Plot Synopsis:
This episode features two interlocking main plots and an unrelated subplot.
First of all, a criminal by the name of Karl Edward Mueller has just been tried and convicted of the murder of two lurkers and the "scragging" of one of Garibaldi's men. Garibaldi is eager to space the guy, as he believes Mueller has killed many times before, but the trial judge is quick to remind Garibaldi that spacing is a punishment reserved for treason. For Mueller, on the other hand, the court has three options: life imprisonment on Earth (Sinclair declares this impossible), life imprisonment on Babylon 5 (but there's not enough room in the station's brig), or the "death of personality," a procedure by which the memories of a criminal are completely wiped. The last option requires the participation of Talia Winters, who is definitely not enthused by the idea. And no wonder - when Talia does perform the baseline scan, she discovers that Mueller is a criminally insane serial killer, and this brief glimpse into Mueller's mind disturbs her greatly.
Secondly, Dr. Franklin discovers that a woman by the name of Laura Rosen has been curing lurkers with various ailments using an unfamiliar alien device. Franklin is sure that Rosen is pulling off a con job, but when he tries to follow up with the lurkers Rosen has treated, he discovers that they have in fact been cured. As it turns out, the machine Rosen is using is capable of transferring the life energy of one person into another person for the purposes of healing - and Rosen has been steadily donating more and more of her own life energy to help others. Rosen, you see, used to be a physician herself, but she lost her license after she accidentally killed a patient while high on stims. Franklin admires Rosen's desire to make things right, but he is concerned that her use of the machine will eventually kill her. Rosen tells Franklin that she is dying anyway of a painful disease called Lake's Syndrome.
At the end of the episode, the above two plots come together. On the way to his brainwipe, Mueller escapes, though he is hit with a PPG blast as he flees. He heads to Downbelow, where he takes Rosen's daughter hostage and demands that Rosen heal his injury. Franklin rushes in on this scene and ultimately sees Rosen reverse the flow of the alien machine, killing Mueller (and, incidentally, curing her Lake's Syndrome). The court concludes that Rosen acted in self-defense and let her go. Rosen, however, feels less certain that what she did was right.
Now, as I said, there is also an unrelated subplot in which Londo takes Lennier out carousing and winds up getting them both embroiled in a classic bar room brawl. In the process, Lennier learns way too much information regarding Londo's genitalia. LOL!
Overall: 6.3
Writing: 6.5
I admit - I mostly like the subplot in this episode. Londo and Lennier - the party hound and the academic - are about as different as two individuals can possibly be, and throwing them together certainly results in much cuteness and hilarity. It's a shame the coming arc made it impossible for the writers to do this more often, as it is so amusing watching Londo bounce off Lennier's incredible naivete. (Also amusing is watching sweet, innocent Lennier becoming enthralled with the Dark Star's exotic dancers. LOL!)
The two main plots are fine. It should be noted that they introduce two things that will be critically important later in the arc - namely, the alien healing device and the "death of personality." However, this episode unfortunately doesn't compare to the later stories it sets up. I find Mueller only mildly creepy - perhaps because Straczynski relegates Mueller's crimes to the shadowy past - and I likewise feel somewhat disconnected from Rosen and her daughter. I can't put my finger on what precisely is missing, but I pretty much walk away from this episode shrugging my shoulders.
Acting: 6.5
I found June Lockhart's performance in this episode creditable, but not fantastic. I also feel that Mark Rolston misses the boat somewhat when it comes to conveying Mueller's quiet and frightening insanity (though it is true that the writing gives him little to work with). The true highlight of this episode is, interestingly enough, Bill Mumy, whose reaction takes make me dissolve into giggles.
Message: 6.0
Once again, I have very mixed feelings about the message of this episode - mainly because I am uncertain what the message is. At the end of the episode, after Rosen is cleared of all charges, she says to her daughter that she did the "necessary" thing rather than the right thing when she killed Mueller. If this merely serves as an expression of Rosen's personal angst over killing a man, that would be fine; killing someone - even if you do so to defend yourself or someone else - shouldn't be a walk in the park. But if this line is somehow meant to send the message that lethal actions of a defensive nature cannot be supported morally, I'm afraid I'm going to have to raise an objection. As paragraph 2264 of my catechism states, "someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow." And as paragraph 2265 states, "legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others." As a mother, Rosen is morally obligated to defend her daughter. She had no other option. If she had suddenly developed an attack of scruples and failed to kill Mueller - thereby putting her own daughter in danger - she would have been guilty of unconscionable negligence.
Highlights:
(A Centauri official - in fact, the future Regent - has just been lecturing Londo on the need to forge good relations with potential allies.)
OFFICIAL: I'll be in touch.
(Londo closes the connection.)
LONDO: (grumbling) I'll be in touch.
(Then Londo makes what is, for the Centauri, a very rude gesture.)
LONDO: Touch this. (Heh.)
(Londo gets up and leaves his quarters. Outside, he runs into Lennier.)
LENNIER: Good morning, Ambassador.
LONDO: Lennier.
(Then Londo gets an idea. He grabs Lennier.)
LONDO: Lennier - when did you say Ambassador Delenn was due back from your homeworld?
LENNIER: In a few more days. I'll tell her you inquired.
(Lennier moves to leave. Londo follows.)
LONDO: You know, it occurs to me: we haven't spent much time together, you and I. I hardly know anything about you.
LENNIER: From birth, I was raised in the temple and studied the ways of the religious caste. Six months ago, I came here. There is nothing else.
LONDO: Ah. Most unfortunate. Well - good day.
(Londo starts to leave.)
LENNIER: Excuse me, Ambassador - (Londo turns) - why do you say "unfortunate"?
LONDO: Well, the assistant to an Ambassador should know everything he can about the other species here on Babylon 5, yes?
LENNIER: Yes - I have been doing quite a bit of reading since my arrival --
LONDO: (scoffing) Reading?
LENNIER: Yes.
LONDO: Reading is no substitute for experience. Tell you what: it is an imposition on my busy schedule, but I will take you under my wing and fill the gaps in your education. Starting tomorrow morning and for the next two days, I will show you the Babylon 5 that I know. You will find it a revelation of the highest order. (Indeed!)
LENNIER: I don't know, Ambassador --
LONDO: Oh, my good and dear friend - trust me! (Oh, dear. Whenever Londo asks you to trust him, that's your cue to start running for the exit.)
(At the Dark Star.)
LENNIER: Ambassador, this place --
LONDO: Amazing, isn't it? Here, my friend - here you will see the heart and soul of Babylon 5. (They are now in front of the stage, where an exotic dancer is - well - performing.) Also its spleen, its kidneys - a veritable parade of internal organs! (Hee. Lennier's face here is great.)
LENNIER: And in my eleventy-fifth year in the temple, I began to study the ninety-seven dialects and sub-tongues of our homeworld - and I discovered something truly amazing.
LONDO: (bored out of his skull) Yes?
LENNIER: The same word - Makai - appears in every Minbari dialect and sub-tongue, yet it never means the same thing twice. For example, it can mean sand, father, boot --
LONDO: (sarcastic) Really? That's astonishing. Truly.
(A waitress arrives with more drinks.)
LONDO: (to the waitress, pleading) Kill me. (LOL!)
LENNIER: And in my eleventy-seventh year, I turned my attention to mathematics, and I began to specialize in probability.
(Londo suddenly perks up.)
LONDO: Probability? You mean determining the odds of something happening?
LENNIER: Yes, exactly. I achieved the rank of master adept.
LONDO: My dear, good friend, Lennier -- come with me.
(Londo gets up, pulling Lennier with him.)
LENNIER: But they're about to begin another dance. You said that by interpreting the movements of certain body parts, it would help me to better understand other cultures. (*facepalm*)
LONDO: Later, later. Right now, I want to introduce you to the ultimate means of interstellar understanding. The Earthers call it poker. (Oh, boy.)
LENNIER: Interesting. Did you know that the odds of this particular combination are 5000 to one against?
(Everyone at the table folds.)
LONDO: (sighing) Lennier.
LENNIER: Yes, Londo?
LONDO: Stop that.
LENNIER: Ah. Does that mean I've won again?
LONDO: It means you have won a tenth of what you could have won if you had -- never mind. Pick up your chips. (LOL!)
SINCLAIR: I'm still waiting for an explanation, gentlemen.
LONDO: Yes, and I am prepared to give you one, Commander - as soon as the room stops spinning.
SINCLAIR: This station creates gravity by rotation. It never stops spinning.
LONDO: Well, you begin to see my problem, hm?
(After Lennier takes the blame for the brawl at the casino.)
LONDO: Lennier - thank you. If you ever need anything from me --
LENNIER: There - there is one thing. When we were at the gaming table, somehow -- a part of you reached out for the cards.
LONDO: Yes?
LENNIER: What was that?
(Londo looks out into the hallway, then whispers something into Lennier's ear. Lennier looks surprised.)
LONDO: Yes, it's true. Here - (He picks up a statuette) - Li, goddess of passion - a synthesis of male and female Centauri. Did you think these - (He gestures at Li's tentacles) - were just decorations?
(A beat.)
LENNIER: I'm going to take a vow of silence regarding this entire conversation. Good day. (ROTFL!)
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