Rising Star

[padawanpooh]

I selected this episode for discussion mainly because of President Susanna Luchenko of the Russian Consortium. One cool customer, she holds her own against everyone else in the room. She's pragmatic but also has a wicked sense of humour and doesn't take any BS. If only her and Ivanova had had screen time together...

Comments

[vjs2259]

This is the episode that has my favorite speech (I don't count G'Kar's musings at the end of S3, which is awesome but more of a soliloquy). I love the 'choices, consequences, responsibility' speech. The fact that you may be the one making the choice, but you may not be the one who suffers the consequences. There's a lot about leadership packed into that speech. And it contrasts well with his opening speech in Points of Departure.

And I love the Eye of G'Kar. He so watched John and Delenn later, and with popcorn, while giving Londo a blow by blow account. In the final critique, G'Kar gives them points for passion but Londo downgrades both of them on technique. And the point where they both fell out of bed? Hilarious! (I'll leave you to imagine which pair fell out of bed...)

The unrequited love comment. I don't see how Delenn can not know at this point, but it's left ambiguous. I think she was telling Lennier it was not to be, but he takes everything the very wrongest way when it comes to her. Lennier is so ouchy here it hurts. Another point about Marcus-- when he sent Lennier over to Delenn's flagship, so he could hightail it back to B5 and save Susan? I think he was playing on Lennier's affections, which he does know about; it was the one summons Lennier would never ignore. Marcus damages a lot of people on his way out. And I will never understand why he didn't get there, pull out the machine, and put out a call. Every pilot in every squadron, most of C&C, the officer corps, they all would have volunteered. And he knew more than one person could give life force.

Susan, oh Susan. She retreated into the safety of the hierarchy she knew. To get away from the pitying stares and the memories. I would have loved to have seen her stay and deal with it, as painful as it might have been.

Luchenko is great. So many powerful women. The Senator with the balls to march on Clark, Luchenko, the female candidate that Santiago/Clark beat for the Presidency. There should have been more done with her.

[jerel]

As several people said in the "Endgame" post, Marcus has been looking for a reason to die, something to sacrifice for, pretty much since we've known him. So yes, it would have been more practical for him to get a little bit of life from lots of others. But I think what happened was he saw the opportunity and took it, thinking logically be damned.

I like Luchenko, too.

I also like when Delenn says to talk to the Alliance President, and the General bursts into the office and shouts at Sheridan (smug Sheridan is smug!) I still laugh about it.

I agree with your assessment of Ivanova's decision. (I know CC had to be written out, but I think that what JMS did with the character fits.) She doesn't know what else to do with herself but retreat into her job. I think what we see in "Sleeping In Light" suggests she does find peace--and purpose--with the Rangers. But right after Marcus' death, it would have just been too much for her.

[kungfuwaynewho]

And I love the Eye of G'Kar. He so watched John and Delenn later, and with popcorn, while giving Londo a blow by blow account. In the final critique, G'Kar gives them points for passion but Londo downgrades both of them on technique. And the point where they both fell out of bed? Hilarious! (I'll leave you to imagine which pair fell out of bed...)

I just...I can maybe only slightly perhaps be okay with this if John and Delenn had been having just tons and tons of sex before. If this was their actual first time and freaking G'Kar perved all over it, then no. Noooo-ho-oo-hoooo. (That's me saying no dissolving into sobs.)