Plot Synopsis:
Jason Ironheart: Normal station business is disrupted when two Psi Cops arrive on a mission to track down a powerful rogue telepath. Sinclair calls in both Garibaldi and Talia Winters to meet with Bester and his fellow cop and is outraged when Talia is subjected to an involuntary mind scan. Clearly, these cops mean business. They are cagey, however, regarding the danger the aforementioned rogue telepath poses to the station.
After her scan, Talia is contacted by the rogue in question. His name is Jason Ironheart, and he and Talia were once involved. Ironheart manages to convince Talia to hear him out, and in Talia's quarters, he reveals that he took part in a Psi Corps experiment that attempted to develop telekinetic abilities in its research subjects. With Ironheart, the researchers succeeded. In fact, Ironheart now has the ability to manipulate matter at the subatomic level and is well on his way to reaching a higher plane of existence. Trapped on the station, however, he is gradually losing control of his faculties. Eventually, his energy blocks off an entire section of Babylon 5.
An angry Sinclair confronts Bester, and Bester finally reveals to Sinclair just what has happened to Ironheart. Sinclair asks how the Psi Cops intend to stop a telepath of such unprecedented power, and Bester states that Ironheart has been programmed with a fail safe that he and his fellow Psi Cop can activate provided they have line of sight.
Talia, meanwhile, approaches one of the energy shields protecting Ironheart and asks Ironheart to let her in. Ironheart warns Talia that the Psi Corps is seeking to control more and more of the current Earth government. He then asks Talia to bring in Sinclair, alone and unarmed. Talia reports this to Sinclair, and Sinclair agrees to the meeting. When Ironheart explains to the commander what is happening - that he doesn't mean to harm the residents of the station and that he only wants to prevent the Psi Corps from harnessing his new abilities for its own nefarious purposes - Sinclair decides to help him escape. He is almost stopped by Bester and the other Psi Cop, but Ironheart vaporizes the second Psi Cop with his thoughts and successfully breaks free. Outside the station, he undergoes a metamorphosis, becoming a being of pure energy. Before leaving, he gives Talia a parting gift: the ability to move a penny with her thoughts.
Sigma 957: Catherine Sakai is asked by Universal Terraform to survey a planet with the designation Sigma 957 in the hopes that it contains deposits of Quantium-40, an important material used in jumpgate construction. Sakai's employers, however, inform her that she is to cooperate with Ambassador G'Kar during the mission, a dictate that none too pleases the adventurous surveyor. G'Kar portentously warns Sakai to steer clear of Sigma 957, but Sakai, convinced that the planet is uninhabited, ignores him and proceeds with her mission alone against G'Kar's advice.
At Sigma 957, Sakai is starting her survey when, all of a sudden, an enormous - and mysterious - ship jumps into normal space on top of her position. Her ship is almost entirely drained of its power and her orbit fails. Fortunately, she is rescued by two Narn cruisers - who were sent, of course, by G'Kar. G'Kar later tells Sakai that the Narn government has tried to make contact with the aliens she saw, but has since concluded that such beings should be entirely left alone - that they are completely beyond our understanding.
Overall: 6.9
Writing: 7.8
This episode, while not quite as entertainingly quirky as last week's selection, turns out to be much stronger than my foggy recollections gave it credit for. There are two plot elements in particular that earn Mind War a significantly-better-than-average score on the writing rubric: the presentation of the Psi Corps and G'Kar's surprising burst of magnanimity.
Here, the sinister nature of the Psi Corps is conveyed in a frighteningly effective manner. A moment that highlights this most distinctly is Talia's forced mind scan. In the conventional justice system, a cop must be respectful of the rights of any person they have called in for questioning. Notably, no individual must be compelled to incriminate herself. But in the world of the Psi Corps, it seems, all telepaths are entirely divested of well-known rights such as this. Talia is ordered to submit to her superiors over Sinclair's objections and must undergo a painful procedure without being provided with an opportunity to refuse such an invasion. Thus, in one simple scene, the miniature totalitarian state that is the Psi Corps is displayed in stark colors.
Meanwhile, I love what is done with G'Kar in this episode. So far, G'Kar has been portrayed as cocky, libidinous, self-interested, at times ridiculously melodramatic, and, at other times, frankly genocidal. Here, however, we see the first glimmer of something more - a genuine respect for the wonder and mystery of the universe and a willingness to extend a helping hand. What Sakai and we see at Sigma 957 is, of course, an introduction to the concept of the First Ones - and a great "What the hell?" moment to boot - but G'Kar's role in the Sigma 957 subplot also foreshadows later developments in the arc quite splendidly. "No one here is exactly what he appears" indeed.
This script is not perfect. Talia's description of sexual intercourse between telepaths seems rather cliched to me (as does the revelation that Talia and Ironheart were once involved), and the metamorphosis plot has been done on science fiction before. It does, however, qualify as an Arc Story that should not be missed.
Acting: 7.0
There are times when this episode tips into melodrama - an endemic problem on Babylon 5 - but on the whole, it is rather solid on the acting front. I can't say I recall anything in particular that annoyed the heck out of me.
Message: 6.0
There's not much of a message here. I do, however, appreciate G'Kar's final words. Today's materialists seem to be of the opinion that the universe is meant to be revealed to us in full. Babylon 5, on the other hand, allows the characters to express an entirely different worldview - one that accepts that some things simply cannot be explained. 'Tis a Catholic attitude that embraces mystery.
Highlights:
G'KAR: Whether you believe this or not, I'm doing this for your own safety. Sigma 957 is not a healthy place. Strange things happen there.
SAKAI: It's uninhabited! There's no sentient life to threaten anyone.
G'KAR: Nonetheless, it is not safe. I have passed through that sector. Take my word: look elsewhere.
SAKAI: I think you want Sigma 957 for yourself. The Narn government doesn't have the resources to exploit a planet that far away, but you want to hold onto it anyway out of sheer spite.
G'KAR: Considering what you were probably told about me, I'm sure you probably do believe that. Despite your long acquaintance with Sinclair, you're new here, aren't you? Let me pass on to you the one thing I've learned about this place: no one here is exactly what he appears. Not Mollari, not Delenn, not Sinclair... and not me. My warning is sincere. Ignore it at your own peril.
(Bester reads Garibaldi's apparently insulting thoughts on the command deck.)
BESTER: Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi. But you're welcome to try... anytime... anywhere.
IRONHEART: I thought they wanted telekinetics for big jobs... heavy construction in zero gravity or defense. I mean, imagine: a telekinetic shield against beam weapons for diplomats or presidents! But they didn't want big. No - they wanted mental control over small objects - the smaller the better.
TALIA: Jason, that doesn't make any sense.
IRONHEART: No? Think about it: you want to assassinate someone, so you bring in a telekinetic. He reaches into the person's throat and then gently - quietly - with a thought - he pinches the carotid artery shut. The blood stops. The brain starves. The target dies. And then you just let go. Murder without a trace.
G'KAR: Ah, Ms. Sakai! I am pleased to see that you have returned safely from your expedition.
SAKAI: Yes, thanks to you. Just one question: why?
G'KAR: Why not?
SAKAI: That's not an answer.
G'KAR: Oh, yes it is. It's simply not an answer you like or the answer you expected. There's a difference. Narns, humans, Centauri - we all do what we do for the same reason: because it seemed like a good idea at the time. There was no profit - no advantage - in letting you fall to a most untimely - and most uncomfortable - death. It would distress the commander to no good effect. So, once again, we return to: why not? I told you before you left: no one here is entirely what they appear. If I surprised you, all the better. Good day, Ms. Sakai.
SAKAI: Ambassador - while I was out there, I saw something. What was it?
G'KAR: (taking a breath) What is this? (He is pointing to an ant on a nearby cut flower.)
SAKAI: An ant.
G'KAR: Ant!
SAKAI: So much gets shipped up from Earth on commercial transports it's hard to keep them out.
G'KAR: Here. I have just picked it up on the tip of my glove. If I put it down again and it asks another ant "What was that?!" - how would it explain? There are things in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. They are vast... timeless... and if they're aware of us at all, it is as little more than ants. And we have as much chance of communicating with them as an ant has with us. We know. We've tried. And we've learned that we can either stay out from under foot - or be stepped on.
SAKAI: That's it? That's all you know?
G'KAR: Yes. They are a mystery - and I am both terrified and reassured that there are still wonders in the universe - that we have not explained everything. Whatever they are, Ms. Sakai, they walk near Sigma 957 - and they must walk there alone.
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