Ew…these shots made me squeamy. But I have to say I really enjoyed this episode, not just because of the original premise, but also because of all the Ivanova relationship focus. And looks like I was RIGHT ABOUT MARCUS, WOOHOO!
One of the Perfect Hair People has been promoted: Corwin’s now a lieutenant. It’s great how a background character who was relatively invisible has grown to the point where he actually becomes part of the story. This sort of thing rarely happened in the Star Trek universe.
I -love- Marcus. He’s funny, smart, lusts after Ivanova, and is nice to look at. I’m very happy that he’s around through Season Five. I like the fact that Marcus seems to genuinely care about the contacts in his network.
Duncan’s a fun character. What a great speaking voice!
Love the argument scene between Marcus and Garibaldi. And this took place even before Garibaldi finds out that Marcus is thinking of making the moves on Ivanova. Or maybe he does, and that’s why he tells Marcus, “Ivanova’s right; you are a pain the ass.”
MAYBE GARIBALDI’S JEALOUS! Maybe he’s finally realizing that he loves Ivanova and he doesn’t anyone else to have her.
Marcus: “Well, thank you Mr. Garibaldi, one of the leading minds of the 14th century. Have they no workhouses, no prisons? Mr. Marley here would like a word with you. He’s the fellow in the chains. Ignore the moaning; it’s just gas.”
I was HIGHLY amused by the scene in Ivanova’s quarters, when Corwin comes by and claims he found the roses outside her door.
Poor Corwin.
And Marcus confesses to Franklin that he’s attracted to Ivanova, yay! I couldn’t help but cheer and jump up and down on the couch when this happened; Jeff was entertained, I’m sure.
Oh, I’m SO looking forward to the development of this relationship, esp. with Ivanova’s open dislike of Marcus (obviously a cover-up for her true feelings). There’s going to be plenty of fodder for some great Ivanova quotes, I’m sure.
I was surprised by the revelation near the end, when I discovered that the people I thought were the Bad Guys all along were actually not so bad after all. Got teary-eyed during Duncan’s speech, when he was talking about all the wonders he had seen. Though I couldn’t help but be reminded of Roy Batty’s speech in Blade Runner: “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion…”
Heh, loved the final scene where Ivanova tosses the roses at Marcus, thinking she’s returning his gift. And Marcus instead thinks she’s encouraging him.
I suspect some people must have disliked this episode back when it first aired, because it wasn’t really part of the Big Arc. But y’know, I -loved- it. It makes me care more about the characters, and was (for me, anyway) a much needed bit of light in a progressively darker and intense story.
Next episode: Messages From Earth (1).
[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/hints about upcoming episodes, or including links to pages with spoilers (unless you warn readers that they contain spoilers). More info about spoilers here. Thanks so much! - Debbie]
6 comments ↓
…it wasn’t really part of the Big Arc. But y’know, I -loved- it. It makes me care more about the characters…
You got it! JMS talked about this a bit in the lurker’s guide. If there are stories that tell you more about the characters than the main story arc, you will care about the characters more when it is time for them to be involved in the main story arc. How they step up to the problem. When they are ready to sacriface, what they are ready to sacriface.
Egad! Poor Corwin. Was he thinking that Susan won’t even look at him until he achieved a particular rank?
One of the people who hated it was some guy named Jim Stravinsky or something like that…
I like it a lot. Quite apart from anything else, Aubrey Morris (Duncan) is one of my favourite wossnames (supporting actors you used to see on British telly all the time in my youth, and then spend days afterwards trying to remember their names). Nice to see him getting work.
Yeah, I thought of poor Roy Batty, too. And Aubrey Morris is also one of my favorite actors…
Not a Big Arc story per se, but certainly keeping the Big Arc alive in the background with the Corwin/conspiracy angle. And it’s about to be really, really foregrounded again. Remember, you’re coming up on the midpoint of the series, 2 1/2 seasons in — and it’s a turning point in a lot of ways…
JMS on Marcus:
Agree with you on Marcus. I’m finding I have the same problem with him I have with Londo…getting him to shut up once I wire him up and let him go. He’s a lot of fun to write, in that he can do the physical action stuff very well, he can do comedy, more dramatic emotional stuff…the whole range. I can take him places and do things with him that I can’t in some ways for the other characters, in that he has only one responsibility, whereas the others have larger responsibilities to more people.
JMS on Corwin:
Q. What did Joshua Cox think of Corwin getting to leave C&C for a change?
A. He loved it.
My favorite bit of this episode is Marcus and Franklin locked up. The one guy leaves the room. And then there’s an exchange along the lines of:
Marcus: “One from three makes one.”
Franklin: “Where I come from one from three make two.”
Marcus: “I come from a far more interesting place.”
And then he manipulates the guy into whacking himself in the head with the pike. <3
Next episode: Messages From Earth
Episodes 308, 9 & 10 (52, 53, 54) are all linked together and are heavy arc episodes. In fact, JMS said they could have been labeled as Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3, but the networks frown upon too much of that, as, in fact, 310 was first shown after a re-run break. Try to watch all 3 within a week.