schneefink (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
schneefink) wrote2014-12-11 10:43 am
schneefink) wrote2014-12-11 10:43 am
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Babylon 5, our last, great hope for peace... 2x18 - 3x02
This show is fantastic. And LK tells me season 3 is even better.
I couldn't use three post titles I wanted because if I start spoiling things I have to run an extra 15km as a penance for hypocrisy. Or something.
Confessions and Lamentations: A whole race dead from the plague, wow. And because of superstition. Poor Dr. Franklin. Sometimes I dislike him, but sometimes he's great.
Delenn and Sheridan becoming closer! Nice to see.
I love the relationship between Delenn and Lennier. He idolizes and admires her, she is clearly his superior and often orders him to do stuff, but they also like each other a lot and lean on each other.
Divided Loyalties: As soon as Lyta Alexander said what she discovered I knew it was going to be Talia. From a Doylist perspective it had to be, she's the only human developed character the cast could afford to lose. Talia :(
I bet it was because of an external reason, contract disputes or something. Because the sleeper agent thing came basically out of nowhere, and they could have done so much more with Talia that it seemed like they were building up to. I'm going to miss her.
Also, just when Talia and Susan were finally flirting more strongly! Dammit it could have been so good. Bisexual!Susan and bisexual!Talia ftw.
I called that it was Talia, and AV called that they were going to use Susan as a red herring.
I was surprised by Susan's confession that she's a very low-level latent telepath: I suspected something like that, but not that she knew, I thought it was going to be a surprise awakening later. No wonder she's terrified of the Corps.
The Long, Twilight Struggle: Draal! I thought he was going to return much later. So much for the theory of a non-interference policy. He says his resources are at Sheridan's disposal, wow. That's a lot of resources. Does Sheridan know how much? This suddenly makes him a lot more personally powerful.
Plus he now has co-command of the Rangers...
I like that Delenn is starting to think more outside the box. Apparently the box on Minbar is pretty small, you only learn what you need to know, but after encountering the media she now reads newspapers. Good for her. And she learned Earth swearwords, heh.
The Centauri actually conquered the Narn homeworld! I didn't expect that. Wow. Hundreds of thousands dead, Narn a Centauri protectorate once again. The Centauri using illegal WMDs. Londo watching.
Watching Londo right now is, as AV pointed out, reminiscent of Zuko in season 2/3. You think he's going to turn good - you know he will, because that's what makes the most sense from a story-telling perspective - but you don't know when. You watch it slowly happening and each time it doesn't happen yet I'm disappointed, but it's likely that it'll get worse before it gets better.
Refa must notice that Londo isn't completely happy with his course. Sure, Londo probably got many new connections from his suddenly more powerful status, but as soon as Londo stops working with the Shadows he becomes more risk than help to Refa. The question is if he's big enough of a danger for Refa to have him removed.
G'Kar being forced to ask Sheridan for sanctuary, being stripped of his ambassadorial status... at least Sheridan, and also Delenn, stood up for him and Londo ordered him arrested.
Comes the Inquisitor: Wow, this episode had very strong religious themes.
Jack the Ripper? Seriously? Huh.
So Delenn - and Sheridan - passed because they were willing to sacrifice their lives for another in the dark. And in 400 years there wasn't anyone else willing to do that for someone they love? From the people who think they're Chosen, but still. It would have been a stronger image if it had been for someone they didn't know, or even disliked.
It also made me wonder about the relationship between the Minbari as a whole and the Vorlons. Does Delenn submit to Khosh's will because she's religious, or because that's what Minbari do in general?
In a scene where G'Kar retains his authority over the remaining Narn I was really missing Na'toth. It reminds me of Lorne, often not there when he should have been.
I also wonder why these Narn are still on Babylon 5. Does that prove that the Narn don't have a military draft, or are they unsuitable for warfare? Because the reason they're still here would be important for what they're going to do.
The Fall of Night: I knew the Earth government would do something stupid. I knew it. I knew G'Kar was going to be disappointed again. An Earth-Centauri alliance, fuck. After the Centauri started attacking other races, like G'Kar told everyone would happen. Fuck.
The Nightwatch is just so obviously creepy. Denunciation everywhere. I hope we get scenes with Allan and Garibaldi about this. Now they can't even trust their own people.
At least Ivanova stood up to them and said no! Go Susan.
Sheridan defending the Narn warship that he granted sanctuary to, taking a stand, even firing at the Centauri ship - yes!
The Centauri fire on Babylon 5, wtf, and have the nerve to demand an apology from Sheridan. And the Earth government orders him to give one. Fuck. Silver lining of almost being assassinated, at least he doesn't have to give that apology?
Khosh revealing himself! Didn't see that coming, not so soon. There were Vorlons = angels hints, and AV said he recognized the sound Khosh made while Lyta looked at him from the angels in SPN, but I wasn't completely sure until that moment.
And Keffer found a Shadow ship and publicized the images. Fantastic timing.
Matters of Honor: New intro! Sinclair and Sheridan, very dramatically, "The name of the place is..." Ivanova: "The place is..." Ivanova is best.
It's only been a week, but Sheridan still commands the station. I'm waiting for Earth government to try and remove him: he's a risk. And if they try - it would be easy, if they don't want to outright reassign him they just have to provoke him until he disobeys an order - it'll be hard for Sheridan, because he knows it's important that he stay, and that there's no government puppet in command of the station.
But of course he goes to help the Rangers. (Of course Ivanova knew.) The White Star, a beauty. Delenn says that he'll find out what the ship can do? WTF, you don't give someone command of a ship, go into a battle, and don't tell him what the ship can do!! That's extremely stupid. Fortunately it works out because Sheridan risks a lot on a crazy idea. They even blow up a Shadow ship! Nice.
So Sheridan is fine with a ship he doesn't know the full capacities of. What about the Rangers, and Draal, does he at least know the full extent of his resources there?
Garibaldi is hilarious with the Earth investigator. He's great.
I really liked the short scene with Lennier and Vir, commiserating about how hard their positions are, and apparently they do this regularly. They are both great <3 I just wish Na'toth were still here.
And Londo finally tells Morden to fuck off! He should realize how unequal the power balance is. So the Shadows divide space, about a quarter for the Centauri and all the rest for them. Has Sheridan figured out yet that the Centauri and the Shadows are working together?
I just realized that in the last scene we finally got confirmation that the Shadows and the Earth government/Psi Corps conspiracy are working together. It was to be expected, but still.
Convictions: Bomb threat by a crazy person. Just everyday life on Babylon 5.
And missionaries! Not quite sure what I think of the increased religious themes, and now there are monks. At least they seem like open-minded monks, and also potentially useful.
Lennier saving Londo's life! At least Londo is grateful. (Centauri lightbulb jokes!) Garibaldi seeing that Londo is afraid and trapped is great.
G'Kar and Londo trapped in the elevator, and G'Kar being happy because he gets to see Londo die, even though he can't kill him himself because otherwise the Centauri will execute 500 Narn. Laughing hysterically because there's nothing else he can do.
Lennier saying that he saved Londo because all life is sacred, but because Londo doesn't share that belief, he fears he has served the present by sacrificing the future... ouch. This is Lennier saying that, that's strong.
I couldn't use three post titles I wanted because if I start spoiling things I have to run an extra 15km as a penance for hypocrisy. Or something.
Confessions and Lamentations: A whole race dead from the plague, wow. And because of superstition. Poor Dr. Franklin. Sometimes I dislike him, but sometimes he's great.
Delenn and Sheridan becoming closer! Nice to see.
I love the relationship between Delenn and Lennier. He idolizes and admires her, she is clearly his superior and often orders him to do stuff, but they also like each other a lot and lean on each other.
Divided Loyalties: As soon as Lyta Alexander said what she discovered I knew it was going to be Talia. From a Doylist perspective it had to be, she's the only human developed character the cast could afford to lose. Talia :(
I bet it was because of an external reason, contract disputes or something. Because the sleeper agent thing came basically out of nowhere, and they could have done so much more with Talia that it seemed like they were building up to. I'm going to miss her.
Also, just when Talia and Susan were finally flirting more strongly! Dammit it could have been so good. Bisexual!Susan and bisexual!Talia ftw.
I called that it was Talia, and AV called that they were going to use Susan as a red herring.
I was surprised by Susan's confession that she's a very low-level latent telepath: I suspected something like that, but not that she knew, I thought it was going to be a surprise awakening later. No wonder she's terrified of the Corps.
The Long, Twilight Struggle: Draal! I thought he was going to return much later. So much for the theory of a non-interference policy. He says his resources are at Sheridan's disposal, wow. That's a lot of resources. Does Sheridan know how much? This suddenly makes him a lot more personally powerful.
Plus he now has co-command of the Rangers...
I like that Delenn is starting to think more outside the box. Apparently the box on Minbar is pretty small, you only learn what you need to know, but after encountering the media she now reads newspapers. Good for her. And she learned Earth swearwords, heh.
The Centauri actually conquered the Narn homeworld! I didn't expect that. Wow. Hundreds of thousands dead, Narn a Centauri protectorate once again. The Centauri using illegal WMDs. Londo watching.
Watching Londo right now is, as AV pointed out, reminiscent of Zuko in season 2/3. You think he's going to turn good - you know he will, because that's what makes the most sense from a story-telling perspective - but you don't know when. You watch it slowly happening and each time it doesn't happen yet I'm disappointed, but it's likely that it'll get worse before it gets better.
Refa must notice that Londo isn't completely happy with his course. Sure, Londo probably got many new connections from his suddenly more powerful status, but as soon as Londo stops working with the Shadows he becomes more risk than help to Refa. The question is if he's big enough of a danger for Refa to have him removed.
G'Kar being forced to ask Sheridan for sanctuary, being stripped of his ambassadorial status... at least Sheridan, and also Delenn, stood up for him and Londo ordered him arrested.
Comes the Inquisitor: Wow, this episode had very strong religious themes.
Jack the Ripper? Seriously? Huh.
So Delenn - and Sheridan - passed because they were willing to sacrifice their lives for another in the dark. And in 400 years there wasn't anyone else willing to do that for someone they love? From the people who think they're Chosen, but still. It would have been a stronger image if it had been for someone they didn't know, or even disliked.
It also made me wonder about the relationship between the Minbari as a whole and the Vorlons. Does Delenn submit to Khosh's will because she's religious, or because that's what Minbari do in general?
In a scene where G'Kar retains his authority over the remaining Narn I was really missing Na'toth. It reminds me of Lorne, often not there when he should have been.
I also wonder why these Narn are still on Babylon 5. Does that prove that the Narn don't have a military draft, or are they unsuitable for warfare? Because the reason they're still here would be important for what they're going to do.
The Fall of Night: I knew the Earth government would do something stupid. I knew it. I knew G'Kar was going to be disappointed again. An Earth-Centauri alliance, fuck. After the Centauri started attacking other races, like G'Kar told everyone would happen. Fuck.
The Nightwatch is just so obviously creepy. Denunciation everywhere. I hope we get scenes with Allan and Garibaldi about this. Now they can't even trust their own people.
At least Ivanova stood up to them and said no! Go Susan.
Sheridan defending the Narn warship that he granted sanctuary to, taking a stand, even firing at the Centauri ship - yes!
The Centauri fire on Babylon 5, wtf, and have the nerve to demand an apology from Sheridan. And the Earth government orders him to give one. Fuck. Silver lining of almost being assassinated, at least he doesn't have to give that apology?
Khosh revealing himself! Didn't see that coming, not so soon. There were Vorlons = angels hints, and AV said he recognized the sound Khosh made while Lyta looked at him from the angels in SPN, but I wasn't completely sure until that moment.
And Keffer found a Shadow ship and publicized the images. Fantastic timing.
Matters of Honor: New intro! Sinclair and Sheridan, very dramatically, "The name of the place is..." Ivanova: "The place is..." Ivanova is best.
It's only been a week, but Sheridan still commands the station. I'm waiting for Earth government to try and remove him: he's a risk. And if they try - it would be easy, if they don't want to outright reassign him they just have to provoke him until he disobeys an order - it'll be hard for Sheridan, because he knows it's important that he stay, and that there's no government puppet in command of the station.
But of course he goes to help the Rangers. (Of course Ivanova knew.) The White Star, a beauty. Delenn says that he'll find out what the ship can do? WTF, you don't give someone command of a ship, go into a battle, and don't tell him what the ship can do!! That's extremely stupid. Fortunately it works out because Sheridan risks a lot on a crazy idea. They even blow up a Shadow ship! Nice.
So Sheridan is fine with a ship he doesn't know the full capacities of. What about the Rangers, and Draal, does he at least know the full extent of his resources there?
Garibaldi is hilarious with the Earth investigator. He's great.
I really liked the short scene with Lennier and Vir, commiserating about how hard their positions are, and apparently they do this regularly. They are both great <3 I just wish Na'toth were still here.
And Londo finally tells Morden to fuck off! He should realize how unequal the power balance is. So the Shadows divide space, about a quarter for the Centauri and all the rest for them. Has Sheridan figured out yet that the Centauri and the Shadows are working together?
I just realized that in the last scene we finally got confirmation that the Shadows and the Earth government/Psi Corps conspiracy are working together. It was to be expected, but still.
Convictions: Bomb threat by a crazy person. Just everyday life on Babylon 5.
And missionaries! Not quite sure what I think of the increased religious themes, and now there are monks. At least they seem like open-minded monks, and also potentially useful.
Lennier saving Londo's life! At least Londo is grateful. (Centauri lightbulb jokes!) Garibaldi seeing that Londo is afraid and trapped is great.
G'Kar and Londo trapped in the elevator, and G'Kar being happy because he gets to see Londo die, even though he can't kill him himself because otherwise the Centauri will execute 500 Narn. Laughing hysterically because there's nothing else he can do.
Lennier saying that he saved Londo because all life is sacred, but because Londo doesn't share that belief, he fears he has served the present by sacrificing the future... ouch. This is Lennier saying that, that's strong.