{"id":7123,"date":"2018-12-21T13:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-21T21:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/?p=7123"},"modified":"2018-12-11T19:21:36","modified_gmt":"2018-12-12T03:21:36","slug":"mark-watches-babylon-5-s03e20-and-the-rock-cried-out-no-hiding-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/markwatches.net\/reviews\/2018\/12\/mark-watches-babylon-5-s03e20-and-the-rock-cried-out-no-hiding-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Watches ‘Babylon 5’: S03E20 – And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the twentieth episode of the third season of Babylon 5<\/i>, this has EVERYTHING! Romance, the gift of warships, betrayals, betrayals IN THE MIDDLE OF betrayals, discordant scene and musical pairings\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 and if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re intrigued, then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch Babylon 5<\/i>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trigger Warning: For talk of consent<\/b><\/p>\n

What the fuck. WHAT THE FUCK.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Together<\/b><\/p>\n

Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s start with the least<\/i> upsetting plot here, which is real easy to point to because it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t involve SOMEONE BEING TORN APART and BEAT TO DEATH. Look, I also need to start off with Sheridan and Delenn because I simply need more time to think about what the hell I just witnessed. This is an episode of contrasts, because as one set of people get something beyond their wildest dreams, so do others, and yet these two outcomes could not be more different. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m gonna also start by saying that I am so impressed and pleased with how this show continues to address religion in a way that is both challenging and NOT condescending. When multiple religious figures arrive on the station, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s presented as a normal thing, rather than a sign of impending doom. In truth, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s long been a connection between resistance movements and religion, and having that front and center here was brilliant. Which isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to suggest that there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nothing to criticize about these organized religions, but rather that I felt this was a refreshing choice that makes a lot of sense for this show. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s an intensely spiritual narrative, you know?<\/p>\n

So, with that in mind, it made sense to me that these organizations were helping the resistance effort. In part, many of them have historically been targeted by fascist movements, too! But this goes beyond just the political; Reverend Dexter provides a very personal bit of guidance to Sheridan, one that is fitting as we head into this finale. There is room for joy and there is room for love in the midst of this war. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what I took away from this subplot. And look, I get why<\/i> Sheridan has moved forward without much of any sort of examination of his personal life or his own health. Why should he? There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a war to plan and a station to run. But Rev. Dexter provides a reminder of why life is worth preserving in the first place, and why it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important not to let one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self become the sole burden of anything<\/i>. WHICH IS A MESSAGE I COULD STAND TO LEARN, as I personally tend to bottle things up and tell no one about my problems because why would I do that<\/i> when I could just not do that<\/i>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheridan is allowed to be in love. And I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll admit that HUNDREDS OF WARSHIPS might be a strange gift of affection, but that scene totally felt romantic as hell, right? Like, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here you go, honey! Now let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s go kill some Shadows together!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

UGH THEY\u00e2\u20ac\u2122RE SO CUTE TOGETHER, OKAY.<\/p>\n

Revenge<\/b><\/p>\n

I feel like I need to re-watch this just to appreciate the double cross because WHEN DID LONDO ORGANIZE THIS? At what point did he go to G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar and say, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So, buddy, I know<\/i> we hate each other, but would you love to get revenge on the guy who killed like 6 million of your people?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED. And G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar made an uneasy alliance with someone he despised because of what it could provide himself and his people: the chance at a violent expression of justice. There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no joy on G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face as this unfolds, at least not in the way I might have anticipated. I think G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar must still be conflicted about all this. At what cost did this act of revenge come? Was it worth it to boost Londo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s place?<\/p>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really know the internal workings, but I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be surprised if there is a moment to address later on this season or next. Regardless, this power play was a nightmare to watch because I was so, so worried that G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar was walking right into a trap. I suppose I shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have doubted G\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Kar; he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s too clever to involve himself in a plot this obvious<\/i>. Still, this made for a captivating watch, as I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t figure out what Londo had done until he showed up to rescue Vir.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The brutality on display, though, is not just the violent murder of Lord Refa, who, frankly, absolutely had this coming to him. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the clear contrast, of course, provided by \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No Hiding Place Down Here\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and the beating. But there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a callous, careless use of Vir, who is used by Londo, who must go through an invasive, consent-violating brain scan all so Londo can get what he wants.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I imagine there is going to be a huge fallout because of what happened here. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place\u00e2\u20ac\u009d does not bother to give us a look at the future, aside from Londo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible rise in favor with the Emperor. Instead, this episode\u00e2\u20ac\u201dincluding the other plot\u00e2\u20ac\u201dis firmly entrenched in the now. This is where these people are; these are the choices that they made.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all a countdown. And there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s very little time left.<\/p>\n

The video for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be downloaded here for $0.99<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n

– My YA contemporary debut, ANGER IS A GIFT<\/a>, is now out in the world!\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>If you’d like to stay up-to-date on all announcements regarding my books, sign up for my newsletter<\/a>! DO IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"