Babylon 5 | S3E10 - Severed Dreams: Part Two | Reaction

[@SgtSplatter782]

"why not? only one human Captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me! You are in front of me!" and that is the single greatest line in Scifi ever.

[@BadgerAhsavarak]

I still get chills every time

[@weirds0up]

Delenn’s speech before seeing the Grey Council “I served the Council for sixteen cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him. I held him when he died; his blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips. You will step aside in his name and mine, or in Valen's name I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them! Move aside!” Runs it close

[@reverance_pavane]

"If you value your life, be somewhere else."

[@BabylonLurker]

Both G' Kar's and Delenn's speeches are very passionate. Those two Delenn-speeches have an intensity, Delenn is not someone to mess with! G'Kar's are more quiet,in their intensity, but no less powerful.

[@themisspultone]

Iv been waiting to see her reaction to this scene :D

[@doltsbane]

30 years later and it's still a punch in the gut when Ivanova looks around and sees the Churchill with flames pouring out of countless hull breaches ramming the Roanoke.

[@ciaranirvine]

Delenn arriving and her "Why not?" speech is probably the single greatest moment of awesome in all of TV sci-fi

[@jj-sc1kq]

agreed

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

That and G'kar's freedom speech

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

Others have mentioned that Mira Furlan grew up and lived in Yugoslavia even into the first parts of the civil war. When she read that speech, she asked Joe, "So when did you live in Yugoslavia?" "The problems of others are not our concern." The scorn in her face on that line, Mira only had to think of the UN and its ignoring the issues in her home country before the violence and even after.

[@melissamenchaca9121]

Was searching the comments for this one

[@karry299]

>UN and its ignoring the issues Until the USians came and murdered everyone.

[@OpenMawProductions]

She nearly weeped at one of the last conventions talking about coming to the United States and acting, and meting the Babylon 5 fans, she said she felt as though she had lost one family and gained another. Such a beautiful and gentle soul. Her death hit me a lot harder than I thought it would. Seeing her as Delenn, you can see so much of Mira in Delenn.

[@BlooAku]

Watching people see Severed Dreams for the first time will never get old.

[@marksterling8286]

I remember the first time I watched it, the look on J.S. face then the second wave arrive and the additional jump gates open. Utter despair, but then followed by Delenn’s speech. What a roller coaster.

[@Nikephorus]

Severed Dreams is still to this day one of the best episodes of any science fiction series I've ever seen.

[@nigelk1293]

Awesome episode still gives me chills

[@brucegoatly]

@@marksterling8286 We were in the States with my wife's sister when this first aired. My sister-in-law had never watched the programme but sat through it with us. Delenn's 'Why not?' speech had her cheering along with us, and she was hooked. Why not?

[@joehealy6376]

I am really envious of watching other first time watchers. I was gob smacked and I was force to first watch it on a grainy 7inch black and white in my break room at work on break. I nearly had a fight because my workmate wanted to watch a DS9 episode.

[@MdGuardian1032]

Rest in peace Mira Furlan; she was the heart and conscience of this show; Delenn saving John's ass is one of my top five moments of the entire series!

[@Mauther]

It's hard to indicate just how big a shock this episode was at the time. Episodic TV shows dominated the airwaves. The rule was you could shake the boat, but never flip it over. You could threaten major changes, but you could never deviate too far from the status quo because what if people missed an episode, they'd never know what was going on. You could have standoffs like the EA Fleet showing up and demanding they surrender, but you couldn't have full fledged revolt. Even something hugely successful like The Next Generation's Picard/Borg cliff hanger was resolved in a few episodes and every thing essentially returned to normal. But to have B5 actually shoot it out with the EA Fleet was massive.

[@themisspultone]

resulted in me doing my darndest to not be working on Wednesday at 5:30 or double/triple checking the vcr programing. No way I was missing a thing

[@TPBurrow]

@@themisspultone I stubbornly refused to answer the door once when B5 was on...resulting in my neighbours flat being flooded due to my faulty boiler, but I did watch B5 uninterrupted:)

[@zachkucera3793]

I was exhausted after this episode. There was so much here and so many ramifications for the story arc. And, at the time, the CGI was stunning. A truly wonderful piece of television.

[@stevenlang90]

B5 was the first TV show to do this.

[@IanJefferies]

Very much this. Once you noticed the reset taking place in Next Generation it felt like even something good happening to a character would be reversed by the end of an episode so it wouldn't impact the next. In part I always thought this was driven by the US ratings system: several new episodes when the ratings were being tracked, and repeats of episodes from the earlier part of the season until the next ratings sweep. The writing for each episode was such to introduce sufficient information "in situ" to give context and understanding for the remainder of the episode. Londo having trouble with Narn security being the perfect example here. Much better than the "previously on..." style, which was only used for stories that were genuine two part episodes.

[@Payne2view]

"If you value your lives, be somewhere else", is the best line ever.

[@ObeMossop]

Best line on sci-fi by an utterly amazing character

[@Tilion462]

Yeah.. all the clark-allied captains getting the brown alert at Delenn's Shining Moment of Awesome and having to come up with 'ooh, I left the oven on!' 'darn, better go I have a dentist's appointment...' 'err... my cat is sick!' is quite the thing.

[@crawfb5]

Awesome indeed, but personally I'd have to give the edge to another pre-battle speech made by another character down the road a bit. :-)

[@TheMsLourdes]

@@crawfb5 I know what you mean and by the gods that is a spine tingling, bone chilling, shit is about to go down moment of epic proportions. And I will say no more, squire.

[@fakecubed]

No. There are even better lines coming.

[@jeffburrell7648]

"Delenn is a force of nature." That is the single best description of her character I have seen. Hang on to the bar, the roller coaster has only gotten to the beginning of the loops and hair pin turns.

[@jonreese7066]

Id say mother nature Can be warm and wonderful as new spring Hot as burning summer Chill as Autumn Bitter as winter cold

[@xgropo]

The scene between John and his father is one of my favorites. This is a son saying goodbye to his father, and his father saying: do what you think is right. Powerful stuff. And thank you to JMS for trusting the audience to understand the gravity of the scene.

[@grayscribe1342]

'The Coming of Shadows' was one turning point of the show that makes you think that everything has changed. 'Severed Dreams" does it again. Always remember that at the time this show came out just the thought of a TV show changing directions like this was unthinkable. Doing it twice? Never. And yet, we have seen the hints that this show was different. We saw it with the death of President Satntiago and Delenn's change in 'Chrysalis', the endings of the episodes 'Confessions and Lamentations' (the extinction of the Markab) and 'GROPOS' as well as others. And yet, at the time you would never even guess the big changes ahead. You even see characters change. Would you have guessed this G'kar after the first season? Or the change of Londo? As for this episode? You have seen how a Starfury shoots down another 10 times in the introduction of season 3 and yet, just as many of us, thought it would be an isolated incident, not a full on civil war. We are even told that Babylon 5 as the 'last, best hope for peace' has failed and yet, we don't see this coming. Despite everything we see we thought the President Clark situation would be solved until we are reminded, that despite what is often shown in fiction, it's not just the Dictator himself that is the problem, but all the willing followers as well as the blind ones. Delenn threatening to tear the ship apart with her bare hands? You look at her in that moment and you believe that she can do it You don't question that this relatively small woman can tear a spaceship apart with her hands. When Delenn gets angry, there are only two places to be. Behind her or somewhere else. Never in front of her. If you are smart, you don't even want to see her this angry. Spoilers: There is yet more to come 🤣

[@suncore598]

Well said.

[@nessaarandur7740]

Yes. All of this!

[@locutus442]

I've always said that Delenn is scary when she is angry, and this episode was the first example of that.

[@BattlestarDamocles]

And both those episodes won the Hugo Award.

[@wongkit9579]

Last time she really got angry.... She nearly made the human race extinct. ☠️

[@exile220ify]

That look on your face when Sheridan announced B5 was seceding - priceless! This episode won the very prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, defeating "Independence Day", "Mars Attacks!", "Star Trek: First Contact", and the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" episode "Trials And Tribbleations"

[@walterbishop1697]

It's so long since I was aware of the Hugo awards, wasn't there another year where B5 had 2 or 3 episodes nominated?

[@exile220ify]

@@walterbishop1697 They were nominated for four, and won two. The pilot episode, "The Gathering", was nominated but didn't win. The season two episode "The Coming Of Shadows" (the one where the Centauri emperor dies) did win, as did this episode. Their fourth nomination was for the series finale, "Sleeping In Light". They didn't win the Hugo, but fun fact: the actual Hugo Award TROPHY that they won is actually on Susan's desk in this episode. :)

[@joehealy6376]

Babylon 5 is the only series to win back to back Hugo's.

[@exile220ify]

@@joehealy6376 Incorrect. Twilight Zone won 3 straight from 1960 to 1962. Star Trek won in 1967 and 1968. Doctor Who won in 2006, 2007, and 2008, then again in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Game Of Thrones won in 2013 and 2014. The Good Place won four in a row from 2018 to 2021. And The Expanse won in 2022 and 2023.

[@joehealy6376]

@exile220ify thank you for the information. I apologize for being incorrect. Still an amazing episode that deserves the honors it won.

[@DoctorHowTV]

"Always bring Delenn to a fight." The moments in this show are just amazing, one on top of another... it's an utterly brilliant show. So grounded in history and reality and character and politics and humanity and hope...

[@Norbert_Sattler]

That speech by Delenn to the Grey Council is so good because it's more than just acting. Having gone through something not too dissimilar in her home in the Balkans, that speech came from the heart for Mira Furlan. If it hadn't been for the darn staff refusing to break, she would have done it in a single take (hence the tiny smile you can see for a moment after the staff finally does break on the second take, after they sawed a bit more into it). To compensate for the staff that refused to break, Ivannova ended up breaking the lever for the escape-pod launch off during filming, but that was hidden by a slightly early cut. ^^ You can see both the staff and emergency lever shots in the bloopers. :D

[@MatthewStephensAU]

7:11 I think half the reason we've been waiting for this episode was because you hadn't seen that moment yet. The fans watched that scene so many times when news about Mira Furlan broke.

[@mayra3277]

I remember there being some B5 video, though I don't think it was that scene, where the channel owner commented on their own video a few days later - something like "I was wondering why the views on my B5 videos were jumping up. Then I heard the news." Another commenter here also mentioned that that scene is the most watched B5 video on KZbin. Now that I think about it... I guess I need to go watch it again.

[@snakesnoteyes]

From one B5 to another, thank you. Being able to take this journey with you is almost like watching it for the first time again. :)

[@damianmactavish6717]

I totally agree :)

[@themisspultone]

heck yeh, watching this reaction Im reminded of my own emotional roller-coaster when watching it all those years ago

[@FersusSwingo]

This is by far the best "second hand first time watching" as I like to call it. Whenever I find out that a colleague or acquaintance does not know B5 I ask them if there is any possibility to watch it together as I so crave this experience!

[@henrikherranen2610]

During the last quarter of a century, I have been able to present Babylon 5 to quite a couple of newbies. Some people I've lended tapes to. It was always equally fun to see how during the second season the speed of tape exchange increased. The last 2-3 seasons were invariably consumed in just a couple of weeks and they came each time with slightly darker eyes to get their new fix. Must be what drug dealers see, except no money was exchanged and the end result was a happy human being. Plus you get to talk again and again about what was so great in the last batch of episodes. Still, the best thing for me has always been to actually sit and rewatch the series with someone. I have had a couple of chances to do this during these years, and it's been a blast each and every time! I still have one newbie left. My youngest son is five now so he needs still to ripen for a couple of years before being able to understand The Story, but we'll definitely get there. (Today is going to be a big day with him as we will be watching for the first time a relatively well-known little scifi romp, rarely seen in its original form, called Star Wars. Despecialized Edition FTW!)

[@robertcartier5088]

@@henrikherranen2610 _"despecialized"_ Nice! ;-]

[@stevetheduck1425]

I hear it so often repeated about B5: 'why is the first season so c**p?' or 'why is it all stand-alone episodes?' Every episode in the first season introduces an idea, a technology, a person, a line of dialogue, even just a mention of a prophecy; ALL of which are vital to the entire rest of the series. A subtle and powerful achievement, to those that are able to notice, that rivals and sometimes surpasses such tales as Cloud Atlas, or ancient myths like King Arthur or The Water Margin. Other TV series aspire to, but few achieve such heights.

[@joshualandry3160]

That and the studio interfered with production in the first season to force stand alone episodes. The interference diminished until the 3 season when it was basically gone.

[@chrism7395]

I think it's safe to say that 7:40 is the moment every B5 fan punches the air! Fun fact: Sheridan's father is played by Rance Howard, father of Ron Howard (director of Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, etc)

[@petersvillage7447]

Funny, I always thought that guy was Jessica Chastain's grandfather. Easy mistake to make.

[@elcid5033]

We did watching with family, my brother at the time did not even liked science fiction that was the power of B5 it was just not science fiction also a hell of a good story.

[@jonjohns8145]

@@petersvillage7447 I believe you are thinking of Bryce Dallas Howard who is his granddaughter and an accomplished actress and director herself.

[@petersvillage7447]

@@jonjohns8145 I am, you're right. But I'm also referring to a joke that did the rounds a few years ago about how some people seemed to confuse Chastain and Dallas-Howard, as beautifully expressed in this song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6Gyk4afe62jr7s

[@LordPuki0001]

Fun fact, back in the mid 90s Ron Howard shot a Hagen Daaz commercial at my father's airport. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there as on that same day I was in upstate New York as an extra in the low budget Sci-Fi movie Absolute Aggression.

[@mapleavenue77]

Delenn's appearance still brings tears to my eyes.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

1:32 This scene is unbelievable both in the dialogue & the filming. The words so powerful & stunningly delivered & the filming done in a single edit (with only 1 cut as the staff didn't break because the cut wasn't deep enough for Delenn to snap it) which really showcases her acting ability. And we also get the speech she made when she arrived with the Minbari ships. Both bring me to tears every time, RIP Mira Furlan & thanks for these unbelievable performances.

[@DoctorWortspieler]

"Stand aside." The whole speech to the Grey Council. "If you value your lives, be somewhere else." Three of Delenn's most awesome moments, and they all happen in this episode.

[@michaelriddick7116]

"Always bring Delenn to a fight!" 🤣😂🤣 Yep!! :) "Why not?" I love her delivery! :D 😂🤣😂💘💗💗💪💪💪💪💪💪😎

[@Matej_Sojka]

As Garibaldi said, Minbari are genetically incapable of running from a fight.

[@Matej_Sojka]

As Garibaldi says, Minbari are genetically incapable of running away from a fight.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

For mira furlan (delenn )it was quite a journy as this show was filmed when her home country of yougoslavia was ripped apart by civil war.

[@vokhev]

Yeah, ever since I learned more about Mira Furlan's history, these scenes hit me even harder. I didn't think that was possible but there I am.

[@franknoge]

There are interviews w/JMS where he says Mira came into his office when she first read these scripts and playfully asked him how long he lived in Yugoslavia. The entire crew (actors, production staff, front office, etc) always ate a catered lunch together when filming, JMS had a habit of eavesdropping on conversations and dropping lines from real life into the script for the actors who said them.

[@marcusfranconium3392]

@@franknoge True , most of the characters where realy close to home to the actors. Garabaldi played an recovering alcoholic , but was in real life realy a recovering alcoholic and there where more less extreem examples but you get the idea.

[@BriDog420]

This is one of B5's greatest episodes. Delenn's speech, the space battle... The events themselves and the implications they hold for the future. But the one thing that always stands out is the Narn sacrificing themselves so the rest of the security forces can get close enough to stop the attackers.

[@jaywalkersunite]

One of the best episodes of science fiction. Easily top 5.

[@MMarin1983]

Interesting tidbit from behind the scenes: Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi) actually broke his arm during the battle scene so at the end of the episode he keeps his right hand in the pocket for that reason. They kept filming for a while though and when Zack helps Garibaldi to sit down after the fighting is over and the helmet drops, his hand is pretty limp for a reason and the look on his face is genuine. Obviously hospital would've been the correct choice right away but according to JMS: "Jerry was determined to do it, and more time would've been lost arguing about it than it took to do the takes."

[@socratesrocks1513]

Not quite. Jerry had broken his arm because a stuntman had gone the wrong way and Jerry tripped over him. The director asked if he was OK and Jerry said "I think I broke my arm." "How do you know?" "Because I'm either going to throw up, pass out, piss in my pants or all of the above." "Well, we've a problem. Someone forgot to turn on camera B." (which was Jerry's camera) "You didn't get ANY of it?" "Not a bit. D'you mind doing it again?" So they strapped Jerry's arm to the gun and they went for it again... And the SAME guy fell the wrong way a second time, Jerry went flying and he broke his arm in a SECOND place! The director goes up to him. "How you doing?" Jerry's pale, sweating and in a LOT of pain. "Not good. I'd like to go to hospital now." "There's one more shot, when Zack lowers you to the ground?" "Yeah, yeah!" "And keep that EXACT look!" If you look at Jerry's wrist, it's already swollen up like a balloon and Zack is VERY careful lowering him because he really wanted to make sure Jerry wasn't hurt again. According to Jerry, the guy who drove him to the hospital had a bit of a criminal record. He'd really found himself working on the B5 set and turned his life around. Nevertheless, when they pulled up, all the cops saw was a beaten up white guy being driven in a flash car by a guy with a criminal record. They go up and Jerry says, "It's ok. It's ok. Yeah, he did beat me up, but he was kind enough to drive me to the hospital before stealing my car." Whereupon he walked inside leaving the poor guy to deal with the police. Thanks to a few calls back to the studio, it was all sorted out, but the guy went in, found Jerry and said, "I'm gonna break every bone in your F****** body, man!" and Jerry's all "It was just a joke!" Imagine the comeback if you tried something like that now! Sheesh! This is the story as told by Jerry at Wolf: The Alliance convention in Blackpool.

[@steveaustin2686]

The scene with Jerry Doyle's hand in his pocket was filmed before the action scene where he broke his arm. it was just a lucky accident that Jerry had his hand in his pocket for that scene. It also ties into a line in the next episode that jms wrote long before Jerry Doyle broke his arm.

[@socratesrocks1513]

@@steveaustin2686 Given Jerry keeps his hand in his pocket far longer than usual for him, I don't think that was filmed before. Further, I remember Jerry pointing out the reason he kept his hand in his pocket was to hide the cast. Are you remembering from being on the set? If so, Jerry misremembered.

[@steveaustin2686]

@@socratesrocks1513 jms comment from when the show aired, from The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 "Severed Dreams" page. "We shot that last scene with Garibaldi *after* we'd shot the sequence showing his injured leg. We don't shoot in sequence. So we had to cover it in the next episode."

[@socratesrocks1513]

@@steveaustin2686 Although, given Joe thought Jerry insisted and it was, in fact, the director who pushed him, that might not be correct. Joe was in the building but not usually on the set (on the day I went he didn't come back until after shooting finished).

[@adampoll4977]

The writing on this show was SO good, especially when portrayed with the conviction and grace of Mira. That 11th hour arrival and her perfect threat give me goosebumps every time!

[@Psi105]

People say Marvel has a great cinematic universe, But Marvel doesn't have jack shit on Babylon5/JMS when it comes to creating a lived-in cinematic universe

[@CaptLoquaLacon]

Marvel has an advantage in that it is essentially refined from decades and decades of comic book stories - they can plug and play various bits they've had written for a long time with subtle tweeks to keep the cinematic continuity. I'll be honest though, I actually prefer the X-Men franchise, despite having a few bad films.There is a grit and integrity with the X-Men, their great villain is almost heroic but for his complete lack of compassion for anyone not of his kind, and there is a resonance to the conflicts. I find the MCU spectacular, but empty

[@Orimthekeyacolite]

MCU comes out of the oldschool comicbook franchise, so it's not exactly a fair comparison. JMS work is rather in one league with Tolkiens, Martins, Herberts universes.

[@moreeyecandy]

Agreed. JMS did it first in American TV. European countries did it well before B5 but they were mostly book adaptations with a definitive beginning middle and end with the support of their stations so didn't have the curveballs JMS had to contend with. Kevin Feige deserves massive praise as well since he took it to movies a whole different media with even greater hurdles than JMS faced with TV. In short, European TV novel adaptations, JMS and B5 TV, and Kevin Feige and the MCU movies can collectively take great pride in what each contributed.

[@bcukdannage]

Worth noting JMS actually has a bit of involvement in the MCU. I saw his name in the credits for Spiderman's latest... which was a pretty damned epic movie itself. :)

[@kudukilla]

@@bcukdannage He worked with Marvel Comics 2001-2007 writing some Spider-Man books even before the MCU and the Tom Holland era.

[@graemepotter2504]

What amazes me isn't just the historical parallels. It's how it seems relevant it is now.

[@adambrown3918]

So happy you've come this far. I think you now really understand why B5 fans are so damn passionate about the show. You're one of us now! No going back, Medusa. 😊👍

[@DavidBrown-yd9le]

Chanting One of Us, One of Us, One of Us

[@tommihelenius2128]

I don't "understand" reaction videos, I never care about reaction videos. Your videos about B5 remind me of my reactions, back in the day, and those of my Nerdicus Iuvenis few years ago, so these are a real delight.

[@KeenanV]

The most incredible thing about this show is that it actually continues to get BETTER from here. This would be the high point of about 80% of all TV shows. This show is such a masterpiece

[@HankD13]

I have been awaiting impatiently for you to reach this point. Thank you - worth every moment. It still has so much to offer, and I am looking forward to seeing my own delight reflected. Its nice to see something you appreciated so much being shared by somebody to finds it equally wonderful. Magic.

[@johnsmith8906]

"If you value your lives, be somewhere else"...Possibly one of the more bad ass lines in B5 history.

[@KorAsek453]

I think you mean one of the MOST bad ass lines :P

[@falxonPSN]

Perhaps you meant... "in all of TV history." 😀

[@christianemden7637]

@@KorAsek453 even “one of” sells the lone short. It is every time the first line that come# to mind thinking of this show. There are many great and memorable lines, but this one beats them all by leagues. Ivanova has so many of them, and all of them are great, but nothing comes close.

[@claytonbrownenglishandhist7770]

I love how you are so deep into this. You wear your love for the show, the story, the characters on your sleeve.

[@rolandogamez]

Sheridan's react when the jumpoints are opening on top of them is beyond priceless. "I fucked up. I bet wrong and I'm taking everyone with me." He deserved an Emmy for that.

[@timbmusician]

I never noticed until years later that when Delenn breaks the staff and drops it, it doesn't make a wooden sound. That was metal! 🤯

[@johnbarleycorn_]

Something I had to have pointed out to me relates to the scene where the Narn are pouring in to deal with the breaching pod. They just seem to be lining up to be shot and it looks like shoddy tactics, but they're acting as canon fodder to allow the people behind them to get into the room and get under cover. That they'd do this willingly shows how much influence G'kar has with his own people.

[@admiraltee]

Yes, this part always gets to me. They're deliberately throwing themselves at the boarders, regardless of their own safety. Many of these Narn aren't even soldiers. It's a powerful often misunderstood scene.

[@SirWussiePants]

I can never watch this show for the first time again but the best reaction videos allow me to do just that vicariously through you and I love every moment of it. You are a joy to watch and your reactions bring me close to the joy I had watching this show during the original run. Great job

[@jacksmith4460]

The Writing in B5 is just off the chain, its simply Beautiful

[@pauld6967]

It is nice to hear you saying thank you to the person who put you on to this show. However, I am certain that he or she is like the rest of us; we are happy to have you in the B5 fandom and by extension, the new people who are discovering B5 through your KZbin channel.

[@alangarde2928]

It really is a delight someone discovering this show with the same breathless excitement and awe we had. This reaction series is a delight and I really hope others are finding it through it.

[@pauld6967]

@@alangarde2928 Yes indeed.

[@Matej_Sojka]

What I love about this episode is that despite the Grey Council members wearing cowls Delenn knows them well enough to know exactly which one said stuff like "Problems of others are not our concern." and throw it directly to their face. BTW the scene where she broke the staff has a cut because Mira Furlan went with great energy by the script, channelling her own experience with western society ignoring conflicts on Balkan where she is from... and then the staff proved too sturdy for it to break. There is a blooper on You Tube where she goes all wrath of god on everyone and then gets stuck trying to break it. They had to saw it down a bit more for her to continue filming.

[@Nergalsama01]

"Then the council should be broken! >:/! " *hrrrrmmmmm* *cracks up* XD

[@wanderingthedesert5599]

I'm trying to think of which Council member she was addressing when she mockingly threw the words, "The problems of others are not our concern". Then she goes on to say that if Warrior caste won't fight the rest of the Minbari will. I think those two sentences indicate that she was talking to a member who is part of the warrior caste, and I'm not mistaken, the only person we know of who is of the Warrior Caste thus far is Neroon and given their history thus far, it makes the most amount of sense.

[@falxonPSN]

@@wanderingthedesert5599 yup. Also sets up some more spoilers between them for later.

[@cyriltournier5784]

@@wanderingthedesert5599 but Neroon is also someone that is open to persuasion should you insist enough. There should be 2 more members of the warrior caste on the council.

[@wanderingthedesert5599]

@@cyriltournier5784 I don't think that we ever meet all of the Council members. I only remember four total and that's excluding from when Delenn was on the council. Neroon replaced Delenn, and then there is Rathenn (religious), Coplann (Warrior), and I *think* I know who one of the other two Warriors are but it's characters that haven't been introduced yet. I mean it could've been Coplann that she chewed out.

[@Kian2002]

Historical parallels for a television series written in the 1990`s; "...the Humans have an expression: what is past, is prologue. The Minbari also have an expression: what is past, is sometimes future." A very clever pastiche of Tolkien's collective works mixed with epic themes of human history.

[@henrikherranen2610]

Dear Medusa, You are not the first one being overwhelmed by Babylon 5. Not by a long shot. Now you understand what we felt a quarter of a century ago. I will shamelessly copy below the following text I originally wrote in another post: During the last quarter of a century, I have been able to present Babylon 5 to quite a couple of newbies. Some people I've lended tapes to. It was always equally fun to see how during the second season the speed of tape exchange increased. The last 2-3 seasons were invariably consumed in just a couple of weeks and they came each time with slightly darker eyes to get their new fix. Must be what drug dealers see, except no money was exchanged and the end result was a happy human being. Plus you get to talk again and again about what was so great in the last batch of episodes. Still, the best thing for me has always been to actually sit and rewatch the series with someone. I have had a couple of chances to do this during these years, and it's been a blast each and every time! I still have (at least) one newbie left. My youngest son is five now so he still needs to ripen for a couple of years before being able to understand The Story. But we'll definitely get there. (Today is going to be a big day with him as we will be watching for the first time a relatively well-known little scifi romp, rarely seen in its original form, called Star Wars. Despecialized Edition FTW!)

[@vorbis4860]

I always cry at this one (among other episodes), not because it's traditionally emotional, but it's more like what you feel when you see something perfectly executed. It's like that thrill up your spine, but all over.

[@72tadrian65]

It is a joy to watch these reactions! There are definitely a ton of historical parallels that are happening to this day. Great job!

[@Eldormain9]

This episode is one of my absolute favorite from this show. The battle, Delenn showing up, the Earth ships protesting once end then not batting an eye at her counter argument. They just tucked tail and left. Great stuff. Then the moment between Sheridan and Delenn. And the applause from the residents of B5. Your reaction right at the end of Part One just before you cut it was brilliant.

[@LuciousDeMorte]

I have been watching your reactions to B5 since the 1st season, and this is the episode I’ve been waiting for you to get to. Thank you, for doing it justice

[@firefly24601]

That is one of THE BEST Babylon 5 reactions I've ever seen, online AND IRL. Signing up for Patreon when my next paycheck comes in.

[@CaptLoquaLacon]

And so ends the 3rd part of what feels like a 2hr movie in the middle of the shows run, and it hits on every beat. I know JMS is following your reactions and I bet he will have loved the final section of this video (from about 10:00 onwards) when you break down some of the things that are making you absolutely love the show (like those of us who have seen it before often did if we made it through some of the choppier parts of the first season). I wish I had the money for Patreon, I would have enjoyed seeing how you reacted to the sacrifice of the Churchill, and I hope you're considering doing a "watchalong/premiere" when you get to Sleeping In The Light for your Patreon backers, no spoilers beyond saying it finishes the series brilliantly

[@admiraltee]

JMS is watching her videos?! Really? Amazing!

[@badgersgetabadname]

Love this episode so much. The moment the Narn go piling in past the B5 security teams to go front line always makes me tear up. No fear, no anger just doing the right thing despite the people pointing guns.

[@ExcelsiorsDomain]

I knew she'd get upset at that, some must be sacrificed, if all are to be saved....

[@badgersgetabadname]

@@ExcelsiorsDomain Just brace for Londo`s tale of the Battle of the Line

[@aaronmarks9366]

@@badgersgetabadname Even as a young kid watching the Battle of the Line montage, I sobbed.

[@badgersgetabadname]

@@aaronmarks9366 "we do not expect you to survive, we do not think you will come home. But for every moment we delay their advance"... Every time

[@aaronmarks9366]

@@badgersgetabadname omg why 😭 And visually, the scene of families on Earth watching the newsreels of Earth defense forces getting annihilated, seeing their loved ones killed protecting the homeworld, and crying in despair... I tear up just thinking about it. What an incredible show.

[@sturm375]

Just to echo what other commenters are saying, as well as your commentary, that moment where Delenn "saves" Babylon 5 is one of 3 moments in the show that over the course of 5 seasons make it my most re-watched TV show in my library. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that at least every other year since the box set releases, I've re-watched the entire show. There are still 2 more moments ahead and I am not spoiling them other than to say that the series finally is IMHO the most emotional finally of any series I know of. Something that still sticks to me, and maybe more for us Americans than other nationalities, much of the politics rings true. I remember the parallels between this show and the war on terrorisms. The Patriot Act, "Enemy Combatants" all through our conflict with Iraq and Afghanistan. There were a lot of areas where, though I would not say our leader was evil like in B5, the effects were no less evil. Regularly sacrificing civil rights for the illusion of safety from the bad guys. This series hits home on so many levels, I am so glad you found it and are reacting to it. :)

[@suncore598]

The fight no one wanted has arrived. Delenn to the rescue. One of her finest moments on the show. A good TV show knows how to steal your heart and never give it back.

[@timtoner]

Your funniest reaction? "Where the hell is she going?!?" Oh, you wait. Mira Furlan was an amazing actor, and her delivery to both the Grey Council and the Earth Force loyalists gives me chills. I know people have been pressing you to publish Bab5. I think it was because this was SUCH a pivotal episode, and we couldn't wait to see your pure joy. Don't worry about us. We'll wait!

[@Shad0wchasers1]

So nice to see a reactor who isn't just invested in the emotional impact of the performances, but is also following the plot. This show is one of the shows that really defined years of my life as I followed it and traded tapes to get episodes I'd missed in earlier seasons... and seeing someone your age feeling just as much impact from the story as I did when it first aired fills me with indescribable joy. I can't wait to see your reactions to the series as the story continues to unfold!

[@shaggycan]

Rance Howard who plays John's father is Ron Howard's father and Bryce Dallas Howard's grandfather.

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

I am convinced John's dad knew what John was going to do. He knew what was happening, he had been a diplomat, and he knew the kind of person John was.

[@johnrust592]

Your facial reactions when Delenn arrived were priceless. Probably the most single badass line in TV history. "If you value your lives, be somewhere else."

[@kurtjk01]

One of the small details of this episode which disrupted a trope and made the universe feel lived in was the part where one person said, "Nope, not gonna help you secede," takes off his headseat, hands over his clipboard, and leaves CnC. John Sheridan is a great leader, but it is unreasonable that everyone goes along with a rebellion. Brothers fight brothers in civil wars, after all . . .

[@aaronmarks9366]

That's a detail I've always loved too, because I really think this is the only time I've seen that trope be subverted like that.

[@j.roseallister6840]

I was so excited when I saw this episode title come up in your reactions! Severed Dreams is one of the best episodes of all time in one of the greatest shows of all time. The emotion in your reaction is exactly how I felt when I first saw it. It's amazing to see a first-time viewer appreciate all the facets that make this such a gem of a show. Thank you for posting!

[@Elorrah]

I love this episode. Not just because I'm a Delenn fangirl and this episode has two of her best scenes in it. This episode was a huge pivot point for the series. We knew it was coming, we just didn't know when. Even further to that, when the "good guys won" moment arrives, JMS whips the rug from under us and says "nope, have another wave of ships". Then here comes Delenn with (as it's been mentioned previously) one of the best lines ever spoken in a sci-fi show. I absolutely still get chills when she does that. She enters Babylon 5 space and just takes up ALL that space. Your "I love her" line resonated with me so much.

[@Brooke-rw8rc]

"Do not force us to engage your ship." "Why not?" Single best retort on television. It's been about 25 years now and I STILL get chills from Delenn's speeches in this episode! The big drama was all about Earth and the station, but the theme of this episode is absolutely "Do not fuck with Delenn." That woman Gets. It. Done. Also, judging by your sorrow, grief, and admiration of the Narn security charging headfirst into the line of fire, I think you picked up on the other theme: the Narn and G'kar are ALL IN on working with and for the humans and the dream of Babylon 5. Thank you for watching this show. It's one of only 3 shows I ever actually enjoyed enough to purchase on DVD (along with Stargate and Firefly), but seeing you watch it for the first time is a new and special way to see it again! Your reactions are filled with emotion and you pay so much attention to detail! There've been a couple times where there was behind-the-scenes knowledge to share after you watched an episode (for instance, look up why General Hague REALLY wasn't in this episode), but I don't think I've ever seen you fail to understand something or miss finer details because of how attentive you are. You capture both the joy and suspense of seeing it for the first time and the knowledge and appreciation to detail of someone who has watched it through multiple times, and it's so wonderful to experience both perspectives through your journey. Thank you so much! Also, I started crying, too, just as you did! 😅

[@nathanyoung5530]

I was waiting for this episode. Your reaction did not disappoint!

[@deftrick]

In the show full of great episodes, there is a reason that fans of the show routinely rate this one as their favorite episode of the entire series. The emotional rollercoaster culminates with the high of Delenn coming through the jump point and saving the station and then the very next thing you see is the ramifications of the battlefield where soldiers on both sides are bleeding and dying in front of your eyes. It's an emotional gut punch that can only come from a master Storyteller like Joe Straczynski. Just a Top Notch episode where everything is perfect...

[@totomomo18]

I love this episode. This is Delen shining episode :) . I love the phrases "Why not? Only one Human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else!" :)

[@Adamas97]

This is my favorite episode! I've watched it dozens of times.

[@TPBurrow]

There is a little gasp for air you do at 7:16 that made my whole day, I love that reaction to this scene, I had it too over 20 years ago when this first went on TV. Delenn is such a badass mo fo and the white star becomes such a symbol of her authority with the future yet to come. Please keep watching and avoid all the spoilers, well done mods, for policing these comments so well:)

[@kenlinke6834]

I've watched this show since the beginning. Seeing your reactions has given me a whole new enjoyment. I know this video is 2 years old, but I thank you for sharing your reaction

[@joannecunliffe8067]

I watched this with you with tears pouring down my face. This episode is just one of the finest SciFi programs ever made. I have watched this so many times - Babylon 5 is by far my most favourite SciFi series. When Delenn appears with the Mimbari ships, I cry every time - with relief and the steel in her voice! You can imagine all the Earth ship Captains would need a change of underwear! Utterly captivating. Medusa - it was a joy watching this with you!

[@ivaneames4354]

Rule one of B5: NEVER NEVER NEVER piss off Delenn.

[@darthphayde508]

I've lost track of how many times I've watched the series at this point, but episodes like this continue to pack a punch, even though I know everything that's coming.

[@steveaustin2686]

Cpt Hiroshi and the EAS Churchill, along with the Narns rushing to battle, still get my every time.

[@steveaustin2686]

@Random Platypus with Internet For sure.

[@Trek001]

You: They're kamikaze pilots Video: *Cuts to the only Japanese character in the episode flying her ship into another*

[@Frankjc3rd]

Who says there's never a Minbari around when you need one?

[@steveross2649]

Great reaction, really enjoying your videos :) Babylon 5 is far and way the greatest sci-fi TV show ever made. Where the others like all Star Trek shows have single self-contained episodes or a few linked episodes, B5 has a FIVE SEASON story arc. Even the remade BATTLESTAR GALACTICA pales to insignificance against this epic show. Looking forward to your next video, Thank You for making them. 😎

[@BlueBookGuy]

Seeing every B5 episode at the time of airing, and the amazing growth of the characters, was so amazing! knowing others enjoy and watch years later I am honoured. Severed Dreams was beyond my expectations. Glad you love it!

[@KBTibbs]

This is a lovely episode and reaction. I've loved Babylon 5 for a number of years now and watching your reactions, something new occurred to me this episode: The Shadows are moving all over the place. At Earth, they're involved with the government and Psi Corp. In the Non-Aligned Worlds, they're making defense agreements and encouraging war. With the Centauri, well... they're doing so much. It seems to me they must be working on the Minbari as well. Not as much and certainly not as well, but they must be behind some of this. I'm reminded of Draal's first episode in season 1's _A Voice in the Wilderness_ when he said, "Our world is changing, Delenn. I'm not sure when it began. Perhaps the war, perhaps the death of Dukhat. Perhaps the darkness was always there and we refused to see ... you can hear it in their voices. An anger beneath the surface, a dissatisfaction. A self-involvement above the needs of others. It is not the same world I was born in, Delenn. Not the same world at all." The Shadows probably can't manipulate them as easily as they can the Non-Aligned Worlds or the Centauri, but I think they're influencing them to remain cold and uninvolved.

[@melissamenchaca9121]

Good gravy I’m going to have to lock myself in the bathroom to watch your reactions to some of the later episodes. Every time you cry I start crying. I’m going to be BALLING.

[@matthewteague623]

"Yes"

[@melvynneijman6555]

best way to give a show his rewards are your emotions it calls up for no reason was a beautiful thing to see how you reacted

[@andybrown4284]

Ever since series 3 started Delenn and the mimbari arrival was one of the main reaction I've been anticipating. It's one of those iconic B5 rollercoaster moments topped off by a strong female character that puts to shame the modern iterations who are given strength by virtue of all around them being useless lumps giving a speach that starts with the simplest of questions "why not?"

[@xaviergillis932]

"I don't know why i cried" Well I have cried during EVERY viewing of this episode for more than 25 years. Hell I well up just thinking about Delenn's speech, which is the "squee" moment I alluded to think I mentioned way back in season 1. Also the music here is epic and you know how I feel about B5 music. BTW, is that a glimpse of your shrine wall in the background?

[@barbarabaker1457]

Same

[@dire_5]

Seeing my favorite show of all time through new eyes is so amazingly fulfilling and refreshing. Thank you for doing these reactions, and I am so glad that you're feeling the same things we all did when we saw this for the first time.

[@JohnKish]

I remember watching this episode when it first aired back in the 1990's and giving my boss a copy of the VCR tape I made of it to watch cause I had never seen anything like it before. This is one of the greatest shows to have ever aired and yet it was difficult to find and record/watch back when it was first on TV being syndicated. I recently rewatched the entire thing on HBO Max and was blown away on how good it was and also at how many episodes I missed primarily in season 4 and a lot of season 5 because of the whole syndication thing. Your reactions are priceless. Hang on to your hats as its only going to get more intense as it goes on.

[@Dresdenandmousedad]

I stumbled across this today. Seeing you watch my favorite series ever brought a smile to my lips and tears in my eyes… it was amazing getting a chance to see fresh face experience this story for the first time. Thank you!

[@toreyzyre]

Delenn's "Why not?" speech is my favorite line in this whole show. This show and this episode were massive when it came out. It flew in the face of everything in television at the time. Whoever gave the green light for everything from this episode on was incredibly brave. JMS is a brilliant writer, hands down I'd put him up as one of the best of all time. Those of us who know where this show goes, likely agree. For my bet, Babylon 5 isn't just a tv show, it's a modern legendarium of sci-fi. You're spot on with Delenn, and G'kar as well, Andreas and Mira are truly the heart and soul of this story respectively. I know this is a year old, but there's not many reactors for this. As I've started my own rewatch, I found your channel and am now checking your reacts after each episode. I grew up watching this show with my family, I forget why we even decided to start watching it. Midway through the first season, we'd unplug the phone and watch this during dinner every week. Nothing else mattered for that hour of the show and however long we took to discuss it afterward. It was one the few times in my dark childhood I had a family, and felt safe in those moments. It pulled us together, in spite of everything else going on, and helped keep us all sane. Taught me a lot about life as well, both then, and now equally. Glad it's still making the rounds all these years later, and people like you are still experiencing it with fresh eyes.

[@chriscoombes6751]

A few days late to the party, but SOOOOOO happy to see your reaction to this episode at last!!- one of my absolute favorites & one of the first I stumbled across on TV when first aired here in Blighty! I loved it so much, I immediately started buying the videos (wasn't even dvd then!) in my local MVC to catch up on what I'd missed! The episode if memory serves won an award(s), beating some big names too I believe- but for me it was just an absolutely EPIC space battle, the likes of which hadn't been seen on TV sci-fi at that point, what else could a sci-fi loving teenage boy ask for?? 😂

[@davidblauyoutube]

Your enthusiasm is intoxicating! Thank you for allowing us to join you on your journey.

[@jerrycallaio5130]

Just Beyond Excellent; I Still Cry Every Time I Watch This!

[@michaellahanas2038]

The secession speech is one of the hallmark moments of my childhood, informed the direction in politics I would grow to take, and STILL gives me chills.

[@Tedinator01]

“Always bring Delenn to a fight.” Best advice ever!

[@nicksmith3245]

"We" and "Here!" You are so well and truly involved - I love your emotion; still does it to me too!

[@stephenkoehler4051]

I've loved watching your reactions and falling in love with this show all over again. It's clear you love the show as much as I do. I spent all night watching your videos and couldn't stop. It was special and I can't wait for the next one.

[@fakecubed]

As somebody who was late to watching B5 myself, about a decade after its run, it's great to see somebody come to this show even later and find it just as mind-blowing and emotionally impactful as I did.

[@Bucketroo]

Oh my god the look of relief on your face when Delenn returns with 4 cruisers at the end is absolutely priceless! I am enjoying these so much and you're making me relive the shock and feels of watching the show for the first time, even though I know what comes next. Thank you!

[@Davegvg3576]

Thank you for allowing us to take the ride with you. It's been incredibly fun watching you emote through this series. I know its time consuming to shoot and put up, but its really fun for us to watch you.

[@corbanb5]

The biggest success of this show is it's ability to draw you in. The writing, acting and realism just makes you invested in it. Taking our history and then remaking it based in the future with characters that you would support, follow and fight for. Really enjoying these videos but I will just say that some of the speeches coming are some of the most passionate and moving I have every heard or read. Simple brilliant and beautiful stuff.

[@quentinmichel7581]

@medusa cascade I must admit to getting a significant amount of joy watching your reaction to this wonderful show. I felt the sane as you when i started watching it at its first run in 1994. I felt an attachment to the characters that ran deep and has remained in the intervening years. And I agree about the dialog... superb writing delivered by fully inhabited characters.

[@christophelombardi7810]

What a high octane episode! And right on the back of another high octane episode! There is no let off and I'm not surprised your heart was thumping like crazy! It seems that every episode is another turning point at this stage, but yes, Delenn arrival, her words, the expression on her face, everything about her, THAT is the high point of the episode. She is... magnificent!

[@themisspultone]

ahh this ep. is a masterclass of B5, the build up from episodes ago, the music in time with the events tugging our hearts in directions. the acting, the well the everything. also I just love how much MC ships John and Delen :D

[@chrisanderson6950]

Love these reactions, always enjoy the joy and worry on your face... Reminds me of what it was like when I first saw it back in the day... And the "Why not" scene gives me chills every time

[@BabylonLurker]

Another excellent reaction. You may have noticed, but here goes: The past three episodes is essentially a three-part episode, last frame of one leading into the next. JMS has his own name for an episode like this: "WHAM! episode" WHAM!, indeed. You are absolutely correct, the historical parallels are almost too close for comfort, that is the genius of the whole story. History and myth blended. Yes, this looks like the beginning of a civil war. Small piece of trivia: The actor playing Hague had been double-booked - he also had a recurring role on Deep Space 9. In the blooper section of the DVD set there is a very nice clip "addressing" this. In addition, there is another blooper with Delenn breaking the staff. As usual, don't watch bloopers until you have watched the full season. Indeed! Both G'Kar and Delenn have the best speeches in B5, maybe in all of science fiction. Don't cross any of them!

[@themisspultone]

imo one of B5s strengths has always been the way JMS handled the actors. Totaly sucked that Robert Foxworth was already booked, but even if Hagues death is off camera it still has impact. The characters reaction to this event turns it to a gut punch of a reminder of mortality.

[@BabylonLurker]

@@themisspultone Absolutely!

[@danielyeshe]

Ironically his character in DS9 was also acting against the president. Although in this case it wasn't justified.

[@andrewjames1190]

This is the one I was waiting for. I knew there would be tears and when they would fall. I cried along with you have to admit. B5 somehow manages to swing your emotions from high to low and gives this emotional effect. More to come!!!

[@philliplozano7587]

I remember this episode in particular absolutely had me in fits the entire time when I saw the first broadcast. Whenever I re-watch it, I cry at all those spots you did.