B5 Rewatch: "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum"
Jul. 13th, 2010 11:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieIn the Shadow of Z'ha'dum
Another episode I want to like, but can't bring myself to cleave to wholeheartedly. This time, it's for a different reason: this is the episode where I begin to seriously Not Like Sheridan. I mean, yay shades of gray and all that, but at least leave me a few reasons to respect you in the morning, yeah?
On the one hand, at least he's self-aware enough to realize he's doing something unethical, even if that realization is not enough to make him stop. On the other hand, those last few minutes with Kosh pretty much make me yell, "Oh, SCREW YOU, you flaming jerk." First, he obviously Does Not Get that, uh, Kosh was already teaching him to fight the Shadows. It never sinks in. (I always imagine Kosh thinking, "GOD, why couldn't we have kept the other one?") And he's all, "Sooner or later, I'm going to Z'ha'dum, because only I and MY SPECIAL DESTINY can save the day!" which makes me gnash my teeth. I am also not entirely certain he believes Kosh when he says that he'll die if he goes to Z'ha'dum, which, again, argh.
So, this is not a good Sheridan episode. It is a good episode for pretty much everyone else, though, especially all the many people who tell him to let Morden go, already. (I cheered when Garibaldi turned in his badge, and when Ivanova confronted Sheridan in the hall. Oh, and of course when Talia slapped him. I think that negates the part where she fainted into Zack's arms on the drinking game scale.)
The other thing that pisses me off about this episode is Sheridan's blithe retelling of the Churchill/Coventry myth as fact. And it is a myth: here are my citations. I might be willing to cut him a little slack and say that he was taken in by the conspiracy theory. But--and here is where I wish I'd never read anything under any of the "JMS speaks" headings at the Lurker's Guide--if JMS is going to crow about historical precedent in his discussions online, he should damn well get his history right. It does make a good object lesson--although I raise my eyebrow a bit at equating a combination of "one person might be alive/imprisoned" and sheer vengeful desire to all the people who died in the Coventry bombing--but that doesn't mean one can lie. IMO.
Speaking of history, WWII would hardly be ancient to these people. There are the same number of years between 1940 and 2259 as there are between 1691 and 2010. This is already the Enlightenment--Newton published the Principia a few years ago; Descartes's Discourse on Method was sixty years old. Small quibble compared to the big one above, though.
But let's turn to happier matters. Mainly, all the arcy goodness we get in this episode. We learn ALL KINDS of things here! And some of those things are lies. *g* IIRC, the Shadows (and the Vorlons) are no older than the other First Ones. They're just the most hands-on. Also, the First Ones are still around. (You know, this probably should've been my first clue on my original viewing that the Vorlons were being much less than truthful.) We also learn that the Icarus woke up the Shadows, which as I recall is correct, and that they killed those who refused to serve. (This still strikes me as reminiscent, in an odd way, of Lucifer in Paradise Lost.) And we even see the Shadows themselves! I'd forgotten we saw them this early. They are still extremely creepy. Finally, there is Vir, who wants to wave at Morden's head on a pike. It warms my heart more than I can say that he gets to do so. This should probably disturb me.
On the Earth front, we get the Ministry of Peace and Night Watch. I am considerably more sanguine about Night Watch this time around than I was before, because I've been paying attention to the hints about Earth's growing isolationism/conservatism. Not sure how I missed them last time, really; perhaps I was just too invested in the Shadow plot to care or notice.
I really liked that we got another Ivanova and Franklin scene, and that they talked about religion. Susan believes in God "most of the time," Franklin, perhaps, less and less as time goes on. I find the intersection of religion and science fiction absolutely fascinating; someday I think I'd like to write something about Susan and her faith. I also love the idea of new human religions springing up after alien contact. Very cool.
Another episode I want to like, but can't bring myself to cleave to wholeheartedly. This time, it's for a different reason: this is the episode where I begin to seriously Not Like Sheridan. I mean, yay shades of gray and all that, but at least leave me a few reasons to respect you in the morning, yeah?
On the one hand, at least he's self-aware enough to realize he's doing something unethical, even if that realization is not enough to make him stop. On the other hand, those last few minutes with Kosh pretty much make me yell, "Oh, SCREW YOU, you flaming jerk." First, he obviously Does Not Get that, uh, Kosh was already teaching him to fight the Shadows. It never sinks in. (I always imagine Kosh thinking, "GOD, why couldn't we have kept the other one?") And he's all, "Sooner or later, I'm going to Z'ha'dum, because only I and MY SPECIAL DESTINY can save the day!" which makes me gnash my teeth. I am also not entirely certain he believes Kosh when he says that he'll die if he goes to Z'ha'dum, which, again, argh.
So, this is not a good Sheridan episode. It is a good episode for pretty much everyone else, though, especially all the many people who tell him to let Morden go, already. (I cheered when Garibaldi turned in his badge, and when Ivanova confronted Sheridan in the hall. Oh, and of course when Talia slapped him. I think that negates the part where she fainted into Zack's arms on the drinking game scale.)
The other thing that pisses me off about this episode is Sheridan's blithe retelling of the Churchill/Coventry myth as fact. And it is a myth: here are my citations. I might be willing to cut him a little slack and say that he was taken in by the conspiracy theory. But--and here is where I wish I'd never read anything under any of the "JMS speaks" headings at the Lurker's Guide--if JMS is going to crow about historical precedent in his discussions online, he should damn well get his history right. It does make a good object lesson--although I raise my eyebrow a bit at equating a combination of "one person might be alive/imprisoned" and sheer vengeful desire to all the people who died in the Coventry bombing--but that doesn't mean one can lie. IMO.
Speaking of history, WWII would hardly be ancient to these people. There are the same number of years between 1940 and 2259 as there are between 1691 and 2010. This is already the Enlightenment--Newton published the Principia a few years ago; Descartes's Discourse on Method was sixty years old. Small quibble compared to the big one above, though.
But let's turn to happier matters. Mainly, all the arcy goodness we get in this episode. We learn ALL KINDS of things here! And some of those things are lies. *g* IIRC, the Shadows (and the Vorlons) are no older than the other First Ones. They're just the most hands-on. Also, the First Ones are still around. (You know, this probably should've been my first clue on my original viewing that the Vorlons were being much less than truthful.) We also learn that the Icarus woke up the Shadows, which as I recall is correct, and that they killed those who refused to serve. (This still strikes me as reminiscent, in an odd way, of Lucifer in Paradise Lost.) And we even see the Shadows themselves! I'd forgotten we saw them this early. They are still extremely creepy. Finally, there is Vir, who wants to wave at Morden's head on a pike. It warms my heart more than I can say that he gets to do so. This should probably disturb me.
On the Earth front, we get the Ministry of Peace and Night Watch. I am considerably more sanguine about Night Watch this time around than I was before, because I've been paying attention to the hints about Earth's growing isolationism/conservatism. Not sure how I missed them last time, really; perhaps I was just too invested in the Shadow plot to care or notice.
I really liked that we got another Ivanova and Franklin scene, and that they talked about religion. Susan believes in God "most of the time," Franklin, perhaps, less and less as time goes on. I find the intersection of religion and science fiction absolutely fascinating; someday I think I'd like to write something about Susan and her faith. I also love the idea of new human religions springing up after alien contact. Very cool.
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 06:20 pm (UTC)Well ... yes, it probably should, but the scene where Vir happily waves to Morden's head on a pike remains one of my top five favourite scenes in probably any TV I have ever watched. So at least you're not alone in loving it?
I think I actually like Sheridan more when he makes terrible decisions and believes that he has a Destiny, but that's just because I enjoy awful people. (See also: how Londo is my favourite.) That said, I hate that the narrative sometimes forgets that he's awful and buys into the part where he has a Destiny, which is clearly ridiculous. Anyway.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 07:55 pm (UTC)\o/
I think I actually like Sheridan more when he makes terrible decisions and believes that he has a Destiny, but that's just because I enjoy awful people. (See also: how Londo is my favourite.)
Aww. Well, at least that serves you well when watching this series?
That said, I hate that the narrative sometimes forgets that he's awful and buys into the part where he has a Destiny, which is clearly ridiculous.
OMG, yes. There are parts at the end of S3/beginning of S4 that make me want to beat my head against a wall.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 05:05 am (UTC)I think in a lot of ways this episode exists only to cement a few things in our minds: first, that Sheridan is the kind of guy who will Do Anything in pursuit of his goals (but do the ends justify the means? In this case, IMHO, no...), and of course the all-important "Don't forget, he had a wife! Who died! Because of the Shadows!" Which... *Sigh* That is the entirety of my reaction to everything we ever get about Anna, I think. *SIIIIGH.*
I'm glad to hear the Coventry thing is a myth - it sounded a bit suspicious to me, but I apparently completely forgot my intention to research it. :P
We learn ALL KINDS of things here! And some of those things are lies. <--One of my very-favorite things about B5. People lie. And the truth comes out later. ...Sometimes. ♥ (Seriously, I caught myself counting the episodes between where The Boy and I are at right now and "Atonement," because I love that one as the ultimate in Delenn's disturbing backstory and tendency to lie to herself and others. ♥)
I also love the idea of new human religions springing up after alien contact. Very cool.
Yes! And it's actually handled pretty well in B5, on the whole. I love the willingness to accept that, yeah, contact with aliens is going to be a total game-changer and it's going alter how we think about a lot of things, including religion, for a lot of people.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 05:23 pm (UTC)Not to mention running it for about twenty years! Have these people never heard of term limits?
Yeah, it is pretty hilarious (in an "I'm glad it's you and not me living with this" way) that Delenn is the balancing force. Bwahahaha. But maybe that's why they have Garibaldi...until he runs off to run Edgars Industries. (I will never understand that. Never.)
I think you're right about this episode existing pretty much to shore up assumptions and remind us of key elements. And yes, Anna is a bit sighful...although it's kind of nifty that because Sheridan finds her alive, we have to realize that she elected to serve the Shadows. (Uh. I think? JMS didn't weasel out of that one by claiming she was coerced, did he?)
I'm glad to hear the Coventry thing is a myth - it sounded a bit suspicious to me, but I apparently completely forgot my intention to research it. :P
Yeeeeaaah...the first time I saw this, that was the first thing I did, because it sounded really fishy. Bah.
One of my very-favorite things about B5. People lie. And the truth comes out later. ...Sometimes. ♥
Yes! This is awesome. The unreliable narrator makes it TV. *g*
Oh, "Atonement." That episode's going to be fun this time around.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 06:20 pm (UTC)Maybe humanity's done away with them. :P There's a definite inclination toward almost-monarchy there. But it's okay when it's a good leader, of course...
But maybe that's why they have Garibaldi...until he runs off to run Edgars Industries.
Totally. He makes a great check on Sheridan. And I agree with you on the whole Edgars thing - it seemed really weird. Maybe it'll make more sense the 2nd time around, but I don't have a whole lot of hope.
(Uh. I think? JMS didn't weasel out of that one by claiming she was coerced, did he?)
I don't remember. o_O I don't think he did... and if they could coerce people, why wouldn't they just coerce the whole group? I would find that a bit hard to believe.
Oh, "Atonement." That episode's going to be fun this time around.
Totally. I remember getting annoyed with a lot of things about it (hi, giving a woman as war reparations...), but it has Delenn being her crazy arrogant self, and her relationship with Dukhat, which I adore. ♥ And, if I remember right, some adorable bits with Lennier, too. Can't wait til we get to it.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 07:54 pm (UTC)Heh.
There's a definite inclination toward almost-monarchy there. But it's okay when it's a good leader, of course...
Oh, JMS. Your favoritism, it shows. (I now want to write that fic where ISA citizens start agitating for new leadership, with sit-ins and protest marches. It would be awesome. The Minbari would be all, "What the hell?" when people started marching on Tuzanor.)
Totally. He makes a great check on Sheridan. And I agree with you on the whole Edgars thing - it seemed really weird. Maybe it'll make more sense the 2nd time around, but I don't have a whole lot of hope.
I don't hold out much hope for S5 as a whole making sense. I'm sorely tempted to limit my rewatch to the five or six Londo- and G'Kar-centric episodes, then toss the rest. I'm definitely skipping the ones heaviest on Byron.
I don't remember. o_O I don't think he did... and if they could coerce people, why wouldn't they just coerce the whole group? I would find that a bit hard to believe.
Yep.
Totally. I remember getting annoyed with a lot of things about it (hi, giving a woman as war reparations...)
...I had forgotten about that part. Ack.
no subject
Date: 2010-07-14 09:08 pm (UTC)I kind of want to see this, now, purely for the Minbari reaction. They would be so perplexed.
I'm definitely skipping the ones heaviest on Byron.
Yeah. I'm just going to have to sit The Boy down and say "Look, you have a choice. You can skip these episodes, you can watch them on your own while I'm working on other stuff... or you can listen to me bitch and moan for full episodes at a time about how much I hate this guy. Last time, I got so angry that I covered my head with a blanket and started chanting "die, die, die, die, die" by the end of this arc. It's your choice."
...I had forgotten about that part. Ack.
It's a small thing on a show that, over all, is generally pretty good about gender issues... but yeah, it annoys the hell out of me. That, and every time we see someone attacking non-military targets we have to get someone commenting that there were "women and children" there. I know it's one of those phrases that people use without even thinking about it, but it always makes me grit my teeth. How about the phrase "unarmed civilians" or something? Please?
no subject
Date: 2010-07-15 05:02 pm (UTC)It would be hilarious, yes.
Last time, I got so angry that I covered my head with a blanket and started chanting "die, die, die, die, die" by the end of this arc. It's your choice."
Heh. I got to a point where I just started fast-forwarding through scenes where he or his minions were on the screen. I think it was right around the time when they started singing. (What the HELL kind of crack was JMS smoking there?)
How about the phrase "unarmed civilians" or something? Please?
That would be nice, yes.