"And Now For a Word"
THIS REVIEW IS HYPERTEXT CAPTIONED
Reporting LIVE from the Alliance News Network headquarters on Babylon 5, it's Na'Pryn, with an up-close and personal look at tonight's episode.
PICTURES at 11-hundred hours.
(A tall, thin Narn woman somewhere in her middle age wearing a snazzy, professional-looking suit in greys and blues sits down behind the anchor desk. She looks up into the camera, adjusts her tiny Human-designed glasses, and smiles in a warm, friendly manner.)
"Good evening, and welcome to ANN. I am Na'Pryn, your anchorbeing for tonight's broadcast. Thank you for joining us.
"Our top story tonight concerns a review of the Babylon 5 episode that aired earlier today: "And Now For a Word"--Class or crass? We'll report the facts in an unbiased manner and let you, the viewer, judge for yourself.
"First of all, credit must be given to the show's producers as even the format of the show itself was quite different from the typical Babylon 5 episode. The entire episode was told in the framework of a news broadcast story. A very different, and, some say, humourous approach.
"But others disagree. Ask the average sentient on the street, and he/she/it will very often say that the "ISN episodes" are their LEAST favourite. For another opinion, we now go live to our correspondent on Babylon 5 itself, Lady Keela Shanri."
(A short Centauri woman in her 30's with a long red ponytail appears on the screen):"Thank you Na'Pryn. As you can see from this Human audience here, they seem to be enjoying the episode quite a lot, if their loud laugher is to be any judge. "You", (points her microphone at a small young Human woman with brown hair, an old baggy black t-shirt, and glasses. "What do you think of this episode so far?" (A caption appears across the bottom of the screen: "Tiffany J. Knox, Earth citizen, website designer".)
"What? Go away! I'm trying to hear the dialogue! Get out of our living room, weird bald lady!"
"As you can see, Na'Pryn, this Human family seems to be enjoying it quite well. From their comments to each other while watching the show, they find it to be interesting, very informative about details of the Babylon 5 station and personnel that they did not know before, and to be a good step forward in the escalation in the Narn/Centauri war arc. I now will ask an average Minbari citizen what she thought of the episode." (camera pans over to show a small Minbari teenager of the Religious Caste in flowing beige robes). "What did you think of this episode?"
(A caption reading "Jharlenn of Clan Li'Shar, Religious Caste, Future Grey Council Hopeful" runs across the bottom of the screen.)
"I thought it was quite good, although the way that everyone was lying to each other disturbed me quite a bit. We Minbari do not lie. I have not been off-world very long in my life, so I am not yet used to the ways of other peoples. It rather frightened me."
"I see. And what about you, sir? (camera zooms over to catch a short, freckled redheaded Centauri boy in a Ranger's outfit):
(caption: "Lufa Caldoni, Rangers, First Officer White Star 41.")
"I thought the episode rather amusing, but I have doubts about any government that thinks it could make such blatant hostilities in front of the Earthers and get away with it."
"And bear in mind" (Keela turns around and addresses the viewing audience) "that the Centauri Republic recently underwent a major change in goverment." (Turning back to Lufa): "So you are saying that you don't agree with the policies of your new Emperor, what was his name again...Caligula?"
"Cartagia. And no, I don't disagree with his policies...I disagree with his EXISTENCE." (sweeps dramatically out of the shot.)
"Well, as you can see, most of the people here seemed to enjoy tonight's episode. Back to you, Na'Pryn."
"Thank you, Keela. (turns to face audience): So far tonight, we've heard from an average Human family, a Centauri who also doubles as a Ranger, and an average Minbari. We TRIED to get an interview from a Narn, but, well...that didn't exactly work out..." (video clip on the wall behind her): Poor Keela is laid up in Medlab, completely covered with bandages. Dr. Franklin notices the camera and gets angry (while, of COURSE, a caption saying "Dr. Stephen Franklin, Chief of Medlab Facility on Babylon 5" appears underneath him.) "Hey, you! Get out of here! I'm trying to treat a patient! This is a hospital, not a freak show! LEAVE! (A giant hand comes grabbing right for the camera lens, then static.).
(Back to Na'Pryn): "So, what does the telepath faction think of this? We have here with us tonight, Veronica Grey, Psi Corps representative. Veronica--may I call you Veronica? Veronica, what did you think of tonight's episode, and especially the way it showed the conflict between the different races of Babylon 5?"
(The camera pans over to show a small, trim Human woman in a severe metallic grey suit with a Psi Corps logo on one lapel and black leather gloves on her hands.)
"Well, Na'Pryn, first of all, I MUST congratulate my fellow Corps agents on a most marvellously done commercial. I've never seen anything QUITE so funny, yet menacing, at the same time before. Bravo. And as for the racial conflicts--well, what can I say? The Narns have a right to be angry, as I'm sure you yourself know, Na'Pryn. That Londo Mollari may be a VERY good politician but he isn't fooling me for one second. As for the Minbari...I think ISN reporter Cynthia Torqueman was far too harsh on Ambassador Delenn. Her remarks showed an obvious specist predjudice against the Minbari and I feel she should have left the instant the good Ambassador started crying. To sit there, and poke the camera up her nose while she's OBVIOUSLY very upset, and to keep prodding with more and more slanted, prying questions--that just doesn't seem right to me. A good reporter's job is to get the whole story, yes...but NOT to make people cry on vid. That's just for ratings, nothing more."
"So you don't think Ms. Torqueman did a good job with this story?"
"No, I don't. Unfortunately, the way the news IS today, she'll probably win a Pullitzer--but only because the footage she was getting happened to be of amazingly important and camera-friendly events."
"And what is the Psi Corps' stand on this entire affair?"
"I am not authorised to say that at this time."
(The camera swings back over to Na'Pryn): "And there you have it. The unbiased opinions of people from several different organisations and species. And the one thing they can agree on is that, in general, this was a creative, entertaining, informative, and exciting episode.
"This is anchorbeing Na'Pryn for Alliance News Network, signing off."
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