This is the first time we see these two leaders in the same frame, Sinclair and Sheridan together. Also, no scar remaining from the encounter with Kosh in Interludes And Examinations.OK. It’s going to be tough to top the stirring drama of Interludes And Examinations but we’ll see what happens here. Babylon 5, Season Three, Episode 16, War Without End Part One [or WAR! What Is It Good For? Maybe Saving A Little Thing Called The Future!] is suppose to be a doozie, in fact, a two-part doozie no less.
We’ll soon see. One big upside is Director Michael Vejar is on the case for both, always a good sign. For some reason, when I was writing my thoughts down about this installment I wound up drafting roughly 6 pages. I generally write about 4 pages so this one was fairly lengthy and clearly packed with loads of information, so off we go.Those semi-cheesy computer animated environments, in this case Minbar, are always tough to really love and get excited about, but they serve to open up the Babylon 5 universe to be sure.
Susan "Hot Lips" Ivanova.
As far as our guest list goes, most notable here is the fact the late Tim Choate returns as Zathras and more importantly the much beloved/ maligned character of Jeffrey Sinclair now an ambassador played with always convincing, wooden passion by Michael O’Hare.
*
As far as our guest list goes, most notable here is the fact the late Tim Choate returns as Zathras and more importantly the much beloved/ maligned character of Jeffrey Sinclair now an ambassador played with always convincing, wooden passion by Michael O’Hare.*
I love maps. I especially love REALLY BIG maps!
Lt. Corwin picks up a distress call from Sector 14, the site of Babylon 4’s disappearance. Oddly, the transmission signal being received by Corwin and conveyed to Ivanova is the voice of one desperate Susan Ivanova. Huh? That’ll freak you out especially if you’re Susan. Garibaldi says it best about Sector 14, “Time doesn’t work right in there.” That's pretty succinct enough.
So Garibaldi launches via starfury to Sector 14 to investigate what the hell is going on, while Sinclair is coming aboard Babylon 5 unannounced. I thought it was interesting here that these two old friends were physically missing each other and essentially not crossing paths at all.
Damn! My eyes were closed can you take another picture?
Back on Minbar, earlier, there was a letter presented to Sinclair with his name on it. On Babylon 5 Delenn receives a similar letter in her quarters. Lennier insists, “it must be done, or the dream will die” referring to a kind of prophecy in motion. 
Delenn has been here to see it through and she knows, as she always knows more than she lets on, what is about to transpire. Delenn arrives in the War Room and is quite urgent with Sheridan that they must report to the White Star with Marcus and Sinclair. Both have also arrived at the War Room. It’s strange but cool to see both Sheridan and Sinclair in the same episode for the first time.
Time to visit the dentist big guy.
Garibaldi reports from Sector 14 that the temporal field is twice as large. The source is a tachyon energy field transmitting from Epsilon 3 controlled by Draal. He is widening it for a reason. Down on that planet below, enter Zathras. It’s good to see him again, but not those teeth. Delenn knows they must head to Sector 14. Sheridan is reluctant, but she is acting on prophecy, so off goes the White Star.
Garibaldi continues picking up Ivanova’s voice. “They’re killing us.” Additionally he is receiving a visual. She is calling out in bloodied, battered desperation. She indicates the Captain is dead and the Shadows are coming. They are locked on, a bright light ensues from behind Ivanova and then the signal terminates. This is troubling, good stuff.
Lt. Corwin picks up a distress call from Sector 14, the site of Babylon 4’s disappearance. Oddly, the transmission signal being received by Corwin and conveyed to Ivanova is the voice of one desperate Susan Ivanova. Huh? That’ll freak you out especially if you’re Susan. Garibaldi says it best about Sector 14, “Time doesn’t work right in there.” That's pretty succinct enough.
So Garibaldi launches via starfury to Sector 14 to investigate what the hell is going on, while Sinclair is coming aboard Babylon 5 unannounced. I thought it was interesting here that these two old friends were physically missing each other and essentially not crossing paths at all.Damn! My eyes were closed can you take another picture?
Back on Minbar, earlier, there was a letter presented to Sinclair with his name on it. On Babylon 5 Delenn receives a similar letter in her quarters. Lennier insists, “it must be done, or the dream will die” referring to a kind of prophecy in motion. 
Delenn has been here to see it through and she knows, as she always knows more than she lets on, what is about to transpire. Delenn arrives in the War Room and is quite urgent with Sheridan that they must report to the White Star with Marcus and Sinclair. Both have also arrived at the War Room. It’s strange but cool to see both Sheridan and Sinclair in the same episode for the first time.Time to visit the dentist big guy.
Garibaldi reports from Sector 14 that the temporal field is twice as large. The source is a tachyon energy field transmitting from Epsilon 3 controlled by Draal. He is widening it for a reason. Down on that planet below, enter Zathras. It’s good to see him again, but not those teeth. Delenn knows they must head to Sector 14. Sheridan is reluctant, but she is acting on prophecy, so off goes the White Star.Garibaldi continues picking up Ivanova’s voice. “They’re killing us.” Additionally he is receiving a visual. She is calling out in bloodied, battered desperation. She indicates the Captain is dead and the Shadows are coming. They are locked on, a bright light ensues from behind Ivanova and then the signal terminates. This is troubling, good stuff.
Now that's what I call a powerpoint presentation!
Delenn recaps for the War Council, via a visual presentation, long past events never before seen outside of the Grey Council of archival footage from the last Great War. These events also surround that of the White Star. Delenn asks Sheridan, “do you trust me John?” “With my life,” he answers. The footage presented to the team is of an allied base that was destroyed long ago. Here’s the catch, Babylon 4 was essentially stolen and brought into the distant past to aid in the war effort against The Shadows as a replacement base of operations. Without Babylon 4 the war would have been lost. Delenn references Season One’s Babylon Squared and how, then, Commander Sinclair saved Babylon 4’s crew. 
Delenn informs her friends that The Shadows sought to destroy Babylon 4, and surprisingly the footage indicates the White Star was involved in saving Babylon 4. Yes, the White Star will travel back in time six years, through the enlarged temporal field, to save the fledgling Babylon 4. A stunned Sheridan engages Delenn, the question of “who stole Babylon 4 is the biggest mystery of the last decade. 
Now you’re telling me, it was me, is me, is going to be me?” It’s not all about you John. Just kidding. That’s a great scene. At the time no one knew where Babylon 4 came from just that it helped win the first Great War explains Delenn. Delenn indicates saving Babylon 4 will save Babylon 5, if not in eight days Ivanova’s desperate transmission will become a reality. I imagine, too, Babylon 5 will be critical to winning the next Great War as it is already serving as a base of operations. Umm, I'll take an aspirin please, make that two.
Marcus begs the question that I found myself asking, “I still don’t understand how taking Babylon 4 will prevent the destruction of Babylon 5.” Good question Marcus my man. If Babylon 4 didn’t exist, The Shadows would never have been driven from Z’Ha’Dum, but rather would have dug in, waited it out, strengthened their forces. It was instrumental in stopping them then. Today, the strength of The Shadows war machine would have been much greater and Babylon 5 would already be destroyed. Good Lord folks, my head is spinning.
Sheridan checks in with Garibaldi who has now witnessed, via the Ivanova transmissions, Babylon 5’s destruction over and over. Time stamp on the message is eight days away. If they don’t save Babylon 4, the end of Babylon 5 will be assured. 
It was interesting to see the disintegration of Babylon 5 because there is a ship exiting the station’s docking bay just moments before it blows [see picture]. Who could that be? Granted this shouldn't come to pass, but it would have been cool to know who escaped on that ship just moments before the station went BOOM! Sheridan sends Garibaldi back to Babylon 5.
Sinclair turns to Sheridan and tells him, "You're a bastard for taking my job on this show!" Just joking. Sinclair thinks they’ll work well together like “Butch and Sundance…Lucy and Ethel.” Buddy, you’re no Butch and Sundance. I’m sorry but O’Hare just isn’t funny. I mean to say; he doesn’t even deliver funny with that odd little smile of his. Sorry pal, we don’t miss you. Perhaps I'm being hard on him but my head hurts.
*
Delenn recaps for the War Council, via a visual presentation, long past events never before seen outside of the Grey Council of archival footage from the last Great War. These events also surround that of the White Star. Delenn asks Sheridan, “do you trust me John?” “With my life,” he answers. The footage presented to the team is of an allied base that was destroyed long ago. Here’s the catch, Babylon 4 was essentially stolen and brought into the distant past to aid in the war effort against The Shadows as a replacement base of operations. Without Babylon 4 the war would have been lost. Delenn references Season One’s Babylon Squared and how, then, Commander Sinclair saved Babylon 4’s crew. 
Delenn informs her friends that The Shadows sought to destroy Babylon 4, and surprisingly the footage indicates the White Star was involved in saving Babylon 4. Yes, the White Star will travel back in time six years, through the enlarged temporal field, to save the fledgling Babylon 4. A stunned Sheridan engages Delenn, the question of “who stole Babylon 4 is the biggest mystery of the last decade. 
Now you’re telling me, it was me, is me, is going to be me?” It’s not all about you John. Just kidding. That’s a great scene. At the time no one knew where Babylon 4 came from just that it helped win the first Great War explains Delenn. Delenn indicates saving Babylon 4 will save Babylon 5, if not in eight days Ivanova’s desperate transmission will become a reality. I imagine, too, Babylon 5 will be critical to winning the next Great War as it is already serving as a base of operations. Umm, I'll take an aspirin please, make that two.
Marcus begs the question that I found myself asking, “I still don’t understand how taking Babylon 4 will prevent the destruction of Babylon 5.” Good question Marcus my man. If Babylon 4 didn’t exist, The Shadows would never have been driven from Z’Ha’Dum, but rather would have dug in, waited it out, strengthened their forces. It was instrumental in stopping them then. Today, the strength of The Shadows war machine would have been much greater and Babylon 5 would already be destroyed. Good Lord folks, my head is spinning.
Sheridan checks in with Garibaldi who has now witnessed, via the Ivanova transmissions, Babylon 5’s destruction over and over. Time stamp on the message is eight days away. If they don’t save Babylon 4, the end of Babylon 5 will be assured. 
It was interesting to see the disintegration of Babylon 5 because there is a ship exiting the station’s docking bay just moments before it blows [see picture]. Who could that be? Granted this shouldn't come to pass, but it would have been cool to know who escaped on that ship just moments before the station went BOOM! Sheridan sends Garibaldi back to Babylon 5.
Sinclair turns to Sheridan and tells him, "You're a bastard for taking my job on this show!" Just joking. Sinclair thinks they’ll work well together like “Butch and Sundance…Lucy and Ethel.” Buddy, you’re no Butch and Sundance. I’m sorry but O’Hare just isn’t funny. I mean to say; he doesn’t even deliver funny with that odd little smile of his. Sorry pal, we don’t miss you. Perhaps I'm being hard on him but my head hurts.*
The return of Zathras and some very bad hygiene.
Meanwhile, cargo has arrived at the White Star from Epsilon 3 to aid in their effort. Zathras, too, is part of that cargo. Sinclair directs Zathras not to mention anything that could change the past. Either Tim Choate’s make-up was a bit off or he aged a bit in two years, like any of us, but he just looked a tad different than I remember him.
*
Meanwhile, cargo has arrived at the White Star from Epsilon 3 to aid in their effort. Zathras, too, is part of that cargo. Sinclair directs Zathras not to mention anything that could change the past. Either Tim Choate’s make-up was a bit off or he aged a bit in two years, like any of us, but he just looked a tad different than I remember him.*
Sinclair tells Sheridan he will need a favor. Sheridan ensures Garibaldi is dispatched home to Babylon 5 at the behest of Sinclair. Why? Is he saving Garibaldi’s life? Is he ensuring Garibaldi is there to play his part in this elaborate puzzle? I thought it was interesting at the outset that their paths did not cross. Surely it wasn’t manufactured, but it worked out well for Sinclair.Sheridan: “Why the secrecy? Didn’t you wanna talk to him?”
*
Sinclair: “More than you’ll ever know.” [I thought that was pretty moving]
*
Sinclair: “More than you’ll ever know.” [I thought that was pretty moving]
*
There goes Garibaldi & Sinclair, like two ships passing in the night [literally].
Still, those two names, ugh! Why couldn’t Straczynski have gone with Sinclair and Rogers? [Something, anything to get away from another ‘S’ name]. So, Sinclair watches through a window into space as the two ships pass and Garibaldi recedes into the distance. “Goodbye old friend.” Sinclair flashes forward to an image of Babylon 5 being boarded and inevitably disintegrating. These are scenes you’ll recall from Season One’s Babylon Squared. How could we forget? That was a very powerful singular episode indeed within that season. Sinclair assures himself, “No it won’t happen. I won’t let it happen.” And with that the White Star plunges into the temporal rift.
Interestingly, when Garibaldi returns to Babylon 5 Zack unwittingly alerts him with the news that Sinclair was aboard earlier but left with Sheridan. Garibaldi is stunned. “You’re kidding right? Did he leave any kinda message?” Yeah, the message is he wants to save your ass big guy. The message, Mr. Garibaldi, is- LIVE! Sinclair has left a message for Garibaldi, but the vid screen flashes “Password Required.” I love when Garibaldi starts throwing words out like "Fasten-Zip." "Hello old friend" does the trick, yet that was more like Pass words or a Passphrase.
*
Still, those two names, ugh! Why couldn’t Straczynski have gone with Sinclair and Rogers? [Something, anything to get away from another ‘S’ name]. So, Sinclair watches through a window into space as the two ships pass and Garibaldi recedes into the distance. “Goodbye old friend.” Sinclair flashes forward to an image of Babylon 5 being boarded and inevitably disintegrating. These are scenes you’ll recall from Season One’s Babylon Squared. How could we forget? That was a very powerful singular episode indeed within that season. Sinclair assures himself, “No it won’t happen. I won’t let it happen.” And with that the White Star plunges into the temporal rift.
Interestingly, when Garibaldi returns to Babylon 5 Zack unwittingly alerts him with the news that Sinclair was aboard earlier but left with Sheridan. Garibaldi is stunned. “You’re kidding right? Did he leave any kinda message?” Yeah, the message is he wants to save your ass big guy. The message, Mr. Garibaldi, is- LIVE! Sinclair has left a message for Garibaldi, but the vid screen flashes “Password Required.” I love when Garibaldi starts throwing words out like "Fasten-Zip." "Hello old friend" does the trick, yet that was more like Pass words or a Passphrase.*
Special Effects with a VHS Camcorder and 99 cents. Horrible.
White Star scanners pick up Shadows vessels inside the temporal field as well as a little old, highly radioactive fusion bomb. As the Shadows fighters attack, Lennier enlightens us with new information concerning the Vorlon-Minbari hybrid ship that is the White Star. “The White Star is based on Vorlon organic technology. 
It learns from experience, changes, evolves. The skin of the ship now uses the Vorlon defense system. Most of the energy is reflected away leaving only the physical impact.” As Sheridan puts it, “cool.” Can you imagine that kind of technology? That is ridiculously off the charts cool. By the way, Bill Mumy sure knows how to deliver scientific analysis better than anyone, granted he hasn't had the meatiest of roles. So the Shadows attack craft continues firing upon the White Star with little success. The White Star moves into position on its primary target. Ivanova fires upon the bomb and destroys it. 
One problem. Each crewmember was given one of those time stabilizers mentioned way back in Babylon Squared to keep everyone ‘stuck’ in time. Unfortunately the impact of the explosion somehow damages Sheridan’s device and he disappears, or if you recall how Kent Broadhurst yelled it back in Babylon Squared, “we’ve become unstuck in time!” I’ll never get that out of my head. Speaking of heads I'll take another aspirin.
Zathras was definitely less intriguing to me this time out and a little more annoying than I found Choate to play him way back in Season One, but I may have been in one of those less forgiving moods. I thought Sinclair’s return was okay, but, well, I’ll leave it at that. Sinclair’s line probably best-conveyed Straczynski’s overarching aim of the show concerning telling a story at all costs. 
The actors are secondary. “Sheridan knew the risks the same as we did. All of us are expendable. What counts is the mission. He’d want us to continue.” Amen! I think he’s talking about Straczynski there and himself as expendable. Tell that story damn it! Of course, Boxleitner’s not going anywhere. Sinclair takes over the Captain’s chair. That was a little weird to see. Get outta' that chair dude!
We cut to Sheridan [now unstuck in time on Centauri Prime- nice rhyme] being kicked in the gut before an aged, future version of what appears to be Emperor Londo. He looks also to be Sheridan’s executioner as he tells him he will finally put him out of his misery. 
Sheridan drove away the Shadows, but the remnants of the war have come home to roost on Centauri Prime, a victimized homeworld of unrest. He unveils the chaos, “the legacy of your war” as he peers out across his city of flames from on high. "Your war"! What the hell are you talking about Londo? I think it could clearly rest upon your shoulders if you really wanted to get right down to it. "Your war" my ass pal. Granted, we all know The Shadows were going to instigate a full blown conflict one way or another and Londo just happened to be an instrument or tool in getting to that point.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey “I’m like the arrow that springs from the bow” Sinclair is clearly ready to die as he speaks with Delenn. The White Star lands aboard Babylon 4. It’s a pretty decent effects moment [better than that overexposed shot above]. Zathras is really quite pathetic and no one seems to give two shits about the poor fellow. No one cares about him. It’s sad. He delivers rambling little ‘poor Zathras’ speeches and everyone rolls their eyes like 'oh, that’s just Zathras being Zathras for ya. Who cares about him unless we need him.' Damn! That is cold.
Sinclair [to Delenn]: “Ready?”
White Star scanners pick up Shadows vessels inside the temporal field as well as a little old, highly radioactive fusion bomb. As the Shadows fighters attack, Lennier enlightens us with new information concerning the Vorlon-Minbari hybrid ship that is the White Star. “The White Star is based on Vorlon organic technology. 
It learns from experience, changes, evolves. The skin of the ship now uses the Vorlon defense system. Most of the energy is reflected away leaving only the physical impact.” As Sheridan puts it, “cool.” Can you imagine that kind of technology? That is ridiculously off the charts cool. By the way, Bill Mumy sure knows how to deliver scientific analysis better than anyone, granted he hasn't had the meatiest of roles. So the Shadows attack craft continues firing upon the White Star with little success. The White Star moves into position on its primary target. Ivanova fires upon the bomb and destroys it. 
One problem. Each crewmember was given one of those time stabilizers mentioned way back in Babylon Squared to keep everyone ‘stuck’ in time. Unfortunately the impact of the explosion somehow damages Sheridan’s device and he disappears, or if you recall how Kent Broadhurst yelled it back in Babylon Squared, “we’ve become unstuck in time!” I’ll never get that out of my head. Speaking of heads I'll take another aspirin.
Zathras was definitely less intriguing to me this time out and a little more annoying than I found Choate to play him way back in Season One, but I may have been in one of those less forgiving moods. I thought Sinclair’s return was okay, but, well, I’ll leave it at that. Sinclair’s line probably best-conveyed Straczynski’s overarching aim of the show concerning telling a story at all costs. 
The actors are secondary. “Sheridan knew the risks the same as we did. All of us are expendable. What counts is the mission. He’d want us to continue.” Amen! I think he’s talking about Straczynski there and himself as expendable. Tell that story damn it! Of course, Boxleitner’s not going anywhere. Sinclair takes over the Captain’s chair. That was a little weird to see. Get outta' that chair dude!
We cut to Sheridan [now unstuck in time on Centauri Prime- nice rhyme] being kicked in the gut before an aged, future version of what appears to be Emperor Londo. He looks also to be Sheridan’s executioner as he tells him he will finally put him out of his misery. 
Sheridan drove away the Shadows, but the remnants of the war have come home to roost on Centauri Prime, a victimized homeworld of unrest. He unveils the chaos, “the legacy of your war” as he peers out across his city of flames from on high. "Your war"! What the hell are you talking about Londo? I think it could clearly rest upon your shoulders if you really wanted to get right down to it. "Your war" my ass pal. Granted, we all know The Shadows were going to instigate a full blown conflict one way or another and Londo just happened to be an instrument or tool in getting to that point.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey “I’m like the arrow that springs from the bow” Sinclair is clearly ready to die as he speaks with Delenn. The White Star lands aboard Babylon 4. It’s a pretty decent effects moment [better than that overexposed shot above]. Zathras is really quite pathetic and no one seems to give two shits about the poor fellow. No one cares about him. It’s sad. He delivers rambling little ‘poor Zathras’ speeches and everyone rolls their eyes like 'oh, that’s just Zathras being Zathras for ya. Who cares about him unless we need him.' Damn! That is cold.
Sinclair [to Delenn]: “Ready?”*
Delenn: “Why do your people always ask if someone is ready right before you’re going to do something massively unwise?”
Delenn: “Why do your people always ask if someone is ready right before you’re going to do something massively unwise?”
*
Sinclair [with his trademark smirk, smile-grin]: “Tradition.”
TO BE CONTINUED…stay tuned for War Without End Part Two, same Babylon time, same Babylon channel... That would be channel 5 for newcomers. Now where is that aspirin?
Sinclair [with his trademark smirk, smile-grin]: “Tradition.”
TO BE CONTINUED…stay tuned for War Without End Part Two, same Babylon time, same Babylon channel... That would be channel 5 for newcomers. Now where is that aspirin?
*
War Without End Part One: B+
