NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
But I’m going to force myself to start at the beginning.
My heart was SO breaking for Marcus as he stood, unsmiling, by the bedside of the dying Ivanova.
But what an amazing episode. The tension was incredible, wasn’t it? Argh.
I like the fact that the Earthforce leader is a decent guy and honestly thinks he’s doing the right thing. Plus he’s familiar with Sheridan’s tactical habits.
The sequence where the Leta wakes up the telepaths is pretty disturbing. Also the fact that the telepaths are being sacrificed in the battle. I was glad to see Franklin torn up about this, though now I’m remembering that mysterious scene a while back when Sheridan told his key people (but not us) what his plans were.
I guess I was wrong about mistrusting Leta, wasn’t I? She’s risking her own life to help Sheridan’s forces.
I was glad to see Sheridan ordering his people to disable and NOT destroy the enemy ships who were disabled by the telepaths.
Lennier lets slip to Marcus that there’s something on B5 that might save Ivanova, and Marcus finds out about the alien healing device. Cool that they bring that device back after so many episodes.
I really REALLY need to watch all the episodes again. But I’m going to wait until I’m finished the last season.
Amazing battle, and then Santiago turns around the particle beams to destroy Earth.
I loved it when Sheridan said that they needed Delenn’s forces, and she replies calmly, “We are there.”
I was SO sure that Sheridan would die in the battle, sacrificing himself to protect Earth. As his ship hurtled toward the particle beam emitter, I found myself wondering what Delenn would do.
And then YAY, the General comes to help Sheridan out! “Welcome home, John,” he says to Sheridan. “Welcome home.”
Great to see that same woman newscaster come back, and the Evil plasticky Clark-controlled newscaster. Her speech about offering sympathy to those lost on BOTH sides was moving, emphasizing how everyone needed to work together if Earth was to heal.
I can’t believe Marcus is gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:-(
That final scene reminded me so much of the end of Romeo and Juliet. I was crying so hard by this point that I could barely see the screen.
HOW COULD THEY KILL HIM?
WHAT WILL IVANOVA DO WHEN SHE FINDS OUT????? At least I know she’ll be around for another season but still….
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH
Next episode: Rising Star.
[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]
9 comments ↓
In the last episode you said that you did not want Ivanova to die and you got your wish. However, there was a price to pay for that wish.
I remember seeing this one with friends and we were all blown away. It was great how everything came together, telepaths, ships and battles.
[BITES TONGUE]
[DOESN'T ENJOY IT]
[KEEPS BITING ANYWAY]
It’s been a long wait, but now I can tell you that guy you thought was Marcus when you got a glimpse of the Season 5 DVD cover? Isn’t.
Sad episode, no doubt about it. It was one of the developments I remember causing a sensation, though, from the original days of the show before I was watching it, so it wasn’t a surprise to me the first time I watched the DVDs. In fact, the first time I saw that June Lockhart episode in the first season with the healing machine my brain immediately went MARCUS, even though I knew hardly anything about the character at that point, even which season he joined the show.
Shows that Marcus was a loner, not a leader.
Who amoung those of B5 would not give up some of their lifeforce to save Susan? If each gave a minute in the machine, how many would it take to get Susan back to were she can heal the rest of the way? She did return to perfect physical health. How many would have followed if Marcus let some know of a plan that the many help the one. Maybe he percieved the need as immediate and ‘had no time to lose’.
Anyways, I was also saddened at the loss of Marcus.
I really REALLY need to watch all the episodes again. But I’m going to wait until I’m finished the last season.
Don’t forget the movies Thirdspace and In The Begining which will fit in between the seasons.
In your going back, do as I am doing now, and watch the episode, read the notes, analysis and JMS speaks of The Lurker’s Guide. Watch the DVD season intros, looks at the extra materials & watch/listen to episode commentaries. You might even what to go back and comment on these posts again.
Ah, but my favourite quote of the episode, and possibly the season - Sheridan’s appeal to Earth:
“This is Captain John Sheridan. We are here on the authority of a multiplanetary force, that can no longer stand by and watch one of their greatest allies falling into darkness and despair. We are here on behalf of the thousands of civilians murdered, under orders from the current administration, who have no one else to speak for them. And on behalf of the Earth Force units that have joined us, to oppose the tyranny that has darkened Earth, ever since President Santiago was assassinated three years ago. We are here to place President Clark under arrest, to disband Night Watch, and to return our government to the control of the people. We know that many in the government have wanted to act, but have been intimidated by threats of retaliation against your families, your friends. You are not alone anymore. We call upon you to rise up and do what is right. We have drawn their forces away from Earth and disabled them. The time to act is now. This is not the voice of treason, These are your sons, your daughters, whose loyalties have never wavered, whose beliefs in this alliance has forced us to take extraordinary means. For justice, for peace, for the future. We have come home.”
Endgame, for me, is surpassed in power, emotion and drama only by the last episode. There are excellent episodes still to come, but to me this was the pinnacle of B5, easily more than Into The Fire.
I remember they were showing them at 0100 on a Monday morning in the UK at the time, everyone else gone to bed, the house quiet and empty, just me, in the dark, watching a magnificent vision of victory and self-sacrifice unfold.
:’(
ooooh I was waiting for you to get to this one…while you were on hiatus I was actually worried you had watched Endgame and lost the will to live
Poor Marcus!!!
Finally, you have no idea how hards it’s been watching you watch and knowing what was coming. I cry just about every time I see this ep. Which is oddly enough on right know.
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