B5 Rewatch: I forget the numbers
Jun. 20th, 2010 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieUuuuuggghhh, it's hot. It's 8:30 and it's still 90F. We usually have another month before it gets like this.
Nothing to do but huddle in front of the air conditioner and watch more B5, I suppose.
ETA: Forgot to mention, I got about five minutes into "TKO" before I remembered exactly how much I disliked it, even with the Ivanova plotline. So, no "TKO" here.
Legacies
And here Delenn proves she can nearly outsneak Sinclair. I think it's fascinating that she has no qualms about using a "true religious mystery" as a cover story for her actions. Delenn is nothing if not expedient when she's trying to do the right thing, I suppose.
I also find it interesting that the bodies of leaders like this are sacred vessels, tampering with which is an unforgivable offense. For a society which places such emphasis on the soul, and specifically in setting the soul free (cf "Soul Hunter"), I would assume they would see the body as basically an empty shell and, like, compost it or something. (Hey, they believe in reincarnation--would it not be even better to take in the atoms of old carriers of souls as well as the souls themselves?)
The other legacy, of course, is Ivanova's tragic, tragic history with the Psi Corps, not to mention the genetic inheritance she got from her mother. (And perhaps the human race's in general, as crystallized in Alisa, from the Vorlons?) I assume her status as a latent telepath was already decided by this point, given her completely detail-free answer to Franklin's query of whether there was a particular reason she was interested in Alisa. And yet, this is the episode where we get the beginnings of detente between her and Talia (they go on their first date!). Oh, Susan. I think she really did want to find another telepathic connection like she had with her mother, and once Talia proved she was somewhat trustworthy by not immediately telling Psi Corps about Alisa's power, Susan decided to open herself up a little and trust that, whenever they got to that point, Talia wouldn't immediately turn her over as well. (I should really read more Susan/Talia fic.)
Your daily dose of foreshadowing: "You talk like a Minbari, Commander." GEE, I WONDER WHY. Also, "chrysalis." *COUGH*
Your daily example of why Ivanova and Na'Toth are hilarious:
Ivanova: "Why don't you check her teeth while you're at it?"
Na'Toth: "You think that's a good idea?"
A Voice in the Wilderness
What struck me most about this episode was Delenn's (or was it Draal's? I've forgotten who actually said it) assertion that the alien in the machine appeared to Sinclair, Londo, and Draal because they were the three most familiar with the third principle of sentient life--self-sacrifice. It becomes so, so true, and the sacrifice becomes greater as each of them undertake it. Draal gets to travel the universe with his mind, and he's never truly and completely cut off from his former life. Once he becomes Valen, Sinclair never sees any of them again. And Londo...well, we all know what happens to Londo, and it's nothing I'd wish on anyone. Heh, and Delenn says Sinclair's destiny lies elsewhere--but she doesn't know he's Valen at this point, does she? I seem to recall her being surprised by it in WWE.
Further foreshadowing: "Help me or all your people will die." Since they need the Great Machine in the Shadow War, with Draal running it, this becomes doubly true.
I liked Londo being a friend to Garibaldi. I'd kind of forgotten that they were cautious buddies before Garibaldi and G'Kar became closer. I was not a fan of the reason Garibaldi needed a friend, because something about Lise just bugs the hell out of me. She's the glaring exception to my Everyone/Everyone shipper tendencies.
Londo saying that the Narn and the Centauri were "victims of mathematics" was also a great moment. On the surface, it's amusing, and yet it's terribly sad as well.
But of course, the very best part of these two episodes? Oh, yes, you guessed it: "And just one more thing. On your trip back I'd like you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 Mantra: 'Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!' Babylon Control out."
Possibly even better is the murderous look she gives to the rest of the crew in C&C, who quickly try to look busy. And then her apology to God. Oh, Ivanova. And it's not even the only amusing line she gets in the episode; she also gets to answer "What better way to go out than in the cause of advancing scientific knowledge?" with "Is this a multiple choice question? Because I have some ideas."
Your will-become-daily LOTR reference: "I am going to the sea."Because I'm a modern-day elf.
Dood, I only have two eps to go before I've finished S1!
Nothing to do but huddle in front of the air conditioner and watch more B5, I suppose.
ETA: Forgot to mention, I got about five minutes into "TKO" before I remembered exactly how much I disliked it, even with the Ivanova plotline. So, no "TKO" here.
Legacies
And here Delenn proves she can nearly outsneak Sinclair. I think it's fascinating that she has no qualms about using a "true religious mystery" as a cover story for her actions. Delenn is nothing if not expedient when she's trying to do the right thing, I suppose.
I also find it interesting that the bodies of leaders like this are sacred vessels, tampering with which is an unforgivable offense. For a society which places such emphasis on the soul, and specifically in setting the soul free (cf "Soul Hunter"), I would assume they would see the body as basically an empty shell and, like, compost it or something. (Hey, they believe in reincarnation--would it not be even better to take in the atoms of old carriers of souls as well as the souls themselves?)
The other legacy, of course, is Ivanova's tragic, tragic history with the Psi Corps, not to mention the genetic inheritance she got from her mother. (And perhaps the human race's in general, as crystallized in Alisa, from the Vorlons?) I assume her status as a latent telepath was already decided by this point, given her completely detail-free answer to Franklin's query of whether there was a particular reason she was interested in Alisa. And yet, this is the episode where we get the beginnings of detente between her and Talia (they go on their first date!). Oh, Susan. I think she really did want to find another telepathic connection like she had with her mother, and once Talia proved she was somewhat trustworthy by not immediately telling Psi Corps about Alisa's power, Susan decided to open herself up a little and trust that, whenever they got to that point, Talia wouldn't immediately turn her over as well. (I should really read more Susan/Talia fic.)
Your daily dose of foreshadowing: "You talk like a Minbari, Commander." GEE, I WONDER WHY. Also, "chrysalis." *COUGH*
Your daily example of why Ivanova and Na'Toth are hilarious:
Ivanova: "Why don't you check her teeth while you're at it?"
Na'Toth: "You think that's a good idea?"
A Voice in the Wilderness
What struck me most about this episode was Delenn's (or was it Draal's? I've forgotten who actually said it) assertion that the alien in the machine appeared to Sinclair, Londo, and Draal because they were the three most familiar with the third principle of sentient life--self-sacrifice. It becomes so, so true, and the sacrifice becomes greater as each of them undertake it. Draal gets to travel the universe with his mind, and he's never truly and completely cut off from his former life. Once he becomes Valen, Sinclair never sees any of them again. And Londo...well, we all know what happens to Londo, and it's nothing I'd wish on anyone. Heh, and Delenn says Sinclair's destiny lies elsewhere--but she doesn't know he's Valen at this point, does she? I seem to recall her being surprised by it in WWE.
Further foreshadowing: "Help me or all your people will die." Since they need the Great Machine in the Shadow War, with Draal running it, this becomes doubly true.
I liked Londo being a friend to Garibaldi. I'd kind of forgotten that they were cautious buddies before Garibaldi and G'Kar became closer. I was not a fan of the reason Garibaldi needed a friend, because something about Lise just bugs the hell out of me. She's the glaring exception to my Everyone/Everyone shipper tendencies.
Londo saying that the Narn and the Centauri were "victims of mathematics" was also a great moment. On the surface, it's amusing, and yet it's terribly sad as well.
But of course, the very best part of these two episodes? Oh, yes, you guessed it: "And just one more thing. On your trip back I'd like you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 Mantra: 'Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out!' Babylon Control out."
Possibly even better is the murderous look she gives to the rest of the crew in C&C, who quickly try to look busy. And then her apology to God. Oh, Ivanova. And it's not even the only amusing line she gets in the episode; she also gets to answer "What better way to go out than in the cause of advancing scientific knowledge?" with "Is this a multiple choice question? Because I have some ideas."
Your will-become-daily LOTR reference: "I am going to the sea."
Dood, I only have two eps to go before I've finished S1!
