BPP 521 – Objects at Rest

The Babylon Project Podcast

As this episode opens, your hosts discuss that this is the SEASON ender—and it sure feels that way. You’re correct in that there’s one more episode, but the agreement is that the next and last episode is the SERIES ender. The situation: John and Delenn are leaving Babylon 5 and heading to Minbar to move into the new, permanent seat of the Alliance. Things kick off with a dialog, perhaps some reflecting, between Sheridan and Lockley about the adventure we’ve all participated in: “where does the time go?” And also the question, “what’s out there?”, answered by “the Rim” and then beyond that, “the truth.”

Ta’Lon is back on Babylon 5 and asking for G’Kar, apparently unaware he’s left the station for good, and a bit puzzled since G’Kar summoned him. He goes to G’Kar’s room, ends up picking the lock and enters, looking for something—anything—that might have been left for him. He finds a message from G’Kar informing him he’s the new Ambassador to Babylon 5. In one of the coolest scenes that carries a lot of punch, we see G’Kar talking to Ta’Lon side by side, as if they were in the same room, as G’Kar explains to him that he is the right choice for Ambassador because he’s more warrior than priest. (It seems whether he wanted it or not, G’Kar left the station because he had become more priest than warrior.) In the end we see a overall parallel in the story lines as Vir has replaced Londo, and Ta’Lon has replaced G’Kar: the old and the new.

As the replacement for Michael, Tessa appears to have settled in nicely, and is it just us, or have they softened her appearance? She looks comfortable. As for Michael, we find him running the daily operations of Edgars Industries, and in a move that is probably typically Michael, he has replaced the Board members with a handful of trouble makers from within the company, gives them all raises, and a significant challenge to put all their talk into action. We suspect these loudmouths and discontents might actually become credible leaders.

We also watch the transition of responsibility for Med Lab between Franklin and Dr. Lillian Hobbs. As he passes her the reins, Franklin strolls off to join Sheridan in a quiet and heartfelt conversation in the corridor.

Speaking of Sheridan, he has an awkward moment and conversation with Lennier as Delenn leaves them alone briefly—these two men who both love her. Then Delenn shares some final words as she and John prepare to depart the station. In a moment of writing perfection, Sheridan (who wanted to leave quietly) says nothing and defers to Delenn, who eloquently shares that there are no “goodbyes.” As always, Zack is there too and makes a passing comment about remaining on Babylon 5 and being there when they turn off the lights. Sheridan makes his last flight as a commander onboard the station, and in those final moments, turns his ship to view the station’s command deck. In what can only be a tearful and heart-wrenching moment, we have a single scene where we see the new command crew and the old.

Then we have some boom! There’s an accident and a toxic leak onboard John and Delenn’s ship and John rushes to the aid of others. He find himself in a room that needs to be sealed off to protect the others onboard, but thankfully Lennier is there to help, but in an angering and surprising turn of events (and in the shadow of Delenn’s love for John), we watch Lennier seal John in the room rather than ensure he escapes. Lennier then runs. John escapes and after some amount of time Lennier returns with help. It’s not clear if his return was the result of a guilty conscience, or believing John would be dead at this point, to hide his involvement in John’s undoing. Regardless, Lennier flees, apparently for good.

As they arrive on Minbar, John and Delenn are greeted with fireworks and an old friend, Londo, who they learn is now the Emperor of Centauri Prime. Londo makes an attempt to let them know things are not what they appear, hinting that he’s being controlled by others, and for a brief moment, Delenn almost sees his Keeper! He gives them a precious gift to pass to their future son when he turns 16. What is revealed to us is that gift contains a hibernating Keeper intended for David. In this same scene Lennier calls and apologizes to Delenn, and makes it clear to her he’s going away until he finds a way to redeem himself. Then as we watch Londo depart, he stresses once again they’re all friends no matter what, putting the events of War Without End into perspective.

As the episode and season ends, Delenn observes John recording a father-to-son message to David, for him to listen to when he turns 21—words John won’t be there to share at that point. As we listen, we see a wonderful montage of the crew, old and new, at a minimum to highlight the events of John’s recent life that contributed to the formation of the wisdom he’s now passing to his son.

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Just remember… No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There’s always a boom tomorrow!

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