The Minbari are an interesting creation by the series creator, J. Michael Straczynski. On one hand, they are rather annoying spiritual beings who seem pretty smug and superior. On the other, the Warrior Caste within them are also smug and superior but also pretty blood-thirsty and head-strong. So, there is a fracture within the species--some want B-5 to succeed and peace to reign and everyone sing "Kumbaya", whereas the others just want to kill things and look down on everyone--especially humans.
This episode is a great example of this unreasoning hatred and xenophobia. Apparently, while the Minbari excuse their actions during the Earth-Minbari War a decade earlier, they DEFINITELY hold grudges and this episode concerns a plot to get revenge on Sheriday--someone who was VERY successful in this war. So, a convoluted plot is created to discredit Sheridan--even if it means lying, cheating and killing! The "holier-than-though" Minbari, apparently, aren't so good and blessed after all!!! This is a decent episode but also one that doesn't particularly stand out one way or the other. If the writer's intent is to make you hate the Minbari or distrust them, then the episode is a resounding success! I actually like how this is the case with most species in the show--there are both good and bad within each and makes the characters fuller and more "human".
This episode is a great example of this unreasoning hatred and xenophobia. Apparently, while the Minbari excuse their actions during the Earth-Minbari War a decade earlier, they DEFINITELY hold grudges and this episode concerns a plot to get revenge on Sheriday--someone who was VERY successful in this war. So, a convoluted plot is created to discredit Sheridan--even if it means lying, cheating and killing! The "holier-than-though" Minbari, apparently, aren't so good and blessed after all!!! This is a decent episode but also one that doesn't particularly stand out one way or the other. If the writer's intent is to make you hate the Minbari or distrust them, then the episode is a resounding success! I actually like how this is the case with most species in the show--there are both good and bad within each and makes the characters fuller and more "human".