S4E7 - G'Kar 3:16 - podcast episode cover

S4E7 - G'Kar 3:16

Jul 05, 202344 minEp. 83
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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.

Laura and Xhafer play some plot poker, creating an episode to give Lieutenant Corwin his time to shine. Meanwhile, the population of B5 celebrates the end of the Shadow War, but behind the scenes Psi Corps and Bester have other plans on Babylon 5 - Season 4 Episode 7: Epiphanies.

Transcript

Laura

Hello and welcome to, who Are You? It's a Babylon five watch cast by a couple of former strangers who are now friends and are continuing to get to know each other over one of their favorite shows from their childhood. Babylon. Five. I'm Laura,

Xhafer

and I'm Jair

Laura

and today we're gonna play some plot poker.

Xhafer

If you have not heard this segment before, listener we've got a bunch of packs of the Babylon five card game. We're gonna open 'em up. We organize them into separate piles representing characters who the plot centers around the problem for that character, the solution, and then a twist. Laura and I will each take one of these, use it to craft the APO and B plot of a hypothetical episode of Babylon five, and then we will rate that episode on our normal rating scale of Babylon's one to five.

Laura

Sometimes we have some real good ones and sometimes we have some stinkers.

Xhafer

We've, we've had some stinkers, we've had some good ones. All right, let's get into some packs here.

Laura

Yeah, I'm opening my first one now. I don't feel like I've had very good packs the last few episodes, so fingers crossed.

Xhafer

Hm. I got a premonition with Londo on the throne.

Laura

I have the Agamemnon.

Xhafer

Oh,

Laura

That's a

Xhafer

card. Probably.

Laura

ship.

Xhafer

I got the Lon Planet Killer.

Laura

I feel like that's a problem. Right? I suppose it could also be a solution.

Xhafer

I definitely put it under problems. The Babylon five War Council. I feel like that's a solution.

Laura

Yeah,

Xhafer

Oh, I got the Pak Mara Ambassador.

Laura

it could also be a problem and not just a character. Oh, I got that. Uh, Gaia Ambassador. Let's see. I also got the war council. can't remember if we've had, uh, unexpected return where we have nice crispy morden.

Xhafer

I have not seen that card. Ooh, a piece of cord. That's a solution.

Laura

I have a card that's called low level conflict. That's a problem, but it's not a big problem.

Xhafer

Like it's technically a problem.

Laura

Yeah. Yeah.

Xhafer

And Ooh, beyond the rim.

Laura

I have a card that says, you didn't mean that. I like that the bluff card is just Marcus.

Xhafer

It doesn't need to be anything else.

Laura

Yeah. Okay. Last pack. Let's see what I get. Again, I just don't get very good stuff in this box. I got a dud.

Xhafer

It'll happen. I mean, the game itself is very like, Diplomatic, intriguing, and that's not like the most exciting stuff to make cards out of.

Laura

Yeah, I have a car that's just called futility. Like what is that even?

Xhafer

All right, well, I'm all ready to go. So I'll start reading off this a plot we open on Lieutenant David Corwin. Hey,

Laura

Oh, we haven't gotten him yet. Okay.

Xhafer

that's a fun little episode for him. Maybe a lower Dex style of the t and g, not necessarily the animated series, more comedy, but like some that focuses on. The other people, you know, maybe during a big event. Let's see what her problem is. The death of Kosh.

Laura

Oh.

Xhafer

Okay, so Corwin is, you know, obviously one of the ambassadors has died. It's a big deal. And most of the senior staff is kind of out. Handling shit, right? Like

Laura

Sure.

Xhafer

everyone's meeting in Sheridan's office. Big moves are happening. But you know, the cargo base still need to be unloaded. You know, there's, the station still has to run as a place, and so Corwin is kind of left in charge as all of our senior staff fucks off to go figure out what the hell is gonna happen next. And so there's all kinds of stuff.

He's not really directly dealing with the death of Kosh, but that's definitely the prevalent thing that pulls everyone away, and then he finds the answer to his problems, walks into c and C. It is Commander Ivanova returning to take care of shit and just instantly gets everyone who needed to be talking, talking, handles shit in her.

The way that only she can and releases corwin of his burdens of trying to run c N C. And then when we close the episode two credits we're on Corwin, we're in his quarters, and he has a vlan dream

Laura

Oh, spooky.

Xhafer

now. Yeah, just like a. It's kind of a, he doesn't really know what to make of it. We might see it and go, a, this is a b prepared kind of message. But Corwin just does no idea what it means. He's not involved enough in the main plot to understand what's going on.

Laura

right. He's our sweet, sweet, good boy. So we have kind of a little like lower dexy. Feeling going on following Lieutenant Corwin in the A plot. Right. Okay. So in the B plot we have Aira Tyree.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

We've seen her card a few times I think, but we haven't had her in the game.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

And so it looks like this is sort of a alternate version of What happens with Aira in the series because in the problems we've got a night watch agent. So this night watch agent has been tasked with following Aira and figuring out her role in everything. And this night watch agent is trying to stir up trouble cuz you know, night watch is all about. Human interest instead of alien interests. Yeah. And so he can stir up some good trouble with the centara, can't he?

If he has figured out that ADARA is related to Londo as a Paramore uh, so he. Exterminates, I have extermination as a card.

Xhafer

Oh, okay.

Laura

Dear Tyree. And this leads to a huge public outcry

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

end of the episode. As the relations with the Ari are in huge danger because night Watch has been. Meddling in the Saria Affairs.

Xhafer

Now trying to make this all work in Sirius Cannon and my brain meets knowing that adara is killed by the shadows. And we see people who are effectively killed by the shadows. Sometimes they aren't all the way dead, you know?

Laura

Uhhuh.

Xhafer

me wonder if Adara is secretly a shadow agent who's come

Laura

Oh.

Xhafer

Make sure Lando does what needs to be done or something for Morden's plan and that this night watch person thinking that they're doing night Watchy stuff actually kind of inadvertently saves Lando,

Laura

Can you imagine if ADRA Tyree showed up the way that Anna Sheridan showed up as a shadow agent, how would Londo take that? He would just completely fall for it. Right.

Xhafer

Oh, a hundred percent. Yeah.

Laura

Yeah, he would uh, hook, line and sinker.

Xhafer

All right. Well that's an episode.

Laura

Well, how do you rate that one?

Xhafer

out of this episode. I think this episode sounds great. I'm here for this up.

Laura

I'm always into, uh, a good lower decks kind of thing

Xhafer

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I, I'd definitely give this one a four out of five. The way it's playing out in my head right now. I love this

Laura

Yeah. Yeah. I really, I like the spin you put on it of Adera is some kind of shadow agent because that does make things complicated for Londo cuz he was trying to kick himself a Mr. Morden. Right.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

And uh, if you bring something even more tempting back,

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

not gonna say no, he's londo.

Xhafer

No. All right.

Laura

Not bad.

Xhafer

No, I think, yeah, it sounds like a good ep. You know, much like the EP we've got today, season four, episode seven, epiphanies. We open on fireworks. It's a celebration. The SoCal Low is a jazz club. Hell yeah.

Laura

This midi jazz, everyone is rocking out to this midi jazz.

Xhafer

Right.

Laura

It's not convincing for me, but, okay.

Xhafer

You know, you didn't get down on Alexander Z check.

Laura

Did you, uh, click through this scene really closely?

Xhafer

No. I would not say that. I, I spent a lot of time on this scene.

Laura

I only did because I wound up watching it twice.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

Like if you go through the scene slowly, there's some fun stuff in the background. There's like a narn lady who is boogieing

Xhafer

Is there a gorilla bartender?

Laura

Oh, I didn't see any gorilla bartender, but I did see two monks. One monk is like dancing with a lady and another one is like just jamming out by himself. So I was like, well, brother Theo's monks are still here.

Xhafer

Good for them.

Laura

Yeah, and then we go up to Sheridan, who's just watching from the balcony. All paternal

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

like a good father.

Xhafer

up. Yeah. We cut over to Earth after this to Cycore headquarters in Geneva, as we know it is located from our books. And investor gets the order from, I'm guessing this is the head of Cycore.

Laura

Yeah, I was wondering because you know, since we read our books right, we know that the head of Cycore is a mundane, right?

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

And they're doing a lot of just like mouth talking.

Xhafer

Yes,

Laura

If they were two telepaths, do you think we would have like them kind of looking at each other and then voiceover instead of talkie talking?

Xhafer

I, I think with ster for sure.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Who would've been the leader of Psycore at this point? I feel like it's the, it's the dude who took over for uh, Sters dad, right?

Laura

Yeah. Or grand grandfather I think. But um, yeah, it's gotta be that guy. Right? And they didn't get along. No wait. He killed, he killed a guy. He killed that guy.

Xhafer

Okay. So.

Laura

At the end of the last book.

Xhafer

What year is it in story? We're in 2261. Okay,

Laura

February to be specific.

Xhafer

so this is. Lee Crawford. There's no pictures. There'd be pictures. Kevin Bassett was the guy before

Laura

Uhhuh.

Xhafer

he ran Cycore until 2161, so it's whoever took over for him. We don't know.

Laura

Well, I thought we killed that guy. At the end of the last book, whoever took over for Vait.

Xhafer

Yes. Yeah. Lee Crawford. Yeah, he dead and he, he's dead at the start of Sters, first trip to Babylon five. So this is somebody else

Laura

Yeah. So I, but I feel like this guy has big, mundane energy, right?

Xhafer

for sure.

Laura

feel like a telepath.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

He's got the badge, the Sitecore badge on his uniform. But I don't think he's a telepath of any kind. But he's uh, uh, telling ster that President Clark has Decided he wants Babylon five, shut down for good, and he's got Sitecore Earth Force Night Watch, ministry of Peace, all on this new program thing.

Xhafer

Yeah. So Yuri Geller here tells us the plan is to remove Babylon Five's support system, then take it down rather than martyr anyone. They seem real concerned about martyring people over there. After this we cut over to Sari Prime. Orlando is getting the fuck out.

Laura

Yeah. Smart move.

Xhafer

Yep.

Laura

I had kind of forgotten what happens with Wado after last episode, so I was like, huh. He's not gonna be Emperor yet. He's Prime Minister. So what happens? And then it starts to unfold. They need basically a placeholder right now, right? Wado tells Minister Reini that they've decided to appoint a regent.

Xhafer

Promotion.

Laura

Verini is like, who would want that job? That sounds terrible.

Xhafer

I hear the wage is great. Oh, it's me,

Laura

And he talks about, you know, it's just a ceremonial role, kind of a placeholder. Oh, this is the perfect job for Verini. Right. He wants new curtains. He can handle that.

Xhafer

right? Yeah. And topic number one, redecorating.

Laura

Yeah. Ceremonial role he was born for, to play this part.

Xhafer

Over on B five Jaar visits Franklin, who makes sure his eye isn't infected, he gets some painkillers and there's talk about setting him up with a prosthetic eye,

Laura

Mm.

Xhafer

a functional prosthetic eye.

Laura

Yeah. Yeah. Thenar apparently don't have their own like prosthetics. What with the, you know, mass drivers and all uh, but Franklin thinks he canap something from human, so, Prosthetics, uh, Jaar is doing bits on Franklin here, but, uh, Franklin's super uncomfortable with,

Xhafer

Yeah. He is all like it. We'll see if we can make it work. And he is just like, oh, you know, will it be as good? It's all like, well, like don't stand too close to power sources and stuff, and,

Laura

and he's like, you know, I don't know what they got my eye with. I only saw it from this angle.

Xhafer

Right. It's so tragic. I laugh so I don't cry. Like it's just and that's his vibe too, the whole time.

Laura

Franklin is just not he hasn't figured out that humor yet, I guess, or he didn't expect Jakarta to not be so serious about his current situation.

Xhafer

Yeah Franklin asked Shakar why he didn't take the job as leader of the Narn, and he's just all like, man, nah, power, nah the cost of power is always much more than it's worth.

Laura

he's not wrong,

Xhafer

Yep.

Laura

as we will see.

Xhafer

Over in Garibaldis bathroom, he's shaving. Did you Clocky as a A Daffy duck soap dispenser.

Laura

Aaron pointed that out. He was like, I bet they were selling that at the time. Like you go into the Warner Brothers store or whatever in the mall and there's a bunch of Daffy Duck soap dispensers.

Xhafer

For sure. He gets a message like we've seen before. Whenever we've seen a sleeper agent awaken, they get one of these magic eyes

Laura

Mm-hmm.

Xhafer

that just fucks your brain.

Laura

Yeah. This is real ominous. We don't see like a instant turn or anything.

Xhafer

goes and erases his sad face in the mirror and then immediately resigns.

Laura

Yeah, no. He, he erases the sad face. He deletes his browser history and then goes and resigns, like, but it's not as dramatic as like, When Talia turned, that's what I'm getting at. Like, hers was a very explosive episode and this is just like a whoop change in direction. Do these things now.

Xhafer

Yeah. I think this is more of a nudge than it is a full on

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

personality thing,

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

It definitely feels that way.

Laura

Mm-hmm.

Xhafer

We come back from commercial and we get a Disney Planet reference. That's fun.

Laura

Yeah. Where's Disney Planet? I wanna know.

Xhafer

jms commented on this where it's all like, yeah, so, you know, once corporations start toking planets, then Disney would go make Disney Planet and then they'd have two.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

The implication being that they also rule Earth.

Laura

I mean, it's just, it's logical at this point, right? Once we get that far, Disney's going out there.

Xhafer

The senior staff is like, no, don't go. You're so good at your job. I did not buy any of this for a minute from them. I don't know if it was just the acting or if they're just like, you've been such an asshole lately that this is probably good

Laura

Mm.

Xhafer

but it just felt like they just could not care.

Laura

Yeah. And it seems, it's so weird because we didn't know anything about what he was up to while everybody else was out saving the galaxy.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm. Yep. He talks about how he's going to go and help people and start Aldi's Homeschool Security school. Uh Oh. Oh wait. Detective Agency. Yeah. Aldi's Homeschool Security Detective Agency. That's what we're gonna do.

Laura

Oh man. That sounds like a winning proposition.

Xhafer

What? Follows after. This is one of the best scenes in this series.

Laura

Zach Allen trying to instruct the new recruits.

Xhafer

Yeah. Zach Allen's got a class of newbies for security. He takes him to space, tsa, and he's just like, you can't be here too long because it gets terrible. Trust me. And then Alando walks in. Excellent banter, A plus. Wado admits to killing the Emperor.

Laura

Yeah,

Xhafer

And not only, it's just like, well, you know I had to kill the emperor to leave Sari Prime. You say over your dead body. I'm back. You're just gonna have to wait your turn. I'm a little tired right now. Like, Zack's next.

Laura

but you know, Zach is like, He's like a little puppy kinda. So I think that Londo is safe doing this right, because it's just gonna kind of go over his head.

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

I like that there's a couple nars in the newbies

Xhafer

Yes, I caught that.

Laura

still using the NAS in our security force.

Xhafer

Yep. Just as soon as Zachary Gaines composure from sparring with Philando fester comes in,

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

I assume my regular quarters in the Bri are ready for me. Mm. No notes fester. A plus.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Then Zack gets pinged. He needs to go to the captain because of a problem with Mr. Garibaldi. What follows is beautiful? Zack's like, I'm out before the second coming walks in that gate, right? Being the second coming of Jesus. Laura, you're a person who's spent time in churches.

Laura

Uh Huh.

Xhafer

Can you tell me what Harold did? The first coming?

Laura

The first coming of Jesus.

Xhafer

there were a couple things, right?

Laura

Yeah, are we talking about Christmas or are we talking

Xhafer

talking about Christmas.

Laura

Okay. The three wise men.

Xhafer

The three Kings and who walks in right after he says that line, but three Elvis impersonators the three kings. Heralding the second coming. It's so good. Oh,

Laura

That is very nice.

Xhafer

I laughed so fucking hard. I was just like,

Laura

That's very poetic.

Xhafer

so good.

Laura

Oh man.

Xhafer

After this we're in Garibaldis quarters and he's very poorly folding his uniform into a box.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Jaar comes to visit Garibaldi feels partially complicit to Ja car's suffering. Uh, He was only captured because he had left to go look for him, and Jaar is like, look, you are safe. I'm alive. Somehow through all this, my people are free. This is literally the best possible outcome. You know, it's an outcome. So good. I couldn't have anticipated it. You have nothing to feel bad about.

I owe you gratitude because if I hadn't, if our friendship had not developed to the point where I was willing to risk myself to look for you. I wouldn't have been able to find a way to save my people.

Laura

Yeah, I wouldn't have been in the right place at the right time. Had a big cost, but it was a cost he was willing to pay.

Xhafer

For sure. I don't think Jaar considers what he's gone through a cost at all. I think in his mind, this is the bargain bin version of what you would pay

Laura

Yeah, because I think he is, you know, willing to, like John three 16, this whole thing, like lay down his whole life for the freedom of narn and he didn't have to, he laid down an eye, you know, small price to pay.

Xhafer

If we ever do merch, we needed Shakar three 16 shirt.

Laura

Yes. Reef of Madness and Jaar three 16.

Xhafer

Yep. And then Ben can sell his little homeschool security graduate certificates.

Laura

Yes.

Xhafer

Mine's up in the office. You can't see it. It's above my plant right next to me. But,

Laura

Yeah. Yeah.

Xhafer

Sheridan put Zach in charge of security while they figure out what the hell's going on with Garibaldi. The general consensus is that this is just. Him having a moment and will pass. They bring in Alita to protect them from ster. His issn starts talking some shit.

Laura

Yeah. We've banned all travel to Babylon five for any Earthship. Good thing that the Elvis impersonators made it here before Theban, right?

Xhafer

Right. That could have been bad news.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

president has instituted a totally legal. Very safe ban on travel to rogue state Babylon five, who we all know have a terrorist plot. It's very obvious you'll all see it later. I have no problem having a terrible Trump impression. It's really just the cadence.

Laura

Yeah

Xhafer

Zach goes to get Lita for their investor meeting, and she's all like, You know, it's his job to hunt me. Right? Like you're aware he has feelings.

Laura

And I'm pretty sure Lita knows at this point that. Ster is not a match for her anymore. Like, but they don't know that. But I don't know if, if you've been hanging out with the LANs, I think it's a safe assumption that like, hmm, maybe we are safe with this person from Mr. Baster. I love that we uh, didn't just forget about her empty apartment.

Xhafer

she's got a bunch of stuff in bags. They're all labeled Zocalo and stuff. It's a nice touch.

Laura

yeah, she's been uh, on a spree in the Zocalo. She's trying to fill up her empty space with Steph.

Xhafer

More importantly, she's like, where the fuck is my invite to the after episode bar Chill?

Laura

Yeah,

Xhafer

I know you guys do it. We've seen it on camera a couple of times.

Laura

yeah, yeah. Why can't I come

Xhafer

dinner. Right?

Laura

and Zach like says it's, you know, because of her association with the VLANs. Like, oh, it's a little touchy now, but is it just that like we've seen, you know, mundane humans around Telepaths in the show, like they're not super comfortable with most telepaths, right.

Xhafer

No. Zack's like, you know, like, I'll help you unpack and I'll bring some pizza. And she's just like, not you, the actual main characters. Very much the vibe as she gets escorted to the meeting room,

Laura

Right.

Xhafer

Londo and Jaar, see each other at the Zocalo. And Shakar is just like smoke bombs. Peace bitch. Hope better. Never see me again.

Laura

Pocket sand.

Xhafer

I wasn't expecting so much aggression from Jaar. I mean, having seen the series a number of times at this point I forgot that he was so aggressive to Malari in this scene. I mean, I understand why. But

Laura

They're square now, right. Sort of like,

Xhafer

mean, ish, I don't know that they could ever really be square.

Laura

Right, right,

Xhafer

But it's not as bad as it was.

Laura

right. So, I mean, I, I get why he's aggressive. I didn't remember it either. Yeah. But Babylon five's not a big place, so hope they don't run into each other again.

Xhafer

Yeah. Over at the conference room, fester is offended at having to even share a table with Lita.

Laura

Yeah. Gross.

Xhafer

He's

Laura

He's very classist.

Xhafer

yeah, she's a P five. Like, it's not like she could stop me anyways, and I'm just sitting here like, please try, please try best or please fuck around. Please fuck around. Please fuck around. Please fuck around knowing what Le can do to him at this point.

Laura

Right. Uh, He's got the, the goods, so he knows. From presumably the mundane head of Psycore that they're in phase one. We are getting the disinformation campaign painting Babylon, five as terrorists.

Xhafer

Yeah, and then there's phase two, but we're not gonna talk about that yet cuz you need to give me a ride to Zaha Doom so I can try and save my girlfriend.

Laura

Yeah, apparently girlfriend has still been on ice this whole time. In the Babylon five Med Lab

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

Question mark. Not

Xhafer

Cryogenics. Yeah. There's a, there's a cryogenics. Yeah. Ster, we get a little like camera thing, which is supposed to be like sters psychic presence, like going and checking on minds and just like, Getting shut out instantly by everyone.

Laura

Yeah, all he can hear is every what everyone is speaking, he cannot hear the thoughts.

Xhafer

Yeah. So he starts to fuck around a little and he starts to find out a little, but backs off immediately. But Sheridan does agree to give him a lift. Ster actually has some details. It's Black Omega Squad is gonna destroy the blockade and blame it on Babylon five. So they have to go wreck these Cycore ships. I don't believe this for a fucking second.

Laura

okay.

Xhafer

Like obviously it's what happens. We've seen the rest of the episode and Ster has an entire testimonial to get you to buy in that he was willing to sacrifice Black Omega for his girlfriend.

Laura

Right.

Xhafer

I think that's completely outta character. It doesn't read like ster to me at all, especially with the books and his telepath supremacy. Views, supremacist views and stuff. These are arguably probably the most powerful telepaths. They're definitely the best PSYOPs cuz Ster only works with the best of the best. Like, I don't think he's willing to sacrifice six telepath loyalist lives for one blip regardless of personal association.

Laura

Especially six that he trusts explicitly. Black Omega we've learned in the books especially was his baby and he put them through a lot in order to be able to trust them. And he knows that, you know, Cycore was like, or, and especially Earth Force was like fucking around with the shadows. He's not into that. Is he really going to sacrifice six of his most loyal servants? I guess so.

Xhafer

Why doesn't he just take Plaque Omega and go to fucking Zaha Dom himself? He has no need for the white star.

Laura

oh. Yeah. That's an interesting idea, isn't it? Like, is he just

Xhafer

an episode plot, that's why. But

Laura

Is he just trying to like hide behind the rolon technology in the white Star? Like hoping that that would help in some way

Xhafer

maybe, yeah, just you guys have done it before a couple of times, and ships typically don't come back, so clearly can do this. I don't know that I can. There are reasons, but it just feels like his ego, I don't think would prevent him from like, oh, Sheridan figured it out. I'm gonna be fine. You know? Like

Laura

he's just a mundane, right?

Xhafer

he's not even a particularly bright one, like, you know,

Laura

mm-hmm.

Xhafer

I

Laura

Dazzling teeth though.

Xhafer

Yeah. Uh,

Laura

So maybe he's replaced his loyal servants in these star furies perhaps.

Xhafer

Maybe, I mean, that'd be a play for sure. That'd be in line with him, is have some other side cops in there for a minute to get blown up

Laura

Yeah. Unfortunately, it's just not something the episode can get into.

Xhafer

Yeah. After this, Zach goes to Garibaldis quarters to get the codes the station, like shut down emergency codes. And Zach lets him know he feels a bit betrayed by this resignation. Have you or have you seen a coworker leave a job and then have people feel this way?

Laura

Ha. Have I felt this way about a coworker leaving a job? I mean,

Xhafer

I don't

Laura

if the shoe fits, huh?

Xhafer

I honestly, I don't understand it. Like if someone walks out that door on their own terms, I am genuinely congratulating them for their career advancement. Every single time I have been leading a team and had been like, we had just lost someone, someone was out and someone else was out on paternity and someone else finds another gig, and it's just like I am actually like truly short staffed due to circumstances that are a bit out of my control, you know?

Like enough shit has happened in rapid succession, and I still genuinely was happy for them. You know, like, I don't know, maybe I just, I don't understand this mindset like of, I mean, you are making things harder for everyone who stays, but good for you. You're doing the thing, you know, like go do the thing, whatever that thing is.

Laura

No, I don't. I don't think that it comes from a place of like, oh, you're making my life harder. I think it's just like, man, sometimes you feel close to people. I. And you're genuinely like sad or jealous to see them leave you? I don't know. As long as you don't get crazy with it. I think it's a normal human emotion.

Xhafer

Fair. I mean, yeah, I mean there's definitely complexity and stuff to it. But uh, anyways the chief is telling Zack he's taking a chance on himself, like he took a chance on Zack and Zack's like, oh, oh fuck. Fair enough.

Laura

Yeah. I think, I think that there's a healthy response to that. What is not healthy is how the emergency codes to lock down the station are lost somewhere in Garibaldis quarters. We've got some real bad password security again here.

Xhafer

Yes, it's, it's terrible.

Laura

And they're just like in a bag in his sock drawer, I guess. Like somehow

Xhafer

mm-hmm.

Laura

don't, don't understand it.

Xhafer

Yeah. It's just like of all the things, why this?

Laura

Mm-hmm.

Xhafer

But it's very Garibaldi.

Laura

It is very garibaldi, very homeschool security.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm. Over on a white star. Sheridan and Delen. Talk about hoping for a few days between crisises and len's, just like bullshit. I have a dream where you're on a beach with nothing to do and your head explodes because of it.

Laura

Yeah. That's starting to be his mo, isn't it? He's a little bit of a workaholic.

Xhafer

for sure. Ivanova brings in the calvary and saves the blockade squadron, letting them know who sent them. Bester confronts Lita about her si level jump. He tells her that she has a moral obligation to share her path to growth with all human telepaths, and she's like, fuck off.

Laura

Yeah. I mean, I. Could she even comprehend what the VLANs did to her?

Xhafer

No. No, I don't

Laura

She'd have to be dissected, basically.

Xhafer

even then, who knows if that would actually turn up anything that would be remotely useful?

Laura

Yeah. Like is humanity even at a point to recreate this enhancement?

Xhafer

Probably not.

Laura

Doubtful, yeah. And now the war ones are gone so we'll, you know,

Xhafer

Yeah.

Laura

not gonna get any shortcuts to it.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm. When they arrive, they see a bunch of ships evacuating. Zaha Dom Sheridan pulls the ship away on instinct as the planet self-destructs

Laura

Yeah, I guess they left some of those nukes in their own core.

Xhafer

Right? And you got enough of them. Ster gets a few minutes outside the cryo pod to reaffirm his actions. Were totally in character, you guys.

Laura

Totally in character. I'm just gonna monologue this here to my frozen girlfriend.

Xhafer

Right. Just to let everyone know that my actions a hundred percent in character. Nothing to worry about there.

Laura

Yeah. And it just seems a little outta character for a telepath to sit there, mouth talking. So this does seem like it is for show when you look at it that way. I know it's also for the audience but he doesn't need to do this.

Xhafer

No, Sheridan drops on to check on Lita, but also to just blame her for the planet blowing up. Oh, hey, just wanted to see how things were going, and also to just say, Hey, did you blow up that fucking planet?

Laura

Yeah. I mean there was like one little look on her

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

in that scene that I was like, oh yeah, she did it.

Xhafer

She totally did it, and he's like, fuck you. You don't get to make those decisions and then leaves.

Laura

Yeah. What do you really think? Sheridan would've made a different decision though.

Xhafer

No,

Laura

Yeah. He's just mad that he didn't get to say it first.

Xhafer

Yeah. Well, Lita probably doesn't have. A full picture, if any, all the operations that are going on and stuff. You know,

Laura

Mm-hmm.

Xhafer

like I can understand from a a need to know information basis that there might have been something else that was more important there. Ranging from a plot two strand ster on Zaha Doom to, they actually needed something there. I don't know why Fri or Sheridan's, just like when they bring it up in the first place, he's like, oh, you wanna go to Zaha? Do. It's a big crater. I was there seven episodes ago, and let me tell you, not a lot left.

Laura

Yeah, it's surprising there's anybody left to evacuate,

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

I mean, man, that could have been, that could have been really useful to know what races or people were there evacuating. I might have been helpful

Xhafer

Yeah. Yeah. Zach shows up with pizza and then we're back to Sheridan, who finally takes a minute to go, oh, should we have followed those ships? Maybe. Wish I could have done something about that.

Laura

Yeah, I mean, it's not like I can make my own jump points in my Starship,

Xhafer

Right. And then we get Now Regent Verini is woken up by his keeper to, uh, end credits.

Laura

These things are creepy.

Xhafer

They're so cr I mean, they're supposed to be,

Laura

Right,

Xhafer

I mean, that's their name too. Like it's keeper with a capital K, like that's the name of their race.

Laura

Yeah. Is, are they their own race or are they like a technology of a different race? Do we know?

Xhafer

Spoily. Yeah, there's some spoily there for later, so we'll save

Laura

But it's definitely an alien. It's got a single like orange eye pops open, all creepy. Like I kind of feel bad for Regent Verini. All he wanted was new curtains.

Xhafer

We got 'em.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

And that's the episode. On a scale of one to five, how did you feel about this one?

Laura

Well, you know, after the like drama of the last episode, it is sort of, I don't wanna say a let down cuz that that's kind of like a negative connotation to it, but you know, it's just not as action packed. I always loved when ster shows back up.

Xhafer

Mm-hmm.

Laura

But for me, this is kind of, you know, back to average. Like we got really ramped up in the last episode. We had our fives, no notes, no changes. But for me, we're back kind of in average town. What about you?

Xhafer

Uh, same. I put this as three of five. Uh, best or just felt so outta character to me.

Laura

Yeah, it is weird. Ster feels out of character. And then for me, the, the Garibaldi stuff isn't defined enough yet for me to really feel it what's happening with him. I do like that Lita gets to show up. Ster,

Xhafer

I did appreciate that. A great deal.

Laura

that's a fun touch. Very happy. No

Xhafer

was, Zach was, priceless.

Laura

Yeah.

Xhafer

Uh, But besides that, that's really the only stuff that I'll ever think about this episode. Ha. Has we referenced multiple times where it's like, oh yeah, I forgot about this little thing. That was weird. There's a lot of that, this episode and it, it shows that it's not that important to be perfectly honest.

Laura

Yeah. I we're setting a bunch of stuff up. Again, we're just reminding everybody that like, Hey, just because the shadows are gone doesn't mean everything's over and done with. And something else mysterious is going to be coming,

Xhafer

It's still still more dominoes to be set up to lead us to the end of the show at this point,

Laura

yeah.

Xhafer

which uh, we'll continue on to with season four, episode eight, the illusion of truth. A propagandist news reporter visits Babylon. Five. Sheridan receives bad news about his father Franklin tries to save the cryogenically frozen telepaths.

Laura

Oh no. I think we'd wondered what happened to Daddy Sheridan. Papa Sheridan, let's call him that.

Xhafer

Yeah, there's been no news. Normally no news is a good thing, but not when your dad's really old and his health wasn't great.

Laura

And he was being, I. Sought by a fascist government doesn't seem great.

Xhafer

Yeah,

Laura

Well, I look forward to finding out what happened.

Xhafer

and I look forward to spending some time with Jeremy Siegel's May album. Which is out now, and as this episode airs, June will probably be out, but it isn't as we're recording. So no promises there. Uh, You can find more Jeremy's work at Jeremy Siegel 42 bandcamp.com on Spotify and other streaming services, nuclear Jaguar. Jeremy, thank you so much for our theme music. We really appreciate it.

Laura

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

Xhafer

Aaron, thanks for spending the time to edit our podcast and make sure that it's listenable instead of rambling trash. Really appreciate you.

Laura

There may or may not have been rambling trash in this episode that had to get. Sliced out.

Xhafer

It's fine. It happens. And then uh, thank you listener for spending some time with Laura and I, as we talk about one of our favorite shows. We really appreciate it. You can join our community on Discord. Who are you? BFI gmail.com. We've got a Twitter that I never check and a Facebook that at least pushes stuff to my phone, so I see it pretty quickly. But yeah, interact with us there. The Discord is the place to be, so join that.

Laura

Yeah, we'll be happy to have you.

Xhafer

And we'll see you next week. Internet.

Laura

Bye.

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