B5 S5 Ep17: Movements Of Fire And Shadow

Bug-eyed aliens with twirling metallic drills- never a good thing. In fact, when you were a kid getting the old tooth filling done, didn't the dentist look a little like this, especially when you got the laughing gas?

Babylon 5 finally found its way for me with Episode 16, And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder. That was a huge high note of the season for me and I hope the series finishes strong with just six episodes remaining. War is breaking out between the Centauri, the Drazi and no doubt others.
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We begin with the war sending casualties back to Babylon 5. We also see the return of Tracy Scoggins in one of her most titillating of roles, Narrator. Argh! She is just awful. Centauri are being killed across the station as well. They are obvious targets of vengeance by the other races. Sheridan pays a visit to Lochley and does us all a favor by forcing her to halt her narrative voice over/ reporting. He informs her the Centauri have made a very peculiar tactical maneuver by targeting the jumpgates. Lochley informs Sheridan of the station's alert status. Fighters are on standby and the defense grid is active 24 hours. Sheridan has given the "Go order" to the White Stars indicating Babylon 5 has just given up its neutrality.
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And Thunderbirds Are Go! with Babylon 5, Season Five, Episode 17, Movements Of Fire And Shadow. It's worth noting our old friend Wayne Alexander returns according to the credits, this time as a bloody Drakh. Damian London is also back. Bringing the Drakh back into the fray is definitely the much needed injection of excitement to the arm this series has needed. I'm definitely elated to see some of the names slated here to stoke the energy that was generated in the last episode leading into this one.
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Open up and say "Ahhhh!"

This entry opens with Sheridan discussing a shortage of ships with Delenn. Sheridan proposes a new, Earth-financed, destroyer-class White Star, but asks for Delenn's support by bringing it before the Grey Council for approval. Sheridan is in a precarious situation as he needs Delenn to deliver the request in person to Minbar. To do this she will need to traverse treacherous hyperspace lanes and place her very life in jeopardy.

Elsewhere Vir is visited by Franklin and Lyta. Vir complains the Drazi are not following the proper war protocols or declaration of principles in returning the deceased back to the Centauri. The Centauri are supposedly returning Drazi bodies, but not the Drazi to the Centauri. Vir would like Franklin to put pressure on the races to return the bodies. Lyta could help find out what's going on. Vir thanks Franklin and Lyta, BUT NOT SO FAST. Lyta hasn't complied to go along with the program and given the danger involved is going to need to see a lot more money to get the job done. She is a woman in charge now! You won't be taking advantage of her anymore. She is a PLAYA looking out for numero uno! She likes Steven as she puts it, but she is not on board as a team player. She is a woman with a mission and it's all about her kind and the legacy of Byron at this point. She won't play nice. She has her own selfish needs to fulfill and come hell or high water, or a raging war that might kill everyone involved, she has her agenda and she'll be sticking to it. Vir and Franklin chuckle a bit on how much Lyta has changed. Patricia Tallman has played the part well given the changes in her character over a prolonged period of time. I'd say her one low point was sleeping with stringy haired Byron. Heck, we can't all be perfect.


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On Centauri Prime, Londo and G'Kar stew uncomfortably in prison. I love how G'Kar is so flip with his new friend. He is a real card. The sudden, brilliant flash of light about scared the life out of me. I was so stunned my heart leaped from my chest.

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Yikes! Three scary dentists or maybe they are the hygienists!

Unconscious Londo is taken from the cell by some old friends that we can recall from waaay back in Season Three, Episode 14, Ship Of Tears. They are some creepy looking X-Files-like dudes. It looks as though experimentation is the order of the day. The prosthetic make-up is pretty good on their creepy, elongated fingers too. We get flashing lights, spinning drills, essentially your frightening little alien abduction scenario on an alien homeworld in alien space on an alien in a very alien series. It's all very alien. Yes, it reminds me of my visits to the dentist as a youngster. When Londo snaps to he is oddly enough, unafraid. He does not scream, but asks quite calmly, "who are you?" Add a delightful, lizard-like alien fellow and a gask mask and the proceedings just keep getting better and better for the viewer and not so much for Londo. The Drakh [or dentist here], I suspect, indicates Londo will be "sufficient." Suddenly he awakens. Londo is back inside his cell with G'Kar who indicates he was in the throws of a nightmare. So did the visitation really happen? Was it a dream? I suspect not, but what did they do to dear Londo?

This follow up to the earlier segment is classic and frees Londo to do what he must. Is G'Kar spewin' Spoo? Hmmm.

A meeting is convened with the various generals from the different alien races. Robin Sachs returns as Narn Na'Tok. We quickly see the selfish goals and desires of the races come to the fore. They are clearly not working together as a united front, but as a collection of selfish units and interests concerned merely for their own respective races alone. So much for alliances. Sheridan inquires about Centauri strategy, but that has not become clear. The sovereign races are merely reacting. "We must have our revenge" says a Drazi general. They are ready to bomb civilian targets, which Sheridan will not sanction. Sheridan advocates for surgical strikes only.

Lt Corwin reports to Lochley that a Centauri warship is nearby. Corwin indicates no one is aboard the Centauri vessel. Lochley suspects it is unmanned and set to blow a jumpgate. She orders all starfuries to attack and destroy. Jumpgate struts and structural integrity remain intact. Repair bots are enroute.
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Meanwhile the Drazi and Narn form an uneasy alliance to destroy the Centauri.
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Delenn reports in to Sheridan. She is en route to the Grey Council with Lennier. Lyta and Franklin are on their mission for Vir. They seek their target through a market that is slightly reminiscent of the cantina scene on Tatooine in Star Wars.
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Londo meets with the Minister played by Thomas MacGreevy. MacGreevy really nails his part and does a splendid job complete with his British accent. He is very good and was throughout this episode and the last. He is less than helpful to Londo in his desires to meet with the Regent.
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Garibaldi responds to Sheridan's office. He informs him that 30% of the Narn and Drazi fleet are missing. Garibaldi shares his hunch that they are headed to Centauri Prime.
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Back on Drazi homeworld, Lyta and Franklin have established their quarters. They meet with a Drazi doctor. He told them, "ew ee ew ah ah, bing-bang, wah-lah wah-lah bing-bang, ew ee ew ah ah, bing-bang, wah-lah wah-lah bing-bang!" My apologies. That was the witch doctor. The Drazi doctor tells them about the mutilated Centauri bodies while Lyta probes and analyzes his thoughts. She asks him "Why are you lying?" Two assassins attempt to kill Franklin and Lyta. Franklin shoots one while Lyta shoots the other, in a manner of speaking. She uses her mind and forces the Drazi's very own hand to shoot himself. It's pretty gnarly, but this is the new and improved Lyta. The doctor tries to leave and Lyta probes deeper. She demands they be taken "there," wherever there is.
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The White Stars swarm Babylon 5. Sheridan commands a White Star and takes the fleet to Centauri. Sheridan is back in action along with everyone and everything else. While in hyperspace, Delenn happens upon four Centauri warships. They are fired upon and their White Star is badly damaged and she is left twirling around in hyperspace. That can't be good.
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Franklin and Lyta have the Drazi doctor at gunpoint. He takes them to a chamber. Lyta touches an object that looks rather like a large, plastic, black, egg-shaped prop. We are treated to the screeching sounds of the Shadows via her mind. A shot is fired and the Drazi doctor is killed. Lyta and Franklin grab the plastic prop and run.
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The Regent is crazy as a loon.

Back on Centauri Prime Londo returns to his room where he finds the Regent. The Regent is sadly a troubled man. He was a bizarre little fellow to begin with when we first met him way back when, but he was merely an odd, little guy. Now he is troubled, bizarre fellow in charge. He informs Londo it is almost his time as the Regent's time is nearing the end.
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Franklin and Lyta report to Sheridan regarding the "left-over Shadow technology" discovered on their search of the Drazi planet. Lyta knows the artificial intelligence well. She learned about the organic technology by The Vorlons. It always comes back to The Vorlons and The Shadows does it not? They have left quite a legacy. Apparently the technology controls ships from a good distance, hence the unmanned Centauri vessel. The question is how did the Centauri get the technology and why? By the way, the vid screen technology aboard the White Stars is pretty atrocious. It just looks terrible. Sorry, minor gripe, but I know it's an older show. Still, when I watch Star Trek I still adore the effects and modeling more than ever. Anyway, Franklin offers some ideas, but Lyta hits the nail on the end. She suggests it may be a set up by an outside third party. It's all coming together now, but most importantly, like the episode's title suggests, the imprint and legacy of the Shadows and Vorlons remains and continues to create chaos. What they don't know is the who agents of darkness are behind these events. These were clearly servants of the Shadows. They remain. We give you Sheridan to the rescue.
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Meanwhile in hyperspace aboard a short-circuiting and badly damaged White Star, Lennier and Delenn fight for their lives. "This is bad then," says Delenn. "Very bad" replies Lennier. You could say that. It's certainly not good at all.
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... still writing.

In his cell on Centauri, G'Kar writes while the Drazi and Narn are enroute. It is interesting to see the ray of light shining down upon G'Kar in his cell. He is a ray of hope. G'Kar for President in 2012. The Regent is talking crazy talk about dying and Londo tries to stop him from that kind of jabber. Still, Londo is told he will be emperor by morning. The Regent talks of "they" and Londo asks "who are they?" "They" have asked The Regent for one final task to be completed. He was to turn off all planetary defenses and send away the fleet. Ohhh boy. I suspect destruction will reign down upon Centauri something fierce. It will all end "In Fire," as our friend Kosh once uttered to then dying Centauri emperor in Season Two, Episode 9, The Coming Of Shadows. This is going to be ugly indeed. A pasty white Londo runs sickened from the mad Regent by what he has just heard. Londo races outside the palace to mutter the word "no," as wormholes open brightly all around Centauri. The end is near.
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This looking into the sky thing really needs to stop. Nothing good ever comes of it.

Wow. So many thoughts and images here inform me of past events here on Babylon 5. So many questions about the Drakh and these creatures and what they are doing and why. Londo is "sufficient." What does that mean? I remember when the Vorlons were going to destroy Centauri and Londo back in Season Four, Episode 6, Into The Fire, but pulled out at the last minute as they were recalled. Londo was spared once. Was this end inevitable? Are the servants playing out something that was destined to happen? It's a bit like Londo cheated death and destiny once and here it is again. I don't know. I do know Babylon 5 is back and hitting its stride and finishing strong. With five episodes remaining I still have a good number of questions. What are the Drakh going to achieve here? Are they hoping to supplant the Shadows' place in the galaxy? And, what of the fate of our beloved Londo? Time will tell, but there's not much time left.

Movements Of Fire And Shadow: B

Still Fishing

Kirk: Great Scott! Nice shot Scotty!

Bones: You really need to get him out in the field a bit more Captain. He's a ringer!

Kirk: You have a point Bones. We are going to have some good eatin' tonight.

Scotty: Aye Captain. I'll fry up some chips and mushy peas and we'll have ourselves a proper fish and chips dinner complete with vinegar.

No actual animal, fish or living creature of any kind was harmed in the making of this photograph.

Gone Fishing

Scotty: This was a great idea Captain. Unfortunately we don't have fishing poles.

Kirk: Scotty, you do have a blue plastic phaser, do you not?

Scotty: Aye.

Kirk: Set phasers for kill.

Bones: Jim, fishing over a goldfish tank really shores up our chances. I should have thought of this years ago.

Kirk: Stick with me Bones and we'll boldy go where no man has fished before.

Scotty: Aye, Captain. I thought it smelled a wee bit fishy in your personal quarters as well there mate.

B5 S5 Ep16: And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder

Two of the finest science fiction characters ever created. In fact, two of the finest characters ever created [period].

A haunting vibe opens the latest entry thanks to the synthetic stirrings of one Christopher Franke. Sheridan wakes and tries to recall a sleepless Delenn back to his bedside. She looks disturbed into the night station air. Morning comes and Delenn hasn't moved a finger. Sheridan drops a slipper in slo mo and words from a previous Sheridan speech resound over his face as Delenn joins him at his side. They are both pained to realize they will need to do something they would rather not have to do.

An advisory meeting adjourns and Londo and Vir are blocked from access by Zack under the orders of Sheridan. Londo is indignant and feisty and justifiably demands entry. Vir has his back. Sheridan and Delenn present evidence to the council/ alliance that the Centauri have been responsible for the attacks on the shipping lanes. Sheridan knows he will honor the promise to defend those of the alliance that have been attacked. It is with a heavy heart Sheridan intends to fulfill that promise. Will it be war with the Centauri? Can it be stopped? Will Londo be able to gather evidence/ proof it is not his people behind these atrocities or are they? We shall see as we enter the airlock of Babylon 5, Season Five, Episode 16, And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder.
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Dr. Franklin is called before the alliance as a material witness and submits to questioning about attack weaponry and their affect as far as damage to the physical body. Franklin testifies to the Centauri weaponry and how the bodies had trauma consistent with Centauri munitions. Garibaldi adds his two cents. This does seem a slight conflict of interest given all of the close associations of these players. It doesn't seem very unbiased or neutral. G'Kar is sent to summon Londo and makes some brilliant points about what he witnessed while on Centauri Prime with Londo. G'Kar knows Londo was not officially in the mix. This is one of those exchanges we have come to appreciate over the years. It is very good and very sincere. Is it me or does G'Kar almost hesitate as if to tell him something else?


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Londo presents his case, his side of it, before the alliance. Londo shreds the evidence before the court calling the evidence a "joke" and "circumstantial." Londo knows something is amiss out there in the stars. Londo is incensed. He is downright pissed at being questioned. It's understandable how he feels. He has come a long way and is a changed man. He knows this about himself, despite others lack of conviction for him. That's the problem isn't it? We are held hostage. We are a captive to our pasts. No matter what we do moving forward all people ever do is look back and allow the past to influence and impact further judgment. The mistakes we've made never truly get forgotten. Is forgiveness ever truly granted? Lennier steps into the fray and offers further evidence of Centauri involvement. Londo swallows hard and heavy on the images of Centauri destruction presented before him. Lennier looks saddened by the information he must deliver. Lennier certainly shares a past and has some feeling for Londo. Sheridan asks Londo for his reaction. He insists he can offer nothing until he speaks with his government. Sheridan informs Londo the Centauri WILL be isolated from the alliance from this point forward. A blockade will go into effect and Centauri vessels will be boarded. Sheridan indicates it will continue until the attacks cease and an apology is issued along with reparations to the affected races. Get your wallet out brother!
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You can't help but feel as though there is indeed a Shadow play in the works of a sort. Given the funky creatures we glimpsed in Episode 8, In The Kingdom Of The Blind, we know there is more happening behind the scenes outside of the Centauri. Something is out there attempting to force another conflict. Will history repeat itself?
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The Centauri stand very much alone. Vir and Londo discuss the situation while waiting to hear from the Centauri government. Londo cannot understand the acts of aggression on civilian targets. It just never happens out of the blue. EVER Vir mentions, kind of, reminds Londo of a little thing called the Narn episode, when their people, kind of, like, wiped out that race almost. Of course, Londo has an answer for that. That is war you see. Well, in all of that mess, much of it was ignited by the Centauri, it's a bit convenient for Londo to twist fast and loose with history to fit his argument. Still, that's Londo and we love him for it, despite his stubborn nature. The minister reaches out to Londo indicating the Regent has informed him the attacks are a fraud. This is a set up. Londo is having a hard time accepting any of the minister's excuses. Vir stands behind Londo and is as dubious as the rest of us who are watching. The minister wants to pin it on the Narn claiming Lennier was set up and the vessels were fit by the Narn. Wow. History may be repeating itself. It will depend on Londo this time as it did last, but how will he respond to this one? I'd like to think Londo would swallow his pride and want to get to the bottom of this one- the truth. We shall see.

Later, Londo gets tough, standing before the alliance and pulling out of the alliance indicating the Centauri will not recognize the blockade. I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition to see G'Kar over Londo's shoulder for a change. Londo was looking for understanding this time and he was the one in the hot seat. Londo informs his ships will be defended by a Centauri war vessel should they be attacked. What is wrong with you Mollari? You know something wasn't right down there. Londo plans to leave for Centauri Prime. Sheridan warns him not to walk away from this. Londo makes it clear that any attack will be considered an act of war. Londo informs Vir as he exits that he somehow expects to prove the alliance wrong. Still, he needs to go home to figure this out. Vir must stay behind on Babylon 5 so he can be representin'.
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Delenn visits G'Kar in his quarters. He tells Delenn he will be joining Londo for his return home. He suspects he is in grave danger unaware of the forces at work. Both G'Kar and Delenn know Londo would never allow, approve or support such random attacks. His nature wouldn't allow it. I must admit I recall the discomfort Londo exhibited throughout the Centauri-Narn war as the wheels were in motion and things seemed out of his control. He never took any joy or satisfaction in the destruction of the Narn. Further, I remember him literally turning away from it with some disgust in that famous image from within the Centauri warship. G'Kar feels he must be protected at all costs. This is quite telling.

What really struck me about G'Kar here [and you know how much I have always loved his character going way back to Season Two], was his truly unflinching loyalty and friendship. He bravely stands by his newfound friend in Londo and will sacrifice his life for someone who once inadvertently spearheaded the absolute destruction of his entire race. This is truly profound within his character in the series. He is really something special. That segment is a truly beautiful display of kindness and genuine love. I like how his reference to changing aspects of his book and passages he wrote earlier he feels differently about now reflect how much he has changed. The character witness on Londo emphasizes how much Londo has changed as well. Also, the goodbye seemed so final.
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Sheridan and Zack are searching for Garibaldi who has been drinking as usual and apparently dozed off. Zack tests Garibaldi by tossing him a few oranges. "Your hand eye coordination sucks." Garibaldi can't catch a thing and Zack is on to him. Zack calls him on it. Its ironic that actor Jeff Conaway would fall victim to alcoholism and drug use himself in real life years later. Garibaldi is defensive as expected. I liked this sequence.


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That had to be tough to Garibaldi's ego, but people are going to die. Zack was indeed a good friend.
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Sheridan shares his plan with Garibaldi. Sheridan's plan to enforce the blockade using the White Stars is complicated and Garibaldi responds accordingly. "It sounds unbelievably ugly." Sheridan needs Garibaldi to relay information to him quickly. He tells Sheridan he can be relied on, but can he? Will the alcohol cause him to hesitate? Will people [or aliens] die? Hopefully he is on track thanks to Zack, but as anyone who has had to deal with alcoholism knows, the individual has to help themselves too and that remains to be seen.
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Love those infamous sky shots!

G'Kar arrives with Londo on Centauri Prime. Great clip, though I'm not sure why G'Kar likes it even less now. Perhaps because he has tasted peace finally. The barbs by G'Kar are hysterical though.


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That's an erie moment with G'Kar and Londo looking into the sky and certainly recalls the frightening, ominous tensions surrounding the arrival of the Shadow vessels way back when. The shot certainly recalls that moment and immediately heightens and elevates the drama for us. Well, the answer is, Garibaldi cannot be relied upon. He snoozes off thanks to another drink. Not good at all. With the information not relayed to the White Stars in a timely fashion a battle ensues between the Centauri and the Drazi. War is not averted and a skirmish results.

Zack reports to Sheridan's quarters and informs him of the bad news. Vir attempts to reach out to Londo, but is placed on ice by the smarmy minister. Londo is "unavailable." Vir is ripped! Franklin visits Vir and wants him removed from his quarters to new quarters. There is a fear Vir will be targeted by the various races. Vir is cornered by three Brakiri and Franklin is asked to walk away. Of course we know Franklin enough to know he is a good, stand up guy. Franklin attempts to distract them with a ploy and then the fisticuffs start flying. It's pretty smooth. Stephen Furst is so funny as Vir. His odd, penguin-like walk. His movements. He is such a geek. He is so funny as the freak Centauri. You gotta love him as the tough Centauri geek.

Sheridan asks Garibaldi what happened. The alien races are in a tither and are royally irate after the attack. Garibaldi's actions [or lack thereof] have made matters worse and the flames of revenge are being fanned. Where are the White Stars they demand!? Lennier steps between the Drazi and Delenn. It is a very cool Mumy moment. Things are getting hostile. Sheridan, who knew things were being pushed to the brink, is really feeling the heat. You really feel for him here. He reaches deep inside himself to pull this thing together. OH! He tells them all "Damn all of us to Hell, because that is exactly where we're going!" No one says "Hell" better than Boxleitner. Here's that potent moment.


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The minister visits Londo in his quarters. He is informed the Centauri are officially at war with the alliance. He is informed G'Kar will be arrested. Londo resists the Regent's orders. G'Kar is so cool. He has seen it all and remains fearless, unmoved and unafraid of anything. Londo is adamant that he is his guest and shall be treated as such. This is a beautiful moment and a classic!

I thought some of the camera work, lighting and angles were a bit more impressive than they had been of late. I suspected Director Goran Gajic had a hand in that. His name was so unique and so striking I decided to look into it. To my surprise, I found Gajic is a Serbian film, TV, theatre director and is married to none other than Delenn. That's right, he is married to the one and only Mira Furlan. Delenn sits pensively in her quarters where the episode first began. She is praying staring at a candle. It is a representation of all life. These are truly poignant words. This is a precious moment.

This was clearly a video heavy entry on my part, but there was just too damn much to want to share with you all over. There were so many wonderful moments. This was not awkward as many of the episodes had been to date. This was classic Babylon 5. This was a real return to form. I loved this episode's drama. This entry offered a lovely piece of work from the pen of Straczynski. This is what I was missing people. It's all right here. "Life is precious because each flame is unique. When it goes out it's gone forever. And there will never be another quite like it." And while I wonder about history repeating itself it's obvious events will never be exactly the same and one such dynamic that already gives me hope is the bond between Londo and G'Kar. That gives me hope. Will it lead to the fateful end of Londo when G'Kar has his hands wrapped around his throat or is that a future which has been altered? This was a powerful entry in what amounts to a rather lackluster Season Five. Nothing torn asunder here.

And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder: B+ [It almost deserves an A for best of the season]

B5 S5 Ep15: Darkness Ascending

Lennier pulls a good old-fashioned Millenium Falcon-release-into-the-debris move.

When Season Five began I can tell you that I was honestly looking forward to changing things up. Be careful what you wish for as they say. This hasn't been the sort of change I was looking to see come to fruition. I'm being completely honest. I can only share my personal reaction and how these fifteen entries to date have sat with me. I certainly understand how certain science fiction can be near and dear to one's heart and to hear someone dislike something you value so highly can be a bit of a downer for those out there who place Season Five at the top of their personal favorites. But unfortunately to remain true to the process this has been a disappointing season thus far. Still, there is more ahead. Whether it is more of the same or something stronger is yet to be determined.

That is one helluva BIG gun! Might have been fun seeing a few more of these along the way outside of being mere props. It's certainly symbolic of his predicament I suppose.

We begin Babylon 5, Season Five, Episode 15, Darkness Ascending, with a nightmarish sequence. The Zocalo is devastated and laid to waste. It is in ruin with messages abound like "You Failed Me" and "Where Were You?" Sheridan, Franklin, and others are all dead. A bloodied Garibaldi comes face to face with a heavily armed Garibaldi. I suspect the sequence has much to do with Garibaldi's inner demons and his battle with alcoholism. His body is overtaken as he wakes suddenly. He wrestles with his addiction. He finds Lyta is looking over him. Her eyes aglow she tells Garibaldi it is just a dream. Garibaldi sweating jumps up yet again from what was clearly still a dream. At gunpoint he greets a visitor in his room. Lise has returned. So the dream could represent a harbinger of things to come. Garibaldi's future is in his own hands and it could turn ugly if he can't find a way to change.

Lise has returned and wonders why Garibaldi has not returned to her side since he left for Babylon 5. It was suppose to be temporary. She tells him, "You look like hell Michael." Despite her woman's intuition she suggests they have a little physical catching up to do. Garibaldi wisely agrees. He'll deal with those demons later.

Lennier contacts Delenn on a secure channel. Attacks continue to be random on alliance ships. Lennier is picking up coded Centauri transmissions. He is making every effort to decode them. Lennier asks Delenn if Sheridan knows of his covert mission. She tells Lennier he doesn't have a clue. He didn't until he walked in behind her and heard everything she said. Finally, one Delenn secret is out of the box and captured by yonder roving ear. She's normally very good about her secrets.

Lyta is busy advocating for her new telepathic glee club of psycho weenies. She has their backs. She is busy picking up the torch left behind by her former torch Byron. She wants to finish finding her cult outfit of psycho hoodlums [I'm being a bit silly about them I know] their very own planet. She makes efforts to negotiate with a client of Psi Corps for deep space missions before being shot down. Insurance and contractual obligations with Psi Corps are a real problem for many potential would be employers. Boy, is it me or is Lyta's hair really long now? She is a pretty girl. Have I mentioned that? I know. I have. I'm really quite sad. Lyta plans to meet with G'Kar.

Vir and Londo meet to talk about the fact Londo doesn't actually have any meeting scheduled. This is all quite surprising to Londo. Londo reckons the Centauri are not trusted, but then delivers a beauty from the Straczynski script bible. "No one really trusts anyone Vir, it is the natural order of things." Sadly, I sort of agree with that [outside of close friends and family]. "Gambling no longer had any appeal for me." My oh my, Londo has come a long, long way. He is a changed man indeed if we are to believe those words. Ha.

Back in Garibaldi's quarters, somewhat predictably, Lise discovers Garibaldi's little bottled friends. She wants to talk. Garibaldi does not. She's quite upset. Garibaldi blames the Bester card. He feels he has been controlled for too long and is looking to rebel. He says he's in control [but he's not]. Then she demands he not drink while she's on the station. Down the drain his drink of choice goes. Where there is one there's always another tucked away for safe keeping.

Lennier consults with Ranger Montoya. He can only decode three words, "DO NOT REPLY." Lennier suspects the base receiving the message may be mobile. Lennier has a plan that might be able to pick up the transmissions. Meanwhile on Babylon 5 Sheridan recalls White Star 27 for not being informed of its mission. Delenn throws her wifely duties out the window and plays the Ranger professional card trumping she has "discretionary power over their assignments." Delenn concedes to her husband anger, but she tells Sheridan she has faith in Lennier. I sense a touch of the green-eyed monster. She admits, and she may have a point, she was trying to protect President Sheridan. He would be able to claim "deniability" if things/ the mission went south. White Star 27 reports in to Sheridan and Delenn. Montoya informs them Lennier has gone rogue in his mission. Lennier is one determined Minbari Ranger soldier. He wants to find that hidden Centauri base and he is fearless in doing so as always.

G'Kar is visited by Lyta. Lyta offers him access to her genetic code. Obviously we all know the Narn telepaths were wiped out as a security measure to allow for the Shadows return. There is also mention of Lyta's "pleasure threshold." I can't recall the first mention of this, but it was some time ago. If you recall, let me know and I will update the entry with that information. Was it The Gathering? The Narn are one of the few races with no telepaths thanks to The Shadows. Lyta requires money as payment. She also wants five, deep-range starships for transport of her people. Finally, she wants the exchange to be secret. Lyta asks G'Kar to consider the offer an "internal affair." One final point, she toys with G'Kar by telling him she found out about her pleasure threshold. It turns out she does not have a ceiling. WOW! With no limitations, G'Kar looks semi-interested in giving her a test run of his own. He certainly doesn't come across as a sexual character, but he does here and he looks curious. Let's face it, it has been awhile for him.

Garibaldi and Lise have dinner at the Fresh Air Restaurant. Apparently the last time he actually went to dine there was with Ivanova and Sinclair over Sinclair's engagement to Catherine Sakai way back at the end of Season One. Lise asks Garibaldi how Sheridan reacted when Garibaldi told him... told him what? Well, we're about to find out, assuming it is that she wants him to leave the station. Garibaldi is evasive. This was an intense moment. It's good.

White Star 27 reports in. No Lennier. 36 hour air supply. It's been 48 hours. Meanwhile Lennier wakes to find a ship approaching. He enters stealth mode. He gasps and prepares his vessel for attachment to the Centauri vessel. He'll need to do so to survive. Attached his small vessel immediately connects refreshing Lennier's depleted oxygen supply. I'm not quite sure how that was achieved so quickly. It looked like a drill might have entered the Centauri warship's hull, but that would seem odd and perhaps detectable. Would it not? A jumppoint opens and off Lennier goes with the Centauri warcraft.

On the station, in bed, Sheridan makes attempts to apologize to Delenn. All she can think about is Lennier. She believes there is no way he is dead. She has faith, because faith manages right?

Vir wakes Londo with a message from homeworld. Londo is informed by his people that Sheridan may be fabricating evidence to frame the Centauri or that the Narn may be somehow involved. All of this stinks and feels like history may be repeating itself. I hope I'm wrong, but history does repeat and I will be dismayed to see the great progress established by Londo and G'Kar somehow evaporate for my eyes. The Centauri mention it could be "the first step towards war." That is bad indeed.

In G'Kar's quarters, he agrees to Lyta's terms. You can see how much of these secret dealings could be misconstrued. G'Kar might easily look as though he is leveraging telepaths for some kind of new Narn war machine. Surprisingly, Lyta turns down the offer, especially when G'Kar adds one additional criteria. He wants her to listen in on the other ambassadors from time to time. You see, this is where it all goes wrong. Son of a bitch! What the hell is he thinking!? This is not the new G'Kar damn it! So she's like no way Jose. She stands prideful. She feels this violates her sense of decency. SHITE! DAMN! I was conned and played like a fool. I just found out it was a big SHAM! Son of a bitch! Straczynski got me again. It turns out G'Kar was testing her to see how far she would go and he is very pleased by her response. The deal is done.

As jumpgate opens Lennier monitors all frequencies and records all transmissions. Drazi ships are wiped out and Lennier has a front row seat attached to the Centauri warship. Lennier commands his vessel with another voice-activated command. He tells the craft to detach with the next jump. All video and audio records have been recorded. Lennier has sent a distress signal for rescue.

Sheridan informs Delenn that Lennier is alive proving Sheridan's belief wrong. She cries with great joy and pain. Londo asks if she is okay and she hugs Londo. This was a troubling moment of things to come. It felt very sad, but faith did manage and maybe it will manage again.

Lennier greets Delenn on Babylon 5 and Sheridan is indeed pleased to see him. He is given a good old-fashioned 'attaboy' by Sheridan. "We live for the one. We die for the one," as Lennier declares those immortal words. He gives over the video evidence to President Sheridan. Sheridan is disturbed. Garibaldi is summoned by Sheridan. "We're going to need you like we've never needed you before." Sheridan wants the key players in his quarters. The haunting words of Garibaldi's nightmare in the beginning here have to be haunting him and ringing over and over in his mind. It's like his good friend is saying 'don't fail me.'

Vir tells Londo Sheridan has called a council meeting and everyone is invited in the morning except Londo. Conspiracy theories are in full play in Londo's head.

In Garibaldi's quarters, Garibaldi tells Lise to leave the station. He tells her he never should have gone to that restaurant. Something bad always happens when he eats there. A-ha! Out of concern for her safety he wants her gone. Michael tells her "by this time tomorrow, we're gonna be at war with the Centauri." Bloody hell. Here we go again!

Well, for the first time in Season Five, I felt as though I was watching Babylon 5, the real Babylon 5. This was the show that grabbed me through many an episode. Yes, it's true. It felt like the real deal, not some carbon copy weirdo, bizarro universe version of what I had enjoyed for four seasons only to find I was kicked upside the head and thrown into some kind of strange alternate reality with characters I used to love and some freak ones like Byron. This was the stuff I had enjoyed all along. This was a return to form. I really liked the mystery, the questions, the setup, the plotline. It was as if Babylon 5 was finally finding its footing again. It's also interesting that the move away from the Psi Corps stuff toward Londo and company also made it all the more appealing for me. This was a solid Babylon 5 entry.

Darkness Ascending: B-