More interesting plot threads developing this episode! And of course I realize I may as well assume that EVERY episode is going to have interesting plot threads developing as well as character developments. It’s one of things I’m particularly enjoying about B5.
Londo Mollari is my favourite character so far. I can’t believe I found him irritating when I first tried watching Episode 1. How you all must have been snickering at me. Dear lord. I love the contrast between his general snarkiness and introspective nature, his nuggets of “life wisdom,” clearly hard-won. I also love the nicknames he has for his wives: Pestilence, Famine, and Death. I so SO hope that we get to see them on an episode! (Don’t tell me.)
Susan Ivanova is my second-favourite character. I did roll my eyes when she fell for that old flame of hers, though…he was so obviously slimy! She deserves someone better! She’d better not fall for the captain. I love the little exchange between Garibaldi and Susan about her contraband coffee plant:
Ivanova: You’re a vicious man.
Garibaldi: I’m Head of Security. It’s in the job description.
If anything really bad ends up happening to Londo or Susan, I’m going to be very upset. WHY AREN’T EITHER OF THEM (or Garibaldi, for that matter) pictured in the header of that TV.com B5 Episode Guide?!? (don’t answer that) THEY HAD BETTER NOT DIE. I’m serious.
Glad to see that Vir is showing a bit more backbone in this episode; he was getting on my nerves. I’ve finally noticed, by the way, how Londo’s hair sticks up straighter than the others of his race. Vir’s is particularly rumpled-looking. A sign of Londo’s higher rank, perhaps? Personal style preference? Or maybe just he uses a better brand of hair product.
Londo: My shoes are too tight, and I have forgotten to dance.
Ironic to see an Asian guy (the fellow Garibaldi first arrested, thinking he was the human who attacked Mayan) being so racist. I’m assuming this irony was no coincidence.
I’m curious about the Vorlons, especially after finding out that the doctor who actually saw a Vorlon was sent away, as was the telepath who scanned a Vorlon. Hm….I expect we’ll be seeing more of the Vorlons in future episodes.
I was surprised to see G’Kar attempting to incite a riot against the humans. Didn’t he just SAVE a human in a recent episode? What’s with that? Surely there must be more going on. Don’t tell me, tho.
Also interesting: the brief argument between Londo and Mayan about love.
Mayan: Ambassador, I have travelled far and seen much. And what I have 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.
Did I miss something? How does Mayan know about Londo’s past? Only answer that if I missed something in previous episodes; if this hints at more history that I’m still going to find out, I’d rather wait.
Quote that made me teary-eyed:
Londo: “My shoes are too tight. 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. *My* shoes are too tight, and I have forgotten how to dance.”
I’m glad Malcom got carted off, by the way. When he mentioned moving to the station, I was worried that he’d be a regular character. Yuk, didn’t like him. I was disappointed that Susan was still attracted to him, but rejoiced when she found out his true nature. Yay, Susan! You hold out for someone worthy. Not the captain!! Maybe Garibaldi, if he stops thinking lewd thoughts about Talia Winters.
Interesting that Delenn hasn’t revealed anything to indicate that a marriage has taken place between her and the captain. Yet.
Next episode: And The Sky Full Of Stars.
[For those who comment below: As the title of my blog indicates, I'm watching B5 for the very first time so PLEASE refrain from posting plot/character spoilers about upcoming episodes, or including links to pages with spoilers (unless you warn readers that they contain spoilers). Thanks so much! - Debbie]
11 comments ↓
It’s so hard not to tell you which characters have lots of growth ahead of them.
I envy you in the experience seeing it for the first time.
I think Mayan’s comment isn’t meant to indicate any special knowledge of Londo’s past, but rather a good ability to read between the lines of what he’s saying now.
Londo is more attentive to his grooming than is Vir, which accounts for his hair. He is more aware of his rank (something that I believe has been made fairly clear by now) and appearance is important to him personally and because of the norms of his society. Vir is rather on the other end of the spectrum, less attentive to his appearance both because of his social standing and his personality — not to mention the large amount of work he does for Londo.
It’s hard not to like almost all of the recurring characters — and, at times, hard not to dislike them. They’re very real, that way, which is the primary reason I love the show. (Its storylines are excellent, too, but it’s the characterization that brings it fully to life.)
There is no history between Mayan and Londo. She’s simply very, very perceptive (as you would expect of a poet).
Also, I took it to be more a question: “As you did?”
I don’t think is a spoiler of any type, it’s more of backstory.
Yes, Centari hair height for men is between a self-proclaimed marker of power and influence, tempered by the height of those one would feel to be a peer, or the length a superior would wear. I’m not sure if the detail was there, but Vir might have upped his hair height while his cousin and lover were on the station.
We seen Malcolm be much more of a sleaze on the station than Susan had a chance to observe him, for the little time she spent with him. We can tell that maybe she has grown some from the young woman that wanted to fight in the Earth/Minbari war, to one who has tolerance for allien races, and believes in the Babylon project (you’ll gather more history of the Babylon project as the show progresses). When they were together before, Malcolm might not have had that much intolerance for alliens, as they were not that big of a population on Earth yet.
“My shoes are too tight, and I have forgotten how to dance.”
Soon as I heard Londo say that in my watch-through this weekend, I knew that would be the quote you’d highlight in this episode report :).
Recognize the Centauri girl as Winnie from “The Wonder Years”? (don’t know if you ever watched that show- if not, add it to your list!)
Some things you mention being curious about are in reference to things seen in the pilot (that you skipped). As others have told you, the main season 1 episodes are better and the following seasons still better. But if you have decided you are in for the long haul, you might want to go back and watch the pilot.
JMS planned the full 5-year story arc. This allows him to follow those directions about putting on a play (quote may not be exact): “If you show a gun over the mantlepiece in Act 1 you should use it by Act 3, and if you intend to use a gun in Act 3 you should show it over the mantlepiece in Act 1.”
So he could put things into early episodes (even the pilot) that would only be explained later or even much later - but when they DID get explained they were richer because of the foreshadowing. And since you will be seeing the episodes at an accelerated pace it will be easier to remember some of those things.
If it makes you feel any better, my first reaction to Londo was exactly the same. I thought he’d maybe escaped from Lost In Space or somewhere. And I think that was exactly what we were meant to think.
JMS is going to do that to you a lot. Thank you for letting us watch.
I just stumbled on your blog quite accidentially and I hope you don’t mind if I comment. I’m a day-1 B5 fan and I always like reading comments by “B5-virgins” - but your’s are particularily enjoyable. You’ve got the right attitude - not uncritical, but open minded, inquisitive, curious, and with a genuine love for the complex and unexpected. My prognosis: You’re gonna love this show
About Londo’s wives - without spoiling anything: The nicknames “pestilence, famine and death” refer to three of the biblical three apocalyptic riders. There is a fourth - I’ll leave it at that.
Regarding characters that have lots of growth ahead of them: the short answer is “all of them”.
Trivia about Londo’s hair.
For the pilot and first season, the actor wore a “bald front” headpiece. For the second and subsequent seasons he shaved his head, at least in front.