Home Guard: Anti-alien sentiment is starting to gain traction on Earth and within the human population on Babylon 5. This fact is made evident when a peaceful Minbari poet by the name of Shaal Mayan is stabbed and branded in Green Sector by a group of shrouded human attackers associated with a xenophobic group known as the Home Guard. While Sinclair tries to keep a lid on the alien representatives' outrage, Garibaldi gets to work tracking down Mayan's attackers.
Garibaldi's investigation first leads him to a human laborer named Roberts, who is found with a knife in his possession. Roberts seems like the type; indeed, during his interrogation, he spouts off quite a bit of anti-alien hate speech. But when Garibaldi tests the blood on Roberts' knife, he finds he cannot link Roberts to the attack on Mayan. Garibaldi releases Roberts in the hopes that Roberts will attract recruiters from the Home Guard.
Meanwhile, Ivanova is reunited with an old flame - Malcolm Biggs. Malcolm and Ivanova share dinner together and reminisce about old times. During dinner, Malcolm announces that he has decided to go into business on Babylon 5 so that he can be closer to Ivanova. Ivanova is surprised and flattered.
Another racially motivated attack occurs (see below). In response, G'Kar attempts to foment a riot in the Central Corridor. Garibaldi breaks up the crowd before any violence occurs, but G'Kar's demagoguery later inspires a group of aliens to attack Roberts. While in the Med Lab, Roberts is visited by Malcolm (!), who reveals that he is a member of the Home Guard. Garibaldi catches this encounter on video and shows it to Sinclair and a horrified Ivanova. Ivanova immediately agrees to help Sinclair snare her former beau.
At a diplomatic function, Sinclair feigns annoyance at having to make nice with the alien ambassadors, thus getting Malcolm's attention. Malcolm, Sinclair, and Ivanova meet, and Sinclair agrees to help Malcolm achieve a new objective. At a secret meeting place some time later, Malcolm reveals that the Home Guard plans to assassinate the four most powerful alien ambassadors on Babylon 5. He then asks Sinclair to kill an alien delegate from Abba IV to prove his loyalty to the Home Guard. Fortunately, Garibaldi arrives with his forces before Sinclair is forced to do anything untoward, and Malcolm and his associates are arrested.
Centauri Lovebirds: Two teenaged Centauri runaways are apprehended for stealing credit chits and are brought to Sinclair. The boy is Kiron Maray, Vir's cousin; the girl is Kiron's lover, Aria Tensus. Hilariously, Kiron demands that he be allowed to speak to "Ambassador Cotto." An amused Sinclair remands the teenagers to Londo's custody.
In Londo's quarters, it is revealed that Kiron and Aria have both had marriages arranged for them according to Centauri custom; Kiron complains that his future wife is the "ugliest woman on Centauri Prime" and that Aria's future husband is old enough to be her grandfather. Thus, they have decided, apparently on Vir's advice, to run away to Babylon 5 together. An exasperated Londo delivers a lecture on the importance of maintaining Centauri tradition, but the young lovers are unmoved.
Later, Londo expresses his annoyance with the whole situation to Vir, then informs Vir - over Vir's objections - that he has arranged for Kiron and Aria to be sent home at once. Vir reluctantly goes to collect his cousin - and comes upon Kiron and Aria shortly after they are attacked by the Home Guard. Kiron is brought to the Med Lab in critical condition. Aria insists that she be permitted to stay by Kiron's side, but Londo is deeply skeptical that her presence will make any difference. The Minbari poet, Mayan, urges Londo to reconsider, observing accurately that no sentient being - not even Londo - can live without love.
Mayan's words clearly have an impact on Londo; when Vir goes to look for him later, he finds Londo in the garden brooding. Vir tells Londo that he's wrong about the value of romantic love, and Londo reveals, in a roundabout way, that he is in fact reconsidering his stance. In the end, after Kiron recovers, Londo arranges for Kiron and Aria to be taken into fosterage under his cousin, Andilo Mollari, who will allow the teenagers to make their own decisions regarding who they will marry when they come of age.
Overall: 5.7
Writing: 6
The main plot in this episode is terribly heavy-handed; the human bigots of the piece are utter caricatures who let fly with unsubtle epithets like "freak!" and "traitor!". The writer simply doesn't bother to examine the source of the new anti-alien sentiment within the Earth Alliance in any depth, thus violating one of the top rules of good writing: your villains must have comprehensible, halfway-rational motives.
It is only the Centauri plot that saves this episode from being relegated to the skip bin. As I observed in an analysis of this episode that I wrote back in 2003:
I believe it is "The War Prayer" that gives us the clearest snapshot of the relationship between Londo and Vir at this stage. Londo is every bit the stern though curiously affectionate father figure in this episode, explaining to Vir (and to Vir's cousins) with as much patience as his naturally combustible temperament allows what Centauri tradition demands. From this and from his praise of Vir's studies at the end of the episode, it is reasonable to conclude that Londo has, either on his own or at the behest of Vir's guardians, taken upon himself the responsibility of seeing to Vir's social and political education.
What I find particularly interesting in "The War Prayer" is the fact that while Londo asserts himself as Vir's definite superior, delegating everything from scheduling to menial household tasks to the young Centauri (Who else among the diplomatic aides help their bosses get dressed? Part of me wonders whether Vir is responsible for drawing Londo's bath as well. Assuming, of course, that diplomats are allowed to use water on B5.) , he does in fact allow Vir to make his objections regarding the traditional Centauri view of marriage without seriously scolding him for insubordination. And Vir, though for the most part respectful and deferential, appears to feel comfortable making those objections. Even here, there was a degree of openness in the relationship that no doubt was highly unusual among the Centauri political class, especially between officials and their subordinates.
...
The scene in the garden in "The War Prayer" is remarkable because it is so intimate- for one moment, Vir sees beyond Londo's blustery façade to the sadness beneath. Londo really can't help himself. As often and as forcefully as he declares that he is fine being alone, at base he craves emotional intimacy and is constantly seeking the companionship of others.
The reasons why the Centauri plot must not be missed are three. First of all, this is the only first season episode in which Vir's future development is foreshadowed. Elsewhere in this season, Vir is portrayed as a goofy minor functionary - but here, he's portrayed as a young Centauri with a mind of his own who is willing to express - however hesitantly - his heterodox opinions to his superior. Secondly, this episode provides us with the best treatment to date of the developing relationship between Londo and Vir. In the garden especially, Londo's fondness for his attache comes through with surprising poignancy. And speaking of poignancy, the deft way in which the writer conveys Londo's loss of romantic innocence - something that will be explained in more detail in later episodes - is the third reason why I can't simply dismiss this episode as completely irredeemable.
Acting: 7
The guests stars here are actually pretty passable given the writing. I especially enjoy Nancy Lee Grahn's portrayal of Shaal Mayan; there is something attractively elegant in Grahn's performance that I can't quite put my finger on. Meanwhile, we definitely see glimmers of Stephen Furst's later greatness here, which probably has a lot to do with the fact that he is allowed to stretch beyond the standard comic relief role. And Peter Jurasik, while a little too bombastic in his earlier scenes, clears the awesome bar with no problem in Londo's quieter moments; in the garden scene in particular, he quite frankly breaks my heart (a common problem when it comes to Londo, as you will see).
Message: 4
There's a suggestion at the end of this episode that humans are uniquely bigoted and hateful, and I find that rather insulting - not to mention completely wrong. It's especially laughable that G'Kar should be among those aliens pontificating on humanity's silly, silly ways given that G'Kar has been known to openly express his desire to carve Centauri bones into little flutes for Narn children. I'm just saying. And Delenn shouldn't be let off the hook either - after all, it was her people who launched a genocidal war against humanity not ten years ago. Is that not hatred? Am I missing something?
Highlights:
GARIBALDI: Detainees? What kind? Raiders? Hijackers?
IVANOVA: Unknown. All he said was they didn't appear to be dangerous, and he wanted to hand them over to someone of command rank. So if you've got a minute?
GARIBALDI: I don't. Lt. Commander, I'm up to my eyeballs. I've got every one of my people looking into these attacks.
IVANOVA: It will only take a minute.
GARIBALDI: I don't have a minute.
IVANOVA: Well, neither do I - unless of course you'd like me to get the commander to do it.
GARIBALDI: (sighing) Okay, alright, I'll do it. No problem.
IVANOVA: Good!
GARIBALDI: Just one quick stop to make on the way: I found an illegal planter in our garden last week. Someone was actually using our hydroponics system to grow coffee. And as everyone knows, the garden is only supposed to be used for fruits, vegetables, grains...
IVANOVA: Mr. Garibaldi...
GARIBALDI: ... so I figured I'd just stop by and rip it right out of that planter. It's too bad. The beans look just about ripe, and coffee's so expensive to import...
IVANOVA: Mr. Garibaldi! I think I'll... take a walk... and while I'm out, I might as well stop by and pick up the detainees. (A beat.) You're a vicious man. (Heh.)
VIR: So, when their families arranged marriages for them, they fled here.
LONDO: Yes, but why?
KIRON: I am to marry the ugliest woman on Centauri Prime. And Aria's betrothed to a man who's old enough to be her grandfather.
LONDO: Ugly and old, yes? Then their families must be both rich and powerful. I commend your parents on fine choices. But I still don't see the problem!
ARIA: We don't want to marry anyone else!
KIRON: We want to marry each other. We love each other.
LONDO: LOVE?! WHAT DOES LOVE HAVE TO DO WITH MARRIAGE?! (LOL! A Londo classic.)
LONDO: Do you have any idea how much trouble these lovebirds of yours have given me? I've already had a dozen messages from Centauri Prime. Yes, their families are outraged - and it's my head they're after.
VIR: What are you going to do?
LONDO: What am I going to do? The only thing I can do: send them home where they belong and hope they come to their senses!
VIR: But they love each other!
LONDO: Love! Pah! Overrated! Here, look -
(Londo picks up a picture frame.)
LONDO: These are my three wives: Pestilence, Famine, and Death. Do you think I married them for their personalities? Their personalities could shatter entire planets! Arranged marriages, every one. But they worked out. They inspired me. Knowing that they are waiting at home for me is what keeps me here, seventy-five light years away. (Funny, but also kind of sad.)
MAYAN: Ambassador - you should listen to the girl. We Minbari consider love a most potent force for healing. She cares deeply for him. Such feelings can turn the tide when all else fails.
LONDO: (skeptical) Oh, I see. And if he dies despite this great power of love -
MAYAN: If he dies, she will suffer enormous grief - but every moment together will make her grief a little less.
LONDO: I would expect such logic from a poet. What can a Minbari know about Centauri feeling?
MAYAN: Ambassador, I have traveled far and seen much. And what I've seen tells me that all sentient beings are best defined by their capacity and their need for love.
LONDO: And she will learn to live without it!
MAYAN: As you did? (Incisive, isn't she?)
VIR: Ambassador, I've been looking everywhere for you.
LONDO: (distracted) Yes? Yes, what do you want?
VIR: To tell you something.
LONDO: Well?
VIR: You... (He hesitates, then stammers out his opinion.) You-you were wrong.
LONDO: What?
VIR: My cousin and Aria wanted to be together because they love each other. Now, would that have destroyed the great Centauri Republic?
LONDO: We cannot turn our back on tradition.
VIR: (emboldened) Oh, damn tradition! Kiron may die because our "glorious" tradition values wealth and power over love!
LONDO: My shoes are too tight.
(Clearly, Londo's mind is elsewhere.)
VIR: (confused by the non sequitor) Excuse me?
LONDO: Something my father said. He was... old... very old at the time. I went into his room... and he was sitting alone, in the dark, crying. So I asked him what was wrong... and he said, "My shoes are too tight... but it doesn't matter... because I have forgotten how to dance." I never understood what that meant until now. (A beat.) My shoes are too tight... and I have forgotten how to dance.
VIR: I don't understand...
(Londo stands, and, smiling fondly, he claps Vir's shoulder.)
LONDO: Nor should you. (I LOVE THIS SCENE SO MUCH. I just wish it wasn't in such a blah episode.)
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