Babylon 5 The Complete Third Season: Point Of No Return

So there you have it, Babylon 5: The Complete Third Season: Point Of No Return.

You can't say I don't completely immerse myself in a program. That's how it feels watching Babylon 5 at least. I just can't help myself. I keep getting pulled backwards to soak in those details that continue to inform more recent entries in the Babylon 5 cannon. I know, I should probably proceed forward full speed ahead and then watch it all over again later. Admittedly it would even be more entertaining for me to watch it straight through, but I know I would miss many of the details. I still miss some of the details watching it as I do now with the stop and starts. I'll do my best to stay on task. Sadly, I do frustrate my son who sometimes joins me for an episode. He sees those nasty Shadows and he gets very interested. I feel so bad when he tries watching with me as he usually gets quite annoyed. "DAD! Again with the pause button. It is so frustrating to watch this show with you."

Let's face it. The world of Babylon 5 is a completely engrossing thrill ride. It's sci-fi like nothing I've ever seen and that's really how it should be. Having said that, I think part of what has slowed me is the fact the story has gotten so dense and episodes are so packed with layer upon layer of information building upon what has come before it. This has had me viewing with a magnifying glass or at least attempting to do so. In fact, things got so dense in the end I had actually forgotten what a quote unquote 'standalone' story was like.

Season Three's overarching theme is best illustrated by its subtitle, Point Of No Return. Everything is building and sending us hurtling into the next Great War with The Shadows. Season One definitively gave us the Signs & Portents of things to come. Season Two was the harbinger of The Shadows in the form of The Coming Of Shadows. Personally, Season Two definitely stands as my favorite season thus far. Season Three is a very, very close second for me and arguably better and more consistent than Season Two, but damn Season Two had some humdingers too. Gosh, it's a real toss up as to which one I enjoyed more.

Season Three has some nice extras including those All-New Digital Widescreen Transfers [this show would need significant love to make it to Blu-Ray based on what we see here]. Couldn't you tell it was a digital transfer? I didn't think so. The Soundtrack is Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There is not only an Introduction by J. Michael Straczynski but Audio Commentaries on three key episodes by Straczynski, Bruce Boxleitner, Jerry Doyle, Richard Biggs and Ed Wasser. Documentaries include: Behind The Mask: Creating The Aliens Of Babylon 5, Building A Better Narn and Designing Tomorrow: The Look Of Babylon 5.

Anyway, I know it seems as though I'm taking my sweet ass time getting through this amazing series, but I am enjoying it. I would simply have to agree that I'm not exactly moving at the briskest of paces.

Season Four here we come, full steam ahead [ahem ...or not].

B5 S3 Ep22: Z'Ha'Dum

Sheridan is put through the ringer against The Shadows. Where the hell is a good old-fashioned can of RAID to whoop some BUG ass when you need it? Oh and Sheridan is taken a liking back to season-ending sky jumping again [without a parachute as usual].

No, I'm not sleeping through this one I swear. And now, the BIG ONE! Z DAY! The BIG Z! Not for ZZZZZZZzzzz as in snooze time, but rather Babylon 5, Season Three, Episode 22, Season finale, Z'Ha'Dum. It's fitting the planet for which our season finale is named begins with the last letter of the alphabet. I mean this is one hell of an ending. Can you imagine if the series stopped right here? There would have been much discussion and speculation for years to come concerning the outcome for our heroes. So, how will it stack up against the rest of Season Three and against the previous two season finales? Let's read, watch, and find out.

Black and white images are presented to remind us of past events and the buildup that has finally brought us to Sheridan's fateful moment. It was really interesting to discover the episode was directed by none other than Adam Nimoy, son of Leonard [a.k.a. Spock] Nimoy. After all, I’m a huge fan of Nimoy as you know based upon my recent review of the entertaining book I Am Spock. It must have been a significant moment for Adam in his own career. Speaking of the Nimoys, Adam has written his own revealingly titled autobiography called My Incredibly Wonderful Miserable Life. I will have to read that some time and get back to you. By the way, it's worth noting, because I missed it the first time around, Adam Nimoy directed two of the very best on Babylon 5 in Z'Ha'Dum and fan favorite Season Three, Episode 4, Passing Through Gethsemane. That episode remains one of the best.

Onto the episode at hand. Enter the lovely auburn haired Anna Sheridan. As I mentioned, I’m a huge Melissa Gilbert fan based solely on her role as Laura Ingalls in Little House On The Prairie. She was a cutie. Her character and that show definitely captured all that was good and simple at a particular point growing up insulated within that single show. Here are some great shots of her from way back in the day.

Is she not one of the cutest kids ya ever did see?


“I thought you were dead,” a shocked and reeling John Sheridan gasps. “You mean she didn’t tell you,” inquires Anna, suggesting Delenn knew more than she let on. It always seems Delenn is a kind of gatekeeper to information and releases it when she deems it important to do so or safe to do so. She navigates the prophecy with spiritual strength while often walking on delicate ground even leaving her supporters curious about her intent.

Sheridan really recoils not knowing if it’s really Anna. So she wants to go to the dreaded homeworld of The Shadows, Z’Ha’Dum. She clearly has much she wants to share with him. She would very much like to enlighten him to the truth of the current intergalactic climate. Now right away you know things aren't well in Anna land. Any normal person separated from their lover for that length of time might have a more amorous reaction upon their first greeting and Sheridan can feel something just ain't write upstairs.

So John is skeptical about his long lost wife. Of course she is still his wife despite the fact he’s sleeping around on her. Joking. Sheridan asks Delenn, “is it her?” and she’s like ‘I don’t know.’ I love when she gets that confused-I-can’t-look-at-you look. It's a kind of I-can't-look-at-you-because-I'm-ashamed-and-may-not-tell-you-the-complete-truth kind of reaction. Delenn certainly confirms she would have been killed if she did not serve those Shadows, but cannot understand how it has come to this. “Anna would never work for those things,” Sheridan confidently asserts. But is she? Well, something really isn’t right in Anna's wiring. Further, Delenn continues to make a case for her furtive style when Sheridan asks, “had you known would you have told me?” Delenn is uncertain and indicates it would have depended on what she had become. “It would depend on what she had become. Z’Ha’Dum is the homeworld of The Shadows. No one leaves there the same as they arrived.” Sheridan feels, to put it mildly, betrayed. He is definitely shaken by the arrival of Anna, but who wouldn’t be? Delenn gets a pass often. She generally knows a lot of information, more than she lets on at times [this speaks to the point we had been writing about regarding Delenn's manipulations in commentary for the last episode's blog entry]. She likes to keep things ‘close to the vest’ as the saying goes.

Elsewhere, over a cocktail [of course], Londo informs Vir he has been promoted to a position within the Royal Court on Centauri Prime as an advisor to the Emperor on matters of planetary security. He is displeased to say the least because he is more than aware that it is merely a “leash” ato control his actions. The Centauri fear his power and association with Morden. It is merely intended to be a diversion or distraction or as we like to call it here on Earth, ‘busy work.’ A messenger tells Londo to get the hell off the station if he values his life. Londo doesn’t like the sound of that one bit. Gee, ya think? Vir's probably thinking, 'where are your bags? Let's start packing.' Kidding, not this Vir.

Sheridan is awaiting confirmation from Franklin [who is clearly doing "it again" and once again stable following his walk-a-thon] on whether or not Anna is the REAL thing or even better than the real thing or none of the above.
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Sheridan just can’t understand how she’s been on Z’Ha’Dum all these years. “It’s my home now,” she tells him. Sheridan asks about the Icarus and the rest of her crew. He wants answers. Pieces of the puzzle begin to unravel as she explains how the Shadows' vessel was uncovered on Mars [remember Season Three, Episode 8, Messages From Earth] and how the Earth government planted a homing device on the craft for tracking purposes. I imagine someone may have died having to plant that thing on the skin of the craft or on board. The signal began projecting from Z’Ha’Dum. It was then that the scientific expedition dispatched to their destination via The Icarus. Anna says there was an accident and the aliens were awakened from hiding. They apparently asked [though I somehow doubt that] for silence in exchange for studying Shadows technology and advancements. Being the science geeks they no doubt happily obliged voluntarily. Wouldn't you if you saw a giant spidery critter? Of course.

Meanwhile Franklin is looking at a variety of brain scans and it is notable there is an incision at the base of her head and top of her neck. Franklin is also comparing the Anna Sheridan scan to that of Carolyn Sanderson, Bester’s girl, whom we met in Season Three, Episode 14, Ship Of Tears, as one of the many telepathic guinea pigs implemented via program by Psi Corps. Anna’s work seems less invasive, but apparently she too has been experimented upon and implanted. Sheridan is given word of the information and his behavior is all the more notable for it as he is far more resolute and decisive in his planning from this point forward.



Prior to leaving Sheridan records a time-delayed message for Delenn. It will play over his personal sacrifice at the end of the finale. He tells her he’s thought hard about this and he has designs on changing the future by heading to Z’Ha’Dum. I suspect this is going to significantly impact the prophecy. It must. Of course the prophecy could be that he was warned time and again and still ventured to his awaiting fate despite all the warnings. Argh! Anyway, just as Delenn expressed her love to Sheridan earlier, “John, I do love you,” he in turn tells Delenn in his transmission “I love you Delenn, goodbye.” That’s pretty much a lump in your throat moment especially when she touches the video screen wishing she could reach him. So do they still share a child? Perhaps it’s all changed now.

Sheridan starts organizing and packing heat, actually two heaters to be exact. While prepping before a mirror we are visited by our old cryptic friend Kosh [and not that nasty NEW Kosh fellow]. This is the real deal. The vision once again warns him if he goes to Z’Ha’Dum he is certain to die. So with that kind of confidence at his back Sheridan heads to Z’Ha’Dum anyway with Anna via the White Star. This moment really feels genuine as if Sheridan and Garibaldi are saying farewell and may never see each other again.



It was definitely interesting how Anna sort of recoiled at her surroundings on the White Star. The ship is steeped in Vorlon technology and with her long-term exposure to The Shadows she is clearly sensitive to it. She tells John The Shadows fear Vorlon technology and it affects her now too. It could kill them. Anna isn’t right or isn’t with the right side to be sure or as Franklin puts it to Ivanova, “there’s a problem with Anna.”

Upon arrival on Z’Ha’Dum we discover their civilization is completely underground for security reasons. She must take Sheridan’s weapon [the one maintained in plain sight]. I can imagine Sheridan thinking to himself, 'Don’t worry sister I have another heater because I wasn’t bloody born yesterday'. They enter a room. They are greeted by the slimy Morden and a kindly, grandfatherly-looking fellow named Justin. It’s like walking into a den of thieves or spider's web. Justin, played with a benign face of excellence by Jeff Corey, is pure delicious evil. Footnote: Corey appeared in Season Three of Star Trek: The Original Series, Episode 21, The Cloud Miners. I knew he looked familiar. He was also blacklisted int he 1950s by the House Committee On UnAmerican Activities and sadly has since passed in 2002. His performance here is solid and quirky. Moving on, he explains to Sheridan how the galaxy is a kind of intergalactic family tree. Yeah, I’m sure the Shadows never played with this guy’s head. Nothing wrong with him. Let's see, they blame the Vorlons for messing with humans at a genetic level while The Shadows play all innocent that they would never manipulate humans for their own ends. This is a nice reminder of his fine turn in the episode.

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Justin explains how the Vorlons are like parents or “Lords Of Order” as he puts it. The Shadows believe in conflict to grow stronger and weed out the weak. He tells Sheridan that the Vorlons want you “to play nice.” Funny thing for a guy in favor of conflict, he sure represents a group that desires rule with an iron fist and order dictated from the top down. The Shadows have a dream of course that is specifically beneficial to, ummm well, The Shadows. Justin really lays out the players here and paints a hierarchical picture starting with The Vorlons and The Shadows as the shepherds of the universe. From these two tribes there are races below them, some will be taught, some destroyed. It’s like evolution theory in motion and the application of Natural Selection as theorized and published by Charles Darwin in On The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection [1859] implemented Babylon 5 style with The Shadows and The Vorlons being the final arbiters.

Elsewhere, The Shadows’ vessels have surrounded Babylon 5, awaiting word from their Z'Ha'Dum homeworld, on when to destroy it based upon the outcome of the meeting with Sheridan. Ivanova maneuvers into evasive action launching all Starfuries while attempting to contact Draal and Epsilon 3, but with little success.

Z’Ha’Dum is an enlightening, information-packed episode to be sure filled with truth, half-truth and even lies, but no matter how you slice it, it is fascinating science fiction. We learn the Vorlons created telepaths. The Shadows intervened to stop the Vorlons by creating Psi Corps through the Earth government to work on their behalf [this informs back to Season Three opener, Matters Of Honor, and Morden’s meeting with the Earth government and Psi Corps regarding the “project”]. With the Vorlons creating telepaths and altering people at a “genetic level,” as Morden puts it, not to mention tasking Jack The Ripper with a new assignment as Sebastian in Season Two, Episode 21, Comes The Inquisitor [a test of our heroes’ worthiness], or whether it's using Lyta Alexander as a Vorlon charger, do you get the feeling humans are nothing more than pawns in this game? Between the Vorlons, the Shadows and the Minbari, it’s like a giant chess match in manipulation. Still, I know who the good guys are. I'm pretty sure. I think.

Anna urges John to join them. Conflict promotes growth and evolution and apparently he is all that is standing in their way. It is such a classic, but original take on darkness versus light. They invite Sheridan to stop interfering with attempts to organize the races. It’s futile they say. But then Sheridan drops his own Anna bombshell on the group inciting, “she would never go along with this.” They have changed her. Anna has an implant in her brain stem just like those telepaths on the captured vessel from Ship Of Tears. Justin implores that while this may be true The Shadows made every effort to save Anna as soon as they discovered who she was. Obviously status counts here. She would have been dogmeat if it weren't for the fact she was Anna Sheridan. She's useful to The Shadows therefore she was damaged but salvaged. Needless to say, it’s clear Anna didn’t go along with the program. She was placed in a Shadows vessel. Unfortunately, Justin announces unfortunately you’re never quite the same once you’ve been inside of them.

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It’s clear they do not want to create a martyr by killing Sheridan, which is why an invitation has been extended for him to join the dark side. Enter: The Shadows. One of the creatures enters the room and Sheridan engages it in a shootout. It was interesting how battered and bloodied he was after escaping following the engagement. It must have been a nasty little struggle in that room.

Very early on G’Kar informs Ivanova that nuclear devices have arrived on Babylon 5. That's kind of scary. I hope they're secured. Eventually, some of those same devices go missing and have been loaded onto the White Star. Who could possibly have access? How about security. How about Garibaldi. Sheridan requests his help and its handled. Sheridan plans to autopilot the White Star straight into the heart of Z’Ha’Dum where he is located and blow the place to smithereens. Well, he’s been told it’s a suicide mission and damn it he is going to take the whole place down with him. The Shadows homeworld capital will go nuclear moments after summoning his craft. It’s a tense, rousing dramatic sequence and one that sees the White Star plummet toward the planet like the fiery GodPhoenix out of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman [a.k.a. USA version Battle Of The Planets]. Sheridan turns to see Anna reaching out to him. He hears the voice of Kosh urging him to jump into the void below. “Jump, jump now.” He figures 'what the hell else do have to lose?' It’s so Luke Skywalker in that moment, but it’s really, really dark and powerful and more disturbing. What a cliffhanger as he jumps to meet his fate and his wife Anna screams at the site of the incoming whitehot White Star. The scream indicates she exhibits signs of humanity despite her cool change, but it's hasta la vista baby anyway. How about Kosh’s intervention? All along he’s warned Sheridan he would die and that he would not be there, yet he has “always been here,” as he frequently likes to fall back on. Yes, Kosh is a puzzle indeed. Also it's interesting that Sheridan just loves to jump from very high elevations without any kind of safety net. He's quite mad. What a hero! He ended the second season finale, The Fall Of Night, jumping from that tram car when Kosh was there to rescue him. This time Kosh wants him to jump and of course he does [because he's a bit of a jumper], only this time we don't know if he makes it. Could it be Kosh saves him again?

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Ivanova, like Princess Leia who sensed Luke Skywalker's troubles in Star Wars, senses Sheridan is gone. There’s even tears. She looks quite alone. Corwin reports the White Star is gone. To make matters worse we have not only one person unaccounted for going into Season Four with Sheridan M.I.A., we also have one Starfury unaccounted for piloted by none other than Michael Garibaldi. One of the final shots highlights a Starfury buried deep within one of the Shadows vessels. Was it by choice? Was it Garibaldi’s decision? Will he be changed forever after entering the vessel? Will his Starfury protect him? We know Garibaldi is an unfailingly loyal man and soldier and my guess is he’s on a mission to find Sheridan. I'll tell you, there isn't a damn bit of comfort anywhere to be found in this episode. It is troubling from start to finish. This is one dark entry and nothing is ever quite as it seems. We are constantly kept on edge. I just don’t know and that is the beauty of J. Michael Straczynski’s work.

The final moments of this outstanding episode serves up a poetic, powerful narration by G’Kar that takes us gently into the dark night of Season Four. I initially was going to write the words down, but I think I will do both. His voice offers us a fine example of what note perfect narration can be.

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WOW! This was a humdinger to be sure. There have been episodes in both Season Two and Season Three that have really ranked high in my opinion and this is one of them indeed. I loved it. To quote pop group Erasure, "just one psychological drama after another."

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Delenn gets the bad news from Sheridan. That's right! That bastard went to Z'Ha'Dum!
I must admit it was a little sad that Sheridan didn’t think there was any other way to save himself or Anna. He just didn’t even look as though he had hope he might save her at any point. Clearly judging by the pre-recorded message he left Delenn he was resigned to the fact Anna was a lost cause or too far damaged. It just seemed a little premature for someone who supposedly still loved her. I know she changed but damn it try for the love of God or at least for the love of Anna. Would she not be worth salvaging? I know he had committed himself to a much greater cause beyond any selfish desires, but I would have thought Anna still meant something deeper.

I have so many questions despite all of the information Straczynski continues to provide.

Does Sheridan now alter the future for Londo & G’Kar based upon his refusal to heed those fateful words concerning his imminent demise if he journeyed to Z’Ha’Dum? Does he alter the future for Babylon 5 and the existence of The Shadows? Or does Londo still need to make one of those decisions Lady Morella prophesied to alter his own future?

I really was quite bummed to find Anna was a very brief player on the Babylon 5 stage. Like I said, I love Melissa Gilbert and definitely wanted to see more of her. I initially thought she might have been a clone, but as the episode progressed it was clearly something quite different. I like how they handled that angle of the story. I like that she had changed and been altered by her entry into the Shadows’ vessel and by the involuntary nature of the implant. It must have been disturbing and painful for Sheridan, but he definitely maintained an emotional distance while handling the events that surrounded him.

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So long Melissa, we hardly knew ya. She may not have been herself, but judging from the bloodcurdling scream she still understood fear!
I felt as though Sheridan’s amazing self-sacrifice plunging the White Star into the heart of Z’Ha’Dum dealt a major strategic blow to the Shadows’ resurgence. If it wasn’t a critical blow, it had to be at least a significant symbolic hit to that race, especially given how quickly the Shadows vessels that surrounded Babylon 5 immediately removed their presence to reconvene at the now devastated Z’Ha’Dum homeworld. The question remains, what kind of an impact did Sheridan’s decision have? Will the Shadows simply scatter? Do they have strongholds elsewhere that minimize this strike’s effect? The Shadows do seem a bit like a hydra and I suspect it's merely a bump in the road.

I absolutely loved the exchange between Sheridan, Justin, Anna and Morden. It was like a conversation in philosophy between advocates for order and justice versus those agents who support chaos theory. It was a positively brilliant part of the episode.

I know I’m droning on and on about this episode but it has got me thinking. There is smoke billowing from my ears. So if Psi Corps was indeed a Shadows creation setup inside Earth’s government to combat their Vorlon counterpart [the race who apparently created telepaths], does this mean Bester is truly a defector of the Psi Corps/ Shadows project? He obviously seemed quite troubled in Ship Of Tears especially at the sight of Carolyn. Still, he was seeking a telepath of "acceptable strength" if I recall? Does he plan on fighting the Shadows himself as part of a deeper inner circle within Psi Corps? How much does he actually know about the Shadows? There are many questions still to be answered concerning this layer of the series, but these questions were stirred by the events of this episode for me. If telepathy was such a revelation as a weapon against the Shadows why didn’t Kosh save Sheridan all the effort and inform him of that potential in his fight against the Shadows. I mean Jesus, but based upon Season Three, Episode 15, Interludes And Examinations, one could conclude The Vorlons enjoy neutrality or merely playing gods. Which is it or is it both? And was the late Kosh an exception to the rule of sorts? Let’s face it Sheridan truly forced his hand in the aforementioned episode to get involved, but Kosh was clearly walking a fine line despite his desire to help. I believe Kosh did his best to bend rules without angering his superiors perhaps. Obviously he paid the ultimate price. Further, when G’Kar speaks of the Narn telepaths being wiped out by the Shadows was it because they didn’t understand how to harness their powers for their own use? They clearly didn’t know or they feared them and worked to exterminate their future involvement. Was it only later they realized they could be of use to The Shadows’ gameplan? Could G’Kar be the latent telepath of ‘acceptable strength’ referred to by Bester? or is it Ivanova? Hey folks I'm out of aspirin.

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Classic lines:

Anna [referring to The Shadows]: “They were quite approachable.”

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Sheridan [referring to the Icarus]: “Tell that to the rest of the crew.”

Z’Ha’Dum: A [for Awesome] This is easily one of the best in the series to date.

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Hang in there Garibaldi, we're coming for ya brother! Oh happy days are here again.

B5 S3 Ep21: Shadow Dancing

Things are getting quite cozy as we heat up to the season finale.

What a terrific angle on B5 with my favorite saucer in the foreground. This was a refreshing new opening shot. Did anyone ever see the silly, wacky fun of the Jim Nabors/ Ruth Buzzy vehicle The Lost Saucer or Far Out Space Nuts with Bob Denver [of Gilligan's Island fame]? These were both released in 1975 from The World Of Sid & Marty Krofft. They had a zany world of imagination indeed with Land Of The Lost [1974], Sigmund And The Sea Monsters [1973] ["and Johnny & Scott are friends"], and H.R. Pufnstuf [1969]. That was some good, old-fashioned, family fun-oriented kids science-fiction! Good times. They just don't make stuff like that anymore. In fact, the quality of output began to slide for Sid and Marty with their newer stuff Bigfoot And Wildboy [1977]. Yup. The end was near. Alright enough of that.

It’s pretty clear to me that J. Michael Straczynski is a closet fan of the Gibb brothers. Who isn’t? Let’s face it, for what possible reason would you title your episode after Andy Gibb’s 1978 hit single of the same name, Shadow Dancing? Okay maybe because the enemy is known as The Shadows and perhaps intergalactic space battle and dogfights is a bit like dancing or a ballet of fire as they say. All of that is simply coincidental I'm sure. No, I don't seriously think he likes the Bee Gees, but he might.

Delenn and Lennier call a council meeting with the alien worlds to assure their trust and support. The Shadows are preparing for an offensive strike and they need to be ready. Sector 83 is building with refugees and ripening in size for the enemy's assault. They receive the allied support with reservations.

Sheridan calls upon Ivanova and Marcus to take out the White Star as a scout ship to alert the Babylon 5 forces when The Shadows’ arrive. They are to maintain radio silence. Sheridan’s words are not exactly inspiring, but he is a realist. He tells them they have a 50/50 chance of making it. The alliance fleet will be on standby.

So here we are in the throes of the Shadow War 2260 with Babylon 5, Season Three, Episode 21, Shadow Dancing [or Andy Gibb Would Be Proud And Possibly Scared]. I must tell you. Being a big fan of the up close and personal dialogue between characters I’m also a big fan of the up close and personal hand-to-hand styled combat situations in my action sequences. I’d love to see The Shadows and Rangers go hand-to-hand in the future, but whether that’s to happen or not remains to be seen. We shall see.

Melissa Gilbert is in the credits as Anna. Cool! I love her. I especially loved her in Little House On The Prairie. Watching her on that show was like sitting with a big bowl of popcorn and another whopping bowl of ice cream. That series was complete comfort food as a kid. I know this is [another] key moment in the series, plus we all know Gilbert and Sheridan are married in real life which adds a nice touch to her appearance. Straczynski goes back to reference the video transmission scenes picturing Sheridan’s wife exhibited way back in Season Two, Episode 2, Revelations [I believe], but this time inserting Gilbert in place of the unknown actress. Anyway, it’s going to be interesting here.

Sheridan offers the White Star crew an Egyptian Blessing: “May God stand between you and harm and all the empty places where you must walk.” That's a great blessing.

I really liked this scene between Garibaldi and Zack and my patience over Franklin’s walkabout falls very much into Zack’s own train of thought here.



Man, Franklin is seriously screwed up to be going on and on like this. I mean, he’s sitting in the Down Below like a freak under a sheet in a near fetal position for cryin’ out loud. He looks like he lost his best friend for Pete’s sake. Pull it together already!

Marcus offers to teach Ivanova Minbari and even tells her she’s "beautiful" using the language, but, of course, she doesn’t really know what he has said to her. Damn it Jim! She's a telepath not a translator!

Delenn intimates a little rendezvous later now that she and Sheridan are growing closer. A man and woman spend three nights together where the female observes the male. It’s a little more complicated, maybe a bit strange even, but essentially they sleep together. I think. Not the best pickup line if ever there was one. Normally if someone tries seducing you with that kind of plan you can expect an icepick and hatchet to follow. Anyway, this will unite them within a single bedroom just in time for Anna’s arrival. You will recall the vision from Season Three, Episode 17, War Without End Part Two. I must admit, and I’ve said it before, I’m just not all that moved by the Sheridan/ Delenn connection. It just doesn’t feel quite right or natural to me. I know I'm in the minority here. But trouble is on the horizon. I can feel it.

In the Down Below, Franklin intervenes in a brawl and gets a nice, cerated knife stuck into his gut. He’s bleeding badly and the guy he aids gets up and just leaves him there to die. It was a shocking moment. Still, it would seem to me his actions seemed very much in character for the man and I kept wondering why he was out there walking still. Perhaps the moment helped remind him of who he really is inside. You can't deny your nature. Resistance is futile. How’s your walkabout going now? He is literally bleeding to death. As he looks at his bloody hands he says “this is not good.” You’ve got that right Jack.

With Babylon 5 preparing for war Franklin sure picked a fine time to go for a stroll to find his innerself. Is this anytime for a personal discovery? Now he’ll need time to heal and recover if he’s saved at all and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of incoming wounded to compound the problems.

The White Star picks up a Shadows’ scout vessel. In turn the enemy craft picks up the White Star’s presence and a battle ensues. The scout ship attempts to get off a signal to The Shadows’ fleet. Ivanova and company jam its signal while moving to stop it.

Meanwhile, Franklin weakens and is visited by three ghosts. Joking. He is visited by his conscience. I like this side of his character. It’s far more sensible and thinking clearly as he says to himself, “Now look where it’s got you,” referencing the walkabout. His crisis of conscience is a battle of Franklin versus Franklin. Franklin really lets Franklin have it. Franklin knows Franklin is right, but Franklin isn’t backing down from really driving home the point to Franklin that Franklin is being a right pain in the ass. Are you with me here? I’m really glad Franklin arrived to harass Franklin out of his lethargy, because I thought the whole act was bit of a crock or cop-out for Franklin. Here’s Richard Biggs with fellow actor Richard Biggs as Franklin and Franklin. They give two very BIGgs performances quite frankly.

Thankfully Franklin's conscience wills himself to stop running away. Amen that’s over.

As the White Star battles, each ship exacts some damage. Suddenly, out of nowhere, here come The Shadows. Ivanova somewhat astonished simply says the words, “That’s alotta ships.” Marcus seconds that emotion with “that’s a bloody awful lotta ships.” It is a massive armada and they ain’t kidding. Damaged the White Star is like a sitting duck. With no jump drives they are helpless.

Ivanova: “Well, who wants to live forever?”
Marcus: “I do actually” [that is classic!]

With the signal launched here comes the cavalry. A jumppoint opens and the battle rages between the Shadows’ forces and the Rangers/ allies. Delenn shows Sheridan the hologram deck of the Minbari cruiser’s command and control center. They are surrounded by the battle visually and can give orders from that station to all. The battle is fierce and visually very impressive for its day. The computer animation has come a long way from the initial stages of its use in Season One. I remember way back when thinking the effects were just slightly better than the floating cookies [meteors] you could find on the ceiling of Space Mountain at Disneyworld. It wasn’t good. There have been vast improvements along the way. Without giving a play by play you can see it for yourself. Also, those flying saucers have some pretty smokin’ cool laser green fire zaps. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it, but I love when The Shadows go into cloak mode and kind of waver on the screen like ripples of water. That is so very cool and ranks right alongside when they shrivel up and die.

Folks! I desperately tried to work in a Shadow Dancing music video by Andy Gibb to some of the action footage from this installment, but alas it was not to be. I just couldn't time it right and it just didn't work so I had to let it go as much as I wanted it to happen. So, the good news, I spared you from the torture of one of my random and shameless Babylon 5 Music Videos.

Franklin is found and rushed to medlab along with the returning wounded. The battle was apparently not a complete loss, but less than a rousing success.

Out in deep space a Shadows vessel releases a spacecraft from its fluid-black skin. High Definition would really help make out the shapes of these smaller objects on screen, but it's a minor gripe I know. At first I thought it was a modified Starfury craft, a Trojan horse of a sort, but then I realized I hadn’t seen Anna Sheridan yet up to this point and it would be her.

As Sheridan, Ivanova and Delenn deliberate what’s in store next for them from The Shadows, Ivanova asks a great question. Why haven’t they attacked Babylon 5? Sheridan flashes to a black & white image of Ivanova [with a crow on her shoulder] asking him, “Do you know who I am?” Sheridan says he keeps seeing images ever since Kosh died. He sees himself in a Psi Corps uniform. In another image Garibaldi tells him “The man in between is searching for you.” Then Ivanova, again, with face netting telling him “You are the hand.” He saw these very moments earlier in Season Two, Episode 11, All Alone In The Night [boy, that seems so long ago]. The images are very odd and I love the crow and dove touches. There must be some mystical significance to the crow and dove. I love those Ivanova lips. In classic Straczynski fashion, Sheridan says “signs, portents, dreams” referencing and weaving in the show's past and follows with “next will be reading tea leaves and chicken entrails.” Funny that, though I don't believe the remaining Season box sets use Chicken Entrails as a subtitle. They are all certain that their station is quite vulnerable.

In the end Franklin is a better man and despite the incredulity of his walkabout process in my mind it certainly worked to further his character. I think. But then again he just wants to "do it again."

So, finally, Sheridan and Delenn are in the dark in that bedroom. Son of a gun it was all coming together. The image Delenn had in War Without End Part Two was about to come to pass. Anna Sheridan was now making her way aboard Babylon 5. WOW! This is going to get really interesting. As the final minutes proceed enter Melissa Gilbert as Anna Sheridan as she walks through that door and ther snowglobe drops. Brilliant! Ivanova is alerted to her presence. The proverbial shit hits the fan and Anna Sheridan is in the house.

I had a few questions. How in the galaxy did she know Delenn’s name? Is she an agent of The Shadows now? Is it really her? That was as solid a cliffhanger if ever there was one. AWESOME!!! Simply Awesome.

Shadow Dancing: B+

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Up Next: THE BIG Z!