There were many great actors working on this show, but he not only was among the best, he also achieved this while wearing the heavy Narn costume. I don´t want to imagine what that does to your attempts to show a facial expression but he did it.
@@SirMarshalHaig That and red contacts too. Just remarkable, but you've also got to give credit to the lines JMS gave them all to say. Katsulas was also a Romulan captain on Star Trek The Next Generation from time to time and his interplays with Picard were great too.
Watching her fall in love with G'kar and Andreas' acting just fills me. I miss that man. I hate seeing roles today and thinking "Andreas would have been amazing here".
Can you even imagine this show working if G'Kar and Londo weren't played by such titans? Personally, I don't think JMS would have developed the Narn/Centauri angle quite as deep.
This is why Babylon 5 is so good. You see the characters have arcs. You see their growth. G'Kar and Londo are not the same people they were back in season one.
G'Kar, in my opinion, is one of the best played characters in sci-fi. Andreas Katsulas was a very talented actor and is missed greatly. Whilst that was a stirring speech, he has some terrific scenes and great dialogue still to come. I also love the reaction to "Zathrus", genuinely made me smile that you noticed that, I won't spoil why, but it would have been very easy to miss that. Your reactions are a joy to watch.
Katsulas and Jurasik give the outstanding performances of an outstanding series. The interplay between the two, the character development, the sheer range of emotions from laughter to utter devastation, and those moments when they say nothing but you can see exactly what it is going through their minds is truly exceptional. The Centauri could so easily have been dismissed as laughable with their huge combs of hair, but Jurasik set the tone that prevented that from happening from the very start. The Narn design is one of the best alien designs in TV science fiction, but Katsulas's ability to emote from under all that latex is incredible. They deserved to have been nominated for and won many, many awards for their performances.
I heartily agree about G'Kar and Katsulas. He is my favorite character in B5 and the one with whom I most identify. This is the start of a character arc that exemplifies some of JMS's finest writing and Katsulas sells it. Honestly, I am not sure whether JMS got lucky with the cast or was able to select great actors or a little of both but the cast brought B5 alive.
@@jeffburrell7648 I think it's a little of both. JMS definitely got lucky in some of the casting choices. The other factor is the writing. If JMS wasn't a good writer, the actors wouldn't have been able to translate those words into wonderful performances.
@@jeffburrell7648 I know JMS worked to what the cast could do which is why Ivanova became a bit funnier and less austere. Once he had a sense of their rhythms/abilities or whatever he made sure that the scripts worked with that
Yes that's a lovely piece of filming as the Centauri war machines occlude the Narn sun and Mollari literally and metaphorically falls further into darkness...
At least four things are being consumed by shadow. Londo. Londo's self-image (his reflection). Narn homeworld. The Centauri Republic. All falling into shadow in that one visual. It's great.
This was a hell of a thing to see back in the day. Now truly horrible things happening on shows is more commonplace like in Game of Thrones. But back then, the fall of Narn was like nothing I had ever seen on television. Babylon 5 was willing to go to dark places where other science fiction shows wouldn't go. This is also the first time that I had seen other ships having a chance to fight back against Shadow vessels, the attacks on Quadrant 14 and Quadrant 37 were so fast, so sudden that they never even had the chance to fight back. But to watch a superior number of ships actually fight them, and be utterly annihilated was really stunning to see when I first watched this episode. This was one of the moments that I could not wait to see you get to when I first discovered your channel, and there are many more to come. I'm sure you're mostly through season 3 by this point, but I won't say anything further other then I can't wait to see the look on your face further down the line. Glad the UA-cam robots let this through and I can't wait until you can post videos from season 3, as that is without question my favorite season of the show.
Seeing the Shadows destroy a jump gate just as the ships were about to enter was horrifying. You really do end this episode wondering how they're supposed to stop them the first time you watch the show.
There's a certain irony in that the events of the Narn/Centauri war often reflected stuff that could be seen daily on the news in '94/'95. Though this may depend on where you were living, of course. Certainly, in the UK this episode went out at a time when there were daily reports of the latest atrocities from Mira Furlan's home country, and in particular the bombardment of civilians in places like Sarajevo - all with the conspicuous failure of the organisation created to promote peace as a backdrop. Some of the stuff on B5 rang very true...
I remember watching this episode when it originally broadcast and concur. One of the only good things that came out out of the Battle of Gorash 7 was that from an audience perspective, we found out that the Shadow vessels could be damaged, but at what cost? It took the concentrated firepower of three Narn Heavy Cruisers to sever a spine causing the ship enough pain to have effectively disabled it. I do think that a few of the Narn Frazi-class fighters were able to escape into hyperspace before the jump points collapsed based off of lines of dialogue from later episodes, though this is largely conjecture on my part.
@@RectPropagation They collapsed jump POINTS which is actually scarier. If they had destroyed a gate, the ships may have been able to still escape using their jump drives. This though? You can't out run a Shadow ship to reach a jump gate, they are too fast and their guns are too powerful, but now you can't even try to jump at all? Yeah, that's pretty nasty
I was 18 when this series was first broadcast in the UK and believe me there was nothing like it anywhere. It was truly awe-inspiring and groundbreaking.
The Incredible, Incomparable Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) Ladies and Gentlemen and the Speech that Echoes through the centuries!! There is No better delivery I can think of in TV history than that. You can almost feel the Words BURNING as they come out of his mouth. First time I heard it LONG ago I spent 5 minutes Crying as I had just recently had experience with the injustices of tyrants and those words truly spoke into my soul.
He was an actor who knew the power of speaking quietly. I stepped onto B5 during the third season, and it's the only time in my life that I ever felt moved to vote in a magazine poll - just, I *had* to vote for Katsulas as best actor in the SFX magazine annual poll...
They really are the main characters of this story, primarily because their decisions have the largest impact on events throughout the course of the show.
Andreas Katsulas, the actor under the G'kar makeup is the best reason to watch Babylon 5. Well, him and Peter Jurasic (London) and Mira Furlan (Delenn). Joe did a great job writing the monologues all three ornate throughout the show, but the actors are a crucial elements that makes this fantastic show work.
I recall when I first watched this, Londo was eager to point out that "mass drivers" had been outlawed by every civilized world in existence... And at the time, where was anyone's outrage when G'Kar several episodes back alleged the Centauri ships were carrying, among other things "mass drivers" outside Babylon 5 to be used against Narn? Either the League and other ambassadors should have been outraged, or Londo should have expressed outrage at the allegation. That look on your face when Dra'al called out for Zathras! That was priceless!
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but William Sheppard played Warleader G'Sten,the Narn ship captain and also the Soul Hunter that tries to kill Dellen in season 1. He died in 2019 at the age of 89 and was an absolute legendary presence in Sci Fi movies and TV shows for over 50 years.TV especially,he was in just about everything. His voice was distinctive and was also a voice actor for video games and cartoons as well.
Elric : As I look at you, Ambasador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sound; the sounds of billions of people calling your name. Ambassador Londo Mollari : My followers? Elric : Your victims.
The tragedy is that Londo probably didn't want the near genocide of Narn. If anything it was to have beaten them to a point where they would stop antagonizing the Centauri as they did throughout Season 1.
@@wanderingthedesert5599 Great point. One of the things about Straczynski's writing that I enjoy are the two questions posited by the Vorlons and the Shadows: "Who are you?" and "What do you want?" Londo, as a character, is someone who knows what he wants but doesn't know who he is. Same with G'Kar. They are essentially the same character but with major differences. The biggest difference over time is that G'Kar figures out who he is and then asks what he wants. Londo doesn't come to realization until much later in his arc.
One thing that still sticks out to me in this episode even with everything *else* that went on was that one news report that the use of mass drivers by the Centauri was so abhorrent that even the frickin' *Vorlons* bothered to issue a protest alongside the other governments.
@@putinscat1208 Well I'd agree that it is very ironic considering future events. The fun part about it is that the reason why the Vorlon's protested has nothing to do with what people think at the time.
G'Kar's speech in the council chambers is such a powerful one and delived with such visibly constrained emotion, I get goose bumps, every time. Hasn't lost any of its power after watching this show almost 30 times. Powerful.
Londo watching the bombardment of Narn always gets me, as if he's finally realized the consequences of his choices. Equally G'Kar, is as moving. A lot of credit to the actors.
Exactly. Londo's had moments of realization but he quickly kills it by drinking himself into a stupor or rationalizing it away with saying "he had no choice". In that moment, watching the mass drivers sent asteroid after asteroid into the Narn homeworld, it sinks in that his decision to align with Morden has brought this moment to fruition. Part of me thinks Londo is recalling Elric's words from earlier in the season: "And I hear billions of voices calling your name." "My followers?" "Your victims."
@@logansrun1960 The tragedy is that Londo always thought Elric was referring to the Narn, but it wasn't just them. If you've read the Legions of Fire trilogy, it does have Londo reflecting on Elric's words and what he meant.
@@wanderingthedesert5599 I have read the Legions of Fire books. Next to the Technomage Trilogy, those are among my favorites from the extended B5 universe. In this episode, I think this is the first time Londo begins to realize what Elric was warning him about. But Londo, deeply rooted in his pride, can't bring himself to accept his role in the events just yet.
G'kar's freedom speech was my tear-up moment of the episode. The shock moment of this episode goes to none other than Londo with his "NOW!" demand. Bone chilling. This mellow guy that we got to know in season 1 is now a petulent child asking for his toy. He has sacrificed so much for this. He wants his moment "NOW". Great actors.
Andreas Katsulas, was an American film and television actor, most recognized for portrayals of G'Kar on American science fiction television series Babylon 5. He was a fantastic actor and could deliver his lines with such gravitas. I am so enjoying your reactions to, IMO, one of the best written and acted series made. The interplay of the characters is, and will be, phenomenal. And G'kar get to deliver many soliloquies throughout the series. Each better than the previous one. You are in for such a ride! I can't wait for more of your reactions! Be well!
It harkens back to NaGrath (the mantis alien underworld boss) when G'Kar is under threat of assassination: "Mighty Narn Empire?" with incredulity. To see the Shadows decimate the pride of the Narn fleet in mere *minutes* showed just how much John, Michael, Delenn, and Kosh are up against at this point. And, yes, it is both heartbreaking and satisfying, to see the strong, scheming, and proud G'Kar -- who started out with a plot to destroy Babylon 5's mission by framing Commander Sinclair -- reduced to groveling for sanctuary at the behest of his crumbling government, and yet filled with resolve to free his people once again. Your reaction -- and I don't mean the video itself -- but the tears, the gasps, and the sheer empathy you display for this fictional universe, reminds me of my own reactions when I first saw this, back in the 90s. I know your uploads mean you've already seen far ahead, but I will say that I very much look forward to your reactions to the final episodes of season 2.
I'm glad that of the orbital bombardment scene, you showed Londo's mirror image being swallowed up in shadows. So symbolic. Such a key episode for the series, with such great hope, only being made to feel all that much stronger by the despair that came right before it. Little side-note since it can be a bit hard to spot with the energy field or whatever it was around them. Mass Drivers are no energy weapons. They take small asteroids and accelerate them to a velocity at which they become weapons of mass destruction able to wipe out entire cities with a single hit. The Narn weren't just bombed into the stone-age, they were bombed to the cusp of another ice-age.
Hard to believe that G'kar started as someone who seemed to be the villain and Londo seemed to be - I guess you could say a clown - and now they are so far from where they started. I remember when I saw this the first time that at this point I wondered where the two of them were going to be by the end.
They both made such a massive change. The genius behind it is less the change though, but the fact that it happens so slowly and so subtle, that you only notice the change, when the characters do things you didn't expect, think about it and go "huh I guess he did change that much yeah that is amazing". You are always surprised but never in disbelief. This is such a thin line to walk that to this day I cannot fathom the genius of it.
My headcanon is that the depth and detail of the show is an entire universe created solely to lend veracity to the story of G'Kar. You don't see him for an episode or two? That's just to lull you into thinking he's a secondary character. :-)
I was too young to watch B5 when it originally aired, but I decided to watch it this year based on all the great things I had heard about it. Initially, I struggled with this series but saw the potential for greatness in episodes like 'Signs & Portents', 'Babylon Squared' and 'The Coming of Shadows'. For me, this was the episode that completely won me over to B5. The series literally goes from strength to strength from this point onward!
Something that Babylon 5 did so well was pivot the story onto a new path. Unexpected of course if you hadn't been paying attention to the details in previous episodes: the Centauri transferring mass drivers outside Babylon 5, the separation of Mollari from Reefa and his growing mistrust of the Shadows, and strengthening the Epsilon machine's connection with Babylon 4 beyond doubt. JMS was a big believer in "if a gun is used in act 3, then make sure it is seen in act 1", so the revelations in each episode have been signposted in hindsight. A big shout out to Christopher Franke for the music in this (and all of the episodes) - beautifully paced and complementing the on screen action perfectly. The Narn battle is a favourite.
Draal's connection to the Great Machine reminds me of The Three-Eyed Raven from Game of Thrones. But Draal maintains his personality while Bran is left without one. The moment after the bombing of the Narn homeworld when Londo returns to Babylon 5 and comes across Garibaldi. The look on Garibaldi's face. If their bromance wasn't over before, it is definitely over now. 9:33-9:50 G'Kar gives the best speeches. This one is among my favorites. Gives me chills every time.
I knew that voice was too distinctive for me the be mistaken! That Narn ship captain was played by William Sheppard, who also played the Soulhunter in season 1! He was also the father of Mark Sheppard, known for many roles himself, like Badger on Firefly, Crowley on Supernatural, and both played the role of Canton Delaware III at different ages on Doctor Who.
It's not just the speeches that show the quality of B5 it's the events that lead into the dialogue both during that specific episode but also preceding ones. Draal is definitely one of those mimbari you wouldn't might spending a night just blethering away at the pub, alcohol free of course.
This is one of the big episodes. As usual, great reaction. "This is gonna go bad" Indeed! "Zathras! ZATHRAS!" It took you a second, but your reaction was perfect. Will we see how Zathras came to Jeff? Well, we shall see if we get that piece of information. Londo's face when he realized the consequences of his actions, this is such great acting by Peter Jurasik G'Kar has some of the best speeches I have come across in fiction. JMS is a genius writer. ... and finally John knows about the Rangers. Remember, Garibaldi told him some time ago that his source of information was reliable, and he could not (yet) reveal it. This is the pay-off. ... and we now have an Army of Light. How long will that last? Yes, the very best actors on B5, to me are Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) and MIra Furlan (Delenn). A close third is Peter Jurasik (Londo). The others are still good, but those three shine every time. Also the guy playing Lord Refa does a wonderful job in the role. Yes, this episode is heartbreaking, indeed!
The Problem is that there are so many insane performances that I feel bad saying how great Andreas was. You didn't mention Walter Koenig (Bester), who to this day is my all time best Villain on TV - and I cannot blame you for not mentioning him, because all the other people you mentioned are so good as well. I honestly doubt that B5 had such a lucky draw in its cast that it is so much better than the rest. I think the B5 simply managed to get the best out of everyone. The actors absolutely lived their roles. The writing was insanely good. They had no long nights, so everyone (except JMS) were well rested every day... I think the work environment was a major part of the greatness of the show.
@@xellos5262 Yes, it is easy to forget mentioning all the excellent performances. Walter Koenig is definitely close to the others, but there will always be a personal favourite. From the moment we first see Bester and think "Checkov", to just moments later "No not Checkov", Absolutely a great performance, and according to Koenig himself one of his favourite roles ever. That is whet he says at conventions, also Star Trek conventions. And essentially every member of the cast performed excellently. The genius of JMS' writing shines through, and all of them brought their A-game.
@@BabylonLurker Peter Jurasik, Andreas Katsulas, Walter Koenig - all of them wouldn't have excelled in their roles without the perfect writing of their lines. For such a performance, you need great actors and a great script.
@@Nikioko I do not disagree. The combination of et excellent script and the performance is what gives the series true greatness. Excellence. Whatever we choose to call it.
This is the beginning of an arc that will see both Londo and G'Kar become totally different people this series would be a pale imitation without them and the incredible acting in this episode is just a hint of what is to come. The horror in Londo's eye's as he watches Narn burn and the fire in G'Kar's voice as he delivers his final words to the council are two of the many moments which have stayed with me for over 20 years and still evoke strong emotions to this day. I'm enjoying watching you join the fun and will be watching all your reactions to this series.
Agreed. Were it not for the fall of Narn and some events that occur in Season Three (which I won't spoil here), G'Kar could have easily become like Londo.
This one I have been looking forward to seeing your reaction. This really is the "Oh Londo, what have you done" episode. The shot of Londo staring down at Narn is one of those shots from B5 that always stays with me. Both Londo and Citizen G'Kar this episode. These two have come a long way since the start. And that's only part of the goodness in this episode. Your face when Zathras was mentioned. Priceless.
Londo I think got caught up into the whole thing and could not get out without loosing face and he could not loose face.... he had his pride. You see him standing watching the mass drivers go ... he clearly did not approve it .... but he could not do anything to stop it, and he wants a way to get out but can't see it.
Whatever Londo's personal feelings about this massacre, he doesn't believe he has a choice other than to get with the program. It's a returning theme with Londo, where he makes bad choices fully knowing they probably are bad choices, but he simply doesn't see or want to consider the alternatives.
it's hard not to drop spoilers by accident as for me the series just truly kicks off now. So much happens in every episode. Andreas performs so many truly beautiful speeches over the next few seasons. Peter's character grows so much as well. It was a real joy (and emotional) to watch years ago and so seeing you react to them much like I did has helped me remember my first watch through.
Loved the shocked reaction to the mention of Zathras. Now consider this: Babylon 4 didn't reappear until right after Draal took over the Great Machine. Note the episode sequence that S1E17 is A Voice in the Wilderness Part II, and S1E18 is Babylon Squared.
Your face at scenes with John and Delenn are always priceless! G'Kar's speech in the council chamber is some of the best acting in the show. And that part where Londo coughs? Foreshadowing.
According to the season by season guides, they filmed Londo's scenes by putting Peter Jurasik up on a high platform and leaving him there to think for a while. He really praises the director John Flinn for the way that scene was shot, and it definitely comes out amazing. The title comes from a quote from Kennedy, and according to JMS has its significance.
I watch reaction vids because there's nobody here who likes the same shows I do. I didn't think anyone out there was reacting to B5. With the CW announcement, I went looking. Awesome!
Check out Chosen One Reactions, she's also reacting to it. There's a couple of others I believe but they have seen it in the past. Medusa and chosen one have never watched it before.
@@frozenpiper2 Peter and Tara from Mild Fuzz TV are also watching for the first time, though it's a review podcast and not a reaction. Cult TV Sofa is more-or-less first time reacting, I think he's seen the show running in the background years ago or something but definitely not at a previous fan level of story knowledge. All a little different in style but all worth checking out in my opinion :)
@@mayra3277 yeah I've seen the mild fuzz come up on searches but I prefer reactions. I didn't watch much of cult TV because at the time I really didn't care for him plus he had said that he'd watched it before and I was looking for new reactions.
@@frozenpiper2 nothing wrong with preferring different kinds of videos! Just putting it out there for those who are interested :) Cult TV Sofa to me seems almost like a new reaction but is a bit different in style (more analytical). I'm glad there's so many people doing B5 now, that means there's something for everyone!
@@mayra3277 there was also a woman doing tea with B5 or something like that. She was rewatching but not sure if she's still doing the videos. I recommend the show to reactors because it's so well done but slips under the radar for most people unfortunately.
I was taking a drink when you said "you made a shit decision dude" and I almost choked to death laughing. Go buy that box of tissues, not doing so would be a shit decision dude.
For a while I was watching B5 in sync with you but sadly me and my grandson are now on S3-E5. He wanted to watch 2 episodes after our sunday lunch.... bless him lol. I have to say your reaction are very sharp and enjoyable. Keep up the good work medusa.... respect.
This was the episode that got me hooked on the show first time round; no other show had attempted an abrupt 90 degree turn in the status quo back in the 90s. Trek, X Files and the others were still labouring under the idea that audiences didn't have the attention spans to tolerate long running arcs so to completely change the shows setup was incredible. It's so frustrating that it didn't get the attention that it deserved at the time but it seems like people are starting to discover the show now.
Yes indeed. TV executives opted for standalone episodic TV because they reasoned that if someone missed an episode or two of an ongoing story then they would just give up watching a show. JMS had the insight to realise that with home recording having become ubiquitous a decade earlier this was no longer the case and he not only introduced story and character arcs into US TV he delivered a masterclass in how to do it. Having had the foresight to film in 16:9 ratio (4:3 safe) years before widescreen TVs became the norm and utilising CGI for special effects when everyone else was still using traditional models, he truly was a visionary. I'm not keen on this proposed remake that's in the works (why when the original is so incredible?), but hopefully it may result in JMS finally getting access to the high-quality masters that apparently exist buried somewhere in WB's vaults and allow for a full high definition widescreen remaster of this stunning original series.
I have been waiting patiently for you to reach this one!!- this is one of my all time favorites (& that's a tough call with how brilliant B5 is, especially now it's hit this point and what happens going forward!). Must have been so hard to edit this one (again!) with so much going on! As I'm sure MANY have already said: Andreas was incredible as G'Kar, & every time I see the scene of his heartbreaking speech as he leaves - there is a proper lump in my throat... but a BIG shout out from me goes to Peter Jurasik as Londo who didn't get the speeches, but for my money is equally brilliant- the shocked look of 'what have I done?' on his face as they bomb Narn is everything! The cast is all fantastic, but for my money - these 2 are the beating heart of this show! Can't wait for the final 2 episode reactions from you- they're gonna be biggies! 😁😁
The image of Londo looking out the window was awesome. Peter Jurasik was incredible - his face seemed to me to show a mix of disgust and anger. Reminded me of Senator Palpatine in Star Wars for some reason.
Mass drivers - the weapons that the Centauri are using on the Narn homeworld - essentially fire large rocks at high speed by way of electromagnets. These projectiles require no special additional destructive payload because of simple physics: force equals mass times acceleration. These rocks _are_ the payload. Think about the asteroid that hit Earth, causing the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that took out the dinosaurs. That was _one rock_ moving at high speed. Now, the individual rocks being thrown by the Centauri mass drivers are smaller than that the Chicxulub asteroid, but imagine how many you see being fired at the planet on screen.
It doesn't have to be at high speed. Having a ship lift these rocks is a feat on its own. But once the ship is orbiting a planet, they just have to fire them in a decayed orbit for them to hit with megatons of energy. I think the ship will be relieved to have this rock off its back.
Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasic have so much chemistry in this show its mindblowing, How the show is set up is incredible on its own . there is a main plot , and different sides to each story , and even with in the sides there are sides. and levels .
Shame is Talia left because the actress wanted to leave... Originally the mole was supposed to be Takashima, second in command from The Gathering movie. So the feeling that Susan was the mole were not accidental. But JMS had expected some staff changes when writing so he prepared stand ins for characters, that is why each ambassador has an aide that gets a lot of screen time and why Sinclair had an explorer girlfriend that he proposed to because the station comander´s love interest was always meant to be the one to have found Z´ha´dum.
I love your emotion and I have to tell you I was brought to tears several times over the 5 series. G'kar strikes the soul, and I'm pretty sure Andreas crafted the lines. I would love to be watching together on your sofa 🛋
Just wanted to say thank you for recording reactions to some of my favorite sci-fi shows ever. I don't think many people understand how good it feels to finally be able to share my admiration and emotions about these sci-fi shows.
I recently rewatched the series after seeing your reactions. B5 is one of if not the best sci-fi space opera ever aired on television, and it's still sad that so many have never experienced it. As a kid, I remember my dad watching Babylon 5, Star Trek The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. I wasn't into the shows since I was just a kid. Later on I loved sci-fi and he grabbed all the seasons. Binges the hell out of it. Still amazing. Still the best. =)
I wished Garibaldi's reply had been just a bit longer. To me, it would have been a nice touch if in addition to mentioning the promise he had also said something like "and if I had told you because a superior officer ordered me, then..." so it would have told Sheridan where the info came in The Coming Of Shadows episode. In all the years of watching and rewatching this show, that is about as close as I've ever come to finding a criticism of this episode. It builds so brilliantly to the spectacle of Narn being obiterated, to that moment in the council chamber which follows along so close to seeing G'kar the lowest we've ever seen him, and it all has so much weight because of what we've seen bring us here. From G'kar being a swaggering menace in the early episodes, with Londo the down on his luck drunkard they've each grown in different directions and so all their moments mean so much more. Something I also love is how much can be done with such little moments. G'kar handed Londo a drink in the Coming Of Shadows and to the audience it's a moment of sheer horror and Londo understands it to. The same thing here - You get a compelling scene that could be simply described as 'Londo looks out the window'. In the look he gives though you can see no joy, just the realisation of what he has set in motion. This is what he asked for, but this is not what he wanted.
I've been waiting for you to get to this episode. So many tragic moments throughout this series and this episode is one of the strongest gut punches Straczynski ever landed.
The look Sheridan gives Londo at 9:28 is one of those moments that really defines the character for me. Sheridan is not someone who takes grief from anyone, let alone someone like Londo. You get the sense that if this weren't in a public forum and that desk wasn't between them, Sheridan would have walked right up to Londo and strangled the life out of him.
Buckle up sister because this ride is just getting started. If you think hearing the name zathras is bonkers or seeing G’Kar as of now ad amazing, you havent seen anything yet. I wont comment further because the risk of spoilers is like walking into a room full of Teeps but i will say i look forward to your b5 reactions. Seeing your honest reactions is like watching the series for the first time again.
I mentioned something similar in one of the prior episodes... apparently, it is difficult to get actors who can tolerate long periods of makeup that covers the face, head, and hands. So, if you watch, or listen, closely enough you can catch the same actors playing different aliens that require full face makeup. In this episode, the Narn General was the actor who played Deathwalker in the episode called 'Deathwalker.' The story continues to unfold. Enjoy. Cheers.
I seem to recall that makeup/prosthetics is the reason we don't see much of Na'Toth in Series 2. The actress (Mary Kay Adams) who took over the role had problems tolerating it.
G'Kar's uncle (G'Sten) was played by Morgan Sheppard, the same actor who played the Soul Hunter in season 1... He was one of the front-runners to actually play G'Kar, but Andreas got the role instead... JMS basically wrote in this character to give Sheppard the opportunity to play another Narn with mega-gravitas, and he delivered! That scene is so touching, how he so directly and severely discusses their war strategy, but finally warms to say goodbye to his "favorite nephew"...
I did a long post a couple videos ago about recommendations for the Babylon 5 tie-in novels and when to read them as I've read all the books blessed as canon by series creator JMS. I think it must have gotten auto-marked as spam since I suggested places to find them pre-owned at reasonable prices (they are all out of print) as the comment disappeared almost immediately. So if that's something you are interested in, you can look back through your "held for review" comments to find the long version. The short version is there are 2 stand-alone books and 3 trilogies that either tell new tales or tell an existing story from a different perspective. The best book to serve as an entry point IMO is the stand-alone book _The Shadow Within_ which is a Sheridan story and should not be read until after Season 3. It was my 2nd favorite of the 11 canon novels and is on the lower end of the cost spectrum since it had 2 printings. If you want more Sinclair content, _To Dream in the City of Sorrows_ is the other stand-alone book and also should not be read until after season 3. It is on the cheaper end to acquire as well since it had 2 printings. The 3 trilogies should not be read until after you finish the series so if you read either of the stand-alone books and like them, you can just do a search for Babylon 5 canon novels to find information about the 3 trilogies to decide if you want to learn more about the subject each covers.
This episode is where Londo is realizing that he has made a mistake. He wanted to defeat the Narn and regain the Republic's lost glory. Instead, he is assisting in the annihilation of a race and bringing his country into the darkness. Such a tragic character that is Londo Molari. Remember when he was fun and enjoyable? Also, I am glad you noticed Zathras. It took me a while to realize it.
I wonder if the reason this is a one part reaction video is a lot of the bits cut out are of frustrated crying. Kind of like Confessions & Lamentations it's a slow drip feed of horror, so it's not one where there is much scope for trying to to figure out what the future meanings etc are.
It gets A lot better!!. I've just smashed through your season 2 reactions, and having watched the entire series I'm enjoying following someone's first time through.
I loved it that G'Kar's uncle was played by W.Morgan Sheppard he was the first time we see the Soul Hunters. But he played one of my most favorite character named Blank Reg from Max Headroom. He' did a lot of voice acting work. The gut playing Drawl is named John Shuck he replaced the original actor. The Centauri were using WMDs like mass drivers dropping rocks down a gravity well from orbit.
One tragic part about the Narn-Centauri war that was very well written in my opinion. From our pov, we see the machinations of the Shadows, and the scheming of Refa, bringing about the fall of Narn. And in doing so, seeing the tragedy. The in universe perspective, throughout season 1, G'Kar was looking for any chance to have a go at the Centauri, and trying to rally people to an anti-Centauri position. And Londo was obligated to become a doormat, and the Centauri chose agree to Narn demands which only emboldened the Narn. With the war in season 2, everyone just saw the Narn get the war they wanted only to be devastated by Centauri. And therefore compounding the tragedy. I love the show, and to have such a game changer in 2 seasons into a 5 season arc is phenomenal in my opinion.
Such a GREAT episode! Wonderful acting, (G'Kar & Londo are definitely the best acted characters) wonderful action, wonderful story advancement! (I love how JMS balances the bad with the good. yes, Narn has fallen, but John now has MASSIVE support from the Great Machine & the Rangers / Army of Light) I love how you finally get a FULL demonstration of the Shadows MIGHT! As they just TEAR through the entire Narn fleet! (and the BEST they could do back, was disable ONE vessel, using the combined, concentrated firepower of THREE heavy cruisers) I too, LOVE the "Jeff callbacks". Personally (MY OPINION/VERY, VERY MINOR SPOILER?), I feel the series (moving forward) neglects the "Jeff Callbacks" a bit. I recall a handful of times, where they COULD have injected one or two lines, and it would have tied WONDERFULLY back to Jeff. (but they didn't)
I think that some of the Rangers actors were actually seeded into crowd scenes in episodes preceding this one to set up the fact that they were always coming and going and present long before their big reveal.
Londo was horrified when he saw the levelling of the Narn homeworld but he's already too far in under the Shadow's influence to escape. He says 'this is the last time' but he has lost all control.
The moment the first mass driver launches you see the look on Londo's face, knowing what he has unleashed, knowing he can't control it, knowing he is a damned soul. The anger he portrays in the council is of a man who knows that his own fate, and the blood of billions is on his hands. It's anger and hatred for what he has allowed and unleashed with a careless word. Londo imagined glory, but never the cost to him or his people and here he starts to realize that the price will be more than he could imagine.
Don't misunderstand me. I truly felt sorry for G'Kar. But I cannot help remembering his treatment of Londo back in Season One, especially the Ragesh III incident in "Midnight on the Firing Line". I also cannot help but remember Sinclair's warning to him about acting as some kind of abuser in an attempt to get revenge against the Centauri and Londo. G'Kar and the Narns ended up paying the price for their behavior in this episode. And it's just a matter of time before Londo will pay the consequences for his choices and behavior.
Adreas Katsulas (G'Kar) Peter Jurasik (Londo) were best friends off screen. That is what helped immensely these character development and amazing scenes we have had and we are about to have.
Andreas was great as Commander Tomalak of the Romulans in Star Trek the Next Generation during the same general period of the late 80's and early 90's.
Near the end, John talks about an "Army of light". It reminded me that there is also an "Army of darkness". Coincidentally, Patrica Tallman is in that too!
And you go back and watch the first 6 episodes of season 1 and then remember in the beginning, G'kar and the Narn were the mean baddies, and they were running roughshod over our friends the Centauri, and you don't remember when that viewpoint got quietly subverted and your expectations flipped. G'kar is now the giver of speeches, and he still has a lot ahead of him but I won't spoil it. :)
G'Kar and Londo are my favorites on this show. You are watching 2 of my all time favorites and i love watching someone else discover how incredible Farscape and Bab5 are. I get impatient waiting for your next posts.
I hope that when the revamped/ rebooted series finally starts that we find JMS has some great new speeches for whatever characters are involved. Have fun watching the remainder of the 5 seasons
I love G'kar, such a brilliant character. As for Londo he's dug such a big hole for himself he can't get out. B5 has so much going on it's hard to keep up. Love watching your reactions as you feel the emotions of all the characters, especially all the heartache.
Andreas Katsulas was an incredible actor. G'Kar's arc across the show is a brilliant journey.
There were many great actors working on this show, but he not only was among the best, he also achieved this while wearing the heavy Narn costume. I don´t want to imagine what that does to your attempts to show a facial expression but he did it.
@@SirMarshalHaig That and red contacts too. Just remarkable, but you've also got to give credit to the lines JMS gave them all to say. Katsulas was also a Romulan captain on Star Trek The Next Generation from time to time and his interplays with Picard were great too.
Watching her fall in love with G'kar and Andreas' acting just fills me. I miss that man. I hate seeing roles today and thinking "Andreas would have been amazing here".
Can you even imagine this show working if G'Kar and Londo weren't played by such titans? Personally, I don't think JMS would have developed the Narn/Centauri angle quite as deep.
This is why Babylon 5 is so good. You see the characters have arcs. You see their growth.
G'Kar and Londo are not the same people they were back in season one.
G'Kar, in my opinion, is one of the best played characters in sci-fi. Andreas Katsulas was a very talented actor and is missed greatly. Whilst that was a stirring speech, he has some terrific scenes and great dialogue still to come. I also love the reaction to "Zathrus", genuinely made me smile that you noticed that, I won't spoil why, but it would have been very easy to miss that. Your reactions are a joy to watch.
Katsulas and Jurasik give the outstanding performances of an outstanding series. The interplay between the two, the character development, the sheer range of emotions from laughter to utter devastation, and those moments when they say nothing but you can see exactly what it is going through their minds is truly exceptional. The Centauri could so easily have been dismissed as laughable with their huge combs of hair, but Jurasik set the tone that prevented that from happening from the very start. The Narn design is one of the best alien designs in TV science fiction, but Katsulas's ability to emote from under all that latex is incredible. They deserved to have been nominated for and won many, many awards for their performances.
I heartily agree about G'Kar and Katsulas. He is my favorite character in B5 and the one with whom I most identify. This is the start of a character arc that exemplifies some of JMS's finest writing and Katsulas sells it.
Honestly, I am not sure whether JMS got lucky with the cast or was able to select great actors or a little of both but the cast brought B5 alive.
@@jeffburrell7648 I think it's a little of both. JMS definitely got lucky in some of the casting choices. The other factor is the writing. If JMS wasn't a good writer, the actors wouldn't have been able to translate those words into wonderful performances.
@@jeffburrell7648 I know JMS worked to what the cast could do which is why Ivanova became a bit funnier and less austere. Once he had a sense of their rhythms/abilities or whatever he made sure that the scripts worked with that
Hear hear
G'Kar has some of the best speeches and this one here blows me away every time
Agreed. Andreas got some of the best monologues for this show.
He has some of the best speeches in fiction.
Molari standing at the window as the mass drivers pound Narn is for me, one of the most iconic images of the show.
I was awestruck watching that scene. Not a word spoken, a lifetime of emotions revealed.
If this show would have released today, it would have been the greatest "be careful what you wish for" meme of all time.
Yep, that shot of Londo being consumed by shadow is still chilling!
Yes that's a lovely piece of filming as the Centauri war machines occlude the Narn sun and Mollari literally and metaphorically falls further into darkness...
At least four things are being consumed by shadow. Londo. Londo's self-image (his reflection). Narn homeworld. The Centauri Republic. All falling into shadow in that one visual. It's great.
This was a hell of a thing to see back in the day. Now truly horrible things happening on shows is more commonplace like in Game of Thrones. But back then, the fall of Narn was like nothing I had ever seen on television. Babylon 5 was willing to go to dark places where other science fiction shows wouldn't go. This is also the first time that I had seen other ships having a chance to fight back against Shadow vessels, the attacks on Quadrant 14 and Quadrant 37 were so fast, so sudden that they never even had the chance to fight back. But to watch a superior number of ships actually fight them, and be utterly annihilated was really stunning to see when I first watched this episode. This was one of the moments that I could not wait to see you get to when I first discovered your channel, and there are many more to come. I'm sure you're mostly through season 3 by this point, but I won't say anything further other then I can't wait to see the look on your face further down the line. Glad the UA-cam robots let this through and I can't wait until you can post videos from season 3, as that is without question my favorite season of the show.
Seeing the Shadows destroy a jump gate just as the ships were about to enter was horrifying. You really do end this episode wondering how they're supposed to stop them the first time you watch the show.
Babylon 5 was groundbreaking in so many ways, yet never seems to get the recognition it deserves for paving the way for today's US TV.
There's a certain irony in that the events of the Narn/Centauri war often reflected stuff that could be seen daily on the news in '94/'95. Though this may depend on where you were living, of course. Certainly, in the UK this episode went out at a time when there were daily reports of the latest atrocities from Mira Furlan's home country, and in particular the bombardment of civilians in places like Sarajevo - all with the conspicuous failure of the organisation created to promote peace as a backdrop. Some of the stuff on B5 rang very true...
I remember watching this episode when it originally broadcast and concur. One of the only good things that came out out of the Battle of Gorash 7 was that from an audience perspective, we found out that the Shadow vessels could be damaged, but at what cost? It took the concentrated firepower of three Narn Heavy Cruisers to sever a spine causing the ship enough pain to have effectively disabled it. I do think that a few of the Narn Frazi-class fighters were able to escape into hyperspace before the jump points collapsed based off of lines of dialogue from later episodes, though this is largely conjecture on my part.
@@RectPropagation They collapsed jump POINTS which is actually scarier. If they had destroyed a gate, the ships may have been able to still escape using their jump drives. This though? You can't out run a Shadow ship to reach a jump gate, they are too fast and their guns are too powerful, but now you can't even try to jump at all? Yeah, that's pretty nasty
I was 18 when this series was first broadcast in the UK and believe me there was nothing like it anywhere. It was truly awe-inspiring and groundbreaking.
Same here, it accompanied me through my Uni years and beyond. My Mum used to record it for me, bless her.
The Incredible, Incomparable Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) Ladies and Gentlemen and the Speech that Echoes through the centuries!! There is No better delivery I can think of in TV history than that. You can almost feel the Words BURNING as they come out of his mouth. First time I heard it LONG ago I spent 5 minutes Crying as I had just recently had experience with the injustices of tyrants and those words truly spoke into my soul.
He was an actor who knew the power of speaking quietly. I stepped onto B5 during the third season, and it's the only time in my life that I ever felt moved to vote in a magazine poll - just, I *had* to vote for Katsulas as best actor in the SFX magazine annual poll...
And STILL, it gets better!!
G'Kar and Londo's character arcs are literally the best character writing I've ever seen.
Vir's is pretty spectacular too.
They really are the main characters of this story, primarily because their decisions have the largest impact on events throughout the course of the show.
unbelievable isn't it .... WOW
@@logansrun1960 i think there are 4 people that fit into the main story ... Sheridan, Delenn, G'Kar, and Londo..
"They intend to strike the Golash VII supply world." "Yeah, balls." 🤣
Andreas Katsulas, the actor under the G'kar makeup is the best reason to watch Babylon 5. Well, him and Peter Jurasic (London) and Mira Furlan (Delenn). Joe did a great job writing the monologues all three ornate throughout the show, but the actors are a crucial elements that makes this fantastic show work.
I recall when I first watched this, Londo was eager to point out that "mass drivers" had been outlawed by every civilized world in existence... And at the time, where was anyone's outrage when G'Kar several episodes back alleged the Centauri ships were carrying, among other things "mass drivers" outside Babylon 5 to be used against Narn? Either the League and other ambassadors should have been outraged, or Londo should have expressed outrage at the allegation.
That look on your face when Dra'al called out for Zathras! That was priceless!
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but William Sheppard played Warleader G'Sten,the Narn ship captain and also the Soul Hunter that tries to kill Dellen in season 1. He died in 2019 at the age of 89 and was an absolute legendary presence in Sci Fi movies and TV shows for over 50 years.TV especially,he was in just about everything. His voice was distinctive and was also a voice actor for video games and cartoons as well.
Morden: What do you want?
Mollari: I want a return to glory! A renaissance of power!
7:36
He gets his wish.
Elric : As I look at you, Ambasador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sound; the sounds of billions of people calling your name.
Ambassador Londo Mollari : My followers?
Elric : Your victims.
He got what he wanted, but he never realized just what the price would be for that wish to be fulfilled.
The tragedy is that Londo probably didn't want the near genocide of Narn. If anything it was to have beaten them to a point where they would stop antagonizing the Centauri as they did throughout Season 1.
@@wanderingthedesert5599 Great point. One of the things about Straczynski's writing that I enjoy are the two questions posited by the Vorlons and the Shadows: "Who are you?" and "What do you want?"
Londo, as a character, is someone who knows what he wants but doesn't know who he is. Same with G'Kar. They are essentially the same character but with major differences. The biggest difference over time is that G'Kar figures out who he is and then asks what he wants. Londo doesn't come to realization until much later in his arc.
@@logansrun1960 Those two are very philosophical questions. And do you remember how Delenn and Vir reacted to it?
One thing that still sticks out to me in this episode even with everything *else* that went on was that one news report that the use of mass drivers by the Centauri was so abhorrent that even the frickin' *Vorlons* bothered to issue a protest alongside the other governments.
Which is incredibly ironic. No spoilers.
@@brandonreed09 Not really, cause you potential spoiler comment has not come to pass yet.
@@putinscat1208 I guess that's true, for now. We'll just have to see how things play out 😉
@@putinscat1208 Well I'd agree that it is very ironic considering future events. The fun part about it is that the reason why the Vorlon's protested has nothing to do with what people think at the time.
G'Kar's speech in the council chambers is such a powerful one and delived with such visibly constrained emotion, I get goose bumps, every time. Hasn't lost any of its power after watching this show almost 30 times. Powerful.
Londo watching the bombardment of Narn always gets me, as if he's finally realized the consequences of his choices. Equally G'Kar, is as moving. A lot of credit to the actors.
Exactly. Londo's had moments of realization but he quickly kills it by drinking himself into a stupor or rationalizing it away with saying "he had no choice". In that moment, watching the mass drivers sent asteroid after asteroid into the Narn homeworld, it sinks in that his decision to align with Morden has brought this moment to fruition. Part of me thinks Londo is recalling Elric's words from earlier in the season:
"And I hear billions of voices calling your name."
"My followers?"
"Your victims."
@@logansrun1960 The tragedy is that Londo always thought Elric was referring to the Narn, but it wasn't just them. If you've read the Legions of Fire trilogy, it does have Londo reflecting on Elric's words and what he meant.
@@wanderingthedesert5599 I have read the Legions of Fire books. Next to the Technomage Trilogy, those are among my favorites from the extended B5 universe.
In this episode, I think this is the first time Londo begins to realize what Elric was warning him about. But Londo, deeply rooted in his pride, can't bring himself to accept his role in the events just yet.
G'kar's freedom speech was my tear-up moment of the episode.
The shock moment of this episode goes to none other than Londo with his "NOW!" demand. Bone chilling. This mellow guy that we got to know in season 1 is now a petulent child asking for his toy. He has sacrificed so much for this. He wants his moment "NOW". Great actors.
This episode might be summarised in one word. Heartbreaking.
Andreas Katsulas, was an American film and television actor, most recognized for portrayals of G'Kar on American science fiction television series Babylon 5.
He was a fantastic actor and could deliver his lines with such gravitas.
I am so enjoying your reactions to, IMO, one of the best written and acted series made. The interplay of the characters is, and will be, phenomenal. And G'kar get to deliver many soliloquies throughout the series. Each better than the previous one.
You are in for such a ride! I can't wait for more of your reactions! Be well!
Also played a Romulan, which was excellent.
It harkens back to NaGrath (the mantis alien underworld boss) when G'Kar is under threat of assassination: "Mighty Narn Empire?" with incredulity. To see the Shadows decimate the pride of the Narn fleet in mere *minutes* showed just how much John, Michael, Delenn, and Kosh are up against at this point. And, yes, it is both heartbreaking and satisfying, to see the strong, scheming, and proud G'Kar -- who started out with a plot to destroy Babylon 5's mission by framing Commander Sinclair -- reduced to groveling for sanctuary at the behest of his crumbling government, and yet filled with resolve to free his people once again. Your reaction -- and I don't mean the video itself -- but the tears, the gasps, and the sheer empathy you display for this fictional universe, reminds me of my own reactions when I first saw this, back in the 90s. I know your uploads mean you've already seen far ahead, but I will say that I very much look forward to your reactions to the final episodes of season 2.
THIS! ^^^ Watching this I'm thinking there are episodes coming up where she's going to have to stop recording to pull herself back together.
I'm really looking forward to her reactions regarding the Fall of Night and Matters of Honor. Back to back and all around great episodes.
I'm glad that of the orbital bombardment scene, you showed Londo's mirror image being swallowed up in shadows. So symbolic.
Such a key episode for the series, with such great hope, only being made to feel all that much stronger by the despair that came right before it.
Little side-note since it can be a bit hard to spot with the energy field or whatever it was around them. Mass Drivers are no energy weapons. They take small asteroids and accelerate them to a velocity at which they become weapons of mass destruction able to wipe out entire cities with a single hit.
The Narn weren't just bombed into the stone-age, they were bombed to the cusp of another ice-age.
Hard to believe that G'kar started as someone who seemed to be the villain and Londo seemed to be - I guess you could say a clown - and now they are so far from where they started. I remember when I saw this the first time that at this point I wondered where the two of them were going to be by the end.
Londo started like Quark in DS9, always around the bar and gambling machines, often a clown and comic relief for his affectations
They both made such a massive change. The genius behind it is less the change though, but the fact that it happens so slowly and so subtle, that you only notice the change, when the characters do things you didn't expect, think about it and go "huh I guess he did change that much yeah that is amazing". You are always surprised but never in disbelief. This is such a thin line to walk that to this day I cannot fathom the genius of it.
My headcanon is that the depth and detail of the show is an entire universe created solely to lend veracity to the story of G'Kar. You don't see him for an episode or two? That's just to lull you into thinking he's a secondary character. :-)
jms has as much said that this is the story of G'Kar and Londo, more than almost anyone else's
I was too young to watch B5 when it originally aired, but I decided to watch it this year based on all the great things I had heard about it. Initially, I struggled with this series but saw the potential for greatness in episodes like 'Signs & Portents', 'Babylon Squared' and 'The Coming of Shadows'. For me, this was the episode that completely won me over to B5. The series literally goes from strength to strength from this point onward!
Something that Babylon 5 did so well was pivot the story onto a new path. Unexpected of course if you hadn't been paying attention to the details in previous episodes: the Centauri transferring mass drivers outside Babylon 5, the separation of Mollari from Reefa and his growing mistrust of the Shadows, and strengthening the Epsilon machine's connection with Babylon 4 beyond doubt. JMS was a big believer in "if a gun is used in act 3, then make sure it is seen in act 1", so the revelations in each episode have been signposted in hindsight.
A big shout out to Christopher Franke for the music in this (and all of the episodes) - beautifully paced and complementing the on screen action perfectly. The Narn battle is a favourite.
This series had enough Chekhov's guns to supply a small army.
I love your reaction when he calls for Zathras. I assumed you recognized the name from season 1.
Draal's connection to the Great Machine reminds me of The Three-Eyed Raven from Game of Thrones. But Draal maintains his personality while Bran is left without one.
The moment after the bombing of the Narn homeworld when Londo returns to Babylon 5 and comes across Garibaldi. The look on Garibaldi's face. If their bromance wasn't over before, it is definitely over now.
9:33-9:50 G'Kar gives the best speeches. This one is among my favorites. Gives me chills every time.
JMS and GRRM probably had the same influence, but B5 was executed better, though I haven’t read the books and could be wrong.
Fun fact: William Morgan Sheppard, the actor who played G'Sten, G'Kar's uncle, was almost cast as G'Kar himself before Andreas Katsulas got the role
He also played the Soul Hunter in season 1.
He was also the Soul Hunter in Season 1, "They're USING YOU !!!!!!!!"
I knew that voice was too distinctive for me the be mistaken! That Narn ship captain was played by William Sheppard, who also played the Soulhunter in season 1!
He was also the father of Mark Sheppard, known for many roles himself, like Badger on Firefly, Crowley on Supernatural, and both played the role of Canton Delaware III at different ages on Doctor Who.
It's not just the speeches that show the quality of B5 it's the events that lead into the dialogue both during that specific episode but also preceding ones.
Draal is definitely one of those mimbari you wouldn't might spending a night just blethering away at the pub, alcohol free of course.
This is one of the big episodes. As usual, great reaction.
"This is gonna go bad" Indeed!
"Zathras! ZATHRAS!" It took you a second, but your reaction was perfect. Will we see how Zathras came to Jeff? Well, we shall see if we get that piece of information.
Londo's face when he realized the consequences of his actions, this is such great acting by Peter Jurasik
G'Kar has some of the best speeches I have come across in fiction. JMS is a genius writer.
... and finally John knows about the Rangers. Remember, Garibaldi told him some time ago that his source of information was reliable, and he could not (yet) reveal it. This is the pay-off.
... and we now have an Army of Light. How long will that last?
Yes, the very best actors on B5, to me are Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) and MIra Furlan (Delenn). A close third is Peter Jurasik (Londo). The others are still good, but those three shine every time. Also the guy playing Lord Refa does a wonderful job in the role.
Yes, this episode is heartbreaking, indeed!
The Problem is that there are so many insane performances that I feel bad saying how great Andreas was. You didn't mention Walter Koenig (Bester), who to this day is my all time best Villain on TV - and I cannot blame you for not mentioning him, because all the other people you mentioned are so good as well. I honestly doubt that B5 had such a lucky draw in its cast that it is so much better than the rest. I think the B5 simply managed to get the best out of everyone. The actors absolutely lived their roles. The writing was insanely good. They had no long nights, so everyone (except JMS) were well rested every day... I think the work environment was a major part of the greatness of the show.
@@xellos5262 Yes, it is easy to forget mentioning all the excellent performances.
Walter Koenig is definitely close to the others, but there will always be a personal favourite.
From the moment we first see Bester and think "Checkov", to just moments later "No not Checkov", Absolutely a great performance, and according to Koenig himself one of his favourite roles ever. That is whet he says at conventions, also Star Trek conventions. And essentially every member of the cast performed excellently.
The genius of JMS' writing shines through, and all of them brought their A-game.
@@BabylonLurker Peter Jurasik, Andreas Katsulas, Walter Koenig - all of them wouldn't have excelled in their roles without the perfect writing of their lines. For such a performance, you need great actors and a great script.
@@Nikioko I do not disagree. The combination of et excellent script and the performance is what gives the series true greatness. Excellence. Whatever we choose to call it.
This is the beginning of an arc that will see both Londo and G'Kar become totally different people this series would be a pale imitation without them and the incredible acting in this episode is just a hint of what is to come. The horror in Londo's eye's as he watches Narn burn and the fire in G'Kar's voice as he delivers his final words to the council are two of the many moments which have stayed with me for over 20 years and still evoke strong emotions to this day. I'm enjoying watching you join the fun and will be watching all your reactions to this series.
Agreed. Were it not for the fall of Narn and some events that occur in Season Three (which I won't spoil here), G'Kar could have easily become like Londo.
Now a remake is more or less confirmed, I cannot imagine who will step into Peter and Andreas' shoes, but I hope they are even halfway worthy.
This one I have been looking forward to seeing your reaction. This really is the "Oh Londo, what have you done" episode. The shot of Londo staring down at Narn is one of those shots from B5 that always stays with me. Both Londo and Citizen G'Kar this episode. These two have come a long way since the start.
And that's only part of the goodness in this episode. Your face when Zathras was mentioned. Priceless.
I loved that you caught the Zathras info nugget 👍
Londo I think got caught up into the whole thing and could not get out without loosing face and he could not loose face.... he had his pride. You see him standing watching the mass drivers go ... he clearly did not approve it .... but he could not do anything to stop it, and he wants a way to get out but can't see it.
Whatever Londo's personal feelings about this massacre, he doesn't believe he has a choice other than to get with the program. It's a returning theme with Londo, where he makes bad choices fully knowing they probably are bad choices, but he simply doesn't see or want to consider the alternatives.
Hold on to your seat. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Good review
it's hard not to drop spoilers by accident as for me the series just truly kicks off now. So much happens in every episode.
Andreas performs so many truly beautiful speeches over the next few seasons. Peter's character grows so much as well.
It was a real joy (and emotional) to watch years ago and so seeing you react to them much like I did has helped me remember my first watch through.
To this day I'm still at awe at his S5 speech "what is god?" And I'm an atheist :D
Loved the shocked reaction to the mention of Zathras. Now consider this: Babylon 4 didn't reappear until right after Draal took over the Great Machine. Note the episode sequence that S1E17 is A Voice in the Wilderness Part II, and S1E18 is Babylon Squared.
The mass driver bombing of Narn was heartbreaking.
Your face at scenes with John and Delenn are always priceless!
G'Kar's speech in the council chamber is some of the best acting in the show.
And that part where Londo coughs? Foreshadowing.
G'Kar's speech... is definitely one of my favorites.
According to the season by season guides, they filmed Londo's scenes by putting Peter Jurasik up on a high platform and leaving him there to think for a while. He really praises the director John Flinn for the way that scene was shot, and it definitely comes out amazing.
The title comes from a quote from Kennedy, and according to JMS has its significance.
I watch reaction vids because there's nobody here who likes the same shows I do. I didn't think anyone out there was reacting to B5. With the CW announcement, I went looking. Awesome!
Check out Chosen One Reactions, she's also reacting to it. There's a couple of others I believe but they have seen it in the past. Medusa and chosen one have never watched it before.
@@frozenpiper2 Peter and Tara from Mild Fuzz TV are also watching for the first time, though it's a review podcast and not a reaction. Cult TV Sofa is more-or-less first time reacting, I think he's seen the show running in the background years ago or something but definitely not at a previous fan level of story knowledge. All a little different in style but all worth checking out in my opinion :)
@@mayra3277 yeah I've seen the mild fuzz come up on searches but I prefer reactions. I didn't watch much of cult TV because at the time I really didn't care for him plus he had said that he'd watched it before and I was looking for new reactions.
@@frozenpiper2 nothing wrong with preferring different kinds of videos! Just putting it out there for those who are interested :) Cult TV Sofa to me seems almost like a new reaction but is a bit different in style (more analytical). I'm glad there's so many people doing B5 now, that means there's something for everyone!
@@mayra3277 there was also a woman doing tea with B5 or something like that. She was rewatching but not sure if she's still doing the videos. I recommend the show to reactors because it's so well done but slips under the radar for most people unfortunately.
I was taking a drink when you said "you made a shit decision dude" and I almost choked to death laughing. Go buy that box of tissues, not doing so would be a shit decision dude.
For a while I was watching B5 in sync with you but sadly me and my grandson are now on S3-E5. He wanted to watch 2 episodes after our sunday lunch.... bless him lol. I have to say your reaction are very sharp and enjoyable. Keep up the good work medusa.... respect.
G'kar's speech in the council never ceases to stir me to tears. 💘💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻😎
I really do envy you, watching B5 for the first time with so much more great episodes to come! I’m really enjoying re-watching it with you!
This was the episode that got me hooked on the show first time round; no other show had attempted an abrupt 90 degree turn in the status quo back in the 90s. Trek, X Files and the others were still labouring under the idea that audiences didn't have the attention spans to tolerate long running arcs so to completely change the shows setup was incredible.
It's so frustrating that it didn't get the attention that it deserved at the time but it seems like people are starting to discover the show now.
Yes indeed. TV executives opted for standalone episodic TV because they reasoned that if someone missed an episode or two of an ongoing story then they would just give up watching a show. JMS had the insight to realise that with home recording having become ubiquitous a decade earlier this was no longer the case and he not only introduced story and character arcs into US TV he delivered a masterclass in how to do it. Having had the foresight to film in 16:9 ratio (4:3 safe) years before widescreen TVs became the norm and utilising CGI for special effects when everyone else was still using traditional models, he truly was a visionary.
I'm not keen on this proposed remake that's in the works (why when the original is so incredible?), but hopefully it may result in JMS finally getting access to the high-quality masters that apparently exist buried somewhere in WB's vaults and allow for a full high definition widescreen remaster of this stunning original series.
jms descibes it as letting the audience get comfortable and then coming up and whacking the plot with a 2x4 to shake people up.
I have been waiting patiently for you to reach this one!!- this is one of my all time favorites (& that's a tough call with how brilliant B5 is, especially now it's hit this point and what happens going forward!).
Must have been so hard to edit this one (again!) with so much going on!
As I'm sure MANY have already said: Andreas was incredible as G'Kar, & every time I see the scene of his heartbreaking speech as he leaves - there is a proper lump in my throat... but a BIG shout out from me goes to Peter Jurasik as Londo who didn't get the speeches, but for my money is equally brilliant- the shocked look of 'what have I done?' on his face as they bomb Narn is everything!
The cast is all fantastic, but for my money - these 2 are the beating heart of this show!
Can't wait for the final 2 episode reactions from you- they're gonna be biggies! 😁😁
The image of Londo looking out the window was awesome. Peter Jurasik was incredible - his face seemed to me to show a mix of disgust and anger. Reminded me of Senator Palpatine in Star Wars for some reason.
Mass drivers - the weapons that the Centauri are using on the Narn homeworld - essentially fire large rocks at high speed by way of electromagnets. These projectiles require no special additional destructive payload because of simple physics: force equals mass times acceleration. These rocks _are_ the payload.
Think about the asteroid that hit Earth, causing the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that took out the dinosaurs. That was _one rock_ moving at high speed. Now, the individual rocks being thrown by the Centauri mass drivers are smaller than that the Chicxulub asteroid, but imagine how many you see being fired at the planet on screen.
It doesn't have to be at high speed. Having a ship lift these rocks is a feat on its own. But once the ship is orbiting a planet, they just have to fire them in a decayed orbit for them to hit with megatons of energy. I think the ship will be relieved to have this rock off its back.
This was epic, I can see from your reaction you are starting to get "it" It is going to be so much fun to watch you witness everything to come:)
Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasic have so much chemistry in this show its mindblowing, How the show is set up is incredible on its own . there is a main plot , and different sides to each story , and even with in the sides there are sides. and levels .
Shame is Talia left because the actress wanted to leave... Originally the mole was supposed to be Takashima, second in command from The Gathering movie. So the feeling that Susan was the mole were not accidental. But JMS had expected some staff changes when writing so he prepared stand ins for characters, that is why each ambassador has an aide that gets a lot of screen time and why Sinclair had an explorer girlfriend that he proposed to because the station comander´s love interest was always meant to be the one to have found Z´ha´dum.
I love your emotion and I have to tell you I was brought to tears several times over the 5 series. G'kar strikes the soul, and I'm pretty sure Andreas crafted the lines. I would love to be watching together on your sofa 🛋
Just wanted to say thank you for recording reactions to some of my favorite sci-fi shows ever. I don't think many people understand how good it feels to finally be able to share my admiration and emotions about these sci-fi shows.
Thank you for reminding me of the emotions and joy of watching B5 for the first time
The fall of Narn is so tragic, and G'Kar's words to the counsel so powerful. As for Londo, he once again sinks deeper into darkness. Tragig as well.
I recently rewatched the series after seeing your reactions. B5 is one of if not the best sci-fi space opera ever aired on television, and it's still sad that so many have never experienced it. As a kid, I remember my dad watching Babylon 5, Star Trek The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. I wasn't into the shows since I was just a kid. Later on I loved sci-fi and he grabbed all the seasons. Binges the hell out of it. Still amazing. Still the best. =)
I wished Garibaldi's reply had been just a bit longer. To me, it would have been a nice touch if in addition to mentioning the promise he had also said something like "and if I had told you because a superior officer ordered me, then..." so it would have told Sheridan where the info came in The Coming Of Shadows episode.
In all the years of watching and rewatching this show, that is about as close as I've ever come to finding a criticism of this episode. It builds so brilliantly to the spectacle of Narn being obiterated, to that moment in the council chamber which follows along so close to seeing G'kar the lowest we've ever seen him, and it all has so much weight because of what we've seen bring us here. From G'kar being a swaggering menace in the early episodes, with Londo the down on his luck drunkard they've each grown in different directions and so all their moments mean so much more.
Something I also love is how much can be done with such little moments. G'kar handed Londo a drink in the Coming Of Shadows and to the audience it's a moment of sheer horror and Londo understands it to. The same thing here - You get a compelling scene that could be simply described as 'Londo looks out the window'. In the look he gives though you can see no joy, just the realisation of what he has set in motion. This is what he asked for, but this is not what he wanted.
I've been waiting for you to get to this episode. So many tragic moments throughout this series and this episode is one of the strongest gut punches Straczynski ever landed.
The look Sheridan gives Londo at 9:28 is one of those moments that really defines the character for me. Sheridan is not someone who takes grief from anyone, let alone someone like Londo. You get the sense that if this weren't in a public forum and that desk wasn't between them, Sheridan would have walked right up to Londo and strangled the life out of him.
Buckle up sister because this ride is just getting started. If you think hearing the name zathras is bonkers or seeing G’Kar as of now ad amazing, you havent seen anything yet.
I wont comment further because the risk of spoilers is like walking into a room full of Teeps but i will say i look forward to your b5 reactions.
Seeing your honest reactions is like watching the series for the first time again.
I think she stopped reading the comments when Sinclair departing was spoilt for her so I don't think it'd matter.
I mentioned something similar in one of the prior episodes... apparently, it is difficult to get actors who can tolerate long periods of makeup that covers the face, head, and hands. So, if you watch, or listen, closely enough you can catch the same actors playing different aliens that require full face makeup. In this episode, the Narn General was the actor who played Deathwalker in the episode called 'Deathwalker.' The story continues to unfold. Enjoy. Cheers.
I think you mean the Soul Collector, maybe? Deathwalker was Sara Douglas the Cryptonian baddie from Superman "1" and 2.
I seem to recall that makeup/prosthetics is the reason we don't see much of Na'Toth in Series 2. The actress (Mary Kay Adams) who took over the role had problems tolerating it.
@@zvimur Yeah, the Soul Hunters. You are correct, that is what I meant.
G'Kar's uncle (G'Sten) was played by Morgan Sheppard, the same actor who played the Soul Hunter in season 1... He was one of the front-runners to actually play G'Kar, but Andreas got the role instead... JMS basically wrote in this character to give Sheppard the opportunity to play another Narn with mega-gravitas, and he delivered! That scene is so touching, how he so directly and severely discusses their war strategy, but finally warms to say goodbye to his "favorite nephew"...
Sheppard also voiced the narrator for Civilization V, in case you ever wanted the image of an old Narn soldier reading you bits of Earth history.
Mass Drivers basically launch asteroids; or something like it: at planets. Now the wait until the next episode.
Well it launches any thing with mass.
Which only goes to show that Sir Isaac Newton is the deadliest SOB in space!
I did a long post a couple videos ago about recommendations for the Babylon 5 tie-in novels and when to read them as I've read all the books blessed as canon by series creator JMS. I think it must have gotten auto-marked as spam since I suggested places to find them pre-owned at reasonable prices (they are all out of print) as the comment disappeared almost immediately. So if that's something you are interested in, you can look back through your "held for review" comments to find the long version.
The short version is there are 2 stand-alone books and 3 trilogies that either tell new tales or tell an existing story from a different perspective. The best book to serve as an entry point IMO is the stand-alone book _The Shadow Within_ which is a Sheridan story and should not be read until after Season 3. It was my 2nd favorite of the 11 canon novels and is on the lower end of the cost spectrum since it had 2 printings. If you want more Sinclair content, _To Dream in the City of Sorrows_ is the other stand-alone book and also should not be read until after season 3. It is on the cheaper end to acquire as well since it had 2 printings. The 3 trilogies should not be read until after you finish the series so if you read either of the stand-alone books and like them, you can just do a search for Babylon 5 canon novels to find information about the 3 trilogies to decide if you want to learn more about the subject each covers.
This episode is where Londo is realizing that he has made a mistake. He wanted to defeat the Narn and regain the Republic's lost glory. Instead, he is assisting in the annihilation of a race and bringing his country into the darkness.
Such a tragic character that is Londo Molari. Remember when he was fun and enjoyable?
Also, I am glad you noticed Zathras. It took me a while to realize it.
I love how all the candles in G'Kar's quarters start to go out as the Narn fleet is destroyed.
Easily one of the episode of television ever! I'm shocked that there weren't more tears. This is what bold television looks like.
I wonder if the reason this is a one part reaction video is a lot of the bits cut out are of frustrated crying. Kind of like Confessions & Lamentations it's a slow drip feed of horror, so it's not one where there is much scope for trying to to figure out what the future meanings etc are.
It gets A lot better!!.
I've just smashed through your season 2 reactions, and having watched the entire series I'm enjoying following someone's first time through.
I loved it that G'Kar's uncle was played by W.Morgan Sheppard he was the first time we see the Soul Hunters. But he played one of my most favorite character named Blank Reg from Max Headroom. He' did a lot of voice acting work. The gut playing Drawl is named John Shuck he replaced the original actor. The Centauri were using WMDs like mass drivers dropping rocks down a gravity well from orbit.
One tragic part about the Narn-Centauri war that was very well written in my opinion.
From our pov, we see the machinations of the Shadows, and the scheming of Refa, bringing about the fall of Narn. And in doing so, seeing the tragedy.
The in universe perspective, throughout season 1, G'Kar was looking for any chance to have a go at the Centauri, and trying to rally people to an anti-Centauri position. And Londo was obligated to become a doormat, and the Centauri chose agree to Narn demands which only emboldened the Narn. With the war in season 2, everyone just saw the Narn get the war they wanted only to be devastated by Centauri. And therefore compounding the tragedy.
I love the show, and to have such a game changer in 2 seasons into a 5 season arc is phenomenal in my opinion.
Such a GREAT episode!
Wonderful acting, (G'Kar & Londo are definitely the best acted characters) wonderful action, wonderful story advancement! (I love how JMS balances the bad with the good. yes, Narn has fallen, but John now has MASSIVE support from the Great Machine & the Rangers / Army of Light)
I love how you finally get a FULL demonstration of the Shadows MIGHT! As they just TEAR through the entire Narn fleet! (and the BEST they could do back, was disable ONE vessel, using the combined, concentrated firepower of THREE heavy cruisers)
I too, LOVE the "Jeff callbacks". Personally (MY OPINION/VERY, VERY MINOR SPOILER?), I feel the series (moving forward) neglects the "Jeff Callbacks" a bit. I recall a handful of times, where they COULD have injected one or two lines, and it would have tied WONDERFULLY back to Jeff. (but they didn't)
I love your reactions! These episodes are so heartbreaking and painful... I love this show. 😢💖
I think that some of the Rangers actors were actually seeded into crowd scenes in episodes preceding this one to set up the fact that they were always coming and going and present long before their big reveal.
Londo was horrified when he saw the levelling of the Narn homeworld but he's already too far in under the Shadow's influence to escape. He says 'this is the last time' but he has lost all control.
The moment the first mass driver launches you see the look on Londo's face, knowing what he has unleashed, knowing he can't control it, knowing he is a damned soul.
The anger he portrays in the council is of a man who knows that his own fate, and the blood of billions is on his hands. It's anger and hatred for what he has allowed and unleashed with a careless word. Londo imagined glory, but never the cost to him or his people and here he starts to realize that the price will be more than he could imagine.
G'Kar is just amazing. His speech in this episode raises the hairs on the back of my neck.
“They are a dying people, we should let them pass.”
"Who, the Narn or the Centauri?"
"Yes"
Don't misunderstand me. I truly felt sorry for G'Kar. But I cannot help remembering his treatment of Londo back in Season One, especially the Ragesh III incident in "Midnight on the Firing Line". I also cannot help but remember Sinclair's warning to him about acting as some kind of abuser in an attempt to get revenge against the Centauri and Londo. G'Kar and the Narns ended up paying the price for their behavior in this episode. And it's just a matter of time before Londo will pay the consequences for his choices and behavior.
This episode was the turning point for the series.
One of them, which is so much more amazing. There are so many.
Adreas Katsulas (G'Kar) Peter Jurasik (Londo) were best friends off screen. That is what helped immensely these character development and amazing scenes we have had and we are about to have.
4:25 Refa doesn't care about making more enemies. More enemies means more conquest, means more power.
Andreas was great as Commander Tomalak of the Romulans in Star Trek the Next Generation during the same general period of the late 80's and early 90's.
Sheridan (actor) has a true knack for inspiring speeches....As you will see in future episodes. Enjoy.
Love your B5 reactions, and it still gets better.
Near the end, John talks about an "Army of light". It reminded me that there is also an "Army of darkness". Coincidentally, Patrica Tallman is in that too!
Different Bruce though ;-)
You have quite the ride ahead of you. Thanks for letting us come along. :)
And you go back and watch the first 6 episodes of season 1 and then remember in the beginning, G'kar and the Narn were the mean baddies, and they were running roughshod over our friends the Centauri, and you don't remember when that viewpoint got quietly subverted and your expectations flipped. G'kar is now the giver of speeches, and he still has a lot ahead of him but I won't spoil it. :)
B5 is so exceptionally good that I'm not sure this absolute killer of an episode is even in my personal top 10.
G'Kar and Londo are my favorites on this show. You are watching 2 of my all time favorites and i love watching someone else discover how incredible Farscape and Bab5 are. I get impatient waiting for your next posts.
I hope that when the revamped/ rebooted series finally starts that we find JMS has some great new speeches for whatever characters are involved. Have fun watching the remainder of the 5 seasons
I love G'kar, such a brilliant character.
As for Londo he's dug such a big hole for himself he can't get out.
B5 has so much going on it's hard to keep up. Love watching your reactions as you feel the emotions of all the characters, especially all the heartache.
OOOH I cannot wait for your reaction to the next episode - you're gonna LOVE it!!! They have a special guest on Babylon 5 :D
G'Kar and Londo are my 2 favorite characters, both are played superbly and have incredible story arcs.
As well as the amazing G'kar I really like his uncle G'Sten, played by the same actor that played the Soul Hunter in series 1.
My buddy started watching this and he calls it Space, Game of Thrones!
I definitely call Game of Thrones in Space
Narn bombardment was a terrifying scene. Game-changing episode.