The Babylon Project Podcast

The fifth and final season begins with our introduction to Captain Elizabeth Lochley. In some ways she’s a lightning rod of a character with a strong personality, a strong military record, and a plan for fixing Babylon 5. Many view her at Ivanova’s replacement, but she’s really Sheridan’s as the new commander of B5, and her initial contact with some of the members of her command staff is—let’s say abrasive. Her initial contact with Garibaldi even more so.

Join Raul, Jim and JP as they discuss Mars, Minbar, a dead Ranger, a music box, and the initial reason we’re given for why Captain Lochley was chosen by President Sheridan to command B5. And we quite possibly end up with more questions than answers about that last item: or at least one significant question about Lochley’s loyalty during the war. We also discuss the future of B5 as an Alliance asset rather than an Earth Force station, which informs (and potentially muddies) the division of power between President Sheridan and Captain Lochley. By the end of the episode we have a little “boom.”

Fine. Done. Let’s eat.

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

Join us for what Join us for what is perhaps the oddest episode of the entire series.  In this set of vignettes, we’re prepared for Season 5 through several snapshots in time.  Our journey begins with John and Delenn’s new marriage, then jumps ahead in time several times.  As the episode unfolds, we move ahead from the key events we’ve just witnessed by a year, then 100 years, 500 years, 1000 years, and finally 1,000,000 years.  It’s a wild ride that can surprise a new viewer with things that change, and probably even more-so by things that don’t.  As odd as the episode is, it’s an important one to watch with us before we step into the fifth and final season of this amazing show.

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

After the intensity of the last episode, and the end of the war, we see things wrapping up. Marcus is dying and his final moments show some of Claudia Christian’s (Ivanova) best performances in the series. Sheridan is a full participant in what must come next for him, and showing us all the integrity we’ve grown fond of, ensures the right thing is done. What is left of the system is strained and bruised, and John holds himself accountable in addition to allowing the fragile and recovering system to deal with him. And in the mix of what feels like a long and heavy episode, we get a few light moments courtesy of Londo and G’Kar.

We hear little lessons in the differences between politics and action, and doing the right thing in the wrong way, and amidst all that, it becomes clear that there’s a greater plan at work for the Babylon 5 Resistance, with Delenn a significant planner and/or leader in the effort. We watch as the plan unfolds, knowing it must be significant when it includes things like a deliberate revelation to all of the existence of the Rangers.

As the episode (and arguably the season) draws to a close, we enjoy some warm moments with John, Delenn and John’s dad. We also enjoy the satisfaction of knowing the things we’ve watched for many seasons will end well, as new things begin: “The dawn of a new age for everyone!” But don’t relax too much: the door that opens in front of our heroes comes with it’s own new set of struggles, including the foreshadowing of a future telepath war and Drakh war. But Babylon 5 endures…

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

The season is coming to a head as things kick off with our heroes back on Babylon 5. In this heavily emotional episode, Susan appears to be mortally wounded, and Marcus is in worse shape than she is emotionally. Michael appears to be back—as his old self and back on the team in good standing—as things come to a head on Mars. Sheridan’s forces release their own secret weapon in the form of 30 very unique bombs, and it becomes clear the plan to win the war includes bypassing Mars and going straight to Earth.

Under Sheridan’s leadership the war appears to culminate in favor of the Resistance and a horrible back-up plan is revealed as Clark realizes he’s on the cusp of losing. He implements the plan and takes what is arguably the easy way out as more forces turn on him and move to place him under arrest. Then, it appears to be over and we’re comforted for a moment by the warm, familiar, and emotional voice of our trusted news anchor Jane. With and end to the war, the dust begins to settle and we realize the return to “normal”, or the new normal, will be complicated and take time. And for Sheridan, it will take a trial for his actions.

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

Should we worry about the number of Earth Force defectors, and how easy they’re coming over to support Sheridan and the Resistance?  Is Clark simply so bad as to fuel so many to change sides and risk charges of treason?  Or could some of the defectors be double agents?  Ivanova leads a fleet of White Star ships on a mission, and we hear about Earth Force ships with an advanced design—apparently some sort of secret weapon.

Everyone seems to be falling behind Sheridan, Clark plans an ambush, and Garibaldi contacts the Resistance on Mars only to end up injured.  Even so, he works well to rally the forces of the Resistance and move their efforts forward.

As the story unfolds, we learn what the advancement we heard about for some of Earth’s ships actually is—Shadow technology.  When battle ensues, Ivanova utters one of her best lines in the series and in the heat of battle ends up struggling for her life.  There’s lots of boom this episode, and quite possibly some tears.

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

In this out of the ordinary episode, we discuss what’s happening now that Sheridan is imprisoned and Clark wants a confession.  He’s interrogated and pressured to make a live public statement to confirm what we know as viewers is false.  But in the context of his interrogation, we learn a number of things about the world inside the show:  Clark’s people believe that ends justify the means, and so truth is subjective.  Whether something is true or not, it doesn’t really matter.  Truth is immaterial.  In fact, the goal is to make John decide to “believe differently.”  Finally we learn that the preeminent “truth” of the time is “you cannot beat the system.”  

There are no limits to what it seems Clark will do to get Sheridan to publicly change his story to bolster Clark’s actions.  In his distress, we get to see John encouraged by Delenn (real or imagined?), and even in his agony, he attempts to help a Drazi prisoner—demonstrating his heart even when his own safety and life are at risk.  We also see discussions about the risk of turning John into a martyr, bringing us back to the discussion he had with those sympathetic to the Shadows on Z’ha’dum.

There’s great conversation about the inquisitor as well.  The actor who plays him was impressive.  We also consider that while we believe John is doing the right thing for the right reasons, this may be a great lesson in the price someone can pay for exercising moral authority.  Clark may be wrong, but John is apparently paying a price for standing for what’s right and true.  Join us as we move through this trippy episode and start moving very quickly toward the climax for the fourth season!

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

War gets closer to Earth and more former Earth Force ships are aligning themselves with sides.  Sheridan’s dad is captured and being used as bait to lure Sheridan to Mars to be captured.  Mike delivered the news to Sheridan that his dad was captured and Sheridan should meet with the folks involved on Mars.  Even though he’s warned against it and told it could be a trap, he goes anyway.

Talking with Garibaldi, Edgars confirms his view that Psi Corps is the problem as he sees it, and the drugs mentioned last episode are in fact a cure for a disease his company also created.  The plan is to put Psi Corps back in their box to ensure they’re not a threat to the “mundanes” and their way of life.  Before the episode ends, Edgars is dead and Garibaldi is freed from Psi Corps control.  In the run up to his freedom we learn that it appears the Psi Corps has actually continued to fight the influence of the Shadows, and therefore Clark—perhaps making them the good bad guys?  Rather than killing Garibaldi, Bester leaves him to suffer the consequences of continuing to live now that he’s been sufficiently used.

Join us as we see many faces of the enemy, depending upon whose perspective you take:  Clark, Sheridan and the aliens who influence him, large corporations and Edgars, the Psi Corps, or even Mr. Garibaldi himself.  No doubt the list could go on, and there may be more than just one enemy.

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 Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

William Edgars is quite powerful!  Maybe more than we imagined.  Garibaldi arrives on Mars and has a bunch of questions for Mr. Edgars, his new boss:  first about his drug smuggling through B5; and also about receiving help from Edgars to stop Sheridan.  What initially looked like a plan to help telepaths with some sort of cure for a problem ends up being a part of a larger plot to ensure telepaths can’t take control of all things human, and Garibaldi finds an ally in his quest to stop Sheridan and get him “proper treatment.”  We also hear Edgars’ views on who is actually in power—and it’s not President Clark, nor is it the electorate.  If true, it makes sense why a man like Edgars is willing to work against Clark, and Sheridan, and Psi Corps.

So who really holds and exercises vital powers?  Why are so many of Clark’s forces defecting and joining the Resistance?  Is it properly placed loyalty, or something more sinister?  So many questions!  Join us as we walk through the episode as yet more key events unfold.

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!

https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bpp416-the-excercise-of-vital-powers2.mp3

The Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

William Edgars is quite powerful!  Maybe more than we imagined.  Garibaldi arrives on Mars and has a bunch of questions for Mr. Edgars, his new boss:  first about his drug smuggling through B5; and also about receiving help from Edgars to stop Sheridan.  What initially looked like a plan to help telepaths with some sort of cure for a problem ends up being a part of a larger plot to ensure telepaths can’t take control of all things human, and Garibaldi finds an ally in his quest to stop Sheridan and get him “proper treatment.”  We also hear Edgars’ views on who is actually in power—and it’s not President Clark, nor is it the electorate.  If true, it makes sense why a man like Edgars is willing to work against Clark, and Sheridan, and Psi Corps.

So who really holds and exercises vital powers?  Why are so many of Clark’s forces defecting and joining the Resistance?  Is it properly placed loyalty, or something more sinister?  So many questions!  Join us as we walk through the episode as yet more key events unfold.

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!

https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bpp416-the-excercise-of-vital-powers2.mp3

The Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/

Enough is enough, and we find ourselves in the War Room again.  Sheridan is compelled to start taking action and holds a meeting with the ambassadors from the non-aligned worlds.  He states the price for them to continue to continue their relationship with B5:  each will provide a warship to contribute to the protection of B5, and break their alliances with Earth.

And we have some boom.  Quite a bit actually, as the forces aligned with B5 exchange blows with Earth Force vessels.  In the end several of the earth force ships join B5 in its stand against President Clark.  It appears Resistance is gaining momentum, and capability.  But can these new allies be trusted?

Finally Garibaldi’s frustration with Sheridan hits its limit and he departs B5 for Mars to continue his work there, with no intent to ever return.

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!

https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bpp415-no-surrender-no-retreat.mp3

The Babylon Project Podcast is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://babylonprojectpodcast.wordpress.com/