Convictions
Reviewed by Lady Keela Shanri
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Basically, I can sum up this episode with just one sentence: It was pretty standard, but the scenes with Londo made it worthwhile.
Well, that isn't entirely true. For example, the bit with Zack and the Drazi was great, as was the one with Lennier and the "obnoxious man". But in general, the best parts of the episode were the funny, throwaway humour bits. The actual PLOT could go straight out an airlock for all I care. Wait...it did!
Okay, the actual plot of this episode--such as it was--was that a mad bomber starts terrorising the station, and at the end, Sheridan gets to beat him silly and the bomb goes outside the airlock JUST in time.
Yawn. Been there, done that.
What saves this episode from TOTAL mediocrity is the humour and character development, particularly from Londo, G'Kar, and Lennier. It all starts when Lennier saves Londo's life from one of the bomb blasts, but in turn poor little Lennier gets trapped behind a door, smacked around severely, burned, and put into a coma. Not exactly the best ending to a long day...
The real value of this sub-plot was to show that Londo is NOT all the way evil; that even underneath all of this, he still has a heart (actually, two). His tender, caring treatment of Lennier, the way he hangs around him for hours on end, just talking about nothing, (and cracking REALLY lame jokes) in the hopes that it will help bring him out of the coma, was very touching. I was glad that they decided to show this part of Londo's personality again; it was about time. They were starting to build him up as nothing but a villain and we all know he's SO much more complex than that.
Lennier himself got a chance to shine, too--before he got bombed. (literally.) The scene with the obnoxious Human tourist was just PRICELESS. In fact, this scene, being one of the first of B5 I was seeing, was one of the first indications I had that the series could be FUNNY in addition to all the deadly serious wars and plots and murders and whatnots. "Well, they don't know very much about it, but they DO know that it's passed by...physical contact."
(The Obnoxious Man's eyes bug out, he very quickly finds an excuse to leave...)
Of course, the very FIRST funny scene in the episode was the one with Zack and the Drazi. Which was GREAT. This is where I started "officially" liking Zack. "Now, look, I don't wanna share my blessing, okay? But you see that plant over there? It was IN the garden when this Drobawa"--
"Droshalla!" corrects the Drazi missionary.
"--whatever--appeared. It was REAL close. So it's even MORE blessed than I am! So why don't you two just go poke the plant while I fill out your entry visas?"
Great stuff.
The only part of the "serious" plotline that was of any worth was the introduction of Brother Theo and His Amazing Computer-Expert Monks. Brother Theo, expertly played by Louis Turenne, who was ALSO the original Draal in the first season (what IS it with them recycling Minbari actors as Humans lately, there were TWO of them in "The Fall of Night"!), was a likeable character and I understand he becomes somewhat important later on. If I'm not mistaken, those monks are among the religious figures on the station who come up with the idea for the gospel-singing meeting to cheer everyone up in "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY at the end of the season. So I guess this part might actually have something to do with the arc. Goodness knows very little else in this episode does.
Oh, and I guess the mad bomber dude did a fairly good acting job of playing a total nutball, too.
But far and away, the VERY best part of this episode was Londo and G'Kar. Both seperate AND apart. The bits where BOTH of them were yelling at different B5 authority figures about how the OTHER race's government was OBVIOUSLY behind the bombings was GREAT. Especially G'Kar's bit--frantically running around behind posts, waving his fists, being deliciously sarcastic. "Oh, then there must be a mad-bomber CONVENTION coming through here lately! I'm so sorry, I should check the B5 SOCIAL CALENDAR more often!"
Most people say that they like G'Kar for his big, dramatic speeches about freedom and never giving up, etc. Me, I like him for the times when he gets SILLY! When his EVIL sense of humour comes out! It is extremely evident in this episode. Like when Londo is calling out "CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!!" and G'Kar says in a soft, high voice as if from far away, "I hear you...". And his GIGGLING! Great Maker save me from giggling Narns. I especially loved when he was singing a song under his breath--the SAME song from "Parliament of Dreams"! EARLY FIRST SEASON! TALK about your continuity! (But with different lyrics).
Londo: "I hate my life!"
G'Kar: "So do I!"
Of course, like with all things silly on B5, most of the humour has darker or at least serious undertones. Lennier is a bit ashamed that he has saved someone who does not revere all life, G'Kar is being all giggly and completely useless because he wants to see Londo DIE, and the bit with Zack and the Drazi is another reminder of Kosh finally getting off his no-longer-encounter-suited butt.
Still, with all the darkness that's coming...I'll take all the silliness I can get!
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