Babylon 5 - Tick tock tick tock....

[@SteinerArts]

I'm 30 years old and dying of lung and liver cancer. I have never smoked nor was I ever an alcoholic and I still got cancer. I appreciate so much that I've watched Babylon 5 in my lifetime. JMS did a fantastic work and I'm so thankful for the time I've spent watching B5. Please everyone, use the very moment and live and enjoy your life every day. Carpe diem. Memento mori. Buddha also said live life in the moment. Tik. Tok. Please don't waste your lives. EDIT: It's been eight months since that post. I am still alive thanks to experimental tablets that are specifically designed to inhibit and destroy my genetic ALK-lung cancer. I will never get rid of the cancer, since it's genetic, but I will still be able to live some more time, hopefully some years. Isn't it odd how much my situation mirrors Sheridan's life, knowing that he's got exactly 20 years left to live? My original message still stands, have a great and wonderful day and live in the moment. Enjoy the simple things of life and you will never be unhappy.

[@saquist]

I hope every moment you have is full. Thank you for telling us your story Steiner Arts. I hope it teaches us to not take moment for granted and thank you for not giving up.

[@declanq1965]

🙏

[@Axafolis]

Thx for sharing your story. We all have to face death at some point. I am glad you have some more time and i wish you many happy moments and memories ❤. I have a health situation myself i have to manoeuvre the rest of my days. It is easy to succumb to emotions and let them controll us, but we all have a choice. There are so much beauty, if you look close and pay attention! To phrase Joel from the last of us (I struggled for a long time with survivin'. And you- No matter what, you keep finding something to fight for).

[@ericstockley]

Live life like this moment was your last not hiding from life at the bottom of a bottle or consumed by self-pity but like every moment matters because it does. Thanks for your post.

[@rfletch62]

All our Hopes!

[@SeraphSeph]

I love how Sheridan lets him go and backs up as soon as he sees what Loren really is. He isn't like a vorlon or a shadow, he's almost infinite.

[@Maldoror2112]

Lorien is like the Grandfather who has spoken to the grandchildren about the hassle and disagreement between the children of the elder generation. It's not unlike what we experience as humans-- the grandchildren are often recipients of compassion and understanding. Grandchildren are like the "Prize." My daughter is like that with my parents. She is given much more leeway and forgiveness than I ever was!

[@unformedeight]

Lorien unlike everyone else knows who he is and immediately answers truthfully

[@dennish300]

I've seen this episode 100 times.. it still sends a shiver up my spine everytime he says "I am the First One."

[@avi8r66]

Yep, it's a great moment to be sure.

[@zhollamychalis4252]

What I miss about Babylon 5...are its devastating quiet moments...like this one.

[@samsonguy10k]

I could listen to Wayne Alexander talk all day.

[@zhollamychalis4252]

@@samsonguy10k The dulcet tones of the first one. A time to surrender. Beauty in the dark.

[@samsonguy10k]

@@zhollamychalis4252 Comes the Inquisitor

[@zhollamychalis4252]

@@samsonguy10k That was Wayne above and beyond the call of duty. Rarely do we get to see if our 'heroes' are really worthy to step into the breach. Who better to sniff out delusions of grandeur. My god what an episode.

[@samsonguy10k]

@@zhollamychalis4252 I honestly thought the idea of Jack the Ripper being pulled from Earth because his motivations were purely in reaction to the social injustices being committed to the lower class of London. While what he chose to do was horrific, it was still acting to make change. Which was why he was the perfect person to test Delenn and Sheridan. To see if they were willing to do Anything to get the job done. Wayne performed that perfectly. It should be noted: Sheridan proved he was willing to make the dark choice when he sacrificed a White Star and her crew to save a planet.

[@patrickschulz2193]

I am a huge Star Trek fan, but, scenes like this always made me think B5 understood how to pose life-philosophy on a meta-scale much better than ST could hope to.

[@sunnchilde]

“YOU’RE not embracing life - You’re fleeing death. That’s Not Enough!”

[@irishwars]

Greatest sci-fi in Television history

[@minners71]

Was gong to like this then I saw it was at 71 so left it, but I fully agree with the OP.

[@bill5974]

Used to be my fav until the new BSG...that was some next level shiz.

[@minners71]

@@bill5974 BSG was good but made up as it went where as B5 was a fully formed story before any filming started so will always be better for this reason imo.

[@bill5974]

@@minners71 I hear ya, but B5 definitely falls behind some modern sci fi shows (The Expanse/BSG etc) due to production values and even pacing/scripting,. As legendary as JMS is...if it was remade today it WOULD be even better.

[@minners71]

@@bill5974 I can't agree with you, if a show like B5 was made today it would probably be garbage. Picard and Discovery come to mind its also one of the reasons I hope Stargate isn't rebooted. I can only think of one recent Sci fi show made recently that was good and that was the Expanse and I'm 2 seasons behind on that but have heard worrying things about the last 2 seasons (sjw overtones) Also as much as I enjoyed BSG when it first aired I personally found it hadn't aged that well when rewatching it for only the second time this year. But that's just me I know plenty who have watched it a lot more than me and enjoy it more everytime. Rewatched B5 also this year and it still blew me away and I had very little problems with the pacing.

[@johnbanks4761]

all of this from the oldest sentient being in the universe..love this character

[@Tounushi]

Vorlons: identity (Who are you?) Shadows: desire (What do you want?) Lorien: location/time (Why are you *here* ? *Where* are you going?)

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

Tounushi Or is it: Why are you here? (Purpose.) And Where are you going? (Path to that purpose.)

[@fefnireindraer144]

i bet the two 'lost messages' where taught to the other races that got it and left for the rim.

[@retrodejavu6399]

Drazi: Purple leader wear purple sash!

[@lorigulfnoldor2162]

Vorlons: Who are you? Doctor: Yes, that's me!

[@scionofdorn9101]

@@SchneeflockeMonsoon That is something we each must decide for ourselves.

[@Vulpine407]

What blew my mind when I saw this episode back in the 90's is when I read the credits. I was curious who played Lorien because his voice and mannerisms seemed so familiar for some reason. When I saw it was Wayne Alexander, I turned to my friend and said: "Wait a minute. Didn't he play Sebastian/Jack-the-Ripper in that 'Inquisitor' episode?" Man, Mr. Alexander was a Godsend for this series. What fantastic roles he played.

[@robb1267]

And frequently a Drazi, too.

[@kyrozudesoya1829]

@@robb1267 Lots of recurring actors in different roles over the course of the show, was always nice that they kept using people that were talented.

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@robb1267 And a Drakh. But I remember his voice as the Drazi prisoner who tells Sheridan "I'm afraid." Sheridan tells him not to be afraid, while they both seem to be in captivity. But then Sheridan sees he was working for his captors after all.

[@PackerBronco]

Lorien: You're caught between tick and tock. Tick you're alive. Tock you're dead. Sheridan: But I have a digital watch. It doesn't go tick/tock. Lorien: Oh Shut up.

[@lanezaiden7192]

You probably dont give a damn but does any of you know of a method to get back into an instagram account?? I was dumb forgot the password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@finnbrody8379]

@Lane Zaiden Instablaster :)

[@bfdidc6604]

Spoken like someone from a species so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a really neat idea.

[@jchea1764]

@@lanezaiden7192 you're right , I don't give a damn

[@EdricLysharae]

Some of the best science fiction comes from these moments of philosophy.

[@sandal_thong8631]

That's really the point of it, isn't it?

[@haydnplaysgames]

An Emmy for this scene alone. Simply superb!

[@KiwiKugai]

1:42 - The moment where Lorien drops the hammer.

[@krzosu]

Here is one ancient being trying to decide it the one before him is worthy of his ... time/attention :D That was one heck of a job interview for Sheridan.

[@frankowsianik168]

Babylon 5 was one of the best Scify series with high quality, great thought, and great imagination which sometimes can and will become reality. Anything is possible given enough time. 🙄

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*THANK YOU* for posting this clip. I tried searching for something like this months ago, but YT was...LESS than cooperative.

[@eXtremeDR]

May I ask why you did search for this?

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

@@eXtremeDR >>> Sorry, I just now read your question for the first time. Why? Because certain...things...have happened in my own life to make *me* feel that *I* am trapped between TICK and TOCK. Really.... {Although none of those "things" involved falling down a *deep deep hole* on *Z'ha'dum...* 😊}

[@eXtremeDR]

​@@Allan_aka_RocKITEman That's why I asked, usually something extraordinary happened before someone explicitly searches for this clip. However, some answers can not be found on YT. ^^

[@WalterReimer]

Caught between tick, and tock. So, he's Schroedinger's Cat?

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

WalterReimer → Purrfect analogy...《grin》

[@rfletch62]

It's alive. It's dead. It's neither. It's both. Undead?

[@vgernyc]

He’s Sheridan’s Cheshire Cat

[@Maldoror2112]

@@vgernyc Interesting notion.

[@trespire]

Neither here not there, the omnipresent feline.

[@drrsc]

twilight zone moments. b5 was an exceptional show for having them.

[@Foxstab]

That was more of a euphemism than truth. Vorlons are not immortal, but they are allowed to live VERY VERY long. Kosh, at this time, was a very old one by Vorlon standards. Lorien notes that when he met him, Kosh was young. Just goes to show... It wasn't always Vorlons versus Shadows. This is a 'recent' thing. Lorien must've met Kosh back when the First Ones were still socializing, before they departed.

[@Xesh001]

In a later episode we learn that Lorien's race taught the Vorlons and the Shadows, and then they were meant to teach the other races.

[@aliciaborth3016]

Lorien is immortal, unless taken by sickness or accidents etc. He will go on forever.

[@warren1663]

The shadows try to honor Lorien by camping out around him and surrounding his presence. However they couldn't be any more wrong, by trying to get too close, they are suffocating him and his message. Why if you truly love someone, sometimes it has to be from afar, to fully appreciate the magnificence and the splendor of who they are, and what they are creating.

[@fefnireindraer144]

@@aliciaborth3016 that is called agelessness, not immortality. only thing this show got wrong.

[@foca2002]

@@fefnireindraer144 biological immortality.

[@SirPaulMuaddib]

If you noted in series, the Vorlons always asked "Who Are You?" and the Shadows always asked "What Do You Want", but Lorien asks both questions "Who are you? What do you want?"

[@Roncace]

he also asks "do you have anything worth living for?"

[@hithar2374]

+Roncace He also asks "Why are you here? Where are you going?"

[@Harkeilla]

+Hi Thar Those are the Human questions. The Vorlon question is Why are you here? The Shadow question is What do you want? Lorien's question is Who are you? I would gather that each species has their own, separate question.

[@hithar2374]

***** In that episode Loren asks both "who are you" and "what do you want". Watch the last episode: Loren asks all four. Chaos asks "what do you want?", Order asks "who are you?"; the other two questions "why are you here?" and "where are you going?" indicate that there's more to reality than order and chaos.

[@ServantOfOdin]

Of course there are... Order and chaos are all but two extreme faces of a multisided die. Whether one of these two faces up, is a rather slim chance.

[@christopherg2347]

I don't get any sound on this old video.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Interesting that they decided Sheridan wouldn't recognize the voice as belonging to Sebastian. After all, Lorien could have picked his form and voice from Sheridan's memories or dreams.

[@flowerpt]

I like how by this point there was so much to do that major plot points are happening as the opening credits are rolling. This season's pacing was the best that TV has ever created. I don't know if JMS realizes this but by Warner canceling B5 it was the same as the Shadows kicking over termite mounds to see what grows back stronger. The sheer chaos resulted in ultimate syncretization.

[@lennierofthethirdfaneofchu7286]

Well, JMS was trying to cram his planned season 5 into season 4 because the network carrying the show was closing up shop at the end of season 4. Then WB offered him a 5th season anyways. It's why season 5 is the weakest of the B5 seasons.

[@thesilvershining]

Lorien should have spanked his children more often, now they’re outta control and bullying the toddlers of the galaxy. This discipline shouldn’t be a human’s job or a minbari’s job... but Sheridan and Delenn did it anyway :P

[@Maldoror2112]

I love this scene, but my fiancée (amongst a few other people in my circle of friends) now hate it when I mention Entropy. I just might quote this scene too often.

[@power2084]

Someone must teach Lorien the concept of the Planck time.

[@ThePathStrider]

Babylon 5 would like to apologise for this interruption to our regularly scheduled tribute to Lord Of The Rings, to provide a bit of Alice In Wonderland.

[@vgernyc]

:D Cheshire Cat

[@BlueBoy0]

You're getting Lorien mixed up with Lothlórien

[@dustygrant3043]

Lorien was on of my favorite characters on one of my favorite shows!!!!!!! I wish they would bring it back on one of the cable channels!!!!!! There are a number of Warner Brothers channels on cable!!!!!!! There's even the CW broadcast channel!!!!!!!!!

[@kweicee]

They remastered the series and it's on HBO Max now...

[@corendubose6755]

This is what meeting God is like? Meeting a judging mirror!

[@jdlech]

I always liked the previous scene. When Lorien explains the futility of trying to escape.

[@patmcbride9853]

Made me think of the old joke about POWs in WWII being told they have to make "Tick" and "Tock" sounds while manually making a broken clock work. The German commandant says: "Vee haf vays of making you TOCK!"

[@mischermer4767]

Introduction to a possibly evolved or futuristic perception of a new advanced dimension and its control

[@M0butu]

back when the phrase tictoc could be used for smth sophisticated.

[@Erekose2023]

"You've lived a good life". not disparaging the writing, the contrary in fact, but that phrase always makes me think of... "What to do if you find yourself under a rock the size of St. Pauls Cathedral with no hope of rescue. reflect on how good life has been to you so far. If, however, life has not been good to you, which considering your current situation is most likely, consider how it will not be bothering you for much longer."

[@PassportBrosBusinessClass]

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK What I type when playing speed chess and the other guy is losing on time.

[@tilasole3252]

Seriously guys! Where is the art director!? I keep bumping my head on these set pieces!

[@tilasole3252]

You'll never look at TikTok the same again...

[@jamesdietz29]

Caught between tomorrow and yesterday.

[@MultiTimelady]

Dang ,why do I think of Schrodinger's Cat experiment ?

[@MrGoesBoom]

Stuff like this is why I'm not a fan of the idea of a reboot. The series had (mostly) great writing, but what really made it was the actors and how they owned their characters and the chemistry they all had between them. I always considered Doctor Franklin the weakest in terms of presence in the show ( not the actors fault ) but even he had fantastic moments and interactions. I have major doubts a reboot could recapture that

[@epiclegacy5390]

*What Lorien don't is I know who I am...* *I am Who I am, I am God God am I, It Is What It Is.*

[@thedragon133]

Now that's pretty meta :D

[@NateSean]

I didn't know Anthony Delongis was in this, too.

[@raymondstpaul4913]

They should re-release the series with updated effects it was a good show but the CGI is dated an needs a redo.

[@samsonguy10k]

Wish granted

[@Maldoror2112]

Lorien obviously isn't used to being manhandled. Sheridan is lucky Lorien is patient.

[@mattleitch7265]

They should do cartoon movies about the first ones... Go back in time show the secret stuff

[@niikodas]

when lorien said he met kosh before i wonder if sinclair tried it before with kosh and thats why z'hadum is mostly destroyed

[@toatahu2003]

No, Sinclair won the war and lived beyond it, having children.

[@lucasbachmann]

Lorien has been in that pit for a Million years. Kosh is therefore at least a million years old. You are correct it is implied Z'ha'dum was bombed at the end of Valen's war in the novels - but no one met Lorien. A million years ago is when the First Ones stopped fighting between themselves for the most part, Lorien's race left for the Rim, and the First Ones started to focus on the humanoids. In the Shadow War 10,000 years ago the majority of First one's left for the Rim and the first humanoids were space faring. Valen's War 1000 years ago was when the Vorlons and Shadows really started using the younger races as an excuse to snipe at each other until the Babylon 5 war where they decided to wipe the other side out.

[@ChiefBigEagle]

Time doesn't exist for me because I am immortal.

[@babylon218]

"Tick, tock, tick, tock..." Poor Lorien's lost his marbles! lol

[@scouttroop291]

hes dead and dont know it whats his real name ?????????? thay dont know that one is why thay fucking with him so much

[@lezcotter7879]

I'd like to see a spin off series

[@mtbluzman]

There was a spin-off

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@galaxysurfer]

Ah ok, thanks, I think I found one in Russian somewhere...maybe I'll have to upload it myself one day? ;)

[@youtert]

Repent, Harlequin!

[@rfletch62]

Said the Tick Tock Man ( And no Harley Quin reference ).

[@benjaminconnor6640]

So many jellybeans, so little time for commute

[@thepriceiswrong8999]

Digital implies much more than just quanta.

[@galaxysurfer]

You mean, Russian, right? (or maybe that's two now?)

[@redplague]

One of the funniest scenes of Babylon 5.

[@blueeyedcowboy17]

Interesting though, but I think that this line is simply illustrating that Kosh is a lot older than he looks.

[@toatahu2003]

"than he looks"... How old does he *LOOK* to you???

[@mattmmilli8287]

Scorpious looking weird

[@thedragon133]

The Vorlons share a concience, which literally makes them all Kosh, at least partly. I think Lorien met Kosh before he settled on Z'ha'dum or Kosh went there in times of peace with the Shadows. Yes, long long looooooooooong ago there was peace between the Shadows and the Vorlons.

[@SeraphSeph]

They all share a conscience but it was obvious kosh acted differently. After all, 2 people can have the exact same things happen to them and become two different people based on how They interpret events.

[@conroypaw]

When the First Ones left for the Rim, two races (the Vorlons and the Shadows) chose to stay behind to help shepherd the younger races... I guess that did go too well.

[@cush6827]

Shortly before this scene, Lorien claims that thought requires language. He is dead wrong. That is, the writers of the show are.

[@cush6827]

@Hoa Tattis expression of a thought is distinct from the thought itself. I, for one, usually have images or mathematical concepts in my thoughts, that are not expressed in language in my head until I want to communicate the thoughts to other people.

[@novaterra777]

We usually express thought through language, it is one of the strongest forms of conditioning available, yet necessary. Try describing anything you observe without some form of language coming up, its extremely difficult. There is a deeper layer here.

[@cush6827]

@Hoa Tattis No you were not. Thought is independent of language.

[@cush6827]

@@novaterra777 No. If I hold images or music in my head, I need no language. Only for communication do I need language. Thought is not communication.

[@fyrestorme]

he was wrong about nothing lasts forever

[@Catalyst375]

What do you mean by that?

[@Volthoom]

Catalyst375 2 months later, but, Lorien isn't "wrong", he's just not saying the full truth. Because he, himself, is eternal. He's the first sentient being of that galaxy, outliving his entire species, and is, quite probably, close to being invincible. I don't think he could take his own life if he ever wanted to.

[@sharonmahoney9333]

Sorry, but I have to speak up. The word is "immortal," meaning "deathless," not "invincible," meaning "too powerful to be defeated or overcome." It drives me BS crazy the way people use the latter for the former.

[@ThePathStrider]

He has said himself that while he is ageless, he can still die by other means. Entropy will not be denied.

[@Xesh001]

Being immortal doesn't mean you can't be killed!

[@cgavin1]

You're not immortal. I must have heard hundreds of you rodents make the same claim. Sorry wrong IP. 😃

[@JoshSweetvale]

Farscape did this better. Main guy has to risk his life getting out of an oubliette, oubliette is psiscape created by mentor ancient alien. Only instead of the philosophical, Creighton eventually got down to brass tacks:Wjat do you _actually_ want? In solid terms, please. Okay, I see no problem with that. What do I need to know to maximize my chance of survival?

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

Lorien is wise in many things, but I must disagree with him on one point: there are a few things that last and do not end. Love is one of them.

[@TheGahta]

He knows love to be transitory, of the moment."Only whose lives are brief can imagine that love is eternal"

[@SchneeflockeMonsoon]

@@TheGahta Or perhaps he is merely a bitter soul who has not found one who could last as long as he, nor could match him well enough to show him true permanence.