Episode #9, ENV: The dead return...
But anyway...
"The Day of the Dead"
Grade: B+
Watching these episodes again, I'm starting to like Lochley more than I did the first time around. As a character, she still doesn't approach the greats, but I think the writers did a respectable job making her a character in her own right rather than a simple replacement for Ivanova. Her by-the-book approach is a good counter-point to Sheridan (as I noted several episodes ago), she generates conflict with Garibaldi, and in DotD, she is given a unique backstory. Her visitation worked very well.
Of course, the darkest and best visitation was Lennier's, a visitation I saw in a brand new light this morning thanks to the work of
Londo's encounter was too brief, but it managed to get under my skin anyway. Peter Jurasik played Londo's almost tearful reaction to seeing Adira again flawlessly, as usual. And I loved Londo tipping back the brivari and chatting with an old portrait sitting on his sofa. He was so very matter-of-fact about that.
Garibaldi and Dodger didn't really do much for me.
The weakest scenes of the episode were the scenes outside of the four visitations. I must admit, my opinion of "Rebo and Zooty" is more like Lochley's- I just don't think they're very funny.
I do remain mystified by G'Kar's reaction. After everything's he's been through (Or maybe because of everything he's been through?), why would he be afraid of a Brakiri religious festival? Perhaps one of you out there has some insights. It would also be interesting to speculate on who would've visited G'Kar had he remained in his quarters. Since the visitations all seemed to give the visited something they required, who would've fulfilled that purpose for G'Kar? Perhaps G'Quan would've returned and given G'Kar some advice on how to deal with his followers. ;)
Ohhhh, Day of the Dead!
Reebo and Zooty: You weren't meant to find them funny, actually. It was a reflection of (British) Neil Gaiman's experience of first coming to the US and finding everyone repeating punchlines from Steve Martin's comedy routines. He just didn't get it and wanted the audience to empathize with Lochley who didn't, either. (Londo is lying at the end about finding them funny now, btw, he just does it for PR purposes.)
G'kar: that was the irony. G'kar might have matured much, but he wasn't perfect. So because he wanted to make A Statement, he missed out on this great opportunity. He wasn't afraid, he was just in pontificating mode. Being a religious icon does that sometimes to one's character. You could argue that G'kar needs Londo as much as Londo needs him for the balance...
Forgive me if I sound dense, but...
... what Statement was G'Kar attempting to make?
You could argue that G'kar needs Londo as much as Londo needs him for the balance...
Yes, that I definitely agree with. Londo takes G'Kar down to a more human level and brings out the old mischieviousness. Without that, G'Kar would be completely insufferable. ;)
G'kar's statement
My interpretation regarding the statement in question: I'm the spiritual authority here, and you better listen to me. But maybe I'm wrong.*g*
In any case, on a more serious note and regarding your original question, I think that since G'kar already had one epiphany after being confronted by his late father/G'Quan/Kosh I, another one would have been dramatically repetitive. We also already saw him with Na'toth who would have made sense (if she were dead).
The Lochley scene was amazing, and made me wish we could see more of her character.
I think Selena's exactly on about G'kar and his motivations.
And yeah, the Garibaldi scene didn't do much for me either.
And Londo...yeah. It's like, Londo gets what he truly wants for only one night, to conmensate for what the rest of his life will be. I find it fascinating that even right up until the last minute he can't admit what he wants - he says he wants to see the first Centauri emperor. But then finally he tells Adira, 'you were all I ever wanted.' And that's exactly correct. Londo gets himself in so much trouble because it takes him so long to know what he wants.
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. DotD was one of my favorite episodes - I would've given it an A+. But it's really, really painful.
I only wish there were more. I would have loved for Delenn to see Dukhat, or for Sheridan to see Anna.
Hail, fellow DotD lover!
Sheridan and Anna would have been truly fascinating (and would have justified his season 5 existence*g*). Though how about Delenn and Anna? I don't think the two ever spoke. And there would have been things to say.
On that note, I finally came up with someone interesting for G'kar who wouldn't have been a repeat performance: Lord Refa. Who could have asked how G'kar justifies to himself befriending Londo (and it would have been great to see how G'kar would have answered to the challenge that he is Londo's friend now, and that the bodyguard thing wasn't just because Delenn suggested it) when there's just as much blood on Londo's hands as there was on Refa's...
Ooh! Lord Refa!
Re: Ooh! Lord Refa!
BTW...
Re: BTW...
Re: BTW...