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selenakOr, the two parter introducing the Great Machine and Draal, co-starring the "Ivanova is God" meme. :)
A solid two parter holding up very well. This time around, my "I had forgotten/not noticed this" reaction was to Dr. Tasaki the scientist and his fearless enthusiasm to discovery. Just a minor character, but given this two parter highlights some less than admirable human traits (see also: the Captain of the Hyperion wanting to colonize Epsilon 3 at once, while the latest Mars uprising brings out the "just shoot them, that'll teach them" types in the Zoccolo), Tasaki embodying scientific curiosity instead was good to see.
Also a new reaction, possibly due to having consumed way more shows since my last rewatch of this two parter: should Sinclair and Ivanova be in the same ship/on the same mission, as station Commander and First Officer? Shouldn't one of them stay on the station? Mind you, this is not a complaint. What this show does well is showing the growing ties between Ivanova, Sinclair and Garibaldi, as also evidenced by Sinclair asking Garibaldi to ensure Ivanova gets evacuated if they have to do that in part 2.
What I remembered very well, and what I still very much enjoyed watching, was all the rest. Draal (Louis Turenne edition) and Delenn, the third principle of sentient life, Londo and Garibaldi, Londo and the two Minbari, Garibaldi and Talia, Sinclair squaring off against Mobotabwe, and one of Ivanova's subsequently most often quoted speeches. :) Given we've just seen Londo meeting his personal Mephisto in Signs and Portents, the fact that here he's one of the three people asked for help by Varn/The Great Machine of Epsilon 3 is all the more remarkable, because he's the least obvious candidate at this point of the show if you're looking for potential for self sacrifice. As Delenn notes in the last scene, Sinclair has it, and is still looking for a cause. Draal announces this about himself in his introduction scene pretty blatantly. But I don't think any of the preceeding s1 episodes have led the audience to assume Londo, partying ambassador frustrated with his job and with a dangerous longing for the past, has it in him. More about this in the spoilery section at the end of this review. Something else about Londo the audience learns here is the story of his first wife the dancer, though as we'll find out several seasons later, he altered the ending of said story to keep it cheerful for Garibaldi, since cheering Garibaldi up was the point. Spotting Garibaldi is in distress, cheering him up and also sponging a drink from him at the same time is quintessential s1 Londo, as is the irritated rant about the Hokey Pokey.
This is a good episode for the connections between our regulars in general, when for combinations where you think it won't be, like Garibaldi and Talia, starting as it does with her finding his continuing chasing her obnoxious. But when he drops the act and sincerely asks for her help, she does what she can, and I think this is also one of the few times where we see a Psi Corps member other than Talia being helpful (despite being less than thrilled about Garibaldi's knowledge) without any other agenda. And I already mentioned Sinclair (and Garibaldi) & Ivanova. Sinclair and Garibaldi were already old friends when the show started, but Ivanova was new to them - and they to her -, and now there are distinct signs of fraternal fondness.
The Mars colony striving for independence is a red thread through several seasons, and highlighted here. Now, given Sinclair is actually from Mars, not Earth, I remember being surprised that the show chose to make Mars events personal to our regulars via a previously unmentioned former girlfriend of Garibaldi's instead (hi, Lise! We will see you again), but then, while Sinclair has lots to do in the two parter, in terms of character development among the humans they more belong to Garibaldi anyway. Including his darker sides. The obnoxious guys at the bar spouted hateful comments, absolutely, but what Garibaldi did there was still an abuse of his position as chief cop of the station, and one of many reasons why I love this show is that it knows it and lets Sinclair (gently) and Garibaldi both point it out/admit to it later. This struck me more on this rewatch than it did during the original broadcast, possibly because in more current media, heroes punching obnoxious guys like that is never even questioned but celebrated.
Last comment before it gets spoilery for the remaining show, something I think every time I see first Varn and then Draal in the Great Machine: for an atheist, JMS sure loves his cruxificion imagery...
Sacrifice for
a cause
a loved one
a friend
With the knowledge of the entire show in mind, it is of course evident that both Sinclair and Londo will get their chances for self sacrifice in a way that has parallels to what Draal does there. Sinclair gives up his entire life and identity as Jeffrey Sinclair when he becomes Valen. And Londo, by accepting the Keeper to save Centauri Prime, knowing it will mean a terrible mental and physical imprisonment for the rest of his life, basically experience the dark flipside to Draal's fate (as Draal's connection to the Machine isn't parasitic but symbiotic, with both parties benefiting, and it revitalized him). Now, at this point Delenn has no idea time travel is an option, so when she says Sinclair's destiny lies elsewhere, she doesn't mean the destiny which he will in fact fulfill. She still assumes he's an reincarnation rather than Valen in the flesh. But she's still convinced this should not be his fate. Speaking purely on a Watsonian level: why not? I mean, there's one glaring reason from a pragmatic pov, which is that aif an Earthforce Officer controlled such technology, the other races would most likely see that as a power grab on the part of humanity. But I didn't get the sense that Delenn meant this; rather, she seems to be speaking from her general cetainty that she knows what the prophecies mean and to whom they apply.
That's
what
it's
all
about!
The other episodes
A solid two parter holding up very well. This time around, my "I had forgotten/not noticed this" reaction was to Dr. Tasaki the scientist and his fearless enthusiasm to discovery. Just a minor character, but given this two parter highlights some less than admirable human traits (see also: the Captain of the Hyperion wanting to colonize Epsilon 3 at once, while the latest Mars uprising brings out the "just shoot them, that'll teach them" types in the Zoccolo), Tasaki embodying scientific curiosity instead was good to see.
Also a new reaction, possibly due to having consumed way more shows since my last rewatch of this two parter: should Sinclair and Ivanova be in the same ship/on the same mission, as station Commander and First Officer? Shouldn't one of them stay on the station? Mind you, this is not a complaint. What this show does well is showing the growing ties between Ivanova, Sinclair and Garibaldi, as also evidenced by Sinclair asking Garibaldi to ensure Ivanova gets evacuated if they have to do that in part 2.
What I remembered very well, and what I still very much enjoyed watching, was all the rest. Draal (Louis Turenne edition) and Delenn, the third principle of sentient life, Londo and Garibaldi, Londo and the two Minbari, Garibaldi and Talia, Sinclair squaring off against Mobotabwe, and one of Ivanova's subsequently most often quoted speeches. :) Given we've just seen Londo meeting his personal Mephisto in Signs and Portents, the fact that here he's one of the three people asked for help by Varn/The Great Machine of Epsilon 3 is all the more remarkable, because he's the least obvious candidate at this point of the show if you're looking for potential for self sacrifice. As Delenn notes in the last scene, Sinclair has it, and is still looking for a cause. Draal announces this about himself in his introduction scene pretty blatantly. But I don't think any of the preceeding s1 episodes have led the audience to assume Londo, partying ambassador frustrated with his job and with a dangerous longing for the past, has it in him. More about this in the spoilery section at the end of this review. Something else about Londo the audience learns here is the story of his first wife the dancer, though as we'll find out several seasons later, he altered the ending of said story to keep it cheerful for Garibaldi, since cheering Garibaldi up was the point. Spotting Garibaldi is in distress, cheering him up and also sponging a drink from him at the same time is quintessential s1 Londo, as is the irritated rant about the Hokey Pokey.
This is a good episode for the connections between our regulars in general, when for combinations where you think it won't be, like Garibaldi and Talia, starting as it does with her finding his continuing chasing her obnoxious. But when he drops the act and sincerely asks for her help, she does what she can, and I think this is also one of the few times where we see a Psi Corps member other than Talia being helpful (despite being less than thrilled about Garibaldi's knowledge) without any other agenda. And I already mentioned Sinclair (and Garibaldi) & Ivanova. Sinclair and Garibaldi were already old friends when the show started, but Ivanova was new to them - and they to her -, and now there are distinct signs of fraternal fondness.
The Mars colony striving for independence is a red thread through several seasons, and highlighted here. Now, given Sinclair is actually from Mars, not Earth, I remember being surprised that the show chose to make Mars events personal to our regulars via a previously unmentioned former girlfriend of Garibaldi's instead (hi, Lise! We will see you again), but then, while Sinclair has lots to do in the two parter, in terms of character development among the humans they more belong to Garibaldi anyway. Including his darker sides. The obnoxious guys at the bar spouted hateful comments, absolutely, but what Garibaldi did there was still an abuse of his position as chief cop of the station, and one of many reasons why I love this show is that it knows it and lets Sinclair (gently) and Garibaldi both point it out/admit to it later. This struck me more on this rewatch than it did during the original broadcast, possibly because in more current media, heroes punching obnoxious guys like that is never even questioned but celebrated.
Last comment before it gets spoilery for the remaining show, something I think every time I see first Varn and then Draal in the Great Machine: for an atheist, JMS sure loves his cruxificion imagery...
Sacrifice for
a cause
a loved one
a friend
With the knowledge of the entire show in mind, it is of course evident that both Sinclair and Londo will get their chances for self sacrifice in a way that has parallels to what Draal does there. Sinclair gives up his entire life and identity as Jeffrey Sinclair when he becomes Valen. And Londo, by accepting the Keeper to save Centauri Prime, knowing it will mean a terrible mental and physical imprisonment for the rest of his life, basically experience the dark flipside to Draal's fate (as Draal's connection to the Machine isn't parasitic but symbiotic, with both parties benefiting, and it revitalized him). Now, at this point Delenn has no idea time travel is an option, so when she says Sinclair's destiny lies elsewhere, she doesn't mean the destiny which he will in fact fulfill. She still assumes he's an reincarnation rather than Valen in the flesh. But she's still convinced this should not be his fate. Speaking purely on a Watsonian level: why not? I mean, there's one glaring reason from a pragmatic pov, which is that aif an Earthforce Officer controlled such technology, the other races would most likely see that as a power grab on the part of humanity. But I didn't get the sense that Delenn meant this; rather, she seems to be speaking from her general cetainty that she knows what the prophecies mean and to whom they apply.
That's
what
it's
all
about!
The other episodes
no subject
Date: 2022-01-16 10:16 am (UTC)I'm not sure about that. In general, perhaps not, but Garibaldi is a cop, and I think people have got less tolerant of police officers dealing out violence, even if they are for once punching racists, not activists.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-16 01:30 pm (UTC)(I'm also renembering how stunned I was last year when the thankfully cancelled Jupiter's Legacy in 2021 had as one of its central premises "heroes not using enough violence against villains = really bad, gets heroes killed".)
no subject
Date: 2022-01-16 04:41 pm (UTC)This was the first time I'd really noticed that, and it jumped out at me. And yet...
I wonder how Varn formed his views on people. Maybe the machine can allow him to recall the past and see people at various points in their life.
I'm also totally with you about Garibaldi being hauled up for hitting the obnoxious guy.
Here's one you may not have thought of - what did JMS intend by the title?
It's a quote from the King James bible:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.”
no subject
Date: 2022-01-16 06:24 pm (UTC)I wonder how Varn formed his views on people. Maybe the machine can allow him to recall the past and see people at various points in their life.
Well, he does say he's been observing the station and the people on it all this time; presumably the technology allows him to access cameras, logs etc., and so he has some data to base his opinions about.
no subject
Date: 2022-01-18 02:47 pm (UTC)Hm. Well, he freed a slave and didn't try to stop her leaving B5.
But that's not exactly major self-sacrifice...
no subject
Date: 2022-01-19 08:24 am (UTC)Given that the Great Machine later shows itself able to do time travel, I suspect it is capable of glimpses into the future...
no subject
Date: 2022-01-17 06:37 am (UTC)Dr. Tasaki the scientist and his fearless enthusiasm
Loved his character :D
should Sinclair and Ivanova be in the same ship/on the same mission, as station Commander and First Officer?
I wondered about this too (seems like a natural thing to wonder for anyone who went through ST:TOS, lol). JMS did answer this (courtesy of the Lurker's site): A First Contact situation is one unlike any other: you don't want junior officers around to screw it up. Remember, the Earth/Minbari War began when a First Contact situation got screwed up. EA's policy is that it's better to risk two people than a full war, and those two people have got to be command-level personnel. Soldiers get killed; it happens. And yeah, you can leave a backup person at the shuttle ...but what if *he's* the one to make actual first contact? You're screwed. Ivanova and Sinclairhave been trained in this; in "Soul Hunter," Sinclair makes reference to the rules of First Contact Protocol.
This episode changed my view of the Minbari -- I suppose I might have been missing context from all those episodes I skipped, but I'd been very suspicious of them due to Delenn's shenanigans, not wanting anyone to know she was Grey Council, showing up in SInclair's memories, the word "Chrysalis" that she was just trying to hide... but now they seem pretty great with their whole third principle of sentient life and all?? (And I guess they clearly think humans are sentient given her comment on Sinclair??) So what is the DEAL with Sinclair?? (It has not escaped my notice that "Chrysalis" is also the name of the S1 final episode.)
And also this episode changed my view of Londo -- this is the episode where I can start to see what's inside of him other than washed-up humorous diplomat. I think Londo's acceptance of his role here was my favorite part of the episode. His actor is really amazing.
Sinclair asking Garibaldi to ensure Ivanova gets evacuated if they have to do that
I loved that! And how it ties in later to Delenn's comment about Sinclair looking for a self-sacrifice cause. He would absolutely have sacrificed himself if the station had gotten blown up after all. <3
something I think every time I see first Varn and then Draal in the Great Machine: for an atheist, JMS sure loves his cruxificion imagery...
haha, quoted for truth!
no subject
Date: 2022-01-17 08:47 am (UTC)No comment on “Chrysalis”, since we’re only a few eps away.
Londo’s actor: you ain’t seen nothing yet, is all I’m saying. The opening credit sequence changes for each season, with new clips appropriate to the season in question, but there is a silent scene from s2 which is so powerful that it remains in the credits till the very end of the show, and it’s really juist facial acting.
An actor whose name would be spoilery says in one of the audio commentaries that if you had a scene with either Peter Jurasik (Londo) or Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), you really would have to bring your A-Game all the time because they were so good, and if you had a scene with both of them together, you just had to hope you would perceived as more than wallpaper by the audience. :)
no subject
Date: 2022-01-18 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-18 11:54 pm (UTC)I knooooow!
An actor whose name would be spoilery says in one of the audio commentaries that if you had a scene with either Peter Jurasik (Londo) or Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), you really would have to bring your A-Game all the time because they were so good, and if you had a scene with both of them together, you just had to hope you would perceived as more than wallpaper by the audience. :)
Heh, I meant to comment on an earlier episode on the elevator scene where Londo and G'Kar are getting angry with each other and the poor crewman between them slips out, which was just completely hilarious :)