This was an interesting episode but I am sure that many felt a bit of a let-down because the previous episode had been so dramatic and had wrapped up the long struggle between the evil forces of President Carter and Sheridan's alliance. Coming just after the final war of this struggle was a tough thing, but this episode had plenty in it to recommend it. Most of this probably is because I love how human nature is to wonderfully exposed and the guilty want to "sweep the past under the rug" and go back to "business as usual". Think about those who were deeply involved in horrible activities during the Holocaust or Civil Rights struggle in American and how when it was all over, practically no one would admit their involvement! In this case, the new President (who MUST have been a strong supporter of Clark) and the other top government officials just want Sheridan to go away and pretend that this costly war never happened. And, because some of the guilty are "uncomfortable" around Sheridan, they decide the best thing to do is force Sheridan out of Earth Force! Despite this being VERY unfair, Sheridan is forced to agree because they threaten to prosecute his followers even though what they did was right!! Talk about seeing human nature from a cynical point of view!!! Now although I have revealed a decent amount of the plot, there is a lot more to it than that. And, how all this is worked out is pretty interesting and well worth seeing. Excellent writing and a good look at social psychology make this one a keeper!
4 Reviews
A combination of great cynicism and triumph in one package!
planktonrules30 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
The year that was two.
dtesoriero-5466511 April 2021
This was the originally conceived ending for the series fifth season.
Babylon 5 was originally planned out to be a 5 season story arc. Season 4 was supposed to focus on the Vorlon/Shadow war only, and season 5 the fight to free Earth.
Both these seasons were condensed into season 4 due to turmoil going on behind the scenes pertaining to the network.
The original network had folded and a new network was starting. The new network showed no interest in continuing the series beyond season 4, so the writers tied up all the storylines, wrote the ending and planned to wrap up the series.
The decision to renew the series came after the show ending aired. This left the writers stuck with no season 5 planned, which is why many feel season 5 was the weakest of the series.
Babylon 5 was originally planned out to be a 5 season story arc. Season 4 was supposed to focus on the Vorlon/Shadow war only, and season 5 the fight to free Earth.
Both these seasons were condensed into season 4 due to turmoil going on behind the scenes pertaining to the network.
The original network had folded and a new network was starting. The new network showed no interest in continuing the series beyond season 4, so the writers tied up all the storylines, wrote the ending and planned to wrap up the series.
The decision to renew the series came after the show ending aired. This left the writers stuck with no season 5 planned, which is why many feel season 5 was the weakest of the series.
Cynical or realistic?
ilyasparrow19 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
My feelings about this episode are mixed. There were some amazing parts, and some parts I didn't like at all.
The scene with Ivanova and Franklin is a masterpiece, the end of Marcus's story was sad and moving.
As for political games with a new president, it was of course infuriating. Some would say that it is realistic. Maybe it is true. And maybe totally unfair Sheridan's is even a politically wise decision. But the series is very easily forgiving for horrible crimes, even protagonists are doing it. In previous episode I was unpleasantly surprised by the comeback of Earth's general, who fought with Sheridan. So, he did the right thing at the very end, and it makes everything ok? Should we forget that he was loyal to Clark, when he started a civil war and bombed civilians? Should we forget that he was fighting with Sheridan's fleet just an hour ago? But Sheridan talks to him like this is nothing.
The same problem appears in the relationship between G'Kar and Londo. Just a year or two ago there was a war between their nations. Genocidal war with many war crimes. I believe that G'kar should have problems with any Centauri, not just Londo, who played a crucial role in the start of this war. I can believe in some diplomatic negotiations, not a friendly bantering.
At last, Garibaldi's line. First of all, I don't like when a supposedly good guy is beating and threatening someone, even if it is a low-level criminal. But then, of course, I remind myself in 1312-th time that Garibaldi is a cop.
Ok, he saves Lisa, like a knight saves a princess from the castle and they become a happy couple. What was that? Didn't her husband die just recently? The husband she loved? There were some deep problems in her relationships with Garibaldi, they didn't go away. That was very bad, especially in contrast with Ivanova/Marcus story.
The scene with Ivanova and Franklin is a masterpiece, the end of Marcus's story was sad and moving.
As for political games with a new president, it was of course infuriating. Some would say that it is realistic. Maybe it is true. And maybe totally unfair Sheridan's is even a politically wise decision. But the series is very easily forgiving for horrible crimes, even protagonists are doing it. In previous episode I was unpleasantly surprised by the comeback of Earth's general, who fought with Sheridan. So, he did the right thing at the very end, and it makes everything ok? Should we forget that he was loyal to Clark, when he started a civil war and bombed civilians? Should we forget that he was fighting with Sheridan's fleet just an hour ago? But Sheridan talks to him like this is nothing.
The same problem appears in the relationship between G'Kar and Londo. Just a year or two ago there was a war between their nations. Genocidal war with many war crimes. I believe that G'kar should have problems with any Centauri, not just Londo, who played a crucial role in the start of this war. I can believe in some diplomatic negotiations, not a friendly bantering.
At last, Garibaldi's line. First of all, I don't like when a supposedly good guy is beating and threatening someone, even if it is a low-level criminal. But then, of course, I remind myself in 1312-th time that Garibaldi is a cop.
Ok, he saves Lisa, like a knight saves a princess from the castle and they become a happy couple. What was that? Didn't her husband die just recently? The husband she loved? There were some deep problems in her relationships with Garibaldi, they didn't go away. That was very bad, especially in contrast with Ivanova/Marcus story.
End but not really
wilvis-9396326 September 2017
This should have been the last episode.Almost everything that comes after this episode is just cause they wanted a 5 year run so desperately.I would have reconsidered.Did not like the change from Ivanova to Lochley.The main story-line seemed forced cause well it was not really ever concluded.The really last episode of this season even felt it was cause they wanted 22 episodes each season.I liked the episode but as i said after it was clear things were going to change in a bad way they should have called it quits.
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