S3E7 - They're Not All Gems - podcast episode cover

S3E7 - They're Not All Gems

Dec 28, 202238 minEp. 58
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Episode description

Join Laura and Xhafer, two internet strangers as they get to know each other while making jokes about one of their favorite TV shows from their childhood, Babylon 5.

Yet another mysterious ancient alien species takes control of Babylon 5 residents. Meanwhile, Corwin falls into the classic fake date with your superior officer trap in Babylon 5, Season 3 Episode 7: Exogenesis.

Transcript

Xhafer

Hello, and welcome to who are you? A Babylon five, watch casts hosted by two former strangers. Now friends. Who are getting to know each other better while rewatching a favorite show from their childhood Babylon five Affair.

Laura

And I'm Laura.

Xhafer

And today, Laura, I get to ask you. Who are you?

Laura

Well, I think I'm finally ready to say that I'm going to be a mom again.

Xhafer

Yay.

Laura

That's not really a surprise for you, but it is for the listener.

Xhafer

Yes.

Laura

Yeah, I've I'm about 20 weeks pregnant with a little girl. Well, at this time, the time that you were hearing it, I guess it'll be about 24 weeks.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

So we're having a little girl Children's seven, well, eight years apart now. So. It's an exciting, exciting development in. Our lives um, I've been a. A little reluctance. Talk about it because we did have a pregnancy loss earlier this year that you knew personally about Jeff hair, but.

Xhafer

Yeah. That's another thing we talked about on podcast for obvious

Laura

Yeah. It's I know it can be tough for listeners out there have been through the same thing and it was obviously a weird and. Traumatic time. That took a lot of processing power. It is still taking processing power out of my. Daily life sometimes, but.

Xhafer

Yeah, I can't imagine. So.

Laura

It was the sort of loss that was discovered in the doctor's office. And so being pregnant again, and, you know, you see the doctor at least once a month. Uh, Especially when you're over a certain age. So going back to the doctor's office, this has been a weird experience. It's been a little bit for me to talk about it, but you know, things are progressing well. My doctor keeps saying every time I see her, that everything looks exactly like it's supposed to. And that everything seems just fine.

We've gotten to the point that I can kind of feel her moving around a little bit throughout my days. Yeah. And so that's very comforting. You know, people who've been through the same type of loss had told me that it would be, you know, you get little reminders throughout your day that everything's okay. And that would feel better. And it does. and you know, I thought at some point the listeners are going to find out because I'm going to have to take a little break.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

But you and I have discussed a little bit.

Xhafer

Yeah. Well, we'll see how far ahead we can get, This episode comes out right after I get back from my trip to Europe. The day. This will actually, by the time when most of you are listening to this. Statistically speaking based off of our analytics. If you're a first day listener, you'll be listening to this wall. I am on my plane ride. Back to the United States.

Laura

So that's a little fun. Thing for them to think about.

Xhafer

Right. Yeah. Yeah, if you are a day of listener and you're listening to it in the first. 12 hours of the day, that's going to be on my plane ride. So after I get back. That and we'll see how far ahead we can get, obviously. But. There might be a break or it might be. Ben has offered to come

Laura

Sure.

Xhafer

Graciously and guest host

Laura

would love to have Ben for a little bit if we need it. Yeah. And the due date is not till April, so hopefully. You know, we can get ourselves ahead of schedule, but we have gotten off schedule a bit before, so. Anything can

Xhafer

we'll see how it goes. I am optimistic that we will both get a approximately six week break from podcasting.

Laura

Yeah. And, you know, At least podcasting is something I can do in my home. We can take. Breaks. Like if we need. It, if I need, if I'm needed. Elsewhere during an episode. And my husband actually works at a company that does give some pretty generous time off, even for, you know, paternity.

Xhafer

paternity. That's great to hear.

Laura

Yeah. So he is planning to take. A good chunk of time with me, at least, you know, at the beginning, when it's the kind of the hardest. And then we'll see what happens and, you know, if he goes back to work, he, he does work from home currently. So. He would still be in the house with me. I wouldn't be alone.

Xhafer

That's good.

Laura

that was the hardest thing I think with Owen, because when. You know, eight years ago, his company wasn't so turned on to the idea of like letting fathers bond with their children to. And when he had to go back after like one week and I was in the house all day, feeling like I couldn't go anywhere because I had a one week old baby. And I was by myself. I got some severe postpartum anxiety.

I know that's a thing that happens to lots of women and we all should all feel normal if that happens to us. But. Yeah, I was like, you know, how much different it's going to be? Just knowing someone else's in the house with me. And I can talk to them, or if I'm feeling scared, I can just sit near another person. That's going to be huge. So I'm. I'm optimistic about the next year. So.

Xhafer

That's great to hear. And I'm glad that things are going on. I actually have a note on my desk to ask you about a registry.

Laura

Oh, yeah.

Xhafer

list or something.

Laura

Yeah, no, we haven't done that yet. It it's one of the things it's been eight years, so there's a lot, we kind of need. Um,

Xhafer

Imagine. Yeah.

Laura

And we have, you know, a little girl on the way, so maybe I want some cute little girl clothes. You know, I know that gender is a construct and whatever, but sometimes the dresses are cute. So, you know, we hadn't thought about that, but I guess it's something, if we're over halfway now that we'll be thinking about, and I'll let you know.

Xhafer

Okay, please do. Yeah.

Laura

But Speaking of hosting another thing inside your human body. We have an episode today.

Xhafer

You told me you had the segway,

Laura

Yeah, I did.

Xhafer

you knew what you're going to talk about. And even when you started talking, my brain did not.

Laura

Didn't get there really.

Xhafer

dots? Nope. Nope. Should've seen it coming.

Laura

I hope it's not too gross.

Xhafer

Well, this episode kind of is to be honest, we've got season three, episode seven. Exogenesis. We open on a Freighter, arriving doing their best. Sean Connery impression.

Laura

Oh, yeah, that's exactly what I said to my husband. I turned it, I said, did they get Sean Connery?

Xhafer

They didn't, but there was a bunch on Usenet about it and it's just like, look. Sometimes voice actors. Just it's going to happen sometimes.

Laura

Sometimes they do a thing. They make a choice.

Xhafer

Yeah. We see some unknowns watching on they're excited about the ship coming In.

Laura

I called these two, the creepy swingers. Cause it. That in one of these later scenes with them, I think it's before. Yeah, it, you know, we, we get some interlude where we go to Earhart's and Lieutenant junior grade Corwin is uh, getting promoted. We discuss why Marcus isn't there and that's because we have to bring up that Marcus is going to be in this episode.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

But then we cut back to those creepy swingers. Swingers and they're watching a guy. In this sort of like, Very CRI critically assessing his ability sort of way. As he's got a nasty parasite, that's.

Xhafer

Yeah. I described the scene as cutting to the worst thing in your search history. This is what that would feel like if someone had just had the ability, like if you, if in the world where everyone has shitty superpowers, this person looks at you and knows the worst thing in your search history.

Laura

Yeah. That's really the look on their face. Yeah. So they're doing the thing where they're telling him it's all going to be okay. Soon. As this nasty. You know, it's a kind of a parasite that looks sort of like a spine. It's got real, like centipede, spinal energy. Uh, Starts merging into this guy.

Xhafer

Yeah, It's a lot. So our two swingers here. Did you look up the actors?

Laura

I didn't. Did you, you must have.

Xhafer

did. So we've got James Warwick is the gentlemen. And he is most famous for filling in for Liam Neeson's voice in video games.

Laura

Oh,

Xhafer

Is there a Liam Neeson character that you need voice for a video game that Liam, Neeson's not coming back for. Get you a James Warwick does great.

Laura

so he must. Be in a lot of the star wars games. If there's a quiet gone, right? Yeah. Okay.

Xhafer

Yeah. That's that's most of his IMB DB acting credits. Are quite God, Jen. And then wildly small is his partner. Who's a real vet guy. She's been on all kinds of stuff. If there was a TV show that ran for five seasons in the late nineties to the mid two thousands, she was on it at some point as a bit character.

Laura

Okay.

Xhafer

All kinds of

Laura

Give us some flavor.

Xhafer

I didn't bother writing anything down because I did not recognize her from anything. Even though I have definitely watched a number of these

Laura

Yeah.. This is an episode where I didn't look up any of the guest stars.

Xhafer

We've only got the three we've got these two and Duncan are the only people who are credited.

Laura

Yeah. And is his Duncan anything special? We're going to get to

Xhafer

I didn't look him up.

Laura

Okay. Yeah. So when we come back from the theme these two. I've been watching him and the, the. The man with the parasite. And. He didn't make it.

Xhafer

No.

Laura

But you know, all his screaming has apparently alerted security and so they all got a bug out.

Xhafer

Hmm. I see what you did there.

Laura

It was, it was a weak one, but, you know, They're not all gems.

Xhafer

Right. It's fine. Over in the hallways outside of CNC. Sheridan once Ivanova to check in on Corwin, his promotion makes it more likely he's going to find out what the hell is going on on this station. And they need to know if he can be trusted.

Laura

Yeah, kind of a big deal.

Xhafer

duties don't actually change at all. As far as I can tell.

Laura

Yeah, I don't, I'm not sure why. Title promotion makes him more likely to find out.

Xhafer

But it does apparently. And so it's avant of his job to find out what's going on with this guy. We cut over to Marcus, wondering a down below market where he meets up with Duncan. He buys a piece that he's selling. And makes a ton of literary references, which is a thing Marcus does.

Laura

Absolutely. Absolutely. It's really funny. He makes one later that my husband's like you just made that reference earlier today. I'll point it out.

Xhafer

If you watch carefully, by the way, when he's making this transaction, one of the extras actually take something off of his table and walks away with it.

Laura

And I think that was like, Marcus is one of Marcus's whole points is he was like Duncan had fallen asleep, I think. And he's like, you need to watch your table better, sir.

Xhafer

It's like, no, one's going to steal this stuff. It's not even worth buying. Let alone stealing. It's like. Well,

Laura

Yeah, it's a nice touch to throw the extra in there like that.

Xhafer

Yep. Over in med lab meeting rooms. Franklin organizes his team of doctors and their assignments. And we say, learn of the mysterious death that he's going to have to figure out and about two scenes. Back in the down below bar, Marcus gets his news updates. And he's got one from ranger one.

Laura

Ooh, mysterious ranger one.

Xhafer

Well, We know who this is. This he's been, he's been identified. We know. That this is

Laura

Oh, That's right. That's right.

Xhafer

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We've, we've, we've found out that this is Sinclair now.

Laura

Okay. Okay. We had. We had a video from him for Garibaldi. And Dylan, right.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

Yeah, that's right. It's just been a minute.

Xhafer

And so he gets his news updates. They need to, Rangers are supposed to avoid earth space. Shadow vessels are gathering at the border of Centauri space.

Laura

Hmm.

Xhafer

And a mysterious package has left Mars and is set to arrive for the next episode.

Laura

that's the one I'm curious about, like, we kind of had an idea from Mondo's glass conversation with. Somebody wasn't REFA was it? No. It was his last conversation with Morton that Morton has moved on to other Centauri. So we know that. This entire you're still involved with the shadows, right? We kind of Have a good idea why Rangers would need to avoid her or don't we with all the uh, president Clark business. So.

Xhafer

out more about that next week

Laura

Yeah. So the package from Mars, put a pin on that one. I want to know what that is.

Xhafer

cut back over to MetaLab where Franklin begins his analysis. And he's just like relatively healthy trace amounts of dust and a handful of other drugs, but not enough to kill him. Can you, can you take a light trip of dust? I thought the whole point was that you couldn't.

Laura

that was literally like last episode. But. Yeah.

Xhafer

So. I don't know. But uh, he finds this fibrous thing wrapped around the spinal column. And in the HD upgrade, you can put together, this is the guy that got killed. Earlier in the show, it's something that I never put together on a previous watch. It's very obvious. Later in the episode, but at this point, The fidelity of the screen. The two images, the two faces. I never put it together, but it's clear as day. Maybe I'm just paying more attention to be perfectly

Laura

No, some of those little upgrades are nice to have because with old screens it was sort of ambiguous. Yeah. So he found something wrapped around this guy spine. He's got to find out more about it. But in the meantime, Marcus is looking for one of his contacts who didn't show up at Storytime.

Xhafer

Yeah. He finds his missing guy. And he's working with the bug people.

Laura

This is the scene is I, I think that the funniest thing about the scene is probably I set limitation. Because literally he and uh, his bar contact have gone looking for these guys. He finds them. They're all standing around creepily and say nothing to him. And he literally turns around and says to his contact. I don't like it. Something's wrong with him?

Xhafer

Oh, he specifically says something has gotten into him.

Laura

Oh, that's even better.

Xhafer

thought was very funny.

Laura

It is very funny. Yeah, but it's like, he literally just turned his back and said it right in front of the man, like.

Xhafer

Oh, yeah. I think he's three feet away.

Laura

Like, they're not going to stab you in the back now or something. This isn't bad at all.

Xhafer

Right.

Laura

I understand. It's probably, we didn't actually have enough space for Marcus to really walk away before he says that. But. Still very funny, very funny to think about.

Xhafer

Yeah, Franklin peels, a lake living worm thing. Off of this dude's spine.

Laura

so gross.

Xhafer

And promptly burns the body to prevent further infant's hesitation when he finds that it's still alive.

Laura

Oh,

Xhafer

Wait, is that, is that, is that not what he does?

Laura

No, actually, he pulls his mask down while he's in the same room. I think. There was one point while he's doing this, this examination that he pulls his mask down and I was like, Franklin No. You don't do that.

Xhafer

you're going to eat this thing. Like, what are you going to do?

Laura

Yeah, we all know about mass behavior. Now, guys, if we don't do that

Xhafer

Duncan then gets got. down below.

Laura

Yeah. So

Xhafer

Part of me wondered at this point. If these worm folks would have been a lot more successful, if they hadn't accidentally targeted Marcus's entire spiring.

Laura

Right. Well, I guess, okay. I can. Without jumping too far in the episode, I can kind of see why they did, I guess, but we'll, we'll talk about that when we get there.

Xhafer

Yeah. No, no. It makes knowing what's coming. Assuming that we believe it. Which I don't for the record. Hm. Staunch believer that it's all bullshit, but we'll get to it. After this Ivanova is just a fucking HR nightmare.

Laura

Oh my God, this is so funny. I can't stop laughing.

Xhafer

Like part of me feels bad for Ivanova for, for fault, like being able to make this misunderstanding, but really corporate is just like I guess I can't.

Laura

I feel really bad for him. Yeah.

Xhafer

I guess this has happened. Um,

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

going through his mind? This is, this is just fucking terrible.

Laura

does so much with his face in this episode, that is just a delight. I've had during this actor. Yeah, so he Ivanova basically wants to talk. Two core went in private, right? Because she's got her mission from Sheridan that she needs to find out, you know, it was core. Wouldn't going to be cool. Or is he a narc? Yeah. But the way she sets it up, it sounds very much like she's inviting him for a private date.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

Just

Xhafer

Yeah, just come back to my place for some coffee. It's real coffee. And it's like, oh, that sounds nice. Ah, Thank you. Thank you.

Laura

It's a classic nineties set up, right. This is a thing. Thing that happens in every nineties TV show. They misunderstood date.

Xhafer

Yeah. Marcus goes to Garibaldi, but then spit some classes to bullshit that future Jerry Doyle would be proud of.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

but Marcus is just like, dude. Fuck you.

Laura

It's very seasonal. How Marcus replies, because as you and I are recording, we are in the Christmas season. And uh, his, are there no prisons, are there no work houses is a classic Dickens Christmas Carol line, which I actually used at somebody on the internet today. So I guess I'm very.

Xhafer

The gas Mr. Morley or whatever the modes.

Laura

Yeah. Yeah. I'm like. Very on brand for our podcast. I felt like I was at that moment.

Xhafer

And that's two for this episode. Because we go back to the intro scene. He's giving Franklin shit for breaking everything down to biology and math. And of course, Jerry, Doyle's got a problem with science.

Laura

Rest in peace, Jerry Doyle.

Xhafer

Anyways Garibaldi tells them to make it Franklin's problem. In a stroke of dumb fucking lock.

Laura

Yeah, Marcus is a very resourceful individual. He can take anything and be like, ah, that's my idea. So He goes. Straight to Franklin.

Xhafer

this episode plays out so differently. If Garibaldi and Marcus get caught instead of Marcus and Franklin getting caught.

Laura

Mm, for sure. There's there's a lot that happens different, like More antagonizing and then Garibaldi is also not a doctor. So.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

His usefulness runs out.

Xhafer

Yeah. After this. Corwin wanders around the Socolow. I'm assuming looking for a gimp suit. No judgment. Uh, Before he settles on buying some roses. From discount, John Fabro. He is clearly a very confused individual.

Laura

They composed this scene very well because you know, Corwin is. I would say, you know, he's a taller man, obviously he's generally attractive, right? As an actor. And he's buying these flowers from the smaller flower seller, and it's just a very well composed hilarious conversation. Where the short king is telling him how he's got to do this.

Xhafer

Right.

Laura

Yeah. I love it.

Xhafer

just like. Oh, first date. Oh, roses. She aggressive. Yes.

Laura

He's into aggressive. We can tell.

Xhafer

After this Marcus and Franklin go to Duncan's quarters. And they find webbing and something that ate through the bulkheads.

Laura

And Dr. Franklin touches it. Did you see him touch it? The webbing at least.

Xhafer

I saw him touch it. What is this? Like? We know these bugs. Crawl into people. They can't like live outside of people. They're symbiotic, right? They're little trills.

Laura

Why do we need webbing?

Xhafer

What aid through these fucking holes? Did they D does it make you spit acid? Franklin not see that on his autopsy. Like, what did they like, what is this webbing and how did they make these holes in the hole? It doesn't make any through. They're huge too. They think they're people sized holes.

Laura

Yeah, we walked through them. We stand up.

Xhafer

Right. And it's just like, how is if, if the little bugs are doing it without the people, how much fucking work is that? And. It's just. Why. Anyways there after touching all of the stuff that they shouldn't. They crawl in through the holes and immediately get captured. And have just like the most fruitless conversation. This is like, The internet. Worst first date material.

Laura

Yes.

Xhafer

How are you staring?

Laura

Yeah. There's. A lot of staring from our extras and, and Guest stars in this episode.

Xhafer

Not a lot of conversation. Can you even understand me staring. And then Marcus proves that he failed basic math, but he does have an, a plan to escape.

Laura

He didn't fail. Real basic math. He's just a creative accountant. I get to make that joke.

Xhafer

Yeah, I was going to say like, I'll have everyone

Laura

I'm really bad. Um, well today aren't I.

Xhafer

So Corwin brings the roses to Yvanova's quarters and she's all like the fuck immediately, right? Like who left those at the door? Because there's no way she's possibly read this situation is what Corwin has. You know, Like, why are you? You wouldn't bring me roses. Someone must've left them. And he's just like yeah, that's what happened. And then, and then she's all like, oh, what a romantic gesture?

Laura

Hmm.

Xhafer

He's so confused.

Laura

Oh, you just feel really bad for him. This episode.

Xhafer

The the second hand awkward was painful for me.

Laura

Oh, yes. Yes. This is the kind of stuff that sometimes I have to get up and leave the room when I'm watching it on a television show. Cause it makes me feel so weird.

Xhafer

After this Duncan talks to Marcus and we get a name for our spine worms, the VIN Drizzy.

Laura

Yeah, that doesn't sound sinister at all. Yeah.

Xhafer

No. We get a bit about how the chemicals in that one guy's body. Are the reason why he died

Laura

Yeah, too many, too many drugs.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

And then the, these. Parasites one, a little help.

Xhafer

Yeah, they need Franklin's help to prevent more people from dying. As they merge them.

Laura

Yeah, the kidnapping a doctor to have him. Help your people. Merged with people. And not die. Good luck. Good luck.

Xhafer

So knowing what the aliens claim they are in about 15 minutes. Why don't you lead with that?

Laura

I mean, you could even just go to med lab with that.

Xhafer

Right. Hey, we just got on the station. This is the thing that we're doing. We're not a Colts. We promise.

Laura

Yeah. Yeah. I would argue that even though that approaches. It's weird. It's still better than like getting caught in down below.

Xhafer

Yeah,

Laura

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. At the same time, you know, Ivana, Vancor winter talking in her quarters. And she's apparently taken over Taka Seamus coffee plants.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

Re. We remember back in the pilot talk, talk Ashima, talked about how she appropriated some. The space in the hydroponics. For a little bit. Coffee Ivana has got that coffee. Now, and uh, she. He uses this as her segue to find out. Just how much of a company man Corwin is.

Xhafer

Yup. And uh, she's really disappointed in his answers.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

I felt he was kind of noncommittal. I think he's all like, well, mutiny seems like it's above my pay grade.

Laura

Yes. Yes. I was just like, I don't think we learned anything about Corwin from this and I don't think she should feel like she did.

Xhafer

Well, you know, she's all like, so you would report someone to earth if they were committing treason.

Laura

And what does he suppose to say?

Xhafer

Yeah, of course, commanding officer in the earth, military. That's exactly what I'm going to do.

Laura

She went about this all wrong. That's that's how I see it, but I don't know how she does it better than this, but still she did not get anything good out of him. Right.

Xhafer

She does go about it all wrong. And we, we find that out. In the best way. Later. When, when shit hits the fan.

Laura

We still got a few episodes to go.

Xhafer

Yeah. Marcus S Franklin about Ivanova when they're locked up.

Laura

Yeah, because we've got to shoehorn that into.

Xhafer

Yeah. Franklin starts with the advice. It's like, oh, well, you know, she's just, you just gotta let her warm up. She'll be your friend. And Marcus is all like, well, actually, then. Frank would gives us the line. You are so far from her type, you might as well be in different galaxies. Is this 2260s version of she's playing for the other team.

Laura

That's the way I read it. Yeah.

Xhafer

Yeah. That was definitely the way I read it too, was like, no, like I'm trying to tell you politely. That this isn't going to work for this reason. And I think Franklin isn't really aware of, of ANOVA to be perfectly honest, I think Ivanova knows about Talia to a certain regard.

Laura

Huh.

Xhafer

But they were very close, you know, that they were roommates, they were best friends. You know, the classics. That Talia was moving in after the first date. So. You know, some assumptions Franklin might be making there. To uh, to possibly dissuade Marcus too much. But at the same time, just like read the room, bro.

Laura

Yeah. I think that Franklin's dialogue here too, is sort of who the writer acknowledging that this is kind of weird to put these two plots together in this way. You know, we know that. For whatever reason. We're trying to ship Marcus toward Ivanova. And so Franklin at one point says like, this is ridiculous. Why are we talking about this right now? And I'm like, that's exactly how I feel. Franklin.

Xhafer

So there's actually a little bit about that in the use net notes. So JMS started this episode. Got pulled away on something completely different for a week. And then came back to this episode. As he's like the first half is a lot stronger than the second half. The second half just got away from me. I wrote it without notes about where I was going. I didn't remember a ton of stuff and I just kind of had to make it work.

Laura

Yup.

Xhafer

And it shows uh, he's not quiet about his feelings, that this is the worst episode of season three.

Laura

Yeah. All right.

Xhafer

he felt that after the script was done let alone after filming and everything, and it was put together, he was all like, this is clearly going to be the weakest episode. And it's because I didn't have time to go back and rewrite the whole episode. I had to write half the episode and push it through.

Laura

Yeah. Okay. I get it. I get it. My dude. Yeah. So the the bug people show back up. And they've got somebody who is sick. So they interrupted the Marcus Franklin conversation about Ivanova. To pull Franklin aside and tell him that he's got to help this person whose parasite is not. Working out right.

Xhafer

Yeah. And they're really shitty about it. They're like you are complicit, this person's death is on your hands and it's just like, did he put the worm on

Laura

You're right. But they know how to pro-life play Franklin, because this is something that he will absolutely play right into.

Xhafer

For sure.

Laura

He feels a lot of

Xhafer

time, Like, you know, this is happening, right? Like people who have certain things in their system. Like you could just be all like, Hey, so before we alien this dude can you scan his blood for drugs real quick?

Laura

drug tests, like, look, we had the, I had tell me you don't have a drug test in 2260.

Xhafer

Right. And it even plays into their whole thing because as we find out this is volunteers and you know, like people are agreeing to this. Check their system for drugs to see if they can even agree to this Right. now.

Laura

Right. Are they even

Xhafer

consent when you're inebriated, like. the fuck.

Laura

Moving on.

Xhafer

Oh, It's not complicated. Just fucking. Anyways Marcus managed to bring his plan to fruition. He takes out one guard with deception. He's all like, oh, that scanner just accidentally turn it on. Knock yourself out.

Laura

Yeah, this is a very good ruse. I love this ruse.

Xhafer

It was an excellent Ruse. And then the other one, he just kind of like grabs through the bars. Because the cell was never locked or shot. I'm just kinda like, ah, I gotcha. And just opens it up and walks out.

Laura

And like kicks him in the

Xhafer

that was a filming mistake. And they just ran with it.

Laura

Yeah. Cause he made it look good and all happens fast, you know? So you're like, man, just, just go with it. Do it live?

Xhafer

Yeah. Anyways Marcus is like a grandparent with a laptop when trying to use Franklins link. He eventually just gives up and runs out. Marcus takes out the other guard. As Ivanova gets to Garibaldi, you'd be like, Hey, someone who's not, Franklin was trying to use his link. That's fucking weird. Can you go here?

Laura

Yeah. A good feature considering it doesn't let you call 9 1 1. If you're not the person who owns the link, which I even, my iPhone will let my son call 9 1 1, you know?

Xhafer

Yeah, for sure. Um, Marcus goes duel pistols. Takes out all the lights and frees Frankland, and then it's like, oh wait, no, this is all on the up and up. Everyone volunteered for this. Like now that you're shooting at us, we'll tell you what's going on. Like. Security comes down and begins their search and we get some real trill cult shit. About what is going on here. They are the purveyors of history. Everyone volunteered for this to give their life purpose.

Laura

Yeah. But for some reason, we do this on the DL. Like we're fucking puppet masters.

Xhafer

Yeah. Which well that if this, if, if they were correct, I can understand that reasoning. For the exact cause Garibaldi calls bullshit on that later. And Ivanova tells them well, yeah, it's because if you had someone who wanted to rewrite history, And there was a galaxy known wide definitive source of history. What are you going to do to that source?

Laura

Yeah. Okay. Okay.

Xhafer

But it's just, it's just reeks of bullshit. The whole thing, like this is the way they go about stuff. Like, even if you're trying to keep it on the down low, you can Show up to the station and be like, Hey, this thing, and then fuck off into space again. You know, get your volunteers. But Dunkin's worm leaves him to prove the point. But this doesn't fucking sell me. Like, this is just as unbelievable as before you don't know how these worms reproduce. You don't know what they left in the brain.

This could be a second worm. This, you know, a little baby worm. This could be, they could have left A chunk of the thing in the brain. Duncan could be effectively dead. And just as just like a chicken running around with his head cut off in a significantly more complicated form.

Laura

Yeah, he, they could have just at least reprogrammed his brain and now he believes the bullshit, even though. The thing is not in him anymore, so yeah. It's very weak.

Xhafer

Doug and tells them what they want to hear. Franklin isn't sold, but is accepting. He's all like we're going to have to do. You know, like genetic verification of this then do less. Like he tries to, he unsuccessfully technobabble his way into it.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

And to talking Himself into it.

Laura

He's like. Let's all go to med lab and make this official basically.

Xhafer

Yeah. Have any of you seen a soul by the way, asking for a friend? And so, yeah, they it's, apparently he just wants to keep it on the up and up. When, I mean, he's like, okay, well, if you're going to get volunteers, then I need. Written consent from them before you fucking take their brain over which good call. So we, we cut over to a space. TSA Duncan is now leaving. Babylon five. He's reminiscing about his warm semester in Barcelona. And wants to recapture that feeling.

Laura

Yeah. Best of luck Dunkin. He is, he does seem to be. Be a sweet old man and you know, I'm very glad that he survived the whole thing.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

Because it sort of implied as the worm believes that like he's not, he's not healthy enough to take another worm. You think he might be actively dying when that

Xhafer

I thought he, yeah. I thought he was good. I didn't remember the scene of him leaving. I thought he was done.

Laura

Yeah. Yeah.

Xhafer

We cut over to your Hertz and Ivanova is led to believe that Marcus left the roses incidentally. Returned them to Marcus. Uh, In her mind and he's delighted to have been given roses.

Laura

Yeah, he's just delighted to have these. And he's like, oh, maybe this will work out.

Xhafer

Yeah, Alison. Synthetic roses. Nice.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

And that's the episode. All right, Laura, what'd you think of this one?

Laura

Okay. I can't remember. Have we rated something? Babble on one before. I was just thinking that as we were

Xhafer

I don't. I don't. know we've done a Babylon one. I think I did half of a Babylon for episode.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Yeah, no once. Fair.

Laura

Yeah, I I've got to give this one, a one. I can't even give it to like, and I'm glad that JMS is aware of its faults because it's not strung together. Well,

Xhafer

Yeah. I, I give it a two. And that, that, that score of two is entirely pity for Corwin and empathizing and secondhand embarrassment. And just. and that's it. That's, that's the only thing. It's it's a gag that isn't, I mean, it's, it's a terrible gack. Um, How it comes about and everything. but the way it wraps up is genuinely very funny. The comedy of errors.

Laura

Yeah. It Is very funny. I do enjoy. Marcus in this episode. Like, even though the plots hanging together very loosely, Jason Carter is delivery on all of his, like literary jokes and his just like delight at the roses at the end. I'm like, yeah, he is, he is funny and he is good. And I like him in this episode.

Xhafer

he's good in this episode,

Laura

The rest of

Xhafer

bit with him in the, the. Collapsible rod, the collapsible staff and the dude hitting himself. That was fun. There was a couple of moments, but this is a two out of five for me. It's just. It is not good. Television, and it is definitely not good. Babylon five.

Laura

But Hey, if JMS feels, this is the weakest one, then we're theoretically over the hump, right? This is. Oh, it's only going up from here in season three. And this wasn't the worst. I mean, I gave it a one, but it, it could have been. You know, there couldn't have been the delightful things that were in it. So.

Xhafer

Yes. This episode could have been worse.

Laura

Yeah. So it's going to go up from here and I look forward to what's coming next week.

Xhafer

Which is season three, episode eight messages from earth. Sheridan discovers a terrifying new Alliance between the shadows and another race.

Laura

Yeah, very short description on this one.

Xhafer

Incredibly short description to the point where I didn't remember what happened in this episode. And had to Google it.

Laura

Yeah. I have an idea, but I will see if I'm right next time.

Xhafer

before we get there, let's make sure to say thank you. To Jeremy Siegel for our lovely theme music, you can find more of Jeremy's work at Jeremy Siegel. 40 two.bandcamp.com.

Laura

And thank you to angry deck time machine on Instagram for our podcast artwork.

Xhafer

Thank you everyone. Who's taken the time to review our podcast and leave us a leave us those reviews. We really appreciate that. They're very kind words that keep us going. Really, it's really nice to hear. Thank you so much. And joined the conversation. Who are you? At gmail.com. Send us an email. We'll do read your email on our next mailbag segment. Go ahead and join our discord as well. You can get the link all over.

If you can't find it, email us, we'll get it to you and you can interact with us there. Definitely not on Twitter.

Laura

Yeah, we're not good at Twitter. All the other stuff aside.

Xhafer

I was never good at Twitter. And then I had to on install it from my phone because I was getting actively bombarded by bots.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Then just false information constantly. It's just like, I'm just on installing this. So. But anyways besides fuck Twitter. Everyone else have a great week. We'll see you next week. Internet take care.

Laura

All right. Bye.

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