I love how the actor who played Corwin slowly went from background character with no name to a character we recognize. Shows how there are no small parts.
Yes, it does. Both characters are so well drawn and presented so strongly. Both actors are so effortlessly charming in beautifully contrasting ways. It's a lovely relationship.
A light episode before the true revelations to come via messages from earth... Iam 60 yrs old...I've watched a plethora of shows over that time...b5 just tops my list The special effects may date it. But the writing and performances keep it relavent.
The funny thing with Corvin is that he started as a nameless extra. Literally nameless, since he was initically credited as tech number something. But he stuck around until he earned a name and even some more screentime plus promotion. ^^ Oh hey, it's the future leader of that crime syndicate (Lucian Alliance or something?) in Stargate SG1. Never noticed that before. Speaking of Stargate. I have a feeling this episode was at least partial inspiration for the Tok'Ra.
I'm so pumped for you to see the next three episodes. They are some of the best in the series and it's amazing that they are back to back. I hope that helps build the anticipation for you.
Loving your reactions... has inspired me to do a rewatch from the beginning especially since the Expanse finished. Every time I watch the show I appreciate it more and more. PS.... speaking of the Expanse, it would make a great successor to B5 when you are finished. I think you would really enjoy it, and in many ways has taken up the torch for the long arc scifi that tries to ground itself in realistic believable futures that Babylon 5 inspired.
The Expanse and (to a lesser extent) BSG have been the only sci fi shows that have truly, consistently, grabbed my attention in the way B5 did and the finale of The Expanse was the best finale since B5's (no spoilers)
Ah, Marcus & Ivanova. Such an adorable pair. Both attractive, both skilled professionals. Her, all uptight & regulation. Him, all irreverence & impulsive. I'm sure they will have a wonderful future together. (no spoilers!)
Looking at Marcus now, I'm both surprised and disappointed that there was never an episode where he tried to get Mr Garibaldi to watch Monty Python's Flying Circus...
On the one hand, this is exactly like one of the early TNG episodes, a parasite kind of creature. But it is treated in a much deeper way and interwoven with character development. Ultimately, the alien creatures are purely accessories to the plot and serve the characters, not the other way round. And yes, it is great to see more of Marcus.
Fun Fact: the actor playing that earthforce I assume medical officer that was reporting to franklin. She plays a main character on the B5 spinoff crusade. I recongnize the voice
I just realized that too. As many times as I watched B5 and Crusade I don't know why I didn't put two and two together until now. Maybe it was the hair that through me off. lol
Ah, I forgot James Warwick was in this ep. You might remember him as Lt. Scott from ‘Earthshock’. JMS is a ‘Doctor Who’ fan - wouldn’t be surprised if he had a long chat with Mr. Warwick about what it was like to fight Cybermen.
Quite a reaction. As usual nothing is exactly as it seems, certainly true for this episode. Oh, yes Corwin does not quite know how to handle Ivanova - and Ivanova promptly misunderstands 😉. The Marcus/Ivanova stuff is just so much fun. Is that the start of a Marcus/Franklin friendship?
The acting appreciation back in the day was seeing Claudia play it disciplined and controlled when her previous rolls had her known as a vixen or vamp. And the outtakes of course talked about the innuendo of what happens when you "shake it more than twice". With sly references to more than a few supporting actors' previous stage careers with Shakespeare's more colorful works.
"going to watch next episode now" yeah, good luck sticking to just 1 or 2 or 3. Buckle up. Corwin may have been onto something with the 'chain of command' ;)
Another more character-focused episode, and we finally learn more about Marcus! Fun fact: his and Franklin's actor became very close friends and would often appear together at conventions, sharing the stage. Must have been quite the parties from what I've heard.
Poor choice of words on Ivanova's part "We could have a cup of coffee" I don't know how it is everywhere, but "having a cup of coffee" is sometimes used as an inference of a "romantic rendezvous" Stephen can open the door to look in, but can't just barge in. It's not like he is a vampire, barred from entering without an invitation. If he opened the door and saw Duncan laying on the floor bleeding, he could go in to help. Marcus on the other hand isn't bound by any rule about walking through an open door. When he says "I think you better come see this." Stephen is given the reasonable expectation there is something amiss, and if someone tells a doctor to come see something, that's usually a medical issue, so he could argue, if asked, "I believed from what Marcus said, someone was hurt and in need of care. He misled me into entering." Marcus and Susan... So many crossed wires in those communication lines.
I do enjoy the way Marcus deliberately misrepresents Garibaldi's statement to him to Franklin - it's funny as the audience, without being something that would feel like a joke is being told, so it's a natural bit of comedy if that makes sense. Something I'm not keen on in this episode is that the 'caretakers' plot line feels a little bit too alike to the Techno Mages going off elsewhere to avoid what is upcoming. It's not bad, it's just feels a bit redundant
The vague hints that thee are several perhaps natural, perhaps synthetic methods of having information survive the cyclic battle between First Ones and Shadows is another glimpse of the deep background that exists in Babylon 5.
This episode gets kind of a bad rap in the fandom, I think mostly just because of where it falls in the season, but I have a lot of fondness for it. The stuff with Marcus is great, obviously--seeing him and Dr. Franklin working together, and the hints of a possible relationship between Marcus and Ivanova? (That scene at the end where she "returns" the roses is my favorite of the episode.) But also I like getting to see a little more from Lt. Corwin. Poor guy was just totally out of his depth, wasn't he! Although I think Sheridan and Ivanova were a little quick to judge him just based on one conversation. I mean, what was he supposed to say to his superior officer right after he had just received a promotion? That he was totally okay with disobeying orders?
Ummm... how were they at all in any way Evil? Hell given how the Trill (not the symbiots) treated and controlled the process, the Trill are a might sight more 'evil' than these aliens ever were.
Welcome back! I hope you are getting over the dreaded plague. I have been missing watching you watch this... Though I could just go back and watch your reaction to the first 35 episodes... So many things I would like to say in your analysis of this episode, but they're all spoilers so I'm staying quiet. I will rest with repeating it's a joy to live through someone watching this show for the first time, especially one careful enough to always have a pen and paper handy for making notes.
Thinking back on this episode...why would Corwin think Ivanova was asking him on a date? It would be highly inappropriate for a senior officer to do that...or does Earth Force not have those kinds of regulations?
Hello dearie and hope you are feeling much better. We cannot deny we missed our watching you watching us opp's sorry we mean B5 & Doctor who are we? Especially seeing Franklin & Marcus starting their friendship not only just on B5 but in relatively real life as well. We met the two of them long ago at a Sci-fi Ball convention where their friendship really blossomed making all of us love the two of them so much. Especially when ' Marcus ' kept shouting to give ' Franklin ' the right answers in a ' Who wants to be a starship captain ' competition! We all kept shouting every right answer to him as well because he said he would take another part of his clothes off every time he got a right answer with our help in winning! So determined to win ' Franklin ' ended up all the way down to only his boxer shorts left on! Now can any of you know the answer to the final question, which Doctor first faced the Black Guardian? We all knew the answer, even ' Marcus ', so hearing us all shouting Tom Baker we thought we were about to actually see ' Franklin ' take his boxers off, to become fully naked on stage! However those running the Sci-fi Ball said it was the wrong answer, that the right answer was Colin Baker! ' Marcus ' and the rest of us had been laughing our heads off the whole time and told ' Franklin ' later those in charge did that to stop him from being completely naked on stage, Doh! Still one of the best Sci-fi conventions ever all because of the two of them and their true friendship. Alas sorry for going on too long, thus thank you kindly from 'the Doctor no.42, Yes?'
@@Chase0420 It's being made by JMS. IIRC, he plans to drop banana peels for the fans, make us assume some stories are going the direction of the original series, only to veer off at the last moment. So, expect some major variations, but hopefully the same feelings we've felt when watching for the first time.
Season 3 Episodes 8 through 12 involve that shit you were talking about earlier hitting a whole set of industrial fans. I hope you're ready for the ride. As far as Marcus and Ivanova, it's complicated, sadly there is nothing more I can say without massively spoiling that plot
Fwiw, even though she's already close to being done with Season 3 (youtube uploads are delayed) this is actually considered a spoiler. Just because you aren't spoiling the actual details of the plot, you're still spoiling the narrative structure, which is just as big a deal. Heads up for future reference if you follow other reactors.
It's one of those 'calm before the storm' things you hear about, that happen repeatedly in B5. It's almost like they exist to tell us the big ones are about to arrive.
I love how the actor who played Corwin slowly went from background character with no name to a character we recognize. Shows how there are no small parts.
And so begins one of my favourite Platonic Frendships of this series. Franklin and Marcus works so well and it doesn't seem like it should.
Marcus, this is the kind of conversation that can only end with a gunshot.
He does have the makings, as one would say! 😂🤣
@@ohauss I am the very model of a modern major general
Yes, it does. Both characters are so well drawn and presented so strongly. Both actors are so effortlessly charming in beautifully contrasting ways. It's a lovely relationship.
"...and that's when I shot him, Your Honor."
A light episode before the true revelations to come via messages from earth...
Iam 60 yrs old...I've watched a plethora of shows over that time...b5 just tops my list
The special effects may date it.
But the writing and performances keep it relavent.
Honestly, B5, Farscape, BSG and the Expanse are in the pantheon of scifi greatness in my opinion.
Brother. So am I. So have I. B5 tops, too. It's singularly special.
You mentioned at the beginning of this vid, that this season is building towards something...
"Severed Dreams" is coming, my favorite episode.
The funny thing with Corvin is that he started as a nameless extra. Literally nameless, since he was initically credited as tech number something.
But he stuck around until he earned a name and even some more screentime plus promotion. ^^
Oh hey, it's the future leader of that crime syndicate (Lucian Alliance or something?) in Stargate SG1. Never noticed that before.
Speaking of Stargate. I have a feeling this episode was at least partial inspiration for the Tok'Ra.
- and the absurdity of those invading possessing-bug creatures from Star Trek: TNG never being mentioned again, of course.
The actor for Corwin also played a character that was part of Stargate Command as one of the people who operate the Stargate.
The creature looks like the Tingler from a very old movie called the Tingler.
I'm so pumped for you to see the next three episodes. They are some of the best in the series and it's amazing that they are back to back. I hope that helps build the anticipation for you.
Loving your reactions... has inspired me to do a rewatch from the beginning especially since the Expanse finished. Every time I watch the show I appreciate it more and more.
PS.... speaking of the Expanse, it would make a great successor to B5 when you are finished. I think you would really enjoy it, and in many ways has taken up the torch for the long arc scifi that tries to ground itself in realistic believable futures that Babylon 5 inspired.
I am very sad that The Expanse has ended. There are still some books of the story to continue.
The Expanse and (to a lesser extent) BSG have been the only sci fi shows that have truly, consistently, grabbed my attention in the way B5 did and the finale of The Expanse was the best finale since B5's (no spoilers)
Ah, Marcus & Ivanova. Such an adorable pair. Both attractive, both skilled professionals. Her, all uptight & regulation. Him, all irreverence & impulsive. I'm sure they will have a wonderful future together.
(no spoilers!)
Looking at Marcus now, I'm both surprised and disappointed that there was never an episode where he tried to get Mr Garibaldi to watch Monty Python's Flying Circus...
On the one hand, this is exactly like one of the early TNG episodes, a parasite kind of creature. But it is treated in a much deeper way and interwoven with character development. Ultimately, the alien creatures are purely accessories to the plot and serve the characters, not the other way round. And yes, it is great to see more of Marcus.
Poor old Corwin, deer in the headlights as far as Ivanova is concerned! This is a great episode for character development...
"Shit is really gonna hit the fan at some point during this season"
Heeheeheehee **grin**
Fun fact The actor who played Duncan also played Little Alex's parole officer in A Clockwork Orange
I had forgotten Aubrey Morris guested - love him!
Fun Fact: the actor playing that earthforce I assume medical officer that was reporting to franklin. She plays a main character on the B5 spinoff crusade. I recongnize the voice
I just realized that too. As many times as I watched B5 and Crusade I don't know why I didn't put two and two together until now. Maybe it was the hair that through me off. lol
Yeah, I realised watching the clip that it was her too. I guess I had forgotten that she had a small role in B5. Loved Crusade too.
Ah, I forgot James Warwick was in this ep. You might remember him as Lt. Scott from ‘Earthshock’. JMS is a ‘Doctor Who’ fan - wouldn’t be surprised if he had a long chat with Mr. Warwick about what it was like to fight Cybermen.
I'm really curious to see what JMS would've done if he'd become Doctor Who's showrunner
@@chrism7395 a lot better than Chibnall
Quite a reaction. As usual nothing is exactly as it seems, certainly true for this episode.
Oh, yes Corwin does not quite know how to handle Ivanova - and Ivanova promptly misunderstands 😉.
The Marcus/Ivanova stuff is just so much fun.
Is that the start of a Marcus/Franklin friendship?
Carrie Dobro! She makes a great character in a spin-off.
Yeah, she unintentionally stands out now in rewatchs.
@@dcsignal5241 Just saw her again as the Brakiri who worships Sheridan in Racing Mars. Her third character is the best though.
@@steveaustin2686 I thought that might have been her.
The acting appreciation back in the day was seeing Claudia play it disciplined and controlled when her previous rolls had her known as a vixen or vamp. And the outtakes of course talked about the innuendo of what happens when you "shake it more than twice". With sly references to more than a few supporting actors' previous stage careers with Shakespeare's more colorful works.
"going to watch next episode now" yeah, good luck sticking to just 1 or 2 or 3. Buckle up.
Corwin may have been onto something with the 'chain of command' ;)
Another more character-focused episode, and we finally learn more about Marcus! Fun fact: his and Franklin's actor became very close friends and would often appear together at conventions, sharing the stage. Must have been quite the parties from what I've heard.
The Talia situation is why Susan has trust issues with Marcus.
Love watching your reaction videos. Hang onto your socks, because the next three are absolute masterpieces.
Ah Aubrey Morris... The gardener in the original Wickerman and the Gogerfrinchian Captain in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
"Like these parasitic keepers"!!!
And another "!!" for luck.
So now you've seen WWE pt 2, you might understand the significance of the exclamation marks. 😉
Great reaction. Susan is my favorite character.
Poor choice of words on Ivanova's part "We could have a cup of coffee" I don't know how it is everywhere, but "having a cup of coffee" is sometimes used as an inference of a "romantic rendezvous"
Stephen can open the door to look in, but can't just barge in. It's not like he is a vampire, barred from entering without an invitation. If he opened the door and saw Duncan laying on the floor bleeding, he could go in to help. Marcus on the other hand isn't bound by any rule about walking through an open door. When he says "I think you better come see this." Stephen is given the reasonable expectation there is something amiss, and if someone tells a doctor to come see something, that's usually a medical issue, so he could argue, if asked, "I believed from what Marcus said, someone was hurt and in need of care. He misled me into entering."
Marcus and Susan... So many crossed wires in those communication lines.
I do enjoy the way Marcus deliberately misrepresents Garibaldi's statement to him to Franklin - it's funny as the audience, without being something that would feel like a joke is being told, so it's a natural bit of comedy if that makes sense.
Something I'm not keen on in this episode is that the 'caretakers' plot line feels a little bit too alike to the Techno Mages going off elsewhere to avoid what is upcoming. It's not bad, it's just feels a bit redundant
The vague hints that thee are several perhaps natural, perhaps synthetic methods of having information survive the cyclic battle between First Ones and Shadows is another glimpse of the deep background that exists in Babylon 5.
This episode gets kind of a bad rap in the fandom, I think mostly just because of where it falls in the season, but I have a lot of fondness for it. The stuff with Marcus is great, obviously--seeing him and Dr. Franklin working together, and the hints of a possible relationship between Marcus and Ivanova? (That scene at the end where she "returns" the roses is my favorite of the episode.) But also I like getting to see a little more from Lt. Corwin. Poor guy was just totally out of his depth, wasn't he! Although I think Sheridan and Ivanova were a little quick to judge him just based on one conversation. I mean, what was he supposed to say to his superior officer right after he had just received a promotion? That he was totally okay with disobeying orders?
... about that 'package from Mars' ... 😉
...it's certainly not just fish & chips!
Next episode is actually my favorite. Everything is 'before' and 'after' what comes next.
This is very much like the Trill unification in Star Trek - just more painful and more evil.
Ummm... how were they at all in any way Evil?
Hell given how the Trill (not the symbiots) treated and controlled the process, the Trill are a might sight more 'evil' than these aliens ever were.
You were right, the shit hits the fan this season. Just wait. Your dream will come true. It’s a ride.
Thank you for doing these.
It's a lot of fun watching someone discover the wonder of B5.
Welcome back! I hope you are getting over the dreaded plague. I have been missing watching you watch this... Though I could just go back and watch your reaction to the first 35 episodes... So many things I would like to say in your analysis of this episode, but they're all spoilers so I'm staying quiet. I will rest with repeating it's a joy to live through someone watching this show for the first time, especially one careful enough to always have a pen and paper handy for making notes.
Those creatures' mission reminds me of Asimov's foundation.
Thinking back on this episode...why would Corwin think Ivanova was asking him on a date? It would be highly inappropriate for a senior officer to do that...or does Earth Force not have those kinds of regulations?
Huh. I hadn't thought of it before but the aliens are a bit like Trill symbiotes from Star Trek.
Hello dearie and hope you are feeling much better. We cannot deny we missed our watching you watching us opp's sorry we mean B5 & Doctor who are we? Especially seeing Franklin & Marcus starting their friendship not only just on B5 but in relatively real life as well. We met the two of them long ago at a Sci-fi Ball convention where their friendship really blossomed making all of us love the two of them so much. Especially when ' Marcus ' kept shouting to give ' Franklin ' the right answers in a ' Who wants to be a starship captain ' competition! We all kept shouting every right answer to him as well because he said he would take another part of his clothes off every time he got a right answer with our help in winning! So determined to win ' Franklin ' ended up all the way down to only his boxer shorts left on! Now can any of you know the answer to the final question, which Doctor first faced the Black Guardian? We all knew the answer, even ' Marcus ', so hearing us all shouting Tom Baker we thought we were about to actually see ' Franklin ' take his boxers off, to become fully naked on stage! However those running the Sci-fi Ball said it was the wrong answer, that the right answer was Colin Baker! ' Marcus ' and the rest of us had been laughing our heads off the whole time and told ' Franklin ' later those in charge did that to stop him from being completely naked on stage, Doh! Still one of the best Sci-fi conventions ever all because of the two of them and their true friendship. Alas sorry for going on too long, thus thank you kindly from 'the Doctor no.42, Yes?'
Did you hear that they're making a new Bab5 series? Fabulous news!
As long as they stay true to the story.
J. Michael Straczynski is supposed to be actually deeply involved which gives me some hope.
@@Chase0420 It's being made by JMS. IIRC, he plans to drop banana peels for the fans, make us assume some stories are going the direction of the original series, only to veer off at the last moment. So, expect some major variations, but hopefully the same feelings we've felt when watching for the first time.
@@Chase0420 JMS is running the show, so you can have confidence in that.
@@freakygoblin3068 Hes done the script for the pilot just waiting for the studio to green light it
The comradery with Franklin and Marcus will be tested. By Gilbert and Sullivan.
This is the episode I show people that I'm trying to convince to watch the show.
More Marcus. Good.
Season 3 Episodes 8 through 12 involve that shit you were talking about earlier hitting a whole set of industrial fans. I hope you're ready for the ride. As far as Marcus and Ivanova, it's complicated, sadly there is nothing more I can say without massively spoiling that plot
Fwiw, even though she's already close to being done with Season 3 (youtube uploads are delayed) this is actually considered a spoiler. Just because you aren't spoiling the actual details of the plot, you're still spoiling the narrative structure, which is just as big a deal. Heads up for future reference if you follow other reactors.
Hope that you are feeling better.
10:46 😊
11:06 Are they parasites, or symbiotes?
As you can see. my name is Marcus and my brother is named Stephen!
The history aliens need to figure out a less painfull & more consentual way to join with a host.
It's entirely consensual though, they only join with a willing host, it's just very painful.
Great reaction
Wonderful! Now I have to stop everything and share this with you. :) Thanks! Here we go!
Really looking forward to when u get to certain episodes coming up. But that's all I'll say so I don't ruin anything
Markus and Susan?
Nah.
Don't see it myself.
Yay thanks muchly
Medusa you have to watch the B5 movies then Crusade!
Symbiote not parasite. ;)
mixed signals poor LT
As far as Marcus goes
"I'm the model of the modern major general."
Look up your quote because you missed some words.. Heck, you can find videos of Marcus with just that song....
One of my least favourite episodes if I'm honest. Dr & Marcus interactions aside
Grey 17 for me....or the 5th season.
It's one of those 'calm before the storm' things you hear about, that happen repeatedly in B5.
It's almost like they exist to tell us the big ones are about to arrive.