The Babylon Project Podcast

As this episode opens, your hosts discuss that this is the SEASON ender—and it sure feels that way. You’re correct in that there’s one more episode, but the agreement is that the next and last episode is the SERIES ender. The situation: John and Delenn are leaving Babylon 5 and heading to Minbar to move into the new, permanent seat of the Alliance. Things kick off with a dialog, perhaps some reflecting, between Sheridan and Lockley about the adventure we’ve all participated in: “where does the time go?” And also the question, “what’s out there?”, answered by “the Rim” and then beyond that, “the truth.”

Ta’Lon is back on Babylon 5 and asking for G’Kar, apparently unaware he’s left the station for good, and a bit puzzled since G’Kar summoned him. He goes to G’Kar’s room, ends up picking the lock and enters, looking for something—anything—that might have been left for him. He finds a message from G’Kar informing him he’s the new Ambassador to Babylon 5. In one of the coolest scenes that carries a lot of punch, we see G’Kar talking to Ta’Lon side by side, as if they were in the same room, as G’Kar explains to him that he is the right choice for Ambassador because he’s more warrior than priest. (It seems whether he wanted it or not, G’Kar left the station because he had become more priest than warrior.) In the end we see a overall parallel in the story lines as Vir has replaced Londo, and Ta’Lon has replaced G’Kar: the old and the new.

As the replacement for Michael, Tessa appears to have settled in nicely, and is it just us, or have they softened her appearance? She looks comfortable. As for Michael, we find him running the daily operations of Edgars Industries, and in a move that is probably typically Michael, he has replaced the Board members with a handful of trouble makers from within the company, gives them all raises, and a significant challenge to put all their talk into action. We suspect these loudmouths and discontents might actually become credible leaders.

We also watch the transition of responsibility for Med Lab between Franklin and Dr. Lillian Hobbs. As he passes her the reins, Franklin strolls off to join Sheridan in a quiet and heartfelt conversation in the corridor.

Speaking of Sheridan, he has an awkward moment and conversation with Lennier as Delenn leaves them alone briefly—these two men who both love her. Then Delenn shares some final words as she and John prepare to depart the station. In a moment of writing perfection, Sheridan (who wanted to leave quietly) says nothing and defers to Delenn, who eloquently shares that there are no “goodbyes.” As always, Zack is there too and makes a passing comment about remaining on Babylon 5 and being there when they turn off the lights. Sheridan makes his last flight as a commander onboard the station, and in those final moments, turns his ship to view the station’s command deck. In what can only be a tearful and heart-wrenching moment, we have a single scene where we see the new command crew and the old.

Then we have some boom! There’s an accident and a toxic leak onboard John and Delenn’s ship and John rushes to the aid of others. He find himself in a room that needs to be sealed off to protect the others onboard, but thankfully Lennier is there to help, but in an angering and surprising turn of events (and in the shadow of Delenn’s love for John), we watch Lennier seal John in the room rather than ensure he escapes. Lennier then runs. John escapes and after some amount of time Lennier returns with help. It’s not clear if his return was the result of a guilty conscience, or believing John would be dead at this point, to hide his involvement in John’s undoing. Regardless, Lennier flees, apparently for good.

As they arrive on Minbar, John and Delenn are greeted with fireworks and an old friend, Londo, who they learn is now the Emperor of Centauri Prime. Londo makes an attempt to let them know things are not what they appear, hinting that he’s being controlled by others, and for a brief moment, Delenn almost sees his Keeper! He gives them a precious gift to pass to their future son when he turns 16. What is revealed to us is that gift contains a hibernating Keeper intended for David. In this same scene Lennier calls and apologizes to Delenn, and makes it clear to her he’s going away until he finds a way to redeem himself. Then as we watch Londo depart, he stresses once again they’re all friends no matter what, putting the events of War Without End into perspective.

As the episode and season ends, Delenn observes John recording a father-to-son message to David, for him to listen to when he turns 21—words John won’t be there to share at that point. As we listen, we see a wonderful montage of the crew, old and new, at a minimum to highlight the events of John’s recent life that contributed to the formation of the wisdom he’s now passing to his son.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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This is the beginning of the end of the season in that this episode starts the real wrap up of where people are, and where they’re going. As the show opens we see Number 1 (we learn her name is Tessa) arriving on Babylon 5 to a less than warm reception. Dr. Franklin recognizes her though, and helps her ease through security. We quickly learn she’s looking for Michael on what appears to be urgent business — yes, she has her serious face on. Or is that her normal face? She’s taken to see Michael and finds him less than gracefully enjoying his very honorable and deliberate battle with detoxifying his body and breaking the addiction. Lise greets Tessa at the door and is a model of dignity and grace. The awkward situation is punctuated when Tessa reveals that there will be an assassination attempt on both Michael’s and Lise’s lives. Those behind the hit are none other than the current Board of Directors for Edgars Industry. This only emboldens Michael in his resolve to protect his wife and what has become her company. He forms a plan for how to deal with the situation once he gets to Mars.

Related, we also learn that Earth is putting a real squeeze on Mars, hoping to create an environment of real trouble through civil unrest, so that they can come in and “help” quell the problems. Politically, Earth is trying to make an unhealthy Mars so they can then be the good guys and provide the “cure.” Tessa and John work a part of the solution though by facilitating the establishment of a formal relationship between Mars and Minbar, creating a situation that will limit or even prevent Earth interference with its former colony.

G’Kar appears to be growing very impatient and even cold toward his followers, at least one of which expresses real and serious (although almost comical) discontent toward him. G’Kar, knowing he’s leaving with Lyta, maintains his professionalism though. He wants no party or celebration to honor his contributions to the Alliance, but one is set up anyway, not just for G’Kar, but also to say farewell to Mike as he moves to Mars with Lise. The more sinister side of the public celebration is to set the stage to draw the potential assassin out. Security has a plan and is waiting. Sure enough the assassin exposes himself and is caught, but in a moment of genuine surprise, the disgruntled follower of G’Kar attempts to kill him. He misses though and ends up hitting Lise.

As we witness G’Kar and Sheridan saying goodbye, G’Kar shares a few final thoughts. It’s a special moment that will play into the next episode. We also learn that Lise will recover. By her side in Med Lab and in that moment, he and Michael decide not to delay their marriage any longer and become husband and wife in a bedside wedding.

In a moment that tugs the heart strings, G’Kar and Lyta depart, with Zack watching from afar. His love for Lyta hasn’t ever diminished.

Finally, after Michael and Lise arrive on Mars, we watch him surprise the Board. He has all the dirt he needs on every one of the Board members, he lets them know, then informs them they will all resign. Where did he get the dirt? Only from his replacement as the new head of Alliance Intelligence: Tessa. And as the show wraps up, what about Stephen? We’ll let’s just say as he wraps up a meal with Tessa, there’s another “oh, Stephen” moment, reminiscent of their time on Mars during the war.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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There aren’t really any lighthearted episodes to look forward to at this point, but we do get a break from the heaviness of the last two episodes. Wheel of Fire begins with Lockley greeting G’Kar as he returns to the station. In what is almost a comical moment, we learn that G’Kar has become an icon, with his followers posting images of him on the wall and carrying statues of him around. Even more offensive to G’Kar’s sensibilities and humility, they’re even kneeling in his presence!

Sheridan finally confronts Michel about his alcoholism, and fires him. Even so, Delenn’s ever present wisdom and guidance enables him to handle it with compassion. With one issue addressed, there’s an emergency call from Earth. The issue: attacks on Psi Corps by well funded and equipped amateurs motivated by remembering Byron. The issue? Sheridan is told the trail of support runs “through your office” (B5). All indicators point at Lyta and the need to arrest her becomes apparent. A short time later, she’s arrested and put in isolation.

In another compassionate moment, Lockley visits Michael and in a surprising turn, she encourages him to get out of his self-pity and do something about his problem. The surprise: she understands and has been right were Michael is. Later, Lise shows up to help Michael, apparently called in by Lockley in a way that allows him to be the good guy.

In a briefly comical moment, we see a frustrated Delenn cussing, but the awkward humor in it quickly disappears when she suddenly passes out. We’re relieved to discover a few scenes later that it’s good news: she’s pregnant!

As he talked to Lise truthfully about his situation, Michael is about as low as he can be. Then in a wonderful turn of events, she proposes to him and gives him a reason to clean himself up. And in the midst of this, he has a great idea that involves Lyta and a way they may be able to deal with their common enemy: Bester. The deal is presented to Lockley, and G’Kar finds himself involved as the plan will also relieve him of the issue of his growing status as someone approaching godhood in the eyes of his followers. As we draw close to the end of the episode, we learn what we suspected about Lyta: she is a living weapon.

As the episode ends, John and Delenn are together sharing a quiet moment. John is annoying Delenn in a good way, and she expresses concern for Londo. With that we shift back to the somber scene of Londo that ended the last episode: sitting alone on the throne.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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The last episode essentially resumes after a (rare) recap of events that brought us to this point—a recap with BOOM. If the last episode contained one of the saddest moments in the season/series; at least one of your hosts feels this is perhaps the saddest episodes in the series. Events continue to unfold and play along a central theme to the series: there are consequences that result from actions.

As the bombs fall, one bright moment is when we get to see Londo race to G’Kar’s aid. Whatever their relationship was, we definitely see what it has grown into. Londo also learns from the Regent who “they” are: the “they” he keeps referring to in the context of someone the Regent seems to be responsible to: current and frankly terrifying consequences for past actions that directly involved Londo.

Sheridan learns the Drazi and Narn military leaders explicitly disobeyed his direction by attacking Centauri Prime. We learn that the manipulation behind all this through the Centauri will result in Drahk gaining a slave race (the Centauri), and a new home world (Centauri Prime) in order to continue the Shadow’s work now that the Shadows are gone. From their perspective, this is the consequence of Sheridan’s destroying their old home world (Z’ha’dum).

We catch up on the status of Delenn and Lennier as they continue to drift in the damaged White Star and have hit a point where they’re almost out of fuel and options. Lennier comes up with a final action that might save them, but when it appears hopeless, he makes a humble and blunt confession to Delenn about his feelings for her. In a twist, they are rescued and his spoken words hang there awkwardly. In an act of grace (or denial), Delenn spins what he said in a way to allow him to save face. Even so, it wounds Lennier deeply.

As things begin to end for the Regent, and a new chapter in Londo’s life is about to begin, Londo is fully aware of what’s about to happen to him. In some his final free moments, he says goodbye to G’Kar. The words shared by these two, and the meaning behind these words, are heartbreaking. Shortly after, we lose Londo as he takes a Keeper and arguably surrenders to his greatest fear, fulfilling the final requirement to satisfy Lady Morella’s prophecy from back in Season 3, Episode 9.

Vir is present, and Londo’s not happy about it. Londo’s angry with him, but it’s clear to the viewer he’s being the way he is to protect Vir and allow him to get to safety.

The episode begins to draw to a close with a very heavy montage of Londo’s life: past, present and future, and we’re left with him walking to take the throne. Totally alone. When the episode ends, we’re left seeing Londo sitting in darkness on the throne—an image that has haunted us since early in the series has now become reality. As Raul states, this episode could have been called “The Fall of Londo Mollari.”

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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This episode further defines the divisions between the sides, and the issues that continue to surface and fester within the alliance. The war continues to be hot – as White Stars are authorized to attack Centauri. BOOM. Related to the White Stars, the fleet has been in constant use, and Sheridan appeals to Delenn for help in creating a new class of these amazing ships to satisfy the need for more, and a more capable fleet.

The Drazi aren’t returning the bodies of those they defeat (suspicious!), and Londo has formed a plan that he believes will result in his release from jail. Then there’s an incident involving bright lights, some creatures we might have seen before, and then Londo waking and being told by G’Kar that he snores. In spite of Londo’s plan, G’Kar has a better one and it results in Londo’s freedom. Once free he attempts to build support but runs into a wall, in the form of the Defense Minister, who only seems interested in defensive actions.

Back with the Alliance, there’s an uncomfortable meeting with the military leadership and a bunch of individuals plan for how to continue the war. As one leader states, “We are working together in our own individual ways.” Not a promising statement, especially in light of some participants’ desire to attack the Centauri home world. Londo finally gets time with the Regent, and it’s clear something is wrong with him. We learn of a secret Centauri fleet that is employing Shadow technology, and in a parallel part of the story, we see Lyta and Franklin figure this out. We see more oddities with the Drazi and Narn, and in the midst of all the action, Delenn’s White Star is heavily damaged.

In one of the saddest moments of the episode (and perhaps the series), the Regent explains to Londo that he’ll be dead by morning, and Londo will be the Emperor. Then to add gravity to this revelation, the Regent informs Londo that he’s sent away the ships and turned off the planetary defenses. The attacks away from the home world have been conducted with the intent to draw the Alliance to Centauri Prime to attack it.

As the episode concludes, we see what’s been going on with the Drazi and Narn—ships appear overhead and the show ends with significant BOOM as their ships bomb the capital.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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The previous episode carries over as we see how the Alliance leadership manages bringing the evidence, and frankly charges, to Londo as the Centauri representative. In his absence, evidence is presented by Franklin, Garibaldi, and Lennier. After each round of testimony, the evidence is provided to Londo for consideration as he prepares for his time in front of the Council. G’Kar doesn’t testify and instead supports his friend through the proceedings, suggesting that while the evidence is damning, the Centauri are still innocent until formally proven guilty. In the end though, Londo provides no real defense and Sheridan pronounces the decision. Unfortunately, Londo doesn’t know what’s actually happening at home and can only state his government’s position as it was provided to him—that the evidence against the Centauri government is fraudulent. Furthermore, they outlandishly blame the Narn for the attacks. The counteraccusation is as hollow as it is absurd. The result: Centauri stand alone as the dream of the Alliance is truly torn for the first time. Fortunately for Londo, while he must suffer the consequences of his government’s actions, Delenn and G’Kar know the has been kept in the dark by his own government and is being used as a pawn.

Sadly but not surprisingly, Michael’s downward spiral continues and he’s finally confronted by one of his few true friends: Zack. It’s encouraging to see his friends still stand with him even as his life continues to rip apart just as the Alliance is on the verge of war with itself. This culminates when Michael is supposed to be ready and waiting to receive a signal from a White Star watching the Centauri so he can relay it to Sheridan. He fails when we find him drunk and incoherent yet again. He doesn’t hear the signal.

Delenn works to get the Minbari involved, and the potential for war becomes war—BOOM! The Alliance is truly torn asunder.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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Our hosts open the discussion commenting on what begins as a disorienting episode — something horrible has happened to the station. Seems there was quite a bit of boom, but we quickly learn it was Michael’s nightmare.

Delenn receives information from Lennier and learns several disturbing things: the attacks on shipping have increased dramatically in number, and each attack appears to be preceded by a discrete and encoded Centauri transmission. Later in the episode, Lennier gets a little unorthodox in his attempt to gather additional, necessary information. The risk is great, Lennier almost loses his life, but the result is very clear evidence (with lots of boom!) about the Centauri responsibility for the attacks on shipping. What’s not known is why they’re conducting these attacks. Back on Babylon 5, Delenn fears Lennier has been lost in space, but to her (and everyone’s!) great relief he brings the evidence home safely.

While these significant events unfold, Lise finds a hidden bottle of booze in Mike’s room, knows instantly what it means, confronts Mike and the result is anger and Mike’s further decent into the abyss—or perhaps we should say he’s further enveloped in an ascending darkness.

As the episode wraps up with new evidence in hand, the Council reconvenes — only without Londo. The situation is tense, to say the least, and the Alliance appears to be on the cusp of a new war, this time with one of its founding members: the Centauri. But we’ll have to wait to see how the evidence is handled and presented to Londo.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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We all know Delenn is a strong and willful character, and in this episode we watch her take action to secretly gather necessary information (evidence) to implicate or exonerate the Centauri in the attacks on alliance shipping. She also does so in a way that gives Sheridan plausible deniability in the event the intelligence gathering mission is discovered. Lennier is tasked to gather the information and his response to Delenn is haunting: “I’ll do whatever you want, no matter the cost.” He’s subsequently assigned to a training ship to openly continue his Ranger training, but also in a position to get what Delenn needs. It is during this training, Lennier and another student suffer through some tense moments. We watch Lennier succeed and the other student struggle and fail in spite of Lennier’s attempted coaching.

Meanwhile, the Drazi have concluded on their own they believe the Centauri are responsible for the attacks, and they attempt to bug Londo’s room in an effort to gather their own intelligence. It fails when the device is discovered and results in a rare comical moment for Londo as he loudly spins a tale about the Drazi ambassador’s wife, knowing he’s being listened to.

G’Kar’s ethical journey continues to build a spiritual following in spite of his strong desires not to be this kind of leader. And poor Michael continues to spiral ever deeper into the abyss of alcoholism.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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This is one of the most interesting episodes in the season, and perhaps the entire series. We get a chance to look in on what Bester’s life as a Psi Cop is like, as two interns are assigned to him as he works an unusual case: it seems a Psi Corps student has gone mad, has killed someone, and is now on the run. He’s no ordinary student and we watch Bester have to manage his interns while he pursues a truly dangerous individual. This may be the only episode where we see Bester show genuine concern and unease about something.

We watch one of Bester’s students lose his life and the other develop a crush on Mr. Bester as they work together. In the end the case is cracked and “justice” is served…justice in a way that may parallel the storyline about the Ranger cadet in Learning Curve.

The end of the episode is uncomfortably dark, and it ends the significant storyline of the telepaths that has run through all five seasons.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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We join Sheridan as he’s lamenting over the bureaucratic side of life as the President of the Alliance, and with the Council in turmoil over the ongoing attacks, pressure mounts for the Alliance to do something. Seems the way the original charter was drafted, no one has authority outside their own sovereign space to take military action, and the Alliance is stretched thin. The show opens with some boom and we watch three key points unfold along the ragged edge: the new problem of how to get (or allow) member races to contribute to the common defense; we see Londo happy to be back on B5 after the uncomfortable events he experienced on Centauri Prime; and our friend Michael Garibaldi is hung over and in a sad place once again.

Weaving several of these together, it seems there was a survivor during the most recent attack on transports and the race begins to get hold of him and learn what he knows. Obviously this would help Sheridan’s team to learn who may be behind the attacks. On the other hand, perhaps those responsible for the attacks might want the survivor silenced. In a solo mission, Michael is detailed to use his contacts on the Drazi home world to bring the rescued pilot in, and in the process continues to fall deeper into his renewed addiction. He also seems to be everyone’s favorite punching bag. He ends up coming home empty-handed except for a button. A button that might be a very real piece of evidence into who’s responsible for the attacks on the shipping lanes.

In another storyline Ta’lon makes an appearance and while G’Kar is happy on some level, he’s also suspicious. It turns out Ta’lon and others have “liberated” the incomplete Book of G’Kar and published it. The result: G’Kar has become a religious figure with a significant following and now much deal with how people are interpreting his words.

The episode wraps up as we essentially have confirmation that the attacks on the shipping lanes are in fact Centauri. G’Kar is aware and the decision is made that Londo should be kept in the dark about this. For now.

You can find us at http://www.BabylonProjectPodcast.wordpress.com, on Facebook at The Babylon Project Podcast or on iTunes.  You can email us at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from you.

Just remember… No boom today.  Boom tomorrow.  There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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