Babylon 5 | The River of Souls | Reaction

[@tulinfirenze1990]

Medusa - the answer for not wanting to say goodbye to this show and these people is simple - watch it again! I'd LOVE to watch you watch B5 for the second time through and see ALL the little nuggets of foreshadowing and signs and portents and discuss them with you here, now that you don't have to worry about spoilers. PLEASE consider it!

[@putinscat1208]

@@CrackedConker She doesn't have to repost it.

[@drob281159]

Now, must build statue for Zathras. Then say goodbye. ;-)

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

I'd absolutely love to watch her realizations of all the various things getting set up early on, but it would definitely be nowhere near enough for an episode-for-episode thing like this. Maybe a "summary", she could record herself rewatching everyhing, but only cut together the more important bits? 🙃 Though I guess it could mean spending a lot of time (not the rewatch, but going through and cutting the recording) for relatively little material...

[@fakecubed]

She should definitely watch it all again. I'd tune into that with a lot of enthusiasm. A lot of this show gets better on a second watch when you've seen how everything plays out.

[@ethenallen1388]

The Soul Hunter Lockley talked with was a young member of the order, perhaps the youngest, as such, he was more inquisitive, more humble, more likely to listen to other beings. This was actually my favorite Babylon 5 movie/episode because we got to see Captain Lockley shine, her interaction with the young Soul Hunter, figuring out what the being trapped in that orb were up to and using it as an excuse to throw a grenade into that brothel, telling the senior Hunter that they were going to fix their mistake or everyone will be coming after them. I found it interesting that when the young Soul Hunter first arrived and Micheal asked who he come for, he replied, "None of you. Not today." He clearly considered at least one of them a great soul, worthy of collecting, which he would have considered a compliment.

[@chadnine3432]

The inside joke with the hologram is that Tracy Scoggins had done some softcore films, and it's pretty easy to find clips online of her naked. The Lockley hologram was them poking at fans who made a big deal out of it .

[@RogueDragon05]

Tracy Scoggins also affectionately calls it her "holo-hoe" outfit.

[@johncee853]

She was also a Cardassian in an episode of Deep Space 9.

[@sharkdentures3247]

"OK fine, I'm disgusted and outraged. On the other hand? . . . .I can see why it is so popular." - Garabaldi I always love playful sexual innuendo humor.

[@RogueDragon05]

@@johncee853 And one of Duncan's flings in Highlander

[@hemmojito]

It's the same as with Brandy Ledford being a nude model before landing sci fi roles. But she was also always above that. Super genuine and nice and took to the sci fi world with heart.

[@zathrasnotzathras2270]

I always find it interesting that the character Lockley sees is Franklin. No one had any idea at the time, but the actor who plays Franklin would be the next cast member to succumb to "The Babylon 5" curse. So, looking back at it now, she really is being greeted by a soul.

[@RogueDragon05]

Ian and Martin were actually suppose to play the opposite roles, but Martin had never played an alien nor had a role in that much prostetics/makeup, and really wanted to tackle that unique challenge as well as finding the role more interesting.

[@exile220ify]

I agree it was a good choice. I've followed Ian's career since I first saw him in Space: 1999, and having him as the Soul Hunter would have been.... yawn.... more of the same. The character he DID play was interesting and very suited to his talents. As to Martin, I'm not sure it really stretched his talents, but it WAS pretty cool - because even without all those prosthetics, you just knew "hey, that's Martin Sheen!" lol

[@KevinLockamy]

The difference between the soul hunter in season one and this one is that the first one had gone crazy and obsessive, this one was simply determined to resolve the situation. As you remember the second soul hunter in the S1 episode was very stoic and contrite.

[@robertcartier5088]

The soul hunter was played by veteran actor Martin Sheen, known for many things, including "The Wrest Wing", "Grace & Frankie", and being Charlie Sheen's dad! ;-]

[@RogueDragon05]

And Emilio Estevez's dad as well

[@petersvillage7447]

@@RogueDragon05 And for being a ridiculous number of US Presidents.

[@sdfried4877]

Those acting credits all came later. He got The West Wing the following year. Prior to this, he was a highly successful actor with a string of film and television credits going back over 30 years, including Apocalypse Now.

[@putinscat1208]

@@sdfried4877 Highly successful? The movie you mention and The Final Countdown are all I remember. Oh, the President in The Dead Zone movie.

[@toddkes5890]

And The Illusive Man, from Mass Effect

[@dupersuper1938]

I just have a dry spot in my throat from the air conditioning. Stop lookin' at me!

[@exile220ify]

Shit, I'd forgotten Ian McShane was in this! He's best known for being the star of both "Lovejoy" and "Deadwood", and had an EPIC guest-starring role in Space: 1999 (which you should review next)

[@jjc5407]

These days he's best known for playing Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel, in the John Wick movies.

[@fakecubed]

I first saw him in Kings. It's what I always think of him from.

[@kelaarin]

@@jjc5407 Or Blackbeard, in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

[@Jamienomore]

When you said River of Souls, for some strange reason the song River of Dreams shot into my head. To me this was a Good Episode and it looked like you enjoyed it as well.

[@sabalomglitz6478]

Not a spoiler: According to JMS's appearance at Phoenix Fan Fusion last weekend, "coming this summer " (maybe sooner than he was allowed to say) the Babylon 5 animated movie. The powers that be wouldn't allow him to show the trailer. He would not where it would be screened, but it sounded like streaming.

[@Nebagram]

Once again Lovejoy comes a cropper dealing with an antique.

[@hemmojito]

Soulhunters per se aren't bad people or aggressive people at that. The one we met was a rogue soulhunter. But there was also that other guy who was trying to aprehend him. This guy worked together with Jeff and was quite decent I remember.

[@Poss1]

Good morning! "River of Souls." I've been waiting for this one. Thanks. Here we go! :)

[@chriscoombes6751]

If memory serves at the time this was the more underrated of the B5 tv movies, but I think it's one of the best: it plays like a B5 episode & gives us some continuation of station life post Season 5, but while calling back all the way to Season 1 with the Soul Hunters! - add to that that we have the awesome guest star power of the legendary Martin Sheen & the early State-side career of Ian McShane, who of course now is a key character in the John Wick franchise!! The only minor moan from me is that I would've loved to have seen more exploration/insight into the Soul Hunter race, possibly my personal favorite 'guest' alien species in all of B5 lore!

[@DarthAzabrush]

Ian MacShane wasn't exactly fond of the script or his fellow cast mates but he was clearly having a blast with a tour de theatrical force equal to the Stephen Thorne himself.

[@Tony-wj5mp]

Per your comment about hunters being more friendly this time. This hunter said that he was "young" by their standards. Since we have no reference of those standards, let's assume he still saw things through "young" eyes which are yet to be "jaded" by time and experience.

[@joannecunliffe8067]

Medusa - you bring me such utter joy! 🥰You're as much of a B5 buff/nut as I am now! "River of Souls" is brilliant because it IS like a long B5 episode. I love the fact that you see one of the 'junior' Soul Hunters as a really caring person who sacrifices himself to save everybody. That's really touching. Come on JMS, announce proper funding for the B5 reboot you've been talking about for ages! I'd love to see more background on what normal life and family life on B5 is like as they did on ST:TNG and ST:Voyager or even on other worlds like Mimbar, Narn and Centauri Prime (although you did see a little with the two children listening to Londo Mollari's story). I just love everything about the worlds of B5! ♥♥♥

[@erictaylor5462]

This soul hunter was not looking for a soul, it was looking for stolen property. It would make sense that they would send a diplomat. This particular soul hunter was probably a specialist, the one to send in when you need the cooperation of those who inhabit a space. It is also likely that the Soul Hunters studied human culture. He would have know to be more diplomatic.

[@rudolphclancy8293]

Ian McShane has said he regrets appearing in the film, saying he knew he'd made a mistake when he felt totally embarrassed acting against Martin Sheen in a rubber mask.

[@fakecubed]

Funnily enough, they were both on The West Wing, but I don't think they were ever in a scene together.

[@rogerweston7450]

There's an animated B5 moving coming out soon featuring most of the surviving cast members, voicing their characters from the series, and other actors to voice the characters of those actors who've died. Not sure of the plot exactly or where it'll be shown but hopefully it'll be good.

[@tyranusfan]

I wonder if the first Soul Hunters we saw back in season 1 were so gruff because they disapproved of what the Minbari were doing with Jeff? Maybe they somehow recognized that Sinclair and Valen were the same soul...maybe Valen went beyond the Rim, too, and they couldn't catch him. That would explain their animosity toward Delenn and Jeff when they saw them on B5.

[@Nergalsama01]

Wow, I didn't even remember that Ian McShane was on B5. Just like Bryan Cranston in S4.

[@sdfried4877]

I believe JMS has said this Soul Hunter, was only several hundred years old so he was young and impressionable.

[@OG21020]

I remember Ian McShane for Battle of Britain though I kept mixing him up with Gareth Thomas of Blake's 7 every time I see him. 🤣

[@joannecunliffe8067]

I always remember Ian McShane as the wheeler dealer antiques expert from the UK television series "Lovejoy". My godmother was a friend of John Grant who wrote the Lovejoy books (under the pen-name of Jonathan Gash) whilst bored and commuting to London! I met Ian McShane (with John Grant) when I was a young teenager and he was wonderful, witty and charming.

[@erictaylor5462]

7:00 It's official: Babylon 5 is a haunted house.

[@Wanderinpaladin]

Ian McShane and Martin Sheen Loved this movie.

[@HBHaga]

This is a good Halloween episode, along with Day of the Dead. I re-watch them every year.

[@raymathews1474]

"we know" hehe.

[@rodentnolastname6612]

Wow, I didn't realize Ian McShane was in this. He wasn't as famous back then. 😲

[@ArtemisEneldo]

And looking forward to Babylon 5: The Road Home (2023)

[@justarandomsasquatch1480]

is it bad I recognize Martin Sheen under that soul hunter prosthetics?

[@garethhackney4814]

I thought the same thing aboutthe Soul Hunter BUT they are a species so would ahve a range of personalities. Plus theya re breaking the pact they made by returning so those in charge probably choose the least objectionable member to go, meaning someone a lot more like the Hunter we met here than the previous 2.

[@charlespandorf5520]

Fun fact. The final episode was truly the final episode because there wasn't supposed to be a fifth season. They just moved it to season five from four.

[@kivimik]

In what way is that a "fun" fact? It's rather depressing, really.

[@DocHogan]

Oh, wow! I forgot Ian McShane was in this!

[@BabylonLurker]

Yes, a different soul hunter. Don't want to finish B5. The rewatch value of this show is great.

[@themisspultone]

iirc the soul hunter from s1 was the one that failed to get Dukats soul and went a tad mad, becoming obsessed to the point of getting his targets enough that he would kill them rather than wait and risk missing out. Basically he had totally gone off the deep end

[@putinscat1208]

Ian McShane?

[@rodneypayne4827]

Yes, and Martin Sheen.

[@JamesC1981]

2 big names

[@mndrew1]

Lovejoy working for IPX? Nothing possibly bad could happen.

[@DoctorHowTV]

Definitely more of a long episode than a movie, for me. Very nice to see another Soul Hunter, but for me the lack of so many core characters left me feeling their absence keenly, despite the few familiar faces.

[@fig7047]

I haven't watched your reaction yet, but I rate River of Souls as the worst of the Babylon 5 spin offs. Partly because I didn't feel Martin Sheen was a convincing Soul Hunter (unlike the actors that played them in the TV show), and partly because I thought the plot was bonkers. Maybe, after watching your reaction, I'll watch it again. Maybe.

[@sdfried4877]

Originally McShane was supposed to play the soul Hunter but Martin Sheen got a look at the script and decided that character was more interesting than the archeologist, who basically does very little once he is influenced, and negotiated for that role instead. He was a much bigger star than McShane, so he got it.

[@robertdendooven7258]

To me this was JMS revisiting the race of Soul Hunters within an abstract science fiction story that didn't need to be on B5 but was to include some B5 characters. It has some very good points, but did not really have enough B5 story for me.

[@rofald]

9:06 I'm sorry, but when he says "We collect them all", I just always get this image of the Soul Hunters facing each other off in an arena where they throw their orbs into the center of the ring and have the souls battle each other like Pokémon. Soul Hunter Ash: St. Augustine, I choose you! Soul Hunter Gary: Hah! Don't you know that religious souls are weak against scientist souls? Albert Einstein, I choose you! Soul Hunter Ash: Oh no! Now I'll never be a Soul Master!

[@Scimarad]

Oh lord, my overwhelming memory of this is that the trailer utterly spoiled the whole thing.

[@Matej_Sojka]

I liked the way this was made, but I did not like they undermined all Soul Hunters stood for. Imagine instead Soul Hunters coming back to the galaxy and returning the souls to the races they were taken from as teachers now that Shadows and Vorlons are gone. And imagine Minbari destroying the orbs due to religion. That to me is much more engaging twist than "Oh, Soul Hunters had no idea what they were doing this entire time." I am sad to say that Martin Sheen was the weakest actor here in my opinion. I agree that Lockley was more engaging here than in the show, I never clicked with her before but I enjoyed her performance in this.