Overall, I'm not a big fan of this episode, as a whole. All of the stuff with Sebastian didn't do anything for me, though it does show a darker side of the Vorlons that I appreciate. What saves the episode for me is all of the stuff with G'Kar, because I like G'Kar and it was nice to see the guy get a win after a very bad year. For me the Inquisitor just comes off as too sadistic, he goes past testing Delenn and into reveling in the pain he causes. G'Kar is trying so hard, he has lost everything but he is still willing to fight the good fight not just for his people, even though some may consider it undignified. Were not seeing G'Kar the scheming ambassador, were seeing G'Kar the resistance fighter, or at the very least G'Kar returning to who he was when he was younger, though it's clear he's out of practice. The elevator scene with G'Kar was powerful for both characters, you can really fell Vir's sincerity and G'Kar's pain. The meeting with the arms dealer is good, and G'Kar was able to get a small discount, so good for him. What really sells it for me is the interactions between Garibaldi and G'Kar, which is a great scene for both characters. G'Kar pulling those strings to prove himself was a heartwarming moment, you can see where the Narn are coming from, they're desperate and concerned, and they're not sure if G'Kar is up to leading them. He is the last member of their government who is free, the same government who led the Narn to such a crushing defeat. Their faith in what's left of their government would be at an all time low. But I also appreciate that they gave G'Kar a chance to prove himself to them, and the fact that G'Kar was willing to peacefully step down as their leader if he couldn't do what he promised. I maintain that the best stuff for the Sebastian storyline, is the insight we get into Kosh and the Vorlons, and how they would sanction the use of Sebastian to ensure Delenn is up to the task. It's one of those things that a layer of menace and grayness to the Vorlons. The Vorlons may be "good", but they are definitely not nice, the first time we've been reminded of this since Deathwalker. Overall, if Kosh was concerned about Delenn being up to the task, he could have gone about it differently, a more mysterious and esoteric test, instead of defrosting a serial killer to torture Delenn for an episode, a serial killer who has killed other prospects for the Vorlons in the past who didn't live up to their standards. I would have much preferred Kosh giving Delenn a series of psychic visions and tests to prove her worthiness. I get what J.M.S. was going for, but it fell flat for me.
I really like the take of us seeing G'Kar as a resistance fighter in this episode. Especially because - like most of Babylon 5 - it doesn't romanticize this role. Becoming a resistance leader doesn't mean you get to suddenly stand up to the bad guys armed with nothing but plot-armor and a moral highground. It means being percieved as a crazed lunatic in the streets, making shady deals, dealing with a whole lot of uncertainty and low morale on all fronts. Sebastian's introduction feels like it's opening up the whole Babylon 5 universe in a way. To me, it's kind of like seeing the Force being used for the first time in Star Wars. Suddenly you see 'oh wow, a whole lot more fantastical things are possible'. As an inquisitor, he's very meanspirited and goes well beyond what was necessary. I think it would've helped a lot to see more of Kosh's side to these events. Was this really what *Kosh* wanted to do, or was this something the Vorlon Empire imposed on him? How free was Sebastian in his actions? Like, do the vorlons want him to be a tortorous lunatic or is that's just him and they don't care enough to stop him?
@@ThirdAgePodcast Spoiler for those who aren't caught up with the entire series who may read this comment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For these questions, I have always believed that Kosh is the most benevolent member of his race, not saying much, but I would like to think he may not have been fully on board with bringing in the Inquisitor for Delenn, but he still towed the Vorlon line. I also believe that Sebastian had a bit too much freedom in his actions, and that suited the Vorlons just fine, as we see the Vorlon's true colors revealed in the Shadow War. In their own way, their just as destructive and manipulative as the Shadows. The Vorlons are pure order, while the Shadows are pure chaos, they both are under the impression that they're doing what's best for the universe, and don't care how many younger races have to suffer in order to win the argument.
Overall, I'm not a big fan of this episode, as a whole. All of the stuff with Sebastian didn't do anything for me, though it does show a darker side of the Vorlons that I appreciate. What saves the episode for me is all of the stuff with G'Kar, because I like G'Kar and it was nice to see the guy get a win after a very bad year.
For me the Inquisitor just comes off as too sadistic, he goes past testing Delenn and into reveling in the pain he causes.
G'Kar is trying so hard, he has lost everything but he is still willing to fight the good fight not just for his people, even though some may consider it undignified. Were not seeing G'Kar the scheming ambassador, were seeing G'Kar the resistance fighter, or at the very least G'Kar returning to who he was when he was younger, though it's clear he's out of practice. The elevator scene with G'Kar was powerful for both characters, you can really fell Vir's sincerity and G'Kar's pain.
The meeting with the arms dealer is good, and G'Kar was able to get a small discount, so good for him. What really sells it for me is the interactions between Garibaldi and G'Kar, which is a great scene for both characters.
G'Kar pulling those strings to prove himself was a heartwarming moment, you can see where the Narn are coming from, they're desperate and concerned, and they're not sure if G'Kar is up to leading them. He is the last member of their government who is free, the same government who led the Narn to such a crushing defeat. Their faith in what's left of their government would be at an all time low. But I also appreciate that they gave G'Kar a chance to prove himself to them, and the fact that G'Kar was willing to peacefully step down as their leader if he couldn't do what he promised.
I maintain that the best stuff for the Sebastian storyline, is the insight we get into Kosh and the Vorlons, and how they would sanction the use of Sebastian to ensure Delenn is up to the task. It's one of those things that a layer of menace and grayness to the Vorlons. The Vorlons may be "good", but they are definitely not nice, the first time we've been reminded of this since Deathwalker.
Overall, if Kosh was concerned about Delenn being up to the task, he could have gone about it differently, a more mysterious and esoteric test, instead of defrosting a serial killer to torture Delenn for an episode, a serial killer who has killed other prospects for the Vorlons in the past who didn't live up to their standards. I would have much preferred Kosh giving Delenn a series of psychic visions and tests to prove her worthiness. I get what J.M.S. was going for, but it fell flat for me.
I really like the take of us seeing G'Kar as a resistance fighter in this episode. Especially because - like most of Babylon 5 - it doesn't romanticize this role.
Becoming a resistance leader doesn't mean you get to suddenly stand up to the bad guys armed with nothing but plot-armor and a moral highground. It means being percieved as a crazed lunatic in the streets, making shady deals, dealing with a whole lot of uncertainty and low morale on all fronts.
Sebastian's introduction feels like it's opening up the whole Babylon 5 universe in a way. To me, it's kind of like seeing the Force being used for the first time in Star Wars. Suddenly you see 'oh wow, a whole lot more fantastical things are possible'.
As an inquisitor, he's very meanspirited and goes well beyond what was necessary. I think it would've helped a lot to see more of Kosh's side to these events. Was this really what *Kosh* wanted to do, or was this something the Vorlon Empire imposed on him? How free was Sebastian in his actions? Like, do the vorlons want him to be a tortorous lunatic or is that's just him and they don't care enough to stop him?
@@ThirdAgePodcast Spoiler for those who aren't caught up with the entire series who may read this comment.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
For these questions, I have always believed that Kosh is the most benevolent member of his race, not saying much, but I would like to think he may not have been fully on board with bringing in the Inquisitor for Delenn, but he still towed the Vorlon line. I also believe that Sebastian had a bit too much freedom in his actions, and that suited the Vorlons just fine, as we see the Vorlon's true colors revealed in the Shadow War. In their own way, their just as destructive and manipulative as the Shadows. The Vorlons are pure order, while the Shadows are pure chaos, they both are under the impression that they're doing what's best for the universe, and don't care how many younger races have to suffer in order to win the argument.