Random questions about B5

[Marsden]

Hi, I started from the begining again watching B5. I'm not sure at all how many times it is, but it's the 4th since I bought the DVDs. I wore most of my tapes out from when it was on. I'm got a few questions about minor things that I was just going to throw out there. Bear in mind please that I do not have the script books and I have read but not memorized the Lurkers guide.

I'd also like anyone that has any questions to join in, I like discussion about little details and B5 so full of them, a great deal of thought an effort was put into this show. Little things can really stand out.

One thing I really like is my cousin bought me The Gathering on VHS so I have the new version and the original version. It's fun to pause the DVD and watch the tape and back.

Are those little red triangle shaped ships supposed to be the fighters? There were no Cobra bays on the original struts I noticed, but they really didn't mention fighters in the story except for Sinclair's recurring memories. I thought they might have been an artifact from the pilot but I saw them again in a 1st season episode, but I can't remember which one, around the 4th one.


Could that nasty Mimbari been a Windsword? I know it doesn't really matter, but, just a thought. Maybe Deathwalker made the poison.

I kind of liked some of the aliens that got cut out, but I understand why they were. What I didn't like was the scene where Sinclair said hot alien chick eats their mate afterward? That struck me as such a throw away scene, maybe the only really throw away that I'd really like thrown away.
I'm sure someone else can think of others through the series and please do mention them if you'd like, but I really can't.

Now, help me here please, but Laurel was somehow part of the conspiracy to get rid of Sinclair with G'kar and the assassin? I know this is more of a plot question than a random question.


Off of The Gathering, in at least 2 first season episodes I saw Delenn's fingernails and they had a neat little polish of silver in a half moon and line up the middle. (I'm not describing it well, sorry) Did anyone else wonder if it was supposed to be nail polish/paint or did Mimbari have these colors on their nails? Her friend, the poet, had hers painted the same way. It is a very small detail, but it's visible and they were really neat looking. When Morden talks to Delenn for the first, only time she puts her hand on her forehead to cover her triangle (?) and you can see her nails. I don't know what the triangle was about, either. It seemed like some of the Grey Council had them.

There's lots more where these came from but my mind is a very chaotic place. I had this nice vision of watching an episode and then remembering my question(s) and posting in order. Then life hit me and here I am a month and a half later trying to remember things. Please include any questions of your own.

[Jan]

Not a full answer here but I do know what you mean about Delenn's (and her friend's) fingernails. I've always thought that it was a Minbari custom, much like the way they dressed similarly but I don't have anything to back that up. I did notice that that style was gone once Delenn came out of the Chrysalis.

Cool thread, by the way.

Jan

[I, Zathras]

I know what you mean about the triangle, it was a neat touch but they never seemed to cover it again. It would have been nice if they had. Also would have like to have seen more of Delenn's assassin's weapons which she put on her fingers!!

I have two questions:

Are the Shadow's non-corporeal, as they always hang around with Morden, yet he gets really close to people! Where are they, have they gone for a cuppa, are they shopping in the Zocalo?

Still not clear on how the assassin (really hope I'm spelling that word right!) got the poison into Kosh in the pilot. Ah yes, he shook his hand....hold up, he shook his hand?!?!

[Jan]

Still not clear on how the assassin (really hope I'm spelling that word right!) got the poison into Kosh in the pilot. Ah yes, he shook his hand....hold up, he shook his hand?!?!

I know what you're saying but think for a minute. Kosh held Sheridan's hands as he guided him down from the exploded core shuttle, didn't he? Vorlons could obviously be corporeal or non-corporeal by choice.

Which might be the case for the Shadows, too, but I'd have to look into it further.

Jan

[Marsden]

Thanks, Jan! Sorry I took so long.

The Minbari seem to choose their caste, but the Warriors tend to have sharper crests and the religous caste smoother. That could just be asthetics, but does it have something more to it?


I can just see the Shadows going along with shopping bags over their arms, walking up the corridor in the Zocalo.

I think they can turn non-corporial at will, kind of like a ghost. Actually that's dumb, what can a ghost do. I think somehow they can just control the actual substance of their bodies, they can be almost gaseous in nature yet not be detectable, walk through small spaces, not get blown away by wind currents, almost like they are in another dimension. My answer gets more confusing as it goes. D'oh!

[I, Zathras]

Ah yeah, happy with the Kosh projections and that, it just seems odd that he would shake Sinclair's hand when he / they were so unwilling to show themselves. I'm just being picky I'm actually happy there's still a mystery about it, its like life, not everything is easily explained. Keeps us on our toes

Ha ha, I've now got a mental image of Shadow's wearing shades and a sombrero after coming back from holiday!

Actually that description works for me! I remember playing Castlevania: Symphony of the night and the main character Alucard could transform into a cloud of smoke, a bat etc, and it reminds me of that slightly, in a 'its not the same at all' kinda way! I know what you mean tho, so I'll go with what you said

As for the Minbari, I noticed that too and took it to mean their caste. Wonder if it went further, if any of their bones altered after they chose their clan?

New question, and its probably because I haven't watched S5 for ages, but is B5 still independent when Lochley takes over? Just I would have thought security personnel uniforms would have changed back to EA when she took over, unless it wasn't directly under Earth control

[Jan]

New question, and its probably because I haven't watched S5 for ages, but is B5 still independent when Lochley takes over? Just I would have thought security personnel uniforms would have changed back to EA when she took over, unless it wasn't directly under Earth control

As I recall, there's some question about that still open. There's a line somewhere about B5 still being run by EA pending the possibility of the ISA buying it but then it seemed the idea was dropped. If it's the scene I'm thinking of, it was part of an ISN broadcast so they may not have had their facts straight.

Jan

[Jonas]

I think both the Shadows and the Vorlons have a physical basis (probably mostly energy) - a core, so to speak - but can also project an appearance and give it physical solidity. A lot like Lorien.

[I, Zathras]

Like Columbo used to say, one last question:

EAS Excalibur...I thought the Excalibur was the property of the ISA and on loan to the EA?

[JasonDavis]

Like Columbo used to say, one last question:

EAS Excalibur...I thought the Excalibur was the property of the ISA and on loan to the EA?

From the documentation I've looked at while editing the Crusade: What the Hell Happened? books, it would appear that the Interstellar Alliance effectively gave the Excalibur to the Earth Alliance. It is--most assuredly--the EAS Excalibur. Presumably, Sheridan pulled rank just long enough to get Gideon in the captain's chair.

Incidentally, there was another Earthforce vessel called the EAS Excalibur. It was one of the ships that attacked General Hague's ship prior to his fatal battle with the Clarkstown in 2260.

[Commander Raiden]

I've got a question, seeing as the Drakh was the biggest threat to peace post the end of season 5, how long is it till matters came to a head with them? IE was there a war with the Drakh and when was it meant to have taken place, after sheridan died? How did the Centari get rid of the Drakh, or when Vir became emperor did he also get infected by a keeper?

[Jan]

If I answered any of those it would completely spoil the Centauri trilogy by Peter David which covers...all of those, as I recall. VERY well worth the read.

Jan

[Marsden]

If I answered any of those it would completely spoil the Centauri trilogy by Peter David which covers...all of those, as I recall. VERY well worth the read.

Jan

I second that. The books aren't cheap but I picked up a used 3 in 1 volume for $25 and I'm not one bit sorry.

[Commander Raiden]

Well any details about the Drakh war then? What was the outcome?

[I, Zathras]

Cheers JasonDavis, I'm reading that and Behind the Scenes and enjoying them both. The more I read it, the more frustrated I feel for everyone involved, and the more I feel it was a massive missed opportunity on the part of TNT.

Commander Raiden - I think people will be reluctant to put notes on about the Drakh war, purely because the Legions of Fire books cover that and they're soooooo good. Honestly, you have to read them, I'm with Marsden and Jan on this. If you look on Abebooks, Ebay or even Amazon you should be able to pick them up.

There's also the Technomage trilogy and the Telepath War trilogy. I won't say which are the best as that would open a whole can of worms