Brent Watches Revelations | Babylon 5 2x02 | Reaction

Join Brent as he does his first watch of the Babylon 5 Season 2 episode, "Revelations." G'kar is back on the station and he has brought news from the Rim, and a theory as to what's going out there. Plus Sheridan's sister is visiting and with her bringing all the Sheridan backstory we didnt' really need. Join Brent as he dives into his first watch of this episode.
And be sure to catch our main show, Babylon 5: For the First Time, when Brent is joined by Jeff to take a deep dive into the episode, searching for those Star Trek-like messages, and seeing if they should have watched it sooner. New Episodes drop on Mondays.
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[@nicolivoldkif9096]

Unfortunately from personal experience with friends, yes, having your last interaction being abnormal or negative eats at you often far more then the loss of the person. It is why death bed confession and trying to reconnect during a persons dying days are a fairly common plot.

[@elaine_of_shalott6587]

Second this.

[@Raguleader]

Yah, it's not necessarily rational, but grief isn't rational.

[@Nikioko]

It is called making peace.

[@campbell91988]

@@Raguleader Many months later but...yeah, it isn't rational but it is real. I have had my own experience with this in an old friend I lost shortly after a bitter argument. I miss them but for a LONG time, the fact that I never had a chance to acknowledge that it didn't change our friendship hurt worse.

[@Raguleader]

I don't think Sheridan is more broken up over not saying "I love you" than he is over Anna dying, but I definitely believe that he is *also* broken up over not saying "I love you." Grief isn't rational or logical, and sometimes you fixate on minor things after the fact. I think part of it is like, you couldn't have done anything to keep them from dying, but maybe you could have done something else along the way that you had control over, if you had only known.

[@elaine_of_shalott6587]

Complicated Grief is complicated. Who knew?

[@AdamCollings]

Makes sense

[@nagillim7915]

My gran died in hospital in 2020. It was unexpected. The night she died i had had a bad day at work and just wanted to sleep, so when my grandad told me she'd asked me to call her when i got in i put it off telling myself i'd call her the following morning. Only she died through night from a bleed caused by the blood thinners she was taking and i missed my last chance to speak to her. Even now two years later that's the thing i regret the most and even writing this is bringing tears to my eyes. Yes, it's a minor thing - like John forgetting to say i love you - but grief fixates on minor things. Until you experience it you can never know how it'll hit you, and it's never the same.

[@kant12]

The reason people who've recently lost someone often remind people to tell those around you how you feel is because it's a real regret people have when they don't. I used to find that stuff too sappy/silly when I was younger but I appreciate it now.

[@missyprime8198]

Keep in mind we've had over 2 decades for the grieving over someone trope to be overdone. Way back then it was much less common, also when in grief we often cling to things that others may find trivial. I had to end my relationship with my mum this time last year via text as her behaviour was abusive, I've been grieving the same as when any family died and the fact I never got to say goodbye or take one last look is a big thing I keep coming back to.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

That's a point. Serial TV was kind of unknown then, it wasn't really a trope. Doff of the hat to Twin Peaks that took the agony of the loss of Sarah Palmer and just kept relentlessly pushing it through every stage of audience reaction, until it became legitimately profound.

[@Nikioko]

“One thing at a time, ambassador.” With one sentence, Morden instantly becomes scary.

[@BabylonLurker]

Absolutely chilling!

[@dianayoder1285]

I love the look on London's face when morden says that. He's like ''oh sh*t'' what have I done, but also kind of accepting that it is done and he can't turn back now

[@Nikioko]

@@dianayoder1285 Yes, for Londo, it was just a flippant remark, but Morden meant it serious.

[@nathancline4000]

@@Nikioko Yeah. The way he says it and that voice inflection so completely nails the understated power.

[@IO_Darren]

Sorry Brent, gotta argue with you on the grief that Sheridan is feeling. Of course he's sad she's gone. He grieves heavily. But when you lose a loved one, many times it's those missed opportunities that weigh heavily on us sometimes even more. The missed phone call, the leaving the other one on a bad note. The thing that was left unsaid. To this day I am angry that I don't remember if I told me dad I loved him in our last conversation I ever had with him. That gnaws at me to this day still. That's very much a human way to process grief. As for what talia saw, yeah there was a reflective surface that was visible to Garibaldi that he could have seen Jack behind him in. That's what Talia ended up making him see. She didn't have a special out of body viewpoint of it. I can see where it was confusing because they couldn't film it from a 1st person perspective, they just used footage from the scene as we saw it.

[@percysowner]

As to how did Talia see what went on behind Garibaldi, it was because HE saw Jack in the mirror/reflective surface. From the Lurkers Guide [Talia's] not seeing the shooter from outside Garibaldi's POV. That shot in particular is *exactly* from Garibaldi's POV. It's a lot like what is done in hypnosis, going back into somebody's memory and dragging out details they might have seen but not noted; the eye sees more than the brain recalls at any given moment. When we shot that scene, I was on-set, and the camera was put *exactly* where Garibaldi was standing, so we'd be very careful that it WAS his point of view. So though I hate to contradict you, it's not "a stupid plot hole from hell." I'll add more of my thoughts and Lurker's Guide info in the main review. Yes this is a transition episode that is trying to quickly get us up to speed with Sheridan.

[@Nikioko]

Exactly. When Talia enters Garibaldi's mind, she also sees his sub-conscience and things that he didn't actively notice. Like analysing a picture.

[@TheFireMonkey]

Little sisters are expected to do things like comment on their big brothers weight - it doesn't require any real change for her to say something... .. She saw through his eyes - she noticed a mirror in which the image was seen - take another look. :)

[@Iymarra]

I understand the dislike for the Sheridan backstory and it does drive the hammer home a little much. That said, I say I love you to my husband in a similar way and if something happened to him and I had not, yes I'd mourn primarily but I guarantee my shitty brain would also be punishing me for not keeping up with our tradition. Different strokes for different folks.

[@Janice4th]

This is what I was thinking. I didn’t get that not saying goodbye was the only reason for his grief. He had no closure. This was providing a closure to him.

[@nathancline4000]

@@Janice4th Yeah, it would be like not giving your spouse a kiss on the way out the door on the morning of Sept. 11th when they worked at the WTC because you were in a rush and figured there's always tomorrow.

[@hornorsilk2901]

Sheridan is upset not just because he didn't say I love you, but because they were having a bit of a fight which led him not to say it as normal. He felt that the fight itself might have caused her to make her final decision to go when she did, and so he blames himself. Not saying "I love you" is just, for him, the way it all comes together to a point. And I know people who have suffered loss this way -- such as parents with children, who were in a fight with them before they died (such as in an accident) and they are this way. Not everyone will be this way, but those who are more passionate like Sheridan, can be. And it is a final way of showing how different he is from Sinclair, who was much more stoic.

[@tiralana8360]

So, I have to take some minor issue with h ow you framed the side plot with Sheridan. I never got to tell my mother "I love you" that last time and I've felt guilt and regret over it for close to seven years now. Grief is different for all of us, and if you wouldn't grieve that way then that's how you process things; but please keep in mind that many of us do grieve that way. Not just the loss of a loved one, but also the loss of ability to ever tell them how much they meant to you, ever again.

[@MrDdaland]

True- and in this case, it's planting a seed for the rest of the story- we get to see why Sheridan at times is so driven

[@Nikioko]

Exactly.

[@Scimarad]

Sometimes you have some really bizarre readings of some things! How on earth are you reading that as MORE broken up about not saying goodbye than her actually dying? It more like that's the icing on the whole horrible cake and the one stupid thing he keeps fixating on rather than the actual problem. Now if you want to complain that is massively reused cliche then I'll agree with you :)

[@atariboy9084]

14:09 if you had pause the video she was not scanning behind him she was looking where he was looking at and it was the guys reflection on the wall almost a metal mirror that shows the guys face.

[@missyprime8198]

Delenn's new make up was actually more time consuming to apply & remove than a standard Minbari make up. Apparently it was because the forehead and eyes part was very thin and very delicate. Standard minbari make up was up to 90min to apply, Delenn's now took about 2hrs (according to an archived post on JMS news. Brent & Jeff, stay away from the JMS news archives, spoilers everywhere but fascinating once you've watched everything)

[@Framed-Naraht]

Na'toth was recast between seasons, which is probably why you felt she was off...

[@AdamCollings]

Wow, I'm really surprised by your reaction. Revelations is a favourite of mine. Obviously the stuff with G'kar, Londo and Delenn is the main thrust of this episode, but I've always loved the character stuff they did with Sheridan and his wife and sister as well. I've never taken away from this that he's more upset about not saying goodbye than about her being dead. That's a little moment that he's latched on to that reminds him of all he's lost. The biggest thing here is that he's never been able to properly heal because he blames himself. That's why the message from his sister ends up being so freeing.

[@ethenallen1388]

I think the idea was that Garibaldi saw the face of the guy who shot him in that reflective panel but had blocked it out because he wasn't able to process the betrayal. He must have guessed that a crucial memory was in there somewhere and asked Talia to help him break through that block.

[@ianmaurer9929]

I suspect that part of the reason you found the Anna Sheridan plot line dull is because you had no emotional stakes with the character. Now imagine instead that O'Hare hadn't had to leave the show and instead Sinclair was in this episode and getting news that his fiancee Catherine Sakai was dead / missing in action. Which likely would have been the plot point if the cast changes weren't necessary. It would have been more emotionally compelling and felt less forced.

[@Raguleader]

You know, it never occurred to me until now, but it would have made a lot of sense for Catherine to have gone missing there as part of her survey work.

[@philipcomins106]

Actually - and I need to be careful here - we know what happens to Catherine Sakai. There's several sources that point to the answer: the Book To Dream in the City of Sorrows, the In Valen's Name comic trilogy (written by JMS) and a season 4 episode where Delenn comments about Valen's family.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

@@philipcomins106 Hmm, nyaaagh, good effort but maybe a bit spoilery. If you ditch / alter the last two sentences?

[@ianmaurer9929]

@@philipcomins106 Yes, I've read the books, but that storyline is based on the show continuity where Sinclair leaves the station based on O'Hare leaving the show. The premise of my comment is based on if O'Hare / Sinclair stayed and there was no need to introduce Sheridan and his wife to replace the existing characters.

[@Nikioko]

I think, that was the original plot.

[@evenmoor]

As I recall, Delenn was originally supposed to be either male or androgynous in Season 1 before the chrysalis, which would have made the transformation significantly more dramatic - note Mira Furlan's much less flattering makeup in "The Gathering." But it was decided for various reasons that it just wasn't working and so simply stuck with her being female the whole time.

[@TexasAnlaShok]

What is she? A hu-brid. And yes you do know her, Anna was also Tasha Yar's younger sister.

[@dianayoder1285]

BUZZ

[@BackstageAtTheSmith]

Sheridan was on a deep space ship, not always able to stop for supplies so less "extra" servings at dinnertime, however at B5 with less supply chain issues and fresh (not prepped for long term storage) pigging out makes sense

[@Janice4th]

The reason Na’Toth is off is because it’s a different actress. Julie Caitlin Brown had difficulties with the prosthetics and opted out. When Mary Kay Adams auditioned, she was gruffer, but for some reason opted to play Na’Toth softer when the cameras rolled.

[@chrisnielsen9885]

Biggest mistake she ever could have made IMHO.

[@TheSPoS]

Almost. From JMS: So to repeat: we'd had to replace Mary Woronov with virtually no notice after we found that she really had a hard time with the narn prosthetics (wouldn't wear the contacts, and other stuff). In a panic, our casting director called in a favor from Caitlin Brown, who is mainly a leading-lady type actor. She came in and, in fact, for the first episode (shooting almost immediately afterward) wore a variation of the Ko'Dath makeup, because there wasn't time to make one specific to her. She came in without being under the 5-year option that generally exists in these situations. Did one year, about 9 episodes, as Na'Toth. And had to turn down a couple of leading-female parts. During the hiatus, she did a romantic lead character in a film with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. And had to ask the hard question: do I continue to grow as a romantic lead actor in feature films, or play Na'Toth? She is a VERY gorgeous woman, and felt awkward hiding behind the mask and cutting herself out of leading female parts in feature films to do it. We went 'round and 'round about this for some time, it was a very difficult decision for her because she likes the show and everyone here, but finally opted out. On one level it's a pain in the butt, but we respect her decision. And it *is* her call, not ours. By the end of season one, Na'Toth knows stuff that I need that character, G'Kar's aide, to know. (Though I was briefly tempted to do the Murphy Brown Secretary line, with G'Kar getting a new aide every so often due to terrible airlock accidents...but I went to lay down for a while and the notion passed.) So no, it's not a rumor, it's quite true. In fact, we just finished up a casting session and found someone who's very right for the part; and though we weren't confined to this, is actually about the same height, same build, same attitude as Caitlin, and whose voice is very similar. I don't think much difference will be noted in the long run, really.

[@chrisnielsen9885]

@@TheSPoS that’s sort of beside the point though. She decided to change how she played the character AFTER being cast on the basis of an audition. I guarantee they wouldn’t have cast her if she had auditioned in the same way she played the part

[@CareerKnight]

Julie Caitlin Brown didn't have difficulties with the prosthetics, Mary Woronov did.

[@hornorsilk2901]

@@CareerKnight Actually, Brown did too.

[@BabylonLurker]

"Weep for the future, Na'Toth - weep for us all". Looks like G'Kar thinks he has discovered something really bad. So, Chuck ;) You do have excellent questions. Unfortunately I cannot answqer without spoiling you 😇

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

Hullo there! This isn't one of Season 2's best but I was a little thrown at how much you disliked the Sheridan / Anna stuff. Don't get me wrong, it's not great writing but Boxleitner does enough to sell it to me and I think the emotions of a guy who's spent most of his time out in deep space trying to supress it with little human contact outside his job is reasonable. The main issue is that it's trying to do some quick heavy lifting in setting up a new character and dynamic on very little notice. (JMS was basically producing, writing, trying to make sure O'Hare was getting help AND esentially restarting the show with a new lead, I don't think he had much time to do other than reach into the grab-bag for a few trued and tested 90s TV narrative devices.) Still, there's enough in the odd line, about thinking she's still there, it just about works for me. Not great, but works. Talia's reading of the shooting always bugged me too. I wish they'd had the gumption to shoot some first person stuff while shooting Chrysalis to cover it. All the same, Garibaldi did see him for an instant on a reflective surface so, yeah. But I do wish it had been more creatively shot. Reminds me of the court case in Star Trek IV where they pull out a VHS of the previous movie to watch the Enterprise blow up again. Can I give a shout to the security guy making up that lie on the spot to lure that traitor out? Something endearing about that. And Babylon 5 is TOTALLY the universe where you'd allow Garibaldi in the same room with him. I say it again, the B5 universe is kind of messed up, it really isn't ours, let alone Trek's. Anyway, digging your reactions even when you diverge from me by being (cough) clearly wrong. This episode is sort of the greens you have to eat along with the steak (last episode) and the desert (to come) to get everything on track following O'Hare's departure and what was lost from the Sinclair storyline. But we do get G'Kar reading Tennyson, one of the greatest pieces of poetry ever, so there's that. Also I'll just add for future if you ever feel that reacting and on the fly analysising is treading on you enjoying the show and sinking into it, feel free to drop the reactions. The regular discussion episode is awesome gravy enough. x

[@simongiles9749]

G'Kar is reading Yeats (The Second Coming). Tennyson (Ulysses) was Sinclair's bag.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

@@simongiles9749 Gagh! You're absolutely right of course! Why on Earth did I write Tennyson when I knew it was Yeats! Honestly, I'll be getting my Owen's and my Sassoon's mixed up next.

[@dianayoder1285]

I was prejudice towards liken Sheridan cause I loved Bruce Boxleitner in Scarecrow and Mrs. King so I took to him right away

[@meropetied]

Talia did see through Garibaldi's eyes. The idea is that he was distracted by the people in front of him at the time and she saw the thing he wasn't paying as much attention to in that reflection. Makes sense to me. About explaining the Sheridan tragic wife loss stuff, yeah, his scene partner was not great and he seems to struggle through some tedious treacle there. Pretty damn cheesy, that scene. I'm with you on that. That subplot has always brought the side down on this episode for me too. But yeah, the Delenn reveal scene and the Morden scenes and the G'Kar scenes are all great stuff though.

[@Raguleader]

I could even buy that Garibaldi saw Jack in the mirror and kept his focus on the folks in front of him, because he knew one of his guys was watching his back.

[@davidblauyoutube]

In some ways, it's unavoidable that the A-plot was going to be boring. We've just had a cast change in a major role, it's going to take some time to establish the new character and backstory, and of course the actor needs time to settle in. But like you said, there was some interesting stuff going on with G'Kar and the B-plot. I think JMS did a good job on what needed to be done, all things considered.

[@hornorsilk2901]

Agreed. This was a "needed" episode, and it really is a continuation of the transition which was going on. And it shows more of who Sheridan is, not just in relation to losing his wife, but in respect to how he is a man of pathos (and not a stoic). It helps explain why he can be more reckless and do things which shock others (as he isn't always doing what reason alone suggests is possible).

[@darrinwebber4077]

There is another reviewer. A TREK fan...but a sci-fi fan in general. After first season...he said... "Babylon 5 is a great show" After second season, he said... "Babylon 5 is the best sci-fi show ever" You're doing great. Keep watching.

[@OptimisticAudience]

I have literally been the sister in the sheridan convo with someone. I've seen that exact "i didn't say I love you" breakdown with someone I know.

[@rodentnolastname6612]

So much good stuff to come. Glad I get to watch you two along your journey!!

[@CareerKnight]

I don't think it would matter too much if you hadn't seen her transformed appearance before as I am pretty sure the opening used for the streaming version just uses the opening from the rest of the season for these first two episodes whereas when they aired they did not spoil Delenn's new look. The good news is is there is nothing left for the openings to spoil now as everything there was intended for the audience to know (also B5 is a bit unique in that they redid the opening for every season including changing the music).

[@hornorsilk2901]

Right. Now is the time to watch, especially as what might seem like a "spoiler" is more a clue than anything else to what is going on this season

[@MrDdaland]

I somewhat disagree. Still one spoiler, IMO

[@hornorsilk2901]

@@MrDdaland the one thing is a part of the story they want the audience to know at this point; it gives a bit of expectation without indicating how it all comes about and what happens when it does...trust the intro for what it was intended

[@welshlad691]

Hi Brent, got to remember that earthforce ships do not have artificial gravity, they only have gravity under thrust or if they have rotational sections, crew likely would have to keep to pretty strict diets and exercise. Get dumped on a station with constant gravity and a garden, I'd probably put on weight eating plants too lol

[@tpw84101]

The lady who plays Lizzy played "Kate Monday" on a segment of an old PBS math show called Square One.

[@Evangeline31b]

JMS is a great writer! I was fine with the scene although is wasn’t the greatest, but your reaction/rant to Sheridan’s loss was over the top. Your objection to the Talia/Garibaldi scene was a bit odd too. Talia clearly sees the reflection though Garibaldi’s eyes even though he didn’t notice it at the time. All episodes can’t be bangers in a 22 episodes season, so there will be B or C plots along the way. The beauty of B5 is that you never know what little detail/scene, that you dismissed during your watch is going to come in to play. I suggest you pay attention to the dialogue and leave the rants to the podcasts😉 I love B5 and I wanted to enjoy your reaction to the episode, but you made a bad impression so I can’t give you a like for it. However I will be tuning in next time because everyone deserves a second chance #imho

[@mooncalf_4534]

You're more broken up about the loss of the person at first, and more broken up over your failings relational to the loss than the loss itself after a significant period of time has passed in my experience.

[@gallendugall8913]

My favorite part of the episode is when Delenn makes her first appearance, everyone is stunned by the change, and she says, "This isn't even my final form!" That's not in the original, it's in the proposed remake.

[@nathancline4000]

The actress playing Sheridan's wife is the woman who played Yar's sister in the episode of TNG when they visit Yar's home planet.

[@hornorsilk2901]

The issue with the food, even though B5 is not earth, it is capable of having fresh food in a way he didn't have on the Agamemnon. So maybe he didn't literally gain weight, but having fresh food is a plus to him.

[@smurphy1354]

I wonder if the tropes of sheridans backstory were as common in the 90s. Being predictable definitely makes that plot drag down.

[@dawg897]

yes it was. as an old gray dog I remember that kind of "sappy" writing in TV and movies of the time. and every time even then I would roll my eyes if it was short. but long drawn out ones I just changed the channel for s few or just turn it off.

[@elaine_of_shalott6587]

Tropes are tropes for a reason. I'm very happy for people who have never experienced Complicated Grief but it is a very real thing. The thing that seems out of place to me is his ability to explain it so clearly to his sister, but talking around the subject every which way through months of therapy doesn't work well for a 45 minute TV show.

[@darrinwebber4077]

Didn't have the camera angles to film thru Garibaldi's eyes. Plus,1990s budgets.

[@darrinwebber4077]

And yes... Sinclair's real life issues forced some rewiring and filming reshoots....Hell,...the original story probably didn't have Sheridan. He may have been created just to fill the spot. But Sinclair's real life wishes to continue on the show...with accommodations for his real life personal situation...led producers to do a hurried rewrite that has both characters. Yes... Stupid writing aside...clearly trying to give Sheridan some backstory. Which makes sense.

[@nathancline4000]

He lost his mind because he's been on deep space patrol so has been mostly eating preserved foods, versus getting fresh food.

[@MrDdaland]

It doesn't have to be on Deep Space Patrol - got home from deployment and put on 10 lbs in a month

[@TheJaygalway]

Brent, to answer your question about "coming of shadows" ... the answer is, "yes".

[@sokar813]

Just ran into this channel yesterday. One thing that explains some of the makeup way back in the pilot episode was one of original plans was to have delenn go male to female that got changed. They tried to make her look more androgynous.

[@Babylon5FortheFirstTime]

We’ve heard that a few times. Pretty cool, And hey, welcome to the Channel!

[@frozenpiper2]

You'd be surprised at what you regret when a loved one dies. Sheridan's back story is plausible. Sometimes, I think you focus on something too much and are too critical, and that makes it not enjoyable for you.

[@elaine_of_shalott6587]

Casting spoiler after the break. This is information you could get if you checked the credits of multiple episodes up to this point. The reason N'Toth seems off to you is the original actress had trouble with the makeup and they recast the same character rather than having another of G'Kar's aides mysteriously disappear.

[@Janice4th]

Not sure if you caught Delenn’s little fudge about her people’s blessing at the end.

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

From what I remember, Mira Furlan did not react too well to the original make up, so they had to change it, as opposed to the fact that Bill Mumy (Lennier) had to spend like 6 odd hours or so to get in to make up, which REALLY pissed him off. He speaks praise of the make up crew who managed to reduce it down to 4 hours, otherwise he would have quit. In Mira's case, Delenn was supposed to be a male character (Something JMS kept from her), hence season 1's more masculine look. The downside to the change was that it took LONGER in makeup for the more human look for Season 2+, due to the bone wrapping around the back of her head and needing to be incorporated with her hair.

[@nathanliteroy9835]

It's so interesting to see your reaction, because when it was coming out, it felt like ages for Delenn to come out, and ramping up tension with a cocoon being empty, then scales was great and worked for a revelation. But yeah, Sheridan's story drags. I'm surprised that you're this disinterested in the rest of the episode, I guess my childhood memories are carrying over because it's not the best but it works for me. And yeah, I thought you would be spoiled here, it's hard to avoid Delenn's images. The reason you were asked to skip the intro in the first several episodes is to slightly increase tension from Sheridan being the lead now, but more importantly how Delenn looks: when the show was coming out, the intro used her clip from season 1, then the reveal happened, then the clip changed to a Delenn with hair in episode 3. When DVDs were coming out, the crew that did them has just used intro from the later episodes, so Delenn's look was spoiled. HD restoration has returned historical The reason they used it is because Bruce Boxleitner re-recorded his voice over - his initial one was not convincing, and O'Hare just naturally has more gravitas, so it sounded even weaker by contrast. Now you can watch the intro if you want to.

[@Janice4th]

Bruce did the first voiceover without visuals.

[@marley7145]

As a fat person, I have to say that Lizzie isn't saying anything bad about her brother. She's saying he put on weight, which is a neutral observation. And since he was not only mourning the death of his wife, but was also on a ship which didn't have fresh foods very often, getting to a place with hydroponics and lots of fresh fruit and finding the motivation to eat it is a GOOD thing. I'll be the first one to jump in when someone uses body weight as an insult. This is not that.

[@kalzar26]

My memory is super fuzzy on if the wife thing was important or not but I suspect the reason the story for Sheridan's wife is so rough and kind of forced is that it was probably a recycled story from Sinclair that didn't get dropped. Y'all commented in the finale video that if they didn't get married in the episode something would probably happen to her, then Sinclair and Catherine wouldn't get married. JMS likely just kept that and changed a few details. It seems possible to me that they would have gotten married then she would have died/disappeared. Disappeared seems more likely with space being so vast. But I doubt we will ever know if JMS had other plans or if this was always the story he intended. Assuming that was the case, I would love to know if it was time pressure, sloppiness, or intentional though.

[@percysowner]

It may also just fall into the cliche of "make a man more interesting by having his love interest die". It makes him single while not making being single seem odd. I mean really why would a good looking, seemingly decent WAR HERO not be married? Dead wife that he's grieving? That explains his availability, while keeping him open for a new relationship.

[@InputHercules]

What a surprise, I was just watching some of your older reactions when this popped up!

[@alangarde2928]

Whilst I disagree with your view on the Sheridan/Anna & Sister plot - that's part of the reason I'm here for your first watch. Different life experiences, different brain wiring, things hit differently and what is unbelievable to you is very believable to me. Compared to how B5 normally delivers character backstory it is all very quick, and in your face, which is a detriment to it. With Ivanova it was something you saw part of her family situation, then you could subtly see how this might have affected her in how she generally interacts with others, and then you had the payoff. New casting, lots of heavy lifting and find out the backstory and get it's resolution in one episode, it's not very B5 (it's almost like, some other space TV show where problem & resolution often happen in the same episode). To me (and I see it in many other comments) it really has nothing to do with the 'I didn't say I loved her', that's a manifestation of the pain of the loss. It's too much, it doesn't make sense, your brain can go in 1000 different directions and if you go down an unhealthy route it's easy to fixate on irrational, stupid, inane things. There is a supernatural teen TV show that did it much better in the early 2000's (not saying which one as I don't know what you may have watched or will watch in the future) that does it so much better. But, I can relate to this too. He still grieves for his wife, they were apart when she died, he probably had to carry on doing his duty being out in deep space and having a crew relying on him when it happened, until he could be relieved. She wasn't there, and then she just... wasn't there and wouldn't be again. Nothing changed in his world around him, but everything changed for him internally. Probably very few, if any, of the crew around him at the time would have even have met her. Maybe I relate as I've had long distance relationships and whilst thankfully this hasn't happened, there have been everything is fine and then everything isn't moments - and you aren't even there to hold a hand, be a shoulder to cry on or try to actually do something (even if there is nothing to be done). Or maybe it's just brains being wired differently and reacting differently, I don't know. That feeling of powerlessness can be very overwhelming, and here the fixation is really on he cancelled their plans so that's why she went. 'I didn't say I loved her' is just him kicking himself in the balls for all his regrets, over and over again. Personally I don't find the writing sloppy, it's the sloppy execution due to necessity of execution in someone we've only just met and the convenience of wrapping it up immediately because we have to move on. But, I am glad for your reaction and it's differences. As I said that's part of why I'm here, ths is a show about characters and I know how I feel about them. I want to be challanged in my assumptions, to learn about how other people think, feel, react to the same things. One long theme through B5 is how people react to situations in the moment and what you THEN do can lock you in whole spirals of decisions (We've see that with Londo). In other fandoms I could imagine omg, outrage, someone doesn't love this one thing I love. I love the majority of responses in comments here, people explaining why they feel/see it differently, things they saw/understood that maybe you didn't (and lets face it, many of us have watched these a lotttttt of times) and wanting to talk about why they see it differently, to gain understanding not agreement. What an awesome community. (BTW, I never really bought into Sisko and his wife, it felt like being beat over the head with a plot point, but this is so stupidly a dumb human thing to be hung up on, it hit me).

[@d-five7265]

Without saying too much, Sheridan's feelings towards the loss of his wife will become more relevant as the story continues. MJS has a thing about the long story, and things from season 1 will still have a part to play in Seasons 4 & 5. Alot of the "Boring" filler episodes will contain snippets of things hidden in plain sight that will come back and smack you in the face later on.

[@dawg897]

yup the sappy romance TV writing of the time. what can I say, It focused grouped well for the era.

[@ethenallen1388]

1 I think what upset Sheraton was that he had taken for granted that he would see Anna again, despite humanity having faced extinction at the hands of the Mimbari a mere nine years before, in ADDITION to Anna's disappearance. He's not telling her he loved her during their last communication was the straw that broke him emotionally. 2 The fact that I have to tell you this shows what I consider a lack of sensitivity on your part. 3 Your insistence on stopping to say that the screenwriter should be barred from working demonstrates the very conduct you're accusing them of. If you want to provide constructive criticism, fine, but saying that someone should be stripped of their livelihood based on one and only one example of their work is NOT constructive criticism.

[@RichardWelty]

Natoth was recast. the original actress had reactions to the makeup; she stuck out the first season then stepped away.

[@nathanliteroy9835]

She didn't have reaction to make up though? From her interviews. she talked with an actor who played an alien regular in contemporary Star Trek and they told her to ask to to glue the prosthetic to her skin in different places on different days, because they had some either irritation or permanent damage from one place being used all the time. So she left before it all began for her

[@Janice4th]

@@nathanliteroy9835 I hadn’t heard that. It was too bad, because she made a great Na’Toth.

[@RichardWelty]

true, but Brown (Natoth #1) also has stated the makeup was an issue. since she only had a contract for one season, she opted out after that.

[@RuneJacobsen]

With reference to Sheridan's grief over Anna: You do not understand... but you will.

[@RuneJacobsen]

@@tulinfirenze1990 Haha, he will come around, I'm sure of it. Babylon 5 is an aquired taste for some, and the duo is getting there, one episode at a time. :)

[@LordTelperion]

Mr. Death.

[@algi1]

Making the thumbnail face watching every episode from now on.

[@Iymarra]

For sure... ;)

[@philipcomins106]

*Everyone is correct about Talia - she sees a reflection of Garabaldi's shooter. *You've said this a few times - it's not so much that there's been a casting change, it's just that Sinclair is doing SOMETHING ELSE .... right now. No comment yet about what that is :) *Ed Wasser as Mr Morden is fantastic. I can't say enough about him (he was always very nice in person as well when they used to have B5 cons). *Keep in your head that backstory about Sheridan's wife Anna. Just... hang on to it for now as a dangling thread. That kind that ends attached to sticks of TNT.

[@juanitajones6900]

I had just recently subscribed to this channel when I saw your reaction to Sheridan's continuing grief over his dead wife. I found it immature and arrogant. People react differently to loss. Just because you wouldn't react the same as Sheridan, doesn't mean everyone would react the same as you. I'm unsubscribing.

[@yodieyuh]

Good ups. Talia, explanations. Hair. Shadows. Stuff. Things.

[@exile220ify]

Without being too spoilery, your comments about the writing and your boredom with the whole dead-wife thing..... are gonna come back and bite you in the ass. :) Remember, this show leaves breadcrumbs that get picked up later. :)

[@hornorsilk2901]

Na'Toth is different as they have a new actress playing her; the original couldn't continue with the role (the makeup was the reason), and so this is one of the times they recast the character.

[@CareerKnight]

The makeup wasn't the reason, that was the reason his original aide had an accident. Na'Toth's original actress left to pursue other opportunities in film.

[@hornorsilk2901]

@@CareerKnight From elsewhere: Although Julie Caitlin Brown said that she ‘loved the character’ she decided not to renew her contract citing the makeup (‘My face was very sore from the makeup and I was afraid there would be permanent damage.’)." Yes, she wanted to do other things, but the makeup was a key issue too.

[@MrDdaland]

@@CareerKnight Exactly right. Mary Woronov couldn't use the prosthetics, so into the airlock she went. Caitlin Brown was a last minute replacement, and didn't have a contract beyond the first year. She chose other opportunities

[@darrinwebber4077]

The title of the first episode of each season is also the chapter title for the whole season.

[@MrDdaland]

Brent- Even though you think it was a bit much w the plot of Sheridan and his sister, it would be a good idea to keep this in mind moving on

[@murkeyhollow]

It's never a good sign for writing when someone say something along the lines of Hello big brother

[@nathancline4000]

The Shadows are a specific race. They also have others (like Morden) who are agents of theirs.

[@Nikioko]

If that isn't an outright spoiler...

[@nathancline4000]

Not sure what you think it spoiled. That's all been shown on screen already at this point. Doesn't say anything about their goals or anything.

[@philippschmidt80]

I love how you roast JMS's writing, it really can be quite bad in certain situations. I don't actually mind Sheridan seeming more concerned with how his last conversation with Anna went than her being dead, that's not uncommon but I think the scene is just awfully written, I think JMS is not the best dialog writer, he tends to give characters long exposition heavy speeches that are awkwardly worded. Often I thin of Babylon 5 as the "great story, awful dialog" show.

[@percysowner]

Yeah, JMS is not a perfect writer. But give him a great actor and he can write one HECK of a speech!

[@simongiles9749]

He tends towards the theatrical than street-realism. Which is fine, if you choose to buy into the comvention.

[@MrDdaland]

You have to have some context- A- it helps establish a LOT about Sheridan - why he's so driven B- it "plants a seed" for the story to follow

[@ambientnature862]

This dude is just a star trek fanboy......

[@hornorsilk2901]

no, he is more than that -- he is a good commentator, with his own views and opinions; the B5 community is better than insults like this

[@Nikioko]

Babylon 5 works different from Star Trek. Star Trek is a utopia o a better mankind. Babylon 5 is the same mankind as today, set into the future.

[@ambientnature862]

@@Nikioko I think we all know that... 😆

[@Nikioko]

@@ambientnature862 Star Trek fanboys like Sheldon Cooper don't.

[@ambientnature862]

@@Nikioko yea but he wasn't all that bright as far as science fiction goes... 😆

[@EvieDoesYouTube]

When someone you love dies you do dwell on the last things you said or didn't say to each other. Subbed at the start, unsubbed by the end.