Babylon 5: "Soul Mates"

[Thebestoftherest]

I don't think we should consider their connection a relationship and more like a business or political partnership.

[Beastro]

Seriously? The hell? A respect built around openly honest mutual dislike is NOT a basis for a healthy marriage and I'm pretty sure you know that. But then, that's consistent to your views. Cultural relativism and all that.

Uh, Yuka? He never said Londo and Timov had a marriage based on actual respect. He simply said a healthy marriage is built on respect and not love. Love can grow from respect and vice versa, but it's respect for your partner that keeps a marriage healthy, like any other long-time relationship.

I had a friend tell me years ago that, sometimes when she's in a relationship, she needs to be treated like a child. I said, alright, you just need to be talked to and treated more softly and stuff, but no she said literally like a child.

It was a good thing she told me that over an IM because I was frankly stunned and begun imagining being in a relationship like that and one thing stood out right away: I couldn't respect that a companion. I could love them, but the renewal of respect wasn't there.

OTOH, with those I respect there's always been the chance to renew the love. I think that is a key issue that is tied to martial problems in that it is now assumed love = marriage, no love = divorce ignoring other things which bind people together that are good.

I can also see in every failed marriage in my family and friends lives the respect died loooong before the love did and the death kneel was right there too, not when the love finally ran out.

Seriously? The hell? A respect built around openly honest mutual dislike is NOT a basis for a healthy marriage and I'm pretty sure you know that. But then, that's consistent to your views. Cultural relativism and all that.

I said no such thing, but with the end of the episode, I could see the two building something of a relationship if they chose to work on things because of that begrudging respect.

Its not a crime for someone to NOT love you back even if you love them. Love is Selfless, It doesn't demand Love in return, It gives it freely. Its wonderful when that love is returned, but Love by itself is a one way Street

That's just one side of the coin of love, the much talked about side. It ignores the "selfish" side, the side which demands and sets standards expected to be met, the side which brings forth anger when a loved one does something to let you down, like a child doing something beneath themselves that got them in trouble.

And now that I'm thinking about this I have the Eurithymics song, Love is a Stranger, stuck in my head now, as it facetiously touches on the darker aspects of love.

[Wargriffin]

And now that I'm thinking about this I have the Eurithymics song, Love is a Stranger, stuck in my head now, as it facetiously touches on the darker aspects of love.

Mission accomplished

[Yukaphile]

We all have far more freedom than most people think. I will never bend knee to stuff like "cultural traditions" if it gets in the way of something I feel is important to ME personally. I'm a fierce individualist. And most people are. They just don't know it.

[Aotrs Commander]

Garibaldi thought stalking Talia in an elevator and thinking sex thoughts at her was the way to go.

One does have to wonder if at least part of all that was motivated by by the actors; Jerry Doyle and Andrea Thompson being married at time the of the show. It wouldn't be out of character for JMS to make that sort of in-joke.

I think it is too bad that Chuck did not mention the final scene, where it is implied that Delenn is having her first period. That's because while it may seem to be a throwaway joke, it does imply that her reproductive system might be human interfertile (as menstruation is part of human biology and (as Delenn is not accustomed to it) apparently not part of Minbari biology).

He did show it in the stinger, though.

[Yukaphile]

In conclusion, my larger point is, I guess Londo choose to marry them for dubious reasons like "tradition." Even so... no one has the right to tell ME who to marry. Not the state, not my family or house... NOBODY.

@Aotrs Commander Yes he did. As to Garibaldi and Talia, I'd call it aggressive advances, not stalking. We see no sign that she tells him off on screen. I know that might seem like "victim-blaming," but it's not. Showing up to somebody with clear intent "I like you" as long as it doesn't lead to unasked touching, is fine.

[G-Man]

I think it is too bad that Chuck did not mention the final scene, where it is implied that Delenn is having her first period. That's because while it may seem to be a throwaway joke, it does imply that her reproductive system might be human interfertile (as menstruation is part of human biology and (as Delenn is not accustomed to it) apparently not part of Minbari biology).

He did show it in the stinger, though.

There's a lesson here - always watch the video to the very end. My bad.

[AquaReggie]

I... really don't think anyone was telling you that you shouldn't marry who you choose Yuka, just explaining that say Tevye and Golde from Fiddler on the Roof are not bad people for being in an arranged marriage that was expected by contemporary culture, even if Tevye's daughters choose differently.

[Nevix]

I love this episode, for Londo's side of the story.

Talia's side shows how Psycorp is getting up to no good, even when it seems like they're being "not bad this time".

But Londo's subplot? A hilarious tour of Centauri Marital Politics and traditions, complete with more than one character showing hidden depths, and a certain respect for each other, or at least self respect and a pragmatic desire to have honesty first.

[Beastro]

I'm a fierce individualist. And most people are. They just don't know it.

Yes, it's called egotism~