Strange Relations

Episode 96: Strange Relations (Season 5, Episode 6)

Synopsis: In which Bester comes looking for Byron’s telepaths, and Garibaldi learns Captain Lockley’s dark secret.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517694/?ref_=ttep_ep6

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/094.html

I absolutely love this image that the Lurker’s Guide used for this episode:

Same, Byron. Same.

Gwendoline Christie: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3729225/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Mads Mikkelsen: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Alan Cumming: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001086/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Titus: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120866/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_85

The Minnie Driver/Alan Cumming film was 1995’s Circle of Friends: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112679/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_66

Dean Stockwell: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001777/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

“Babylon 5 is the Greatest, Most Terrible SF Series” (2019) https://www.tor.com/2019/06/13/babylon-5-is-the-greatest-most-terrible-sf-series/

“Why Babylon 5 is the Best - and Worst - Television Science Fiction Shows Ever Made” (2014) https://ordinary-times.com/2014/05/15/why-babylon-5-is-the-best-and-worst-television-science-fiction-show-ever-made/ 

“Why Babylon 5 is the Worst Best Thing in Televised Science Fiction - Ever” (2012) https://mattllavin.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/b5/

Learning Curve

Episode 95: Learning Curve (Season 5, Episode 5)

Synopsis: In which two Minbari Rangers come to the station, and Garibaldi locks horns with Captain Lockley.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517663/?ref_=ttep_ep5

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/093.html

I haven’t found anything that confirms my suspicion that this was a backdoor pilot for a Ranger spinoff (several years too early) but Delenn’s line about “familiarize yourself with the station because you will be spending a great deal of time here in the future” can’t possibly mean anything else, can it?

A View From The Gallery

Episode 94: A View from the Gallery (Season 5, Episode 4)

Synopsis: In which we see a day in the life of two average joes onboard the station.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/092.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517621/?ref_=ttep_ep4

To my dying day I will regret not opening this episode with “Coming to you live as I tumble out of bed and down to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition…”

Kyle Rayner, the greatest Green Lantern evar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Rayner

Dippity-Do. Not sure where Jon pulled this one from, but he is old as dirt. Chris would totally wear her outfit though (speaking of Prince…)

https://youtu.be/B1yqBrLhEgQ?t=30

Knights of Prosperity https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494287/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Hey, the pilot is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgPqGxi6L8Q&list=PLd9CN2a3uYqOL3eysEZRPGzuuCLqA8zx6

Robin Atkin Downes: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235960/?ref_=tt_cl_t12

Marilyn Manson’s “Dope Hat” - maybe one of the greatest music videos ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq1sHDwpgqo

The Paragon of Animals

Episode 93: The Paragon of Animals (Season 5, Episode 3)

Synopsis: In which Garibaldi asks Byron for assistance and Sheridan struggles to bring the Alliance together.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/091.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517710/?ref_=ttep_ep3

Prince as Byron:

The Markab were of course the race wiped out by the Drafa Plague.

Laurence Luckinbill: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0524743/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2

Albion’s Seed: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32081.Albion_s_Seed

The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari

Episode 92: The Very Long Night of Londo Molari (Season 5, Episode 2)

Synopsis: In which Londo is confronted with his sins.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517715/?ref_=ttep_ep2

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/090.html

DS9’s “Siege of AR-558” https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Siege_of_AR-558_(episode)

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/12/04/good-men-do/

The Third Wave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Wave_(experiment)

DON’T YOU DIE ON ME! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kBdnziEFA

The Claims Conference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claims_Conference

No Compromises

Episode 91: No Compromises (Season 5, Episode 1)

Synopsis: In which we meet the new station commander Captain Lockley as well as some telepaths seeking sanctuary.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/089.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517673/?ref_=ttep_ep1

Tracy Skoggins: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001712/?ref_=tt_cl_t6

Commander Shelby: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Shelby

Alternate Captain Lockley Casting

Geena Davis: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000133/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Dana Delaney: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001127/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Blair Brown: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001974/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Suzie Plakson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0686442/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Geneviève Bujold as Captain Nicole Janeway https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SIZcDWKyw0

Becoming Superman - Discussed And Reviewed

Cover image can be found here.

Season 4 Wrap Up

Go well, Captain Ivanova!

Episode 89: Season 4 Wrap Up

Mitt Romney - he has binders full of timelines

Chris’s Top 5:

5) No Retreat, No Surrender

4) Rising Star

3) The Long Night

2) Into the Fire

1) Intersections in Real Time

Jon’s Top 5:

5) The Long Night

4) Falling Toward Apotheosis

3) Hour of the Wolf

2) Moments of Transition

1) The Summoning

The Long Now podcast interview with Ian McEwen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ian-mcewan-machines-like-me/id186908455?i=1000438679937

Chris’s Bottom 3:

3) Rumors, Bargains, and Lies

2) The Illusion of Truth

1) Atonement

Jon’s Bottom 3:

3) Between the Darkness and the Light

2) Racing Mars

1) The Illusion of Truth

The Deconstruction of Falling Stars

Episode 88: The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (Season 4, Episode 22)

Synopsis: In which the enduring cultural legacy of Babylon 5 is explored.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/088.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517699/?ref_=ttep_ep22

If I need to explain Vogons and Hyperspace Bypasses, what are you doing even reading this?

Jack Vance’s Dying Earth: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_Earth

And the “Dying Earth subgenre (which is COMPLETELY my jam!): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dying_Earth_genre

The Athropocene Reviewed podcast: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anthropocene-reviewed

Tariq Aziz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariq_Aziz

The distant future’s Human Encounter Suit:

Star Trek TNG episode “Peak Performance” - https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Peak_Performance_(episode)

Rising Star

Episode 87: Rising Star (Season 4, Episode 21)

Synopsis: In which Sheridan learns his fate and a new galactic order is established. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517683/?ref_=ttep_ep21

Chernobyl - come for the radiation, stay for the dank memes.

One Tree Hill’s timejump: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Tree_Hill_(TV_series)#Series_timeline

Endgame

Episode 86: Endgame (Season 4, Episode 20)

Synopsis: In which Sheridan brings the fight to Earth and Marcus does the most Marcus thing ever.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517647/?ref_=ttep_ep20 

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/086.html

Where’s the kaboom? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9wmWZbr_wQ

The telepaths were not killed by Sheridan’s usage of them. It’s not clear how many may have died because their ships were destroyed.

“Feel It” by The Tamperer ft Maya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkisiwa-97c

Star Trek Voyager’s “Engdame” https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Endgame_(episode)

The X-Files’ “Endgame” https://x-files.fandom.com/wiki/End_Game

Please enjoy a lengthy segment where two middle aged men try to remember the Oceanic Air flight number from Lost, something that was only a major part of the mythology of the series.

Megadeth’s Endgame https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endgame_(Megadeth_album)

Featuring the Aragorn-inspired track “This Day We Fight” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acsc6ZVd3cM

Intersections in Real Time & Between the Darkness and the Light

Episode 85: Intersections in Real Time/Between the Darkness and the Light (Season 4, Episodes 18 & 19)

Synopsis: In which Sheridan is in the hands of Earthdome interrogators, a rescue is effected, and Ivanova takes command of the White Star fleet.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/084.html

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/085.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517660/?ref_=ttep_ep18

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517633/?ref_=ttep_ep19

Ray Birk: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083541/?ref_=tt_cl_t13

The interrogation of Evey Hammond from V for Vendetta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlhSU4l5ClM

Oleana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110722/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

Here’s the only place I could find to stream it digitally: https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Oleanna/888942

Closetland: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101597/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

1984 - Room 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3U83QLoATU

The Face of the Enemy

Episode 84: The Face of the Enemy (Season 4, Episode 17)

Synopsis: In which Garibaldi hands Sheridan over to Earthgov and Bester’s long game is revealed.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/083.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517701/?ref_=ttep_ep17

Not sure if the concept of “senioritis” translates to our friends outside the US - it’s the concept that in the final semester of secondary school students aren’t putting in their best effort because their plans for college or whatnot are already in place.

Shameless plug for Jon’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Level-Up-Your-Classroom-Students/dp/1416622055/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2191BPRE6U643

I should have known someone would have already done the meme I was referencing:

w/r/t: Twin Peaks: The Return, episode 8 https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/6/26/15872236/twin-peaks-episode-8-recap-bob-the-return  

Becoming Superman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F13YLYH/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

The Exercise of Vital Powers

Episode 83: The Exercise of Vital Powers (Season 4, Episode 16)

Synopsis: In which Garibaldi returns to Mars and we learn more about Edgars’ plans.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/082.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517700/?ref_=ttep_ep16

The true mastermind behind Garibaldi’s mind control:

The fifth roommate in The Young Ones: https://dangerousminds.net/comments/wait_what_there_was_a_secret_fifth_roommate_on_the_young_ones_the_whole_tim

Ephrem ZImbalist Jr: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0956544/?ref_=tt_cl_t15

Come in with the milk, come in with the milk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uus--6heuw8

Most commercial telepaths (P5 level) do need line of sight for telepathy to work, which explains why Edgars wanted to be in another room unseen during Garibaldi’s testing. https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Telepath



Lise met and married William Edgars in 2260, so it’s not clear if that was before or after the secession (not that my grand complicated conspiracy theory panned out anyway).

No Surrender, No Retreat

Episode 82: No Surrender, No Retreat (Season 4, Episode 15)

Synopsis: In which Sheridan brings the fight to Clark’s forces, and Londo asks G’kar for help.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/081.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517674/?ref_=ttep_ep15

If you haven’t seen The Lion in Winter, unquestionably the best Christmas movie of all time, the I just don’t know what to tell you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cVwBjwRGgg

Chris would absolutely watch a show where Boston City Hall was used as a starship model.

Marcia Mitzman Gavin: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594217/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t13

Rumors, Bargains and Lies & Moments of Transition

Episode 81: Rumors, Bargains & Lies/Moments of Transition (Season 4, Episodes 13 and 14)

Synopsis: In which the Minbari Civil War comes to a head and the new Grey Council is revealed.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/079.html

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/080.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517684/?ref_=ttep_ep13

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517671/?ref_=ttep_ep14

Bill Mumy: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0612621/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Space Command Redemption: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/58936338/space-command-redemption

Shattrath City:

The Minbari capital city is named Yedor. I’m not sure if it was named on screen at any point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saga_(comics)

Operation Downfall was the proposed land invasion of Japan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Downfall

Jon was close though - Olympic was part of Downfall, the invasion of southern Japan.

Conflicts of Interest

Episode 80: Conflicts of Interest (Season 4, Episode 12)

Synopsis: In which a dame from Garibaldi’s past shows up with a suitcase full of trouble.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517640/?ref_=ttep_ep12

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/078.html

Annie Potts: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001633/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Parker Posey: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000205/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

“Jacque de Molay, thou art avenged!” - Robert Anton Wilson’s Illuminatus! Trilogy someone yells that line at the execution of King Louis XVI of France. If you need me to explain who Jacques de Molay was and why he needed avenging, well pull up a chair, it’s going to be a long night.

The Natural Law Party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_Law_Party_(United_States)

John Hagelin:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hagelin

Duck Amuck: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ofats

Marvel Comics #1000 - featuring a page by JMS: https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvel-comics-1000-celebrates-marvel-s-80-year-legacy

Lines of Communication

Episode 79: Lines of Communication (Season 4, Episode 11)

Synopsis: In which Marcus and Stephen attempt to bring the Martian resistance onto their side, and Delenn encounters the heirs of the Shadows.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517665/?ref_=ttep_ep11

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/077.html

Are you getting enough oxygen? https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/9d93c1d3-6ad5-4720-976e-325d65d660e7

https://thewellpod.com/

The story of the “Mac Tonight” commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClksIvHsYcc

Robin Curtis as Ambassador Kalika Qwal’Mizra: https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Kalika_Qwal%27Mizra

Racing Mars

Episode 78: Racing Mars

Synopsis: In which Marcus and Stephen travel to Mars to meet with the Resistance, and find the enemy one step ahead of them.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517681/?ref_=ttep_ep10

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/076.html

The immortal Kajagoogoo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CfV2iVMeKA

DS9 episode “Rejoined” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708588/?ref_=ttep_ep5

On Martian-Texan accents in The Expanse:

Atonement

Episode 77: Atonement (Season 4, Episode 9)

Synopsis: In which Delenn learns a shocking fact about herself thanks to our new sponsor 23 and me!*

*does not imply actual sponsorship or association

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517630/?ref_=ttep_ep9

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/guide/075.html

Philip Bailey and Phil Collins - “Easy Lover” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkRKT6T0QLg

Tony Freaking Dow! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235638/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

He played Wally Cleaver on the final episode of The Love Boat???????? Along with half the cast of Leave It to Beaver  AND the Brady Bunch reprising their characters as well. And Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Don Knotts and Ruth Buzzi as themselves? And also featuring Gordon “Arthur “Big Guy” Calson from WKRP in Cincinnati AND Jane “Amanda  “mother of Spock” Grayson” Wyatt??? Oh that’s this evening sorted! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636818/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast