It's so amusing watching this knowing where things are going. Like, we know Lennier loves Delenn, but will be graceful and let her love another. And how, with what he said about Clark, we now know that it was just appealing to the Homeguard elements of Earth with support from the Shadows, pitting William Edgars and Clark against one another. It fits the Shadows' style, promoting evolution through conflict, even to one of the races on their side. It's amusing, but it makes you wonder if they did similar with the Drakh and their other allies. The Centauri kind of fit that too. Once Londo makes his deal with the devil, then the political backstabbing begins that leads to Cartagia being put in power.
One thing I will agree on, Chuck is right to say how B5 space is dangerous. As it should be. Makes me think of what Franklin said about spacing. I don't find it funny either. I love that kind of realism. He pointed this out in "Believers," and even if that episode hurt him (with good reason) I find the argument itself true. Math and an uncaring universe are a dangerous combination. Hell, one thing I wish with B5 is that it could have broken another old trope, which is character shields. The Rift Saga just SHATTERS them and sets the fragments on fire. But then, that's one limitation of TV and even storytelling in the novels you will never see.
Episode kinda reminds me of "Schisms" from TNG with the alien abduction, and I dunno, I found spacing them to be creepy as fuck. It's just so damned petty, and cold as hell. I could tell Chuck didn't like this, and while it's been a while since I've seen it (planning a big rewatch one of these days), I still think there's a lot to enjoy. It's amusing seeing William Hague here given where he will end up (both the actor out of universe and the character in universe). Gotta love DS9 vs. B5 bullshit.
Btw, Sheridan vs. the Drazi reminds me of Bob vs. that Game Sprite in "The Quick and the Fed." And learning that sharp things can cut is one of the first discoveries by caveman scientists.
Am I the only one alone in my dislike of the warrior caste, past Chuck? I dunno... I mean, he's called them out before for being triggered snowflakes, but even so... Neroon was confusing as hell. He has honor, sometimes. He was satisfied by what Sinclair did to help him save face, and then when he learned the truth (he had to have) when being appointed to the Grey Council, he doesn't buy it? I mean, future events would even prove that Sinclair became Valen, and he's still in an antagonist role. I mean... that's why they surrendered, did they really wanna kill Valen? And yet, in the civil war, he declares he belongs to the religious caste even though, I mean... he tried to kill Delenn to take control of the Rangers, and only failed cuz he knew they would not follow him. Is it safe to say I like Neroon more as a plot device and some of his dialogue than as a character? Because as a character, he feels flat. Though it is nice in retrospect to see them filling the Grey Council with warriors, because of course, it ties into this ongoing clan war between the religious and warrior castes. Told my Peruvian Socialist friend how eventually the workers got five seats, because they hardly ever caused problems and have to rebuild society following their tiffs, so... you can imagine how he felt.
In the end, not a bad review, but I can't speak to the episode. Need to rewatch.
