Text 659, 75 rader
Skriven 2006-05-25 08:29:00 av Robert E Starr JR (1105.babylon5)
Ärende: Re: show to introduce som
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* * * This message was from Methuselah Jones to rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.m * * *
         * * * and has been forwarded to you by Lord Time * * *         
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@MSGID: <Xns97CCC6B6B7BDDmethuselahaltgeekorg@216.196.97.131>
@REPLY: <e4dv6l$93d$1@reader1.panix.com>
Carved in mystic runes upon the very living rock, the last words of
Angelika Tobisch of rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated make plain: 

> Methuselah Jones wrote:
> 
>>>I understand what you're saying and am willing to believe that
>>>someone new to the B5-universe will not be spoilt by the pointers to
>>>Valen. However, Delenn being directly responsible for the
>>>Earth-Minbari-War, to me, is neither insignificant nor subtle. I
>>>would consider that a major spoiler, but I know that not everyone
>>>agrees. 
>> 
>> Actually, I think that would up the intrigue level. What *is* she
>> doing on B5? It's made pretty clear in the series that Delenn is
>> someone special, this just re-inforces that.
> 
> IIRC it also answers the question right away: She's there to see
> whether they were right about Sinclair. You get to hear this line
> very early in the first season, too, but it doesn't help much as
> you're only asking yourself "Right about what?" In the show, the mere
> realization that Delenn was on the council is a small revelation in
> itself.
> 
>>>It's also hard to miss the reason for the Minbari surrender - a
>>>question I distinctly remember to be mulling over all first season
>>>long.
>> 
>> True, but while you know they detected a Minbari soul in Sinclair,
>> you still don't know whose; presumably there are many humans with
>> Minbari souls, and Sinclair is just one.
> 
> True, but you only get to know this in WWE anyway. The soul-thing
> still is a spoiler for the whole first season as the first time we
> hear of their reason is the opener of season 2.
> 
>> I'm definitely going to have to watch ItB again, and ponder it as an
>> intro next time I introduce someone to B5.
> 
> I've been involved in more than one discussion about this. Apparently
> it's hard to agree on *g*

Indeed. I've introduced two people to B5. For both of them, I showed them 
ItB after Geometry of Shadows. The first one thought it was great; the 
second one was turned off by the idea of Sheridan and Delenn together.

I just watched it again, from the viewpoint of someone who's never seen 
the series. I think it would work quite well as an intro, but you're 
right -- the Valen/Sinclair connection is pretty explicitly spelled out, 
and Valen is mentioned often enough and significantly enough that the 
name would likely register.

I think next time I introduce someone to B5, I'll offer to start with 
ItB, explaining that it's a good intro, but as it was released in the 
fourth season, contains a major spoiler, and if the person wants, I can 
mute it for the few seconds of the reveal. Then mute it just after Delenn 
says, "The triluminary confirms it," until she tells Kaplann to order the 
ceasefire. That way the viewer knows only slightly more than Sinclair did 
through S1 - they know that the surrender had something to do with him, 
but still don't know what, and the really whopper is secure until WWE.

Now I just need to find a new victim....

-- 
Methuselah
"Nothing is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood."
  -- Teague's Paradox
                               
--- SBBSecho 2.11-Win32
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