Babylon 5 Newbies React to 3x9 | Point of No Return | First Time Watching

[@matthewteague623]

_"There's always a choice. We only tell ourselves there is no choice to comfort ourselves with a decision we have already made._ _Now, if you understand that, there's hope for you. If not..."_ - Lady Morella So many people need to hear those words.

[@Nergalsama01]

Up next: Severed Dreams. One of the best hours of television I've ever seen in my life.

[@Wicked_Sushi]

"Dude, this is insane!" - he says the episode *before* Severed Dreams. Hahaha ...

[@The_Rising_Ape]

"How will it end?" "In fire." ...remember? Continuing to absolutely love your reactions to this brilliant series, some of the best writing on television. I've been waiting for the next episode, it has probably my favourite line in the whole show and, no spoilers, probably Delenns most awesome moment. Keep em comin fellas. Love and light.

[@zvimur]

A reminder from Season 1, Centauri get to see their death moment in a dream.

[@lovipoekimo176]

Well, not all Centauri, only certain ones have precognitive abilities. Ladira, Londo, Morella, in the novels there was also another one. Vir, Carthagia, and many others do not have this gift.

[@charlesmaurer6214]

Hope you know who is playing the Lady Morella. The Queen of Star Trek herself. Mrs. Rodenberry.

[@emilmlodnicki3835]

A little backstory about the casting of this episode. There was a lot of fighting between the 2 camps of scifi nerds, Star Trek and Babylon 5. JMS went to Paramount to sell his story, Babylon5, but was rejected. Then a soon after Deep Space 9 comes out and it didn't take a genius to figure out the similarities of the characters and the stories and setting. The telepath widow is Majel Barrett Rodenberry, Gene Rodenberry's (creator of Star Trek) widow and was considered as the First Lady of Scifi. She offered her acting as a sort of bridge to settle the acrimony between the 2 franchises. Plus, there were lots of actors that appeared in both franchises as guest stars. Lots of overlap.

[@ianstopher9111]

Lewis Arquette (General Smits) was the father of Patricia, Alexis, Rosanna, David, and Richmond Arquette. He appeared in the short-lived Hypernauts series.

[@Kilrauko]

And so it begins.

[@roystoyscomics1361]

Considering that Babylon 5 was Jerry Doyle's first acting gig unbeknownst to JMS...Jerry lied about his prior acting experience at the audition for the part. Lol 🤣😆 He fessed up at San Diego Comic Con after he had already shot several episodes. JMS was shocked...lol 🤣

[@tvdroid22]

I like what he said when JMS asked him what part he was there for. "I'm here for the part I'm gonna get." JMS said he knew immediately, "That's Garibaldi."

[@ToddBrantley-r4y]

I'm really glad you guys are watching Bab5. It's one of the greatest Sci-fi series ever done. I'd highly recommend The Expanse as a realistic, grounded follow-up. I'm nearly 59 and I'm a massive Sci-fi fan.

[@RKnights]

Noted!

[@chrism7395]

They definitely need to see The Expanse; I consider it to be B5's spiritual successor and the best TV of the last 24 years

[@toddkes5890]

19:53 - remember, nobility dying to an assassin is always considered to be 'natural causes'

[@meropetied]

I hope you guys wrote down the prophecy. When this aired, we then had a good set of riddles to solve for a ... well, a period of time. If you keep them in mind, I know you'll figure it all out eventually.

[@drjwww]

Without spoiling anything, one great touch of BABYLON 5 is how it can introduce a schismatic element (Vir also becoming emperor at some point) but not forget any of the character work we've had before. A lesser show would jump to paranoia and conflict and milk it for all it's worth, disregarding so much of the character work previously established. Not B5. Londo is still Londo, Vir is still Vir: how they think and feel about each other remains intact, even if the ending here plays it for a bit of a joke. The show remains true to its characters.

[@sdfried4877]

It was done for a goofy gag. Londo should know better. He’s dreamt of G’Kar strangling him to death since he was a young man.

[@dustinowens9552]

Glad you guys are at this point. One thing on this episode it had a guest star that most thought would never happen. Majel Barrett, the First Lady of Star Trek. There was very much bad blood between JMS and Paramount at this time. He wanted to sue the studio for jacking the ideas from Babylon 5. He had shown the plot outlines and series layout to Parmount to get them to do B5. They sat on it for a year and then passed. Then around the same time B5 was getting ready to go... A new Star Trek series set on a space station was announced. There was seveal things that were the same, however WB told JMS if he tried to sue Paramount then it would maybe pull support from B5 by some in the WB. So he didnt sue, but it was well known in the studios. JMS met Majel Barrett at a convention and they talked. She suggested she guest star to smooth things over, JMS agreed. When this part came up he called her and she agreed to do it. Since the internet was not like it is now back then almost no one knew she was going to be on it.

[@ciaranirvine]

This is the point where you SHOULD be cooking with theories. Most of them will be wrong, but it is the point in the show where theories go wild :) Can't wait for next week!

[@lovipoekimo176]

Almost as if this episode is the......Point of No Return......

[@chrisd4228]

It's popping off now, in all sorts of directions. 😆

[@stuartwald2395]

Now you guys can enter an argument that goes back in fandom almost 30 years; what exactly are the three opportunities left for Londo to avoid damnation? Just remember them for now.

[@cadleo]

We live for the B5 stream, we die for the B5 stream.

[@azgaard]

The Stream is Mother, The Stream is Father.

[@Petrosman]

Well technically we've seen Londo's future in previous episodes, Michael is correct. Londo explained it in the first episode that sometimes the Centauri know how and sometimes even when they will die because it comes to them in a dream. Londo knew that he was going to be killed by G'Kar all his life, even before he actually met him. And we've seen Londo coughing in the white emperor suit. But we never really understood what these images meant. Now it's hundred percent confirmed that Londo is going to be emperor at some point. On the other hand Vir also being emperor in the future is an unexpected surprise. So yeah, prophecies are a weird thing in B5. I can't really confirm or deny what will happen without spoiling. Stellar episode. Both the civil war stuff and the Londo stuff. Gonna be fun (re)watching your reaction to Severed Dreams (banger of an episode).

[@lovipoekimo176]

the casting of Vaughn Armstrong as that smug Nightwatch Liaison guy was brilliant. Love that actor. He almost played Will Riker in Trek too.

[@Trouble10]

Severed Dreams, baby, my favorite episode bar none!

[@chrisfraser5088]

Love hearing your discussions and predictions! So much to come!!! And keep that prophecy in your mind. I’m confident you’ll all figure it out 👍

[@StephenCole1916]

In a gesture of goodwill between the creators of the Star Trek franchise and of Babylon 5, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (Nurse Chapel in TOS Trek & Lwaxana Troi in TNG) appeared in the Babylon 5 episode "Point of No Return", as Lady Morella, the psychic widow of the Centauri emperor, a role which foreshadowed major plot elements in the series. Another Trek alumni is Vaughn Armstrong playing the nightwatch guy in charge. He'd later play Admiral Forrest in Star Trek Enterprise.

[@davidschmitz3952]

Several others also -- Jeffery Combs (Weyoun DS9) in Season one episode 16, Walter Koenig (Chekov) as Bester, and a lot more.

[@ianstopher9111]

Though explained as Lady Morella speaking also for the late Emperor Turhan, Morella probably felt entitled to use the Majestic plural (pluralis majestatis) to set herself apart from less noble Centauri.

[@Jacana2k6]

So it begins . . . Revisit the prophecy given to Londo at the end of season 5. Perhaps other questions about the series to talk about when all is said and done. Vir! G'kar!

[@derekramsaroup3883]

Some fantastic theories here today...

[@johnpatz8395]

I love this reacts series as it reminds me of when B5 first aired. I watched B5 when it aired originally, and B5 had the best online community (which actually included JMS himself.) Sadly my VCR failed to record Severed Dreams, but after a single post mentioning that and someone I regularly chatted with online about B5, on the Lurker’s Guide and a couple other sites, read that I missed it and express mailed me VHS copy. I can’t wait to see the videos for, I was going to say the next couple episodes, but honestly I’m looking forward to them reacting to the rest of the season.

[@paulmccloud9395]

It seems so long ago now doesn't it. Shortly after this episode aired there was the first Babylon 5 con in London, UK. I was able to get some tickets with my friends. Only a few cast members were meant to turn up as they were spreading it over two days. But they ALL turned up, the only one I never got to meet was Bruce Boxleitner. Andreas Katsulas came on pretending to be a cleaner in the background sweeping, and Peter Jurasik was actually in the audience, heckling. 😁

[@djcowell91]

I have to agree with the thought that yeah, it's worth just skipping to the next one right away. :-)

[@commanderkruge]

"Can't wait for the next episode" - I know, right? :D Imagine how bad it was back when you had to wait a week for the next one to air. :D At least they'll use that time too. As in: (no spoilers) "Weeeell, we're gonna visit my old grandmother on Ceti Prime! The journey there will be uneventful and take about a week! See you there next episode!" :) Or: "And, how long will it take ya to fix mah truck?" - "You'll have it back in a week! *spit*". :)

[@ShallowRavers2]

I hated handball for the longest time. B5 was on sundays here, and whenever there was a handball match, it would be cancelled thst week..

[@k001daddy]

We're in it now, boys!

[@Orieni]

There are a number of Earth Alliance colonies of various degrees of importance. There have been a couple of quite subtle references to those and related organizations. It isn’t just Earth, Mars and the transfer station at Io.

[@thomholbrook7286]

Hahaha! So, I was a PA on Babylon 5 and got to appear as an extra in this episode. So going personally very meta, I sat here at home watching you guys watching "me". Reality made fold in on itself.

[@Jagaroth_]

"Can't wait for the next episode." Exactly my thoughts during the original run when there was no choice but to wait a week for the next one. Almost unbearable for the rest of season three with all the intrigue going on. We are at peak B5....well, one of the peaks. The next episode is a belter!

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Great Reaction to a great episode but PLEASE rush the next one out as it has my Favourite Denne moments Great Work guys looking forward to the next live stream. BTW Heads up E16 & E17 are a two parter you are going to want to watch in the same day so you may need to do some planning around that.

[@johnw8578]

I love these and I really hoped the guys would all do Farscape together.

[@roystoyscomics1361]

"He said the thing!" Meme activated 😄

[@tonyt1679]

Another great reaction to a great episode. BTW did Mike have a screen on his hand, he spent the entire reaction looking at it.

[@emilmlodnicki3835]

I missed these important Saturdays. And then last week I couldn't watch because I can't find my DVD for these eps.

[@Ervtvn]

Yes. Next episode!

[@briangoss8062]

And ........ So it begins........

[@derekramsaroup3883]

Guys,you are gonna need to buckle up for the next episode, "Severed Dreams"...

[@ScottRutter]

"Point of No Return" 🎶 You’ve locked me out of the room where it happens…. for the last time… 🎶 #Ham4B5

[@Vontux]

I was thinking about this episode on January 6th 2021.

[@kelaarin]

Why? Not even close to similar.

[@gallendugall8913]

"There's always a choice except when it comes to pushing the like button, subscribing and setting notifications to all so you never miss R Knights content." -

[@bfdidc6604]

I love hearing fans in the middle of a series theory craft about what might come next.

[@matg919]

3x10 next, can't wait to see you react

[@ianstopher9111]

Morella would not know this, but the future ignores the limited perspective of Morella, but Do Not Kill the One is Dead could be Morden: Earth declared him dead after the loss of the Icarus. A bit tenous, but an opportunity for speculation. Londo also poisoned Refa with stage 1 of a two-stage poison: he is a dead man walking - Perhaps Londo should not plan to use Stage 2? There are others, but those are worth considering.

[@geoffharper8650]

Follow the chain of command .

[@Orieni]

JMS said that Bureau 13 changed its name, FYI.

[@whome1629]

You've watch up to twelve now, you are in the door and the door has closed behind you there is no going back now. Kosh will not allow it😂.

[@this.is.a.username]

now that it's been revealed I can finally say it.... RIP Emperor Vir "Flounder" Cotto, first of his name.

[@ShallowRavers2]

Londos gonna love this :D

[@RobertP-zk8vh]

the lady centauri in this episode was a Roddenberry her husband created star trek

[@michaelriddick7116]

STILL the best TV show ever written :) Hope ya'll are enjoying it :) RiP Richard RiP Andreas RiP Mira RiP Jason RiP Stephen RiP Jerry 💔😭💗

[@aaronleffew9593]

Here comes even more fun

[@Mrhullsie2]

I am puzzled that you should think that the Minbari would take advantage of the situation to take over Earth. They already had Earth beaten 10 years previously and surrendered when they found that Minbari souls were being born into humans.

[@tvdroid22]

Bureau 13.

[@RobertP-zk8vh]

next episode is the good one

[@LesterManley-so3om]

B5 free on Tubi.

[@catprog]

How else do you spell Eye?

[@jonreese7066]

Actually Centauri have a bit of prophecy in them. They actually see who will kill them. Londo knows Gkar will kill him. He doesnt know the circumstances though

[@zvimur]

No TNG fans to point out Lwaxana Troi? Added to Admiral Tomalak?

[@ChannelReuploads9451]

Tomolok was a Commander. (Andreas Katsulas, G'Kar).

[@zvimur]

@@ChannelReuploads9451 I think he was "promoted" in Future Imperfect 😈🫣😉

[@JDiz4Shizzle]

Let’s go!

[@boqndimitrov8693]

Earth wasn't paradise before, but now.. things have gone REALLY bad... Palpatine and Clark... the only thing worse than a smart dictator is an incompetent dictator.

[@VolrinSeth]

GARYbaldi, not Jerrtbaldi.

[@Shoomer88]

It's a long running in-joke on the channel. If you know you know.

[@VolrinSeth]

@@Shoomer88 must have missed that then

[@BarronK-kb8td]

How about that season 3 ? Hype or truth?

[@derekramsaroup3883]

Bureau 13

[@charlesmaurer6214]

If I remember correctly, the next episode won an award and even beat out a couple major blockbuster movies. What hurt the show the prior year was 6 episodes were nominated and this time a peak episode was pushed by JMS and crew. (he asked everyone to hold other nominations and vote as a block) Have fun it was the one that I went from a casual fan to a total Lurker.

[@cruelangel8689]

Nothing hurt the show the previous year. "The Coming of Shadows" won the 1996 Hugo award. "Severed Dreams" won it in 1997. And yes, it was an amazing accomplishment because in that era the award for Best Dramatic Presentation was not split between short and long form. It was pretty tough for a tv episode to get the win over a feature film... and B5 did it twice in a row.

[@SierraSierraFoxtrot]

Julian was right again.

[@maxwellstriling819]

Folks should watch in the beginning before season 1

[@MrTickleTrunk]

This is a commenty comment.