In the fourteenth episode of the second season of Babylon 5, Sheridan is accused of murder, and this isn’t even the most dramatic plot in the episode. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Babylon 5.
It didn’t hit me until the episode was over, but this is all an examination of loneliness. REALLY INTENSE LONELINESS. That was spelled out during that incredible scene between Delenn and Sheridan in the zen garden, yes, but Vir falls into it, too, doesn’t he? All three of these people are dealing with a sense of separation, a feeling that they will always be alone in a crowd. And lord, if you know what that feels like, isn’t it a cutting emotion?
So let’s start with Vir because I was blown away by the chance to peel back the curtain on his life. Initially, I thought the message that he got had more to do with Londo than him, but it makes so much sense that he would go into a drinking spiral because he was being replaced. His monologue to Londo was heartbreaking, particularly since this was the first time we learned the real details of his appointment to Londo. It’s wild to think that Londo used to be a joke in Centauri society, y’all. I feel like that was a million years ago??? But that’s a side effect of how fast the serialized plot seems to unfold in this season ALONE.Â
Still, Vir’s sense of loneliness and difference fits in so well with what we’ve seen throughout his time on this show, so I don’t want it to seem like I think like this was just added in for the hell of it. There’s a sense that he’s always been a bit desperate, and his imminent replacement sets him loose in despair. He believes he’s done a good job, but what is that job? Vir’s never made it a secret from Londo that he believes Londo’s gone down a dark path, but he still has to do what he’s asked. So he’s stuck in this position where he doesn’t fit in at home, where he was given this job as a joke. But he rose to prominence alongside Londo—by means he utterly doesn’t agree with, but is still expected to keep secrets for—and now, he’s not “good†enough for that either. It’s a lonely position to be in, and it’s not like Londo has made it better, you know? Well, not until the end, when he graciously and brilliantly appeals to his government to keep Vir or he’ll leave Babylon 5. It’s a tender moment and a caring gesture, one that reveals that Londo is a complicated character just as much as Vir is.
Meanwhile: CHAOS. While this review is more serious, I actually really enjoyed the mixture of drama and humor in “There All the Honor Lies.†While Sheridan, Delenn, and Lennier are all dealing with the ramifications of the set-up job against Sheridan, there’s a lovely subplot with the new Babylon 5 merchandise shop. It’s hilarious, but it also adds to the chaos present in this episode. And I do like that there’s a feeling that there’s always ten things going on at once, rather than just a single issue per episode.Â
That being said, the murder accusation here is ENGROSSING. It’s written so well, and it draws back to Londo’s time with Lennier near the end of season one, as well as the Starkiller reputation that follows Sheridan. We get a complicated story of clan honor, something that had only been explored briefly before. Here, a senior member of Lennier’s clan decides to frame Sheridan and make it look like Sheridan murdered a Minbari who was trying to surrender. The whole con is immensely detailed and kind of impressive, which is why it’s so thrilling to watch. The audience knows that Lavell (was that how it was spelled? I DON’T KNOW) shouted, “Death first!†We know that Sheridan did what he had to in order to defend himself. But Ashan was not supposed to be there, and his presence is really what unraveled this.
It’s hard to feel much sympathy for Ashan, though. Like Lennier, he didn’t know what other members of his clan were doing. But what does he choose to do? Lie to protect someone’s honor. Treat Delenn like GARBAGE. Oh my god, talk about feeling alone in a crowd. Everywhere she goes among the Minbari, she’s treated the worst. It’s clear that this is something she’s going to have to deal with for a long time, and it worries me. How is she ever going to bridge the gap between herself and her own people? As it stands, Lennier is the sole Minbari who accepts and respects her! WHO DO I HAVE TO FIGHT, OKAY.Â
Anyway, I found this to be a rewarding and enthralling episode of the show. I also love how unabashedly weird it is? I can’t claim to fully understand why Kosh sent Sheridan into the Downbelow, nor do I get what that display of beauty was. Was that really there or was it in his mind? Does it matter? It was a cool sequence, though, and I can’t wait for another “lesson†between Ambassador Kosh and Sheridan.
The video for “There All The Honor Lies†can be downloaded here for $0.99.
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