Bester Has The Comebacks (Babylon 5 Fan Video)

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  • Опубликовано: 17 авг 2021
  • Whatever else you may think of the guy, there's no denying that Alfred Bester is quick with the witty retorts.
    *All clips are the property of Warner Bros. Studios
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Комментарии • 475

  • @KesselRunner606
    @KesselRunner606 Год назад +85

    Perhaps the biggest reveal of Babylon 5 was discovering, "Holy Crap! Walter Koenig can act his socks off!"

    • @rowanaforrest9792
      @rowanaforrest9792 3 месяца назад +11

      I love the original Star Trek series, but one of it's shortfalls was that it rarely gave any of the regulars except Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley a chance to show what good actors they really were. I always figured they were all much better than they got to show on Star Trek, so I was delighted that Walter Koenig got such a meaty and fun role on B5. He played Bester to the hilt! Glad to find out he loved doing so.

    • @bluespaceman7937
      @bluespaceman7937 Месяц назад +3

      They gave him a very meaty role and he did it wonderfully.

  • @kelaarin
    @kelaarin 2 года назад +419

    They say the day after Bester died and was buried, an unknown figure, possibly bald, was seen digging up his corpse and driving a stake through his heart...just to make sure.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +45

      I'm surprised he didn't straight up burn him to ash.

    • @MarkJohnson-ro1ed
      @MarkJohnson-ro1ed 2 года назад +51

      I always got the feeling that Bester enjoyed 'crossing swords' with Garibaldi, Bester's interactions with other characters was because he had to go down to the level of the mundane and it was a chore, but with Garibaldi, it was amusement.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +28

      @@MarkJohnson-ro1ed Oh, he definitely enjoyed provoking Garibaldi. Such as that one time he scanned him in front of Lyta knowing she would say something, then smiling like the Cheshire cat after he confronts him then gets hauled off by security.

    • @oldfrend
      @oldfrend 2 года назад +10

      did they ever say when bester died? i'd assume during the telepath war, but was that ever confirmed?

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +20

      @@oldfrend It is shown in the Psi-corp book trilogy. He survived the war, went into hiding, but was eventually found and imprisoned where he eventually died.
      babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Psi_Corps_Trilogy

  • @robertmoore6149
    @robertmoore6149 2 года назад +311

    Walter Koenig should be proud of the work he did in this show. Although a secondary character, fans could never get enough of Bester.

    • @phonyalias7574
      @phonyalias7574 2 года назад +29

      He really liked the role. In interviews, Walter Koenig said that even though he wasn't in that many episodes he always liked that every time he did show up, he got to move the plot along and do something noteworthy.

    • @steffenbendel6031
      @steffenbendel6031 Год назад +4

      There is no one better, that's why he is called Best and played by a King.

    • @Mysticales
      @Mysticales 11 месяцев назад +7

      To think. JMS originally was going to cast him as the guy who kidnapped Sinclair. And after something came up and couldn't do that. He was given the role as Bester instead. Best choice they made for sure.

    • @Wenchework
      @Wenchework 11 месяцев назад

      Think if I recall it was a heart attack and he called him to say he could not and he was tolled they find something else and they wanted him and Bester was created for him as they wanted Walter in B5

    • @Mysticales
      @Mysticales 11 месяцев назад +5

      @@Wenchework yea cause JMS really wanted Walter in Bab 5 and it was a great choice.

  • @michaelrussell3890
    @michaelrussell3890 2 года назад +263

    "she's a P5. If I were really going to try something, she's not strong enough to block me anyway"
    Laughs in Vorlon

    • @RobertWilke
      @RobertWilke 2 года назад +23

      If anything she's a P100 or Greater. If Bester had poked the bear a few more times he would have found out. The Hard Way.

    • @nikolaimiroshnichenko2689
      @nikolaimiroshnichenko2689 2 года назад +17

      @@RobertWilke he kind of learned that. Why else would he offer her contract under condition her body to be donated to the Corps after death

    • @kreb7
      @kreb7 2 года назад +5

      @@RobertWilke it looks like it works on a log scale ie every 1 increment is 10 fold

    • @rizon72
      @rizon72 2 года назад +15

      @@kreb7 she is the telepath equivalent of a doomsday device.

    • @JXSnWp
      @JXSnWp 2 года назад +12

      @@kreb7 The Vorlon removed any limitations that would allow her to be classified under any such measurable scale. As @rizon72 said, she is a biological doomsday device. Thinking of her as a mere "scorched earth" bomb is like believing the black hole at the center of the galaxy feels like it has a slightly stronger pull than a magnet held in your hand.

  • @TheAdorkableRJ
    @TheAdorkableRJ Год назад +38

    ''Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi. But you're welcome to try.''
    One of my all-time favorite Bester lines and it was in just his first episode.

    • @perfectsplit5515
      @perfectsplit5515 Месяц назад

      The intrigue of that line ...

    • @Nala15-Artist
      @Nala15-Artist Месяц назад

      @@perfectsplit5515 Actually, an incredible detail of character consistency.
      Think about Garibaldi's favourite pastime ...

    • @perfectsplit5515
      @perfectsplit5515 Месяц назад

      @@Nala15-Artist “favorite pastime”
      Drinking?

    • @tankermottind
      @tankermottind 14 дней назад

      @@perfectsplit5515 Pretty much the only way to have "go fuck yourself" on cable TV in the '90s...

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 7 дней назад

      ​@@perfectsplit5515 Like in my brother's case Garibaldi's " falling off the wagon " was the result of imprisonment and torture.

  • @saalkz.a.9715
    @saalkz.a.9715 2 года назад +148

    "I'm a telepath, work it out!" must be Bester's version of "I'm a locksmith and I'm a locksmith!" 😁

    • @tonyennis1787
      @tonyennis1787 2 года назад +5

      The greatest line in all of comedy.

  • @stevenwiederholt7000
    @stevenwiederholt7000 3 года назад +120

    Bester: We're not expendable. Mundanes are.
    Garibaldi: That would be us.
    Bester: Got it in one, Mr. Garibaldi.
    Ship of Tears.

    • @chrismaguire3667
      @chrismaguire3667 2 года назад +1

      I often wondered if Garibaldi was a latent, and Bester picked up on that.

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG 2 года назад +6

      @@chrismaguire3667 He never picked up on Ivanova being a latent/low level Psi.

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 4 месяца назад

      Oh, the Master Race! I'm a Ukrainian Reb so don't get me started on the Master Race! 🤣

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 4 месяца назад +1

      Well, considering Anakin the Loser never picked up that Leia was his daughter while he was interrogating and torturing her I think we can forgive Bester.

  • @altairprime7895
    @altairprime7895 2 года назад +313

    Did anyone ever take Chekov seriously? Did anyone ever NOT take Bester seriously? A huge difference in characters and what a change by Walter Koenig.

    • @Self-replicating_whatnot
      @Self-replicating_whatnot 2 года назад +22

      Gotta love an actor who can actually play other people than themselves.

    • @Ruosteinenknight
      @Ruosteinenknight 2 года назад +29

      JMS said that when he first met Koenig, he knew from the start that he could be so much more than Chekov. No disrespect meant to Checkov's character, of course, he meant he could be more than just comic relief.

    • @Da40kOrks
      @Da40kOrks 2 года назад +10

      The opening scene here is proof of that. Absolute savage.

    • @supersaiyaman11589
      @supersaiyaman11589 2 года назад +7

      also it has bean proven based off what he did to garibaldi that he dosnt care for any human life unless you are a telepath one of his people. normal people he couldn't care less.

    • @nerysghemor5781
      @nerysghemor5781 2 года назад +14

      I think the fact that you always know this is the actor who played Chekov makes him even CREEPIER here.

  • @ninjabearpress2574
    @ninjabearpress2574 Год назад +54

    "I'm a telepath...work it out."
    Best line Koenig had in the entire series, but I also like, "Mr. Garabaldi, on a scale of one to ten, how stupid do you think I am?"

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  Год назад +13

      I like how at that point he didn't care to even pretend like he followed the rules.

    • @ninjabearpress2574
      @ninjabearpress2574 Год назад +8

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin Not society's rules, but his own.
      The Teeps were his peeps and if a thousand mundanes had to die to save one telepath, oh well.

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 Год назад +8

      Psychotic- yes. Sadistic- yes. Stupid- no way. One of the most brilliant evil minds I've ever encountered.

    • @guardian33
      @guardian33 Год назад +1

      11.

    • @kennethkasper8536
      @kennethkasper8536 5 месяцев назад +2

      @@tatianalyulkin410 He was never sadistic. Or psychotic even. Sociopathic, yes, but there wasn't really malice behind anything he did, which is the scariest thing about him.

  • @Fydron
    @Fydron 3 года назад +325

    Its not just how he delivers its also the expressions and mannerisms. I just love how in B5 they just let Walter go at it Bester is one of the best villains on TV i liked him in Star Trek but in B5 he was astonishing.
    The Corps Is Mother, the Corps Is Father

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  3 года назад +32

      I feel Babylon 5 created and sustained an atmosphere that challenged actors in new ways and really let them shine. Even those that were only in one episode are memorable.

    • @Fydron
      @Fydron 2 года назад +30

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin Neroon is one of those characters John Vickery played him only in 5 episodes and he is more memorable than some characters are in lead roles on other series.
      Other one would be Zathras who was only in handful of episodes and is still quoted and loved after 25 years.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +20

      @@Fydron I'm planning on doing a Zathras video next. Whenever I think about what scenes I'm going to use, it ends up being pretty much all of them.

    • @MarkJohnson-ro1ed
      @MarkJohnson-ro1ed 2 года назад +13

      @@Fydron Yeah, but which Zathras?

    • @johnassal5838
      @johnassal5838 2 года назад +9

      @@Fydron but which one? Zathrås, Zathrás or Zathrâs? We see three on screen and there's supposedly six or seven more. No idea what _thier_ names are of course 🤣

  • @redkommie80
    @redkommie80 3 года назад +177

    Gotta love these dark gray characters. Bester was bad, but damn if his reasons didn't make sense. You loved to hate him, yet he still made him likable.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  3 года назад +27

      Even more so after reading the books. He basically just wanted to feel like he belonged, but even other telepaths constantly belittled and betrayed him until finally the only thing that mattered to him was his mission.

    • @redkommie80
      @redkommie80 3 года назад +14

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin I liked the psi Corp books. Yeah, he was out of place, and ended up a man with a mission and finally mostly alone, wanted, and hunted by Mr. garibaldi. Through it has been some years. Need to reread them.

    • @yvandaniel8050
      @yvandaniel8050 2 года назад +22

      Because of Bester i wanted to be a telepath. Instead the Psi Corp made me watch youtube for illicit content and report back to them.

    • @joehealy6376
      @joehealy6376 2 года назад +19

      One of the reason Babylon 5 works so well is everyone is a fully fleshed out. No one is unidimensional, except maybe Byron to an extent. No one acts without reasons the character should.

    • @krazzygranny7032
      @krazzygranny7032 2 года назад +11

      @@joehealy6376 remember, no one here is exactly as they appear

  • @55Quirll
    @55Quirll 2 года назад +133

    Later in that same scene Bester tries to scan everybody but is blocked at every turn and when he looks at Lita he can't scan her either and than realizes he's made a mistake and she isn't a P5 but something more.

    • @Necromonger69
      @Necromonger69 2 года назад +15

      If I remember correctly it's her contact with Kosh but I could be wrong

    • @55Quirll
      @55Quirll 2 года назад +32

      @@Necromonger69 Nope you're correct. She went to the Vorlon's home world where she got a huge up grade to some level where she's considered a Doomsday weapon. She reveals that Garibaldi while she's in jail/brig 👍

    • @Necromonger69
      @Necromonger69 2 года назад +1

      @@55Quirll Yes you're correct.

    • @Justanotherconsumer
      @Justanotherconsumer 2 года назад +18

      I remember playing the old B5 CCG and there was a card that did this - switched an existing telepath to a P15.
      I liked putting it on Ivanova.

    • @JnEricsonx
      @JnEricsonx 2 года назад +12

      @@Justanotherconsumer "Ivanova is god."

  • @donovanbradford8231
    @donovanbradford8231 2 года назад +33

    I still always like his line of, " hello I trust my usual quaters in the brig are ready."

    • @oenrn
      @oenrn 2 года назад +7

      "For you, Mr Bester, always!"

    • @SenileOtaku
      @SenileOtaku Год назад +2

      "Brig" I presume you meant (damned auto-correct gets me all the time too)

  • @MM22966
    @MM22966 2 года назад +32

    Babylon 5 made me realize that Walter Koenig would have unironically made a good Khan Noonian Singh.

    • @luna-hw9li
      @luna-hw9li 2 года назад +8

      I disagree, because Koenig could not rock Ricardo Montalban's "chest of justice".

    • @MM22966
      @MM22966 2 года назад +3

      @@luna-hw9li By that standard, we could use Arnold Schwarzenegger! Schwarzenegger for Khan!!! Surely a case of genetic FITNESS, LOL!!!

    • @luna-hw9li
      @luna-hw9li 2 года назад +2

      @@MM22966 As far as physique goes, yes, Arnold would be a good Khan. Still, I doubt that Arnold could bring the "superior intellect" to the table. Talking was just not his strong side in the 80s. In 1982 he just did Conan the Barbarian.

    • @AenesidemusOZ
      @AenesidemusOZ 6 месяцев назад

      That was who came to mind during the Piñata scene. Very strong KNS vibes with his expression.

    • @MM22966
      @MM22966 6 месяцев назад +2

      @@AenesidemusOZ I wonder if Walter was deliberately referencing Montalban's Khan acting style for this? I can't recall seeing him in anything else, so I don't know what he is like acting different roles.

  • @banshee6k
    @banshee6k 2 года назад +27

    Walter Koenig played this character to absolute perfection.

    • @JnEricsonx
      @JnEricsonx 2 года назад +2

      I remember as a kid seeing the movie Moontrap, and realizing that the actor just did the accent for Star Trek. I just legit thought for the show they'd gotten a actual Russian actor(even though as a kid I knew in the 60s Russia and America weren't on great terms). Hell, I thought James Doohan was a Scottish actor in that sense as well.

    • @amandaburnside1825
      @amandaburnside1825 2 года назад +1

      @@JnEricsonx Walter is of Russian descent. Why doesn't anyone know this?

    • @JnEricsonx
      @JnEricsonx 2 года назад +2

      @@amandaburnside1825 Oh, I know that now. I just literally more thought they'd gotten literally a actor from Russia as a kid. :) Just like Anton Yelchin was of Russian heritage. RIP.

    • @amandaburnside1825
      @amandaburnside1825 2 года назад

      @@JnEricsonx I like to think that they ( the producers) did that on purpose. I mean, it makes sense that they would choose Walter and Anton because of that. Can't really say that about the other actors/ characters, though.

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 4 месяца назад

      So is JMS. Don't be fooled by his Polish last name- my teach identifies as a Russian anti Putin " Ukrainian Loyalist ".

  • @d3punkt5
    @d3punkt5 2 года назад +61

    Oh man. When he just steps inside, says "Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi." and the ambient music hits. Straight chills.

  • @rodbyrules914
    @rodbyrules914 2 года назад +39

    "Haven't we learned by now to trust each other?"
    "No. Now sit."
    Best exchange

  • @krondarr8865
    @krondarr8865 2 года назад +250

    Although I could never forgive what his character did to Garibaldi l absolutely enjoyed Walter Koenig's portrayal of him. I actually liked this character better than his role as Chekhov.

    • @owlsayssouth
      @owlsayssouth 2 года назад +8

      Pretty sure bester taking control of the brainwashing, is the reason Garibaldi not only lives, but gets a best end.

    • @luna-hw9li
      @luna-hw9li 2 года назад +9

      Bester was just a better written character. Chekhov was a fine co-starring character, but it took time for people to really like him and care for him.

    • @christophermccarthy884
      @christophermccarthy884 2 года назад +10

      Walter Koenig is very politically correct these days about his years on star trek, but when he was younger he said as a guest star on B5 he played a complex deep character which was real and enjoyable to play...while multiple seasons and movies on trek he played a 2dimensional cardboard character which was sterile and required little acting. And was NOT enjoyable to play...though somewhat profitable.

    • @anthonywilliams7052
      @anthonywilliams7052 2 года назад +4

      Way better character just like most characters in B5.

    • @wiseguymaybe
      @wiseguymaybe 2 года назад +3

      You scare me. You knew what I was thinking. Me too. I believe Walter Koenig also said he liked playing Bester over Chekov as well.

  • @terminus8444
    @terminus8444 2 года назад +19

    Bester: "the captain's opinion not withstanding, the badge and the uniform do provide certain advantages..."
    Garibaldi: "you mean like intimidation?"
    Bester: "absolutely! Just like, your badge... and your uniform."

    • @lollol35
      @lollol35 2 месяца назад +1

      One of my favorite Bester quotes. He is just fantastic! :)

  • @montyr2083
    @montyr2083 6 месяцев назад +8

    1:36 I love that Sheridan was the one person who seems to genuinely have *unsettled* Bester at times.

  • @peccatumDei
    @peccatumDei 2 года назад +82

    There's a scene in season 5 I believe, where Bester tries to scan Lyta, and she slaps him telepathically. He's astonished and asks if she actually slapped him by moving air, or convincing his mind that he (a P12) had been slapped. Either way is extraordinary.

    • @xellos5262
      @xellos5262 2 года назад +19

      It's in Season 5 when the blood hound units come to round up the rogues. The part right after was even better, when he noticed that it weakened her and asked how often she can do this, and how many people he need to order from earth before she gets overwhelmed by numbers. That was a power move if I've ever seen one :D

    • @jarowan
      @jarowan 2 года назад +10

      @@xellos5262 If they actually had that many P12s, they wouldn't be manipulating things behind the scenes, they'd flat out rule the world. Which is, of course, why they wanted to dissect Lyta so badly, just like they had Talia, for similar reasons.

    • @xellos5262
      @xellos5262 2 года назад +10

      @@jarowan Oh no, the masses he would have thrown at her would be mundanes. He doesn't need P12 TPs, as the sheer act of - whatever she did - was straining her. Had nothing to do with the telepathic strength of her opponent. When I remember the Ironheart-Episode, this guy's ability to do what Lyta (probably) did was ripping his flesh apart. I think that the tradeoff for keeping her body was... less stamina?

    • @felixautomaton5314
      @felixautomaton5314 2 года назад +9

      @@xellos5262 With Ironheart, I think Psi Corp had managed to damage the Vorlon weapon safety interlocks, and he starting to cook off. Lyta, on the other hand, was adjusted by the Vorlons directly, so she wasn't so much at risk of falling apart.

    • @Thurgosh_OG
      @Thurgosh_OG 2 года назад

      @@felixautomaton5314 It's a pity they didn't bring Ironheart back to help Lyta and the free Psychics go to Vorlon space.

  • @escarfangorn
    @escarfangorn Год назад +6

    The moment he played on Babylon 5, he stopped being Chekov to me and forever became Bester. "Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi. But you're welcome to try."

  • @rfletch62
    @rfletch62 3 года назад +66

    "She's just a blip".
    Oh, Bester. You have no idea how wrong you are...

    • @steveaustin2686
      @steveaustin2686 2 года назад +2

      IIRC, didn't she slap him down right at the table as he tried to read the others.

    • @naturelass
      @naturelass 2 года назад +6

      @@steveaustin2686 yep because she was vorlon enhanced the fact is the vorlon's seeded telepathy among sentient races the idea being they would naturally become a more dominant gene as people would want telepathic offspring to give them an edge so when the vorlons modifed her she went beyond p12 or 13 and became a whole new level and type of telepath we never actually see her full range of powers but the implication is she was a more stable version of jason ironheart or at least one stage below what he became so if she really went for it she could probably have just killed him with a thought.

    • @steveaustin2686
      @steveaustin2686 2 года назад +2

      @@naturelass Agreed. The rogue teep in the Crusade flashback with Lt Matheson who had to get the sleepers every 2 hours was supposed to Lyta, but Pat Tallman wasn't available.

    • @smiddlehurst1
      @smiddlehurst1 2 года назад +1

      “She’s not powerful enough to block me anyway.” *five minutes later* “so explain to me again why Bester’s head is now inside out?”

    • @JimmyCerra
      @JimmyCerra 5 месяцев назад +1

      That was the point. Bester knew that if she could stop him, then the Vorlons did something to her.

  • @sbritton1313
    @sbritton1313 2 года назад +22

    That pinata come back was always my favorite

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +3

      I've always wondered what Garibaldi was going to say back.

    • @robzilla730
      @robzilla730 11 месяцев назад

      Mine too. I used a variation of it once. Went over the other person's head. I was such a dork then. Lol

    • @tatianalyulkin410
      @tatianalyulkin410 4 месяца назад

      Nothing. Nichego. Bubkes. Bester got him 120%. 🤣

  • @knowbuddynose
    @knowbuddynose 2 года назад +32

    "I'm thinking it over."

    • @dynamicworlds1
      @dynamicworlds1 2 года назад +2

      Very relatable

    • @KMCA779
      @KMCA779 2 года назад +5

      "Trust me, it won't be brief." Just can't compete with silence... Which I think is only because he actually looks concerned there for a moment.

  • @maddan9086
    @maddan9086 3 года назад +126

    Oh, snap. Bester was always one of my fav "love-to-hate" characters, on ANY television show. Thanks for the upload! 😄

  • @hellsunicorn
    @hellsunicorn 2 года назад +69

    Always loved how Koenig was able to move from being the affable Slavic officer in Star Trek to the sarcastic jerk with a hundred sick burns on deck. Few characters in Sci-Fi have been able to balance out being likable and detestable so evenly while going to both extremes. One of several reasons why I liked this show better than Deep Space Nine.

    • @tailgunner2
      @tailgunner2 2 года назад +3

      While I too have a soft spot for Babylon 5, there is a difference in context when compared to Star Trek.
      To me, Babylon 5 was a complete "kit", with a clear beginning, story, and an ending as one turns the last page of a good book.
      DS9 was a continuation of an existing franchise, which in theory, has no end.
      But! While yes, was rough in the beginning, evolved into a wonderful adventure.

    • @hellsunicorn
      @hellsunicorn 2 года назад +3

      @@tailgunner2 Don’t get me wrong, The Dominion War was a brilliant move by Berman and his crew that built well off the TNG mythos. My main criticism of DS9 was that the primary cast wasn’t as strong, I though Sisko was a weak lead when compared to both Picard and Sheridan/Sinclair.

    • @snapdragon9300
      @snapdragon9300 2 года назад +2

      I don't know about that, garak had a love hate thing going on, so did quark.

    • @JK-Visions
      @JK-Visions 2 года назад +2

      @@hellsunicorn really, i thought he was getting better when he got the beard and bald style.

    • @TheEmpressReborn
      @TheEmpressReborn 2 года назад +2

      I agree, but...Chekov wasn't Slavic. He was Russian.

  • @mikecimerian6913
    @mikecimerian6913 11 месяцев назад +4

    Bester's name comes from Alfred Bester, the novelist who invented psy-cops in the Demolished Man novel which is a psy-cop investigating a murder case.

  • @thomasfevre9515
    @thomasfevre9515 2 года назад +47

    What a great actor, and great writing. Bester was, imo, the most memorable villain in B5. So cynical and hateable but the one episode from his Pov made him relatable. And then the whole struggle with Garibaldi. B5 is full of gems but Bester is definitely one of them.

    • @williamcunning6168
      @williamcunning6168 Год назад +2

      if you ever read the books, you can find out a lot of his backstory and what happened to him afterwards. You get a small amount of sympathy for what he must have gone through to make him what he became.

    • @5Gburn
      @5Gburn 6 месяцев назад

      I'm on S5 of Bab5 and I have to say you couldn't pry my eyes from the screen when he was in a scene. And he was always the star of rhe scene.

  • @TheKingTywinLannister
    @TheKingTywinLannister 2 года назад +20

    God I love Bester. His my favorite character of all time. Too bad we never get his funny expressions no more. Babylon 5 is the best series ever.

  • @arielfetters5662
    @arielfetters5662 Год назад +2

    Bester needed to be charged with grand theft show every time he popped up :D

  • @grast5150
    @grast5150 2 года назад +15

    I think this bit of acting really showed that Walter Koenig was typed cast after the Chekov character. It would have nice to see him more diverse characters. Bester was one of the best characters in B5.

  • @Harldin
    @Harldin 2 года назад +28

    My all time favourite recurring TV character and the Showrunner got his number of appearances just about perfect. Dominated every episode he appeared in, perfectly played by Koenig.

    • @schroedingerscat2.054
      @schroedingerscat2.054 2 года назад

      For me it was Q as my favourite till they turned him into a clown on Voyager. Since then it's Commander Shran from Enterprise.

  • @daveroche6522
    @daveroche6522 2 года назад +18

    Babylon 5 - best. Series. Ever.
    Plus serious shoutout to Walter for turning Bester into the most punchable little shit in the Galaxy! Well done, Sir.

  • @yvandaniel8050
    @yvandaniel8050 2 года назад +22

    Babylon 5 will never die!

  • @MrChris20912
    @MrChris20912 2 года назад +25

    Walter Koenig did an absolute wonderful job inhabiting this character. Read the novels which centered around the Bester character later and would always hear his voice in my head as i was reading them.

    • @55Quirll
      @55Quirll Год назад +1

      He appeared a few times in the short-lived series 'Star Lost'.

    • @rowanaforrest9792
      @rowanaforrest9792 3 месяца назад +1

      I don't even know whether Koenig was using his real-life speaking voice as Bester, but I so enjoy Bester's voice.

  • @ShionWinkler
    @ShionWinkler 11 месяцев назад +4

    I love Bester, he is the villain you can't help but like, but Sheridan had better come backs haha.

  • @meltedplasticarmyguy
    @meltedplasticarmyguy 2 года назад +12

    Bester was one of those characters that you just love to hate.

  • @mediocreman6323
    @mediocreman6323 Год назад +8

    1:45 - I think Sheridan is one of the few people … Bester cannot best. “I'm thinking it over” as a reply to Bester's explanation, why Sheridan should not blow him out of the sky, gosh, I _love_ it when you see that Bester is getting nervous… Yep, Sheridan can be really savage.

  • @JeanLucCaptain
    @JeanLucCaptain 2 года назад +11

    Khan: I Always Remember a face, isn't that right, MR. CHEKOV?
    Bester: Hmmm, you must be some kind of psychic!

    • @omegaamigo2898
      @omegaamigo2898 Год назад

      Chekov : We are looking for nuclear wessel
      Bester stares cold at him
      Chekov : eh, nevermind

  • @christopherwall2121
    @christopherwall2121 2 года назад +15

    I like to think Bester regularly used his powers to probe everyone to best hit them where it hurts with his comebacks.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +7

      Never thought of it that way, but now that you say it, I have no doubt it's true.

    • @AgentExeider
      @AgentExeider 5 месяцев назад +3

      Ironic, I thought the opposite is true. Bester would come up with hurtful comebacks to cause an emotional reaction and thus ride it into a scan without them knowing. Lita and Talia both said strong emotional reactions to thinks are harder to block and telepaths can often use that to sneak a scan that way.

    • @christopherwall2121
      @christopherwall2121 5 месяцев назад +1

      @@AgentExeider It could even go both ways

  • @burstcity3832
    @burstcity3832 2 года назад +18

    I've only just noticed that the pause he uses are in the same places....that....Shatner would....have...USED.

  • @ragzzytv
    @ragzzytv Год назад +5

    "I'm a Telepath! Work it out!" Good Lord! Walter Koenig delivering it with such coldness and sarcasm in his voice. honestly paramount just lost a golden opportunity to make Chekhov into something really big like Quark or Garak.

  • @BalooSJ
    @BalooSJ 2 года назад +9

    The Swedish translation of "hiring from the shallow end of the gene pool" was inspired: "välja de små valörerna på genbanken." Directly translated back, it is "choose the small denominations at the gene bank."

    • @DavidLemmo
      @DavidLemmo 2 года назад

      I like that version better

    • @DaveKD
      @DaveKD 2 года назад +1

      The small unmarked units of currency.

  • @DARIVSARCHITECTVS
    @DARIVSARCHITECTVS Год назад +2

    Koenig's BEST performance EVER.

  • @starflyer3219
    @starflyer3219 2 года назад +3

    Babylon 5 was the last of the sci fi series. There would never be another.

  • @TeddGCM
    @TeddGCM Год назад +3

    Bester, played by Mr. Koenig is probably my favorite character in B5. Absolute evil in the beginning, then later, his emotions start to surface, his true belief that everything he does is the best for the corps and those like him. The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father!"

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  Год назад +1

      Have you read the Psi-Corp Trilogy? Those books humanize him even more and make it really easy to sympathize or even empathize with him.

  • @JimDebones
    @JimDebones 2 года назад +7

    Bester, the king of trolls

  • @Solamnic31
    @Solamnic31 2 года назад +5

    Bester, one of Sfi-fi's best villains played by one of the most iconic Sci-fi actors. Mr. Koenig is a legend.

  • @gicking3898
    @gicking3898 2 года назад +13

    I read some B5 books afterwards involving Bester. Gives a lot of background info, and you understand why he's a jerk. It's a defense mechanism for how lonely he was and rejected all the time when younger, because he was such an incredibly powerful telepath. Its like if a kid has a high IQ and everyone around him can't relate to him, and kids, well, are kids, etc.

  • @mimikiryuu
    @mimikiryuu 2 года назад +4

    People are still posting about B5? SWEET!

  • @mursuka80
    @mursuka80 5 месяцев назад +1

    This man should have got more roles as a villain. He played sinister character perfectly.

  • @HupfderFloh
    @HupfderFloh 2 года назад +1

    "I'm thinking it over" has some TeamFourStar vibes.

  • @brothersofliberty2437
    @brothersofliberty2437 Год назад +2

    They should have added the scene where he ask about about usual accommodations.

  • @garyivey1697
    @garyivey1697 7 месяцев назад +2

    Instead of Crusade I wish we would have gotten a series based on the telepath wars with Bester as a regular character.

  • @davidconner-shover51
    @davidconner-shover51 10 месяцев назад +3

    he was such a lusciously evil character in B5.

  • @dumaskhan
    @dumaskhan Год назад +2

    bester was the best. He just didn't give AF. His arrogance was well earned and he played it beautifully.

  • @HiDoggy3083
    @HiDoggy3083 2 года назад +1

    Bester war immer ein Highlight in der Serie. Wobei Babylon 5 voller Höhepunkte war. Die womöglich beste Sci fi serie aller zeiten.

  • @robzilla730
    @robzilla730 11 месяцев назад +2

    Pretty sure Koenig had more dialog in one of his appearances as Bester than all of his appearances as Chekov. Movies included...

  • @EvolutionaryUturn
    @EvolutionaryUturn 20 дней назад

    My favorite exchange
    Bester: We're not expendable. Mundanes are.
    Garibaldi: That would be us.
    Bester: Got it in one , Mr. Garibaldi.

  • @davidking6750
    @davidking6750 Год назад +2

    It's strange but I think I associate him more and appreciate his character more in B5 more than as Chekov in Star Trek

  • @Daehawk
    @Daehawk 2 года назад +5

    Loved Walter in B5. Such a great character and played to perfection by Walter.

    • @michaelgreenwood3413
      @michaelgreenwood3413 2 года назад

      Funny thing is Walter took a bit of Bester into him playing Chekov in STO (Chekov turns out to be a Temporal Agent, so you work with him a few times during the Temporal War arc). course, by that point, he's Captain Chekov.

  • @eloiselockett9001
    @eloiselockett9001 2 года назад +9

    Bester is a bit of a prick, but nobody could deny his way with words and sarcasm is second to none😆also the vision of Bester filled with sweets and being bright and cheerful is certainly very contrasting, this guys great🤣😅

    • @annoyed707
      @annoyed707 2 года назад +1

      In the same episode is a great moment when Garibaldi is hypocritical and Bester points out how Garibaldi also uses his uniform and badge to intimidate.

    • @eloiselockett9001
      @eloiselockett9001 2 года назад

      @@annoyed707 yeah, he's smart and because he's a bit evil he knows his to catch people out, one of the best written villains I've seen

  • @antaresmaelstrom5365
    @antaresmaelstrom5365 2 года назад +7

    Honestly, at 1:40 I'd say that Sheridan had the better comeback there by not saying anything and 'thinking it over'.

    • @SMAXZO
      @SMAXZO 2 года назад +3

      Hell, I think that's the only time I know Bester was ever worried. I mean, Sheridan would've have as Bester put it "blow him out of the sky"

    • @engmed4400
      @engmed4400 Год назад

      @@SMAXZO I've little doubt why Bester was nervous in that moment. He would have known who and what Star Killer was, and what he was capable of. Telepathy can only get you so far in single combat. At some point, the Mundane opponent stops thinking and relies on instinct and muscle memory.

  • @augusthawks6576
    @augusthawks6576 3 месяца назад +1

    I really miss this show. And I really miss Bester.

  • @LoesserOf2Evils
    @LoesserOf2Evils 2 года назад +5

    I now know why he was as named Bester. He had the bestest comebacks.

    • @stephenwales6918
      @stephenwales6918 Год назад +1

      Al Bester was actually named after the science fiction writer Alfred Bester.

    • @robzilla730
      @robzilla730 11 месяцев назад

      ​@@stephenwales6918I bet you're a lot of fun at parties 🥳...

  • @EGeraldhuebner
    @EGeraldhuebner Месяц назад +1

    after treating Lyta Alexander wrong, using the telepaths only, the greatest mistake from Sheridan was not to destroy Alfred Bester as he was able for (blowing out from the sky)

  • @efraim3364
    @efraim3364 3 года назад +4

    Walter Koenig. No other comments are valid

  • @tyomies6168
    @tyomies6168 5 месяцев назад

    Walter Koenig is such a legend. Guy had a key part to play in two legendary scifi-shows; who can say the same?

  • @stevebrindle1724
    @stevebrindle1724 2 года назад +2

    Bester was one of the best characters in a great show full of great characters

  • @timothysmith160
    @timothysmith160 3 месяца назад

    Great show! had fine times in my 20's as a bachelor with B5

  • @1umbreon4life
    @1umbreon4life 2 года назад +1

    0:26 the moment Bester sees (in Garibaldi's mind) that it's not so anatomically impossible

    • @mackgiver875
      @mackgiver875 2 года назад +2

      I like to think Garibaldi, knowing it would be picked up, thought his words at him in big bright Las Vegas neon sign letters just especially for Bester.

  • @ThePathStrider
    @ThePathStrider Месяц назад

    You missed one of the best one from Season 5.
    "and if Garabaldi is killed?"
    "...Zack gets his room?"

  • @alexharman9001
    @alexharman9001 Год назад +1

    Sheridan got the best of that third one; Bester’s potential mistake was assuming that the satisfaction of blowing him out of the sky would be brief, rather than a happy memory to enjoy for years to come.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  Год назад +3

      I can see it now.
      Twenty years later Lorien comes to get Sheridan and asks if he has any regrets. Sheridan thinks back over his life, then smiles when he remembers blasting Bester to dust and thinks to himself "Totally worth it".

  • @dmkgenuine
    @dmkgenuine Год назад +2

    Koenig was a friend of JMS’s girlfriend at the time and warned them that Paramount had stolen his idea and was about to release Deep Space 9. JMS had pitched B5 to Paramount years earlier and they had rejected it.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  Год назад +1

      I'd heard the story about them stealing the idea, which is a story I happen to believe, but never knew this about Koenig saying something before DS9 was released. Thank you for sharing!

  • @seangraham2879
    @seangraham2879 2 года назад

    Love this video B5 always a classic and loved show I miss It

  • @mr_reborn
    @mr_reborn 2 года назад +2

    1:40 - anyone else expect him to say “Keptin?”

  • @avril8918
    @avril8918 2 года назад

    Love this series miss it glad I have it on dvd

  • @diamondjim7560
    @diamondjim7560 Год назад

    The one I like is when Bester asked if Zack was getting Garibaldi’s quarters, when Garibaldi fell off the wagon.

  • @Scott_Burton
    @Scott_Burton 2 года назад +5

    Koenig was the perfect choice for Bester. I can't envision anyone else delivering such a magnificent persona for him. Though, the bonus scene feels a little askew, since I know what happens when Bester *does* _try_ _something_ only to learn how wrong he was about Ms. Alexander.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +3

      I'm a little more lenient with the bonus scenes when it comes to keeping with the theme of the video. Those are meant more to be funny than anything else.

    • @Scott_Burton
      @Scott_Burton 2 года назад +1

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin I realized the video is about his comebacks, and if you are more lenient on bonus clips, perfectly understandable. This was, I believe the first of your videos I have watched, so the direct response is rather flattering.
      Bester was, in my humble opinion, the most amazing recurring guest character of the series.

  • @perfectsplit5515
    @perfectsplit5515 Месяц назад

    He was a really creepy and intimidating character. It seemed like he was always in control.

  • @MrNintoku
    @MrNintoku 11 месяцев назад +1

    2:47 I'm a learned individual and even I don't know that one. Its like quoting Machiavelli and expecting people to know.

  • @bthsr7113
    @bthsr7113 Год назад

    "I'm thinking it over"
    If I'd been in his position, I'd have had a very hard time not pulling the trigger.

  • @KCKingdomCreateGreatTrekAgain
    @KCKingdomCreateGreatTrekAgain 2 года назад +2

    2+ minute mark would be funny if "but it's important to capture the wessel".

  • @mr.s2005
    @mr.s2005 2 месяца назад

    he was so nice in Star Trek, here you want to see him thrown out air lock after the first meeting.

  • @MrSmooth273
    @MrSmooth273 2 года назад +2

    Bester`s name comes from Sci Fi Author Alfred J. Bester ("Tiger,Tiger Burning Bright") I think he`d appreciate it. 👍👍👍👍😊😊😊✌❤❤👍

    • @majkus
      @majkus Год назад

      Notably, he was the author of "The Demolished Man", which takes place in a world in which telepathy is common. It is a police procedural. How do you get away with murder in such an environment?

  • @finecallmejane
    @finecallmejane Год назад

    When I was younger Bester was one of my favorites and he scared me so much. I think that's why.

  • @fehoobar
    @fehoobar 10 месяцев назад +3

    I forgot Lyta was there.
    Really shameful how they abandoned her after the war.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  10 месяцев назад

      To this day I don't understand why they treated her the way they did. She was a part of the team, so why was she not earning at least a basic income? Was it for no other reason than her being a telepath? I'd hate to think the crew would be spitefully prejudiced in such a way.

    • @fehoobar
      @fehoobar 10 месяцев назад

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin If nothing else, she should've gone to Minbar and been a respected veteran ferchrissakes. Yeah, it's one of the big shames of B5.
      I blame in part the season 4/5 brouhaha when JMS was forced to condense basically 3-4 seasons worth of material into 2 because of greedy studio execs. JUST FRICKING PAY THE MAN WHO WAS MAKING THE BEST GOSH DARN SCIFI SERIES OF ALL TIME.

  • @BufusTurbo92
    @BufusTurbo92 3 месяца назад +1

    as it turned out, Lyta was NOT, in fact, a P5.
    More like a P5000

  • @TheKingTywinLannister
    @TheKingTywinLannister 2 года назад +1

    Amazing.

  • @brianhedley5139
    @brianhedley5139 2 года назад +1

    Or when at the end. Bester admits 5 years they worked on "dust" never turned up one latent telepath. Just proving how truly devious the "Psi Corp" truly are...

  • @exposingproxystalkingorgan4164
    @exposingproxystalkingorgan4164 2 года назад +1

    It appears that Alfred Bester is everyone's favorite Psi Cop. Did you see Doctor Franklin's smile when Captain Sheridan talked about nailing Bester's head to the table and then setting fire to him and the table? Franklin was very amused by the idea, along with everyone else.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +1

      It's almost out of character for him to enjoy the idea of someone getting hurt, but that moment goes to show two things. One is that Bester is so annoying that even the most stubborn pacifist wants to hurt him, and number two is that Franklin can take a joke.

    • @exposingproxystalkingorgan4164
      @exposingproxystalkingorgan4164 2 года назад +1

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin Ivanova was definitely smiling about Bester and the table burning together. Lyta and Zack almost laughed too, but they managed to do a serious poker face to suppress their outburst of laughter. Bester sat down like a good dog when Sheridan told him to shut up and sit down.

  • @robertansley5526
    @robertansley5526 2 года назад +1

    I remember reading in the 90s that J. Michael Straczynski wrote the script for every episode and it was equated to being a novel every week.

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +2

      He did write most of them himself, but there were a few he brought in someone else to write.
      I don't remember if it was online or a special on one of the DVDs, but I saw a video once where station medical personnel were rushing JMS down the hall on a gurney while clutching a keyboard.

    • @robertansley5526
      @robertansley5526 2 года назад

      @@AuthorDodgeMerrin Did not know that. Thanks for the info.

    • @Bacopa68
      @Bacopa68 2 года назад

      Dorothy Fontana wrote a couple of episodes.

  • @morlokkurak4763
    @morlokkurak4763 2 года назад +5

    I'm a fan of Star Trek. I'm a fan Star Wars. (why can't we all get along? anyway) I'm a fan of Babylon 5. Taking into account what has become of the Trek and Wars franchises, I definitely believe B5 is the best of both worlds. *wink* Or even all worlds. Thank you for your attention. 🛸🚀✨

    • @AuthorDodgeMerrin
      @AuthorDodgeMerrin  2 года назад +5

      Thank you for keeping room in your heart for all those franchises. Babylon 5 is my favorite, but I enjoy Star Trek and Star Wars as well. I don't understand why people seem to think you can only like one franchise at a time.

    • @paulrasmussen8953
      @paulrasmussen8953 Год назад

      I liked those franchises as well butnifnthey did face off trek would win the space battle while wars wins the ground

  • @Excalibur01
    @Excalibur01 2 года назад

    I really loved how he was introduced to Sinclair and their first exchange

  • @tomdolan9761
    @tomdolan9761 2 года назад +2

    I always enjoyed Walter Koenig as Chekov but the character of Bester must have been so much more satisfying a role for him with it's underlying malevolence

  • @nevermindmyname9153
    @nevermindmyname9153 2 года назад +4

    "Anatomically Impossible"... I wonder if he did in the end? I haven't read the Canon Novels, but I understand, after Lyta removes the Blocks... Bester and Garibaldi have a "Meeting".
    "Blowing you out of the sky"... I think Sheridan has the better Comeback; "Silence", lol

  • @perfectsplit5515
    @perfectsplit5515 Месяц назад

    I wanted to see the scene in Medlab with him and Dr. Franklin where he accidentally slips and nearly falls.
    "It's a good thing for second nature. If you had time to think about it, you probably would have let me fall and hurt myself."
    Dr. Franklin denied Bester's accusation and claimed that he cared about all his patients - telepath or not. Furthermore, there was no reason why his kind and Bester's kind could not coexist peacefully.
    I liked that scene because it showed Bester trying to rationalize all the evil things he did. He was looking for an excuse.

  • @Ama-hi5kn
    @Ama-hi5kn Год назад

    At least Bester is not looking the nooclear wessels. Haha.

  • @BaarBear
    @BaarBear 5 месяцев назад

    Bester is just the right WESSEL for snappy comebacks.;-D