We are sticking with the telepath storyline for this episode, with only a few minor deviations. We get to check in on Londo and his mission to his homeland, and we get to run into a character that we have not seen in years which is always a fun aspect of Babylon 5. Not a terrible episode overall, even if it is awfully heavy on the Byron.
We start off pretty quiet with Lochley struggling to sleep, and doing a voice over log. As she talks she decides to get some digs in on Sheridan to her log. She is determined to root out the non-violent telepaths with force, and seems irritated that Sheridan cant help her. She is also nonchalant about the chances that they will have to kill all the telepaths when they move to arrest them. She also worried that some of the telepaths are at large. She ends the log and puts a call into Bester to ask for his help.
Lochley is taking Zack’s report on the situation, and he reports that the telepaths are using their powers to freak out the workers trying to burn through the barricades. Lochley inquires about other ways in and demands to be shown one of the more dangerous ones. Zack is dubious but agrees.
Back on Centauri Prime Londo is puzzled by reports about military production. The Republic’s standard policy is to slash military spending when at peace, but he finds they have actually increased military production. G’Kar is delighted by his pet theory that the Centauri are preparing to go to war with themselves. They get diverted by a discussion of spoo which is a food that has been brought up before. Apparently Centauri find fresh spoo disgusting and like to age it, whereas Narns prefer it as fresh as possible. G’Kar had stolen his serving from a tray headed to the other side of the palace which makes both men realize that there is another Narn on the grounds. G’Kar demands to be taken to the cells where the food was headed, and they are both shocked to discover G’Kar’s aid Na’Toth.
G’Kar sits with her and fills her in on events of the past few years. Na’Toth had been a prisoner since the bombardment of Narn. Londo stands by and listens uncomfortably as Na’Toth recounts the story of her capture. When G’Kar angrily asks why Na’Toth is still in the cell, Londo suggests that she was probably forgotten. He explains that if the emperor ordered her put in the cell, and never ordered her freed, then the palace staff would never free her. He relates a story of a guard being assigned to a spot in the courtyard. When he asked why the man was posted there no one know, not even the then emperor. Finally they researched that 200 years prior the daughter of the emperor assigned a guard to that spot to protect a spring blossom. He then has to explain to an enraged G’Kar that even as Prime Minister he cannot countermand a royal order and have her let go.
Lochley begins her crawl through a maintenance passage to access the telepath area. Sheridan and Garibaldi discuss it and Garibaldi points out that trying to get the telepaths out is kind of pointless, and that he is more worried about the more militant ones that did not join their pacifist brethren. He also lets Sheridan know that the Drazi believe they have evidence that the Brakiri are the ones attacking their shipping. They discuss how the ISA seems to be fraying already, and Garibaldi points out that people like seeing things fall apart.
Lochley meets with Byron and Lyta, and explains that due to the shipping attacks their blackmail scheme will not work. Byron is not deterred and also refuses to ID his militant friends loose on the station. Byron again demands compensation for the Shadow War (a war notably that he and his telepaths did not fight in) and claims to be willing to die for the principle. All of his people are in agreement with him. Byron then lets Lochley know that this will most likely be goodbye.
Londo and G’Kar are still puzzling over how to get Na’Toth out of her cell when a woman courtier comes to give him the timetable for his transport to Babylon 5. Londo is struck by inspiration and asks the woman to strip out of her gown, which she does without hesitation (it is good to be the prime minister I guess). When Londo explains that he wants to borrow her clothes for a while the very open minded lady explains that Cartagia also enjoyed that game but she worries the clothes are not his size. Londo assures her he can make do.
Delenn and Sheridan meet with the Drazi and Brakiri delegations, the Drazi accuse the Brakiri of being in league with the rogue telepaths in order to steal. The further announce that they are deploying warships for reprisal attacks on the Brakiri. The Gaim ambassador steps forward and provides evidence that the Drazi are attacking shipping. Sheridan points out that someone is planting the evidence after the attacks. The ambassadors back down a bit, but the Drazi ambassador still declares that they will attack and destroy any ship in their territory without proper authorization.
Londo begins his scheme. He orders the guard to abandon the cell for three days and then wall up the dungeon entrance. The guard is only too happy to cooperate with what he thinks is a particularly cruel execution method, and wanders off in time for G’Kar to arrive. They get Na’Toth dressed in the Centauri woman’s clothes, and add a veil. Londo then explains to the confused Narns that the key to the plan is to make as much of a spectacle of themselves as possible. Courtiers are trained to not see anything that would embarrass more powerful Centauri so he feels this is their best option to slip away without anyone paying too close attention. Londo drinks some liquor, sprinkles the rest on himself and Na’Toth and then loudly carouses through the halls pretending to be extremely drunk.
Back on the station Bester shows up, and the telepaths at large decide that the best course of action will be to kill Bester. Bester goes with Lochley to the telepath community, and Bester is quickly able to help the station worker forget about thinking there is a bomb in the wall. Hen then uses the man as a channel to force back the other telepaths. Elsewhere the telepaths attack a security station, beating the officers and kidnapping one to take them to the armory. They forcibly remove the combination from him and secure a bunch of guns in order to attack Bester, Lochley and Zack. The telepaths are better at mind tricks then they are gunplay and are quickly driven back. Inside the telepath commune Byron laments that the other telepaths are killing in his name.
In addition to all his other skills, Mr. Koenig was excellent at playing a smug asshole.
Back on the station Bester shows up, and the telepaths at large decide that the best course of action will be to kill Bester. Bester goes with Lochley to the telepath community, and Bester is quickly able to help the station worker forget about thinking there is a bomb in the wall. Hen then uses the man as a channel to force back the other telepaths. Elsewhere the telepaths attack a security station, beating the officers and kidnapping one to take them to the armory. They forcibly remove the combination from him and secure a bunch of guns in order to attack Bester, Lochley and Zack. The telepaths are better at mind tricks then they are gunplay and are quickly driven back. Inside the telepath commune Byron laments that the other telepaths are killing in his name.
Sheridan and Delenn bring the ambassadors back, and show them that the White Star fleet is watching every fleet, and that they will destroy any navy that makes a move. They ask for more time, and promise a united response once the true culprits are identified. The Drazi ambassador makes some vague threats but backs down fully in the end.
Londo and G’Kar have a quiet moment watching Na’Toth take a ship to safety. Londo confesses that he enjoyed the caper, but G’Kar is more pensive about the whole experience.
Back on the station the rest of the Psi Corps unit arrives to help complete the capture of all of the rogue telepaths. Lochley laments to her log that the violence that she set in motion seems to be inevitable and she can’t think of a way to prevent it.
All in all another episode dedicated to moving us along this particular arc. Everything is set for a much more dramatic confrontation in the next episode, while the attacks on the shipping lanes are also heating things up in the ISA plot lines. The Na’Toth business has also thrown Londo off of the trail he was on in regards to Centauri military spending. Lots of plates spinning and it is high time for some of them to come crashing down in “Phoenix Rising”.
Where do I know them from?
- Julie Caitlin Brown as Na’Toth, I know best from Star Trek:The Next Generation where she played Vekor in the two part episode “Gambit”.
- I have certainly mentioned Walter Koenig before, but only do so again here to lament his passing.
The Good
- Much like Londo I enjoyed the caper of getting Na’Toth out of the palace.
- I also like how much tension is in the ISA plot. It feels real that an alliance that its that young still has trouble in throwing its weight around.
The Bad
- Byron and his telepaths are still making a series of dumb moves. Moves that guarantee that no one will be on their side.
Arc Points (Spoilers Ahead)
- Byron’s violent followers have struck, and now Bester is fully in command of the telepath situation.
- Some entity is deliberately trying to goad the Alliance members into attacking each other.
- Things are unresolved back at the royal court, but Londo and G’Kar are growing closer in the meantime.