This episode is a tremendous downer that advances the Narn-Centauri War arc, paired with by far one of the most cringe-inducing plots and scenes in the show, at least for me.  We begin to see the Narns in a more positive way, as they make the shift from scheming, and ambitious to noble and self-sacrificing.  Then we get hit with some really just odd choices in the Ivanova plot.  

The episode opens with another exciting battle sequence of a Narn ship protecting civilians from the Centauri Navy, and getting destroyed in the process.  The whole thing turns out to be a recording that G’Kar is showing to the command staff, as part of a plea for assistance in the war, which at this point is only a few episodes old.  The Earth characters are sympathetic, and promise to contact Earth for intervention.  

The atrocious B-plot kicks off in the same scene, with a new race arriving at the station.  Ivanova is instructed to get them to do what it takes to get this new race, the Lumati, to sign on to the Babylon project. Things get off to a great start for the commander when it is revealed that the alien ambassador will not directly communicate with what he considers a lesser species and he communicates through his servant, played by Paul Williams. This is somewhat disappointing as Ian Abercrombie plays the ambassador but we don’t get to even hear him until towards the end. 

Back from the credits and G’Kar is making his case again, this time to Delenn. He makes the case that with the Minbari involved the war can just end right away without any more need for fighting.   She is also sympathetic but she points out that the Narn declared the war and have been aggressive in the past.  Delenn reveals that she was there when the war between Earth and Minbar began and insists that the Minbari dont want another war. G’Kar must leave with another no. 

There is also a mild C-plot in all of this that involves Londo.  An asshole Centauri picks a fight with some Narn.  Zack Allan is there to break it up, but something is brewing.  Later the same group of Centauri ambush and beat some Narn, Zack intervenes again, but one of the Narn is so angry that he tries to go for the Centauri and Zack ends up shooting him. G’Kar and Sheridan get into over the shooting of the Narn.  Sheridan points out that incidents like this make helping the Narn harder.  

Londo as another asshole Centauri is confronted with the reality that now he is seen as a powerful figure, people are constantly coming to him for favors to enrich themselves.  We also get to see Londo sporting his newer much darker outfit, which befits his turn.  Later he desperately reaches out to Garibaldi to find some genuine companionship, but Garibaldi is pretty cold to him, sparking Londo’s anger. Garibaldi points out that Londo has changed, and that everyone is afraid of him.  

Back to the racist alien plot, the Lumati engage in an argument with Dr. Franklin.  The Lumati claim to be interested in “evolution” which they feel is hurt by giving the inferior medical attention.  These aliens are basically a Breitbart comment section that somehow developed into a society of their own.  Eventually Ivanova achieves a breakthrough accidentally by showing the Lumati Down Below.  They are very impressed with the segregation of the poorer people, and this allows the head Lumati to talk to Ivanova.   This leads him to eventually tell Ivanova that to conclude their alliance they will have to have sex.  Ivanova panics and gets herself out of the situation, but resolves to figure a way out, without having to bring the captain in on it.  Franklin inspires her to use the Lumati’s ignorance against him, and the rest is Babylon 5 history, a scene I cant even think of without wincing. 

G’Kar is forced to go to his own people and practically beg them to behave themselves.  I like the scene, mostly for how G’Kar gradually loses his temper as it progresses.  For a character that normally seems pretty smug and self-assured I liked this glimpse of the immense stress he is under starting to get to him.  Not having a featured aide(Ivanova,Vir, and Lennier) to discuss his feelings with, leads to these kinds of outbursts I guess.  His people appear to agree with him, but as soon as he leaves they bring in the asshole Centauri from before and murder him as a group, as apparently a prelude to the murder of every Centauri on Babylon 5. 

Franklin performs an autopsy on the dead guy, and he and Garibaldi are pretty quick to pick up that Narns are responsible.  Sheridan starts tapdancing around that, asking for a delay to confirm things so that he can figure out a way to prevent a riot.  

Eventually G’Kar gets word that the Narn are planning a killing spree.  G’Kar runs off, insisting that he has to go in person, and that they cant tell anyone.  He manages to best the leader of the group in combat, and call off the plot, though he is wounded and poisoned in the process. 

Sheridan meanwhile meets with Delenn to arrange a way to get aide to the civilian Narn, and get some of the Narn out of harms way. It is a sweet scene between the two of them, and it echoes what the Lumati told Ivanova earlier in a positive way.  Sheridan and Delenn are making an alliance between themselves not based on advantage but on the understanding that they are alike in terms of their compassion and their decency.  G’Kar is excited to get news that they are willing to help but he is underwhelmed by the reality of their offer.  He graciously agrees to their terms, and then has a mild breakdown in the hallway. 

When we swing back to Londo and the other plots, we find Garibaldi and Sheridan trying to convince Londo to not make a big deal out the whole “Centauri getting stabbed to death” thing.  They are both pleasantly surprised when Londo is 100% on board with the plan.  This causes Garibaldi to thaw a little towards Londo, and he even agrees to meet him for a non-alcoholic drink.  Londo is happy to seem him but saddened by the reality that this will not last. 

Next week we get a meandering conspiracy episode in “Hunter, Prey”, but at least it has Richard Moll and Bernie Casey in it.  

As always, a reminder that you can watch the episodes on Tubi with ads.  

The Good

• Another episode that shows off the CGI.  The shots are getting more ambitious, and it is nice for them to occasionally show the war instead of just talk about it.
• The noble side of the Narn is starting to be shown off here, after they were mostly a near villainous race in the first season.
• I really love the runner of G’Kar becoming more and more stressed until he breaks down in the hallway. 

The Bad

• Everything with Ivanova and those space Nazis

Arc Points (Spoilers Ahead)

• Thank god we never see the Lumati again.  Someone made a good decision to dump those asssholes.
• Londo is dealing with the fallout of his choices, and at least here he is being realistic about how much it sucks.  Eventually he manages to delude himself about it before it comes back around again later on this season.
• Sheridan and Delenn have had dates together and some cute interactions, and now they are deepening that relationship by conspiring to assist the Narn.
• The darker and meaner Londo outfit makes its first appearance, mirroring the character’s arc.