[1][ISMAP]-[2][Home]
### GUIDE ### [3][Background] [4][Synopsis] [5][Credits] [6][Episode
List] [7][Previous] [8][Next]
_Contents:_ [9]Overview - [10]Backplot - [11]Questions - [12]Analysis
- [13]Notes - [14]JMS
_________________________________________________________________
Overview
Franklin and Marcus try to convince the leaders of the resistance
to go along with Sheridan's plan to unseat Clark. Delenn
investigates a series of attacks on Minbari allies. Minbar begins
to slide toward civil war. [15]Marjorie Monaghan as Number One.
[16]Paolo Seganti as Phillipe. [17]G.W. Stevens as Forell.
[18]P5 Rating: [19]8.30
Production number: 411
Original air week: April 28, 1997
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by John Flinn III
_________________________________________________________________
Plot Points
* At least one race, the Drakh, made its home on Z'ha'dum during the
Shadows' tenure there. They evacuated before Z'ha'dum's
destruction and are in search of a new home and revenge against
the people who defeated their masters.
* Marcus and Franklin have convinced the resistance movement on
Earth and Mars to follow Sheridan's lead, and to refrain from
future terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Earth's
government.
* Ivanova is preparing for an additional job, as head of the "Voice
of the Resistance," an attempt to counter ISN by broadcasting
opposition views, as well as messages intended for the resistance
fighters themselves, to Mars and Earth.
* ISN, meanwhile, seems to be preparing Earth's citizenry for an
eventual assault on Babylon 5, building up public support for such
a move in advance.
* Sheridan was involved in the suppression of the food riots on Mars
after the Earth-Minbari War, for which he's resented by some Mars
residents.
Unanswered Questions
* Are the Drakh the only survivors of Z'ha'dum? How many of them
remain?
* Are the Drakh the ones responsible for planting Keepers on the
Centauri Regent ([20]"Epiphanies") and Captain Jack ([21]"Racing
Mars")?
* Why did the Drakh emissary appear to shimmer? Do the Drakh have
access to the Shadows' invisibility technology?
* What does the warrior caste hope to gain by forcing the other
castes out of cities?
Analysis
* Franklin has bought into Sheridan's cult of personality, though
it's not entirely clear why. His reaction to the skeptical
resistance leader is exactly the kind of thing Garibaldi
complained about in [22]"Racing Mars," and may be
counterproductive in that it makes Garibaldi's allegations all the
more credible.
* Phillipe bombed the Red Planet Hotel, which was where Franklin and
Marcus were staying. Was the appearance of the Earth security
forces there a coincidence, or were they after Franklin and
Marcus?
* Why does Sheridan think he has the power to promise Mars
independence after Clark is out of office? Does Sheridan plan to
assume the presidency himself? Or was that simply more
improvisation on Franklin's part? Presumably not; it's unlikely
Sheridan gave him the authority to make that kind of promise
without consultation.
* How will Sheridan break through Earth's jamming of outside
broadcasts? Franklin was able to get a message back to Babylon 5,
but presumably it's a thornier problem to try to broadcast
programming to all of Earth. Perhaps he'll enlist the help of
Draal; Epsilon 3 likely has the power to cut through whatever
interference Earth can muster. Delenn is unlikely to be able to
provide any Minbari assistance, considering what's going on on
Minbar, though the White Star fleet might be useful mobile
transmitters.
* If Number One indeed treats all her former lovers like she treated
Phillipe, Franklin may be in for a rough ride.
* In the first scene with Franklin, Number One rubbed her neck,
similar to Captain Jack before his Keeper was discovered
([23]"Racing Mars.") Any significance, or just a stiff neck?
* The Drakh ships, especially the transport, looked more Vorlon in
design than Shadow. Have they looted the Vorlon homeworld as well,
or is it just a coincidence?
* The Drakh aren't the only race who worked for the Shadows, though
of course they might have been the only ones to escape with
technology from Z'ha'dum. Neither the surgeons and pilot in
[24]"Ship of Tears" nor the creature in [25]"The Long Dark" were
Drakh in appearance, though the latter arguably bore a resemblance
when it was shown briefly reflected in Mariah's tube.
* It's also possible the Drakh weren't allies of the Shadows at all;
the Vorlons may have similarly had minor races acting as aides,
and those aides would likely be just as upset as the Shadows'
about Sheridan and Delenn driving their masters away. Of course,
the statement that the Drakh had just lost their home would seem
to indicate that Delenn's supposition about their association with
the Shadows was correct; the Vorlon homeworld is probably still
intact.
* The Drakh may have some kind of group mind. At the very least,
they have a different notion of personal identity than most other
races. They appear to regard the name "Drakh" as both a collective
name and a personal one, and their emissary interrupted Forell
before he could utter Delenn's name, dismissing it as
"unimportant." On the other hand, they're familiar enough with the
notion of individual names to recognize Delenn's once it was
spoken.
* Delenn's reaction to the destruction of White Star 16, while
arguably justified, bore similarity to her reaction to the death
of Dukhat: ordering a relentless attack on those responsible. Of
course, this time she was in control of the situation and wasn't
enraged, but it's interesting in light of her earlier comment that
she wouldn't repeat the mistakes made during first contact with
humanity.
* Delenn commented to Sheridan that she felt humans could have been
Minbar's most dangerous enemy due to their ability to form
communities of diverse elements. This echoes her comment in
[26]"And Now For a Word," in which she said that the forming of
communities was one of humanity's greatest strengths.
Notes
* Marcus said he was from Arisia Colony. That's a reference to the
Lensman series by E. E. "Doc" Smith.
* Sheridan referred to the Drakh as "wild cards." And in fact,
"Drakh" is "card" pronounced backwards.
* One of the Minbari seen reacting in fear from the Drakh emissary
is Dennis Michael, a CNN entertainment reporter and a big fan of
the series. He was also a Narn in [27]"Comes the Inquisitor."
* As the Drakh emissary entered the White Star's bridge, the lights
on the wall dimmed.
* The real reason the Drakh shimmered, according to special effects
technician Ken Busick, was that the costume didn't look convincing
enough. So to give the Drakh an otherworldly appearance, the scene
was digitally manipulated in postproduction.
jms speaks
* _Why did Franklin send a video message?_
So they could see him and know by seeing him that he arrived
safely; a text message could be sent by *anyone* who could've
intercepted them.
* The issue of waste of bandwidth is not as big a deal to an
advanced technology (from today's standards); also, any really
good telepath could rip out those codes and keys in about 10
seconds. Further, they would've had a password to use (as in "the
board," which he used) to verify that he was all right and not
being forced to make the call.
* In that scenario, there is no such thing as ANY kind of secure
communication, which puts us pretty much back where we started.
* _About the Drakh ships_
I indicated a flower-like design. With the lethalness behind them,
it seemed like a nice contrast.
* _White Star 16 wasn't too tough._
Of course, you have no way of knowing how many previous hits it
took during the fight, and are assuming it only got two.
* _Why did Delenn run?_
As she states in the episode, they were at that time *surrounded*
and if they turned to fire, would get destroyed. Firepower doesn't
solve every problem; one good hand-held Lancet missile can put
down a full-sized cruiser if it hits right. They were in the
MIDDLE of the Drakh, just as they said, and that's NOT a
defensible position. They had to get away, outside that group, so
they could mount an offensive. This they did.
[33][Next]
[34]Last update: June 21, 1997
References
1. file://localhost/cgi-bin/imagemap/titlebar
2. LYNXIMGMAP:file://localhost/lurk/maps/maps.html#titlebar
3. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/background/077.shtml
4. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/synops/077.html
5. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/credits/077.html
6. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/episodes.php
7. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/076.html
8. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/078.html
9. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#OV
10. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#BP
11. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#UQ
12. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#AN
13. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#NO
14. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#JS
15. http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Monaghan,+Marjorie
16. http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Seganti,+Paolo
17. http://us.imdb.com/M/person-exact?+Stevens,+G.+Wesley
18. file://localhost/lurk/p5/intro.html
19. file://localhost/lurk/p5/077
20. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/073.html
21. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/076.html
22. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/076.html
23. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/076.html
24. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/058.html
25. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/027.html
26. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/037.html
27. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/043.html
28. file://localhost/lurk/lurker.html
29. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/077.html#TOP
30. file://localhost/cgi-bin/uncgi/lgmail
31. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/episodes.php
32. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/076.html
33. file://localhost/home/woodstock/hyperion/docs/lurk/guide/078.html
34. file://localhost/lurk/lastmod.html