Text 9001, 138 rader
Skriven 2006-09-24 12:53:00 av Robert E Starr JR (9498.babylon5)
Ärende: Racing Mars: my review
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Too much of a transitional and set-up episode to rank with the series'
most indelible outings. Still, it's a good transitional episode. It
sets up several pieces for future episodes;it introduces one character
who will become an important recurring player; and it presents a
one-shot guest character who ends up being far more memorable than it
at first seems he will be.


THE PLOT

As Stephen and Marcus complete the final leg of their journey to Mars,
they are met by a most unusual contact: Captain Jack (Donovan Scott), a
burly man with a cheerful attitude and a healthy appetite. Jack
provides them with their cover, and promises to lead them to the head
of the Mars Resistance. But as they get closer and closer to their
goal, Stephen gradually notices some bizarre inconsistencies in
Jack's behavior.

Meanwhile, on Babylon 5, Ivanova forces Sheridan to take a two-day
break from command. "You haven't taken any personal time in nine
months," Susan notes. "You may not get another break for a long time."
But like any good workaholic, Sheridan is unable to keep his mind off
his job. Barred from command, he seeks out Garibaldi to confront him
about his damaging ISN interview - and in so doing manages to alienate
his former friend even further, with potentially devastating
consequences.

Things aren't all dark and dreary for Sheridan, however. Delenn seeks
Sheridan out for the latest in the long line of Minbari rituals leading
to their marriage. This time, however, she has a ritual Sheridan
actually likes the sound of: "The third movement of preparation and
mutual understanding... (they) spend the night together, discovering
one another's centers of pleasure." Of course, what Delenn doesn't
tell him is that they are not alone for the ceremony, as Lennier and a
group of Minbari wait and listen right outside the bedroom.

"Woohoo!"


THE GOOD

There were many things I enjoyed about this episode. Like a lot of
episodes in this series, Racing Mars very successfully parallels
different characters. Each of the two major story strands centers
around a pairing. The main action on Mars focuses on Stephen and Marcus
(who are even undercover as a married couple!). The secondary action,
on the station, focuses mainly on Sheridan and Garibaldi.

There are distinct parallels at this point in the arc between Sheridan
and Garibaldi. Each man is frustrated at his inability to communicate
with the other. Each can clearly see that something is wrong with the
other: Garibaldi's comments about Sheridan's "God complex" are
echoed by Sheridan's comments about Garibaldi seeming "like a
stranger." They're both right. Even without outside interference,
Garibaldi would be suspicious and concerned about Sheridan's recent
elevation to near-Godhood. Meanwhile, Season Two or even early Season
Three Sheridan would probably say that the current Sheridan is acting
just a bit like self-important.

What Garibaldi wouldn't do, under normal circumstances, is even
contemplate selling Sheridan out. Even with the Psi Corps' tinkering,
Garibaldi remains reluctant. His basic personality is still in there,
his basic values are ultimately still the same. Note his initial, flat
refusal to act against Sheridan, even after a heated argument with the
captain. Note also the brief look of horror on Garibaldi's face when
he hits Sheridan. In some way, in some distant part of his brain, even
Garibaldi realizes that his fast, unthinking anger at this point is far
past what the situation actually calls for. But with his anger and
suspicion heightened, and his self-control reduced, the Psi Corps'
work combines with the current situation to push Garibaldi into making
an agreement that, even now, leaves a sour taste in his mouth. Jerry
Doyle's performance in these scenes is impeccable. It's hard to
believe that this is the same character who seemed just a bit shallow
when he finally got his own episode in mid-Season One. It's even
harder to believe that the character's journey has been such that the
progression from there to here has been almost invisible.

The story strand on Mars, with Stephen and Marcus, takes center stage
in this episode, of course, and it's also extremely well-executed.
Who wouldn't get a laugh out of their cover, as a pair of newlyweds
on honeymoon? The thing is, it's not such a reach. The interaction
between them, as Marcus drives Stephen up the wall with inane games of
"I Spy," or laughing about their cover on the train, or even the way
they seem perfectly in sync noting Captain Jack's odd behavior at the
same instant... They do seem like a married couple in many ways. I
daresay they have more chemistry than Susan and Talia ever did.

Then there's Captain Jack and the Keeper. We have seen Keepers
before, in "War Without End" and in "Epiphanies."  But this episode
starts to give us a hint of how they work. Stephen's dissection of
the Keeper gives us something resembling scientific details - just
enough to make it seem plausible that they can act as they do. Even
more interesting are the observations of the Keeper's limitations.
The Keeper can stop Jack from outright revealing his secret, but it
doesn't notice "the little things," the tiny signs that Jack gives to
try to make those around him know something is wrong. He overeats in
front of his old Mars Resistance friends, despite the fact that he is
supposed to be on a diet. He wears a heavy coat, despite the heat. He
deliberately gets wrong details of colonies and planets he has visited.
Fortunately, Stephen is as smart and observant as he is driven, and is
gradually able to put the pieces together.

I very much liked the character of Jack in general. At first, he seems
like a cliched "lovable rogue." However, the efforts he makes to
subvert his Keeper render him a stronger character than his first
impression lets on. He and Number One (Marjorie Monaghan, getting
little to do in the first of several appearances) are clearly fond of
each other, in a bit of an "uncle/niece" sort of way. He is observant
enough to quickly determine that Stephen is more likely to notice his
behavior than Marcus, leading him to give his daughter's photo to
Stephen and to direct most of his "tells" to Stephen. Finally, of
course, there is the character's final act, when briefly freed of the
Keeper's influence. Jack will never be the series' deepest
character, but I enjoyed his presence, I liked the actor's
performance, and even years after my first viewing, I still remembered
him when he came onto the screen.


A final end-note for the scene in the elevator between Sheridan and
Lennier, following the Minbari "exploration of pleasure centers"
ritual. Lennier's discomfort and vague disgust, followed by his
quizzical, "Woo-hoo?" to Sheridan was priceless. Sheridan's reaction
- momentary discomfort, then a slight private smile - was even better.
I do enjoy the series' brief moments of comedy, particularly when
they come in the middle of a mostly serious episode, and this was a
good one.


My Final Rating: 8/10.
                                                                               

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