B5 S3 Ep11: Ceremonies Of Light And Dark

Garibaldi against a most terrifying and vicious enemy- the sardonic wit of Babylon 5's original internal computer voice system complete with terrible accent. It must be destroyed! Wouldn't we all like to do that to a computer?

"Back in black/ I hit the sack/ I've been too long I'm glad to be back!" - AC/DC

It's good to be back to Babylon 5 and it's good to see our heroes dressed in black by the latest episode's end. It is slick look indeed.

Straczynski is always great about continuity. If someone is in a coma- they’re in a coma. If someone is in a cocoon- they're in a cocoon. Okay, maybe that's different. So Garibaldi begins Babylon 5, Season Three, Episode 11, Ceremonies Of Light And Dark [or Back In Black] in a cast as a result of an arm injury during fighting on Babylon 5 at the end of Severed Dreams. So, like I said, we have a cast. On a side note, how Ivanova walked away from her Starfury excursion is nothing but a minor miracle, but that’s how things works out sometimes thank God and that's a fairly accurate reality as well.

Sheridan is an absolutely resolute and firm Captain. I love him. He is principled in a galaxy that has lost its way. He applies right and wrong with conviction and passion. He gets pissed! I love when he gets pissed. He does it and never completely loses his shit when he does. That’s a great quality! Oh and the ladies love him too so he can never do wrong.

Unbeknownst to Sheridan a sniper has him in a gun sight. That makes sense because if Sheridan did know he was in the sight he would get out of the gun sight. Does my logic never cease to astound? A man with a scar prevents the assassin from taking the shot. The last thing he wants is for Sheridan to become a martyr.

Classic Sheridan in command: “Our case remains a just one,” he announces at a somber ceremony honoring the fallen soldiers as caskets float into the calm, dead of space. It is a stirring image and quite powerfully executed. “From the stars we came, to the stars we return, from now until the end of time."

Londo is absolutely smokin' Refa [wink, wink, nudge, nudge] and giving him the business here!
Lord Refa returns to Babylon 5 [played with a touch of sinister panache by William Forward]. It was a great moment when Londo told him it was time for Refa to come to him on Babylon 5. WOW! Talk about throwing your weight around. Londo analyzes the current Centauri military strategy with Refa. Who knew Londo was a master of military intelligence. He questions Refa’s multi-front engagement referring to it as lunacy. Interesting Londo, you didn’t feel that way when you were applying the crushing might of your mystery associates no longer at your disposal. Suddenly Londo is feeling conservative and cautious concerning the overextension of Centauri forces. How convenient. “Only an idiot fights a war on two fronts. Only the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Idiots would fight the war on twelve fronts.” Ouch! Take that Refa! I think he means you Jimmy boy! Refa shrugs, “we can handle it.” Sure, take the “we” [Morden’s associates] out of the equation and maybe you’ll be singing a different tune. Londo questions Refa’s alliance with Morden. Yeah, Londo might be a little familiar with that scenario personally. “Mr. Morden and his associates worry me.” Yeah, that happens Londo when you don’t know a friggin’ thing about them. Londo unfortunately shot first and and is now asking questions later. He fears the Centauri are spreading themselves to thin and leaving Centauri Prime vulnerable to attack should Morden turn on them. WOW! That may be the smartest observation you’ve made in two seasons. The seduction of power has now overcome Refa. Refa is now behaving much as Londo behaved. Overconfident, thirsty for power, hungry for the role of emperor at any cost. Refa is driven by delusions of grandeur as only a true Centauri can be. There is a slight surprise added to the mix when Londo informs Refa he has poisoned him. The cocktail works as part one of a two parter. We learn poison is “always the instrument of choice in the Old Republic.” Londo’s purpose- get to Refa before Refa gets to him. Centauri society, from what I’ve seen, may be a lot like the Roman empire. It is cutthroat and there is no love loss between Centauri. They are more than willing to kill one another or happy to stab one another in the back to get ahead. Nasty bunch of blood suckers [it's fitting they have those vampire-like teeth]! Londo requires Refa’s cooperation and the poison ensures he will do just that. If not, Londo will have one of his boys on Centauri Prime slip part two of the poison cocktail into his drink. It will mix with the previously administered concoction currently in his system and wah-lah, so long Refa! Londo requires Refa disengage with Morden and pull back the Centauri forces. Should Refa fail to comply certain death might be applied. “To your health Lord Refa.” Yes, thank you, so kind of you Londo. Those Centauri, such a sincere lot.

Meanwhile, Garibaldi has entered a series of new passwords into the station computer system. I love how freely they give their passwords to one another. What’s the point of a password if someone else knows it? I love when people I work with need something and they're like, "give me your password," like it's a stick of gum. I know our heroes trust each other implicitly, but it is compromising security a bit. Hey, it's a good thing the Security Chief doesn't know about it. Sheridan: Obsidian. Ivanova: Griffin. Garibaldi: Peek-A-Boo. I wonder what the significance is for each? Anyway, following a system reboot, an obnoxious male voice has replaced the pretty female computer. Artificial intelligence with a ‘wise-guy’ attitude; it doesn’t get much worse. Fortunately Garibaldi is quite annoyed and fortunately for us shoots it with his PPG at the end of the show [one of this installment's highlights].

I love Babylon 5 computer screens and consoles. They are colorful backdrops, fun to look at and appear user-friendly. It's a nice touch throughout the series even if it i colored plastic with a light bulb behind it.
A secret, semi-disturbed arm of the Nightwatch Unit groups and meets on Babylon 5. Their primary target is not Sheridan after all, but rather Delenn. They believe if Delenn is removed from the equation support for Babylon 5 from the Minbari will evaporate. They also plan to tie the murder to Sheridan. The old two-fer trick!

Delenn announces a customary Minbari rebirth ceremony will be held and encourages all to join she and Lennier for the ocassion. It’s a bit of a variation on the Catholic confessional [sort of]. Marcus isn’t all that keen about it and is fairly evasive about taking part. Londo inquires about the ceremony. He scoffs as it doesn’t exactly fit into the concept/mold of Centauri pride. Lennier informs us, “You must tell someone a secret” and “give away something that is of great value to you.” Yeah, giving up things of value generally runs contradictory to the decadent philosophy of the rich Centauri culture replete with material splendor. Unimpressed Londo passes. I would think Lady Morella might count this decision as one of the three remaining opportunities of five first referenced in Point Of No Return. G’Kar, too, is busy, busy, busy with security and believes he lacks a need for rebirth. Marcus enlightens us with a bit of his backstory. He has nothing to offer for the ceremony in his opinion. We learn the Shadows killed his family and his colony. I’d say that leaves him with a bit of a revenge streak and a personal stake in the war. Delenn urges Marcus to let go of his pain and grief. The memories are imprisoning him. She tells him he has not yet forgiven himself for living. Can we cut Marcus’ hair? I'm sure the ladies wouldn't care to see their swashbuckling hero without those lengthy locks.

Later, Delenn meets with a Minbari delegation, but the Nightwatch assassin unit ambushes them. They are held hostage. Boggs leads the unit and demands Babylon 5 fall back under Earth control and rid itself of all alien influence. Marcus is desperately searching for their location.

A deep space, alien love story. I love foreign films.
I love foreign films and subtitles. How about you?

Unfortunately the psycho overseeing the two Minbari captives understands Minbari and their foreign exchange in Minbari cannot protect them.
Marcus attempts to get information in the Down-Below and he may have to crack heads to get it. Yup, enter this bar room filled with cracked heads.

This was a nice sequence. Marcus tells Delenn's comrade, "that's a dangerous promise Lennier" and he makes a significant point about something that seems to be be taken lightly on its surface.



Talk about sharing secrets. Whew! I’m not surprised he shared that secret with Marcus merely for the fact it is easier to share such information sometimes with those not closest to us. I thought Lennier’s expression of his love for Delenn was right on target. I never once felt it was a romantic connection. He was never jealous of Sheridan. His feelings were protective. His relationship was very much like that of a brother and sister and it never felt remotely sexual. But of course there are those brothers and sisters that… well, you know.

Marcus determines Delenn is being held in Level 14.
*

I've said it before and I'll say it again, with those Minbari Cruisers circling Babylon 5 it's like the ocean deep of space.
By the way, the PPG fights are okay. They are always just okay, but they never wow me into excitement. The sound effects for the guns themselves are weak and fairly underwhelming at best. They are certainly efficient and logical to the needs of the station, just not all that thrilling.

So, one of the crumb bums throws a knife into Delenn’s back as she saves Sheridan! Could this be the end of Delenn? Come on! Get serious! She’s only one of the linchpins to the entire series. Get real! She’ll be fine, just a mere flesh wound.

We are Grey but NOT for long.
Lennier declares the rebirth ceremony cancelled as the window of opportunity has passed according to Minbari custom. With Delenn in medlab, Sheridan brings the ceremony to her. This is a pretty moving segment. I must admit despite genuine feelings that continue to develop between them both I cannot get Anna Sheridan out of my mind since his run in with Morden in In The Shadow Of Z’Ha’Dum. If she is alive this will present a problem. In fact it may well be a real bone of contention. Get it, bone. Seriously, I can’t get Sheridan’s feelings for his wife out of my mind given how strongly he felt as expressed way back in Revelations. They were seriously in love. Those feelings just don’t disappear. They may ease with time but they continue to exist. As sweet as it is I am definitely not a strong advocate for the union of Sheridan and Delenn. In fact, it's all a little bit off for me.

*

I thought this sequence really was quite a strongpoint for the episode. I especially like when Ivanova tells Delenn "I think I loved Talia." Yeah, we thought so as well. I thought it was notable how they left their uniforms with Delenn [giving up something of great value to them] and shared their secrets with her. It was certainly cathartic, powerful and a rebirth of sorts indeed.

I thought I was watching Firefly with all the Brown shirts [I know they're supposed to be coats, but close enough]. These guys must shop at the same station store. In fact, you wonder if there are a lot of options for clothes on board Babylon 5. Plaid is definitely 'IN' here or black.

Back in Black and Dressed To Kill!
Love the fancy black uniforms! They are sharp or at least sharper than the previous dull grey. I can see why Jeff Conaway wasn't all that jazzed about grey when he came on board the show and voiced his opinion to Straczynski. Perhaps it’s just seeing something new, I don’t know, but I love the symbolic break with the Earth government by switching to the new sharp dressed attire. Smart. I think I enjoyed the last 5 minutes of this episode most. This was a slight side step from the normally strong entries for me.

Ceremonies Of Light And Dark: C