Overall: 9.3
I have often expressed to friends my desire to write a story in which a convicted murderer converts to Christianity while on the death row, yet chooses the death penalty because he finally understands the enormity of his sin. This episode is that story.
Plot Synopsis:
The Lurker's Guide has a summary here.
The Skinny:
Straczynski is probably one of the most fascinating of our popular hack writers. He has declared himself an atheist, yet he doesn't approach religion with the fury that we see in, say, Phillip Pullman's work. He doesn't project the same air of committed non-religion that we see in, say, Chris Hitchens, who recently demanded that no one pray for him despite his battle with cancer. Indeed, I would classify Babylon 5's dominant spirituality as pantheistic rather than atheistic; quite often, Straczynski's heroic characters (Delenn and G'Kar especially) profess an Eastern sort of belief system that equates God with the universe itself. Moreover, Staczynski doesn't deny the existence of what C.S. Lewis would term the "Tao"; Brother Theo's research into the "many names of God" reflects his creator's sincere interest in discovering a universal morality. In short, regardless of what Straczynski says about his own lack of religion, his text reveals something very different.
And then there's the subtext. As I've repeatedly noted in these reviews, Straczynski was once a Catholic, and despite the modernity of his explicit views, there is a touch of the orthodox in his imagination. In some circles, for example, I have seen fans lightly mock the relationship between Sheridan and Delenn because, in their minds, it is overly chaste. Marcus Cole, meanwhile, is so much a Knight of the Roundtable that, again, some viewers can only roll their eyes at the character's "unbelievable corniness." Over and over, Straczynski returns to Christian themes and Christian imagery; sometimes, he even mines the Bible for choice quotes.
In Passing Through Gethsemane, Straczynski's Christian subtext briefly becomes text. Here, he decides to tackle the themes of his inherited faith head on -- and we can see that he continues to take Christ seriously. Indeed, he can't help but be emotionally drawn to Him. Theologically, Straczynski misses the boat slightly when he describes, through Brother Edward, the drama in the garden of Gethsemane - Jesus didn't simply stay to atone for the sins "of others," but stayed to atone for the sins of all men in every place and every age - but the apprehension that something unimaginably important happened in that moment is certainly there and certainly should be commended.
Straczynski also takes the sacrament of Reconciliation seriously -- more seriously than many practicing Catholics (unfortunately). Too often, American Catholics treat confession as a get out of jail free card and therefore miss out on the real sacrament. You can't simply rattle off your sins to the priest, get absolved, say your Hail Mary and be done with it. You must be sincerely sorry for your sins, you must confess your sins to the priest, and you must do genuine penance. Straczynski, as we see in this episode, understands this perfectly. As soon as he becomes conscious of his past sins, Brother Edward goes through all three of the sacrament's necessary steps. First, when he learns that he was once a serial murderer, Edward is horrified. He knows that each man is an infinity in one being and realizes that perfect justice requires his own death. Second, Edward speaks his sins out loud to Theo in a scene that I'm sure was deliberately staged to evoke the confession booth. Third, Edward willingly faces the wrath of his victims. Did he deserve to be brutally tortured and essentially crucified? No - I think the earlier "death of personality" was sufficient. But the sin of Edward's tormentor certainly doesn't negate Edward's own act of contrition.
Lastly, in this episode, Straczynski delivers a very on-point message about forgiveness. Charity, like the Christian virtues of Hope and Faith, is a virtue when you offer it to someone who doesn't deserve it; forgiveness is and must be supernatural. The last thing Sheridan wants to do in that beautiful penultimate scene is shake Brother Malcolm's hand -- but he finally does so after Theo's oblique reprimand because, as one of the heroes of the series, he understands the value, spiritually, of moving beyond his very natural sentiments. Is it difficult to forgive? Is it a struggle? Yes, but that's the point.
Writing: 9.5
This is one of the finest stand-alone scripts ever written for the series. It suffers slightly from Straczynski's usual inelegant philosophizing, but the concept is terrific and profoundly moving. Bravo!
Acting: 8.5
I am not quite as taken by Brad Douriff's performance as is the rest of the fandom, but the acting here is generally very strong. Even Pat Tallman fails to annoy me.
Message: 10.0+
See above.
Highlights:
LONDO: Lyta! Lyta Alexander, as I live and breathe!
LYTA: I suggest you remove your hand, Ambassador, or you won't be doing either for much longer.
LONDO: I was just surprised to see you, that's all. Do you know that I was thinking about you just the other day? My extremely overpaid sources told me that you had been seen arriving here in a Vorlon transport. Now, they are a profoundly unreliable pool of information on the best of days, so I said, 'No, it cannot be her. The Vorlons do not pick up hitchhikers.' Not even one as attractive as you. Besides, if it were you, surely you would come by to say hello to your old friend, Londo.
LYTA: I'm sorry, Ambassador... (But she doesn't sound particularly sorry.)
LONDO: No, Londo, please.
LYTA: ... but I'm really very late. If you will excuse me. (She starts to walk down the hall. Londo follows.)
LONDO: You have been to the Vorlon homeworld, haven't you? I would pay a great deal of money for an hour of your time to find out what you have seen there.
LYTA: Ugh! (And she stalks away.)
LONDO: Lyta! I understand the Psi Corps is looking for you. (She stops.) I would hate very much for them to find you. (That's low.)
LYTA: So would I -- because I'm not with the Corps anymore. That means I'm not bound by their rules. So if someone were to turn me in, I'd find him, and before they could take me, I'd plant a nightmare deep inside his mind where no one could find or remove it. And that person would spend every night for the rest of his life screaming. (And on that, she leaves.)
LONDO: Fine! And keep your threats to yourself! (Then, to himself, darkly.) Nightmares. Ha. The way my life has been going lately, who'd notice? (Interesting. Number one, Lyta is kind of scary. Number two, Londo is kind of scary. We've got two scary people here duking it out.)
DELENN: May I -- May I ask you a question now?
EDWARD: Of course.
DELENN: For you personally, what is the defining moment of your belief? Not the history - the doctrines - but the emotional core of it?
EDWARD: Oh. (There is a long pause as he thinks it over.) On the night before our Lord was crucified, he spent the night alone in the garden of Gethsemane. He knew that they would be coming for him, and in a moment of weakness, he asked if this cup could pass from him -- if he could be spared the pain and death that would come with the morning. And, of course, the cup would not pass, and the soldiers came to Gethsemane. He did not have to be there when they arrived. He could've chosen to leave. To postpone the inevitable for a few hours -- or even days. He knew what would happen, but he chose to stay -- to sacrifice himself and thus atone for the sins of others. It was a very fragile human moment. And I've often thought about that night. And I honestly... don't know if I would've had the courage to have stayed.
EDWARD: Theo.
THEO: Edward? Edward, what are you doing? We've been looking for you! You have to come with me.
EDWARD: I can't. I can't go back, Theo. (A beat.) How could they do it? They say it's humane -- merciful. But do you know what it's like to wake up one day and discover you're a monster -- a murderer?
THEO: Listen to me, Edward -- we can work this out.
EDWARD: No. It's too late. What if -- what if I had died, Theo, never knowing what I had been? How can I confess my sins to God if I don't even know what they are? The mind forgets, but the stain remains with the soul. The blood of -- of innocent people is still on my hands. My memories are the creation of someone else, but my soul is the soul of a killer, and everything that I have done has been a lie.
THEO: That's not true, Edward! You've helped people -- cared for people!
EDWARD: It's not enough. Who knows what other crimes I may have committed that they never found out about -- that I don't even remember? I am a murderer, Theo. The sins of my former life must be atoned for. There must be justice.
EDWARD: Theo?
THEO: Don't move, Edward. Help is on the way.
EDWARD: 'S all right, Theo. I knew what was gonna happen. I even waited for them to come, so -- forgive them for doing what had to be done. (A beat.) I always wanted to know if I would have the courage to stay at the garden of Gethsemane. Now I know, Theo. Now I know. (Wow.)
EDWARD: Theo -- I'm afraid. Is there enough forgiveness for what I've done?
THEO: Always, Edward. Always. (GULP.)
SHERIDAN: Forgiveness is a hard thing, isn't it, Theo?
THEO: I don't think there is anything that can be more difficult.
SHERIDAN: I'll keep this - (meaning Edward's sculpture) - in a place of honor. Thank you.
(A hooded monk enters.)
MONK: Brother Theo -- I'm ready to go now. (The monk removes his hood, and we can see that he is Edward's murderer.)
THEO: Good. Good. I'll walk you to your ship. Captain, this is Brother Malcolm. He's just joined the order under most unusual circumstances. I asked for him specifically when I heard he wanted to serve others. He's about to go to the monastery back home where he will be trained and trained well.
MALCOLM: It is all I've wanted to do my whole life -- for as long as I can remember. It is an honor to meet you, Captain. (Malcolm holds out his hand, but, glowering, Sheridan refuses to accept it.) I've heard so much about you.
THEO: You must excuse the Captain, Malcolm. You interrupted his train of thought. I believe you were saying that forgiveness is a hard thing -- but something ever to strive for. Were you not, Captain?
SHERIDAN: (cowed) Yes. Yes, I was. (He finally shakes Malcolm's hand.) Good luck to you. I hope things work out. (BRILLIANT scene.)
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