S5: Strange Relations
My take on Byron's Merry Men follows, along with random commenty notes. Also musical accompaniment.
Click to viewGaribaldi's an eavesdropping sneak. Admittedly it's in the job description, but it's gotten him into trouble before, and will again.
The phoenix symbol on Lochley's helmet is nice. It feels like a reference to her character being new and yet old.
Lyta: Byron has a dream. The symbolism is thick, and Lyta's found someone else to follow. *sigh*
The parable of the willow. Good god, man, kiss her already, enough with seduction by word salad.
The bloodhounds...they tell you all you need to know about PsiCorps. And how the rank and file teeps feel about the PsiCorps elite.
The religious and sixties-style of the telepath movement bothers me. I'm actually on the teeps side here, and believe they deserve freedom from the Corps, and a place to live in peace, if that's what they want. But their ideology is inconsistent and their pacifism skin-deep. It's like it's the beginning of a movement, that hasn't found its voice or its principles. In a way it parallels the Alliance, which is also feeling its way, and would prefer non-violence but is pushed by events into war after war.
Lochley has a mean right hook. Nice.
Lochley's temporary solution to the telepath problem reminds me of Sinclair's answer to the striker problem in S1. I think Sinclair would have liked Lochley.
Stephen is hired to do cross-species research. This could have led to something more interesting. But no.
The sovereignty of each world is to be respected. That'll come back to bite you in the ass, bro.
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Sheridan to Lochley: 'Annoyingly logical.'
Lochley: 'Thank you.'
Sheridan: 'It wasn't a compliment.'
The confrontation between Garibaldi and Lochley is wonderful. Lochley is so spot-on with Garibaldi's insecurities and weaknesses early this season, before they reach their rapprochement over their mutual problem with addiction. Garibaldi did quit on Sheridan, he did betray him ('He wanted someone he could trust. And that's you? Yes.') Garibaldi doesn't understand people as well as he thinks he does.
Why doesn't Garibaldi ask Sheridan why he picked Lochley? Answer: He knows Sheridan wouldn't tell him. That has to smart.
Lochley to Garibaldi: 'Are you that dead inside that you can't imagine another reason?' Another zinger, and it only hurts cause it's true.
Lochley: 'You gotta take turns being in charge. We both wanted to be in charge all the time.' I wonder if Susan and Sheridan would have had similar problems during this period. The more I think about it, the more I think Susan's running the station with her history of loyal second would have been difficult.
Delenn gives G'Kar a job. I love when she's sneaky.
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Zack referencing Byron: 'He's a martyr.'
Lochley: 'There's nothing more appealing than knowing someone is willing to lay down their life for you.'
Zack: 'And nothing more dangerous.'
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Londo: 'This is going to be trouble.'
Delenn: 'Everything of value is.'