Wonderful episode of Babylon 5, rich with emotion, has a Centauri slave forced by her master into retrieving information from Londo(called, "purple files")by seduction(..and, ultimately, by slipping a drug into his drink while he's predisposed, using a mind device to force the valid information from him). Other sub-plots include an encoded computer "gremlin" that keeps showing up on Security chief's Garibaldi's communication channels, and a negotiation between the Centauri and Narn over a Euphrates treaty. The Garibaldi story is important as it relates to Ivanova(..and gives us a chance to see her have closure with her dying father, a terrific moment for Claudia Christian, getting a chance to see her barrier down, knowing that he admits his failures at being a proper parental figure in her life, and that he is proud of her). But, this is most definitely a great episode for Peter Jurasik, his Londo head-over-heels in love with night club dancer Adira(..the ravishing Fabiana Udenio), passionate and rejuvenated during their romance. Clive Revill is at his diabolical best as Adira's slave owner, Trakis, who seeks Londo's purple files as they contain information that would have the Centauri republic at their knees and benefit many other alien worlds, in particular the Narn. The great Mary Woronov is introduced as G'Kar's new consort, Ko D'Ath, not particularly fond of men's embraces, nor of the Centauri, her disgust towards anyone's desire to touch or kiss, the revulsion, is quite amusing. Trakis has a device on his hand that sends off a paralyzing electrical charge. Commander Sinclair's cunning diplomatic(..and persuasive) abilities in regards to overcoming difficult, sticky situations are again on display in this episode. I'm really enjoying the many moments between Garibaldi and Ivavona, while they have polar opposite personalities, there's a nice friendship that is emerging.
3 Reviews
Pretty good, but not up to the standards of later shows
planktonrules2 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
For much of the first season of Babylon 5, the series still hadn't established any sort of over-arching plot to connect the episodes like it would have in seasons 2 through 5. In some ways, it was as if the genius behind the series, Michael Staczynski was still trying to feel for a sense of direction. Because of this, so many of the season one episodes are self-contained in that they don't connect well with previous or later episodes. This is pretty much the way of sci-fi shows like Star Trek, but for B-5, this makes these earlier episodes less satisfying.
Now as far as this episode goes, I appreciate how the writing of the show is a great attempt to fool the viewers. For the earliest episodes, Londo and the Centauri are shown as a bunch of fun-loving but harmless people. I love this aspect of Straczynski's writing, as so often evil is disguised as something harmless or very reasonable. Hitler, in 1932, seemed like a good choice to head Germany and the monster that we now know him to have been was something people just didn't want to see--just the "good" aspects of the man.
Londo is very vulnerable here, as he falls for a beautiful young woman who is being used by his political rivals to hurt him. By the time the episode is over, you feel a real sense of loss for him. Nice job.
Now as far as this episode goes, I appreciate how the writing of the show is a great attempt to fool the viewers. For the earliest episodes, Londo and the Centauri are shown as a bunch of fun-loving but harmless people. I love this aspect of Straczynski's writing, as so often evil is disguised as something harmless or very reasonable. Hitler, in 1932, seemed like a good choice to head Germany and the monster that we now know him to have been was something people just didn't want to see--just the "good" aspects of the man.
Londo is very vulnerable here, as he falls for a beautiful young woman who is being used by his political rivals to hurt him. By the time the episode is over, you feel a real sense of loss for him. Nice job.
Londo falls for the wrong woman and Garibaldi discovers an unauthorised transmission
Tweekums26 May 2018
Babylon 5 is hosting negotiations between the Centauri and the Narn but Londo Mollari, the Centauri ambassador is distracted. He has fallen in love with Adira Tyree a beautiful dancer... he has no idea that she is a slave belonging to an alien called Trakis who is forcing her to steal Londo's 'Purple Files'. These files contain information about all the powerful Centauri families; the sort of information that could be very useful to an enemy. Meanwhile Security Chief Garibaldi has discovered that somebody is using the station's classified communication system without authorisation so sets out to discover who.
This is another solid episode that provides some interesting intrigue, further insight into Londo and the Centauri and a little bit of action. Peter Jurasik stands out as Mollari; he makes the character sympathetic and believable, guest star Fabiana Udenio also impresses as Adira, she too makes her character sympathetic as we see that she doesn't want to betray Londo. Their story doesn't exactly go as expected and has a touching conclusion. The secondary story involving Garibaldi and the unauthorised transmission is very much the minor story but also ends in a way I didn't expect leading us to learn more about a major character. It isn't all intrigue though; there is also a touch of humour; much of it provided by Ko D'Ath; G'Kar's new assistant who is severe even by Narn standards. Overall and enjoyable episode; we are only three episodes in but Babylon 5 is already really impressing.
This is another solid episode that provides some interesting intrigue, further insight into Londo and the Centauri and a little bit of action. Peter Jurasik stands out as Mollari; he makes the character sympathetic and believable, guest star Fabiana Udenio also impresses as Adira, she too makes her character sympathetic as we see that she doesn't want to betray Londo. Their story doesn't exactly go as expected and has a touching conclusion. The secondary story involving Garibaldi and the unauthorised transmission is very much the minor story but also ends in a way I didn't expect leading us to learn more about a major character. It isn't all intrigue though; there is also a touch of humour; much of it provided by Ko D'Ath; G'Kar's new assistant who is severe even by Narn standards. Overall and enjoyable episode; we are only three episodes in but Babylon 5 is already really impressing.
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