Love that character in episode....
Mar. 2nd, 2006 11:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakGreat season 6 of BTVS meta I found in recent days:
An essay about the alley scene in "Dead Things", focusing on the parallels and contrasts to Faith's season 3 storyline.
Wrecked at the Doublemeat Palace takes on two of the least popular episodes with some fascinating results.
****
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cordelianne invented a neat meme, listing those moments and/or episodes which either made you realize you loved a particular character or which just fill you with love for the characters (not always the "big" episodes) for both BTVS and AtS, and I replied and listed my own at her lj. Modifying this meme, I'm applying it now to one of my two beloved space station shows, for it has been too long since I posted about them.
Londo: I fell for him in the very first episode centring on him, Born to the Purple. The mixture of romanticism and cynism (which was to have dangerous effects later), the bombast, the wit, the sadness, it's all there. Also, it's highly quotable ("what you do want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?!?" and "and what are you getting, Adira? A washed upr Republican, dreaming of better days") plus it has the very first slash joke about Londo and G'Kar (Sinclair: "And if I help you, you'll agree to my compromise about the Euphrates sector?" Londo: "I'll even seal it with a kiss." Sinclair: "That ought to make G'Kar's day.") Later episodes of Londo love: too many to count. But the one which basically sums up his entire arc would be season 5, The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari.
G'Kar: Here, too, the first Narn-centric episode - Parliament of Dreams - did the trick and produced G'Kar love. It showcases early G'Kar's bombast, bravery (yes, he screams when finding the black flower, but is utterly silent when tortured latr), bluster, and stubbornness beautifully. And his deviousness. It introduces Na'Toth. (Oh, and Lennier, but that has nothing to do with G'Kar.) ( Mind you, Londo still manages to steal the episode with his drunk scene, but hey.) What's not to love? Later episodes producing G'Kar adoration: also too many to count, but what would be my choice for single best episode to showcase Babylon 5 at its best, Coming of Shadows, displays G'Kar going from murderous assassin mode to epiphany! reconciliation mode to furious and heartbroken breakdown to becoming something new by NOT acting on his feelings because his people need him alive is just amazing to watch.
Vir: Found him adorable in season 1, but the great Vir love started with Geometry of Shadows and his bravery in front of the technomages. As for the episode which does it with the overwhelming Vir love every time, I feel slightly guilty for not choosing the big Vir ep, Sic Transit Vir, but The Long Night. The early, trying-to-subdue-nervousness-by-black-humour scene with Londo, the death of Cartagia itself, his drunk scene after he killed Cartagia, that outburst of self-loathing, and Londo's quiet reaction - it it's just wonderful.
Sheridan: it took me a while to warm up to him, and I never exactly loved him on an ongoing basis, but for sheer watchability of Sheridan scenes, In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum always does the trick for me - one of those rare occasions where we're meant to see Sheridan as flawed, and Bruce Boxleitner gives an excellent performance here; the scene which actually does produce something akin to love is in Interludes and Examination, though, his argument with Kosh I. Sheridan is really desperate here, and that makes his anger compelling.
Sinclair: I liked Sinclair all through season 1 and was sad to see him go, but I can't say I loved him. However, I did love him - and always will - in season 3's War Without End, as Sinclair-in-transition to become Valen. IMO, it's Michael O'Hare's best performance on the show, and from his first scene onwards, when he reads that letter from himself that reveals to him (though we don't know that yet) that he has to give up his entire life to become the Messiah of another race in another time, I'm glued to the screen. Which is saying something because this two parter otherwise is known to me as The One With the Londo Flashforwards That Break My Heart.
Ivanova: much like most of the fandom, I dig her "Ivanova is God" speech om Voices in the Wilderness, but the big episode of Ivanova love that never fails to work on that account would be Divided Loyalties in season 2. From her early teasing, relaxed and joyful scene with Talia to their last meeting after poor Talia is essentially dead and replaced by another personality, I love her.
Garibaldi: liked him from The Gathering onwards, don't remember exactly when I started to love him, but the Fasten/Zip conversation with Sinclair in Babylon Squared is adorable and so funny, and for tragedy, it's tough to beat the crucial revelation scene in Face of the Enemy. Though Garibaldi doesn't say a single word during Bester's explanation, the eyes say it all. Still, if I have to pick one episode, it would, surprisingly, be season 5's Day of the Dead, which displays Garibaldi's paranoia, inventiveness, goofiness, and lilkeability at the same time.
Delenn: Delenn is a character I really discovered during rewatching (same with Lennier) - the first time around, our two Minbari regulars really didn't hold my attention that much. Now she's immensely interesting to me. Definite moments of Delenn love: her cavalry-to-the rescue scene in Severed Dreams, "he is behind me; you are in front of me; if you value your lives, be elsewhere" (yes, I'm easy), her "was that a compliment?" "After a fashion" exchange with Neroon in Moments of Transition (if I have to 'ship Delenn, it wouldn't be with either Sheridan or Lennier, it would be with Neroon), and I'm full of admiration and amusement by the way she manages to turn the conversation with Sheridan from "how could you assign Lennier behind my back" to Sheridan having to apologize to her (John, don't waste your time arguing with Delenn - you always lose). But the big, big moment when I really realized that I liked, respected and loved her? When she insisted to Sheridan she'd be the one to come clean to G'Kar in Ship of Tears ("want to? No. Have to? Yes!"), and afterwards did it.
Lennier: young, innocent Lennier taken out by Londo for a night on the town, err, station in that late season 1 ep with a title I keep forgetting is the one thing that makes it watchable. It's an immensely funny subplot, and definitely was when I started to love Lennier, though in a benign remote manner (i.e. the first time around, Lennier scenes weren't ones I ever rewatched if Londo or Vir weren't in them). Upon rewatching, I think Lennier's and Delenn's first conversation during The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari is my big hug-Lennier-now moment.
Marcus Cole: err. I. Never loved him at all. Sorry. Didn't hate him, either, but I really would have to fake it if I picked a scene for Marcus!Love. This makes for some strange moments, as when I find posts where people are devastated near the end of season 4 because of a certain event while I'm all squeeing over the Londo/G'Kar ("I could give you (sexual) pointers") in Rising Star, and I have to remember what the cause of the devastation is...
Stephen Franklin: Believers, his big season 1 episode, remains my favourite Franklin-centric outing, displaying both the arrogance and the genuine caring. (Plus, you know, good writing by Trek veteran David Gerrold.) When he finds the dead child, I'm devastated right with him. But my big scene of Franklin love comes in season 5's The Corps is Mother, The Corps is Father, in his scene with Bester. Because you know, I believe him, and I think Bester does too, at least at that moment. And because inviting Bester to scan him is a brave thing to do.
Talia Winters: Alas, poor Talia, I knew thee once. I liked her from her first episode onwards, Midnight at the Firing Line, trying to get Ivanova to talk to her, and shooting Garibaldi down. Can't say I ever loved her, but I felt intensely sorry for her eventual fate.
Lyta Alexander: And poor Lyta. For other reasons. My episode of Lyta love is probably Epiphanies in s4 because it displays her as most rounded - you see her strengths, her courage, but you also see her being ruthless and vengeful (plus you know, one of the three reasons she lists for blowing Z'Ha'dum up, so that Bester gets to feel what it is to lose someone he loves - i.e. Carolyn - is a) patronizing, as it assumes Bester never had that experience before, and b) unreasonable, as won't that motivate him further to dastardly deeds?). Sheridan is being an utter jerk to her (not to mention a hypocrite) in his "do this again, and I'll hand you over to the Psi Corps" scene, and when Zack at the end arrives with a pizza, I'm so glad for Lyta that finally someone displays affection and decency. Outside of this episode, to no one's surprise, Lyta's scenes with G'Kar in Objects at Rest are my favourites. "I have none." (re: pleasure threshold.) That minx.
Elizabeth Lochley: was predisposed to like her because so many were predisposed to hate her for not being Ivanova, plus she's played by Tracy Scoggins whom I had seen and liked as Cassandra in Highlander. Her non-hostile attitude towards Bester was refreshing (and breaking the "villain must be hated on sight" pattern); Day of the Dead definitely was where the Lochley love started, though. "We had fun, didn't we?" "No," she says, and you can hear the sadness and the grief. Plus! She doesn't get Rebo & Zooty. Sensible woman. (I also have some Crusade episodes of Lochley love, but that's another show.)
Na'Toth: loved her from Parliament of Dreams onwards, for her dry deadpan sense of humour and her, err, great way of rescuing G'Kar.
...and though he's not a regular, I can't resist:
Alfred Bester: Dust to Dust was when he became intriguing to me. (His first two appearances followed the predictable "villain comes to the station, makes trouble, gets foiled" pattern). Plus he kept getting the better of Garibaldi in their verbal sparring, no mean feat. My favourite moments probably are "yes. Just like your badge. And your uniform", and "A pinata, hm? So you think of me as something bright and cheerful, filled with toys for little children; thank you!" (with Garibaldi left speechless each time). Ship of Tears, predictably, is where I started with the love (mind you, this episode is more than "Bester in love", it also has him being his manipulative bastard self towards Ivanova - he did goad her into that slap - and cheerfully using Sheridan & Co. to mount a rescue operation for "his" telepaths under false pretensions). His mental conversation with Byron in Phoenix Rising is about the only time I can stand Byron.
An essay about the alley scene in "Dead Things", focusing on the parallels and contrasts to Faith's season 3 storyline.
Wrecked at the Doublemeat Palace takes on two of the least popular episodes with some fascinating results.
****
cordelianne invented a neat meme, listing those moments and/or episodes which either made you realize you loved a particular character or which just fill you with love for the characters (not always the "big" episodes) for both BTVS and AtS, and I replied and listed my own at her lj. Modifying this meme, I'm applying it now to one of my two beloved space station shows, for it has been too long since I posted about them. Londo: I fell for him in the very first episode centring on him, Born to the Purple. The mixture of romanticism and cynism (which was to have dangerous effects later), the bombast, the wit, the sadness, it's all there. Also, it's highly quotable ("what you do want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?!?" and "and what are you getting, Adira? A washed upr Republican, dreaming of better days") plus it has the very first slash joke about Londo and G'Kar (Sinclair: "And if I help you, you'll agree to my compromise about the Euphrates sector?" Londo: "I'll even seal it with a kiss." Sinclair: "That ought to make G'Kar's day.") Later episodes of Londo love: too many to count. But the one which basically sums up his entire arc would be season 5, The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari.
G'Kar: Here, too, the first Narn-centric episode - Parliament of Dreams - did the trick and produced G'Kar love. It showcases early G'Kar's bombast, bravery (yes, he screams when finding the black flower, but is utterly silent when tortured latr), bluster, and stubbornness beautifully. And his deviousness. It introduces Na'Toth. (Oh, and Lennier, but that has nothing to do with G'Kar.) ( Mind you, Londo still manages to steal the episode with his drunk scene, but hey.) What's not to love? Later episodes producing G'Kar adoration: also too many to count, but what would be my choice for single best episode to showcase Babylon 5 at its best, Coming of Shadows, displays G'Kar going from murderous assassin mode to epiphany! reconciliation mode to furious and heartbroken breakdown to becoming something new by NOT acting on his feelings because his people need him alive is just amazing to watch.
Vir: Found him adorable in season 1, but the great Vir love started with Geometry of Shadows and his bravery in front of the technomages. As for the episode which does it with the overwhelming Vir love every time, I feel slightly guilty for not choosing the big Vir ep, Sic Transit Vir, but The Long Night. The early, trying-to-subdue-nervousness-by-black-humour scene with Londo, the death of Cartagia itself, his drunk scene after he killed Cartagia, that outburst of self-loathing, and Londo's quiet reaction - it it's just wonderful.
Sheridan: it took me a while to warm up to him, and I never exactly loved him on an ongoing basis, but for sheer watchability of Sheridan scenes, In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum always does the trick for me - one of those rare occasions where we're meant to see Sheridan as flawed, and Bruce Boxleitner gives an excellent performance here; the scene which actually does produce something akin to love is in Interludes and Examination, though, his argument with Kosh I. Sheridan is really desperate here, and that makes his anger compelling.
Sinclair: I liked Sinclair all through season 1 and was sad to see him go, but I can't say I loved him. However, I did love him - and always will - in season 3's War Without End, as Sinclair-in-transition to become Valen. IMO, it's Michael O'Hare's best performance on the show, and from his first scene onwards, when he reads that letter from himself that reveals to him (though we don't know that yet) that he has to give up his entire life to become the Messiah of another race in another time, I'm glued to the screen. Which is saying something because this two parter otherwise is known to me as The One With the Londo Flashforwards That Break My Heart.
Ivanova: much like most of the fandom, I dig her "Ivanova is God" speech om Voices in the Wilderness, but the big episode of Ivanova love that never fails to work on that account would be Divided Loyalties in season 2. From her early teasing, relaxed and joyful scene with Talia to their last meeting after poor Talia is essentially dead and replaced by another personality, I love her.
Garibaldi: liked him from The Gathering onwards, don't remember exactly when I started to love him, but the Fasten/Zip conversation with Sinclair in Babylon Squared is adorable and so funny, and for tragedy, it's tough to beat the crucial revelation scene in Face of the Enemy. Though Garibaldi doesn't say a single word during Bester's explanation, the eyes say it all. Still, if I have to pick one episode, it would, surprisingly, be season 5's Day of the Dead, which displays Garibaldi's paranoia, inventiveness, goofiness, and lilkeability at the same time.
Delenn: Delenn is a character I really discovered during rewatching (same with Lennier) - the first time around, our two Minbari regulars really didn't hold my attention that much. Now she's immensely interesting to me. Definite moments of Delenn love: her cavalry-to-the rescue scene in Severed Dreams, "he is behind me; you are in front of me; if you value your lives, be elsewhere" (yes, I'm easy), her "was that a compliment?" "After a fashion" exchange with Neroon in Moments of Transition (if I have to 'ship Delenn, it wouldn't be with either Sheridan or Lennier, it would be with Neroon), and I'm full of admiration and amusement by the way she manages to turn the conversation with Sheridan from "how could you assign Lennier behind my back" to Sheridan having to apologize to her (John, don't waste your time arguing with Delenn - you always lose). But the big, big moment when I really realized that I liked, respected and loved her? When she insisted to Sheridan she'd be the one to come clean to G'Kar in Ship of Tears ("want to? No. Have to? Yes!"), and afterwards did it.
Lennier: young, innocent Lennier taken out by Londo for a night on the town, err, station in that late season 1 ep with a title I keep forgetting is the one thing that makes it watchable. It's an immensely funny subplot, and definitely was when I started to love Lennier, though in a benign remote manner (i.e. the first time around, Lennier scenes weren't ones I ever rewatched if Londo or Vir weren't in them). Upon rewatching, I think Lennier's and Delenn's first conversation during The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari is my big hug-Lennier-now moment.
Marcus Cole: err. I. Never loved him at all. Sorry. Didn't hate him, either, but I really would have to fake it if I picked a scene for Marcus!Love. This makes for some strange moments, as when I find posts where people are devastated near the end of season 4 because of a certain event while I'm all squeeing over the Londo/G'Kar ("I could give you (sexual) pointers") in Rising Star, and I have to remember what the cause of the devastation is...
Stephen Franklin: Believers, his big season 1 episode, remains my favourite Franklin-centric outing, displaying both the arrogance and the genuine caring. (Plus, you know, good writing by Trek veteran David Gerrold.) When he finds the dead child, I'm devastated right with him. But my big scene of Franklin love comes in season 5's The Corps is Mother, The Corps is Father, in his scene with Bester. Because you know, I believe him, and I think Bester does too, at least at that moment. And because inviting Bester to scan him is a brave thing to do.
Talia Winters: Alas, poor Talia, I knew thee once. I liked her from her first episode onwards, Midnight at the Firing Line, trying to get Ivanova to talk to her, and shooting Garibaldi down. Can't say I ever loved her, but I felt intensely sorry for her eventual fate.
Lyta Alexander: And poor Lyta. For other reasons. My episode of Lyta love is probably Epiphanies in s4 because it displays her as most rounded - you see her strengths, her courage, but you also see her being ruthless and vengeful (plus you know, one of the three reasons she lists for blowing Z'Ha'dum up, so that Bester gets to feel what it is to lose someone he loves - i.e. Carolyn - is a) patronizing, as it assumes Bester never had that experience before, and b) unreasonable, as won't that motivate him further to dastardly deeds?). Sheridan is being an utter jerk to her (not to mention a hypocrite) in his "do this again, and I'll hand you over to the Psi Corps" scene, and when Zack at the end arrives with a pizza, I'm so glad for Lyta that finally someone displays affection and decency. Outside of this episode, to no one's surprise, Lyta's scenes with G'Kar in Objects at Rest are my favourites. "I have none." (re: pleasure threshold.) That minx.
Elizabeth Lochley: was predisposed to like her because so many were predisposed to hate her for not being Ivanova, plus she's played by Tracy Scoggins whom I had seen and liked as Cassandra in Highlander. Her non-hostile attitude towards Bester was refreshing (and breaking the "villain must be hated on sight" pattern); Day of the Dead definitely was where the Lochley love started, though. "We had fun, didn't we?" "No," she says, and you can hear the sadness and the grief. Plus! She doesn't get Rebo & Zooty. Sensible woman. (I also have some Crusade episodes of Lochley love, but that's another show.)
Na'Toth: loved her from Parliament of Dreams onwards, for her dry deadpan sense of humour and her, err, great way of rescuing G'Kar.
...and though he's not a regular, I can't resist:
Alfred Bester: Dust to Dust was when he became intriguing to me. (His first two appearances followed the predictable "villain comes to the station, makes trouble, gets foiled" pattern). Plus he kept getting the better of Garibaldi in their verbal sparring, no mean feat. My favourite moments probably are "yes. Just like your badge. And your uniform", and "A pinata, hm? So you think of me as something bright and cheerful, filled with toys for little children; thank you!" (with Garibaldi left speechless each time). Ship of Tears, predictably, is where I started with the love (mind you, this episode is more than "Bester in love", it also has him being his manipulative bastard self towards Ivanova - he did goad her into that slap - and cheerfully using Sheridan & Co. to mount a rescue operation for "his" telepaths under false pretensions). His mental conversation with Byron in Phoenix Rising is about the only time I can stand Byron.
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Date: 2006-03-02 08:42 pm (UTC)Hah, yes! To quote Starsky & Hutch, "DO it." I'd offer gold ducats, but they'd have to be chocolate, and they'd probably go stale in the mail... Not enough stories of any kind feature Neroon, although
no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 09:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 11:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 12:41 pm (UTC)*squees excitedly*
...
No, this comment has no other purpose than to squee. Why do you ask?
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Date: 2006-03-03 12:58 pm (UTC)Also randomly, I just watched the Q&A with Joss on the special edition Serenity DVD. Entertaining all through, but was seriously dying when he, in reply to a "which five people on a desert island" question, said Jane Austen because he always had wanted to meet her, Caligula because well, you've got to wonder, and he needs someone crazy in his life, Emma Thompson because he can't help fangirling her for being so witty and gifted and beautiful, himself, and George Bush "because we would need something to eat". Once the laughter had died down, he added: "Cheap, I know, but believe, heartfelt."
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Date: 2006-03-03 02:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-03 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-04 07:49 am (UTC)