Part 1

I hate reviewing 2 parters in separate threads, especially considering we'll be watching both episodes anyway.

With all the S1 topics now up, does this mean we're allowed to charge ahead towards the season finale? :ph43r: ;)

It most certainly does not :P

Neil has special dispensation, given that he's on holiday. Now, I don't want to be hearing that suddenly you're 'on holiday' too :lol: :lol: :lol:

Can you do me a Points of Departure thread James? :P

(Only joking)

*grumble* :angry: :lol:

All in good time Neil, all in good time :lol:

Of course, there's the question as to whether we go straight into season 2 or take some kind of hiatus....... :unsure: :lol:

Of course, I AM on holiday next week...... :lol:

Two pretty good episodes here, although perhaps not quite as spectacular as I'd have hoped or expected from a two parter.

Nice to finally hear Paul's signature quote about Ivanova (that's if he's still using it. I don't have people's signatures on at the mo, so haven't checked recently :rolleyes: ).

I'm guessing it's probably not a coincidence that Epsilon 3 was chosen as the place for Babylon 5 to orbit. I expect that we'll see further contact from the "machine" in the future.

Again I'm wondering why the two most important people go on a dangerous mission to an unknown planet. They really mustn't trust any of their staff! :lol:

And also, how many obnoxious people have now tried to take over command of B5 already this season? :lol:

There's probably more to say, but I can't remember at the mo. It's about time for bed. :yawn:

I was going to watch these last night, but I was just too :yawn:

The weight of being a two-parter often lumbers this one with high expectations. IMO, it delivers. Just. There's plenty of arc-essential information in there as well as serving as a decent standalone. Perhaps that's the problem. Other episodes have been quite subtle in laying the foundations for the overbearing arc. A Voice in the Wilderness slightly less subtle.

I remember enjoying these episodes each time I've seen them, but they're not up there with the likes of Signs & Portents, Babylon Squared or Chrysalis.

More when I've watched them.

Ok, watched this one last Sunday, guess it's about time I put my thoughts up;

As others have mentioned, despite this being B5's first two-parter, and given the subject matter at hand, this one does come across as a little 'off'. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it never really grips you the way that other episodes from the first season, like Signs & Portents, or later Babylon Squared or Chrysalis do.

The episode works on a couple of levels. Firstly it adds in background information on certain characters. We, for example, find out that Sinclair's a Martian !! There's also some more information on Garibaldi, who's becoming a pretty rounded character even at this relatively early point, and the dynamic between Garibaldi and Londo is played upon once more in this episode to great effect. You get the distinct impression that Peter Jurasik could pretty much bounce of anyone, but he seems to enjoy Jerry Doyle (and Andreas Katsulas) the most. The scenes between Garibaldi and Londo rarely disappoint.

:lol:

The second level at w**k here is to place certain pieces on the board for the future, and that may not directly reference Draal or the great machine. ;) There's plenty of subtle hints within this episode again to be able to start drawing conclusions as to where certain threads are headed.

As a story we finally hear a bit about the planet down below the station, despite it being there the entire season it's been somewhat overlooked until now. There's more trouble on Mars with civil rioting taking place. Psi Corps apparently has secret bases on Mars. They seem to have fingers in all the pies.

There are some great quotes throughout the episode as well. Joe's dialogue can come off one of two ways; brilliant or cringingly awful. Most of it here works; Londo's 'Victims of Mathematics' speech for example, and Ivanova's B5 mantra :lol:

Another thing that struck me is the similarity between the Human political goings on and those of the Minbari. Both appear to be heading towards more iscolationist policies. We've already heard of the anti-alien pro-Earth groups back on Earth, but there's also an ambivalent attitude towards the external within the Minbari ranks;

Another topic that rears it's ugly head once again is the 'Earth trying to horde technology' or 'who can come in and push Sinclair around this week' themes. Every time it seems, that Sinclair manages to come across some new form of tech, Earth wants it, and wants it now, and no one else can have it !! :rolleyes:

This episode is particularly good for it's humour it should be said. Right from the start with the now obligatory Garibaldi scene to set the tone, this time with the lift sequence. There's also Londo's analysis of Earth's most popular song; the Hokey-Cokey :lol:

:lol:

The scenes with Londo piloting Delenn and Draal down to Epsilon III w**k particularly well as well.

Not to mention Garibaldi's magic trick..... :ph43r: :lol:

A couple of interesting points to end with I think; Firstly, the order to have Smith usurping Sinclair's authority was according to Senator Hidoshi coming from a 'higher authority'. Ok, higher than a Senator ?? Hmmm.

Secondly, the Alien in control of the machine (to begin with) has been there since before the Station was built. So, does he know what happened to the first four ??

One final tantalising clue re Sinclair from Delenn;

Not bad, but not great.

I don't know. I go away for a week and everything's racing off ahead of me :)

An enjoyable episode this, if a little odd. I mean, suddenly there's this damned great machine on the planet below and nobody knoew. Just a coincidence that they happened to build ae enormous soace station there.

Still, there's a lot of humour here from Ivanova's one liners through Garibaldi to Londo piloting the shuttle. Good also to get a bit more on Garibaldi's past and where does Delenn think Sinclair's destiny lies (and what's it got to do with hre anyway?)

Well if you will go taking time off....... :lol:

Sorry I forgot to do these as I watched them a little while ago - don't worry James in the end I stalled at The Quality of Mercy as I have a vague memory of not liking it

A Voice in the Wilderness was good but not as good as I remembered it - I think I'd imbued it with some of the kudos from the next episode by mistake (I thought a certain new character was in this one).

I liked all the character stuff and the story "made sense" but as some said I think it was dragged out to 2 eps a little.

Still looking forward to the rest of the season though (well 2 out of the 3 anyway).

I've never liked QoM either Neil. Does absolutely nothing for me, and it's sandwiched inbetween two great episodes, which equally does it no favours :lol:

I thought this 2 parter was good despite the fact that the ending was obvious from about half way through the first part.

The bits of back ground information about the main characters and the humour that is displayed is what makes the episodes and the fact that you know sometime in the future the planet is going to be important again.

Like everyone else has said the episodes are good but not brillent.

I think this episode is more relevant in later years - there are so many little comments which bought on a smile, since right now they sound so incongruous!

The main problem though, is the fact it's been padded out to fill a two-hour slot - I believe this was due to the networks wanting a feature length story they could market in video as well. Luckily JMS got complete control afterwards and put away things like this :)

However, on the whole, it's a good episode, and and huge improvement on the previous few episodes.

To me, the story felt like more of an extended single episode than a two parter... although that may be the fault of the VHS copy presenting it as a single episode. It didn't really feel padded out to me... okay, so maybe the Mars rebellion was a filler that didn't lend to the main story, but with the hints at the unsettling events in the past few days, it's not surprising to see this start up.

Nothing much to say on it that hasn't been said already - twas a very good episode, and kept me interested for the full length (although near the end I did check the video counter out of wonder of how long had passed... 90 minutes straight does that to me :p ).

There was line that did intrigue me... when Sinclair came to Garibaldi's quarters to say about evacuating Ivanova, Garibaldi said "I've just finished making dinner"... he makes his own takeaway pizza then, does he? :p

Looks like I'm going against the grain slightly, but I love these two episodes. Maybe it's because of Londo and Garibaldi, or just Londo (the Hokey Pokey? :blink: :lol: ), or the events on Mars, or Delenn and Draal, or the frequent Ivanova-isms :lol:

More likely it's because of the revelatory moments on Epsilon 3. When I first saw the initial shot of the bridge over that huge shaft I remember being gobsmacked, thinking it was like The Forbidden Planet. I couldn't remember seeing anything like that on a tv show before.

I also love the design of the alien ship. The Hyperion reminds me vaguely of the Sulaco, from Aliens, in that it looks like a weapon. Pierce is an ass, but we come to expect that from Earth Force by now, surely? :lol:

The solution to the Epsilon 3 situation is telegraphed quite early on, but it's still effective, and leads to that lovely final line from Delenn. I also like her comment about Sinclair looking for a purpose, and that his destiny lies elsewhere. Although it would've been interesting if he'd ended up on Epsilon 3 running the machine.

One question: once Varn was out of the machine and it was on auto, how did they get past that laser booby trap whilst they were carrying him? :shrug:

Also, and I remember this from first time around too, they get a big minus point for putting the "Denise Gentile as Lise Hampton" caption up at the start of part 2. Talk about spoiling your own show :rolleyes: