This is, hands down, Sheridan's - and Bruce Boxleitner's - best episode.
Plot Synopsis:
As victims of the Narn-Centauri War continue to overwhelm Babylon 5's resources, Sheridan takes a little time out of his day to do some research on the Icarus, the unlucky vessel on which his wife is said to have died. He and Garibaldi are scanning the passenger manifest for the Icarus when, lo and behold, Garibaldi finds Mr. Morden on the list. He tells Sheridan that Morden is very much alive and is currently lurking about on the station, and this instantly piques Sheridan's interest. As a matter of fact, Sheridan is so exercised by this discovery that he orders security to detain Morden for questioning.
This kick starts a very interesting drama in which Sheridan goes to increasingly extreme lengths to wring the truth out of Mr. Morden once and for all. Sheridan detains Morden without charge for more than ten hours, prompting Garibaldi to resign from his position in protest. Despite Ivanova's warnings and Vir's insistence that the Centauri Republic has granted Morden diplomatic immunity, Sheridan then deviously arranges for Talia to come into accidental telepathic contact with Morden in the hallway. Sheridan is absolutely certain that Morden is hiding something big about the fate of his wife, and when Talia reports that she sensed something cold and dark in Morden, that only further strengthens Sheridan's resolve.
At last, Delenn and Kosh intervene. Realizing that Sheridan will not be satisfied if he is forced to let Morden go without getting at least some answers, Delenn explains to Sheridan the history of the great conflict on the horizon and Kosh shows him what happened to the Icarus. During humanity's prehistory, Delenn states, powerful alien beings known henceforth as the First Ones roamed the galaxy instructing the younger races and building vast empires. Over time, these First Ones went beyond the rim, but they left a few of their number behind to defend the younger races from the Shadows, alien purveyors of chaos. A thousand years ago, Delenn continues, the Shadows reemerged and attempted once again to build an empire, but they were beaten back by a coalition that included the Minbari and those few First Ones who stayed in our galaxy to help the younger races. Kosh, it is revealed, is one of these First Ones; he stays inside his encounter suit because if he were to go without it, he would be "recognized" by everyone. And as for the Icarus? It landed on Z'ha'dum, the Shadows' homeworld, and inadvertently roused the Shadows from their thousand-year hibernation. Those on the Icarus who would not agree to serve the Shadows were killed. After hearing all this, Sheridan expresses hope that his wife is still alive, but Delenn urges him, for the sake of the galaxy, to let Morden go. Morden, you see, is never alone; if Sheridan succeeds in extracting the truth from Morden, the Shadows will learn of it and will strike before the Vorlons, the Minbari, and everyone else are ready for them.
Sheridan knows the decision Delenn and Kosh are asking him to make may result in the loss of many lives, but when Sheridan by chance perceives, for just an instant, Morden's alien companions, he releases the Shadows' emissary. Then he goes to Kosh and asks for instruction on how to defeat the Shadows. Sheridan shares with Kosh his intention to go to Z'ha'dum to bring down the Shadows (and, presumably, to look for his wife), and Kosh ominously informs him that if he goes to Z'ha'dum, he will die.
Meanwhile, Franklin is starting to collapse under the strain of dealing with the flood of injured Narn refugees, and a recruiter from Earth's new Ministry of Peace has arrived on Babylon 5 to enlist people into the Night Watch, an organization purportedly devoted to maintaining "peace and harmony" within the Earth Alliance. (Hah! Maintaining ideological uniformity is more like it!) Zack Allan, Garibaldi's deputy, ultimately joins the Night Watch, attracted to the prospect of earning an extra fifty credits a week just to "do what I do anyway." Oh, Zack - you should've stayed awake in history class.
The Skinny:
Stephanie S. - Most of the time, Straczynski fails to break Sheridan out of the "hero-captain" mold; most of the time, Sheridan is basically likable but difficult to distinguish from his sci-fi predecessors. Here, however, Sheridan drifts into Ben Sisko territory - and yes, this is a good thing. He becomes "Mad Cap'n John," violating regulations and ignoring basic civil liberties left and right because, as my co-author notes below, he has finally been given a very personal stake in this fight. This brief trip off the rails is especially fascinating in light of Sheridan's lecturing Delenn on the importance of cleaving to our smaller principals a few episodes back. As it turns out, his words are easier said than heeded. Now that Sheridan has had his temporary fall from grace - now that he truly understands how difficult it is not to give in to the temptations of revenge, selfishness, power, and the like - he will proceed a more mature leader.
Throughout the series, each character confronts at least one "test" - a moment at which they must make a decision between their personal desires and the greater good. This episode is Sheridan's test; he is asked to put aside, for the moment, his desperate need to know what happened to his wife and focus on, well, the fate of the galaxy. True, this is a well-worn theme, but there's a reason it resonates with so many fans. Most of us crave a higher purpose; most of us know, instinctively, that we are supposed to be striving for something beyond the base urges of the here and now. Straczynski is a bit of a hack when it comes to the finer points of storytelling - especially dialogue - but episodes like this one reveal his ability to tap into our secret human longings. That's the key to Babylon 5's lasting success; that's why so many B5 fans try, with a semi-religious fervor, to rope in the uninitiated.
My co-author remarks below that Sheridan's choice to follow Kosh's course of action here constitutes a form of idolatry. It's certainly true enough that the Vorlons are more interested in controlling the younger races than in assisting them -- a fact that will become obvious to all once we head into the fourth season. Still, I'm not sure SABR Matt's charge is entirely correct. Sheridan does not enter into his relationship with Kosh without first making his own demands, which suggests that he views Kosh more as a powerful and useful ally of the moment than as someone in which he should put his faith.
Beyond Sheridan, this episode also features the first appearance the Night Watch. This thread, like most of the Earth-based arcs, has been misused and abused by lefty fans so often that I would be remiss if I did not comment upon it in Right Fans contrarian style. Said lefty fans point to the Night Watch as Straczynski's stand-in for the modern right-wing's eagerness to quash dissent -- and unfortunately, Straczynski has encouraged them in this line of thinking. I think this interpretation is utterly laughable. In this day and age, political correctness is more often a tool - a bludgeon, rather - of the left. Wherever you find a speech code, you find leftwing professors serving as its principal advocates. And these folks justify their attempts to limit the free speech rights of their students in precisely the same way Macabee justifies the creation of the Night Watch: by citing the need to foster "internal peace." Lefties have trouble turning up instances when Bush 43 demonstrably and verifiably (not potentially) threatened the rights of ordinary citizens -- but I can pull a list of the left's misdeeds off the FIRE website in three seconds flat. So yes - the traditional leftwing line on this just doesn't fly with me.
It would also be out of character for me to let this episode pass by without remarking upon what SABR Matt accurately describes as Vir's moment of "psychotic badassery." The scene in question is actually not one of my top three favorite Vir moments, but it's definitely easy to see why it's wildly famous among the fans - why Ed Wasser gets greeted with the Vir Finger Waggle every time he shows up at conventions. Here, Stephen Furst conveys this terrific combination of cheerfulness and blood-thirsty moral indignation that is, without a doubt, iconic. A lot of fans look on Vir as a naif, but this scene establishes that he is Centauri through-and-through - that he too has a dark side. I love that. Without moments like this, I would not have found Vir such interesting fanfic fodder.
SABR Matt - This show's strengths lies (finally!) in language and character. Powerful, emotionally charged (appropriately balanced) realistic dialogue is at the heart of every scene that matters. It's on par with the best of DS9 or House...and that is high praise. As well, the human characters are given morsels of real motivation (!!) and heroically advance. Sheridan isn't just your standard sci-fi action hero here...he's got a personal stake in events. Talia isn't just a convenient plot fulcrum here...she's a real person who suffers real consequences for Sheridan's choices (and slaps him right nice...LOL). Morden isn't just a snake oil salesman in a fancy suit...he's actually VULNERABLE for once...and we get to see new facets of his character unfold. That's what makes this show special.
The plot isn't that awe inspiring...the theme is well tried and not all that gut-punchingly amazing...but the cast takes a great script and produces some of the best acting we'll see on B5 from people who are NOT Peter Jurasik or Andreas Katsulas. Trust me...it is well worth the watching on those grounds alone.
Writing: 9.0 / 10.0
I don't agree with my co-author that the dialogue in this episode is wholly natural. It does contain one of Delenn's infamous "a thousand years ago..." speeches, after all. Still, the script deserves high marks for allowing Sheridan to be recognizably human and capable of error.
SABR Matt Chimes In: Thematically, this show is not totally perfect...but in terms of the powerful LANGUAGE used here...it is brilliant. It is also a shining example of how characterization SHOULD have been done with the human cast.
Acting: 9.5 / 9.5
As I said above, Bruce Boxleitner brings his A-game to this episode -- and he is well supported by the rest of the cast.
SABR Matt Chimes In: B5 is not known for having a great cast, but this episode is an exception. Even the humans - especially Bruce Boxleitner and Rick Biggs - have MAJOR "up" days in critical roles. When they get handed an interesting script, they rise to the occasion.
Message: 9.0 / 8.0
Straczynski touches that drive in our souls to reach for something greater and higher despite the technical flaws in his writing.
SABR Matt Chimes In: Allusions to God (and faith) - and Vir's psychotic words of bad assery (to steal from a BSG review...LOL) - aside, the show's emphasis on giving up the self to serve a higher cause is certainly noble, but as we later find out, we've placed our faith in the wrong hands. The Vorlons (just another "ism") are no better than the shadows. If the show had focused on giving up the self to serve God, it would have gotten a higher score. In this form, it's merely a noble deed in service of a false idol.
Highlights:
MORDEN: I was expecting Ambassador Mollari.
VIR: He was recalled to Centauri Prime for consultations about the war effort.
MORDEN: And how is your war going?
VIR: Why do you ask me questions when you already know the answers?
MORDEN: Just making conversation. Here. (He gestures to a chair.) Sit.
(Vir gives Morden a Look and doesn't sit. Heh.)
MORDEN: (more forcefully this time) Sit.
(Vir relents and sits.)
MORDEN: You don't like me, do you, Vir? I find this surprising. After all, my associates and I are doing everything they can to help your people reclaim their place in the galaxy. I should think you'd be grateful.
VIR: (impatient) Is there a reason you sent for me?
MORDEN: I sent for Ambassador Mollari. But you're here, he's not, and it can wait. (Vir moves to leave, but Morden's voice stops him.) If restoring the Centauri Republic means nothing to you, what does? What do you want?
VIR: I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I would look up into your lifeless eyes and wave - like this. (He learns forward and cheerfully waggles his fingers at Morden.) Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden? (BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Vir is made of pure awesome. We love him.)
FRANKLIN: You know, when a patient starts to slip away... I mean, he looks at you. And his eyes grab hold of you the way a drowning man grabs hold of anything to keep from sinking. Afraid. So afraid. And then, just at the last, it's as if they look past you to something else, and the look on their face, it's like nothing you can describe. And then, just as they look past you - the moment they look past you - you can't help but meet their gaze, and just for an instant, you see God reflected in their eyes. I've seen a lot of reflected gods today, Susan - and I'm wondering how we can keep believing in them when they've stopped believing in us. (B5 is not an atheistic canon. We don't care what JMS says about his personal beliefs.)
SHERIDAN: I think I'm getting to him. The more I pick his story apart, the more it doesn't add up.
GARIBALDI: Captain --
SHERIDAN: All I need is to find one verifiable lie.
GARIBALDI: Captain, you've had this guy in here for over ten hours and you still haven't charged him with anything.
SHERIDAN: I'm aware of that, Mr. Garibaldi.
GARIBALDI: No, sir, I don't think you are. Look, sometimes when I'm out in the world, yeah, I play things fast and loose. But inside this office, I play it by the book. This ain't even close.
SHERIDAN: I'll assume full responsibility.
GARIBALDI: You can't do that. As head of security, every prisoner is my direct responsibility. I'm the one who's ultimately responsible, and it's my butt that'll be brought up on charges.
SHERIDAN: You can't look at him and tell me you think he is legit! He's hiding something!
GARIBALDI: Of course he is. And so are half the people on this station. But you can't go around arresting them for it! His station record is clean as a whistle. Look, I know you're doing this because of your wife. I can understand that. So let me cut him loose. Let me follow him around until I can find something to charge him with.
SHERIDAN: I won't let him outta the box! Not when I am this close! Hell, he might jump ship. I can't let that happen!
GARIBALDI: Damn it, Captain, you can't go interrogating someone for ten hours without charges! The regs say --
SHERIDAN: Mr. Garibaldi, interpreting the regs for a senior officer can be considered an act of insubordination.
GARIBALDI: Okay, so now what? You're gonna charge me with insubordination? Is that it? You wanna lock me up in the next cell? You pulled the trigger on this one, Captain. You damn well better be prepared to back it up.
SHERIDAN: I just need more time, Michael. That's all. If he know what happened to Anna -- if he is somehow responsible for -- I'm sorry. I can't let him go.
GARIBALDI: Well, I'm sorry too. Because I can't be here as Chief of Security while something like this is going on. Either it stops, or I resign, effective immediately.
IVANOVA: Captain, may I talk to you for a moment? It's about this Morden.
SHERIDAN: Get in line, Commander.
IVANOVA: I'm serious. I just spoke to Mr. Garibaldi --
SHERIDAN: I assume he briefed you.
IVANOVA: He did.
SHERIDAN: Then you know everything you need to know.
IVANOVA: No, I don't! Captain, listen: as your executive officer, it's my responsibility to notify you if I think your behavior is becoming --
SHERIDAN: Irrational?
IVANOVA: That's as good a word as any.
SHERIDAN: Thank you for your notification, Commander. Now if you don't mind --
IVANOVA: Captain, you're forcing me into a position where I'm going to have to report this, and I don't want to have to do that! Don't you understand?
SHERIDAN: I do understand, Commander! I know how I look, and I know how I sound, but I have to do this! For ten years, the only things that mattered to me were my wife and my career. When she died, she took the best part of me with her. I survived by telling myself that it was an accident - like everybody said - and focusing on the one other thing that I had left: my job. And now suddenly -- that's all turned upside down. Maybe she was killed by that man sitting in isolation right now. If you were in my position, would you let him go? If you had that doubt in your mind, could ya?
IVANOVA: No, I couldn't.
SHERIDAN: Neither can I.
TALIA: I'm sorry, Captain, but I can't oblige you on this. Psi Corps prohibit unauthorized scans in civil or criminal investigations.
SHERIDAN: How can it be unauthorized? According to Earth Central records, he is supposed to be dead. Can a dead man object?
TALIA: Captain, you are trying to use the letter of the law to defeat the spirit of the law.
SHERIDAN: Ms. Winters, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I didn't --
(Talia then slaps Sheridan and walks out. Good for her.)
SHERIDAN: (ruefully) Guess I had that comin'.
FRANKLIN: Guess you did. Hope it was worth it.
SHERIDAN: The Icarus -- they found something. They woke something up.
DELENN: Yes. Once awakened, the Shadows could not allow them to leave in case they might warn others. Those who would not serve were killed.
SHERIDAN: But were they all killed? Delenn, maybe -- maybe some of them were kept alive as prisoners. Anna might still be alive. Morden --
DELENN: -- must be released!
SHERIDAN: After what you've just shown me, how can you ask me to - to let him go?
DELENN: Because right now they do not know how much we know. The last time, the Shadows lost because they moved too quickly. Now they are being careful - gathering their forces slowly. If you push Morden, sooner or later he will tell you what happened. Then he will be killed. And you will be killed. The Shadows will move now before we're ready for them.
SHERIDAN: How are they gonna know?
DELENN: Because Morden is never alone. Listen to me: aside from the Vorlons, we do not have the First Ones to help us this time. We are on our own. We will only have one chance to stop them, and if we fail, billions will die. (beat) There comes a moment when each of us must pledge to something greater than himself. You told G'Kar he had to decide between revenge and the good of his own people. Now you must make the same decision, Captain. It will be the most important decision of your life.
SHERIDAN: I let him go. But there is a price tag attached. You've been trying to help me so we can understand each other. That's not what I want anymore. I want you to teach me how to fight them. How to beat them. Because sooner or later, I'm going to Z'ha'dum. I'm going to stop them.
KOSH: If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die.
SHERIDAN: Then I die. But I will not go down easily, and I will not go down alone.
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