Overview

Babylon 5 is embroiled in a deadly conflict between the Narn and Centauri; an ISN reporter covers the story and tours the station. Kim Zimmer as Cynthia Torqueman. Christopher Curry as Senator Quantrell.

Sub-genre: Introduction/Intrigue
P5 Rating: 8.43

Production number: 214
Original air date: May 3, 1995
DVD release date: April 29, 2003

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by Mario DiLeo

Watch For

• A spring-fresh fragrance.

Backplot

• The Narn homeworld was invaded by the Centauri around 2110. The occupation lasted for approximately 100 years.
• G'Kar joined the resistance after his father was executed by the Centauri.
• 41% of Earth Alliance citizens feel that Babylon 5 isn't worth the time and expense.
• The Centauri have been using the space around the station as a transfer point for weapons for the war effort.
• Over 250,000 humans died during the Earth-Minbari War.
• Back on Earth, the Clark government has formed the Office of Public Information and the Ministry for Public Morale -- both very Orwellian names. (see jms speaks)
• Senator Hidoshi, Sinclair's main Senate contact in season one, is no longer in office.
• Sheridan received the EarthForce Silver Star for valor during the Earth-Minbari war.

Unanswered Questions

• How long have the Centauri been using Babylon 5's space to move weapons?
• Will the news report affect the public's perception of Babylon 5, and if so, will the station become more popular or less?

Analysis

• Delenn's emotions seem to come to the surface much more readily now than they did before her change. (see jms speaks)

• The Earth-Minbari War wasn't very devestating at all in terms of loss of life. 250,000 dead is tiny compared to, for example, the tens of millions killed in World War II. Since most of the war was probably fought in space, in ships with relatively small crews, that's understandable -- in fact, that many dead probably means that Earth's combat fleets were nearly eliminated in their entirety -- but the war seems to have had an impact on Earth far greater than warranted by human losses. Human pride may ultimately have been the bigger casualty.

• The fact that the Narn cruiser destroyed a similarly-sized Centauri ship in a one-on-one battle suggests that the two are fairly evenly matched technologically. If the Centauri are indeed crushing the Narn military, as denied by G'Kar, they must have far superior numbers, or frequent help from the Shadows.

• One reason for keeping Babylon 5 around was conspicuously absent from Senator Quantrell's list: the planet below the station is one of the most strategically valuable places in the known galaxy, considering what lies beneath its surface (cf. "A Voice in the Wilderness.") Given that the planet's contents were entrusted to the Babylon 5 Advisory Council, it's in everyone's best interest to keep the station up and running.

  Earth would probably prefer to keep the planet a secret to keep people from trying to take it (and Babylon 5), so it makes some sense that Quantrell didn't mention it; but given the battle that took place over control of the planet, it must be a poorly-kept secret at best.

Notes

• "Subliminal" text during the Psi Corps ad: "The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps."

• @@@841689985 Though the subliminal message was onscreen long enough to satisfy American television regulations, in France, the message was clipped out altogether due to tougher French rules.

• @@@833749598 The Minbari have three languages: Lenn-ah, Fik, and Adrenato.

• When present-day fighter pilots fire weapons, they say "Fox one" over their tactical radio frequency when they use radar-guided missiles, "Fox two" when they use heat-seeking missiles, "Fox three" for smart missiles, and "Fox four" (or "Guns, guns, guns") for guns.

  Someone during the battle said "Fox five," suggesting some other sort of weapon. ("Fox five" is also used for lighthearted remarks about midair collisions during dogfights!)

• Interplanetary Expeditions, which has a brief ad at the beginning of the episode, is the same firm that financed Dr. Hendricks' dig on Ikara 7 in "Infection" -- in which it was discovered to be a front for a bio-weapons supplier.

• Note the pine-tree air freshener on the bridge of the Heyerdahl during the teaser.

• The Heyerdahl is probably named for Thor Heyerdahl, whose Kon-Tiki expedition attempted to prove that South American natives could have populated some South Pacific islands.

jms speaks

• "And Now for a Word," will, I think, be very popular, and to my knowledge does something that has never been done in SF television before.

• Speaking of which...on Monday I turned in a script called "And Now For a Word." It's probably the most unusual episode to date...so much so that I was very concerned about Warners approving it, and indicated in my letter (which explained why it was done, and why it should be produced) that I wouldn't be putting in for a script payment until I knew they would accept it and let us make it. Finally heard back today that they've approved it. This will be shot as episode 214, and what you've just read is ALL I intend to say about this script between now and shortly before it airs in May. (Though when we cast the guest star, which we're in the process of selecting now, that I'll be able to announce.) It's not controversial per se, but does take our entire show and put it on its head for the entire hour. (I also had to make sure we *could* physically produce the darned thing prior to turning in the script.) No speculation, please; just let it be what it is, and see it cold.

• For those who've been nudging other folks to try out B5, you may want to tell them that this coming batch of eps is probably the best time to dive in. In particular, our second new show (airing the first week of May) is designed in part to help new viewers coming to the show to catch up on background. (No, not a clip show, or anything like that...I think you'll like it.) I also *strongly* recommend that you videotape this episode, entitled "And Now For a Word." There's something in there just (or primarily) for the videotapers. Consider this a heads-up from the inside. You'll know what it is when you sorta see it. (See Notes)

• There's a thing you do in theater training where you're told to talk about a subject, never use the word "I" ...but in the end wind up telling us more about *you* than the subject you're speaking about. So I began to wonder if I could apply this exercise, in a limited way, to an episode of the show. I can't say more than that without spoiling things, but suffice to say you learn a lot about all kinds of people, and the way you learn it says a lot about those involved. It's a *very* subversive and tricky episode, and I *very* much suggest taping it, so you can go back and check something out later. You'll know what. If you don't, you'll kick yourself later.

• RE: the FCC...what we did in the commercial was totally legit. We researched and found that the FCC considers a subliminal to be 2 frames per second (out of the standard 24). So we made the blip 4 frames total.

• @@@846703929 We've done a couple of steady-cam/CGI composite shots, but not that much; in "And Now For a Word," you'll sometimes see a floating recorder in C&C moving around...that was a steady-cam in use, and we composited in the CGI. It is, however, time-consuming, so we only do that sort of thing as required.

• The device of using a reporter's appearance to go to another POV is not new to either B5 or MASH (though B5 is first to use it in SF). Where I would draw the distinction is in the sense that "Word" is actually very subtly subervsive. It's ostensibly about B5 (the broadcast itself) but you learn a LOT about Earth in the process...how the government wants the Mars situation interpreted ("an Earth-loyal population held hostage by a violent minority"), the government changing back home (suddenly we have an Office of Public Information and a Ministry for Public Morale), how they see the end of the Minbari war, and so on. It's designed to show more than just who's being interviewed; you reflect home as well.

• The battle shouldn't have been audible in the station, right?
  Except, of course, that you have a space batttle going on right outside B5, and explosions barely feet from the hull, plus debris hitting the shell of the station and making it ring, so you're going to hear stuff. When the oxygen tank outside the main living area in Apollo 13 blew, it sounded like a bomb going off. It happens.

• Jeffrey Smith: your analysis of Delenn is dead-on...I don't quite think she really understood what was required of her, and what would happen; I think she believed it would go somewhat other than it has, which has given her pause, she's rattled, alone and realizing the magnitude of what is before her, and her choice to undergo the chrysalis. And that is EXACTLY the core of a huge Delenn episode in the last part of this season.

• Why did the battleships keep missing each other?
  Actually, all sides in battle use ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) to throw off the targeting systems on the "enemy" vessels. But usually it only takes a couple of quick firings to compensate (which is what we've done).

• New Vegas is on Mars.

• The reporter didn't talk to Talia because the story wasn't about what it's like to be a telepath. That's a different story. This was about B5 and those who run it. Talia doesn't directly work for B5, she's employed by the Psi Corps.

• The Torque- part of her name came from Torquemada, that's correct. Just seemed appropriate since we were shortly doing an episode with an inquisitor.

• After we made initial contact with aliens, first being the Centauri, there were a lot of disruptions to the social and religious and political paradigms, many of which are whole stories unto themselves. There was also a lot of paranoia running around. Earthdome was constructed in Geneva to be more or less impervious to an initial assault from other races, should any come. (It was really something of a fiction, the way the star wars defense program might not have been really effective, but the theory was to protect the seat of Earth government.) So it dates back about a hundred years. (And it's NOT in the middle of a blasted heath; that was done in the comic by the inker, who should've colored it a nice green.)

• "Whoever thought up the idea of *security cams* for FX shots...."
  That's how it was scripted.

• G'Khamazad.

  And G'Quon's primary follower/co-prophet was G'Lan.

  Remember that name.

• It's also worth noting that this was likely Delenn's first real encounter with Earth media/reporters on this level. She's never been put into such a situation before, being challenged on-screen, which would be the height of disrespect back home. (We refer to her desire, after this, to learn more about the press in a later episode this season.)

• Very few have noted the play on the title. The usual complete phrase is, "And now for a word from our sponsor." So what was the only sponsored commercial shown (in the 2259 version)...?

• Interplanetary Expeditions was the bogus company from "Infection." Is it more than just a throwaway here?
  Yeah, I'd say it's fair to say that you haven't heard the last of Interplanetary Expeditions. Remember the rule: before you use the gun, you show it on the mantle. You play fair. And create the context in which the payoff later works.

• How can "Word" be a commentary on current allegations of bias (which I think are out of all proportion) since the media is now supposedly anti-government (nonsense), and the newscast in "Word" was more than just a bit spoon-fed government propaganda?

• "Z'ha'dum" has only been seen by a few people at this early stage, but folks like it. The big one, though, is really "And Now for a Word," which has gotten more responses from crew, cast and others than any other script to date. From top to bottom, everyone is absolutely excited about it. It's going to be a very challenging shoot, but the result, I think,will be worth it.