with issues from a position of power now,

Zack Allan - Still Security Chief, Allan mans the fort while the telepaths cause problems around the station,

Lyta Alexander - Taken in by Byron, Lyta begins to explore her powers and identity, with consequences that threaten her life,

G'Kar - Being raised to the status of a religious icon after becoming Londo's bodyguard, G'Kar finds himself frustrated by how people treat his writings,

Londo Mollari - Now Emperor, Londo makes the choice to sacrifice everything for his people, which results in drastic and tragic consequences for him,

and Captain Elizabeth Lochley - A newcomer to the station and on the other side in Earth's recent Civil War, Lochley is tough-as-nails as the new commander of the space station.

The only character elements of note involving what we have seen in the past is that there seems to be no passion between Delenn and Sheridan this season. Yes, they're married, but all of the romance between them seems gone. C'est la vie. Everything else seems to follow fairly predictable character lines for where the characters have been and where they've been going.

The acting is all good, as usual. The entire cast works quite well, especially considering that most of the time, they are working opposite bluescreens.

All in all, though, this is a coda to a show that has pretty much already finished its story. It's not bad, but it's not for newcomers and it does not resonate with the same pop that the earlier seasons possessed. The DVDs have decent commentaries and that is a treat to the viewers. It would be impossible to recommend this to anyone who is not already a fan and, sadly, there is little essential to those who are fans. Though "Sleeping In Light" does nicely end the series, it's a very basic and straightforward end to the series.

For a (slightly) better idea of the specific episodes in this season, check out my reviews on the first six episodes (which are on the first two discs of this boxed set) at:
No Compromises / The Very Long Night Of Londo Mollari
The Paragon Of Animals / A View From The Gallery
Learning Curve / Strange Relations

6.5/10

For other television reviews, please visit my Television Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012, 2007, 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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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!
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“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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