Babylon 5 (TV Series) Knives (1995) User Reviews

Uneasy Mixture

[zboston3 · 7/10 · 28 February 2008]

As another reviewer has pointed out, this episode has two plot lines that don't seem to mix very well. The part of Captain Sheridan finding a dead alien and then starting to have visions for no reason that the doctor is able to find - this might work as an episode of some other SF series, but here it just seems minor filler. Except with this series you never know when some minor thing, some tossed off incident, is going to have repercussions and show up way down the line.

Thus if one is working through the series episode by episode, you can't help wondering about this, but only time and future episodes will tell.

As for the second plot line, an old friend of Londo's comes asking for help. This part has good acting, more complications for Londo and his quest to revive the Centauri Empire, and while he finally manages to save his friend's family, the cost is rather high. It's a moving story, and one feels sympathy for Londo at the end.

A little good, a little not so good

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 9 January 2007]

Like most episodes of BABYLON 5, this one has two main plot lines. The first involves the Captain and his VERY strange behaviors after he came in contact with a dead alien. In a way, he is possessed and is quite unpredictable. While mildly diverting, this wasn't all that memorable. However, the second plot was pretty interesting, as it further shows how low Londo has sunk now that he's aligned with Mr. Morden and his "associates". In this case, an old friend comes to visit the Ambassador and after their initial good cheer, the actual purpose of the visit is explained. Apparently, Londo's partner in genocide (Refa) is planning on destroying Londo's old friend and his family and he has come to B-5 to get his help. When this doesn't work out, the way around this dilemma is found--but at great cost.

The episode does a lot to further explore the good side of Londo. It's a VERY small side and he is, at heart, evil, but showing his humanity was an interesting touch and reminds us that even evil sometimes appears not 100% wicked (after all, Hitler liked his dog).

Had some good ideas

[DrNick1 · 6/10 · 22 February 2022]

The plot with Sheridan is pretty silly, but the Mollari plot had a lot of potential - a little on the nose, but not bad. The Sheridan stuff messes up the episode.

Good

[VenVes · 27 July 2018]

A good, but not great, episode. Some weird stuff happens with the Captain, and it's still kind of iffy by the end. Some additional insight into Centauri culture is welcome here, and it affects Londo tremendously, but it's hard to feel much sympathy for him after everything he's caused. I did feel sympathy for the other involved though.