Text 16870, 74 rader
Skriven 2007-08-08 03:59:41 av Adam H. Kerman (3347.babylon5)
  Kommentar till text 16780 av rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated (3257.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: And All My Dreams Torn Asunder: my review
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jphalt@aol.com wrote:

>War begins, to the horror of the regulars, who are especially
>horrified by the delight of those around them.

This episode is a highlight of the series. Not that you gave it a
negative review, but I'd rate it a touch higher than you had.

>As ever, G'Kar's interactions with Londo are highlights. I loved
>G'Kar's plan to book the seat next to Londo so that he would have
>"someone to talk to" on the flight, then responding to Delenn's
>protest that Londo hates being talked to on long flights with, "I
>know." Similarly, G'Kar once again enjoys rubbing the Centauri's nose
>in his presence... though this time, there is a much more sinister tone
>around the palace, as Londo is warned that if G'Kar wanders around the
>palace alone, he will be shot on sight.

I know jms' rule about a little levity... I know G'Kar isn't a subtle
character, but I wish it had been toned down. Came off as inappropriate.

A minor quibble.

>This episode also finally sees Garibaldi make a major blunder as a
>result of his drinking. One could argue that the situation in Ragged
>Edge was out of control before he got there and that, even sober, that
>mission would have gone awry; besides, he did come back with evidence.
>This time, however, Garibaldi is given the responsibility of acting as
>the last, best hope to avoid a shooting war. Garibaldi shakes
>Sheridan's hand, promises that Sheridan can rely on him, and... gets
>drunk and falls asleep, which results in the utter failure of
>Sheridan's (not half-bad) plan to scare the Centauri into obeying the
>blockade.

This is a major bad point of the episode. Garibaldi couldn't have been
more irresponsible, yet we never see any direct consequences. What was
the point of the set up for this moment?

It was like Richie Cunningham's older brother vanishing after the first
season of "Happy Days".

>Just prior to this, there is a very strong scene between Garibaldi and
>Zack, in which Zack becomes the first person to confront his friend
>and former boss about his condition. Zack brushes away Garibaldi's
>justifications and rationalizations, finally leaving a very vulnerable
>Garibaldi pleading for a few more days to sort himself out before
>turning him in. Zack bows to friendship and allows Garibaldi that
>time. The wrong call, at such a critical time, though an
>understandable wrong call. If this conversation had occurred, say,
>four episodes ago, I'd have said Zack's decision was the right one. As
>it is, Garibaldi's too far gone for Zack's simple intervention to have
>much enduring effect.

Now, THAT was a good scene. People with addictive personalities in the
grip of their addiction are top-notch manipulators.

>THE BAD

>Though it made the precredit sequence more dramatic, I found myself
>agreeing with Londo when he insisted that he had every right to be
>present when Sheridan and Delenn unveiled their evidence. Of course,
>London is mistaken in believing his government; the evidence is
>genuine. But excluding the "accused" from the presentation of the
>evidence against them sets a bad precedent, in my opinion, as does
>holding back the most damning piece of evidence, only to present it
>after Londo's defense. Meaning that, not for the first time this
>season (or last season, for that matter), I find some of the actions
>of Delenn, Sheridan, and their Alliance not sitting entirely easily
>with me.

The Centauri weren't on trial. There was indisputable evidence that they had
broken the treaty, so with that evidence, they were out of the Alliance.
Londo had to be excluded.
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32
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