####Overview

Sinclair fights two turf battles at once as alien invaders claim the planet the station orbits, and an Earthforce captain disagrees with him about how to deal with the situation.
####Guest Stars

Ron Canada as Capt. Ellis Pierce. Louis Turenne as Draal. Curt Lowens as Varn. Denise Gentile as Lise Hampton. Aki Aleong as Senator Hidoshi.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/019.html
####Backplot

In his youth, Londo led the Centauri raid on a planet called Frallis 12.

Five hundred years earlier, the last of Varn’s race died, entrusting him with a legacy, the guarding and caretaking of Epsilon 3. Some time prior to that, a violent, cruel faction of the race was cast aside by the rest, and since Varn took over Epsilon 3, they have been searching for it.

Some Earth citizens feel they’re heavily subsidizing the Mars colony, and that may in fact be true.

The Centauri contributed a substantial amount of money to the construction of Babylon 5.
####Unanswered Questions

What is the intended use of Epsilon 3?

What needs to happen before it will be deemed ready for consumption by the rest of the galaxy?

Was Takarn’s ship the only one of its kind, or are more outcasts from Varn’s race still out there, searching (or heading) for Epsilon 3?

Are there any other planets like Epsilon 3 waiting to be discovered?
####Analysis

The station potentially has a powerful new ally in Draal. It remains to be seen if he will prove willing to come to the station’s defense in the future, but the threat of retaliation by Epsilon 3 might be enough to keep any would-be attackers at bay.

Garibaldi’s tentative hopes of one day getting back together with Lisa have now been dashed. This might make him that much more likely to hit the bottle again. (cf. [[Survivors]])

Assuming Earth is successful in putting down the revolt on Mars, a continued presence will likely be necessary to keep things from flaring up again. This is bound to have political consequences back on Earth, and possibly on Babylon 5, as Earth has a harder time claiming the moral high ground if it’s occupying one of its own members with soldiers.

Londo’s sense of adventure, now reawakened, might lead him to go even further in his quest for the “good old days.” Between this and his possession of the Eye (cf. [[Signs and Portents]]) he may be a much more influential figure than he appears.

Delenn’s assessment of Sinclair jibes with the hints in [[Grail]] that she considers him a “true seeker,” someone whose life is devoted to a cause.
####Notes

The heavy cruiser EAS Hyperion was named after the Babylon 5 Internet archive (and home of the Lurker’s Guide) originally located at Hyperion.COM.

Ivanova seems to enjoy saying “Boom!” (cf. [[Grail]])

When Capt. Pierce is going to launch fighters to land on the planet and Sinclair threathens to destroy them, Pierce argues for a moment and then backs down. When he turns briefly to the screen and a computer graphic is displayed showing him calling down the ships, one of the ships in the top left corner of the screen has the flight number THX-1138, the name of one of George Lucas’ first films.

More SF references can be found in the list of words being downloaded from the station’s language files by the aliens. For instance, “ORAC” is a computer from the British series Blake’s 7, and “Skynet” is from The Terminator. The phrase “I am not a number, I am a free man” (from the title sequence of The Prisoner) can also be seen on several consecutive frames.

####Overview

Seismic activity on the planet near the station uncovers what may be signs of an extinct alien civilization. An old mentor pays a visit to Ambassador Delenn. The unrest on the Mars Colony intensifies.
####Guest Stars

Louis Turenne as Draal. Curt Lowens as Varn.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/018.html
####Backplot

Before Sinclair asked him to be security chief on Babylon 5, Garibaldi was working for the security division on Mars Colony, where he fell in love with a woman named Lise Hampton. Their relationship was rocky (“I was pretty messed up”) and ended when he accepted the B5 assignment.

The Psi Corps has a secret training facility very close to one of the Mars Colony cities.

There is growing lack of purpose and dissatisfaction among the ordinary citizens on Minbar.

One of Londo’s wives was a dancer at a club, who comforted him when he was depressed. He married her that night, and regretted it the next morning and ever since.

The planet the station is orbiting is called Epsilon 3.
####Unanswered Questions

What came through the jumpgate?

What is the function of all the machinery buried beneath the planet’s surface?

Why was the alien connected to the machines, apparently against his will?

How was he able to project himself to Sinclair and Londo on the station?

Was the defense system designed to prevent someone from finding the machinery, or to stop someone from rescuing the alien?
####Analysis

The alien might well be native to Epsilon 3, since he was able to breathe the atmosphere once he was disconnected from the machinery. In the shuttle, Ivanova can be seen fitting him with a breather unit, presumably since the shuttle’s air is Earth-style. Perhaps the proximity of Babylon 5 to Epsilon 3 is not a simple coincidence.

A possible inconsistency: if the missiles were being fired from within the fissure, how could Sinclair and Ivanova safely enter it? All their cover fire was high in the atmosphere; the missiles could have hit them before they had time to react once they were underground. Of course, it’s possible the missiles are only useful above a certain altitude (true of some present-day surface-to-air missiles,) but in that case, why wasn’t the fissure protected by short-range weaponry?
####Notes

The scene with Ivanova and Sinclair crossing the tunnel bears similarity to a scene from the 1956 film Forbidden Planet. (See jms speaks)

####Overview

A girl entering puberty exhibits telepathic abilities, and the crew must decide whether to turn her over to the Psi Corps. The corpse of the Minbari military leader who oversaw the Battle of the Line is the focus of a diplomatic incident.
####Guest Stars

John Vickery as Neroon. Grace Una as Alisa Beldon.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/017.html
####Backplot

The Grey Council ordered the surrender at the Battle of the Line.

Many among the Minbari warrior caste do not approve of the surrender, a fact which has caused something of a rift between the religious and warrior caste.

Caste membership is determined by heritage. Membership in the religious caste takes precedence if one parent is in the religious caste and the other is a warrior. (This is ambiguous; Delenn’s statement on the matter could be interpreted to mean that the mother’s caste takes precedence over the father’s.)

The Earth-Minbari War began with the death of Dukhat, the head of the Grey Council at the time.

The war was regarded as a holy war among the Minbari, and had the full support of the religious caste at least part of the time.

One of the warleaders (heads of the military clans?) committed suicide rather than obey the order to surrender.

Telepaths are highly regarded among the Minbari, and are fed and clothed by people in exchange for providing their services.

The Narn keep alien slaves, or at least are reported to do so.
####Unanswered Questions

What is the significance of the word “chrysalis?” Note that this is the title of the first-season finale.

How was Delenn able to sense that she was being probed?
####Analysis

Delenn’s identity doesn’t seem to be a secret among the warrior caste, or at least its upper echelons. The warriors seem to be playing along and keeping her secret safe.

As JMS mentions below, in the original airing order, this episode came after “Babylon Squared.” If that is the intended chronological order of the two episodes, then Delenn’s statement to Neroon that she speaks for the entire Grey Council takes on different connotations; it is plausible in that case that she is lying and hadn’t even consulted the Council.

Likewise, the device used to stun the guard appears to be a triluminary; its presence makes much more sense if this episode is after “Babylon Squared.” Its exact function is still a mystery; did it in fact stun the guard, put him in some sort of stasis, or something else?
####Notes

The only first season script that was developed outside the B5 offices.

####Overview

An internal affairs investigation of Sinclair forces him to answer for his recent command decisions. Ivanova confronts a member of Psi-Corps, as well as her own fears, when she is told to submit to a scan.
####Guest Stars

Gregory Martin as Col. Ari Ben Zayn. Jeffrey Combs as Harriman Gray.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/016.html
####Backplot

The unrest on Mars is continuing to escalate; now the separatists have started carrying out terrorist attacks and are arming themselves. (cf. “A Voice in the Wilderness”)
####Unanswered Questions

How will the powerful backers of the investigation react to Ben Zayn’s failure?
####Analysis

Several interesting hints about Ivanova and Talia Winters are dropped, most notably the fact that Ivanova was thinking of Winters when she and Gray were talking in the lounge. Ivanova’s insistence that no one must ever intrude upon the memory of her mother’s telepathic contact may foreshadow a less adversarial relationship between the two of them in the future. (cf. [[Mind War]])

The fact that Bester was able to intervene in the investigation at all suggests that he, and possibly Psi Cops in general, wield a lot of power in the Psi Corps. It is also conceivable that Bester and at least some of the factions in the Senate who backed the investigation are related.

Is Ivanova’s reluctance to be scanned simply what she says it is — a result of her contact with her mother and her general hatred of Psi Corps — or does she more immediate reasons, perhaps something to hide?
####Notes

Lennier’s chant, “Za ba ga bee,” is the title of an album by Barnes and Barnes, of which Bill Mumy is a member. (See jms speaks)

One of the masked men in Ivanova’s dream is played by Macauley Bruton, who also plays Garibaldi’s aide in [[Mind War]], [[And the Sky Full of Stars]], and [[Chrysalis]]. See jms speaks.

####Overview

A traveller comes to B5, seeking the Holy Grail. A series of unexplained attacks on several Lurkers may be linked to Ambassador Kosh.
####Guest Stars

David Warner as Aldous Gajic. Tom Booker as Jinxo. William Sanderson as Deuce.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/015.html
####Backplot

Babylon and Babylon 2 were sabotaged. Babylon 3 blew up before it was finished. Babylon 4 vanished without a trace in front of witnesses.

The Minbari highly value people who spend their lives searching for something. Delenn seems to believe that’s true of Sinclair.
####Unanswered Questions

Delenn seems to consider Sinclair a true seeker. What is he seeking?

Why didn’t the feeder want Gajic?

What happened to Babylon 4? (cf. [[Babylon Squared]])
####Analysis

Perhaps Delenn’s comments about Sinclair simply refer to his search for the truth about the Battle of the Line, if she realizes he knows something of what happened to him. Or there could be a deeper meaning.
####Notes

This episode features the series’ first CGI alien (the na’ka’leen feeder, pictured above.)

The transport Marie Celeste, which Thomas boarded at the end of the episode, is a reference to a sailing ship found adrift on the sea in 1872 by the crew of the ship Dei Gratia. The Celeste’s crew was missing, as was her single lifeboat, but there were half-eaten meals in the mess hall and other evidence the crew had left suddenly. Investigators found that Captain Morehouse of the Dei Gratia had dined with Captain Briggs of the Celeste the night before departure, and Morehouse and his crew were tried for murder. There was no hard evidence, and they were acquitted. The missing crewmen were never found.

####Overview

An old friend of Garibaldi’s arrives and tries to take part in a dangerous alien combat sport. A rabbi helps Ivanova come to terms with her father’s death.
####Guest Stars

Theodore Bikel as Rabbi Koslov. Greg McKinney as Walker Smith. Soon-Tek Oh as The Muta-Do. Don Stroud as Caliban.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/014.html
####Backplot

Ivanova’s brother Ganya was killed in the Earth-Minbari war a year after her mother committed suicide.
####Unanswered Questions

(None)
####Analysis

The fact that aliens of several races — including a Centauri — all seemed to agree that humans had no business fighting in the Mutai seems to indicate that there is a lot of resentment toward humans among the other races, enough that they see the distinction between humans and themselves as much greater than the distinctions between each other.
####Notes

Walker Smith was the real name of famed boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

Guest star Greg McKinney died on April 12, 1998. Coincidentally, Sugar Ray Robinson died on April 12, 1989.

####Overview

A sharp increase in raider activity has the station on the defensive. Londo obtains a priceless Centauri artifact. A mysterious stranger visits the station’s alien ambassadors.
####Guest Stars

Gerrit Graham as Lord Kiro. Fredi Olster as Lady Ladira. Ed Wasser as Morden.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/013.html
####Backplot

The Minbari refused to support Babylon 5 until Commander Sinclair was named as the Earth Alliance representative.

The emperor of the Centauri hasn’t been seen in public for some time, contributing to an erosion of the government’s credibility in the eyes of the Centauri populace.
####Unanswered Questions

Who or what is Morden, and who does he represent?

What do Delenn and Kosh know about him?

Why did the Minbari want Sinclair in charge of the station?

How big and organized are the raiders?

What impact will the Eye have on Londo’s career? Will he even return it to the Emperor, or will he try to use it for his own gain?

How did Mr. Reno get his hands on the Eye?

How did Morden’s associates locate the raiders and recover the Eye?

Who will escape on the shuttle in Ladira’s vision? When will the vision come true, if ever, and what will the circumstances be?
####Analysis

Delenn and Kosh clearly have some sort of perception beyond normal senses, be it telepathy or something else. Kosh’s seems to be much more advanced.

Delenn’s perception seems to be connected to the appearance of the triangle on her forehead. Note that this triangle was also present when Sinclair was interrogated by the Grey Council at the Battle of the Line (cf. “And the Sky Full of Stars.”)

Kosh recognized what Morden was immediately. That suggests previous contact between the Vorlons and Morden’s people.

Kosh said, “They are not for you,” referring to humans, though that’s not completely clear from the episode itself. (See jms speaks)

Morden and Kosh appeared to have fought, resulting in the damage to Kosh’s encounter suit. Since Morden continued to go about his business, perhaps Kosh capitulated or lost the fight, or perhaps he was only interested in stopping Morden from seeing Sinclair. One interesting thing about this alleged fight is the light that shatters behind Morden as the scene ends — just a power surge from the attack, or something else at work?

Babylon 5 may be destined for destruction, apparently with only a single shuttle escaping in time. (cf. [[Babylon Squared]])

Where did Morden’s disembodied voice come from at the end?
####Notes

This episode has the most complex battle sequence to date, spanning nearly an act and a half.

The raider on Babylon 5 is “Six,” a tip of the hat to “The Prisoner.”

Ed Wasser, the actor who played Morden, also appeared as the main C&C technician in the pilot movie, “The Gathering.” The same character? JMS won’t say.

As Sinclair and Garibaldi left the lavatory, another person entered. From the person’s appearance, it seemed to be a woman, even though they were leaving the men’s room (the “Male” symbol was clearly visible on the wall outside.)

Date glitch: When Ivanova is awakened by the computer, it claims the date is Wednesday, August 3, 2258. But August 3, 2258 is a Tuesday, not a Wednesday. The error is probably due to a miscalculation of leap years.

This episode’s title may be a nod to Norman Corwin, one of JMS’ favorite writers. Corwin’s radio drama “On a Note of Triumph,” broadcast at the end of World War II, examined how the war started and what lessons it carried, and contemplated what would happen once it was over. The quote in question:

Signs and portents!

It was no furtive tapping on the window sill at night,

But clamorous pounding in the public square.

####Overview

An accident in the docking area kills a worker, threatening to spark an illegal strike. Londo interferes in an important Narn religious observation which leads to a confrontation between him and G’Kar.
####Guest Stars

John Snyder as Orin Zento. Katy Boyer as Neeoma Connoly. Aki Aleong as Senator Hidoshi.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/012.html
####Backplot

The Narn homeworld is 10 Narn light years away, about 12 Earth light years.

Narn ranks seem to connote some kind of religious authority; the highest-ranked Narn is expected to lead religious services.

The Rush Act, put in place during the Earth-Minbari War, allows the Earth government to break up labor strikes using any means necessary.
####Unanswered Questions

How much trouble did Londo go through to get the G’Quan Eth plant, and did he do it solely to upset G’Kar?
####Analysis

The Earth government has a very low tolerance for troublemakers, it seems — at least, troublemakers who operate in the open.
####Notes

The G’Quan Eth plant, used in Narn religious rituals, is prized by the Centauri for use as a pleasure drug, a use the Narn consider sacrilige.

The Rush Act was named after conservative American television and radio commentator Rush Limbaugh.

####Overview

Garibaldi’s past catches up to him, with some disastrous consequences. He’s blamed by some for an accident aboard B5, which leads to hitting the bottle again after a prolonged abstinence.
####Guest Stars

Elaine Thomas as Lianna Kemmer. Tom Donaldson as Cutter.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/011.html
####Backplot

Garibaldi was a shuttle pilot on Mars before coming to Babylon 5.
####Unanswered Questions

Who was the assassin working for? Who wants Santiago dead?
####Analysis

Ivanova’s reluctance to stop the countdown is suspicious. Perhaps she had some reason to want the launch to take place; perhaps she even knew what was going to happen if it did.

Everyone from his past considers Garibaldi a no-good drunk. Why did Sinclair give him a second chance? (Addressed in comic series, “Shadows Past and Present.”)

####Overview

Dr. Franklin asks Sinclair to intermediate with an alien family who, because of their religious beliefs, refuse to allow surgery that would save their dying child.
####Guest Stars

Silvana Gallardo as Dr. Maya Hernandez. Jonathon Kaplan as Shon. Tricia O’Neil as M’Ola. Stephen Lee as Tharg.
####Lurk

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/010.html
####Backplot

Some outside influence has interfered with the Minbari religion in the past.

The Children of Time, a minor race with strong religious beliefs, would rather let one of their number die than allow invasive surgery, which they believe destroys the soul.

Unanswered Questions

How did Ivanova defeat or escape all those raiders? There is some slight evidence she’s working with them (cf. [[Midnight on the Firing Line]].)
####Analysis

Franklin’s willingness to break the rules for a cause he believes in, though indicative of a strong moral character, seems likely to get him into hot water at some point.

On the other hand, Sinclair doesn’t want to be placed in a position in which he has to stop Franklin from doing what he believes in; Sinclair would rather sidestep the issue than have his hand forced. This is consistent with his handling of the Senator’s instructions in “Midnight on the Firing Line.”

The parents’ reaction when Delenn refused to help could be viewed as hypocritical; they were perfectly willing to ask Delenn to violate her beliefs so they wouldn’t have to violate their own.
####Notes

Kosh is aware that he was examined by Dr. Kyle (cf. [[The Gathering]].) When he’s asked how he would feel if a doctor performed an operation on him, he says, “The avalanche has already begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.”

The Shakespeare corporation and the pfingle eggs are references to David Gerrold’s novels “Under the Eye of God” and “Covenant of Justice.”