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Posted By: ZimNova May 11, 2001 - 06:36 pm

*Comes the Inquisitor*,
This ep. was on again tonight on the SFC and is without a doubt one of my top 10 favorites of the Babylon experience. I marvel at the quality of the entire production every time I watch this episode. The 'B' story with G'Kar is also vary well done especially the scene in the transport tube with Vir.

Wayne Alexander as *Sebastian* was absolutly perfect casting. (I have a signed picture of Wayne as *Jack* from Aggy III which is one of my most prized collectables and memento's from the show)
He delivers his lines with such exact enuncaition with all the 'stops' timed to gain the maximum benefit of the script dialog by JMS. I can not imagine any other actor playing that role. Plus he 'looks' the part as one can easily believe the character was from 1888 London!
During the interrogation his one look of relief upon Delenn's answer that she indeed has doubt's about her role in the coming battle against the darkness says more that any spoken words about his mission, as of yet unsuccessful, to serve the Vorlons.

Mira gives a powerful performance as well.
Look into Delenn's eyes after she has shown her willingness to die for Sheridan, all alone, not for millons, nor glory, fame, not to be remembered, right when she says, "I am not afraid", that look of inner beauty is the vary same one you will see should you ever have the chance to meet her in RL. Mira slips outside 'Delenn' but for a moment and gives we viewers something not often seen in TV.
She was not alone in showing true emotion brought out by the excellent script, the interaction with Wayne but also the direction by Mike Vejar.
Many times the actors were holding back tears,( I would like to know how many times/takes they just had to stand back and take a break to let their emotions cool down before shooting those scenes?), tears I admit I was less successful in containing as this ep. reached deep into my love for the greatness that was Babylon. As Science Fiction Television what was Babylon has yet to be equalled by any *Trek* franchise, all the 'wanna-be's', and with only FarScape showing any real promise to be entertaining these days I am glad to re-live Babylon for what it was,
the *best ever* TV Sci-Fi Series!

Posted By: Crowe May 11, 2001 - 06:56 pm

One of the funny things about Wayne is that he's played so many parts on B5, he was Lorien, Plenty of Drakh, drazi and others. Check out his bio on IMDB. He reminds me of that guy from Star Trek, can't recall his name, that played like 200 parts or something

--Crowe

Posted By: ZimNova Jul 16, 2001 - 10:53 am

Happy Birthday Jerry Doyle!

Yep, the G-Man is 45 today.
Happy birthday Jerry, here's a toast to health, happiness, long life and all the Babylon memories.

I started a topic (#6101) at the SFC B-5 BBS so if you leave a birthday greeting there's a small chance Jerry may read it.

Posted By: ZimNova Aug 12, 2001 - 02:10 pm

Tell Jeanne Cavelos what you think of her writing.

Have you read, are you reading or do you plan to read the first two books in the *Passing of the Techno-Mages* trilogy, *Casting Shadows* & *Summoning Light*?
What did/do you think?

Jeanne has started a topic at the Sci-Fi channels bbs asking for our reactions and thoughts to her work so far.
You can post a reply here: Author Returns.
I trust she will check back from time to time to read our opinions.
btw, the third book in the trilogy will come out this coming November.

These Techno-Mage books in vary much the same fashion as the Centauri & Psi-Corps trilogies help fill in the gaps and answer the many questions that remained after the series had run it's course.
JMS could not possibly have told the entire story in only 4 films, 110 episodes and now 2 spin-off series', Crusade & LotR.
So we have Peter David, J. Gregory Keyes and Jeanne Cavelos to thank for helping us "know all that can be known" about the Babylon universe.

So now who's going to write the history of Epsilon-3, the 9 Zathras' (or is that Zathri ?), Draal and the Great Machine?

Posted By: The Master Aug 12, 2001 - 03:40 pm

I'll go you one better...

Speculative Vision will be interviewing Jeanne in the near future (basically, as soon as I've been able to test the entire site to ensure everything's working right with the move ).

I would very much like your input for the interview. Help me out here folks! What do you want to know? Post your questions here, or email them to my if you prefer. Writers, please feel free to ask about writing in general. What do you want to know about getting in to the "biz"? Here's your chance to get answers from a pro!

Posted By: Iznardi Aug 28, 2001 - 03:19 am

Hey Zim! You've broken one of the cardinal rules of Fantasy/Sci Fi. LotR stands for Lord of the Rings, not Legend of the Rangers (LOL!). Sorry, but you and JMS will have to come up with another acronym. Tolkien has about 70 years' precedent on you.


iz

Posted By: Azziz Jan 26, 2002 - 03:33 pm

My question for Jeanne would be did she enjoy writing more for new characters or for fleshing out existing characters.

Also, which was more challenging. Old or new characters.

Posted By: ProfCrash Jan 28, 2002 - 03:42 pm

Did she make the decision to tie in Sheridan's trip to Z'ha'dum with Galen's trip or did JMS?

Posted By: Nomad Mar 01, 2002 - 11:05 am

Complete B5 DVDs Coming?
arner Brothers will release the entire Babylon 5 series on DVD, the b5lr Web site reported. Citing an anonymous source, the site reported that the decision follows the successful December 2001 release of the first B5 DVD.

The site had no information on the timing or format of future B5 releases.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted By: ProfCrash Mar 20, 2003 - 01:02 pm

wow been awhile...

For those who do not know, B5 Season 2 DVDs are out in April and they are suppose to have more extras then the Season 1 DVD's.

Also, B5 will be on SCI Fi again. On March 31st it will start to air at 9 am, so set your VCR's if you need to tape anything.

Posted By: Ixion Aug 04, 2003 - 12:27 pm

B5 Season 3 DVDs are expected to be released August 12. This season is, without a doubt, the high point of the entire series. (Season 4 ties up the loose ends with Earth, while Season 5 brings everything to a resolving close.)

Anyone who feels "ehhh" about B5 needs to see Season 3 before making a final opinion. Amazing.

Posted By: ZimNova Aug 04, 2003 - 06:12 pm

Thanks Ixion.
I recall watching S-3 during it's original run while PTEN still held the syndicated broadcast rights.
All over the frelling place was the best way to describe trying to watch the series as it would change times & days sometimes seemingly at random on my local channel and was on different days in different markets making avoiding spoilers an art form that required Zen like patience.
I got on the 'Net back in '96 because a friend showed me the "Lurkers Guide" and I HAD to have that access to more and better information about Babylon-5.
Back in those days a web-site called the "SciFi Sites" was a great place to talk about the series each week a new ep. was aired.
I made many friends over the years [cyber & RL] as we shared together an experience blending TV and this 'Net thingie into a true "multi-media" event. Some of those same folks still post here from time to time.

These days it just ain't the same.
It's like being married to a wonderful woman.
It's always great but nothing compairs to the "first time" if you get my drift.
Watching "Severed Dreams" or "World Without End Pt.'s 1 & 2" was mind boggling.
We talked about Sinclair/Valen/time travel for weeks, which btw was the usual wait for a new bunch of ep.'s after a "WHAM" [per JMS] episode.
The waiting, while painful, was half the fun.

Now of course anyone can enjoy the story without having to "pay their dues" as we "first ones" did complete with DVD extras and all that.
I recall a "fan campaign" to get people all over the country [USA & England at the time] who loved the show to contact others in their local areas via the 'Net to have party's to watch "Sleeping in Light" together as B-5 was such a large part of our lives. We did it together, thousands sharing that last moment of Babylon.
That was a special experience!

Thanks for bringing back fond memories of S-3 as in all my life I've never loved a show, or waited for each new episode with such anticipation, with the noteable exception of Farscape, as I did during the original run of Babylon-5.

Posted By: Nomad Aug 06, 2003 - 05:56 am

Just like old times, reading your posts Zim! Come on into the Masters Bar and Grill and grab a Sammy!

Posted By: Ixion Aug 06, 2003 - 12:21 pm

"We talked about Sinclair/Valen/time travel for weeks ..."

I just had this discussion with my brother recently (who is also a huge B5 fan). It's basically the "which came first?" question, only instead of chickens and eggs it's Valen and the triluminary.

It's an unexplained paradox. Sinclair used the triluminary to become Valen. The Grey Council unwillingly used it to see that Minbari souls were being reborn in human bodies. Delenn used it to become 1/2 human. She later gave it to Sinclair to complete his destiny and become Valen ... which brings us back to the beginning.

So the question is this: "Where did that frelling triluminary come from in the first place??"

As far as time travel is concerned, my brother firmly believes that if travel to the past were possible, you cannot change history no matter how hard you try because it's already been written. Call it a "destiny" of sorts, rather than parallel dimensions each with their own history.

A good visual explaination of this theory is in the film remake of The Time Machine. No matter how many times he goes back in time to save her, his fiancé dies at the exact same moment, only under different circumstances. He realizes he cannot change what has already been written, so decides to go to the future instead to see what may be.

Posted By: ProfCrash Aug 18, 2003 - 10:44 am

By the way, do not allow friends who have not seen B5 before to watch any of the extras as every seasons DVD discusses events all the way through to Season 5.

For those of you who purchased the B5 Season 3 DVDs there is another gag reel easter egg. Put in the 6th DVD. Go to the Universe of Babylon 5. Go to Data Files. Press down, you should have a line of text (can't remember what) in the middle of the screen. Press down again and you will get the B5 "5" logo. 3 minutes of screw ups and gags.
For example, Mira could not break the Staff in Severed Dreams... The intense scene between Garibaldi, Sheridan, and Ivanova after making the decision to break away from Earth in Severed Dreams (the one in the hallway by the elevator) the random person who walks out of the elevator in his boxers...

I laughed, they were funny.

As for the other extras: The cast commentary was not as funny this time, I think someone told them to be more serious. Ed Wasser, Richard Biggs, Bruce, and Jerry do the honors this time.

JMS discusses Severed Dreams and Z'ha'dum. For the most part he does not say anything that we have not read but it was interesting.

I have not watched the other extras quite yet. I was disappointed that JMS did not do a voice over for one of the Worlds Without End episodes. I get the real feeling that he is going out of his way to discuss the Sheridan/Sinclair situation. He barely mentions the change in his Season 1 or 2 discussions. Makes me think that there is more to it then he has said. (Shrugs)

Posted By: ZimNova Aug 18, 2003 - 06:26 pm

Ixion...About that Sinclair/Valen thing.

My theory has always been like this.
Note: Though complicated I've worked this into a "tighter" version of logic over the years so it's easier to understand...at least to me!
First off, we today as far as I know do not have time travel so everything I say is conjecture.

Jeffrey Sinclair was born as usual and had a normal life & military career in linear time, with execptions as noted in the story, up until the events that started and we saw in *Babylon Squared*, then continued in *WWE 1 & 2* and his contact with Zathras.
Note: Later we learn why Zathras realizes in BSq'd why Sinclair is; "Not the One". A big mystery at the time to viewers.
Interesting point here is as JMS has noted in many, many different posts over the years. We viewers know things about the story arc that the characters don't know, explaining many of the so-called "inconstancies" with the arc.

At that point a "Triluminary" was introduced into the Sinclair/Valen story arc, but not known to we viewers until *WWE 1&2*. It was explained somewhere in the story [sorry I can't remember the exact episode] that the Triluminaries were: Thanks to Voltayre's Encyclopedia Xenobiologica:

The Triluminary is a powerful and ancient artifact. One of these items was once held on the Great Machine of Epsilon 3. Whether the triluminaries were created by the race that built the Machine is unknown. The Minbari have three of these objects in their possession. One was given to them by Valen [who brought it with him through time from the Great Machine].

At this point Sinclair enters a "time loop".
One Sinclair that is!
Now remember, in *BSq'ed*, that Sinclair is on B-4 in linear time and as himself [spacesuit] not knowing of having a "destiny" as Zathras puts it in at the end of BSq'd. He's already been in the loop as we discover in *WWE*.
It's long been speculated that the Vorlon built the Great Machine on Epsilon 3, and the Trilumnaries, based on their preception of time. That is to say the Vorlons are precognitive and see time as "various possibilities" that can result from any "moment" in linear time branching out into the future in completely different directions [The "Sea of Possibilities" as I like to call it].
See: Farscape's *Different Destinations* as an excellent example of this theory on time and the consequences of frelling with it.

In one such possible timeline the Shadows win one of the many wars against the Vorlon in 1260 A.D. Earth Standard Time and defeat the Minbari as well.
At that "point in time" the possible timeline that Delenn mentions to the others in WWE Pt. 1 starts resulting in the future destruction of Babylon-5 and the scenes we saw with Ivanova, Sinclair & Mr. Garibaldi.

However, the Vorlon using prescience, decide to alter that possiblity by building the Great Machine and thus starting in motion a process that in 1000 years [linear] time would bring Babylon-4, Sinclair, Zathras and a triluminary back to 1260 A.D EST from 2260.
To the Vorlon time just "is" all at once, existing everywhere all at once all the time, not as we see it.
Note: If you've read all 5 books in the Dune series by Frank Herbert he uses Paul as "God Emperor" to try to explain how knowing "everything at once all the time" is a great burden without equal and carries a sadness mixed with madness beyond comprehension.

So Sinclair's timeline, altered by the Vorlon, cascades into a loop that he will experience over & over again as Sinclair/Valen but as simply Jefferey Sinclair prior to that "moment" has no knowledge of what-so-ever.
Confusing? Not really if one recalls, as mentioned above, that "spacesuit" Sinclair in BSq'ed, already inside the loop, says to Zathras; "I tried. I tried to change it but everything happened just as I remembered" and Zathras having a better understanding of the Vorlon concept of time gives him a knowing smile suggesting; "Zathras understanding, must happen as before and as will happen again or all hope is lost. No, Zathras not understanding, Zathras just do".

Bottom line. Sinclair will always bring back B-4 to 1260 A.D. EST, become Valen, transform Minbari society, help win that Shadow War and preserve that timeline because it has already happened to him in the "time loop". An Ouroboros.
To the others the events in *Babylon Squared* & *WWE 1&2* happen in linear time because they are traveling in the only, to them, timeline they know. Mind boggling to be sure.

Posted By: Nomad Aug 19, 2003 - 05:50 am

MAkes sense to me. Man, I recall some of our long winded discussions on this. Most people fried their brains, lol.

Posted By: Valen Aug 19, 2003 - 09:15 am

Zim wrote: "Sinclair in BSq'ed, already inside the loop, says to Zathras; "I tried. I tried to change it but everything happened just as I remembered" and Zathras having a better understanding of the Vorlon concept of time gives him a knowing smile suggesting".

Zim, unless I'm mistaken Sinclair (in blue suit) said this to "off screen" Delenn... she then mentions to him that "the others are waiting".

Zim wrote: "Zathras understanding, must happen as before and as will happen again or all hope is lost. No, Zathras not understanding, Zathras just do".

I believe this occured when Sinclair, Delenn and Sheriden meet up with Zathras when comes to join them on their mission to head to B4.

Not being picky, really. Main reason for my joining in on the conversation is to make my same old opinion heard... again. I still feel that JMS changed the story after having some sort of problem with the Sinclair character. Zathras's mention to Sinclair "no, not the One" was made response to Sinclairs (the future one, while with Delenn and Sheriden) telling Zathras that he will speak to a Sinclair, but not him, and he's not to mention anything about the future to that Sinclair. DARN... I'm starting to confuse myself here! LOL!!

Anyway... I still believe JMS did a quick right turn when he decided he had to get rid of the Sinclair character for some reason or another. Still haven't forgiven him for that one! >:{

Posted By: Bmat Aug 19, 2003 - 09:19 am

I had also thought that Zathras said "No, not the One." because he had been cautioned to not recognize that Sinclair was the One. But that was just my idea.

Posted By: Nomad Aug 19, 2003 - 09:23 am

Yeah, I mean No... I mean... when he said "Not the one" , he was refering to Sinclare not knowing , yet, that he was Valen.