This episode is no literary masterpiece, but we can't help but love its unapologetic rejection of pacifism and appeasement -- because sometimes, peace is just another word for surrender.
Plot Synopsis:
The Lurker's Guide has the full summary here.
The Skinny:
Stephanie S.: Despite its lack of subtlety, which my co-author and I duly note below, there are elements of this episode that deserve high praise. Number one, I'd like to put in a good word for the characterization of Lantz. Sure, he has that one infamously obvious line, but beyond that moment, Straczynski actually does a excellent job establishing Lantz' motivations. Lantz, you see, is not agitating for peace with the Centauri because he's a fascist, but because he genuinely believes that signing a non-aggression pact with the Centauri will safeguard the people of Earth. This kind of blinkered idealism is very common. Back in the days immediately after 9/11, I counter-protested a number of anti-war rallies. Whilst participating in this political street theater, I often felt a very strong desire to take some of my younger opponents by the shoulders and yell, "Look around you! Does it bother you that your fellow marchers are carrying signs in support of Hamas?" From what I could tell, these kids earnestly desired peace - one burst into tears and shrieked in our faces that we were in favor of "killing people" - but they simply didn't understand that we can't achieve peace through unilateral concessions. So it was with those individuals who chose to negotiate with Hitler during the Interwar Period - and so it is here with Lantz. In my personal fanon, Lantz ends up dying in one of Clark's torture rooms sooner or later -- just like the French pacifists who died in Hitler's concentration camps.
Number two, as SABR Matt notes below, it is immensely satisfying that Our Heroes never doubt the necessity of militarily confronting an aggressor. Not once do we see Sheridan wring his hands over his decision to destroy that Centauri warship. He never expresses remorse; he never worries about the "root causes" of Centauri rage. Indeed, if he were given a do-over, Sheridan would blow that ship "straight to hell" all over again. And that "apology" Sheridan delivers in front of his mirror? That moment literally makes me cheer.
Number three, I believe that, with Kosh at least, Staczynski ends chapter two of his epic arc in the best way possible: he answers one burning question while simultaneously asking several more. We now know that many races have been programmed to see the Vorlons as angelic beings. But here's an issue that has always occupied my attention: why didn't Londo see anything? It is interesting and significant that Londo sees his exclusion from the experience as a sign of his own damnation, but we actually don't know that Londo's interpretation is correct. What would Vir have seen had he been there? What would Emperor Turhan have seen? Is the exclusion racial or individual? We never find out. That open question does make you think, though, doesn't it? And that's all I want from the shows I watch.
SABR Matt: Although J.M.S. shows his comic book origins (there's no such thing as classy dialogue in a comic-book...you're limited to tiny panes with an image and a bubble quote to get your point across...you tend to be very direct with your word choices) and leaves entirely too much "on the nose" terse language in there for me to take the script seriously as literary genius (at best, it's on par with Greek melodrama)...the show succeeds in spite of itself. Why? Because battling evil is a concept so simple, even a comic-book writing liberal hack (sorry, Steph...LOL) can understand it. (Editor's Note: Actually, I don't disagree with that characterization at all. No apologies necessary.) I can look past the stilted dialogue and gut-wrenching simplistic characterization of the bad guys here because the story still makes me feel GOOD. It appeals to the natural human instinct to seek God by confronting evil head on. That's how real heroes are made, and that's the kind of story telling I prefer in my science fiction most of the time.
"We will at last have peace in our time," ranks right up there with "I shoulda boffed him once before he left!" as one of the all time worst moments of dialogue in television history. And they were both on B5...ouch. Yet...with all of that mind-wracking concussion-inducing drivel JMS pours into his text...the STORY...is good. Tell a good story and I'll forgive a lot of other things. Comic books are filled with great stories told well (and yet written very...very poorly). If B5 were a comic book series instead of a TV show...it might be one of the greatest of all time. All we need is a superhero...got any ideas?
Writing: 8.5/7.5
The ideas here are great, but once again, the dialogue often lacks subtlety. Lantz' direct quote of Neville Chamberlain is probably the most egregious example of this flaw, but the script is also stiff and unnatural in other places.
SABR Matt Interjects: 10 for story...5 for execution...that's a 7.5 total. A great story written like a comic book does not an 8.5 grade wrest from my fingertips.
Stephanie S. Retorts: Personally, I think SABR Matt is being too hard on comic books, but there you go. :)
Acting: 8.5/9.5
John Vickery is perhaps a little too obviously slimy as Welles, but Roy Dotrice does a nice job as Lantz, and the regular cast members all put in solid performances. I particularly like Londo's scene in the Zocalo, but I'm sure that's not at all surprising.
SABR Matt: On the other hand...I think Steph may have sold John Vickery a tad short...that overt sliminess is appropriate to the lines he was given, and the directors may have inserted themselves a tad too deeply here as well. I also think this was a highlight reel episode for Lennier and Claudia Christian (Ivanova)...in addition to the folks Steph mentions.
Message: 10.0/10.0
This episode really earns a borderline A on the strength of its message. Straczynski may be a dyed-in-the-wool leftist, but his text is thankfully free of anti-war nonsense. Here, the idea that we should pursue "peace at any price" is attacked, rightly, as a foolish and deadly delusion. The references Straczynski makes to the near-suicidal decisions the Allies made during the Interwar Period may be a little obvious, but that doesn't make those allusions any less on-point.
Highlights:
LENNIER: Sometimes, I get so close... and yet it seems like I'm shut out of the important things.
VIR: It's a useless feeling. The ambassador is definitely going through some changes. He even looks different.
LENNIER: Indeed. And now with the military beginning to stampede over everyone and everything...
VIR: ... people coming and going and secret meetings...
LENNIER: You never know what it's all about... until later, when it's too late.
VIR: They never listen to us.
VIR & LENNIER TOGETHER: Makes me nervous.
(Vir and Lennier trade surprised looks.)
VIR: Same time tomorrow?
LENNIER: Sure. (LOL! Aww. Vir and Lennier are such cuties.)
LONDO: Captain, I will have you know that I was in the middle of --
SHERIDAN: (interrupting) What the hell do you think you're doing?
LONDO: Do not address me in that tone of voice. I came here out of good will because I was told that you --
SHERIDAN: Your forces are moving in on the Drazi and the Pak'ma'rah. You are destabilizing the whole area! What's wrong? Bombing the Narn back to the Stone Age wasn't enough for ya?
LONDO: We are trying to stabilize the region, Captain. Putting a buffer zone around the Centauri Republic will lessen tensions and decrease the risk of conflict.
SHERIDAN: You call it a buffer zone, the Drazi call it an invasion.
LONDO: They are exaggerating. We are merely establishing a presence.
SHERIDAN: Well, where does that presence end? Tell me that, Ambassador. Show me on the map where it's going to end! (A beat.) Londo... everything is falling apart, and the Centauri are at the center of it all. Can't your people see that? Can't you see that?
(We see that Sheridan's words have had an impact on Londo, but he quickly hardens.)
LONDO: I do not have to listen to this. Your authority ends at Babylon 5, Captain. Do not start getting delusions of grandeur. You will not survive them.
(Londo leaves. We then cut to Sheridan's office. Sheridan and Garibaldi are discussing Londo.)
GARIBALDI: He's not the Londo I used to know anymore. Used to be you could talk to the guy. You could reason with him. Okay, he was a pain in the butt, but he was our pain in the butt. But now?
SHERIDAN: You're the closest thing he has to a friend here. Is there any way to get through to him?
GARIBALDI: Not as long as he's afraid.
SHERIDAN: As long as he's afraid?
GARIBALDI: Yeah. Look at his eyes sometime. He can see how fast things are moving. For Londo, it's like being stuck on a wild horse. You don't want to get thrown, so you hang on even harder. He's trapped. (A beat.) You know, half the time, I'm so furious with the guy I could break his neck. And the other half? I feel sorry for him. (That right there is a perfect expression of our feelings in re: Londo. Wow.)
WELLES: I'm glad to see we're adding new members to the Night Watch... even though I don't recall seeing any reports from you, Mr. Allan.
ALLAN: Oh. Well, there hasn't been much to report.
WELLES: How strange. Your associates have filed reports. One of them described potentially disloyal acts on the part of a store owner in the Zocalo. One Xavier Darabuto?
ALLAN: Well, he said he thought the new regs on imports were a little nuts, but I don't think --
WELLES: Sedition comes in small packages as well as large ones, Mr. Allan. Now, perhaps this store owner is nothing more than a vaguely dissatisfied citizen, but how can we tell the real troublemakers from the innocent bystanders unless we're kept informed?
ALLAN: I thought we could exercise our own discretion.
WELLES: Of course you can. But the Night Watch exists to protect people from misinformation and harmful ideas. Sometimes those harmful ideas can be very subtle. You might not recognize them -- but we will.
ALLAN: I know. I just --
WELLES: I have reports from the others on dockworkers who are consistently late for work, sabotaging efficiency. Several of your Lurkers have spoken to reporters about poor conditions here and at home. Two more shop owners have openly criticized presidential decisions. Have you nothing to report?
ALLAN: Well, I guess... I guess I haven't been thinking in those terms. I'm not sure I'm really comfortable with it.
WELLES: Well, let's make it easy for you, shall we? Can you verify the report about the store owner that I mentioned? He's already been named, so you wouldn't be adding anything new, just confirming what we already know.
(There is a very long pause as Allan decides what to do.)
ALLAN: I guess... I mean, yeah, I heard him talking, but it's just talk.
WELLES: That's fine. There, you see? That wasn't so bad. (Oops. Turns out that extra paycheck isn't going to come without strings.)
LANTZ: I've just received some very disturbing reports, and I was hoping you could shed some light on them. I understand you've been conducting fighter exercises all week.
SHERIDAN: That's correct. We have to keep our squads at peak efficiency.
LANTZ: And I've heard from Mr. Welles that you have been using Centauri combat models.
SHERIDAN: How did you find --?
LANTZ: That's not important. Is it true? Have you been teaching your forces to fight the Centauri?
SHERIDAN: Well, with everything that's been going on, it seemed prudent.
LANTZ: No. No, this must stop at once. This jeopardizes everything - my entire mission.
IVANOVA: I don't understand. You were sent here to investigate the Centauri.
LANTZ: Yes, well, I had to look at the situation before I could proceed. However, I'm satisfied with what I've seen. I've contacted Earth Dome, and they have authorized me to proceed.
SHERIDAN: Proceed with what?
LANTZ: I'm here to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Centauri. (D'oh!) Before I leave here, there will be an Earth-Centauri alliance that will guarantee peace for Earth. We will, at last, know peace in our time. (WANG! Ow. That two-by-four really hurts. Can't say I dispute the parallel Straczynski is drawing, though.)
SHERIDAN: I can't believe it. A non-aggression treaty with the Centauri? That's like trying to make nice with a piranha. Sooner or later, it's gonna turn around and bite ya.
IVANOVA: All this does is get us out of the way so the Centauri can move in on the other worlds. Earth wants peace, and they're willing to sacrifice everybody else in order to get it. (Indeed.)
LANTZ: The Centauri are furious over this incident, Captain!
SHERIDAN: What was I supposed to do? Stand by and let them blow this place to bits?
LANTZ: You destroyed a Centauri warship!
SHERIDAN: You're damn straight! And if I hadn't, you and I wouldn't be here to have this conversation. They fired first, Mr. Lantz. I have an obligation to protect this station.
LANTZ: You had no business helping a Narn cruiser.
SHERIDAN: Are you telling me to disobey regulations?
LANTZ: What regulations?
SHERIDAN: General Order 47. Earthforce personnel are required to answer distress calls and assist any vessel not currently involved in hostilities against Earth. Now, it may not have been politically convenient, but morally and legally, it was the right decision. (Score!)
SHERIDAN: You can't reason with them!
LANTZ: Now, you're quite wrong there, Captain. We have reasoned with them, and they have shown great patience. Now, despite their loss - and given the fact that their ship did fire first - they're willing to drop the whole matter in exchange for an apology.
SHERIDAN: Apologize for doing my job? Like hell! (LOL! Sheridan, you're not my favorite character, but sometimes I do love you.)
SHERIDAN, to his mirror: I apologize. I'm sorry. (A beat.) I'm sorry we had to defend ourselves against an unwarranted attack. I'm sorry that your crew was stupid enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, including your own people. And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did before I blew them all straight to hell. (Another beat.) As with everything else, it's the thought that counts. (ROTFL!)
NARN: It was G'Lan. I saw him with my own eyes. He swooped down as was told in the old stories.
DRAZI: No, not G'Lan. Droshalla, whose light fills the world.
NARN: It doesn't matter. It was a good sign for the coming year. This place has been blessed.
(The Narn leaves.)
DRAZI: And you, Ambassador Mollari - what did you see?
LONDO: Nothing. I saw... nothing. (Ouch. Of course, as I remarked above, I've always wondered what Vir would've seen had he been there.)
IVANOVA: (V.O.) We came to this place because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. By the end of 2259, we knew that it had failed. But in so doing, it became something greater. As the war expanded, it became our last, best hope for victory. Because sometimes peace is another word for surrender... and because secrets have a way of getting out. (YES!)
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