Welcome, welcome, welcome!

Re: pilot - the actual pilot that caused the show to be picked up was „The Gathering“. However, JMS had to exchange half the cast (Talia Winters replaces telepath Lyta Alexander, Dr. Franklin who shows up in the next episode replaces Dr. Lyle, First Officer Susan Ivanova replaces First Officer Laurel Takashima), and had to change one concept for one of the key aliens - the Minbari envoy, Delenn - somewhat according with her makeup. (The Minbari were supposed to be non-binary, and Delenn’s makeup in “The Gathering” reflected that. Pilot viewers reacted badly. Therefore, alas, Minbari non-binaryness is gone, and Delenn is definitely female, with the make-up adjusted.) Now, events from The Gathering still happened and will later get referred to in dialogue in-universe (JMS found a good in-story explanation why the station’s telepath and doctor had to go at the same time), but from a Doylist pov, that’s why this opening episode works essentially as a second pilot.

Garibaldi: I like him throughout the show. He’s never my favourite character, but always among those I like a lot, and I could tell you several favourite scenes of mine featuring him through all five seasons, but that would be spoilery. :) Re: annoying, there’s a terrific quote from Londo coming your way next week,since it’s said in “The Parliament of Dreams”.

Comments: not everyone can rot-13, but maybe just leaving spoiler space would work?