Fuzzy Necromancer wrote:I may be in the minority here, but...I didn't like Bester as a villain. It seemed like they were always giving him a new backstory for being evil, and I didn't understand why they didn't just shoot him in the leg as soon as he came on the station on general principles. He seems evil in a smug snake way, yet...curiously bland. Any time he came on screen, I thought "oh dear, another one of THOSE episodes again."
I think most governments tends to frown on their military officers when they decide to shoot a government official coming to their base on official business.
"So, Captain Sheridan, it says here that your entire command staff shot Bester in the leg."
"Yes, General. He's been a pain in the ass. If he comes near our station one more time, we'll do it again."
"I see. One moment." (turns to secretary) "Betty, I'm going to need a new stack of court martial forms, the people at our diplomatic station for interstellar peace have gone trigger happy."
Actually it is kind of clear that JMS did sort of think through that very scene and have some fun with it. The scene you describe is very very similar to the one right at the end of "Rising Star". At which point Sheridan politely smiles at the General and the Mimbari and Whitestar fleets suddenly appear overhead making the point clear that "No, there will be no need for Court Martial Forms".
This was early season 3, what you're describing was at the end of season 4. The difference between those two moments is, they had a White Star Fleet, and were still part of the Earth Alliance government. There's also a matter of difference between following the lawful orders of your government, even if you don't like the guy you report to, and rebelling because your government declared martial law and is executing civilians and senators.
It'd be like having the same reaction to a rabid dog attacking your family, and the neighbor's dog pooping on your lawn. One can understandably be met with lethal force. The other is the act of a psychotic if used.
griffeytrek wrote:It's great to see Chuck finally getting deeper into the meat of B5. I so look forward to the B5 reviews only to see each and inwardly curse "Another First Season Episode!?!?!"
The biggest knock against the first season is the rest of the show exists. There are some clunkers in season one but overall its fine, it just can't hold a candle to what comes after.
griffeytrek wrote:It's great to see Chuck finally getting deeper into the meat of B5. I so look forward to the B5 reviews only to see each and inwardly curse "Another First Season Episode!?!?!"
The biggest knock against the first season is the rest of the show exists. There are some clunkers in season one but overall its fine, it just can't hold a candle to what comes after.
This is so true. And granted I still much prefer season 1 over Season 5.
I have to disagree. I didn't ever watch Babylon 5 in its entirety for many, many years after it aired, because that first season—especially the first half of it—is incredibly hard to sit through. Getting into this show takes a lot of faith.
I think most governments tends to frown on their military officers when they decide to shoot a government official coming to their base on official business.
"So, Captain Sheridan, it says here that your entire command staff shot Bester in the leg."
"Yes, General. He's been a pain in the ass. If he comes near our station one more time, we'll do it again."
"I see. One moment." (turns to secretary) "Betty, I'm going to need a new stack of court martial forms, the people at our diplomatic station for interstellar peace have gone trigger happy."
What they actually did in this episode may not be much better. You have a government that is, at best, suspicious of alien influences, at worst, downright xenophobic. Surrounding the command staff with Minbari telepaths around the human Psicop kind of screams "WE ARE HIDING SOMETHING!" It seems clever in the short run, but in the long run it should have got them all sacked.
A managed democracy is a wonderful thing... for the managers... and its greatest strength is a 'free press' when 'free' is defined as 'responsible' and the managers define what is 'irresponsible'.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
