Babylon 5: Grail
March 3, 2018 6:24 AM - Season 1, Episode 15 - Subscribe
[standalone, but with a hint to a future plot point] A man seeking the Holy Grail arrives on the station. Meanwhile, a gang boss in Downbelow is somehow wiping the minds of those who oppose him... "But as I was leaving on the shuttle, I looked back--and the station [Babylon 4] just sort of… wrinkled, twisted like putty, and then just disappeared. The minute I left!"
-Minbari consider those who seek deep truths to be "true seekers", worthy of respect -- even if their quest seems trivial, odd, or misguided.
-Delenn considers Sinclair a "true seeker."
-Jinxo was explains what happens to Babylons 1-4: exploded (sabotage); exploded (sabotage); exploded (not sabotage!); and "wrinkled, twisted like putty and then just disappeared". He believes this means there is a curse that means he can never leave B5, as all other stations exploded (or 'wrinkled') when he did. At the end of the episode, Jinxo leaves Babylon 5 -- and there was no "boom". But, Ivanova points out there is always a "boom, sooner or later. BOOM!"
-Due to scheduling, the Feeder in this episode is the first entirely CGI character created for a TV show--but the second ever shown, after a Seaquest DSV character.
-The civilian courts on B5 are run by an Ombuds, who hears cases.
-Deuce, a mob boss, had dressed up a Centauri hunter animal called a 'feeder' (which feeds on minds) in a recreation of Kosh's encounter suit in order to spread fear on multiple levels:
Sinclair: Deuce wanted to make people think he had the Vorlons working for him. He figured it would add to his image and intimidate people.
Kosh: Why?
Sinclair: Well, after all, no one knows exactly what you look like. That makes some people a little nervous.
Kosh: Good.
-Minbari society has two castes: warrior and religious. When asked if they ever agree, Delenn sadly says, "Yes. And when they do, it is a terrible thing. A terrible power, as recent events have shown us. Let us hope it never again happens in our lifetime."
-Minbari consider those who seek deep truths to be "true seekers", worthy of respect -- even if their quest seems trivial, odd, or misguided.
-Delenn considers Sinclair a "true seeker."
-Jinxo was explains what happens to Babylons 1-4: exploded (sabotage); exploded (sabotage); exploded (not sabotage!); and "wrinkled, twisted like putty and then just disappeared". He believes this means there is a curse that means he can never leave B5, as all other stations exploded (or 'wrinkled') when he did. At the end of the episode, Jinxo leaves Babylon 5 -- and there was no "boom". But, Ivanova points out there is always a "boom, sooner or later. BOOM!"
-Due to scheduling, the Feeder in this episode is the first entirely CGI character created for a TV show--but the second ever shown, after a Seaquest DSV character.
-The civilian courts on B5 are run by an Ombuds, who hears cases.
-Deuce, a mob boss, had dressed up a Centauri hunter animal called a 'feeder' (which feeds on minds) in a recreation of Kosh's encounter suit in order to spread fear on multiple levels:
Sinclair: Deuce wanted to make people think he had the Vorlons working for him. He figured it would add to his image and intimidate people.
Kosh: Why?
Sinclair: Well, after all, no one knows exactly what you look like. That makes some people a little nervous.
Kosh: Good.
-Minbari society has two castes: warrior and religious. When asked if they ever agree, Delenn sadly says, "Yes. And when they do, it is a terrible thing. A terrible power, as recent events have shown us. Let us hope it never again happens in our lifetime."
While this is not a great episode, Ivonova's "No boom today. Boom tomorrow. Always boom tomorrow. ... What? Someone's got to have some perspective around here.." line (paraphrased) is one of my favorite quotable B5 bits.
posted by Alterscape at 7:14 AM on March 3, 2018
posted by Alterscape at 7:14 AM on March 3, 2018
Bad episode, but the moment in court where the alien accused of kidnapping someone's ancestor responds with a card showing a crop circle...well, that was at least worth a smile.
With all the sabotage of previous Babylon stations, I can't help but feel B5 should have made use of "Sabotage" before NuTrek did.
posted by nubs at 7:50 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
With all the sabotage of previous Babylon stations, I can't help but feel B5 should have made use of "Sabotage" before NuTrek did.
posted by nubs at 7:50 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
"No boom today. Boom tomorrow. Always boom tomorrow." is probably the single-most remembered/favorited B5 quotes.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:43 PM on March 3, 2018
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:43 PM on March 3, 2018
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Both this episode and TKO are pretty bad.
Also, pay attention to the feeder's tentacle. You'll know why by the end of this season...
posted by flibbertigibbet at 6:27 AM on March 3, 2018 [1 favorite]