The Babylon 5 Season FIVE Discussion Thread
04-21-04 | 06:03 AM
#51
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Today's Episode: "The Paragon of Animals"
Sheridan clashes with the League ambassadors over G'Kar's declaration of principles. Garibaldi attempts to enlist the aid of the refugee telepaths.
Is Lyta's sympathy with Byron's cause what it appears to be? Clearly she's dissatisfied with her treatment at the hands of Sheridan and the others, and has been for some time (she complained about it to Zack in "Epiphanies.") At the same time, though, she does appear to see that her work with the Alliance is doing a lot of good, and Sheridan does appear to be appreciative of her, despite Byron's claims to the contrary.
So the question is, what's Lyta's motivation for returning to Byron and asking to learn more about his ideas? Is she genuinely interested in joining his cause, or does she sense that he's a potential danger? If it's the latter, she might be engaging in a covert operation of her own, learning all she can about Byron's plans with the intent of reporting them to Sheridan if they turn out to be a threat to the Alliance.
Sheridan appears to be dead wrong in his reasoning for allowing Byron's colony on the station. His assumption, stated again in this episode, is that they'll be on his side should war erupt between telepaths and normals. But from Byron's conversation with Lyta, it appears more likely that his group will be the ones to start a conflict against mundanes. It's even possible they'll find themselves at odds with the Psi Corps, since the Corps appears to prefer taking control in more subtle, insinuative ways and might view an open conflict as too great a risk.
So the question is, what's Lyta's motivation for returning to Byron and asking to learn more about his ideas? Is she genuinely interested in joining his cause, or does she sense that he's a potential danger? If it's the latter, she might be engaging in a covert operation of her own, learning all she can about Byron's plans with the intent of reporting them to Sheridan if they turn out to be a threat to the Alliance.
Sheridan appears to be dead wrong in his reasoning for allowing Byron's colony on the station. His assumption, stated again in this episode, is that they'll be on his side should war erupt between telepaths and normals. But from Byron's conversation with Lyta, it appears more likely that his group will be the ones to start a conflict against mundanes. It's even possible they'll find themselves at odds with the Psi Corps, since the Corps appears to prefer taking control in more subtle, insinuative ways and might view an open conflict as too great a risk.
04-21-04 | 06:47 AM
#52
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From: wishing I was in Vegas
I've never understood the title.
Another good jab at Longo by G'Kar: "Oh, go away. Repress someone else."
Now, you'll have to excuse me. My muse is speaking to me.
Another good jab at Longo by G'Kar: "Oh, go away. Repress someone else."
Now, you'll have to excuse me. My muse is speaking to me.
04-21-04 | 09:57 AM
#53
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I have always loved the Declaration of Principles. Can we just print that, hand it to the UN and say: here, this is how it's supposed to work?
G'Kar's line "go repress someone else" is pretty classic.
G'Kar's line "go repress someone else" is pretty classic.
04-22-04 | 06:02 AM
#54
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Today's Episode: "A View from the Gallery"
As the station defends itself against an alien attack, two ordinary crewmen, Mack and Bo, try to carry on and keep the station running.
The conversation between Mack and Bo about Ivanova's departure was a reference to the controversy stirred up on the net and elsewhere when Claudia Christian's departure from the show was announced.
The price of spoo is highly volatile: near the beginning of the episode, as Mack and Bo ate lunch, Mack claimed it cost 10 credits an ounce. At the end of the episode, he said it cost 15.
The Narn day is 31 hours long.
Sheridan referred to Delenn's promise to see him again "in the place where no shadows fall." She spoke those words before entering the Markab isolation area in "Confessions and Lamentations."
The incident recalled by Mack and Bo, in which Sheridan chased down someone who injured Delenn, was in "Ceremonies of Light and Dark."
The price of spoo is highly volatile: near the beginning of the episode, as Mack and Bo ate lunch, Mack claimed it cost 10 credits an ounce. At the end of the episode, he said it cost 15.
The Narn day is 31 hours long.
Sheridan referred to Delenn's promise to see him again "in the place where no shadows fall." She spoke those words before entering the Markab isolation area in "Confessions and Lamentations."
The incident recalled by Mack and Bo, in which Sheridan chased down someone who injured Delenn, was in "Ceremonies of Light and Dark."
04-22-04 | 08:41 AM
#56
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From: wishing I was in Vegas
I thought the part at the end where Bo and Mack are grousing with “they get all the glory, and we clean up the mess,” it would have been interesting if Bo and Mack missed the scene with Franklin somehow, leaving it only for us to see the irony of the statement.
But then, that would make the final coupla scenes and their goodie goodie attitude seem out of place. Maybe, instead of “You’re alright in my book,” Mack could go off on a rant?
Since they started with the “clean up the mess” from the beginning of the ep, it’s obvious this was the “lesson” to be learned. Typical Ellison.
But then, that would make the final coupla scenes and their goodie goodie attitude seem out of place. Maybe, instead of “You’re alright in my book,” Mack could go off on a rant?
Since they started with the “clean up the mess” from the beginning of the ep, it’s obvious this was the “lesson” to be learned. Typical Ellison.
04-22-04 | 08:48 AM
#57
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I totally love this episode. It's rare that you get an episode from the POV of completely random characters. Bo and Mack are just doing their jobs and we get to see how B5 operates from their standpoint. It was different than the ISN episodes from previous seasons because of the bias issues. The ending with Franklin was pretty powerful especially given what he said before about wanting to save lives. Heavy-handed maybe but still a powerful image.
04-22-04 | 09:47 AM
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From: Plantation, FL.
This episode was pretty much hit or miss for me, but overall was probably the first episode from this season that I didn't really care for. In theory, I like the idea of getting a different point of view of the goings on at Babylon 5. I just thougth the execution was a bit cheesy.
Also, this might sound a little overly critical, but I thought the writing was a little bit sloppy. Early in the episode, Bo and Mack are present for a conversation between Sheridan and the new captain, where the new captain is trying to convince Sherridan to take a life pod. After listening in, Bo and Mack discuss how much they admire Sheridan's attitude. Move ahead about ten minutes later into the show, and either Bo or Mack asks the other one if they'd seen the new captain yet.
Considering the great length to which JMS has gone to keep certain threads straight over the course of several seasons, I was a little surprised by this apparent gaffe.
Also, this might sound a little overly critical, but I thought the writing was a little bit sloppy. Early in the episode, Bo and Mack are present for a conversation between Sheridan and the new captain, where the new captain is trying to convince Sherridan to take a life pod. After listening in, Bo and Mack discuss how much they admire Sheridan's attitude. Move ahead about ten minutes later into the show, and either Bo or Mack asks the other one if they'd seen the new captain yet.
Considering the great length to which JMS has gone to keep certain threads straight over the course of several seasons, I was a little surprised by this apparent gaffe.
04-22-04 | 10:46 AM
#60
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Originally posted by slop101
Okay, I like Penn & Teller and all, but Rebo & Zooty are just flat out STUPID. *zoot zoot* - WTF?
Okay, I like Penn & Teller and all, but Rebo & Zooty are just flat out STUPID. *zoot zoot* - WTF?
04-22-04 | 01:09 PM
#62
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Originally posted by mookiemeister
I finished watching season 5 today.
I finished watching season 5 today.
Spoiler:
04-22-04 | 02:24 PM
#64
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From: a small cottage on a cul de sac in the lower pits of hell.
Shit, I knew I should have stayed out of this thread until I had the DVDs. Even if I had them, I wouldn't have wanted to know that spoiler, mookiemeister. 
04-22-04 | 03:10 PM
#65
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Originally posted by Bandoman
Shit, I knew I should have stayed out of this thread until I had the DVDs. Even if I had them, I wouldn't have wanted to know that spoiler, mookiemeister.
Shit, I knew I should have stayed out of this thread until I had the DVDs. Even if I had them, I wouldn't have wanted to know that spoiler, mookiemeister.
04-22-04 | 03:11 PM
#66
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by slop101
Okay, I like Penn & Teller and all, but Rebo & Zooty are just flat out STUPID. *zoot zoot* - WTF?
Okay, I like Penn & Teller and all, but Rebo & Zooty are just flat out STUPID. *zoot zoot* - WTF?
EXACTLY! that's the point!
04-22-04 | 04:59 PM
#67
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Originally posted by Seeker
EXACTLY! that's the point!
EXACTLY! that's the point!
04-22-04 | 05:05 PM
#68
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Originally posted by slop101
By that logic, if I set out to create a truly awful tv show and succeed in it's awfulness, I am then not prone to any criticism because being awful was my intention?
By that logic, if I set out to create a truly awful tv show and succeed in it's awfulness, I am then not prone to any criticism because being awful was my intention?
04-23-04 | 06:00 AM
#69
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Today's Episode: "Learning Curve"
Two Minbari Rangers-in-training come to the station and learn a difficult lesson. A new underworld boss tries to take control of DownBelow.
This episode marks the second time Lochley has been overruled on something she considered a station matter (the first was Sheridan's decision to allow the telepath colony in "No Compromises.") Given her insistence to Sheridan that she be allowed the authority to run the station her way, this incident probably isn't sitting well with her. At what point will she decide she's had enough and begin to confront Sheridan on the subject?
It's not clear whether Lochley actually fought for Clark or not. By her own admission she didn't support the rebellion, but as she pointed out to Garibaldi, not every conflict has only two sides. Her comment about making a decision that affects only oneself suggests she might have deserted or otherwise refused to cooperate. Perhaps she was even punished for it.
The friction between the Minbari castes hasn't gone away completely, but does seem to have been reduced to the level of conversational sarcasm, at least within the ranks of the Rangers.
It's not clear whether Lochley actually fought for Clark or not. By her own admission she didn't support the rebellion, but as she pointed out to Garibaldi, not every conflict has only two sides. Her comment about making a decision that affects only oneself suggests she might have deserted or otherwise refused to cooperate. Perhaps she was even punished for it.
The friction between the Minbari castes hasn't gone away completely, but does seem to have been reduced to the level of conversational sarcasm, at least within the ranks of the Rangers.
04-23-04 | 11:01 PM
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From: Flava-Country!
I just finished up with the end of the Telepath story arc last night - so I'm about midway through the season. Unlike the rest of the story, I've not seen S5 since it first ran. One pass, no reruns. And I distinctly remember walking away unsatified - mostly by the loose threads towards the end
.
This time, it seems I'm not being as critical. The Telepath Lestat didnt rub me the wrong way this time, I have no problem with the new captain - it seems to be fitting together better on the second watching (with a half dozen or so years breathing room).
And the final episode - it didnt do anything for me the first time. But man, did it kick me in the nuts this time. (I admit! I cheated and skipped ahead! I'm weak - forgive me).
Overall, I might have to re-evaluate my position on S5. It's still not as strong as what has come before, but it's not as bad as I first thought.
Spoiler:
This time, it seems I'm not being as critical. The Telepath Lestat didnt rub me the wrong way this time, I have no problem with the new captain - it seems to be fitting together better on the second watching (with a half dozen or so years breathing room).
And the final episode - it didnt do anything for me the first time. But man, did it kick me in the nuts this time. (I admit! I cheated and skipped ahead! I'm weak - forgive me).
Overall, I might have to re-evaluate my position on S5. It's still not as strong as what has come before, but it's not as bad as I first thought.
04-25-04 | 11:23 AM
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Originally posted by El-Kabong
I just finished up with the end of the Telepath story arc last night - so I'm about midway through the season. Unlike the rest of the story, I've not seen S5 since it first ran. One pass, no reruns. And I distinctly remember walking away unsatified - mostly by the loose threads towards the end
.
I just finished up with the end of the Telepath story arc last night - so I'm about midway through the season. Unlike the rest of the story, I've not seen S5 since it first ran. One pass, no reruns. And I distinctly remember walking away unsatified - mostly by the loose threads towards the end
Spoiler:
04-25-04 | 10:45 PM
#74
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Originally posted by Bandoman
Okay, I got started on Season 5.
I'll catch up with the rest of you and come back to this thread in a few days.
Okay, I got started on Season 5.
I'll catch up with the rest of you and come back to this thread in a few days.
04-25-04 | 11:54 PM
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From: Saint Clair Shores, MI, USA
Originally posted by xVladx
Well, if you're interested in resolution on that first point, read the Psi Corps trilogy.
Well, if you're interested in resolution on that first point, read the Psi Corps trilogy.
jim