The thing that really sticks out about this episode to me is the way is explores the concept of red-shirt deaths. Unlike most shows, Crusade treats them as people who matter. And I love how Max is wrestling with the idea that this security guy he didn't even know gave him life to save him. I love that the redshirts are acknowledged and mourned at the end.
From what I've heard, the uniform change was forced on them by TNT. JMS planned to have a massive "laundry accident" on the ship for S2 and go back to the other uniforms.
Except it was the other way. The red/grey uniforms are the original design and where you see them, you see the episodes with the least TNT interference. TNT wanted the black uniforms. For some reason. At that point it feels like meddling just to be dicks.
Your comment about Eilerson going off and not telling everyone up front what he was up to reminded me of a comment I saw on a Star Trek episode once. They said that in the military, you would never summon a superior officer the way they did on ST. "Captain, you better get down here!" with no explanation. But, it's TV, and that builds suspense. Just funny to see TV practices versus reality sometimes.
Now that you have seen this, I can say that Crusade in many ways reminds me of a cross between SG1 and B5, as it often does campy/fun episodes, but it can also do serious ones, and it was going to have a serious arc.
For added context, the uniform change was pushed by TNT to make it look more standard sci-fi rather than the military uniforms they wore. JMS hated the design
Also messed with the timeline a bit as the change is sometimes out of order. JMS early on set some real reasons for the uniform designs prior TNT ignored the why and he reinforced some of it in the comments in the show. Useful uninforms need places for tools (pockets) and to be adaptable for conditions (layers and removeable parts). You see it in the ranger B5 version with the over coat with removeable arms. Or in real life just look to any military field dress or EMT outfit. In space the camo is not needed but the utility side is the same. Most Sci fi ignores the needs for pockets like trek forcing actors to hold anything through an entire scene then like magic it disappears or they have to walk it on and off set. Even a simple letter often has to be hand carried on a pad in trek keeping one from using both hands. JMS didn't hate the look so much as that it didn't make sense. One of the times his Art reflected the problems of bad styling.
Wasn’t sure we’d see a vid this week considering the major weather event. Just read that Tampa Bay got it about the worst of any area in Florida. Hoping you all are able to bounce back quickly 🙏
Appreciate it. The Bay Area definitely has its damage, but it’s the people up in the big bend area that really took the brunt of it. Thankfully the storm was a fairly quick moving on and never parked itself anywhere. Still, it was pretty bad for anyone in its path
@@Babylon5FortheFirstTime Pinellas county seems to have fared worse than Hillsborough county. I'm lucky. My house is away from the bay and about 25-30ft above river level here in Tampa. But many of my friends are now without houses.
These are actually the ORIGINAL uniforms. After about 5-6 episodes had been filmed new uniforms were made, but TNT decided that they wanted a pilot episode and shot with the new costumes which meant JMS had to add this subplot to explain why the costumes changed fron the dark blue jumpsuits to the grey ST-style outfits and back after only a handful of episodes. This is also why an episode originally plotted as #8 ended up as #3.
It's nice to see John Vickery back but I really wish that Mr. Welles returned in a better episode. He was a slimy guy that was an unflinchingly example of the fascist mindset within the government while here he is played up a bit goofy and then is just a mouthpiece for a rather not interesting alien.
"If someone knows how to survive political changes, it´s me." - I always thought that line meant it is the same character, possibly witch changed name.
On the contrary, I quite liked the (depressing) nod to reality here that despite our best efforts to weed them out, terrible people can, and do, use the bureaucracy and other big organizations to shift around and avoid repercussions when things go wrong. We know it's the same slimy guy that was an unflinching example of the fascist mindset, but he's just quietly moved on after his side lost and is now still acting out the power fantasies that got him into that earlier position to begin with. Just this time, he's doing it with a different title and a new, happy, smiling face.
I think it makes perfect sense for someone like Mr Welles to worm his way back into a government job. He's the type of political survivor who wouldn't hesitate to switch sides when the time came. He was never a "true believer" he was an opportunist. He'd bend whichever way the wind was blowing to save his own skin.
I only watched Crusade one time, when it originally aired. The only thing I remembered from this episode was Welles. That, and how bad the score was in this show. I mean, they couldn't have written a score that was more discordant and distracting and completely out of sync with the action on the screen had they deliberately set out to do so.
Eh. Chen is good at giving little touches that meant "mysterious". He really didn't nail "dramatic action" or "emotional depth", but then Franke could be a bit lumpy in his first season.
Personally I like this episode. Not everyone does. There are worse episodes of Crusade, but I like the premise of this one. It's definitely very cheesy.
@@Petrosman I'd forgotten about it completely, as I hadn't bothered getting Crusade on DVD, so it has been decades since I've seen them, but there was a moment in the reaction video that made me think of a sitcom, not a sci-fi show... At some point I might get the show so I can watch it again, but it feels like buying a third of the chapters in a book you know will never be finished
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"Trust me on this one, captain. If anyone knows how to survive political changes, it's me."
Ah, the infamous Crusade Uniform subplot...
The thing that really sticks out about this episode to me is the way is explores the concept of red-shirt deaths. Unlike most shows, Crusade treats them as people who matter. And I love how Max is wrestling with the idea that this security guy he didn't even know gave him life to save him. I love that the redshirts are acknowledged and mourned at the end.
From what I've heard, the uniform change was forced on them by TNT. JMS planned to have a massive "laundry accident" on the ship for S2 and go back to the other uniforms.
Except it was the other way. The red/grey uniforms are the original design and where you see them, you see the episodes with the least TNT interference. TNT wanted the black uniforms. For some reason. At that point it feels like meddling just to be dicks.
The closest we ever got to having Neroon back. Man, what a great character he was.
Your comment about Eilerson going off and not telling everyone up front what he was up to reminded me of a comment I saw on a Star Trek episode once. They said that in the military, you would never summon a superior officer the way they did on ST. "Captain, you better get down here!" with no explanation. But, it's TV, and that builds suspense. Just funny to see TV practices versus reality sometimes.
Now that you have seen this, I can say that Crusade in many ways reminds me of a cross between SG1 and B5, as it often does campy/fun episodes, but it can also do serious ones, and it was going to have a serious arc.
For added context, the uniform change was pushed by TNT to make it look more standard sci-fi rather than the military uniforms they wore. JMS hated the design
Also messed with the timeline a bit as the change is sometimes out of order. JMS early on set some real reasons for the uniform designs prior TNT ignored the why and he reinforced some of it in the comments in the show. Useful uninforms need places for tools (pockets) and to be adaptable for conditions (layers and removeable parts). You see it in the ranger B5 version with the over coat with removeable arms. Or in real life just look to any military field dress or EMT outfit. In space the camo is not needed but the utility side is the same. Most Sci fi ignores the needs for pockets like trek forcing actors to hold anything through an entire scene then like magic it disappears or they have to walk it on and off set. Even a simple letter often has to be hand carried on a pad in trek keeping one from using both hands. JMS didn't hate the look so much as that it didn't make sense. One of the times his Art reflected the problems of bad styling.
Wasn’t sure we’d see a vid this week considering the major weather event. Just read that Tampa Bay got it about the worst of any area in Florida. Hoping you all are able to bounce back quickly 🙏
Appreciate it. The Bay Area definitely has its damage, but it’s the people up in the big bend area that really took the brunt of it. Thankfully the storm was a fairly quick moving on and never parked itself anywhere. Still, it was pretty bad for anyone in its path
@@Babylon5FortheFirstTime Pinellas county seems to have fared worse than Hillsborough county. I'm lucky. My house is away from the bay and about 25-30ft above river level here in Tampa. But many of my friends are now without houses.
Hey Brent..towards the end Gideon said "Mr Wells.." to John Vicory..Mr Wells..WAS the representative of Night Watch
Cool T-shirt! I'm glad I'm not the Six Fingered Man!
I need one, where do i get it?!
Could be seen as a threat with resent events and at least 3 failed attempts to kill a candidate.
Told you that Eilerson is the Franklin of Crusade.
Well, some times you just have to like what you like even if you can't really justify liking it. That too is Sci Fi at times. 🐒
Great response!
With the music, it sounds like they were trying a similar thing to Farscape.
I enjoy this episode & the new uniform subplot. Especially as I think the new uniform is crap. 😁
These are actually the ORIGINAL uniforms. After about 5-6 episodes had been filmed new uniforms were made, but TNT decided that they wanted a pilot episode and shot with the new costumes which meant JMS had to add this subplot to explain why the costumes changed fron the dark blue jumpsuits to the grey ST-style outfits and back after only a handful of episodes. This is also why an episode originally plotted as #8 ended up as #3.
It's nice to see John Vickery back but I really wish that Mr. Welles returned in a better episode. He was a slimy guy that was an unflinchingly example of the fascist mindset within the government while here he is played up a bit goofy and then is just a mouthpiece for a rather not interesting alien.
"If someone knows how to survive political changes, it´s me." - I always thought that line meant it is the same character, possibly witch changed name.
@@Matej_Sojka It is Welles
On the contrary, I quite liked the (depressing) nod to reality here that despite our best efforts to weed them out, terrible people can, and do, use the bureaucracy and other big organizations to shift around and avoid repercussions when things go wrong.
We know it's the same slimy guy that was an unflinching example of the fascist mindset, but he's just quietly moved on after his side lost and is now still acting out the power fantasies that got him into that earlier position to begin with. Just this time, he's doing it with a different title and a new, happy, smiling face.
I think it makes perfect sense for someone like Mr Welles to worm his way back into a government job. He's the type of political survivor who wouldn't hesitate to switch sides when the time came. He was never a "true believer" he was an opportunist. He'd bend whichever way the wind was blowing to save his own skin.
It would've been cool to have Mr Welles a recurring annoyance
I don't remember this episode at all. (Thank you, Brain)
I only watched Crusade one time, when it originally aired. The only thing I remembered from this episode was Welles. That, and how bad the score was in this show. I mean, they couldn't have written a score that was more discordant and distracting and completely out of sync with the action on the screen had they deliberately set out to do so.
Eh. Chen is good at giving little touches that meant "mysterious". He really didn't nail "dramatic action" or "emotional depth", but then Franke could be a bit lumpy in his first season.
Personally I like this episode. Not everyone does. There are worse episodes of Crusade, but I like the premise of this one. It's definitely very cheesy.
The music really doesn't help!
@@neilbiggs1353 I agree. Except for the intro, the music in Crusade just sucks
@@Petrosman I'd forgotten about it completely, as I hadn't bothered getting Crusade on DVD, so it has been decades since I've seen them, but there was a moment in the reaction video that made me think of a sitcom, not a sci-fi show... At some point I might get the show so I can watch it again, but it feels like buying a third of the chapters in a book you know will never be finished
@@neilbiggs1353 Firefly had a similar story, but at least it felt complete after the movie release. And the music was amazing.
Agreed, not a good episode, but kind of nice in its own way.