We're now done with season 2.

[conuly]

Which means we're at the point where I, for one, feel the need to take breathers between episodes and Jenn is all "WHY DID YOU GET US INTO THIS SHOW!?"

I mean, I did tell them both that I didn't dare rewatch it during the Trump administration, and I thought that was enough warning and context, but I guess not?

Vir has had his little conversation with Morden. I'm eagerly waiting until Refa gets his well-deserved death.

We skipped half of the episode with the Markab. I just couldn't. In my headcanon, there are some well-isolated colonies out there, enough of a population that they can rebuild someday, and speculation that they can't is mistaken due to this lack of information. On my rewatch, I was impressed with the fact that they didn't just show up out of nowhere to die in a one-episode plague, but that the existence of the Markab was seeded throughout the season, with occasional passing mentions of them.

The Night Watch is a bunch of creepy fascists, and so is Minipax (SERIOUSLY) and in the stark light of 2021 I'm not surprised Ivanova didn't respond to talk about Christmas with a mention that she's Jewish, in fact. Her menorah at the end of the episode put me in mind of this famous photograph. (It's a powerful image, though narratively it doesn't make that much sense that she's celebrating alone. She has friends! And, though she doesn't seem to spend much time with them, there's also a Jewish community on the station! She could have a party rather than light the candles alone with a voiceover!)

Also, Vir is starting slowly to inch into his own. It's a pity that it takes all this and an uncomfortable elevator ride to give that fluffy marshmallow his core of steel, but he's definitely starting to move into position.

Speaking of all the events of this season, I just saw this interesting video. She makes some good points regarding the character design of the Centauri and Narns vs. the Cardassians and Bajorans.

Comments

[pensnest]

JMS was really good at using the final episode of the season to pick everything up and toss it all into the air. I don't think any of the subsequents quite changes the situation as much as the end of Season 1, but still.

It's amazing, and sad, and yet inevitable, that all the politics in the show turns up in real life again and again.

[chelseagirl]

My partner, who is a huge B5 fan, made "President Clark" comments all through the previous administration.

[mtbc]

Thank you, that was interesting! I was surprised to not notice (or to miss) mention of Londo's darkening palette. Nice to see how much thought went into aspects of B5.

[sabotabby]

Vir is the best.

[conuly]

Vir will always be the best.

[malada]

Best comment ever:

"Aren't you late for a Bund meeting?"

F***ing Nazi in space.

-m

[imhilien]

I remember reading a theory that because the Markab were sharing info about the Shadows, that they were purposely wiped out by with plague by the Shadows as revenge. Brr.

[conuly]

I guess it depends on whether you like your headcanon to be lighter or darker.

[elainegrey]

Thanks for the video link -- enjoyed that!

[dragonyphoenix]

I just got to, on the interesting video, "talk about colonialism and facism because ... Babylon 5". I love her already.

Oh, and the Refa comeuppance episode is awesome!

[cellio]

The Refa payoff is great!

[grammarwoman]

Excellent B5 video - thanks for the link! That show is near and dear to my heart; I used to tape episodes and watch them with my husband when we were first dating.