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The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
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[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
The Vorlons step up their battle against the Shadows. Londo
uncovers a new wrinkle in his plan to unseat Emperor Cartagia.
Sheridan asks Garibaldi to remove Kosh from the station. Delenn
gets a surprise from Sheridan. [15]Ed Wasser as Morden. [16]Wortham
Krimmer as Emperor Cartagia. [17]Wayne Alexander as Lorien.
[18]P5 Rating: [19]8.78
Production number: 404
Original air week: November 25, 1996
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by David Eagle
_________________________________________________________________
Plot Points
* With the help of Lorien and the original Kosh, Sheridan has
successfully removed the new Vorlon ambassador from the station,
possibly killing it in the process.
* Lorien healed Sheridan at Z'ha'dum by transferring some of his own
life energy into Sheridan. Sheridan has at most 20 years left to
live.
* Londo owes Sheridan a favor.
* Emperor Cartagia has plucked out G'Kar's eye, as Londo saw in his
dream ([20]"The Coming of Shadows.")
Unanswered Questions
* Why is Lorien keeping such close watch on Sheridan?
* How does Sheridan plan to stop the Vorlons?
* Why did Kosh's ship go berserk during the battle? What was it
trying to do? (See [21]jms speaks)
* Now that the Vorlons have been seen without their illusions in
place, will they still bother to maintain their angelic facades
around the younger races?
* What was the Vorlon "cause" that compelled Lyta to cooperate with
them? Did they explain their true motives to her, or did they feed
her a palatable lie?
Analysis
* Sheridan and Lorien appear to have gotten to know each other well.
What has each of them been getting from the relationship? So far,
Lorien doesn't appear to be feeding Sheridan specific information
about the Vorlons or the Shadows (though that could be happening
offscreen.) He seems to be providing moral and philosophical
support more than anything else, aside from the occasional dose of
life energy. What is Sheridan giving him in return? Presumably
it's something worth leaving Z'ha'dum to get.
* Sheridan authorized the transfer of refugees to Epsilon 3 without
even consulting with Draal. How does he know Draal wouldn't
object? If the planet is still available as a defense mechanism
for the station, Draal would most likely need to tell the crew
where to set up camp, lest they put refugees right on top of an
underground weapon. It's also interesting that the surface of
Epsilon 3 is apparently habitable, given that oxygen masks were
required to breathe underground ([22]"A Voice in the Wilderness.")
Perhaps the crew is assuming Draal will provide an appropriate
atmosphere.
* Kosh expressed outrage, not surprise, that a human could mentally
imprison a Vorlon. Perhaps the Vorlons have a weakness like the
Shadows', and can be contained by sufficiently powerful telepaths.
* Is the difference in color between the two Vorlons significant? It
may simply be due to the fact that what emerged from Sheridan
wasn't just Kosh, but a combination of Kosh, Sheridan, and Lorien.
* Delenn recognized Kosh immediately. Does that mean she had
previously seen his true form? If so, it was most likely in
[23]"Chrysalis," though why he would let her see through his mask
then isn't clear, since he most likely projected an image to her
in [24]"The Fall of Night."
* Lorien's healing technique resembles that of the healing machine
from [25]"The Quality of Mercy." Could that machine be used to
further extend Sheridan's life, or Lorien's, for that matter? How
much life does Lorien have left?
* When he used it on Z'ha'dum, it obviously extended to the original
Kosh as well, since Kosh was able to battle his successor.
* Sheridan's shortened lifespan may be the terrible price Delenn
mentioned in the flashforward in [26]"War Without End, Part Two."
At that time, 17 years in the future, he would only have another
two or three years left to live, barring other developments. (See
[27]jms speaks)
* Kosh gave his life willingly to stop the other Vorlon. Perhaps
that goal was what he needed to live for, his version of
Sheridan's devotion to Delenn. If he had to come to terms with his
own death as Sheridan did, such self-sacrifice was presumably
somewhat easier when the time came.
* Is the original Kosh the only Vorlon to oppose what's going on
now? Perhaps they're factionalized much like the Minbari, and the
new Kosh represented the more belligerent faction, which has the
upper hand at the moment. In any case, why did the original Kosh
care about the younger races more than his replacement?
* How much of Kosh is still left in Sheridan in the form of memories
and knowledge? Was Kosh's presence instrumental in putting
together whatever plan Sheridan has in mind?
* Londo clearly plans to strike at Cartagia on Narn, where
presumably he'll be an easier target than he is in the royal
palace. But even if he succeeds, what then? The Shadows will still
be on Centauri Prime, with only a few days left until the
projected arrival of the Vorlon fleet. It's unlikely Morden and
his associates would look favorably on a request to leave the
planet, and even if they went away immediately, Centauri Prime
would still have been touched by the Shadows and thus would still
be a target.
* By failing to suggest a punishment for G'Kar, Londo has likely
just wasted his first chance for redemption: saving the eye that
does not see ([28]"Point of No Return.")
* Cartagia's vision of the end of Centauri Prime ("Let it all end in
fire") may be related to Kosh's reply to Emperor Turhan in
[29]"The Coming of Shadows," to whom he said that things would end
"in fire."
* In fact, Kosh may have been saying more than the Emperor knew;
perhaps he foresaw the deployment of the Vorlon planet-killer, or
believed it likely, and figured it'd be used against Centauri
Prime. If so, how long have the Vorlons been planning their
current course of action?
* Garibaldi theorized to Franklin that he might have been caught in
the hyperspace backwash when the Shadows pulled out. This was
first mentioned as a danger in [30]"Signs and Portents," in which
Sinclair warns Ivanova to stay away from the raider mothership to
avoid being pulled into its backwash.
Notes
* The list of sites accepting refugees from Ventari III, as shown in
Ivanova's broadcast:
+ Tizino Prime (presumed destroyed later in the episode)
+ Mokafa Station
+ Drazi Fendamir Research Colony
+ Kazomi III
+ D'Grn IV
+ L'Gn'Daort
+ Nacambad Colony
+ 7 Lukantha
+ Oqmritkz
+ Velatastat
+ Lesser Krindar
+ Greater Krindar
* The rightmost head in Cartagia's shadow cabinet is Andreas
Katsulas (G'Kar.) See [31]jms speaks.
* "Apotheosis" means "elevation to divine status," or more simply,
deification.
* The two Koshes left the scene of the firefight through the
ceiling. If they were headed for space, they took the long way
there; to get outside through the ceiling, they'd have to pass
through the center of the station.
jms speaks
* _In response to a [32]CompuServe message_
That was really excellent. Let me explain to you how excellent it
was: I was taking a break on CIS because I was trying to work
through the heart of a scene between Delenn and Sheridan in script
403. It was a little fuzzy there in places, and I usually log off
and putter around rather than trying to write it when it isn't all
there yet in my head. Your analysis helped me clarify something in
my own mind which was there in the first place but hadn't yet
racked into focus yet. It would've done so eventually, it always
does, but you may have saved me an hour or two of going back over
their relationship in my head and pulling out the emotional and
thematic undercurrents of what's been established over the last
couple of seasons.
Good stuff.
* One is falling toward something which is rising, therefore
promising imminent conflict.
* _Which storyline does the title refer to?_
Interpretation is everything...I prefer to leave it that way.
* _Does it end in a cliffhanger?_
No, it doesn't exactly end with a cliffhanger.
It does, however, end on a cliff.
* So earlier this week we did the audio mix on almost all of 404,
"Falling Toward Apotheosis," which airs this coming week. We did
all but 7 minutes, because they were seven...big...minutes.
Last night, after working at the stage from early morning on, John
Copeland, George Johnsen and I left about 7 p.m. to go and mix the
audio for those seven minutes.
We finished at 2:30 a.m. (And I had to get up at 7:30 a.m. for a
meeting, no less.)
Point being...if you've got a friend with a good TV and a spiffy
audio or surround sound system, you may want to watch this next
one over at their place.
Just a thought.
* _Which seven minutes?_
From Lyta's entrance to Kosh's place, to Lorien's hand.
* _About the shadow cabinet_
Yes, that's Andreas' head, which I personally moved over to where
it would be beside Peter...who complained (in jest) that Andreas
was again stealing the scene from him.
* _Why is everyone acting strangely toward Garibaldi?_
The main reason for the non-big reaction to Garibaldi is that none
of them really know of anything that went on. He says he just got
caught in the hyperspace backwash, and his ship got swiped. And
it's a fairly thin story, so there's some questioning of what's
not being said, or is this the whole story? So people are bound to
be a bit more tentative...and, again, there's a big huge war on,
and pilots returning from missions at the height of WW2 were given
a handshake and told to get back into the plane for the next
mission.
* _Have we seen a Vorlon's true appearance?_
That's pretty much what they look like.
* Actually, we kinda decided to cut back a bit on lens
flare...because that particular one is now used in so many places,
it's become a cliche. We tried out a new kind of flare in the
Kosh2 scene, when he nails Sheridan, you can just sorta see
it...once everyone else does what we've been doing, we tend to
move on to newer areas.
* _Why didn't Kosh project an illusion?_
Because it takes concentration to pull it off, and Kosh2 was kinda
distracted....
* The encounter suit was mainly to mask them.
* The idea was to short out and "crack" the suit, getting the vorlon
out, so the last of Kosh and Lorien and Sheridan could deal with
him in a weakened and more vulnerable state.
* _The Vorlons looked a bit like Shadows._
I didn't think they looked that much alike. But then, no two
people ever see Vorlons in quite the same way, I guess.
* _If Vorlons are amorphous energy beings, how was Kosh poisoned in
[33]"The Gathering?"_
Remember, they do have a certain physicality about them, even in
that form, and the nature of the poison was such that it would
affect that kind of life form using a crystalline base (note in
the pilot the screen reads analyzing crystalline structure, and
you filter light or refract or distort it using a crystalline
structure).
* Silicon or crystalline based lifeforms are still lifeforms, just
not the same as carbon-based lifeforms (like us).
* Yes, that's a Vorlon...and there was a physicality to them, shown
by the fact that it could strike out and hit things. It's not a
ghost or anything of that nature, it can be hurt and killed.
* _What was Delenn doing at the fight?_
Well, I think it's pretty obvious she would've known about it,
given her proximity to Sheridan...and if I knew something this big
was going on, sure as heck *I'd* want to be there to see it.
* _What was Kosh's ship doing?_
It was responding to Kosh2's commands to get out of there so he/it
could enter it and escape.
* _Wouldn't the original Kosh have stopped it from tearing the
station apart?_
There wasn't enough left for that...it was just a hint of him,
that later needed to be bolstered by both Lorien and Sheridan to
hit even a part of its original ability.
* Kosh went with the new vorlon into the ship, and that final blast
was what did the job ultimately.
* _Didn't Lyta already tell the new Kosh that Sheridan had a piece
of the old Kosh?_
Actually, she said, "I think, it's possible, someone else does."
But she didn't specify Sheridan, and likely wouldn't have until
she knew absolutely for certain...and until she knew a little more
about the vorlon she was dealing with.
* _Was Kosh aware of what was being planned?_
I'd say it was aware of this, yes...and you can hear just a trace
of its voice just before it emerges.
* All trace of Kosh is gone. He/it will never be seen again, in any
form, exempting flashbacks, of which none are currently planned.
* _Was it necessary to kill the new Kosh?_
Had Kosh2 left when asked, it wouldn't have had to be done, no. It
was vaguely possible, but they had to plan as if he would not do
so, which in fact was what happened.
* The idea was to force Kosh2 out of the station, to where it could
be destroyed outside with a minimum of damage to the station.
Delenn wasn't happy about it, but also recognizes that war means
sometimes having to kill somebody.
* _With two of their ambassadors dead, won't the Vorlons take
revenge against B5?_
Of course, at the moment, the vorlons are a little busy...but
given time, yes, they would do exactly that.
* _Did the original storyline call for the first Kosh to be killed
in this episode?_
Best to leave what might've been out...what is, is better.
* There's a lot more to be said of the story of Kosh, and the
Vorlons in general...and part of me says explain it later...and
another part says that if you explain mysteries too much, it
destroys them.
* Morden is living in denial...he's afraid, and hoping he's right.
Centauri Prime has more civilians than any other planet or colony
hit so far: three billion people. The shadows are hoping a figure
that high will daunt even the Vorlons.
The wings are just how we perceived them, to some extent, though
we did see a hint of wings as the last of Kosh emerged from
Sheridan. (We also heard the wing flap sound, and the sound of
Kosh's voice for the last time right after Lorien's "Now.")
Dr. Kyle saw the angelic form...even in its reduced state, it held
itself together enough to maintain that form.
* _Was Sheridan almost dead in [34]"War Without End, Part Two?"_
Yep, at the time of that flash-forward, Sheridan has at most 2-3
years left to live.
* _Had he followed Delenn's advice, would he be in the same
situation anyway?_
Had he not gone to Z'ha'dum, he would've avoided that fate, but
caused another.
* Minbari can easily live to about 140 or so.
* _Was it fair of Sheridan to propose to Delenn after Lorien's bad
news?_
Well, I think it's better for someone to know that first, then
find out about it later. "Oh, good, we're going to spend the rest
of our lives together...oh, by the way, now that you've committed,
you should know...."
Uh, uh.
* _Delenn is spending a lot of time fawning over Sheridan._
"Considering her past role in Minbari society, though, I expect
her to snap out of it pretty soon. She was *trained* to take
charge, and even the things she's endured lately won't supress
that conditioning forever."
Oh, most definitely...count on it. She's done more than enough "oh
john" stuff for my tastes...that will start to change, and soon.
* Too much depression and guilt lately, and she's been for the most
part a passive character lately, while others acted around her.
Now it's about time for her to start becoming active again.
There's fire and steel in *use*, and fire and steel waiting to be
called upon...time to shift from the latter to the former.
* _How does the Minbari sleep-watching ritual compare in seriousness
to Sheridan's marriage proposal?_
Well, I think it fair to say that with Delenn starting the ritual,
there had already been kind of an implicit understanding that this
was going to be more than just a fling...and there's still a long
road ahead of them before this can be finalized.
* _Why doesn't Cartagia have the telepaths seen in [35]"The Coming
of Shadows?"_
They weren't prophetesses, they were communications-telepaths, and
the emperor can use them if he perceives the need to keep in
contact with events in the royal court. Cartagia could give a fig
for what goes at home, which will be ash soon anyway....
* _Cartagia wouldn't go to Narn just because Londo asked._
Except, of course, this trip with G'Kar was in his best interest,
and Cartagia is always responsive to what's best for Cartagia.
* For my money, the truly frightening thing about Cartagia is that
he is motivated entirely by whim, by caprice...he can give you
something wonderful one moment, then turn around and have you
killed the next. You *never* know which way he'll flip from moment
to moment.
* _Why didn't Londo try to save G'Kar's eye?_
Yeah...would've been nice if Londo had at least tried to do
something about the eye that did not see Cartagia's splendor....
* The Londo stuff is nice, and you do get a sense of the kind of
person he was before the empire began to slip, and his fortunes
with it. He can definitely pull it out when he wants to.
* _Only 3 billion people on Centauri Prime?_
Basically, I figured with a culture in decline, often the birth
rate goes down; it's also a fairly small world, all things
considered...and a LOT of them live on other colonies, they've
been spreading out a lot longer than we have...and of course they
have always been sensible about birth control and population
growth, one of their few wisdoms, and one we could learn from.
* _Was Kosh's comment about Sheridan opening an unexpected door in
[36]"The Hour of the Wolf" related to the change in Vorlon
strategy?_
They couldn't break the rules of engagement, but he did...and
started things moving.
* _Wasn't the planet-killer a break in the rules?_
That *followed* his trip to Z'ha'dum...so yes, the rules began to
slip after that.
[42][Next]
[43]Last update: October 18, 1997
References
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