Episode 11: "Phoenix Rising"

Guest stars: Walter Koenig as Bester

Synopsis: The telepath standoff continues. Bester returns to his quarters and finds Garibaldi waiting for him, armed with a PPG. He tells him to record a confession or he will blow his brains out. Bester toys with him and refuses. Garibaldi takes aim, but can't fire. Bester laughs and asks Garibaldi how stupid he thinks Bester is? He planted an "Asimov"; he used the 3 Laws of Robotics to create a block which prevents Garibaldi from harming him or allow harm to come to him via inaction. Garibaldi shoots the recorder in frustration. Later, he goes to Medlab to consult with Stephen about medical ways to break a psychic block. Their conversation is interrupted by the zealots, who are on the run, after a firefight. The take over Medlab and hold the people as hostages, demanding a homeworld. Byron reveals to Lyta why he won't use force. He was a Psi Cop, Bester's protege. he followed orders to destroy a ship full of mundanes (as they call them). After that, he broke with the Corps and swore off violence. Sheridan announces they will not negotiate with terrorists and the zealots prepare to kill Garibaldi, as seen in "Deconstruction of Falling Stars." Byron and Lyta arrive and Byron shoots the zealot leader. He then turns himself into Psu Corps, on condition that the zealots are arrested, but the others be allowed to leave B5. Sheridan agrees, but Bester protests. He tries to interrupt the departure of the telepaths and violence ensues. A fuel connection is broken and starts flooding the bay with flammable liquid. Byron gets Lyta to safety, then ignites the fuel, taking himself and a small band of his people with him. Bester is shocked, thinking he could make Byron see his side. Later, there are reports of a bombing, on Mars, of the Psi Corps headquarters, with the message "Remember Byron." The last of the telepaths departs and Lyta sees them off, with info about contacts and safehouses, and the words "Remember Byron."



The episode ends with Franklin talking about Garibaldi's emotional state and we then see Garibaldi return to his quarters with groceries. he puts away a few things, then pulls out a bottle of whiskey and pours a drink. He downs it in a gulp and savors it.



The telepath struggle ends in fire, as was likely, much as Bester predicted. However, bester is as much responsible in pushing the situation to that point. It's a great Bester episode, as we see his evil side and we see that he truly thought he could bring Byron back into the fold. Bester believes in his cause, much as Magneto does in his: that his people are the superior and they must do what is necessary to ensure their survival. Byron is haunted by his past and has sought to atone, but, he can't escape it. Garibaldi has fallen off the wagon in a big way. The helplessness created by Bester's mind blocks strips away any desire to stay sober. Garibaldi's alcoholism will affect many things in the next few episodes. Help will come from an unlikely source.

Episode 13: "The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father"

Guest stars: Walter Koenig as Bester, Mike Genovese (The Flash) as Drake, Dana Barron (NL Vacation) as Lauren Ashley, Reggie Lee (Grimm, Dark Knight Rises)as Chen Hikaru, Dex Elliott Sanders (Strange Days, Last Action Hero)as Jonathan Harris

Note: The entire episode is told from the point of view of Bester and the Psi Corps. The opening titles are tweaked with this iamge:



Synopsis: On Mars, at the Psi Corps HQ, Alfred bester is introduced to two new young interns: Lauren Ashley and Chen Hikaru. Both are in awe of Bester, who is a hero of the Psi Cops and the Corps. Lauren is especially taken by him. We see an experiment turn violent and a telepath murders his experiment partner. He runs off and is later seen on babylon 5. Bester's boss, Drake, gives him the investigation and he takes the interns with him. They see human prejudice against telepaths in the treatment of Bester, by Zack. Bester shares a telepathic joke with Lauren and she giggles, prompting Zack to ask what he said. Zack reluctantly briefs Bester about a murder that seems related to his quarry. Previously, we see the telepath attacked by a hood and destroy him mentally. Bester goes to look around and Chen violates orders and hacks his way into Harris' room, finding another body. At Medlab, Dr Fraknlin finds that his brain was fried from the inside out. In talking to the telepaths, he displays no prejudice, but, his words are misinterpreted and he is belittled by bester when he suggests that maybe the Corps misidentified Harris' Psi level as only P-10, since P-12 level was needed to do what he did. Bester's insult changes Franklin's friendly tone. bester has a theory but needs more evidence. he tasks Chen to search gambling areas for Harris, but not to get close or try to take him in. Chen spots him and goes to call Bester, but gets knifed before his message can be sent. Zack shows Bester the footage from the recorder, saying they are trying to ID the tattoo on the attacker's hand. bester and Lauren examine Harris' papers and the footage of the murder at the Psi Corps experiment. Bester finally figures it out; Harris has multiple personality disorder and his other personality has a stronger Psi ability. It is rare but not unknown. They track him down and are able to arrest him, removing him and his human accomplice (the man who knifed Chen) for trial. On the way back to the Corps mothership, Lauren disposes of the mundane, by dumping him out an airlock.



Probably the best episode, so far, of the season. The idea of presenting the story from the Psi Corps point of view follows on the last issue of the DC comic series, which was done from the Psi Corps point of view. here, we see Bester as the traditional heroic detective, out to stop a murderer, with two young trainees. His man is dangerous and Bester encounters prejudice and half-hearted aid from authorities, like he is a minority cop. However, there are plenty of hints along the way that things aren't quite what they seem. At the Psi Corps facilities, we see placards with propaganda slogans, like "Trust the Corps," and "The Corps is Mother, The Corps is Father" It brings to mind Nazi and Soviet propaganda posters, Big Brother propaganda, and the placards around the Village, in The Prisoner. We also see the rough footage of a Psi Corps propaganda piece about a rogue who is reformed and grateful to the Corps for saving him. Given the recent episode with byron, this seems like counter-programming. It's interesting to see a different point of view to the hostility of Zack and Franklin to bester.

Chen is basically cannon fodder and is shown to be impulsive, which gets him killed. Lauren worships Bester and even makes a bumbling attempt at seduction, which he kindly rebuffs. She seems like an innocent, until the end, when she asks to handle the mundane. Bester is prepared to spare her this, but she insists. She murders the human, dumping him out the airlock. We see that she is truly a product of Psi Corps programming and a staunch ally of Bester. She suggests a sinister future.  It is made even more sinister when you recognize Dana Barron as Audrey Griswold, from National Lampoon's Vacation.

The name Jonathan harris is not an homage to the actor from Lost in Space.  There was a raffle, with the winner getting their name inserted into an episode.  The winner was named Jonathan hHarris, in a complete coincidence.  Chen's surname, Hikaru, is also the given name of Lt Sulu, on Star Trek, colleague of Walter Koenig's Chekov.  That might have been deliberate.

The episode plays like a mystery and does so well, as JMS was a writer and producer on Murder She Wrote and was story editor on Jake and the Fat Man.

This is the last appearance of Bester. A planned appearance in Crusade was never filmed, due to cancellation. bester's story and the Telepath War was held as a possible B5 movie plot, though it finally played out in the Psi Corps trilogy of books, which follows Bester through his career, from a child, to the Telepath War.

From here on, it is all about the mysterious forces behind the Centauri attacks on Alliance shipping.

Episode 15: "Darkness Ascending"

Guest stars:

Synopsis: Lennier locates the Centauri base and records an attack, in which Centauri ships fired on unarmed Brakiri ships, with children onboard. He disengages from the ship he is trailing and heads back to bring the record, even though the distance is too far. he barely makes it to B5 alive and delivers the evidence.



Lyta is trying to broker deals to get long range survey ships to look for a homeworld. She is turned down by corporate clients and turns to G'kar, bringing up an offer to buy her DNA to develop telepaths (from "The Gathering"). She says she accepts. He consults with his government then tells Lyta there is a condition; she and other telepaths may be asked to scan other ambassadors from time to time, without their knowledge. Lyta refuses and G'Kar then reveals that he was testing her, to see how far she would go. He agrees to her deal.

Garibaldi has a dream of a destroyed B5, his friends dead. Franklin confronts him about having needed him, but he wasn't tere. he awakens to find Lyta there, eyes glowing, testing the limits of her abilities. She commands him to forget and believe it is a dream. he awakens again in an empty room, to his bell ringing. It is Lise, back to visit. They catch up and Lise finds a whiskey bottle. She angrily confronts Michael, but he says it is his act of rebellion against what was done to him. He promises not to drink while she is there and they go out for dinner. At the restaurant he gets angry with a waiter who asks what he would like to drink, misunderstanding Garibaldi just wants coffee, no alcohol. he gets the coffee, tastes it and goes to get a better cup. In secret, he pulls out a flask and takes a swig, then pours it into the coffee. Later, Sheridan tells Garibaldi he will be needed more than ever, as they prepare to brief the council about the evidence, which will likely lead to war.



Londo is warned by Centauri Prime about the evidence being brought, claiming it is a hoax. Londo knows Lennier and that it must be true. The Minister then suggests the Narns are using captured ships to discredit them. Londo isn't quite buying it.

Garibaldi sends Lise back to Mars, as war is about to break out.

Things are ramping up for the climax of the arc. Lise knows Garibaldi is drinking. Will it spell the end of their relationship? Lyta is poking around in his mind. He can't hide much longer.

Lyta's deal with a G'Kar is a call back to the pilot, when G'Kar tries to broker a more cynical deal, with either a DNA sample of, as he suggests, a "direct mating," where they would explore her pleasure threshold. Lyta brings that conversation up and tells G'Kar that she has been testing her limits and she doesn't have a limit to her pleasure threshold. G'Kar lets out a low whistle as she departs.

Episode 17: "Movements of Fire and Shadow"

Guest stars: Wayne Alexander as the Drakh

Synopsis: Drazi and centauri ships are fighting, as open war has broken out. The Centauri are getting the upper hand. On B5, Centauri are being murdered. Lochley is warned that it will get worse, as the Alliance has committed the White Star Fleet. Sheridan gathers generals from the Alliance to talk Centauri strategy and none have found a pattern to their attacks. They want to push against Centauri Prime; but, Sheridan forbids attacks on civilian targets. In secret, the Narn and Drazi generals agree to a mutual strike on Centauri prime, without Sheridan's knowledge.



Vir briefs Lyta and Franklin that the Drazi are not returning the bodies of the Centauri's from the battles, as stipulated in the Alliance rules of war. Franklin and Lyta undertake a covert mission to the Drazi homeworld to find out what is going on. They are attacked by assassins and Lyta forces one to shoot himself. They discover a lab with remnants of Shadow technology, allowing a ship to be remotely piloted. These came from the Centauri warships. They contact Sheridan, confirming suspicions that a small faction on Centauri Prime is manipulating this.



On Centauri Prime, Londo and G'Kar are hit by a blinding flash, which knocks them out. Londo is taken away by the same aliens who performed procedures on the sleeper telepaths, in the Shadow War. Londo is probed and a Drakh oversees, satisfied. Londo wakes from a nightmare, in his cell. He tells G'Kar that he must get out, to stop the Regent; but, needs to save face. G'Kar makes himself upchuck and Londo and a guard are seen departing, moaning about the stench.



Sheridan tells delenn of a deal he brokered with Earth to build new Destroyer-class versions of the White Stars. he dispatches Delenn to Minbar to set things up. However, travel is dangerous along those lanes. Lennier arrives in a White Star to escort Delenn. They find themselves under attack and Delenn is injured.



A Centauri ship comes out of hyperspace and targets the B5 jump gate for a kamikaze run, as they have at other points in the galaxy. Starfuries take it out, but it causes damage, delaying its use. meanwhile, the Narn and Drazi combined fleet launches an attack on Centauri Prime.



Londo finally meets with the Regent, who seems mad.  he talks about his final act for "them," that he sent away their defensive ships and turned off the defense network.  Londo races to try to reactivate it, but the attack has begun.

So, the Centauri ships were controlled with Shadow technology, which means the Drakh are manipulating things, via the Regent. Londo is experimented on, but what does it mean? Has a Keeper been implanted? Was it a dream? Delenn is in trouble; can she be rescued? Can Centauri Prime be saved?

Great dramatic episode. We see that Lyta is growing beyond the constraints that held her back. Londo is trying to bring things under control on Centauri Prime, but is failing and may lose control of himself. What of G'Kar?

Episode 19: "Wheel of Fire"

Guest stars:

Synopsis: G'Kar returns to B5 and is met by Lochley, who says she thought he would need to see a friendly face. he soon sees others, as hundreds of Narns are waiting for him. The worship has grown geometrically. The Kha'Ri want him to return to be a symbol to his people. He wants none of it. His people won't listen to him and he is driven mad by demands for his blessings.



Franklin summons Garibaldi to the meeting he is missing and finds him passed out. He tries to fake his way through the meeting and Sheridan angrily declares that Michael is drunk. he sends everyone outside and has a private discussion, then returns to Michael. Garibaldi offers his resignation and Sheridan tells him that he needs to take time for himself and work through this. He can take all the time he needs; but, he doesn't have to go it alone. Later, Lochley comes to see him and Garibaldi thinks it is to gloat. She angrily retorts and throws his excuses and rationalizations back at him, revealing her own history with drugs and alcohol, suggesting the reason they butt heads is that they are so much alike. She offers him help. She also contacts Lise, who returns to help Michael, asking him to come with her to Mars to help run Edgars Industries.



Zack shows Lochley information about a bombing of the Psi Corps. All evidence points to Lyta. They go to arrest her and find her in open conversation with an arms dealer.



Garibaldi later meets with Lyta, in her cell and offers a deal. In exchange for breaking Bester's neural blocks, he will covertly finance her organization, via a Shadow account. She agrees, but he must have things up and running within two years. Later, he sells the deal to the others, talking of an open account to fund the telepaths to find their own homeworld, and redirect things, but Lyta needs to be removed. Overhearing, G'Kar offers a solution, as he has decided he must leave, as he cannot deal with his people any longer. he offers to take Lyta with him, to explore the outer worlds. We later see Lyta reveal to Garibaldi what she actually is.



Oh, Delenn faints and is checked out in Medlab.  She is pregnant!  Sheridan is stunned, then ecstatic!

We've reached climaxes and are now wrapping up. Garibaldi's drinking is in the open and he must now deal with it. Lyta has been arrested, thanks to Sheridan being immune to her powers. Is he the only one who can stop her, if it comes to that? Lyta is revealed as a doomsday weapon, created by the Vorlon, to destroy the Shadows. They are gone. Can anything among the younger races stop her?

Episode 21: "Objects at Rest"

Guest stars:

Synopsis: Sheridan and Delenn are packing for their departure. Sheridan talks to Lochley and asks for a quiet departure; no ceremony. They reflect on the year. Outside G'Kar's quarters, Vir finds Ta'Lon trying to ring the bell, but he gets no response. Vir informs him of G'Kar's departure. Ta'Lon says he received a message to come there. he hacks his way in and a message activates. G'Kar tells him that he has chosen Ta'Lon to be the new Narn ambassador, as he is level headed and honorable. He gives Ta'laon some advice and wishes him well. Franklin has dinner with his subordinate, Dr Hobbs and informs her that she is to be the new chief of Medlab. She feels that others are more qualified bu he says she has the most experience across the board, while the others are specialists. She is the best equipped to lead. He then makes his departure for Earth.



A story breaks on ISN, about Sheridan and Delenn's impending departure. They are met by Lennier, to board their ship. Lochley informs them that word has gotten out and there is a crowd waiting. Sheridan defers to Delenn, since she has been there longer.



After returning the salute, the White Star jumps to hyperspace for their journey. Sheridan is restless and Delenn suggests he take a walk. Along the way, a coolant leak causes an emergency and Sheridan and a crewmember are trapped behind a safety door, with the toxic gasses. Lennier comes along, but hesitates. Sheridan calls for help and Lennier turns back the way he came. He halts and turns to go back to help. meanwhile, Sheridan finds the Rangers fighting pike and uses it to smash the door, releasing them, as others come along. lennier sees they are free, catches Sheridan's eye, and runs away. Later, they get a report that he stole a fighter and left the ship for deep space. Delenn tries to contact him, but he won't respond. Sheridan agrees to let the matter go, hoping Lennier will return to face Delenn.

Sheridan and Delenn arrive on Minbar and are surprised to be greeted by Londo. he has made a state visit to welcome them. Oer dinner, he suggests that he made a fiery address to his people to inspire them to rebuild, but, his heart is still with them. He offers them a gift, for their unborn child. It is an urn, with a sealed base. Londo says it has water from the time of the first emperor. It is the custom to present it on the child's 16th birthday. They thank him for it and make their goodbyes. Later, the Drakh tells Londo he has done well and reward him with an hour in control of his own mind and body. We see a sleeping keeper inside the urn, waiting for the day it will be released.



And so, the saga effectively ends, though not quite. Everyone has departed the station and the new command staff and ambassadors pay tribute to the old. Christopher Franke's music in that scene is probably the single best piece he created for the series, setting the mood for the mostly silent scene. When the music swells and Lochley steps forward and salutes, it brings tears to me, as it is a fitting goodbye, filled with real emotion. We see Sheridan returning it, wishing them well, in their new roles. However, this being Babylon 5, we look to the future and see impending darkness, in Londo's gift of the boobytrapped urn. Now we know about Delenn's message to Sheridan, in the future, that "David is safe." When they meet up, she will tell him that David escaped the keeper, somehow.

All that is left now is the epilogue and it is a doozy!