01. MATTERS OF HONOR midwinter.com
Sheridan: Thanks Kosh for saving his life. Marcus asks him to help Rangers who are caught by Centauri blockade. Gets new Minbari cruiser White Star under his command for the mission. Encounters the Shadows ship. Shakes Delenn by avoiding Shadows fire - Shadows never miss. Then - to Delenn's and Lennier's astonishment - destroys the Shadows ship by unimaginable maneuver in hyperspace. This is a hidden hint to Minbari for his destroying the Minbari ship during the last war.Enacts a secret War council: Garibaldi, Ivanova and Dr. Franklin together with Delenn, Lennier and Marcus.
Earth: Investigates Shadows info from the perished B5 fighter pilot. Morden appears to have high contacts on Earth.
02. Convictions midwinter.com
Sheridan: Personally confronts and disarms a human terrorist who threatens to destroy B5.G'Kar, Londo: Accuse each other of terrorism. Trapped in an elevator together during one of attacks. G'Kar refuses to cooperate in their rescue.
Monks: Arrive at B5 for religious exchange. They can track the terrorist because they are familiar with system analysis.
03. A DAY IN THE STRIFE midwinter.com
Londo: Arranges arrival of Narn collaborator on B5 to replace G'Kar and turn him in to Centauri. Finds out that Vir disapproves his Narn policies and asks Delenn to accept Vir as ambassador to Minbar.G'Kar: Demonstrates he is ready to give up and leave for Narn because this can prevent repressions against relatives of his Narn friends. However, they reject his sacrifice, and G'Kar stays on B5.
Sheridan: Investigates strange alien probe that performs IQ test on Earth threatening to destroy B5 if Earth fails the test. In the last moment, when all answers are ready, he rejects sending data to the probe suspecting its game is unfair. In fact, the probe leaves peacefully without answers. When it is far enough, answers are transmitted, and probe self-destructs with huge explosion - proving that Sheridan's assessment is completely right.
Dr.Franklin: Appears to have drug problem. Does his best to help solving the test (in vain).
04. PASSING THROUGH GETHSEMANE midwinter.com
Lyta: Returns from Vorlon homeworld as Kosh's assistant. Investigates Centauri telepath attack against Curious Monk.Delenn: Learns from Garibaldi about Earth criminal justice: death of personality instead of capital punishment. Talks with Curious Monk about earth and Minbar religion. Greatly interested by Christ in Gethsemane story told by Curious Monk.
Curious Monk: Falls victim of Centauri telepath attack, appears to be converted crimininal with his memories suppressed. Centauri unblock these memories. commits suicide.
05. VOICES OF AUTHORITY midwinter.com
Delenn: Arranges a meeting between Sheridan, others and Draal - Minbari guardian of the planet below B5.Sheridan: Takes Kirkish care of a new Earth rep - beautiful lady who tries to provide political leadership for B5. Gets from Ivanova info on Clark and forwards it to Earth anti-Clarkists which results in the recall of Earth representative. Misses an opportunity to see the Minbari Guardian of the planet below.
Susan Ivanova: Remarks to Sheridan he is going where everybody has gone before. Wins Guardian's respect and gets evidence of Clark's participation in anti-Santiago conspiracy. Together with Marcus contacts the 1st ones and tries to persuade them to help against Shadows.
06. Dust to Dust midwinter.com
Bester: Comes to B5 to investigate dust - powerful drug which stimulates the telepathic abilities.G'Kar: Gets hold of dust. Under its influence, attcks Londo and finds out about his cooperation with Shadows. Also, gets religious inspiration.
Kosh: Visits G'Kar's in his dust trans.
07. EXOGENESIS midwinter.com
Ivanova: Investigates a newly promoted Lieutenant who takes investigation as a date and gives her flowers. Ivanova takes this as failure, and, in belief flowers originate from Marcus, gives them to Marcus who thanks her. In the future Lieutenant will prove to be loyal.Dr. Franklin: Together with Marcus investigates evil aliens who hijack human bodies for their purposes. When discovered, aliens do not show persistency and leave.
08. MESSAGES FROM EARTH midwinter.com
Sheridan: Gets info from the Earth Dissident that Earth helped Shadows to recover their ships from Mars. Now Earth tries to acquire a Shadow ship and take control of it. Together with Delenn flies to Earth and destroys the Shadow ship in a crazy maneuver around Jupiter. Avoids direct confrontation with Earth Ship.Delenn: Gives Minbari asylum to the Earth Dissident. Says Shadows ships are controlled by hijacked human or other bodies. Together with Sheridan flies for a Shadows ship chase. They spend a night together and she arranges a little miracle for Sheridan: sound of falling earth rain.
09. POINT OF NO RETURN midwinter.com
Sheridan: Gets direct order from Earth to transfer power to Nightwatch. Using a technicality,counter-attacks Nightwatch and with Zack's help puts them under arrest.
Garibaldi: Enraged by Nighwatch coup, confronts them in spite Sheridan's and Zack's advise: Nightwatch breaks his peoples' personal loyalty to him. Finally, with Sheridan's help, regains control of B5 security.
Londo: Invites one of former Emperor's wives known to be a sorcerer and a prophet to B5. Nobody meets her. Londo confesses he wants to know his future and gets a vague prophecy. He always has a choice, he still has a final chance. He will be an Emperor - and Vir will be an Emperor.
Vir: Laughs at this prophecy - only to realize this is not a joke.
10. SEVERED DREAMS midwinter.com
Sheridan: Final secession from Earth. When his main earth contact general Hague loses power struggle, Sheridan helps his crew and directly confronts Earth ships sent to seize control of B5 and suppress anti-Clark rebellion. Makes official secession speech accusing Clark of violating the Earth Constitution. Takes heavy battle against Earth forces, almost defeated, but saved by Minbari fleet headed by Delenn. Embraces Delenn in the final celebration scene.Delenn: Knowing that final confrontation between Sheridan and Earth is inevitable, goes to Minbar, breaks Grey Council and returns with Minbari Fleet to save Sheridan and B5. Makes a speech to Earth forces: The only human who could destroy Minabri ship is behind me, you are in front of me. Step away.
11. CEREMONIES OF LIGHT AND DARK midwinter.com
Delenn: Together with Lennier arranges Minabari Rebirth Ceremony to honor the memory of those who perished during B5 secession conflict. Finds no particular enthusiasm from anybody. Kidnapped and almost killed by pathological Minbari haters from Nightwatch. Saved by Sheridan, Marcus, Garibaldi. Accepts "simplified" RC and gives Sheridan Council members new uniforms as a gift.Marcus: Admits to Delenn he does not feel like he has anything left to be reborn to, all his family is dead. Confronts Lennier because of his refusal of the Ceremony and helps to find kidnapped Delenn.
Lennier: Assists Delenn, tells Marcus pure Minbari are still superior to human Rangers. Admits to Marcus he loves Delenn as RC confession.
Sheridan: Not particularly enthusiastic about RC, Minbari ceremonies make him sleep. Kills Delenn's kidnapper by his own hands. Once Delenn is rescued, initiates "simplified" RC: gives up his Earth uniform and admits he is in love with Delenn.
Ivanova: Admits to Delenn she was in love with Talia Winters.
Dr. Franklin: Admits to Delenn he has a drugs problem.
12. SIC TRANSIT VIR midwinter.com
Romantic comedy.Ivanova: Has a nightmare: she appears at work completely naked. tells this dream to Sheridan - in part. Sheridan explains the dream by change of loyalties and suggests it could be worse: she could see herself naked. She flushes. Confesses to Vir she is a virgin. Continues her Narn-saving adventure.
Sheridan: Invites Delenn for dinner. cooks a meal for her by himself - half-eatable. He obviously has resources to get any meal for them, but prefers to arrange something any Earth woman would find pretty offensive. Their date is interrupted by a Narn attempting to kill Vir. Saves Vir personally.
Delenn: Does not show great enthusiasm about Sheridan's date, especially his militaristic sententiment: be merry and enjoy life while you are alive. However, she agrees and mildly reproaches Sheridan: if he will risk his life all the time, there will be no more dinners.
Vir: His reports from Minbar (edited by Londo) win him recognition at the court. Londo's corrections are recognized and he is told "he can tell the truth" - in fact, Londo's editing is recognized as a sign of his personal support. As a reward, he gets a beautiful sexy bride who pretty much falls him in love with her. She appears to be pathologically anti-Narn, completely hypocritical and loving at the same time - true Centauri beauty.
His scheme to save Narns is surfaced after certain Narn tries to kill him in belief he really kills Narns according to falsified documents, not saves them - no good deed is left unpunished. As a result, he loses his Minbar diplomatic position and returns to Londo. Now his marriage is "postponed".
13. Late Delivery From Avalon midwinter.com
Non-trivial movie variant of Arthurian legend. Also a multi-level faith check.Dr. Franklin: Takes pseudo-Arthur who arrives at B5 as medical case. Finds out he is actually traumatized Minbari war vet.
Marcus: Understands pseudo-Arthur instantly, tries to explain Dr.Franklin what is going on.
Projects Sheridan to King Arthur, Delenn to Lady of the lake. Who is Morgana le Fay (Arthur's foe) then?
Delenn: Plays Lady of the Lake, relieves pseudo-Arthur of his pain. She understands Earth mentality now!
Pseudo-Arthur: Tormented by nightmare memories of Minbari war and subconsciously reinterprets them in terms of Arthurian Legend. His Arthur is actually closer to Robin Hood though.
G'Kar: Loves pseudo-Arthur, takes part in his adventures and gets drunk. In the end recruits him for Narn resistance.
14. SHIP OF TEARS midwinter.com
Delenn: Apologizes to G'Kar for hiding the Shadows info fom the Narns. This would provoke the Shadows to attack openly which would be much worse than them using the Centauri as proxies.G'Kar: Allowed to the B5 Council.
Bester: Helps Sheridan to catch the vessel with the telepaths abducted by the Shadows. It carries his lover. Telepaths are used by the Shadows as a part of their wepons systems. This is why Shadows need them so much.
Shadows: Start the direct attack.
15. Interludes And Examinations midwinter.com
One of the most tragic SciFi pieces. Classic tragedy has a simple story that can be told and remembered. In B5 tragedy is deeply hidden.Sheridan: His final communication with Kosh is another point of no return. After Kosh's sacrifice Earth is just one of other worlds for him.
Kosh: It appears that after saving Sheridan's life as Delenn asked him, Kosh realized that for humans saving one's life and sacrifice is an important way of communication, much more important than telepathy. It is likely that Vorlon Inquisition test was invented by Kosh and it was non-telepathic.
It is convenient for Kosh to communicate with Lyta telepathically, but this in itself does not make her special for him: okay, she can use e-mail, so what?
Vorlons: They can fight Shadows effectively. If Shadows were a real threat for them, there would be no Vorlon attack.
Vorlon Inquisition test checked that Sheridan and Delenn are ready to fight both Shadow invasion and civil war.
It appears telepathic contact is not critical to communicate with Vorlons. That's just one of many Vorlon skills. For example, human ability to communicate by printed books was developed only after the invention of book printing.
Londo: "The galaxy can burn. I _no longer_ care" - If Londo is sincere, this suggests Centauri only resemble Romans, but they don't have major civil wars in their history. Londo did not go through such test.
Also, Centauri superiority over Narns can discourage radical Centauri from thinking the Narn way. One can understand that Shadows use him, but take this as Centauri court intrigue. However, no Centauri can be close to the Shadows court, he will be always taken as a Narn collaborationist.
Vir: Comes closer to deceased Minbari Emperor. By talking to Morden non-diplomatically ("You can do nothing for me short of dying") he tries to build a wall to protect him against the Shadows games.
Morden: Not ambassador only, he is an active player now.
Dr.Franklin: Resigns because of drug problem - under Garibaldi’s pressure.
16. War Without End, I midwinter.com
Sheridan: When he says Delenn he trusts her with his life (brief smile), this happens to be a translation from English to the language of Minbari warrior cast.Delenn: This time she instructs Sheridan. The reason for this is that as a member of Minbari religious cast she can interpret the legend. So, she treats him as a Minbari warrior leader.
Delenn and Merlin: In B5 language Merlin is a friendly telepath (Vorlons are all telepaths), so he does not need a lot of 'normal' communication with King Arthur. Delenn communicates with Sheridan 'normally'. Do Minbari have telepaths in a religious cast? Not in the Grey Council.
Sinclair: Leaves for B4 to move it to the past. Persuades Sheridan to believe in this mystical mission.
17. War Without End, 2 midwinter.com
Basically, shows military strategy development. This is unique for war movies!Sheridan: Temporal labyrinth works for him pretty much as chrysalis machine for Delenn. By the end he is half-Minbari.
Delenn: Gives Sheridan Ariadna's thread.
Sinclair: Gets secular variant of immortality. Minbari warrior and religious casts are separated by language, they communicate mostly or only through the Grey Council.
Ivanova: Her main role is warning.
Marcus: His vision is close to Minbari, but blurred.
Dr. Franklin: Absent, this is not his world.
Londo: Faust, not Goethe's, but Medieval, facing true Devil. He rejected Delenn's invitation to Renewal Ceremony.
G'Kar: Performs friendly exorcist for Londo.
18. Walkabout midwinter.com
Aboriginal meaning of this word suggests certain irony about military usage of telepaths. Bester revealed that telepaths can be used as a weapon (it was top secret PC info). Sheridan's aggression finds a concrete way to fight Shadows using volunteer telepaths. Delenn cannot feel proud of this, but this is the only way.Lyta: She is a pure rebel, her main concern is to find any way to fight PC. Planning is not her strength, so Lyta loses a chance to claim anything for herself and fellow telepaths before she gets involved in fighting Shadows.
Dr. Franklin: Meets beautiful terminally ill singer. Makes love, not war. He does not take this idea 100% seriously, but it helps anyhow.
19. Grey 17 is Missing midwinter.com
Delenn: Shares with Sheridan her child memories of her father. Accepts nomination as Rangers leader. Confronted by Minbari warrior leader. Forbids Lennier to seek Sheridan's help in spite of imminent danger.Marcus: As Lennier asks, protects Delenn against Minbari warrior leader: we live for the one, we die for the one. When warrior tells he finally accepts human loyalty to Delenn, responds: when you will have revelation again, please, do not make it so uncomfortable.
Minbari warrior leader: Determined to stop Delenn from controlling the Rangers, that's obviously warrior cast responsibility. Almost kills Marcus, but accepts his challenge as a proof of loyalty to Delenn.
Garibaldi: Discovers mysteriously missing level 17 of B5. Gets a spiritual lecture while trying to get out of the trap and fighting a local monster.
Dr. Franklin: Still on walkabout, but gives Ivanova info on the rogue telepaths. There is one condition - she just goes away.
20. And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place midwinter.com
Londo: Proves that Centauri history is as rich and colorful as one can imagine and he is in full command of it. By using G'Kar against his court competitor Refa Londo both ends with Refa and shows Narns in action that he is a moderate. Centauri radicals led by Refa appear to be poor Empire builders.Refa's assassination is one of the most brilliant action scenes in historic movies.
Now Londo's deal with Morden in 'Interludes' seems to be a diplomatic move to keep Shadows satisfied.
Telepaths: Refa uses Centauri telepath as message interceptor. Londo finds a way to fabricate a deceptive telepathic message for this interceptor. Telepathic skills have nothing to do with message interpretation.
Sheridan: Does not know what to say Delenn - as usual. They both understand without saying that for adversary analysts (not mentioning propaganda) he is a Minbari puppet.
When Sheridan and Delenn analyze Shadows strategy together and Sheridan demonstrates how he thinks for the enemy, Delenn shows certain disgust. This is not only an abstract priest's gesture. In 'Late Delivery' Delenn proved she is not a racist, now she can show her resent for any hostile interpretation of their relationship. Her gesture is followed by the arrival of Minbari fleet.
22. Shadow Dancing midwinter.com
First major battle with Shadows.Sheridan and Delenn: They reproduce the Vorlon result: win a battle against Shadows!
Dr. Franklin: Social experiment with miserable results: he is stabbed in a weird fight in Down Below.
23. Z'ha'dum midwinter.com
Note: First SciFi Pseudo-Wife was Khari from Tarkovsky’s Solaris (1972)Sheridan: His pseudo-wife Anna arrives, she is apparently controlled by inherently hostile aliens - Shadows. Pseudo-Anna replaces his long-dead wife.
Anna's unexpected arrival before Sheridan and Delenn at night means painful defeat for Sheridan: he fails to screen Delenn from his own problems that only he and his friends are to manage without any Minbari interference.
This suggests a strong Shadows psychological attack: Sheridan has no explanation for Delenn of what happened and he cannot follow her interpretation of Minbari/Vorlon legend directly. He needs to find Minabri translation for 'revenge' fast and effectively.
Sheridan's discussion with Shadow agents: Actually, Shadows rhetoric does not worth a far travel. We can say that Shadows are Social Darwinists. In other words, any tribe hunter takes for granted that animals feed on each other and stronger animals benefit from this. A little more thinking and certain experience will bring smart hunter to the conclusion that applying animal habits to tribal politics will greatly benefit his tribe and himself. Scientific language works as a carrier for trivial content. Does this mean that content is completely wrong? It is devastatingly simple.
Sheridan's input in Shadows value sharing is that of a hunter: he blows the whole place up - together with his pseudo-wife.
It is also symbolic that Sheridan sacrifices the first White Star cruiser. It is going to be a new page in his relationship with Minabri - or none at all.