Babylon 5 - S2E09 - The Coming of Shadows
May. 21st, 2026 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustEnjoying the season so far, with not much to say except, "Wow, this is so good." But with this episode giving us the title drop for the season, it promised big things - and man, did it deliver.
* Even though a lot happened this episode, for me G'Kar was basically the MVP. Brilliant acting for a brilliant part. From preparing himself to die to assassinate the Centauri Emperor, to the sudden reprieve when the Emperor suffered a collapse, and then being stunned at the Emperor's apology for the crimes of his predecessors. And then that exuberant joy and extending the hand of friendship to Londo, while we feel dread and Londo clearly feels conflicted, because we and he know that the attack he ordered on the Narn colony has already happened. And then G'Kar's rage and despair when the news breaks. And finally that quiet, but heavy, declaration of war. It would have been enough of a character journey if it took place over a whole season. Watching it over 40 minutes was intense.
* The declaration of war would have been a powerful place to cut to black and roll credits. But we got the grace note of Delenn receiving a video message from Sinclair - I guess so we didn't end the episode just staring at the wall.
* This is the kind of big episode you would expect to have as the mid-season climax. But we're not even halfway through yet!
* Even though a lot happened this episode, for me G'Kar was basically the MVP. Brilliant acting for a brilliant part. From preparing himself to die to assassinate the Centauri Emperor, to the sudden reprieve when the Emperor suffered a collapse, and then being stunned at the Emperor's apology for the crimes of his predecessors. And then that exuberant joy and extending the hand of friendship to Londo, while we feel dread and Londo clearly feels conflicted, because we and he know that the attack he ordered on the Narn colony has already happened. And then G'Kar's rage and despair when the news breaks. And finally that quiet, but heavy, declaration of war. It would have been enough of a character journey if it took place over a whole season. Watching it over 40 minutes was intense.
* The declaration of war would have been a powerful place to cut to black and roll credits. But we got the grace note of Delenn receiving a video message from Sinclair - I guess so we didn't end the episode just staring at the wall.
* This is the kind of big episode you would expect to have as the mid-season climax. But we're not even halfway through yet!
no subject
Date: 2026-05-22 12:42 am (UTC)And it delivered.
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Date: 2026-05-28 10:59 am (UTC)