Sheridan tries to rally support for his cause as direct confrontations with the Shadows begin in earnest. Friction increases between Londo and Morden.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Jennifer Balgobin as Dr. Hobbs. Jonathan Chapman as Brakiri. Rance Howard as David Sheridan. Ed Wasser as Morden.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/059.html
####Backplot

During the last war with the Shadows, a thousand years ago, they did roughly what they’re doing this time, seemingly attacking at random in the form of quick strikes. The intent may be simply to keep the major powers off guard, so they never know when the next attack will occur.

Vorlon ships are linked closely to their individual owners.
####Unanswered Questions

Who will replace Franklin as head of medlab?

Why did the Shadows wait until the Vorlon attack to move against Kosh? They could presumably have done it at any time. (See Analysis)

Do the Shadows know that the Vorlon attack was just a one-time thing, or do they now believe that the Vorlons are on the march? How

will that affect their strategy, if at all?

How did Delenn know there wouldn’t be a body?

What was the flash of energy that coursed through the station after the fight was over?

Does Lyta know about Kosh? How will she react when she finds out?

Was the data crystal on Talia Winters ([[Deathwalker]]) placed on Kosh’s ship?
####Analysis

Londo’s new pact with Morden may foreshadow the loss of his second chance for redemption ([[Point of No Return]].) With Londo’s poison coursing through his veins, Refa certainly qualifies as “the one who is already dead,” and now Londo has vowed to kill him. Along similar lines, Kosh qualifies now too; Londo may attempt to kill Kosh’s replacement, not realizing it’s another Vorlon entirely.

Londo played right into Morden’s hands. Morden was obviously responsible for Adira’s death (he paid off one of the ship’s crew, and he found out about her arrival from the Zocalo vendor) and it’s unlikely Refa even knew about her, much less participated in her poisoning. But any such protest on Refa’s part will likely fall on deaf ears if Londo speaks to him.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that Londo is attempting to fool Morden. Certainly Londo knows that Morden is up to no good — their conversation in the hallway, and Londo’s glare when he talks about people who deserve to die — are evidence of that. Maybe he’s playing along with Morden in an attempt to trip up the Shadows’ plans. The same hallway conversation offers evidence to the contrary, though; even then, Londo felt he had already been through worse than Morden’s associates could dish out, and with Adira’s death, that’s probably only intensified.

“The galaxy can burn. I no longer care,” says Londo. This echoes the conversation between Emperor Turhan and Kosh in [[The Coming of Shadows]]: “How will this end?” “In fire.”

Londo’s conversation with Morden — putting an end to a previous pledge and going on the offensive due to the loss of a loved one — is in some ways a parallel of Sheridan’s conversation with Kosh at the end of “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”.

Londo promised to pluck the Shadows’ eye out if it turned toward the Centauri homeworld. Foreshadowing, perhaps, for whatever happens to G’Kar’s eye in Londo’s dream ([[The Coming of Shadows]].)

What do the Shadows want? Delenn seems to know more than she’s telling. Morden’s keen interest in the Centauri’s continued aggression may provide a clue, but it’s ambiguous at best. If they simply want a constant state of chaos in the galaxy, their current strategy will eventually backfire; there won’t be anyone left to carry on fighting.

The fact that the Shadows attacked Kosh immediately after the Vorlon victory over the Shadow fleet smacks of the notion that there was a deal of some sort between the two races: the Vorlons stay out of the fighting, and the Shadows leave them alone. If that’s true, one sobering interpretation is that both races consider the war something of a game. On the other hand, the truth could be just the opposite; the Shadows may not have wanted to touch Kosh for fear of causing Vorlon retribution.

Along similar lines, Kosh told Sheridan that the Vorlons didn’t want to attack because “it is not our time.” What did he mean by that? What constitutes the Vorlons’ time? Kosh also mentioned that the Vorlons were still few in number, and were still preparing. Are their preparations simply a matter of boosting their manpower?

Even in his last moments, Kosh still chose to hide behind disguises and symbolism, appearing as Sheridan’s father rather than himself. Or maybe it’s not by choice after all; maybe all he can do is communicate with people in terms they already understand, though his recreation of the Icarus expedition in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum” suggests otherwise.

A more charitable explanation is that Kosh didn’t want Sheridan to realize he was in trouble, since Sheridan would have been inclined to race to Kosh’s quarters to try to save him — something that would have meant certain doom.

Kosh treated Sheridan like a child, calling him “impudent” and “disrespectful” before finally giving him what could be considered the Vorlon equivalent of a spanking. Then he appeared as Sheridan’s father. That suggests a certain condescending attitude on the part of the Vorlons toward the other races. Is that attitude based on anything? Delenn said the First Ones guided the younger races; maybe to Kosh, humans are children, and the war against the Shadows is a test of maturity.

How long has Kosh known what was going to happen to him? He implies here that Sheridan will die on Z’ha’dum because he won’t have Kosh’s help (“You said that if I went to Z’ha’dum I would die.” “Yes, now.”) Did he know why that would be when he first warned Sheridan in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”? Were his lessons for Sheridan, teaching the latter to fight legends, meant to provide Sheridan with the confidence to disobey Kosh’s wishes when the time was right?

There is something of a thematic link between Kosh’s expectation of death and the story of Jesus played out by Brother Edward in [[Passing Through Gethsemane]]. Kosh knew what was coming, perhaps knew he could avoid it for a little while, but also believed it would be the wrong thing to do. So he waited in his quarters to face his executioners. Of course, Edward didn’t try to fight his killers off, so the parallel isn’t exact.

Kosh’s death was instantly known to the Vorlons, which suggests that all the Vorlons are linked together in some fundamental way. Perhaps the killing of Kosh, then, was less a blow against him personally than a slap in the face of the Vorlons as a whole.

If Kosh knew what was going to happen, why did he remain in his quarters, easily found? Perhaps he believed that the Shadows would go after Delenn or Sheridan in that case, and he considers them more valuable than himself.

Why can’t Kosh’s replacement continue Sheridan’s education and assist him at Z’ha’dum as Kosh would have? Presumably there was nothing special about Kosh from the Vorlons’ point of view. Or maybe the Vorlons are so few in number that Kosh was the only one among them who’s able to provide whatever assistance he had in mind.

The Vorlons still use conventional jump points rather than the faster hyperspace entry and exit technique employed by the Shadows. Is that a conscious decision on their part, or does it imply that the Shadows are more technologically advanced in at least some respects?

The Vorlons’ telepathy must be different than what humans are capable of; the Shadow ships were able to function as the Vorlons attacked, unlike the ship near the White Star when Bester was aboard ([[Ship of Tears]].) On the other hand, the small Vorlon fighters did seem to be doing a good job of confusing the Shadow warship they were attacking; it seemed to spin around randomly, and never fired back.

This episode was full of power surges and drains: the one noted by the C&C tech when Kosh and Sheridan were arguing, the lights dimming when Morden confronted Londo, the battle between Kosh and the Shadows, and whatever happened when Kosh died. Perhaps someone will put two and two together and have security promptly investigate any odd power level changes.

The C&C tech said that the power surge was “a non-localized phenomenon” — exactly the phrase used by Delenn to describe the Minbari concept of the soul in [[Passing Through Gethsemane]].

What is Earth’s official reaction now that open hostilities with the Shadows have broken out? Has Sheridan usurped Earth’s official relationships with all the alien governments he’s recruited into his alliance? The Shadows certainly have their fingers in at least some aspects of the Earth Alliance, but they don’t have total control yet; there must be some people in the Earth government advocating taking up arms against the Shadows.
####Notes

The masked alien is a Gaim, whose name is probably a reference to Neil Gaiman. The title character of Gaiman’s “Sandman” — one of JMS’s favorite works — has a mask of similar appearance.

The character of Dr. Lilian Hobbs is named after a fan, Dr. Lilian Hobbs, who won the bidding at a charity auction at the Wolf 359 convention in Manchester in 1995.

####Overview

Bester finds himself at odds with others within the Psi Corps and seeks Sheridan’s help, offering information about the Shadows in return. G’Kar presses for admission to the conspiracy of light.
####Guest Stars

Walter Koenig as Bester. Joan McMurtrey as Carolyn.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/058.html
####Backplot

Telepaths who refuse to take sleeper drugs to suppress their abilities, or to join the Psi Corps, are sent to reeducation camps, one of which is on Mars. The Corps refers to them informally as “blips.”

The Shadows killed most of the Narn telepaths a thousand years ago. They were driven off by G’Quan and the remaining telepaths.

Telepaths can disrupt the link between Shadow ships and their non-telepathic pilots. The Shadows have thus been infiltrating Psi Corps, taking control of it from inside to prevent it from being used as a weapon against them. They are also capturing rogue human telepaths and altering them with cybernetic implants, possibly with the intent of using them as telepath-proof pilots.

Telepaths can locate ships by focusing on the occupants’ thought patterns. Their range is greatly expanded in hyperspace. Psi Corps kept

that a secret to prevent the Earth military from putting its members on the front lines.

Psi Cops are trained to pilot all the latest Earth Alliance vessels.
####Unanswered Questions

Were Franklin and Bester able to save Carolyn?

Are the rest of the telepaths still in cryonic suspension and on B5? Where were they taken, if not?

How much more does Bester know about the Shadows and their involvement with the Corps?

Who were the aliens in Carolyn’s flashback and on the bridge of the cargo ship?

Was Carolyn telekinetic, or did her modifications give her that ability? If the latter, are the Shadows telekinetic too?
####Analysis

Delenn still isn’t being completely open with G’Kar — she neglected to tell him about Kosh’s involvement, for instance. Perhaps she knows of Kosh’s manipulation of G’Kar ([[Dust to Dust]]) and doesn’t want the illusion shattered.

Even someone as highly ranked as Bester isn’t immune from the Corps’ rules about arranged marriages. On the other hand, given his obvious sense of genetic superiority, he may feel it’s his duty to the future of the human race to help breed a better telepath.

The mere presence of Bester stopped the Shadow warship from attacking the White Star (assuming it didn’t stop to avoid risking damage to the “weapons components.”) Was that because it couldn’t get close enough to attack without Bester interfering with its pilot’s bond? In any case, the effect is consistent with Talia’s experience in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”, in which she was able to sense, even see, the Shadows without consciously probing for them.

A telepath who consciously chooses to disrupt a Shadow ship might be even more dangerous to them, though that isn’t clear.

Is there a reason the Shadows are choosing human telepaths in particular? Sheridan speculated that “they’re using humans to pilot their ships.” Is that universally true, or are humans simply one of a large number of races being used for that purpose? Would, for instance, a Centauri telepath be any good against a Shadow ship with a human pilot? The events on Narn suggest that telepathy’s effect on the Shadows isn’t race-specific.

If telepathy is a weapon against the Shadows, Sheridan may want to stock up on Dust ([[Dust to Dust]].) And given that the Psi Corps produces the stuff, Bester may be able to arrange that.

The Shadows may also be looking for telepaths for use as hyperspace trackers; presumably they know about the scanning abilities revealed by Bester.

Is detecting other ships in hyperspace something peculiar to human telepaths? If not, do other races use telepaths for that purpose? It seems odd that the ability would remain a secret for so long if all races with telepaths can use them to scout in hyperspace. On the other hand, each race who’s discovered the effect might consider it a military advantage and thus keep it under wraps.

Did Bester find out about Ivanova when she slapped him? Physical contact intensifies psi ability (established as early as [[The Gathering]]) but the slap was probably too brief to be of any use. However, he did take care to make her angry, which, as she herself has observed ([[Dust to Dust]]) makes scans much easier.

Does Ivanova’s latent telepathy provide any protection against attack by a Shadow ship? Ivanova has only encountered a Shadow ship once, in [[Matters of Honor]], and it fired at the White Star — but it didn’t hit the White Star. Perhaps Sheridan was wrong about why the Shadows missed. On the other hand, given the behavior of the Shadow ship in this episode, it’s unlikely the ship in the previous encounter would have pursued the White Star like it did. (See jms speaks)

As the only major race without telepaths, the Narn may be in for even more bloodshed and loss; they will be unable to protect themselves from the Shadows as they were (barely) able to before.

The cybernetic implants were perhaps put in place at the Mars facility destroyed by Garibaldi and Sinclair in comic #8, “Silent Enemies.” If so, it implies that the Corps, or some component of it, was abetting the Shadows in their quest to make human telepaths useless as weapons. However, the presence of the unidentified aliens, both on the cargo ship and in Carolyn’s flashback, strongly suggests that the operation was performed elsewhere, or without the Corps’ assistance.

Carolyn’s entanglement is slightly reminiscent of Draal’s attachment to the Great Machine in Epsilon 3 ([[Voices of Authority]].) When she said that telepaths prevent her from “hearing the machine,” was she talking about Shadow ships, or something similar to Epsilon 3? The Machine does seem to be affected by telepathy; witness Ivanova’s ability to pull extra information out of it when she was there.

What effect will Carolyn’s modifications have on her unborn child, assuming the Shadows’ agents allowed it to live?

The White Star can no longer be considered even remotely secret now that Bester has been allowed to wander around the bridge. Even if he truly opposes the Shadows, his primary motives might prompt him to tell others about the ship.

Bester is presumably still safely in his position at the Psi Corps; even if he’s unable to get any Corps telepaths to help combat the Shadows, he’ll likely be able to arrange for Franklin’s underground railroad to continue its work unmolested, providing the army of light with a supply of telepaths with which to man its ships.

His discovery of the Shadows and their involvement with the Corps, though, indicates that he’s not above unauthorized scans of his own people if it suits his purposes. Presumably he’s very careful to only scan people he’s confident won’t be able to sense him; or he scans them on some other pretense and they’re unable to tell that he’s pulling Shadow information from their heads too.

Bester claimed he last saw Carolyn four weeks earlier, but never elaborated on what happened to her after that. Was she spirited off on official pretenses, or did the Shadows or their agents kidnap her out of the middle of a Psi Corps installation on Mars?

Bester’s entrance into the army of light bears similarity to Marcus’ and Sheridan’s. All three vowed to fight on the side of light after a loved one was killed or taken by the Shadows.

Now that G’Kar is a full member of the war council, perhaps he’ll save Garibaldi the trouble of poring slowly through the Book of G’Quan for clues and will tell the others everything his people know about the Shadows and how to defeat them.
####Notes

The title may be a reference to the Trail of Tears, the forced march of thousands of American Indians away from their ancestral lands onto government-apportioned reservations half a continent away.

Vorlons also dislike telepaths, according to Garibaldi in [[Deathwalker]].

Bester quotes from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.”

As Sheridan and Ivanova try to gain recognition of the station’s new status among the alien governments, a traveler arrives with an unbelievable story out of distant legend.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Michael York.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/057.html
####Backplot

G’Kar has been using a human courier to get messages back and forth between the station’s Narn and the homeworld.

The first Earth vessel to encounter a Minbari warship was the Prometheus. As the Minbari ship approached with gun ports open, a sign of respect ([[Legacies]]) the Prometheus’ captain ordered its crew to open fire. The resulting battle destroyed two Minbari warships and killed the leader of the Grey Council, Dukhat.

20,000 people were sent to defend Earth in the Battle of the Line. Only 200 survived. (Presumably the bulk of the 20,000 were aboard large ships, not individual fighters.)
####Unanswered Questions

Given how badly outmatched humans were during the war, how did the Prometheus manage to inflict so much damage? Simply a matter of the element of surprise?

How much truth is there in Marcus’ joking speculation about the Vorlons? Or in his drawing of parallels between the B5 crew and Arthurian legend? (If there’s a lot of truth there, then who is the Morgana Le Fay figure?)

What is the “dawn of a new age” Marcus referred to when he told Franklin about the Ranger pin? Any relation to the Third Age of Mankind as mentioned in the opening monologues of seasons one and two?
####Analysis

Relying on a large number of races for the station’s defense may turn out to be a logistical nightmare. Ivanova will have to deal with questions ike the structure of the chain of command (does she have the authority to order a Vree ship to fire?) and what to do about races who’ve agreed to participate but whose enemies haven’t, which could lead to a situation like the one in [[The Fall of Night]]. Still, as a simple show of force and a deterrent, the arrangement may well end up being sufficient.

How did Marcus know about the events in [[Comes the Inquisitor]]? He arrived on the station after that was all over. Perhaps Sheridan or Delenn told him. Is the fact that the Vorlons have visited Earth in the past now common knowledge?

The Prometheus didn’t destroy all the Minbari ships, since Delenn held Dukhat in her arms as he died ([[Severed Dreams]].)

At what point did the Soul Hunter ([[Soul Hunter]]) show up during the battle between the Prometheus and the Minbari ships? From Arthur’s description, it sounded like the battle didn’t last long; the Soul Hunter would almost have had to be onboard Dukhat’s ship before the fighting began.

The Drazi ambassador now speaks for the League of Non-Aligned Worlds, whose membership seems to have gotten much smaller than a year ago. Perhaps many of the races have been taken over by their neighbors already, with Shadow help ([[Severed Dreams]].)

Arthur’s line about returning “because I am most needed here and now” is analogous to Sebastian’s description of Delenn and Sheridan as “the right people in the right place at the right time” ([[Comes the Inquisitor]].)
####Notes

For more information about Arthurian legend, see Arthurian Resources on the Internet.

It should be noted that Arthurian legend is exactly that: legend. While there are historical figures who match bits and pieces of the legend, there almost certainly was never an actual King Arthur.

The Minbari name for the Ranger pin is Isil’zha.

Prometheus is a figure from Greek mythology, a Titan who gave fire to mankind. For more information see The Creation of Man by Prometheus.

Londo introduces Vir to a surprising new acquaintance. A heavy influx of Narns to the station raises suspicions.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Carmen Thomas as Lyndisty.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/056.html
####Backplot

Ivanova has been in the military for 13 years.

The Centauri are attempting to pacify the Narn homeworld’s population. Among other techniques, they send troops to Narn villages to root out aggressive citizens and “put them to sleep.” Sometimes entire villages are found to be aggressive and are burned to the ground.

Vir, using his power as head of the diplomatic office on Minbar, has been running a Schindleresque underground railroad for Narns. He created a fake persona in the Centauri government, “Abrahamo Linconi,” and faked death certificates for over two thousand Narn after “Linconi” ordered them transferred to work camps on Centauri Prime.

The Centauri consider marriage for the sake of love rather than politics a radical act.

Vir’s uncle doesn’t think highly of him, claiming that Vir is capable of “a well-deserved humility.”

Vir has an interest in human history.
####Unanswered Questions

How was Ivanova able to flesh out Vir’s fake official, whose records were presumably in the Centauri Republic’s private databases?

What did Vir and Lyndisty do with the bound Narn? Obviously Vir didn’t kill him, but what did he tell Lyndisty?

Will Lyndisty’s family cancel the arrangements now that Vir has been demoted?

Does G’Kar know of Vir’s efforts? Will he be able to forgive Vir in spite of himself ([[Comes the Inquisitor]]?)
####Analysis

If Ivanova and Allen could follow the paper trail to discover that Vir apparently sent thousands of Narn to their deaths, others might be able to as well. Vir may find himself a target if any Narn who aren’t in on his secret manage to access the records in question. Certainly Lyndisty is still in danger; lots of other Narn would undoubtedly like to get their hands on someone with her history.

Vir can still help the Narn if he chooses, though it’ll be riskier. He presumably has retained his post as Londo’s attache, which should have some authority in itself. And by tempering Londo, however slightly, he may do more good than he did on Minbar.

Vir isn’t alone in wanting to help the Narn; he referred to others working with him. Will those others be able to continue, especially with Ivanova’s assistance?

The presence of other Centauri might explain how she was able to access the Centauri government’s files.

Given Londo’s feelings about bugs, what will his reaction be when he sees an arachnoid Shadow warship for the first time? Perhaps his fear of insects (and spiders) stems in part from his dream ([[Matters of Honor]].)

There may also be a parallel between Londo’s insect hunt and the typical Centauri attitude toward the Narn, who they regard as little more than bugs on two feet. If that parallel is intentional, Londo’s line about the insects “evolving before my eyes” might have some relation to the Narns’ changing position in the universe — with G’Kar’s help (and some prodding from Kosh) they’re becoming something quite different than they were mere months earlier.

Evidence of the pressures of independence are starting to appear: B5’s officers now drink an unidentified liquid instead of morning coffee and the ambassador of a major race — albeit an ally of the government the station opposes — can’t get a maintenance crew to his quarters. The loss of Earth funding and support is likely to grow worse over time.

Vir’s smuggled Narn are considered dead by the Centauri — perhaps making one of them the subject of Lady Morella’s prophecy to Londo, that he “must not kill the one who is already dead” ([[Point of No Return]].)
####Notes

The title is something of a pun; it’s Latin for “thus passes the man” (roughly speaking.) It’s probably a reference to the saying “sic transit gloria mundi” (“thus passes the glory of the world.”)

The Nightwatch orders its members on Babylon 5 to target Delenn in an attempt to undermine Minbari actions during the recent crisis. Londo presents Refa with an ultimatum.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

William Forward as Refa. Paul Perri as The Sniper. Don Stroud as Boggs. Kim Strauss as Lenann.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/055.html
####Backplot

In the old days of the Centauri Republic, poison was a common political tool.

Some humans learned the Minbari language from POWs during the war.

The rebirth ceremony in [[The Parliament of Dreams]] was just a small part of a much larger renewal ceremony, traditionally performed in response to, or in anticipation of, a great change. Lennier believes B5’s inhabitants are currently between two such changes.

The Minbari prophecy foretells fire and darkness after the two halves of the Minbari soul unite to combat the ancient enemy.
####Unanswered Questions

How many more Nightwatch members are still on the station?

Did Garibaldi’s people get rid of the artificial intelligence?

What else is buried in B5’s computer system? (At least one unfriendly thing, as shown in [[A Spider In the Web]].)

Who does Lennier believe Delenn is fated for? Sheridan? If so, is that due to his observation of the growing relationship between Delenn and Sheridan, or due to something in the prophecy?

What was Delenn planning to give up and to tell someone at the ceremony?
####Analysis

Londo is playing a dangerous game with Refa; Refa will no doubt not take kindly to having his life threatened, and may retaliate against Londo either overtly or behind the scenes. Refa seems to have much of the royal court in his pocket while Londo’s influence has waned since he broke off his association with Morden. Londo may find that he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

However, the extent of the risk he’s taking is a good indication that his realization of the dark nature of his former pact with Morden is complete; after this it will be very hard to turn back. It’s interesting to note, though, that his basic goal hasn’t changed, only his methods; note that he tries to dissuade Refa by talking about how dangerous the current Centauri policies are to their people. Londo is still first and foremost a patriot, not unlike G’Kar (at least until Kosh’s revelation in [[Dust to Dust]].)

Londo and Sinclair have something in common; Londo’s poisoning of Refa bears a passing resemblance to Sinclair planting a transmitter in G’Kar’s intestinal tract. Or rather, claiming to — which raises the question, did Londo really poison Refa, or just say so? Like Sinclair, Londo might figure that the poison that doesn’t exist can’t be flushed out by doctors.

How did the Nightwatch get so much information about the Minbari, especially the details of Delenn’s means of getting the war cruisers to Babylon 5? It may be as simple as Earth’s normal intelligence channels, which, under Clark, presumably make at least some of their findings available to the Nightwatch.

Boggs’ claim that the Minbari “think [Delenn]’s the second coming!” indicates that many among the Minbari agree with Delenn’s assessment of herself as the chosen one, the vehicle of prophecy (see also [[Comes the Inquisitor]].) Marcus also hints at this when he tells Delenn that his brother believed in the Rangers and in her; apparently her involvement with them is richer in symbolism than has previously been hinted at. How, and whether, that relates to the nature of Sinclair’s involvement remains to be seen.

This isn’t the first time Delenn has been referred to as “the second coming,” at least indirectly. G’Kar quoted a passage from the Yeats poem of the same name in [[Revelations]], a passage visually accompanied by Delenn’s first look at her new appearance. Ominously, that Second Coming refers to the Antichrist.

The Army of Light is now dressed in black uniforms. Whether that’s an intentional contrast on Delenn’s part, or simply her fashion sense, only time will tell.
####Notes

The voice of Sparky the Computer, the artificial intelligence, is Harlan Ellison. Sparky’s name is visible both in the ending credits and, very briefly, as the last line item in the computer’s status messages when it reboots.

The recording Londo shows Refa is slightly wrong; Morden was sitting when he mentioned Refa’s name ([[Matters of Honor]].)

The station logo on the wall in C&C has changed. It used to be a 5 with a pair of olive branches overlaid, presumably signifying peace; now it’s a 5 over a sword. The new logo can also be seen on the top of the conference room table in the scene with Delenn and the officers from the Minbari ships.

There’s a minor continuity glitch involving the new logo. When the command staff walks into C&C in the final scene, the camera pans across the side of C&C to show the startled techs. The new logo is visible on the wall between two computer displays. But in the next shot of the same wall, there’s no logo there.

“Dem Bones” was also sung in the final episode of “The Prisoner.”

The formation in which one of the Starfuries peels away as the squadron performs a fly-by of the caskets is called the Missing Man formation. It is used today whenever a flyby is part of military honors at a funeral.

As Delenn and Marcus wait for Lenann, a “Wet Floor” sign can be seen in a corridor in the background.

Sheridan’s closing line, “Babylon 5 is open for business,” echoes Laurel Takashima’s in [[The Gathering]]. In both cases it marked a new beginning for the station.

Sheridan’s line to Ivanova, “My hypocrisy only goes so far,” is a Mark Twain quote.

Don Stroud got his scar by jumping into a crowd of men with knives to stop a woman from being raped, according to former story editor Larry DiTillio.

The eulogy recited by Sheridan is the same one spoken by Ivanova in [[Soul Hunter]].

When President Clark tries to seize control of Babylon 5 by force, Sheridan is faced with the prospect of severing the station’s ties with Earth. Delenn receives disturbing news from a Ranger.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Bruce McGill as Major Ryan. Kim Miyori as Captain Hiroshi. James Parks as Drakhen.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/054.html
####Backplot

The former Minbari leader, Dukhat, died in Delenn’s arms. Before he died, he named her as his chosen successor.

Clark has been filling command positions with his people since taking office, thus enabling him to retain control of most of Earth Force; many officers who oppose his policies feel forced to go along, since their superiors will accuse them of treason otherwise.

The Shadows have formed alliances with many of the non-aligned worlds, allegedly to protect them from Centauri aggression; later, they’ve prompted those races to attack their neighbors with the belief that association with the Shadows is a guarantee of victory.
####Unanswered Questions

Was Londo finally able to leave the station? Where was he going? (Or, if he was coming aboard, where was he coming from?)

Is there more to the prophecy of the return of the Shadows, or has it now played itself out, leaving the future uncertain?

What does Sheridan’s mother do with her time?

What has ISN known for a year but been unable to talk about? Did they find out about Santiago’s death, or perhaps about Earth’s involvement with the Shadows?
####Analysis

Sheridan said he wanted to keep Draal a secret, and thus didn’t ask for help defending the station. But anyone with two eyes now knows he has some interesting non-human technology at his disposal; he used the Great Machine to broadcast his holographic image all over the station. While Earth has free-floating holography (such as the Knights’ image of Sinclair at the beginning of [[And the Sky Full of Stars]]) it’s a far cry from what Sheridan did.

Five hooded Councilors followed Delenn from the council chamber; presumably the remaining four were all warrior caste, as established in [[All Alone in the Night]]. (Only three are visible onscreen, but the whole Council wasn’t visible at the start of the scene, either.)

Where did the religious and worker castes get three Minbari warships and the crews to pilot them? Are there more on Delenn’s side, or just those? In [[Matters of Honor]], Lennier implied that the religious-caste crew of the White Star was rare, if not unheard-of. Did some of the warrior caste side with Delenn? (See jms speaks)

Delenn’s confrontation with the Grey Council is counter to her own stated goal of laying low so the Shadows aren’t forced to attack immediately. She accused them of standing by and doing nothing in the face of Shadow encroachment — but doing nothing was exactly what she insisted on in “In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”, among other places. If the warrior caste had moved to prevent some of the non-aligned worlds from warring, as she seemed to be suggesting, it surely would have alerted the Shadows to the fact that their return has been discovered.

On the other hand, it may be that she was accusing them of not even preparing for eventual open conflict with the Shadows; perhaps she believed their current indifference would continue even after the army of light was fully assembled.

Finally, she may have wanted them to simply take a stand in the local conflicts without addressing the Shadows’ presence directly.

Sheridan’s secession from the Earth Alliance plays directly into Clark’s hands in some respects. Clark can use the secession, and the Minbari involvement, to paint a picture of an alien-supported military coup against an elected civilian government, further proof of the need for martial law, the Nightwatch, and other draconian measures. No doubt he’ll be able to make that version of the story believable to a large number of people back home, thus solidifying his power base.

Why did only four destroyers jump into Babylon 5 space for the initial attack? Perhaps the fleet commander didn’t want to increase the chance of casualties from friendly fire, but that seems dubious at best; or perhaps he didn’t know there were more ships on the way.

Which side of the war does the Agamemnon and its crew support? Will Sheridan be forced into conflict with his old ship, something he definitely doesn’t want? ([[Messages From Earth]])

Given the reason for the Minbari surrender during the war ([[Points of Departure]]) would Delenn have made good on her threat to fire on the Earth ships? Minbari religious beliefs would forbid her from doing so, though she might well consider it a necessary evil.

During the initial attack on the Alexander, Major Ryan claims that they can’t jump to hyperspace without losing their fighters. But fighters have been shown jumping alongside a larger ship before — some emerged with the destroyers to attack Babylon 5 later in the same episode — so what would have kept the fighters from jumping with the Alexander? (See jms speaks)

The Shadows are apparently perfectly willing to double-cross the Centauri, at least in words. By offering to protect the League worlds from Centauri aggression, when the Centauri are using the Shadows to act out that aggression, they’ve effectively taken control of both sides of any potential Centauri border conflicts. What they’ll do with that control, and why they want it, remains to be seen.
####Notes

The new Starfury in this episode is called a “Thunderbolt”.

Many of the Nightwatch members in this episode are production staff members, including the production secretary and an assistant director.

Minor effects mismatch: A group of Starfuries attacks a friendly destroyer. Its name is clearly visible as the Churchill. But the scene immediately cuts to Major Ryan reacting to the hit — even though he’s on the Alexander, not the Churchill. (See jms speaks)

Just after Major Ryan says, “Right down their throats,” a Starfury shoots another one with B5 in the background. For one frame, the exploding Starfury is replaced with a bright yellow square; then the explosion replaces it.

Four ships emerge from the jumpgate at the end of act three, two Omega-class destroyers and two older Hyperion-style heavy cruisers (“A Voice In the Wilderness, part 2”.) But we only see and hear about two, the Agrippa and the Roanoke. One possible explanation is that the destroyer rammed by the Churchill isn’t supposed to be the Roanoke; since Sheridan offers assistance to the Roanoke at the end of the battle, that’s plausible. However, the rammed ship’s name is (barely) visible as “Roanoke” during the collision.

One of the two destroyers in the second wave was called the Nimrod; the second was the Olympic.

The Roanoke is named after an early English colony in North Carolina. After a hard winter, a ship came to check on the colony and found it totally deserted, no sign of the inhabitants or of a struggle, just the word CROATAN carved into a tree. The fate of the colonists was never discovered.

The Agrippa was probably named for the famed Roman general/admiral, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. He served for Octavian (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus), the nephew of Julius Caesar. He was the inventor of the harpax, or harpago, which was a pole with a hook on the end which was attached to a rope. Fired toward another ship, it allowed the two ships to be pulled together, allowing the Romans to board. It was first used in 36 BC at the battle of Naulochos (Mylae), and later at the battle of Actium, where it helped to defeat Mark Anthony’s fleet, leading to the eventual crowning of Octavian as Augustus, the first Roman emperor in 27 BC.

In the UK video release, three seconds were cut from the episode, presumably from one of the boarding-party fight scenes.

As the Earth Alliance plunges toward civil war, internal strife threatens to shatter the command structure of B5. Zack’s loyalties are put to the test when the Nightwatch is ordered to take over station security. Londo receives another glimpse of his des
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Majel Barrett as Lady Morella. Marshall Teague as Ta’Lon.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/053.html
####Backplot

After the death of a Centauri emperor, custom states that his spirit lives on in the body of his consort, who speaks both for herself and her late husband.

Londo is destined to become emperor. That part of his future cannot be avoided, according to Lady Morella. Vir is also destined to become emperor. One will become emperor after the other dies, but it’s not clear which.

Londo has already passed up two chances to avoid the destiny he fears awaits him. There will be three more. He must save the eye that does not see. He must not kill the one who is already dead. And failing those, at the last, he must surrender himself to his greatest fear, knowing that it will destroy him.

One result of G’Kar’s Kosh-inspired revelation in [[Dust to Dust]] is the belief that humans are the key to the salvation of the Narn race. He also believes, as Kosh suggested, that the Narn must give up their pride and their vengeance or risk being completely destroyed, and that his people must sacrifice themselves by the hundreds or even the millions if all are to benefit in the end.
####Unanswered Questions

Is General Hague on his way to the station?

What impact will Sheridan’s new security forces have? Will they immediately turn Earth against him?
####Analysis

One of Londo’s two squandered chances was undoubtedly his action in [[The Coming of Shadows]], which sparked the Narn-Centauri War. The other is less clear. Perhaps it was his initial meeting with Morden, or the attack on the outpost in [[Chrysalis]]. It may also have been his decision to ask the Shadows to defend Gorash 7 ([[The Long, Twilight Struggle]],) without which the Centauri wouldn’t have been able to crush the Narn as thoroughly as they did.

“The eye that does not see” might refer to the Eye, the symbol of Centauri nobility that marked the start of Londo’s association with Morden ([[Signs and Portents]].) It may also refer to G’Kar’s eye, which appears to be injured or missing in Londo’s dream ([[The Coming of Shadows]].)

The one who is already dead might be Morden, who’s officially dead according to Earth Alliance records (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”) or perhaps G’Kar, whose old life is certainly gone. It’s also possible that it refers to the memory of someone who is to die; Londo may be presented with an opportunity to discredit someone who would otherwise serve as a martyr. Along similar lines, it may refer to the wishes of someone already dead; for instance, destroying the chance for peace that Emperor Turhan sought before his death, something that would have been the Emperor’s legacy.

Another possibility is a connection to the transfer of Minbari souls to humans; the owner of a particular previously-deceased Minbari soul (perhaps Sinclair) may prove troublesome to Londo in the future.

Londo’s greatest fear might be the downfall of the Republic, or perhaps his own death.

It’s likely Londo will squander at least the first two of his remaining chances, given the fact that there will be a third — assuming Morella is correct.

What did Sheridan and the others say to convince Zack to go along with their ruse? It may have been as simple as convincing him that the order from the Political Office was illegal, just like Sheridan told the trapped Nightwatch members. Using that to convince him would have been the safest course of action, since as a loyal officer he’d be inclined to go along with the plan even if his sympathies had shifted toward Nightwatch.

What were all the non-security Nightwatch members doing during the crisis? Were they unaffected by the takeover order in the first place, and thus largely unconcerned with what was going on?
####Notes

An official press release about Majel Barrett’s appearance is available.

Many of the Nightwatch members in this episode are production staff members, including the production secretary and an assistant director.

Lady Morella is said to be returning from a visit to Ragesh 9. The Ragesh system is the same one attacked by the Narn in [[Midnight on the Firing Line]].

As the Senate continues to investigate President Clark, an archaeologist brings news of a development back home that forces Sheridan to act against the Earth government. The Nightwatch tightens its grip on the civilian population.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Nancy Stafford as Dr. Kirkish.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/052.html
####Backplot

Seven years ago, an archaeological team working for Interplanetary Expeditions (see [[Infection]]) discovered a disabled Shadow ship buried 300 feet under the Martian surface, underground for at least a thousand years. Another Shadow ship, apparently with the cooperation of Earth, finished excavating the first, and both flew away. Garibaldi was witness, and recovered a Psi Corps badge from the site. See comic issue 8, “Silent Enemies.” Most of the archaeologists have died or disappeared since.

More recently, a second Shadow ship was discovered under the ice on Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.

A Shadow ship requires a living being at its core; the two merge, becoming one entity. If the pilot isn’t properly prepared, the result is a confused, insane ship.

Translating the Book of G’Quan is considered sacrilege by the Narn. “It must be read in the mother tongue, or not at all,” says G’Kar.

Shadow forces have continued to build up on the edge of Centauri space.
####Unanswered Questions

What were Shadow ships doing on Mars and Ganymede a millenium ago? Was Earth involved in the last war?

How does Delenn know that Shadow ships have sentient beings at their core? What else does she know about them that she hasn’t told Sheridan?

What kind of preparation is needed to properly merge with a Shadow ship?
####Analysis

Sheridan’s unwillingness to fire on the Agamemnon may be a sign of trouble to come; he’s not ready to think of Earth’s military as an enemy. How long that loyalty will last is unclear, but at some point, if conditions on Earth continue to escalate and Sheridan continues to act covertly against the government, he’ll be forced to choose between firing on his own people and death or capture.

The White Star is a Minbari vessel, yet Sheridan believed the Agamemnon would be able to track it. (See [[Points of Departure]].) Perhaps that was simply because the White Star was in Jupiter’s atmosphere; it was thus unable to outrun the Agamemnon, and could be tracked via atmospheric disturbances.

The White Star is a formidable vessel, in any case; it has as much firepower as several Narn heavy cruisers, judging by its attack on the Shadow vessel (see [[The Long, Twilight Struggle]],) although this Shadow ship might have been smaller than those faced by the Narn. The Agamemnon was able to damage the White Star, but only after it had been grazed by a Shadow weapon and subjected to atmospheric conditions far outside its safety limits.

G’Kar’s book should make for interesting reading now that he knows what’s going on from Londo’s point of view as well as his own ([[Dust to Dust]].) Given his visitation by what he believes to be G’Lan in that episode, will he consider his writings to be on the same level as the Book of G’Quan? More importantly, will other Narn feel the same way, and become followers of the Book of G’Kar?

Dr. Kirkish says of Earth, regarding the Shadows, “They want us to become more like them.” What does she mean by that? How can humans become more like Shadows, and what would that entail?

Someone on Earth wanted to go behind the Shadows’ backs; if the Shadows discover that (assuming they don’t already know,) the consequences for Earth could be disastrous. Assuming, of course, that the Shadows didn’t tell Earth about the second ship for their own reasons.

The events on Mars make it clear that the Shadows were awake to some degree before the Icarus visited Z’ha’dum (“In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum”.) The Icarus visited Z’ha’dum in 2256, but Kirkish saw a functioning Shadow vessel seven years ago, in 2253. The Psi-Corps connection also implies that the Shadows were aware of humanity at the time.

Given Marcus’ apparent disregard for secrecy ([[Exogenesis]]) Ivanova would be well-advised to make sure his chart is destroyed or hidden lest a Nightwatch sympathizer stumble across it.

Perhaps the Shadows bury their ships underground intentionally. Since the ships are at least partially alive, it’s even concievable that the Shadows bury an egg or something similar, then dig up the fully grown ship later on. In that case, where else are such ships buried? Do the Shadows know, or did they lose track of their ships in the last war?

The Shadows attacked the mining colony where Marcus and his brother lived ([[Matters of Honor]].) Could they have been trying to prevent the miners from discovering another buried ship?

Now that the Agamemnon has observed the White Star at close proximity, Earth Force will presumably treat it as hostile on sight in the future. That will probably severely limit Sheridan’s ability to finesse his way out of another fight.

The Shadows are far from alone in requiring living beings to merge with their machinery. In fact, it seems to be a staple of advanced technologies in the B5 universe:

• The Ikarran weapon in [[Infection]].
• The anti-agathic drug in [[Deathwalker]], which required an extract from another living being.
• The Great Machine in Epsilon 3, which goes berserk without a core (“A Voice in the Wilderness”.)
• Shadow ships, as shown here.

Are Vorlon ships similarly powered? They show up as living beings in scans, though that isn’t conclusive one way or the other.

Delenn’s promise to Sheridan, “I will watch and catch you if you should fall,” is strikingly similar to the Soul Hunter’s comment to her when she was being held captive: “You will feel as if you are falling; do not be afraid, I will be there to catch you.” ([[Soul Hunter]].)
####Notes

Narn is written from right to left.

“Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom” is a variation on a quote from Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States (1801-1809.) The original meaning was that people should closely watch their governments to avoid excessive encroachment on personal liberty; its use by a Nightwatch member is especially ironic.

The events on Mars were first revealed in the comic series, issues “Survival the Hard Way” and “Silent Enemies,” six months before this episode’s first airing.

Garibaldi also made a reference to the story contained therein in the first-season episode [[Infection]].

In the middle of the White Star’s jump to hyperspace, there’s a single frame of note. The frame takes place as the White Star emerges into hyperspace, as it heads toward the camera. The hyperspace background changes to what looks like an alien cityscape. Apparently it’s a shot from Hypernauts, a children’s sci-fi show whose special effects are being done by B5’s effects company. (See jms speaks.)

Marcus and Dr. Franklin combat an invasion by parasitic aliens that attach themselves to humans. Ivanova investigates the possibility of bringing a new member into the conspiracy.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Joshua Cox as Corwin. Aubrey Morris as Duncan. James Warwick as Matthew Duffin.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/051.html
####Backplot

A race of symbiotes, the Vindrizi, has existed for half a million years. They were created as recorders, observing events all over the galaxy so that others can learn about the past when all the books and records have been swallowed by the next dark age. They survive by passing from host to host, always seeking volunteers who have nothing left to live for and want to live out their lives participating in a grand endeavor.

The Shadows have been building up forces in sector 800, near the border of Centauri space.
####Unanswered Questions

What is the “package” from Mars that Marcus is waiting for?

Why are the Shadows building up their forces in sector 800?

Will Corwin prove problematic for the conspiracy of light?

Who created the Vindrizi half a million years ago, and what made them think such living histories would become necessary?
####Analysis

It’s never made clear how much time has passed before the Vindrizi’s departure, but it’s odd that Sheridan and company didn’t jump at the chance to get all the information they could about the Shadows and the previous wars while the Vindrizi were still aboard. Of course, it’s possible such discussions took place, but they’re never mentioned.

Now that Sheridan and his people know about the Vindrizi, perhaps they’ll call upon them in the future.

What came in on the ship at the beginning of the episode? The two people waiting for the ship were quite happy to see it arrive. Were they not yet joined with the Vindrizi, or did the ship simply carry more of their kind?

Marcus seems a good deal less concerned with secrecy than his coconspirators; he was talking to Garibaldi openly, and loudly, about his network of contacts in a public place. By contrast, Ivanova and Sheridan didn’t even want to be seen with him at the Earhart’s party for fear of raising questions.

Why is Ivanova so hostile toward Marcus? Have her last few romantic experiences made her want to discourage any new developments in that area? (For example, [[The War Prayer]] and [[Divided Loyalties]].)

During the medical staff meeting, Franklin mentions that there’s a need for Drazi blood. Is the station being flooded with Drazi refugees, much like it was with Narn refugees while the Narn-Centauri War was at its peak? If so, is Babylon 5 becoming a sort of haven for refugees of all stripes?
####Notes

Duncan’s line, “I don’t like being poked by doctors,” is also spoken by the main character Alex in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.”

The ship carrying the Vindrizi is called the Dyson, most likely named for physicist Freeman Dyson.

Marcus quotes from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to Garibaldi, and from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” when he wakes Duncan up. Note that Marcus refers to Macbeth as “the Scottish play,” and replaces “Macbeth” with “Marcus” in his quote — there is a superstition among actors that referring to Macbeth by name is bad luck. (See jms speaks)

The particular Macbeth quotes are from Act II, scene 2:

Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!

Macbeth does murder sleep” — the innocent sleep,

Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,

The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath,

Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course,

Chief nourisher in life’s feast.

Then, a moment later:

Still it cried “Sleep no more!” to all the house.

“Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor

Shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.”

Glamis and Cawdor are two earl titles that Macbeth holds.

Marcus refers to his fighting staff as a “Copeland J5000” while trying to convince the Vindrizi it’s a medical instrument. That’s most likely a reference to producer John Copeland.

The Vindrizi’s musing about what they’ve experienced is reminiscent of Batty’s dying words at the end of the movie “Blade Runner.”

An addictive drug with telepathic effects is found on the station, prompting a visit by Bester. G’Kar reaches a turning point.
####Overview

####Guest Stars

Walter Koenig as Bester.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/050.html
####Backplot

Londo’s original assignment to Babylon 5 was at the direct request of Emperor Turhan, who chose him after everyone else turned the position down.

Dust, an addictive drug, allows non-telepaths of several races to probe the minds of others, experiencing all the victim’s memories and thoughts in the space of a few minutes. Unfortunately, this leaves the victims unconscious, and telepathic victims never recover. The more often Dust is taken, the more is required to achieve the effect the next time. Dust was originally developed, and is apparently still being produced, by Psi Corps in an attempt to induce permanent telepathy in normal humans; the experiment has been a failure so far.

The Narn used to have telepaths, long ago, but they and their families were exterminated. The genes for telepathy were too weak in the survivors to allow the Narn to breed natural telepaths, but their abilities can still be unlocked, briefly, by Dust.
####Unanswered Questions

How much does G’Kar know about Londo’s association with the Shadows? Did Kosh stop him before he was able to discover everything?

Why did Kosh stop G’Kar? (See Analysis)

How did Kosh know what was happening?

Was Bester telling the truth about the Psi Corps combatting secret threats to the human race, things ordinary people never hear about? If so, what are those threats?

What happened to the Narn telepaths? (See Analysis)

Will the Dust have a permanent effect on G’Kar, such as giving him some measure of telepathic ability?

What did the Corps learn from Talia? Was she actually dissected, or was Bester just baiting Garibaldi? Did they find out about Ironheart’s gift ([[Mind War]]?)
####Analysis

What is the rest of the Psi Corps’ business on Babylon 5? Perhaps it involves Lyta Alexander; her presence is probably common knowledge by now.

The extermination of Narn telepaths may be connected to the Shadow occupation of the Narn homeworld in the last war. See [[Voices of Authority]]. Or perhaps the Centauri were responsible, during their previous occupation. It’s also possible, though perhaps less likely, that the Narn killed all their own telepaths.

G’Kar asks Londo if being helpless helps him understand the plight of the Narn. But the reverse effect may have taken place as well; G’Kar has experienced at least some of the past several years from Londo’s point of view now, and thus presumably understands why Londo did what he did. Whether that understanding can lead to forgiveness, though, is another question.

Kosh’s intrusion into G’Kar’s probe of Londo can certainly be viewed as manipulation, especially given the use of the image of G’Lan. What Kosh is trying to achieve by appearing to G’Kar, and why he’s willing to interfere with the Narn and Centauri now when he expressed no interest in them before ([[Midnight On the Firing Line]]) isn’t clear.

In addition to the mention of the Narn and Centauri being alone and dying, reminiscent of “Midnight On the Firing Line,” Kosh also tells G’Kar, “I have always been here.” This echoes Kosh’s statement in Sheridan’s dream in [[All Alone In the Night]]. It’s still not entirely clear what he means, however. Could it have something to do with the “path” revealed to Ivanova in [[Voices of Authority]]?

Kosh may have stopped G’Kar to prevent him from learning too much about the Shadows, on the assumption that G’Kar would likely speak out about them in public. Since the forces of light are still gathering, that’d be something Kosh would want to prevent. It’s also likely that Kosh was maneuvering G’Kar to be of greater use in the future, perhaps testing his ability to influence G’Kar’s behavior through the use of religious visions.

Probably just a coincidence: Kosh ends G’Kar’s quest for Shadow information in Londo’s mind by saying, “It is enough.” That’s exactly what Londo said to Endawi ([[Matters of Honor]]) after recalling his dream of the Shadow ships flying overhead on Centauri Prime.

Did G’Kar overdose on Dust? It is possible that he was about to die, given the intensity of all the images he was seeing – the drug hasn’t been tested on Narn. And that would be consistant with Kosh’s previous appearances, when Sheridan was in danger of dying ([[All Alone in the Night]] and [[The Fall of Night]].) Is Kosh’s direct manipulation restricted only to near-death appearances?

Who are the characters in G’Kar’s vision? The man on the tree is his father (which G’Kar mentions, and which fits with his recounting in [[And Now For a Word]].) It’s not clear who the second person is, the old man. G’Quon, perhaps? The third person we know as G’Lan, from G’Kar’s exclamation in [[The Fall of Night]].

Kosh dodged the Vorlon question when G’Kar put it to him; in response to being asked, “Who are you?” the vision replied, “I am who I have always been,” a self-referential answer that conveys reflection rather than information.

Kosh’s statement about sacrifice can be interpreted to cover the entire Narn race; he may be saying that the Narn (and perhaps the Centauri, given his earlier statement about the two races) must die so that the rest can live. If that interpretation is correct, Kosh is preparing G’Kar to accept the death of his people as inevitable. Will G’Kar continue to fight for the Narn?

Vir’s position on Minbar was a joke to Londo (strictly a means of getting him out of his hair) just as Londo’s position was originally viewed.

Could Vir parallel Londo’s ascension to power, potentially rising to great importance in the coming war? Given his newfound affinity for the Minbari, and his distaste for Londo’s politics (and especially Morden,) he could be a great ally of the Army of Light. On the other hand, Londo did get Vir the position in the first place, and at the time he told Delenn that it was to get Vir out of danger.

Franklin continues to be on edge; could this be a consequence of his stim habit? ([[A Day in the Strife]])
####Notes

Dust has been mentioned before; for example, in [[Hunter, Prey]], Max, the kidnapper, asks Dr. Jacobs if he’s a dust smuggler.

A possible inconsistency: Bester said the Corps had been working on Dust for five years. But in [[Survivors]], Garibaldi recalled a Dust problem on Mars 17 years ago. Perhaps the Corps took over production of an existing drug, or perhaps the Corps worked on Dust for five years sometime in the past.

The Dust vendor’s two aliases, Lindstrom and Morgenstern, are the surnames of two characters from the comedy series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Morgenstern means “morning star,” one of the names used to refer to Lucifer in Judeo-Christian texts.