Classics: B5 1:18/1:19 - A Voice in the Wilderness (slightly delayed - sorry!)

Overall: 8.8

This two-parter almost makes feature status on the merits of its foreshadowing and its theme. Also: I LOVE LONDO SO MUCH THAT IT KILLS ME.

Cut for length.



Plot Synopsis:

The Great Machine: When the crew detects seismic disturbances on the surface of Epsilon III (the supposedly dead planet around which Babylon 5 is orbiting), a geological survey team is sent down to check it out. Before said team makes it to the surface, however, they are hit by a beam of energy and disabled. Apparently, there is something of import down there after all. Ivanova informs Sinclair that the energy beam is a communications beacon of some kind, but no one is able to decipher it.

Meanwhile, Delenn welcomes Draal, her old teacher, to the station. In a later scene, Draal reveals to Delenn his intention to "go to the sea." He feels he can no longer do good on Minbar and is seeking his destiny elsewhere.

That night, as Sinclair is watching the news before bed (the content of said report to be discussed below), he sees a flickering apparition of an alien reaching out and calling to him for help.

The following morning, Dr. Tasaki takes his team back down to Epsilon III to collect more data. Despite Ivanova's warning not to dip into the atmosphere, Dr. Tasaki can't restrain his curiosity, and he does go down into the upper atmosphere to obtain some more detailed sensor readings. Suddenly, a group of missiles is launched from Epsilon III, and Dr. Tasaki once again has to be rescued. Ivanova is ticked off, but Dr. Tasaki's risky maneuver does seem to have borne some fruit: his sensor readings have revealed that the missiles came from a fissure on Epsilon III that is five kilometers deep. Sinclair convinces Ivanova to accompany him on another trip down to the planet to take a closer look.

After making his usual social rounds in the Zocalo, Londo returns to his quarters with a drink in his hand (naturally). In the hallway, he too sees the same apparition that Sinclair saw the previous night. "Help me," the alien pleads.

While a fighter wing fires shots into the atmosphere of Epsilon III to disorient the automated defense system, Sinclair pilots a shuttle into the fissure Dr. Tasaki discovered. At the bottom, he finds a landing pad. Putting on their breathers (for the atmosphere is largely carbon dioxide), Sinclair and Ivanova climb outside and start looking around. Deep beneath the planet's surface, they discover an enormous and highly advanced machine. Before they can return to their shuttle, however, an earthquake hits, and the tunnel out collapses. While they are searching for another way out, Sinclair and Ivanova see another apparition. The apparition directs them down another tunnel, which opens up into another chamber. Inside said chamber, they find the source of the apparitions - an alien that has been hooked up to the heart of Epsilon III's massive machine. "Help me," the alien - whose name we later learn is Varn - says, "or all of your people will die." Sinclair and Ivanova unhook Varn, and he helps them find another exit. Sinclair and Ivanova take Varn back to the station, and Varn is placed under Dr. Franklin's care.

Meanwhile, back at the station, the Earth War Cruiser Hyperion arrives. Captain Ellis Pierce informs Sinclair that he has been ordered by the brass to take control of the situation on Epsilon III. Sinclair objects to Pierce's presence at once, as it is his understanding that Babylon 5 has full jurisdiction over this sector of space. Pierce states that Earth Force wishes to claim the technologies found on Epsilon III and is willing to use force to discourage other races from making similar claims. Sinclair is angry; with a war cruiser parked right outside, there's no way he can keep the situation quiet. He calls Senator Hidoshi and demands that he be given confirmation of Pierce's orders from President Santiago himself. Senator Hidoshi promises to do his best, but points out that the president is currently occupied with the revolt on Mars (see below).

In the C&C, Ivanova reports that the Hyperion has just sent a team down to Epsilon III. Sinclair immediately calls up Pierce and demands that Pierce recall his team, making up a phony story about a jamming device to buy some time. Ivanova then reports that the seismic activity on Epsilon III has been steadily increasing since they returned with Varn. At this rate, Ivanova warns, the planet will explode, taking Babylon 5 with it. Sinclair and the rest of the crew start to consider their evacuation options.

As anticipated, it is difficult to keep the details of the escalating situation from the station's populace. Londo in particular seems to know everything (he has some very busy spies, apparently), and he complains to Ivanova that she and Sinclair have been holding out on him.

Meanwhile, Draal hears Varn's voice calling out to him in the hallway, and he and Delenn head to the Medlab to speak to the alien. Varn tells the Minbari that Epsilon III will explode without "another" and urges them to stay away from the planet.

Varn's warning seems to make no impression on Pierce, however. Once he figures out that Sinclair was stalling him with the jamming device fiction, he prepares to send another team down to Epsilon III. Sinclair threatens to open fire on Pierce's ships, and Pierce declines to call Sinclair's bluff. Just then, an alien ship comes through the jump gate and scans Babylon 5's language files. The new arrival opens a channel, and an alien of Varn's race, who calls himself Takarn, presents an ultimatum: turn Epsilon III over to his people, or Babylon 5 and the Hyperion will be destroyed in ten hours. Pierce replies with an ultimatum of his own: Takarn must leave within nine hours, or the Hyperion will attack. Ivanova rolls her eyes.

Sinclair goes down to the Medlab to speak to Varn. Varn tells him that Takarn and his people are outcasts from his society and must not be given Epsilon III. Varn states that Epsilon III is "for the future." Sinclair then goes to speak to Delenn and Draal, but Delenn and Draal can give Sinclair no new information.

When Sinclair leaves Delenn and Draal, Londo arrives. He accuses the Minbari of keeping secrets from him and demands that they talk. Later, in the garden, Draal, Delenn, and Londo confer. They have concluded that someone must go down to take Varn's place in the Great Machine. Eager to do something heroic for a change, Londo wants to participate in this mission and is unconcerned this will be a one-way trip for one among their number.

Londo, Delenn, and Draal steal Varn from the Medlab and take a Centauri shuttle down to Epsilon III. When Takarn spots Londo making his haphazard way to the surface (hilariously, Londo seems uncertain how to operate some of the controls on the shuttle), he starts his attack on Babylon 5. The Hyperion and Babylon 5 return fire. In the midst of this battle, Garibaldi takes a shuttle down to Epsilon III in pursuit of Londo. Beneath the surface, he finds Londo, Delenn, Draal, and Varn in the chamber where Varn was initially discovered. Draal tells Garibaldi that he has decided to take Varn's place. When Garibaldi objects, Draal begs to be allowed to fulfill his destiny.

Back at the station, the battle over Epsilon III continues to rage. Then, suddenly, an energy beam issues forth from beneath the surface of Epsilon III, and everyone's terminals go dark. An image of Draal appears. Draal informs the battling parties that Epsilon III belongs to no one - that it is meant for the future. He further adds that Epsilon III will be placed under the jurisdiction of the Babylon 5 Council. Takarn, angry, tries to approach Epsilon III, but his ship is destroyed by a cutting beam.

Within the Great Machine, Delenn bids an emotional farewell to Draal, who is now connected to the heart of the machine.

Garibaldi and Lise: Meanwhile, while all of the above is going on, ISN reports reveal that an open revolt has erupted on Mars. This news is particularly devastating for Garibaldi, as he left his old flame, Lise, behind on Mars to take the security job at Babylon 5. Throughout these two episodes, Garibaldi desperately tries to get in touch with Lise. First, he tries to contact Mars directly, but is informed that his clearance is not high enough to punch through the communications blackout. Next, he approaches Talia and asks her to help him get a connection via the secret Psi Corps base on Mars. Talia is ultimately rebuffed, though she does receive news that Lise's name is not on the survivor list (which means she's either injured or dead). Finally, Sinclair offers to talk to some brass who owe him favors, and Garibaldi at last gets his line to a hospital on Mars. He ends up regretting this, however, as he learns that Lise has gotten married to a guy named Franz.

Writing: 9.5

This is a two-parter you really come to appreciate once you've seen the entire series at least once, as the subtle foreshadowing Straczynski employs here is absolutely phenomenal.

Consider, for example, the appearance of Captain Pierce. Unspoiled, you might take at face value Pierce's statement that Earth Force is interested in acquiring new military technology. However, if you know how things ultimately play out, you see at once that Pierce is unwittingly acting on behalf of a faction within the military that is allied with the vice president - who is himself allied with the Shadows. It all makes perfect sense; the Shadows have every reason to seek control of the Great Machine, as it played a major role in their defeat a millennium ago. And what about the fact that President Santiago countermands Pierce's orders? This right here sneakily lays the groundwork for Santiago's assassination, as it demonstrates Santiago's lack of control over certain elements in his own government.

Then there's the fact that Varn reaches out to Londo of all people and asks the Centauri for his aid. This somewhat puzzling choice - not to mention Londo's expressed desire to die on his feet doing something noble - takes on whole new shades of meaning when you know where Londo is headed. Straczynski, through Draal, tells us that Londo embodies the third principle of sentient life - the capacity for self-sacrifice. Unspoiled, we find this mildly interesting; after we see the full series, however, this observation punches us in the gut.

Londo is more adorable here than we will ever see him again - and that is a calculated move on Straczynski's part. Because Londo is presented here as an appealing and friendly Centauri Falstaff, we will feel the tragedy of his coming fall all the more keenly. At the same time, though, Straczynski never loses sight of Londo's ultimate destination. The clues are very subtle, but they are indisputably there. Not only is Londo obliquely described as self-sacrificial, but we also see his fatalism when he speaks of the Narn.

Add to the above the fact that the dialogue is, in general, somewhat less stilted than is usual for this series, and what you have is one of Babylon 5's most brilliantly crafted scripts.

Acting: 8.0

Here, we have another set of episodes in which there is less to criticize on the acting front. I am not all that impressed with Curt Lowens' portrayal of Varn; his moment with Delenn at the end is rather nice, but this is offset by some of his earlier scenes in the Medlab, in which his attempts to convey Varn's struggle for life fall flat. On the other hand, I really like the interactions between Louis Turenne and Mira Furlan; I think the chemistry there is genuine. And Peter Jurasik's ability to reach inside himself and deliver something fascinating and/or funny is very much on display. There's a reason Londo dominates the highlights below, and it isn't simply that I'm biased - it's that Peter successfully brings the lovely writing to poignant life.

Message: 9.0

Straczynski may be a self-identified atheist, but he just can't seem to shake his Catholic roots. Not only is he clearly fascinated by the Fall (as I noted in our review of Signs and Portents), but he is also inexorably drawn to the theme of self-sacrifice. Time and time again on this series, characters hold up "dying to self" as one of our highest ideals; here, Draal and Delenn identify it as "the third principle of sentient life," elevating it almost to the level of sheer necessity.

And notice too what Straczynski identifies as the rewards of this self-emptying. After Draal, in a beautiful scene, leaves his old life behind to serve the cosmos as the guardian of the Great Machine, Varn tells Delenn that Draal will "see all the tomorrows" and "touch the edge of the universe" with his thoughts. This is a poetical way of saying that Draal will be rewarded with eternity on the merits of his selflessness. This stands in stark contrast to what Draal describes as the consequences of decadence: dissatisfaction and spiritual emptiness.

Babylon 5 has been criticized by other reviewers for the way in which it liberally borrows from the Western canon and lays out our entire philosophical tradition in "overly simple" terms, but as a Catholic Christian, I believe it is precisely this series' moral earnestness - its unintentional Judeo-Christian ethos - that makes it so compelling.

Highlights:

LONDO: What a pleasure it is to deal with someone reasonable. Negotiations are so much more enjoyable when certain individuals are not here to interfere.
DELENN: I would suggest that there is a difference between being unreasonable and being angry. Ambassador G'Kar is angry much of the time, but even the greatest anger fades with time.
LONDO: My dear Ambassador Delenn, I am sure that for you, this is true. But for G'Kar and his people, they will do all that they can to destroy us until the universe itself decays and collapses. If all the Narn stood in one place and hated all at the same time, that hatred could fly across dozens of light years and reduce Centauri Prime to a ball of ash. That is how much they hate us.
SINCLAIR: You don't have to respond in kind.
LONDO: Of course we do. It is a natural law. Physics tells us that for every action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction. They hate us, we hate them, they hate us back. And so, here we are: victims of mathematics. (Londo, Londo, Londo - you are such a downer sometimes.)

DELENN: Without the hope that things will get better - that our inheritors will know a world that is fuller and richer than our own - life is pointless - and evolution is vastly overrated. (I don't believe that utopia can ever be achieved - but can we at least strive to improve our lot? Of course!)

DRAAL: Our world is changing, Delenn. I'm not sure when it began to change. Perhaps the war. Perhaps the death of Dukhat. Perhaps the darkness was there all along and we refused to see it.
DELENN: If you're referring to the growing division between the religious and military castes...
DRAAL: That and more than that. There is a sense that we are lost. Drifting. In the streets - in the temples - you can hear it in their voices - their manner. An anger just beneath the surface. A growing dissatisfaction. A self involvement above the needs of others. It is not the same world in which I was born, Delenn. Not the same world at all. (There is a pause.) I am going to the sea.
DELENN: (stunned) Draal - no! You are still too young to go to the sea. There is still so much you could do back home.
DRAAL: I don't know what good it would do. Better to find a place out there in the sea of stars where I can be of service before the end. I hear the call of the stars, Delenn - and I must answer. (This is a very nice scene.)

(After the survey vessel gets fired upon and is rescued by their fighter escorts.)
TASAKI: (on comm) Survey One to Babylon Control - we're clear. Returning to base.
IVANOVA: (is pissed) Confirmed, Survey One. Upon arrival, you will report for debriefing. (A beat.) And just one more thing - on your way back, I'd like you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 mantra: Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again, Ivanova will personally rip my lungs out! Babylon Control out. (After cutting the connection, she sighs.) Civilians. (Then she looks heavenward.) Just kidding about that God part. No offense. (LOL!)

LONDO: Ah, Mr. Garibaldi! Off duty, I see! (He reaches over, takes Garibaldi's glass, and sniffs the contents.) Water? Fascinating. I never touch the stuff myself. (Then he spies how glum Garibaldi looks and decides to stay a while.) Kat - the usual. (The waitress leaves to fetch his order.)
GARIBALDI: Is there something I can do for you, Ambassador?
LONDO: Yes. Attend: When I was a young Centauri, I developed a preoccupation with the female of my particular species. I went to all the finest clubs - watched the most exotic Centauri dancers. Now, one day, I was angry and upset. But I went to the club, I sat, watched the show - but I never saw it. I just sat and stewed. Suddenly, I looked up, and this beautiful dancer was leaning down over the stage and looking right into my eyes. And she said, "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad." And then she kissed me - (He points to his forehead.) - right here. (A beat.) Mr. Garibaldi - whatever it is, it can't be that bad.
(Londo starts to chuckle. Eventually, Garibaldi joins in.)
GARIBALID: You try and kiss me, and I'll break your arm.
(Londo thinks this is utterly hilarious, and he bursts into open gales of laughter.)
LONDO: We are not that close, Mr. Garibaldi!
GARIBALDI: And the dancer?
LONDO: Oh, I married her!
GARIBALDI: No!
LONDO: Yes! That day! The next day, I saw her in the light of day sleeping against my arm, and I decided that I would rather chew off my own arm than wake her up.
GARIBALDI: (grinning) Aw, that's sweet.
LONDO: Noooo, no - she had a voice that could curdle fresh milk. "Londo!" "Yes, darling?" "Londo!" "Coming, my darling!" (For a moment, Londo finds it hard to laugh and speak simultaneously.) "I'll be right there, my love bug!"
(Londo and Garibaldi giggle together for a bit before they calm down.)
LONDO: You looked as if you needed a friend.
GARIBALDI: I did. Thanks.
LONDO: You're welcome. And now I go to spread happiness to the rest of the station. It's a terrible responsibility, but I have learned to live with it. (Londo can be such a fatalist sometimes, but sometimes he also has this terrific joie de vivre. That's one reason why he's one of my favorite characters. And by the way, it's interesting from a psycho-analytical standpoint that in his story, Londo combines the attributes of his first, unnamed love with the attributes of Timov, his first and most no-nonsense wife. Hmmm.)

LONDO: Ah, Delenn. What can I do for you?
DELENN: I was taking my friend on a tour of the station and thought I would introduce you. Draal, this is Ambassador Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic. Ambassador, this is Draal - for many years my mentor and teacher.
LONDO: I am honored.
DRAAL: Thank you. I hope we are not intruding.
LONDO: Oh, no, no, I was just doing a little studying.
DELENN: Oh!
LONDO: Yes, Earthers. I try to find out as much as I can about them so I can make some sense out of them, but -- it never seems to come together.
DELENN: They do seem to be a mass of contradictions.
LONDO: Exactly my point. Hear: Six thousand years of recorded history - a history that includes remarkable composers, astonishing symphonies - but what is the one song that half of them sing to their children generation after generation?
(Delenn and Draal exchange puzzled looks.)
LONDO: (singing) "You put your right hand in, you put your right hand out, you put your whole self in, and you turn yourself about. You do the Hokey Pokey, and you give a little shout. That's what it's all about!" (A beat.) It doesn't mean anything! I have been studying it for seven days. I even had the computer analyze it. I swear to you, it. does. not. mean. a thing!
DELENN: We've come at a bad time, haven't we?
LONDO: (laughing) No, not at all! Here, sit! I'll make some hot jala.
(Delenn and Draal move to sit.)
DRAAL: (to Delenn) I rather enjoyed the song.
DELENN: Don't tell him.
DRAAL: You're sure?
DELENN: Trust me. (LOL. This makes you wonder how long Londo puzzled over cheese rolls and the like.)

LONDO: Ah, Lieutenant Commander! Just the person I've been looking for!
IVANOVA: Ambassador, this is not a good time.
LONDO: No, I imagine not. You have been holding out on me.
IVANOVA: I have no idea what you're talking about. Situation is status quo.
LONDO: Ah, of course. An Earth War Cruiser parked outside the station, mysterious trips to the planet beneath us, rumors that you have found someone down there and brought him back here - this to you is status quo, yes? You must lead a very interesting life.
IVANOVA: Ambassador...
LONDO: You did find something down there, didn't you? Something valuable, perhaps? I wish to remind you that my government has contributed substantial amounts of money to this station. We are entitled to an equal share of anything you find down there.
IVANOVA: Ambassador, do you really want to know what's going on down there right now?
LONDO: Yes. Absolutely.
IVANOVA: (leaning in to whisper in Londo's ear) Boom. Boom, boom, boom. Boom, boom. Boom! (On the last boom, Londo jumps.) Have a nice day. (Hee!)

LONDO: Yes, [Varn] called to me as well - appeared to me out of nowhere.
DELENN: Strange. I wonder why he appeared just to you, Draal, and the commander?
DRAAL: Perhaps because we are most familiar with the third principle of sentient life. You can be of great service, Ambassador, if you are willing to dare greatly.
LONDO: You are talking to the Centauri who led the raid on Fralis 12. Granted, it was a long time ago, but perhaps it is time to return to old habits.
DELENN: Ambassador - I don't think you fully understand what Draal is asking of you.
LONDO: Of course I do. One of us will not return, yes?
DRAAL: That much is certain.
LONDO: When I was a young and foolish Centauri, I swore that I would die on my feet doing something noble and brave and futile. Perhaps it was not so wild a dream as I thought - or as foolish. (NOT EVEN CAPSLOCK CAN EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SCENE. OMG. The third principle of sentient life concerns the willingness of sentient creatures to sacrifice themselves. That Varn sees this capability in Londo is an EXTREMELY significant bit of foreshadowing. And incidentally? I wish I knew how to edit a fan video, because I would totally cut together Londo's last line in this highlight with a certain set of images from War Without End.)

IVANOVA: My God. Whoever's piloting that shuttle's a mad man!
LONDO: (on the shuttle, laughing) Just like Fralis 12! (BWAHAHA!)

(Later.)
LONDO: (on the shuttle) Who said the good old days are gone, eh? Now, uh, landing thrusters, landing thrusters... hmm. If I were a landing thruster, which one of these would I be? (ROTFL! Londo is extremely lovable throughout this two-parter. If you know what happens next, watching him here really breaks your heart.)

(After Draal announces that he will be the next guardian of the Great Machine.)
GARIBALDI: I can't allow this. There has to be another way.
DRAAL: There is no other way. Please believe me. All my life, I have searched for a way to serve others. To me, there is no higher calling - no greater destiny - than to live for another - and, if necessary, to die for another -- to somehow make the world a better place. I had done all I could on my world. I came looking for a reason - a way to live out my remaining years with direction and purpose. Here, I have found it! I will save lives! And the wonders of this place will take me centuries to explore. Let my life have meaning. Help me to do what we both know must be done.

(After Draal has been connected to the Great Machine.)
DELENN: Tell me that it is a wonder so that I may sleep when all I can see in the night is this place.
VARN: It is a wonder. The machine will extend his life, as it did for me. He will see all the tomorrows - hear all the songs - touch the edge of the universe with his thoughts.
DELENN: And my thoughts will ever be with him. I hope that he can hear them. "The third principle of sentient life is its capacity for self-sacrifice... for a cause... a loved one... or for a friend." Goodbye, dear friend. Perhaps someday I may see you again.

GARIBALDI: Can I ask you a question? Why the end run around us? Once you figured out that someone would have to take Varn's place, why didn't you come to us and let us handle it?
DELENN: Because if I had, I know in my heart that Commander Sinclair would be the one down there right now. He's looking for a purpose - but his destiny lies elsewhere.
GARIBALDI: And Londo? How'd you get him to go along with this?
DELENN: An exchange of promises. I now owe him a great favor. He will come to collect sooner or later - but I think he enjoyed it. He discovered something inside him that he had thought was buried long, long ago. (Indeed!)