Worst episode

[TR_3]

Ok.. this is the ... mmm I do not know what time i watch babylon 5 all the way.. all the 5 seasons in a row.. once I start viewing just one chapter I have to start viewing all over again from chapter one.. I love most the episodes.. but then i get to the episode where sheridan gets captured and the whole episode the torture and stuff.. I mean was a whole episode necesary for that? Or bruce wanted an episode all by himself? .. I don't know I just do not know why I just can't watch that episode.. really nothing happens other than he grows bear.. That's my worst episode list... The best one.. I have no idea.. I think there are more moments rather than episodes.. I like whatever episode "mr morden" is in.. or londo pronounces his name.. or whenever the staff gets together for lunch and talk the sh*t.. or when ivanova gives a wit reply .. or whenever bexter arrives into b5.. or when the space gate opens and you do not know what is coming out, or you know what's coming out and can't wait..

[Jan]

I love most the episodes.. but then i get to the episode where sheridan gets captured and the whole episode the torture and stuff.. I mean was a whole episode necesary for that? Or bruce wanted an episode all by himself? .. I don't know I just do not know why I just can't watch that episode.. really nothing happens other than he grows bear.. That's my worst episode list...

I like 'Intersections in Real Time' quite a bit but then I often like the off-format shows the most. I think what JMS was trying to show is just how easy it is to torture, even break another human being and how the torturer doesn't see himself as being evil.

If I had to choose a worst episode, it would be 'Infection'.

The best one.. I have no idea.. I think there are more moments rather than episodes.. I like whatever episode "mr morden" is in.. or londo pronounces his name.. or whenever the staff gets together for lunch and talk the sh*t.. or when ivanova gives a wit reply .. or whenever bexter arrives into b5.. or when the space gate opens and you do not know what is coming out, or you know what's coming out and can't wait..

I agree completely about many of the moments but for all-time favorite episode it would be 'Sleeping in Light' followed closely by 'Severed Dreams.

Jan

[Dr Maturin]

I like 'Intersections in Real Time' quite a bit but then I often like the off-format shows the most. I think what JMS was trying to show is just how easy it is to torture, even break another human being and how the torturer doesn't see himself as being evil.

I agree that this was probably JMS's goal, as I have a slight recollection of the Lurker's Guide info on the subject. But on that topic, you have to consider why someone is being interrogated.

One of my favorite moments on The Shield is when the asshole doctor who had an eight-year old girl hidden somwhere kept saying, "Charge me or release me." They called in Mackey, who got the info within a few minutes. That doctor was evil. Sheridan was not, so his treatment was unjustified.

Going by that logic, the message that I found in the episode is that the human will to resist is not universal, but unique to special individuals like John Sheridan.

If I had to choose a worst episode, it would be 'Infection'.

This and "TKO" sit on a balanced teeter, in my humble opinion.

I agree completely about many of the moments but for all-time favorite episode it would be 'Sleeping in Light' followed closely by 'Severed Dreams.

I have a difficult time choosing a favorite ep. I will watch an ep and go, "That's my fave!" And then I will do it again. And again. But to honest, I have to go with most of Season 2. I am big on buildup.

[rallytbk]

1) Best non arc episode ôGroposö
2) Best arc episode ôSevered Dreamsö
3) Worst non arc episode ôGray 17 is Missingö
4) Worst arc episode ôEyesö

And when it comes to my favorite scenesà There is just too many of them, but if I have to pick a few, here goes:

From season one:

"Who asked you to play God ?"
"Every damn patient who comes through that door, that's who! People come to doctors because they want us to be gods. They want us to make it better .. or make it not so. They want to be healed and they come to me when their prayers aren't enough. Well, if I have to take the responsibility, then I claim the authority too. I did good. And we both know it. And no-one is going to take that away."
Sinclair and Dr. Franklin, Believers

"Now out of that 50, how many gods do you think I must have offended to have ended up with G'Kar's teeth buried so deeply in my throat that I can barely breathe?"
"All of them?"
"Sounds right. And now I have to go back to the Council and explain to them that in the interest of peace the Centauri government will agree to give quadrant 37 to the Narns. I think I will stick my head in the station's fusion reactor. It would be quicker. And I suspect, after a while I might even come to enjoy it. But this -- this, this, this is like being nibbled to death by .. what are those Earth creatures called? Feathers, long bill, webbed feet .. go 'quack' .."
"Cats."
"Cats. I'm being nibbled to death by cats."
Londo and Vir, Chrysalis

From season two:

"Then I will tell you a great secret, Captain. Perhaps the greatest of all time. The molecules of your body are the same molecules that make up this station and the nebula outside, that burn inside the stars themselves. We are starstuff, we are the universe made manifest, trying to figure itself out. As we have both learned, sometimes the universe requires a change of perspective."
Ambassador Delenn, A Distant Star

"Mr. Garibaldi. I have been on this station long enough to know that you don't ask leading questions unless you already know the answers. So, why don't we just pretend I've lied about it, you've caught me in your web of insufferable logic and cut to the point."
G'Kar to Garibaldi, Comes the Inquisitor


From season three:

"There, you see! I'm going to live."
"So it would seem. Well, it's an imperfect universe."
"Bastard."
"Monster."
"Fanatic."
"Murderer."
"You are insane!"
"And that is why we'll win."
"Go be the ambassador to Babylon 5 they say. Will be an *easy* assignment. Ah, I hate my life."
"So do I."
"Shut up!"
Londo and G'Kar, Convictions

"This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw, .. or be destroyed."
"Negative. We have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship."
"Why not? Only one human captain has ever survived battle with Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."
Delenn and Captain Drake, Severed Dreams

From season four:

"You misunderstand me, Prime Minister. I was merely being specific. In my experience, if you can not say what you mean, you can never mean what you say. The details are everything."
Drano to Londo, Into the Fire


"This is the White Star Fleet. Negative on surrender...we will not stand down."
"Who is this? Identify yourself."
"Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova, Commander, daughter of Andrei and Sophie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance, and the boot that is going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth ... I am Death incarnate, and the last living thing that you are ever going to see. God sent me."
White Star opens fire on Earthforce fleet
Ivanova and Earthforce Advanced Destroyer Captain James, Between the Darkness and the Light
From season five:

"Not bad. Tell me, is that really telekinesis, or are you just pushing the nerve endings, making them feel as if they've been slapped? Either way, it's taken a lot out of you, Lyta. You're sweating, flushed. How many times can you do that, Lyta? Can you do just one at a time? Maybe two? How about three? How about a half dozen of us?"
"I don't know. Like you said, I'm new at this. I could even make a mistake. Maybe even pop a blood vessel in someone's head by accident by pushing too hard. Feel like playing the odds, Mr. Bester?"
Bester and Lyta, Strange Relations

"Do you get used to it?"
"When it's one of ours, no. With mundanes it's easier. They hate it when you say that, but it's true. They kill and slave and abuse each other with efficiency and enthusiasm. Why should we value their lives when they don't? It's a little harder with rogues and blibs. Being a telepath means you're special, and rare, and valuable."
Lauren Ashley and Bester, The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father

Extra quote:

"What does the candle represent?"
"Life."
"Whose life?"
"All life, every life. We're all born as molecules in the hearts of a billion stars, molecules that do not understand politics, policies and differences. In a billion years we, foolish molecules forget who we are and where we came from. Desperate acts of ego. We give ourselves names, fight over lines on maps. And pretend our light is better than everyone else's. The flame reminds us of the piece of those stars that live inside us. A spark that tells us: you should know better. The flame also reminds us that life is precious, as each flame is unique. When it goes out, it's gone forever. And there will never be another quite like it. So many candles will go out tonight. I wonder some days if we can see anything at all."
Sheridan and Delenn, And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder

[Dr Maturin]

The excellent subplot in Grey 17 is Missing was arc.

[DGTWoodward]

TKO was on the worst episode list???! Must just be me but I liked it, but then I have always been a big martial arts fan, but the sitting Shiva was also really touching and I cry evrytime I see it (yes, big 40yr old me! ).

By the way, IS "Eyes" an arc episode? I never really felt it to be so.

Worst ep then.....Grey 17 of course, why was there even a debate. Good job Jason Carter was in it or it would have been a total flop that just sucked bad eggs throughout!

Still I suppose it just goes to show that there is NOT ONE B5 episode that is totally crap, they ALL have redeeming features, even if the "A" story is not so hot, the "B" thread will hold you to see through to the end.

What a great show.

[Towelmaster]

If there is one(and there must logically be one!) I would vote for TKO. I never watch it anymore and I watch the whole series on DvD with alarming frequency...

[Aaron]

but then i get to the episode where sheridan gets captured and the whole episode the torture and stuff

If I had to pick my single favorite episode it would be "Intersections in Real Time." I love it for it's simplicity--no visual effects, only two people in alien makeup, and 2 or 3 sets. The entire episode is a contest of will--a contest that Sheridan cannot possibly win without rescue.

[rallytbk]

The excellent subplot in Grey 17 is Missing was arc.

I admit I was wrong... It just didn't seem like an arc, because it was SO boring I lost interest in it. If anybody missed/skipped this episode they wouldn't have missed much.

Oh, the fight scene in "The Face of the Enemy" was great!!! Loved the music and cinema.

[David Panzer]

Worst B5 episode - Grail
Best B5 episode - Too damn many to choose from

[Garibaldi's Hair]

[pretentious mode]

Best B5 ep - Midnight on the Firing Line ... still 109 more eps to go
Worst B5 ep - Sleeping in Light ... and so, it ends

[/pretentious mode]

[WorkerCaste]

The problem I have with picking a worst episode is that there is almost always a redeeming aspect, as people have been pointing out. "Grey 17" had the Ranger One bits, "TKO" had the Ivanova story line, "Grail" expanded the Babylon project's history along with some priceless Londo moments. For me it comes down to two contenders, I think.

"Infection" was a standard monster-loose-on-the-station/spaceship episode until the great character moments at the end where Garibaldi confronts Sinclair, and we find out Earthforce has taken the artifacts to study.

My other least favorite hasn't been mentioned, yet -- "Exogenisis." The story just doesn't do it for me. The only redeeming features seem to be Marcus moments, especially that first collaboration with Franklin.

As far as favorite -- whoo boy! Maybe if we were talking a Top 20 list I might be able to whittle it down , but single favorite -- I dunno. "Severed Dreams?" No, wait, "Sleeping in Light." Oh, Oh, "The Coming of Shadows!" No, no. It must be... dang! I give up!

[Dr Maturin]

The problem I have with picking a worst episode is that there is almost always a redeeming aspect, as people have been pointing out. "Grey 17" had the Ranger One bits, "TKO" had the Ivanova story line, "Grail" expanded the Babylon project's history along with some priceless Londo moments. For me it comes down to two contenders, I think.

"Infection" was a standard monster-loose-on-the-station/spaceship episode until the great character moments at the end where Garibaldi confronts Sinclair, and we find out Earthforce has taken the artifacts to study.

My other least favorite hasn't been mentioned, yet -- "Exogenisis." The story just doesn't do it for me. The only redeeming features seem to be Marcus moments, especially that first collaboration with Franklin.

I, for one, didn't like the "TKO" bit. I really hate stories involving someone dealing with death. So, "TKO" takes the cake for me.

"Exogenesis." I liked it if for no other reason than it was a swerve, at first making us think that it was a typical "alien parasites invade" episode. And the Corwin moments were great.

[Jan]

I, for one, didn't like the "TKO" bit. I really hate stories involving someone dealing with death. So, "TKO" takes the cake for me.

Now, see I'm completely the other way. I think it's great that the grief process was shown realistically for a change...that you don't just 'get over it' quickly.

Anyway, I really love Rabbi Koslov.

Jan

[Dr Maturin]

Now, see I'm completely the other way. I think it's great that the grief process was shown realistically for a change...that you don't just 'get over it' quickly.

Anyway, I really love Rabbi Koslov.

I just hate it because it's been done so many times on so many shows. Probably nothing wrong with the actual performance.