Babylon 5 - Death of the Emperor Cartagia

I was to be a god, you understand...
Episode 4x05 "The Long Night"

[@jalarasstudios414]

I have to give credit to the actor who played Cartagia. I can't remember a single moment where I didn't buy the fact that this guy is absolutely insane and full of himself (not a good combination.)

[@Anthyrion]

It's the same thing like Game of Thrones. Hate the character but respect the actor :)

[@Frankie2012channel]

It's the sign of a GREAT ACTOR. He really sells the villainy of the character. Bravo!

[@ThyFacelessOne]

The absolute wonderful part of Babylon 5 is that all actors are extremely suited to their parts, even the minor actors, like G' Lan, Cartagia, Refa, Minister Virini, William Edgards, Alfred Bester. All actors important to the story are simply brilliant.

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

Kinda like Trump.

[@alienrenders]

Refa was great. Hated that guy. So good lol

[@herrzimm]

Best part of this story is next scene with Londo and Vir. Vir drinking to get over the fact he killed someone, and Lindo actually telling Vir that it is good he has to get drunk. It shows that Vir is still aware of his actions and the costs in personal ethics, unlike Londo who after successfully plotting against his own Emporor is completely sober and without remorse or regret in any way.

[@actionsub]

Furst's acting in that scene was a fantastic piece of work. Vir was a guy who was non-violent at heart and generally at ease with the world except when Londo did something to screw things up, and it was reflected in his resting happy face. That face was completely gone in that scene, replaced with a clenched jaw and the realization that what was left of what innocence he faced life with was gone forever, and he was heartbroken trying to forget that he'd taken a life.

[@SantomPh]

considering that Londo is usually the one getting drunk this was part of his shift into "burdened hero" phase of his life. He would later have to get drunk just to find his own willpower again after being bonded to a Drakh, so alcohol pretty much lost its effect on him

[@Krahazik]

I also love the little speach Londo gives when he compliments Virs lack of corruption even after spending time with Londo and other halls of Centory politics.

[@Ruosteinenknight]

@@actionsub JMS later actually said that idea of Vir killing Catarina came from Stephen Furst. He said that it would have more impact than just having Londo doing it. JMS gave it some thought and agreed.

[@matthewcaughey8898]

I think Vir was the better emperor. The ogress ones do not seek power it’s thrust upon them. And the good ones realize what they can do with it

[@ganados0]

I like how the Centauri minister appoints Londo, it's like him saying "YOU got us into this YOU get us out!"

[@raven4k998]

remember what you see here today for it is the stuff of legends Vir kills him after Jicar breaks free from his restraints and Londo fails to kill him you have to admit it is the stuff of Legends

[@hydewhyte4364]

And the look on Londo's face .... 'you bastich'

[@DavidKnowles0]

All this, all of this is your fault and now you get to clean it up.

[@patrickstivers7387]

Honestly, I think it was more "You got us into this, you are now stuck dying with the rest of us." I don't think that minister had any delusions about what Centauri Prime's chances were in not getting either turned into a debris field by the Vorlons or a dead husk of a world by the Shadows.

[@protorhinocerator142]

But Londo already knew the prophecy that he would one day become Emperor. This couldn't be too much of a surprise. He also knew Vir would succeed him, which he did.

[@Lava91point0]

The way Londo looked at Vir after the deed was done, i can imagine him reciting his words *"The quiet ones are the ones that change the universe... The loud ones only take the credit."*

[@edthejester]

And what an elegant way to downplay a powergrab lies in those words. It's like saying "you should pity me for advancing while you did the hard work". Of course in Londo's case we really should because of his death should he become Emperor but hey.

[@wumpusrat]

@@edthejester I think it was also kind of sympathetic. He knew Vir was, at heart, a good and honest person, and was already struggling with the idea of killing Cartagia, even though the man was a psychopathic monster. But Londo was going to do it himself. Now Vir has to live with the guilt of killing him, and Londo knew that that would be so much harder on poor Vir than it would have been on himself.

[@johannrufinatscha4210]

@@wumpusrat It also shocked Vir into true adulthood and responsibility. He had been a kind of overgrown naif, a man-child (not in a bad way) prior to that.

[@Firehawk376]

@@johannrufinatscha4210 No he wasn't. By this point he'd already organized a full on underground railroad for the narn, at great personal risk. You, much like everyone else, underestimate Vir. Remember, Vir is the only person to ever get *exactly* what he wanted from the Shadows, and he would go on to be the one to liberate Centauri Prime from the Drakh. He is the most dangerous person on B5, and all the more so because no one sees it coming. Vir is that most unpredictable and dangerous kind of person: An honorable idealistic patriot. By such men are the fates of empires decided.

[@johannrufinatscha4210]

@@Firehawk376 all true. Perhaps I did. And the reason for that is because Vir was one other thing - a genuinely GOOD man. Such men usually don't get as far as Vir did with their essential decency unscathed. Vir was one of the lucky ones.

[@olegvorobyov3475]

There is actually pretty perfect explanation why G'kar managed to break the chains. Knowing their Emperor is a maniac nobody followed his order to replace the chains. This is how legends are born.

[@verios44]

Fish Owl my thinking was that Lando knew the chains would be replaced, so he had the replacements damaged, not the originals. Either way the wording in the script makes you think things just went sideways.

[@SantomPh]

Or G'Kar is possessed of strength that surpassed the strength of the chains.

[@xxlCortez]

G'Kar being freakish strong was established early in the series. That, along with her desire to free his people can serve as an explanation.

[@iamnotanuggetblackhart5103]

All chains are welded together at each chain loop where the open part was, its likely that the welding metal was different and had less strength, therefore he was still able to break out.

[@Janoha17]

@@iamnotanuggetblackhart5103 A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and a link is only as strong as the weakest weld.

[@morbius109]

RIP Stephen Furst, you moon-faced assassin of joy.

[@trinitymplayers]

Actually, there is a subtle clue that it will be Vir who will actually turn out to be Cartagia's assassin unstead of Londo whom we were all lead to expect. Although it's easy to miss, if you carefully look at Vir standing some distance behind Londo in the shot of Cartagia when he stating the formal charges against G'Kar, you see him darting a couple of unusually dark looks at the Emperor as though he's already contemplating killing him.

[@steventaylor6212]

He is much missed.😥

[@karenmarieh.j.3842]

Crap ... I didn't know he was dead.... edit: I didn't know how many of them were dead. I also thought that Mumy and Jason Carter had died.

[@mr6johnclark]

Rest in peace "Flounder"

[@leslieshafer6343]

@@karenmarieh.j.3842 Thankfully those 2 actors are still alive & working (primarily as voice actors).

[@cepson]

Londo was always the most interesting character in Babylon 5, in my opinion, and his relationship with G'kar is was always the most intriguing part of the series.

[@Bfdidc]

+cepson Definitely agreed.

[@Cult1022]

+cepson Agreed. Though I after having it watched like 10 times over, I absolutely adore how the mighty G'Kar is forced to become humble, and raises out of the flames like a phoenix, to become a spiritual leader who doesn't need weapons anymore to crunch any resistance.

[@mpittard21]

Its a story of two reversals. You sense at the Start that G'Kars people are on the rise and have beaten back the hated Centauri and then suddenly boom that era is over and the Narn are left with nothing until they .. save themselves in a sense by joining the Alliance. And the Centauri who started poorly, rise up like a Phoenix and then it all is built on lies and crashes down and at the end of the series they are a doomed race. I think it mirrors the characters exactly. G'Kar no doubt ends up far more powerful than he began, but also less likely to use that power and Londo ends up broken and alone and the leader of a dying race.

[@Taospark]

Straczynski himself said that in many ways, Babylon 5 has been all about Londo.

[@sparrowlt]

The Centauri are a quite odd race because they were seen as in decay and weaked by the start of the series.. but in reality they were second only to the Minbari.. only very indulgent and with a quite benign and diplomatic emperor aat the moment (Durham). But they still hold the tecnological and industrial advantage potential over all races save the Minbari..and the moment they raised they became a nearly unstopable power .. Something similar happens in The Lost Tales .. by the end of the series the Earth Alliance has surpased the Centauri in power .. however the former wich are with lots of trouble.. in the future can easily raise and put the EA in serious problems or even beat them

[@RDMacQ]

It's amazing to think that in the original draft, JMS intended for Londo to kill the Emperor, but later revised it to be Vir. It feels like such a natural choice, such an obvious creative decision in retrospect, that adds to the shakespearian nature of the entire story.

[@tauridborn2777]

I've heard a rumor that Vir's actor had the idea

[@Landis963]

@@tauridborn2777 According to JMS, it was Vir's character who had the idea, during the writing process, not Stephen Furst.

[@bb22602]

@@Landis963 Yes, JMS said that he was undecided, and then Vir stepped up and said, "Let me do it." so he did.

[@diamondvikingcrypto5369]

An inconsequential actor playing such a big role in the destiny of a planet.

[@benjaminbierley2074]

Vir is interesting. He and Londo are two sides of a coin. Londo had terrible luck and had his hopes crushed, while Vir had at least good luck but held out hope. Vir gave Londo hope, Londo gave Vir lessons in the harsh realities of the universe, and ample warning in avoiding some of the pitfalls.

[@GusMcGuire]

Emperor Cartagia cast such a long shadow over the whole B5 series and in the minds of its fans that it's amazing to think he was only in 5 episodes. Also amazing to think that the guy is a lawyer now.

[@werwolf6746]

0:40

[@sword4005]

imagine going to court and he your defense lawyer

[@biocapsule7311]

Babylon 5 have 2 very good, very different antagonist. Cartagia who the more you see and learn about, the more terrifying. And Clark, who you only ever truly see, is his reach, and it is also terrifying.

[@rfletch62]

Geez! If he was my lawyer, I'd hope he wore the same suit and haircut.

[@jakubmike5657]

Jeoffrey " I am the worst king imaginable" Emperor Carthagia "hold my cup"

[@meliodashewitt9547]

Holds his golden chalice

[@scottmantooth8785]

and my twisty straw

[@mr.k418]

Jakub Mike Joffrey

[@jonreese7066]

Cartagia: why are you holding my cup? Guards execute him! smile.

[@AlexJones-ue1ll]

@@jonreese7066 I dont like how you are looking at me. Guard? Poke out one of his eyes! What? Do I look like I care which one?

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

The plan failed twice; Cartagia replaced the chains and knocked the needle out of Londo's hands. But G'Kar was stronger than solid corillium, and Vir was a moon-faced assassin of joy.

[@Onigirli]

lmao

[@robertnett9793]

As someone above pointed out: It's quite possible that people, for some unspecified reason might have misinterpreted or ignored the Emperors order. Maybe in the hopes of ... something interesting happen.

[@tsm688]

@@robertnett9793 the emperor's guards were the most absolute loyal of people, in a society that had telepaths

[@robertnett9793]

@@tsm688 True true... but then consider: Guards are always at their best - shortly after something happened. They are the same prone to routine and slack as any other Uber-elite guard anywhere in the multiverse. Also - just because the Emperor says something aloud in the throne room - doesn't mean the order isn't going through a chain of courtiers and aides. And as we see, there IS a plot to assassinate the Emperor right under his nose, it stands to reason that somewhere along the chain of command to the guards, there was a little.. unfortunate gap.

[@danielhaire6677]

With G'Kar: Never doubt the strength of a man who has absolutely nothing left to lose and is trapped in death ground. You never know what they will be truly capable of. The sad part is that this was Vir's first time to truly kill someone. I think a part of his remaining innocence died on the same floor as his Emperor.

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

"It is *as if* his hearts just gave out." "As if," said the spy chief! Who was in charge of knowing everything going on in the court! Well, I think I know who gave that poison needle to Vir & Londo.

[@takeshihiraoka5310]

Personally, I think the actor who played Cartargia was brilliantly derranged.

[@avataranimefan01]

takeshi hiraoka he was a vet of soap operas. Brilliantly deranged is their specialty.

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

@@avataranimefan01 He left acting and went in to Law. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Krimmer

[@ciaranirvine]

@@ChannelReuploads9451 I can see why lawyering made sense, but damn that guy could have played insane villains forever :)

[@lblake5653]

Anytime I can hate a character the way I hated him...they havedone their job. Great actor.

[@arneruppach1540]

He Made centauri prime great again :)

[@TheHeartMachine]

Londo - when he wanted power he couldn't get it; when he didn't want power anymore he was thrust upon it with tragic result for everyone involved.

[@tanall5959]

As he said in his farewell to G'Kar. When he had no power, he had all the choices he could dream off. Once he gained power, he had no choice at all.

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Londo started as a hated character and by the end you had to feel pity for his tragedy.

[@Solitaire001]

@@MichaelClark-uw7ex I didn't hate Londo. To me he started out as comic relief and ended up a tragic figure. I've always thought of the following saying when it comes to Londo: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

[@Krahazik]

Even after he realised his dealing with Morden were bad in hindsight, as Garabaldi put it, he was on a runaway horse and was hanging on for deer life afraid to jump off, so held on tighter.

[@TheStreetad]

Londo and G'Kar's arcs were the best thing about the show. In the pilot, G'Kar was every former victim who has found suddenly the shoe is on the other foot, visibly smirking as he issued unconvincing denials of the terrorist actions of his regime. Londo was an amiable, washed-up drunkard, assigned to Babylon 5 because the Centauri had no faith in the project and everyone back home thought he was a bit of a joke. Where they both ended up is astonishing.

[@bluedotdinosaur]

You keep what you kill. The purpose of assassinating Cartagia was to install an emperor who would save the Centauri people. While Londo took the throne before Vir, it was Vir, the inadvertent assassin of Cartagia, who would become the savior of Centauri. And it was also appropriate since Vir was perhaps the ONE Centauri who didn't -want- power. He didn't want to be emperor. And thus, he made the perfect emperor.

[@mackenzieseib8943]

"those who seek power are the same people that should never have it in the first place"

[@rizon72]

I don't doubt Vir is the one who becomes the savior of the Centauri. But without Londo I don't think Vir gets the chance. I think Londo knowing Vir will be emperor, becomes the lightning rod himself to protect Vir from the allies of the Shadows.

[@mikegallant811]

" Great Men do not seek power, it is thrust upon them".

[@wambutu7679]

The moment Londo received control of the Centari republic is when he realized he didn't want it. It was brilliant acting without saying a word.

[@McRocket]

At it's peak, IMO, B5 was sci-fi at it's very best.

[@McRocket]

@SolidSnakeOil I - sadly - agree completely. Sci-Fi was getting better and better and then it's like it hit a wall in the late 90's. But then, so did popular music (IMO)...but that's for another video.

[@sdfried4877]

Luckily that peak lasted for 2 years.

[@salzab]

@SolidSnakeOil Give The Expanse a try. Its not the same as B5 but it does rank on some great levels of intrigue and factions, along with (apart from story driving 'mcguffins') an interestingly more technologically grounded view of us in space. Its got characters with interesting moral challenges/agendas and such. Takes a few episodes to get into but its the same way I gave B5 a chance when that was first about :D

[@NZBigfoot]

Watching this back when it aired.. the 'Ive had his chains replaced' was an oh shit moment. Honestly thought well RIP G'Kar.

[@travcollier]

It was certainly a possibility. B5 didn't shy away from very bad things happening, especially that season.

[@ZhengIsRight]

1:30 Carthagia's thoughts: "Aw shit, totally chose the wrong day to celebrate the No Armed Guards festival"

[@danielburgess7785]

Hubris has killed the great and small.

[@kyrozudesoya1829]

"We are yours to command...Prime Minister." The way his face looks as he sees them all bow before him: "aw shit"

[@AndrewJamesWilliams]

The Centauri, the Romans of space. Right down to the political assassinations and having mad Emperors.

[@finrodbrs]

Well, more like the Napoleonic French of space.

[@hagamapama]

The Napoleonic French were trying so hard to be the Romans that it's something of a distinction without a difference

[@GaldirEonai]

They're every decadent empire past its prime rolled into one.

[@biocapsule7311]

@@finrodbrs Well the centauri is base on the padishah empire, which is space roman.

[@borisgalos6967]

Of course. All the races in Babylon 5 were based on the great Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations of the transition time. That's why JMS picked the name Babylon.

[@ExploreGamesAndMore]

Londo knows he is going to die when he becomes emperor, and he dreads every step he unwittingly takes towards it.

[@tnerbtnerb5136]

Explore Games I think by this point there's nothing "unwitting" about it. "Inexorably" is probably the word you were looking for.

[@Ruosteinenknight]

Daniel Roberts At first he only knew that G'kar will kill him. He later had another propechy made by one the late emperor's telepaths that both Londo and Vir will become, but only after other is dead. They immideatly thought this meant typical Centauri politics of assaination taking place, rather than succession.

[@paulsmith5752]

"You will be Emperor... " (Londo nods) (turns to Vir) "... and you will be Emperor." Londo and Vir: O_o

[@christosvoskresye]

But here's the thing: For all his ambitions, for all his flaws, Londo was a true patriot. He ordered Vir to kill him when he thought it would make a difference.

[@sparrowlt]

he was...and i dont think he cared much about dying ... what troubled him is that he knew from dreams and so that something awfull would happen in between in that patch... he probably was the guy who wanted less to be emperor and he knew he was destined to be..but horrible stuff would happen along the way up to the end

[@MichaelClark-uw7ex]

Londo was by far the best developed character, the lust for power and the tragic consequences along with the interactions with G'Kar and Sheridan were so well crafted.

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

Londo got his final victory though. He outmaneuvered the keeper, laid the foundation of the rescue of his people and for one last time, saved people who he probably considered friends. He also made good with gkar in that final moment.

[@alanparsonsfan]

There were many wonderful plots, sub plots and character arcs throughout the series. But it was essentially a Greek Tragedy, about someone (Londo) who wanted the right thing, went about it in completely the wrong way, and he lost everything that mattered to him.

[@borusa32]

Londo wanted the centauri republic to recover its power rather than seeking personal aggrandisement. In the end he was just as doomed but at least he took Morden down with him.

[@1987MartinT]

"Remember what you see here today, fore it is the stuff of legends." Well, he was right. Just not in the way he thought.

[@Alknix]

Citizen G'Kar, Breaker of Chains.

[@SeraphSeph]

Alknix the realest og to ever live.

[@margaretgarside5617]

The Original!

[@weldonwin]

Evidently, kerillium chains are garbage

[@ghuegel]

If he's the breaker if chains, why didn't he hop on a Shadow ship and burn Narn to ashes?

[@selderane]

@@ghuegel Because he wasn't written by a moron.

[@XanthIllion]

I love the look on Londo's face at the end there. He knows that if he becomes emperor, he will die. And yet, through repeated actions for the best interests of his people, he keeps finding himself one step closer to the throne.

[@catsofmortontexas]

If? There was no If. And he was going to die eventually regardless.

[@Sargonarhes]

Speaking of which, on X or Twitter whatever it is now. JMS has confirmed when Londo was told not to kill the one that is already dead, which would be either Morden or Sheridan, JMS has said it was Morden. Had Londo not later killed Morden they could have used him as a bargaining chip and avoided Centauri Prime from being burned.

[@catsofmortontexas]

@@Sargonarhes Maybe that's what JMS intended, but he simply didn't write it that way. Maybe he meant to, but then why not actually do it? Morden didn't die before Londo killed him, but Sheridan did. I also don't see how Morden could have been that valuable in a trade since Z'ha'dum was evacuated and then destroyed, and having Morden still alive wouldn't have stopped that either.

[@eggynack]

@@catsofmortontexas Pretty sure Morden did die, just as an essential part of being a proxy of the Shadows. Broadly, I would say that the show isn't precisely written in either way. The prophecies are vague, even in retrospect, and so the question of whether Londo ends the show redeemed is ambiguous. Which is neat, I think.

[@catsofmortontexas]

@@eggynack Well, one reason for things being "vague" was that JMS didn't know exactly how things were going to go, what with his "escape hatches" for various characters etc. I can easily see that JMS might have intended for it to apply to Morden somehow because of something that wound up not happening for some reason. As a result, it actually applies to Sheridan, no matter what JMS might claim/have claimed. And it's all part of how I can easily argue that the show turned out better than it would have if everything had gone exactly according to JMS's original plan.

[@scruffylookingNerfherder5742]

We are yours to command Prime Minister... And with those words Londo's final chance to avoid his doom was gone.

[@Paerigos]

It reminds me: "Lando, we should not move hastily..." Lando: "No we shouldn' t... unfortunately WE HAVE NO CHOICE! Vorlons are on they way here!" that was another gem....

[@suchiuomizu]

Why was Lando Calrissian on Centauri Prime?

[@bloodysimile4893]

​@@suchiuomizuHe got promoted to high rank military positions, but Lando stated he received the positions he received so everyone can keep a close eye on him becausehe grow so powerful.

[@vidmonger]

Watched Vir go through serious changes after that. He was no longer the shy, timid aide he used to be. Even in the B5 books he was even more battle hardened after killing off some of the Shadows "allies". The ones Mr. Morden referred to when Londo blew up the island of Selini.

[@verttikoo2052]

Books 😮 I didn’t think about that 😮 Me go buy right now 🎉

[@JoshSweetvale]

THIS is how you deal with a Joffrey.

[@grimsoncrow]

Isn't this pretty much how they dealt with him?

[@efraim3364]

Vir Cotto, the Kingslayer

[@toffeecrisp2146]

yeah, but in honesty, joffrey had the blood running out of his every orifice and the clear agonising pain, which is what you want in a king killing poison to produce, especially if that king was a monumental fucking arsehole.

[@captin3149]

Toffee Crisp Well Londo and the other conspirators weren't interested in making the Emperor suffer. They just needed to remove him, in the fastest and most untraceable way possible. There's a lot to be said about expediency over satisfaction.

[@DrewLSsix]

Cap Tin. Yes, further destabilizing the empire just to be vindictive is less wise. But such motives are the reason the world of GoT is the way it is.

[@stephenjdutton]

I just love the look on Cartagia's face when he realises who it is that has just killed him.

[@Self-replicating_whatnot]

Nothing beats improvisation, especially a well-prepared improvisation.

[@CPT_Nelson]

This right here is why B5 was so good and spoke to me on another level. We were treated to an amazing story that left us wanting more until the very end where we all asked, while grasping for air, ''but what now?''.

[@Krahazik]

B5 had a lot of moments like this.

[@robertbusek30]

The fact that G’Kar broke the chains anyway makes him truly legendary.

[@tonyennis1787]

Chances are they weren't replaced.

[@SuperSoundtracks]

@@tonyennis1787 I honestly think it suits the entire show more if they were in fact replaced, but G'kar mustered every last bit of his strength and he broke them anyway, for the future of his people. It's such a poetic idea, and falls in line with his character.

[@LordElpme]

@@SuperSoundtracks the fact that they focused on the link seperation where you can see it had been cleanly cut, shows that they were not replaced. Either someone else wanting Emps to die had influence over the guards, or Londo's man intervened. Either way, it was clear the chains with the sabotaged links were still in use.

[@danielhaire6677]

Given the fear that Cartagia was probably inspiring with his madness, they likely were replaced. However, he underestimated someone like G'Kar in that position. Nothing to lose and in a Death Ground situation (Sun Tzu reference). There is absolutely nothing to hold him back from the full unleashing of his strength, focus and will. Three things that G'Kar always had in ample measure.

[@jasonlane1528]

I remember watching this when it premiered. The entire scene was expertly written & acted but the music struck me the most, especially the short rising & falling violins during the Emperor's crescendo & end. 2:31 Just amazing.

[@Pagansong]

I love that it was Vir

[@davidking7205]

poor Vir felt huge guilt over this ... didn't he even start to drink! LOL

[@Aivottaja]

I think the fact that Vir had to be the one to do it is the only sad part :(

[@spaceflight1019]

That's because he killed Mrs. Hufnagel!

[@somebuddyX]

Originally it wasn't Vir! QUOTE: "He's surprised me on many levels. Suffice to say that in the first 6 somewhere next season, there's something I'd slotted for another character to do. I'd intended for that character to do it right up.... until the page before that other character was going to do it, when Vir stepped up in my brain and said, "No, *I* should do this." And as soon as he said it, I knew it was right. You'll see. It was gonna be Londo right up until 2 pages before the scene...then Vir said, "Nope." www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/071.html

[@snidelywhiplash]

10/10 on the "St. Elsewhere" reference.

[@fernandogarajalde4066]

You never know who your real friends until one saves you from death by a madman. Glory to future emperor Vir!

[@Bfdidc]

Poor Cartagia. He wanted to direct the play but everyone went off-script.

[@vguyver2]

+Bfdidc Meh, was a terrible script he had outlined. better for the actors to walk off set than have rotten food tossed at them.

[@trav2will]

lol. That was an awful script Cartagia had penned.

[@jalarasstudios414]

He had no idea of the power of improv!

[@BelieveNoGod]

Cartagia, reminds me of islam :(

[@margaretgarside5617]

Sometimes he does come across like a egomanical theater director, doesn't he?

[@MilanKazarka]

ah.... the 90's ;_; childhood, watching Babylon 5 afternoon before doing homework

[@amarath84]

when you have two brilliant actors working together, you need an equally brilliant enemy, and he did do that. (brilliantly)

[@Kellnaved]

He forgot to mention that the royal physician also died tragically by accidently cutting his throat wile shaving.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Yeah, when Cartagia told Londo that he replaced the chains ... I seriously feared that the whole plan would fail.

[@Foebane72]

"Remember what you see here today, for it is the stuff of legends" - Yep, the Narn will certainly remember G'Kar breaking his chains and instigating the freedom of his people from such a tyrannical subjugator as Cartagia.

[@nathanielhellerstein5871]

"It is *as if* his hearts just gave out." "As if"! Said the spy chief!

[@fyrestorme]

"We have just come from his majesty's bed; The emperor is dead" Now let us break bread, before we tread, the long road ahead, of us.

[@hiveinsider9122]

I want to party instead.

[@weldonwin]

"Vir, come here and bring me a Beer!"

[@vinnynj78]

Well said

[@BuriedFlame]

_"No more rhymes now! I mean it!"_ _"Anyone want a peanut?"_ _"Gah!"_

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@hiveinsider9122 No no, you got nukes to go and plant on a island. An it best to be sober when handling nukes, so I hear anyway.

[@satanclaus8381]

The instant G'Kar breakes the chains, Cartagia's smug look of a self proclaimed badass is replaced by the face of the scared coward he is down to the very depths of his corrupted soul.

[@Solitaire001]

He reminds me a little of Vegeta in "Dragonball Z." Usually, he is arrogant and certain of victory when going into a fight against an opponent he knows he can beat, but when faced with someone he knows will beat him he often runs.

[@nicholai40]

I love Vir. He always seems to rise to the occasion at the right time.

[@dumaskhan]

usually without his control.

[@kevinh811]

Who would have imagined Vir would save the Centauri Republic this day?

[@christopherg2347]

4:17 "Great men do not seek power. They got power thrust unto them." - Klingon Proverb.

[@RogueBoyScout]

"Eat At Joes" - Ancient Klingon Proverb I really hope that you are being sarcastic and witty. So hard to tell these days, as a majority of people's knowledge of literature and philosophy seems to be based on the great writers of Hollywood Hills circa 1990 AD onward... ;)

[@worldtraveler930]

Wow even after being choked Londo's hair popped right back into shape after quickly stepping out of camera shot for a couple of seconds. 😄

[@hakont.4960]

The only thing a Centauri noble fears more than death is to not look presentable at all times.

[@DavidKnowles0]

@@hakont.4960 An thus they always have a full team of makeup artist on standby, even when assassinating emperors.

[@hakont.4960]

@@DavidKnowles0 Well, of course, a mere assasination is no excuse to not look decent.

[@werwolf6746]

@@DavidKnowles0 Kill with style

[@-0rbital-]

Pretty sure he was based on the Roman Emperor Caligula, who was equally insane.

[@scotttild]

Centari republic was based off the Roman empire. The endless conquest was their downfall just like the Romans. They had very much the same government structure.

[@alanmike6883]

This is one of my favourite shows ever. Thankfully I have it on DVD

[@snidelywhiplash]

CARTAGIA: "You cannot break those chains, they are made of solid corillium!" G'KAR: "I beg to fucking differ."

[@Conahawk]

The complication of G'Kars chains being replaced is one if my favorite little wrighring touches in tv. It doesn't add anymore length to the scene but its a really good way to show how strong G'kar's will is

[@NathanielHellerstein]

Like a mom lifting a car off her kid.

[@francischambless5919]

Londo's realization that he's back on the path to not escape his destiny to become Emperor when he's appointed Prime Minister is sublime. Peter Jurasik nails so many emotions in this scene and the writing set the stage perfectly. Londo's character was a fantastic one to follow through the whole show.

[@skiptoloo9506]

Well, the Seer did say that him being Emperor was one thing that could not be changed.

[@cadman2300]

"I was to be a god, you understand. . . a god." And Londo thought Cartagia's last words would be "Lando killed me!"

[@bloodysimile4893]

Or Vir state Cartagia's last word would be mix up to said, "Kill Londo..arrghh."

[@mountainstartemple6041]

regardless of how much guilt Vir might have felt in the future,.... good job Vir!

[@bloodysimile4893]

Lando state that is a sign Vir is still a good person.

[@banananotebook3331]

Vir stabs the Emperor in the front looking at him, like a decent man.

[@ThatSlowTypingGuy]

G'kar: I can break these cuffs Cartagia: You can't break those cuffs

[@roguelead72]

Vir Cotto actually meant to stab the ceiling, but Cartagia dropped dead of a heart attack.

[@kelvinktfong]

Wedge Antilles holy shit

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

I doubt many got that Animal House reference. 5 years later, but well played.

[@07pollee2ndtime]

RIP Stephen Furst, :(

[@erikseidler133]

Wow I hadn't even heard about that.

[@charlesneely]

07pollee2ndtime what is about this damn show just about to all the male actors on it have died is there some kind of curse thrown this series or what? Too coincidental

[@hagamapama]

It's nearly 30 years old... actors who were middle aged at the time are approaching the end of their lives now.

[@theodoremastermind6898]

hagamapama what they weren't that old some were in there 40s 50s and others 60s they weren't that old. Look it up

[@captin3149]

'WERE' in their forties and fifties and sixties...Which means NOW they're in their seventies and eighties and nineties. It's not surprising that many of them are passing away now.

[@jasonlane1528]

This one scene came out ages ago and it still hits me like a sledgehammer to the chest. Just amazing.

[@alanparsonsfan]

@Jason Lane for me, it's when Londo confronts Morden, and finally blows up the island of Cellini to take the Shadows out: "I had the island evacuated during the night. A few stayed behind, to preserve the illusion of normalcy. They knew what was being asked of them..." And the utter despair of Ivanova, mourning her treatment of the man who died to save her life: "All he ever wanted was a kind word, a smile... AND IN TWO YEARS, ALL I EVER GAVE HIM WAS GRIEF!". Claudia Christian deserved an Emmy for that performance. Just about the most heartwrenching thing I've ever seen on a screen.

[@Karthos1000]

Originally, Londo was going to kill Refa, and at some point, someone (it may have been Furst) said... "why not have Vir do it?" After all it would have been just another thing if Londo had done it. But to have Vir do it, actually kill someone, and not just anyone; the Emperor himself! That had lot more impact.

[@Raguleader]

But yeah, Vir is played up as the token innocent in the Centauri court, and Londo feels a bit of responsibility both for properly developing him and trying to protect him from the worst excesses of court politics. And now not only does Vir have to deal with what he's done, Londo has to deal with how his failings led to Vir's actions.

[@AnonEyeMouse]

@@Raguleader Vir also adopts the monika of Abrahamus Lincolni to set up an underground railroad to get Narn's out of concentration camps.

[@LtCWest]

@@AnonEyeMouse Vir loved human history a little too much ^^

[@SantomPh]

Londo did kill Refa via the Narns. The Emperor's name is Cartagia.

[@johannrufinatscha4210]

@@AnonEyeMouse Should have been Harrietus Tubmani.

[@AWriterWandering]

3:50 everyone in this room probably knows, or at least suspects, that Cartagia was assassinated. But they also know he was a madman who had to go.

[@glenchapman3899]

Well that was pretty much Rome 101 lol. Or Russia 2022

[@aaronlobliner7402]

I honestly loved the way Jurasik handled being appointed Prime Minister. There is this little "minister..." murmur he does. It showed he had hesitance, I am assuming Peter ad libbed that, cause frankly when you watch this from a social dynamics perspective, in that room were the most powerful folks of the centauri republic. It was gonna be one of those 3, Londo, the guy on the lift, or the white haired "nothing but ruble" guy, as they showed the most leadership in the room. I also love how Londo took control once he became prime minister, dealing with the shadows decisively, coming up with a plan, getting the bureaucracy on board, executing it, granted the Morden interaction was a mixture of business and pleasure :). I had a situation where I had to take control of a dumpster fire, and I know what its like to walk into a room when everyone is like WTF, and you gotta be the man for the moment. So Jurasik did a good job channeling that weight there.

[@sonofthemoleman]

I loved Babylon 5 as a child/teen in the 90´s, the looks, the feel, the story, but wow in retrospect it shows production value, like a schoolplay, but the story was top on!

[@pendrake40]

Could you imagine what G'Kar was thinking with the chains..? Chains that G'Kar (probably) thought were still rigged for him to break? (1:05) ~ [G'Kar]: (internally) *_Nnnggghhh!!!_* ...Man, I really must be out of shape! *;p*

[@mountainstartemple6041]

This whole scene once they got out of the room went down-hill quick when Cartagia hit Londo!... the syringe knocked out of his hand. Londo now captive "no ...you can burn... you can burn with Centauri Prime, you can burn with the rest , burn with the cities, burn with the temples, you can burn with all of them!" turns around ... stabbed in the hearts by Vir! Vir , a true hero of his people even if he was guilt-ridden because of it!

[@tonyennis1787]

Did vir stab him, or did the emperor run into the needle?

[@davejefferynf]

Impressive that he played Reverend Carpenter on "One Life To Live", then went on to play bat crud crazy Emperor Cartagia. The man has skills!

[@dorkfish1275]

This is one of many reasons why this show is my favorite sci-fi show of all.

[@catmandude1800]

I always saw many parallels between B5 & Lord of the Rings; Vir always reminded me of Samwise- so strong but so under-estimated!

[@hagamapama]

He started out as a Samwise, but by the time Morden was on the scene, he was making the transition to more of a Captain Faramir. At the end, Faramir was a much fairer comparison to what Vir became. An unheralded leader fighting the fight right in the teeth of the enemy, knowing the blandishments of the dark side and cheerfully refusing them all to continue the struggle.

[@margaretgarside5617]

Good point.@@hagamapama

[@protorhinocerator142]

Vir was the true hero. Londo simply carried out the plan that he almost botched.

[@PassportBrosBusinessClass]

GKar is a fucking badass

[@demarcusfaulkner7411]

This show had some brilliant actors. Cartagia was a very believable madman and mollari was a good example of the moral Patriot doing everything he could for his Homeworld.

[@dankuchar6821]

I always thought it would be better if he couldn't break the chains, but that he would just stand up high, drop down to his knees and snap the huge board across his back instead. Then swing those huge logs around while he's still chained smacking the bad guys in the head. That would have been an awesome scene!

[@Hot5six4231]

Annu Naki thats exactly my thoughts too, the narn are the freemen, while earth is something out of isaac asimov material, more so in the ship designs, the minbari are basically space elves battling ancient chaos evils akin to lord of the rings or more likely warhammer 40k's eldar I gonna say, its clever to mix these genres together and work effectively

[@TheBlekkis]

Cartagia and Joffrey's truly nailed the insane ruler bit, both childish, proud, cowardly and vicious

[@Tounushi]

I....can....break...these cuffs!

[@rwg6357]

you can't break those...HOLY ****!!!! 'gets decked'

[@mountainstartemple6041]

"you cannot break those chains .. they are made of solid Corilium! Well ... your Corilium supplier was pocketing some cash and supplying lesser quality pseudo-Corilium crap .... well it's too late now!

[@MapleDog]

You got that right Cartagia :Stuff of legend: G'Kar broke these allege unbreakable chains,and while at his weakest.

[@dumac6557]

MapleDog G'kar breaking his chains was powerful stuff. The whole scene with the emperor going from amused to terror beyond the abyss in seconds are worth it.

[@thomasfrazer8934]

He did it because he knew he could. Since he didn't know he couldn't.

[@jmr2408]

With the promise of a Free Narn once that Fruit Loop Cartagia was dead? How could he not?

[@davidhenderson3400]

I think some one went back after the guards replaced the chains and replace them aluminum. Remember Londo had lots of friends.

[@lovipoekimo176]

No, they were supposed to replace the chains with weaker stuff BUT Carthagia spotted them. Prior to G'kar walking in, Carthagia whispers to Londo that he had his personal guards (loyal only to Cartagia) replace the chains because they looked weak. So G'kar really did break the real thing, not the weakened ones.

[@Wolf359inc]

Such a great, revolutionary, show.

[@Synthonym]

Can we talk about how G'kar was told the chains were deliberately weakened, except they were actually replaced with new ones, but he still broke them like a fucking boss

[@roberthickson8471]

Just like Caligula, you can't kill a God - Oh, yea?

[@TheGoodLuc]

Puny god )

[@Sargonarhes]

Interesting you say that as Caligula was killed by his own Praetorian Guard that then installed Claudius as Emperor. And here we have lowly Vir that killed Cartagia when it was Londo that plotted it all out, and the royal court puts him right in position to be Emperor. Not exactly the same but similar enough to matter.

[@tenhirankei]

Nero and every other Roman emperor that claimed they were "descendants of the gods".

[@STSWB5SG1FAN]

Just like George Lucas described the main story and the prequels of _Star Wars_ as "the rise and fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker", you could think of seasons 2, 3, and 4 of _Babylon 5_ as "the rise, fall and redemption of Londo Molari".

[@101jir]

B5 has so many points of inspiration, almost positive that Caligula was the inspiration for Cartagia. There are so many other historical references in this show, I love it!

[@thcollegestudent]

Babylon 5 gets more real and more relevant every single day

[@bloodysimile4893]

It more like, People forget their history, and so History repeats itself.

[@clairestark9024]

1:30 "FUCK YO CHRILLIUM"

[@christosvoskresye]

This is what happens when the government contract for chains goes to the lowest bid.

[@iamnotanuggetblackhart5103]

I just realized how stupid Cartagia was here: He assumed the chains were SOLID metal and not welded at the open points. He IS right that the metal would be strong, but he forgot that the chains had welds likely of an inferior metal., hence why G'kar was able to break out of them.

[@davidhenderson3400]

I have to wonder if the person who replaced the chains was in on in. Everyone wanted the fool dead.

[@raymathews1474]

Call the guild for a common sanction, but for an important job you need the Moon Faced Assassin.

[@abcun17]

One lesson learned from "Babylon 5"... don't mess with Londo...

[@Krahazik]

Even worse than Londo, do not mess with Delen.

[@harvbegal6868]

I can't think of any other low budget show with such amazing actors.

[@morlock2086]

Londo starts out with no power and all the choices in the world. He ends with all the power he can imagine but no choices at all.

[@okramoffacebook1381]

He showed a good Impression of why Jamie turned into the Kingslayer

[@LuciousDeMorte]

The fact the actor that played Cartagia is now an attourney at law fills me with both joy and trepidation in equal measure.

[@Timrath]

It always annoyed me how the other Centauri don't have awesome hair like Londo. Everyone's hair was plump and saggy, even the ministers'.

[@contrapasta2454]

That's why they made him Emperor.

[@Jeng4280]

Timrath 😂😂🤣

[@kaesknacker2738]

Guess they were only secondary cast so couldn't grow their hair for the show.

[@ireneparkin3360]

The tradition was that the bigger the hair, the higher the rank. It was a Emperor who chose a style that he thought would bring him closer to his people, it's only a few people (like Londo) who stuck to tradition. So the Noble Houses were following what their Emperor was doing.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@ireneparkin3360 Ironically, the previous emperor had stopped doing that fashion as well. But, I also think it worth mentioning that Londo's hair was better than basically every Centauri, even before Cartagia and among those of higher rank (such as the prime minister that Refa had assassinated). Pragmatically, this is just because the wig of a main character was made better than that of guest stars (and I'm pretty sure at least a few of them were reused wigs).

[@davidking8585]

As much of a complete jerk that Emperor Cartagia was ....that actor who played him was bloody awesome! That character was such a well played character. I just love his reaction in this scene!

[@JH24821]

I like how at 0:48 even the Centauri guard looks shocked when Cartagia says "death by vivisection."

[@jeffreykielwasser3637]

This was one of my favorite series

[@davidking8585]

G'kar's anger and determination will break even those better replaced chains!

[@ginataylor6357]

The Centauri costumes are post-Revolutionary, and pre-French Empire.