The Ragged Edge
I'll just say it: I like this episode in that it does a good job of pretending like the whole Byron thing never happened and setting things up for the rest of the season.
How about a little "movies in 15 minutes"?
***
Sheridan and Delenn are adorable newlyweds.
SHERIDAN: *Signing papers in a rush.* Ohai, have I mentioned it's the 23rd century and we haven't figured out how to go paperless yet? Damn bureaucracy.
DELENN: *offers a cheeky reply*
SHERIDAN: Definitely. Whatever you say. Yep. You're the boss.
DELENN: *knows it*
Some-several minutes later in the conference room...
CHAIRS: *are all empty*
DELENN: They all said they're not coming back until we figure out how to get the bullies to stop breaking their toys.
SHERIDAN: *is not good with bullies, though he can sometimes be one himself* Well. That sucks.
DELENN: You're so smart. I can totally see why they voted for you to be president instead of me. /sarcasm
***
Lucky for Sheridan, the break they’re looking for just happens to fall into his lap, when the Human pilot of a Drazi smuggling ship survives an attack. They think. Garibaldi to the rescue! And Franklin, too!
GARIBALDI: No, I don’t want him to come with me.
SHERIDAN: *gives Garibaldi the side-eye* Why not? You two are, like, married or something. I mean, you’ve known each other forever and you both went through that… addict… thing that I've been continually oblivious about.
GARIBALDI: Don’t you have some secrets you keep from your wife?
SHERIDAN: …Good point. You can totally go alone.
FRANKLIN: *pouts*
In customs, before Garibaldi boards his transport, Franklin comes to say goodbye.
FRANKLIN: Are you mad at me?
GARIBALDI: No, I’m totally not mad at you.
FRANKLIN: You’re keeping secrets from me, though.
GARIBALDI: … … No, I love you just the same as you loved me when you were struggling with stims. Now go away.
FRANKLIN: *side eye*
Garibaldi goes to the Drazi homeworld, where he meets his old buddy Fariq. Fariq doesn’t know that Garibaldi is an alcoholic/doesn’t care, nor does Garibaldi care to clue him in, so they get passed-out drunk on something that looks like mouthwash.
***
Meanwhile, Londo and G’Kar have returned from Centauri Prime, and All The Narns Are Staring At G’Kar.
G’KAR: *is annoyed*
LONDO: *is gleefully amused, not so much at the attention as he is at G’Kar’s annoyance*
G’Kar retreats to his quarters, where a group of Narns are assembled, including Talon.
G’KAR: WHAT IN THE NAME OF G’KOAN IS GOING ON HERE??!!
TA'LON: Calm down, old man. See, we didn’t think you were going to make it back here from Centauri Prime. Figured they’d kill you, since they had all the reason to. But they didn’t, and you’re here, so now I have to tell you that we published your book.
G’KAR: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!
TA'LON: *thesis* So, you’re Narn-Jesus now.
G’KAR: *very un-Jesus-like facepalm*
NHPW: *ignores the part where Ta'lon cuts his hand because it grosses her out*
***
Back on Drazi, Fariq awakes. Garibaldi does not. Fariq unwisely leaves Garibaldi’s hotel room without a buddy and gets himself shot for the trouble. Also, a helicopter comes to the hotel, presumably looking for Garibaldi and/or the missing pilot. Garibaldi manages to escape one Drazi and then flees the light of the ‘copter and exits his room, where he discovers Fariq, who is not quite dead. Fariq tells him to go meet the pilot. Garibaldi goes. He runs into some hooded figures at the base of the stairs and fights them off… somehow, IDK. Hungover!Garibaldi has superpowers or something. The pilot is already dead, and he can hear police, probably looking for him. Somehow, however, he manages to make a call to Babylon 5, which I can only presume he made from his Pocket iPhone 5000 and he better hope and pray is untraceable.
DELENN: Michael… what the hell happened?
PARANOID!GARIBALDI: The mission is FUBAR and everyone is chasing me and WILL YOU PLEASE RESCUE ME AND DON’T TELL SHERIDAN???!!! ‘Cause he’ll probably be mad at me.
DELENN: *agrees*
***
Franklin eats a sullen meal alone, because apparently he wants to mope about Garibaldi some more. Also apparently he’s not cool with telling EarthDome that they can fraggin’ wait for him to take their call until he finishes his dinner.
***
There’s a meeting in Sheridan’s office. Garibaldi is explaining that everything got f’d up, his friend is dead, the pilot is dead, and all he brought back is a button.
SHERIDAN: *is angry and suspicious*
GARIBALDI: *sekritly feels bad*
ROOM: *is kinda tense*
Lucky for everyone, Londo arrives late! Luckier still, the conversation is finished by the time he gets there! Completely finished! He didn’t hear a word!
LONDO: *looks at the button* Great Maker, where did you get that?
GARIBALDI: I bought it in the Zocalo and brought it for show-and-tell. Only it’s mostly “show” because the “tell” is sekrit.
LONDO: This is from the uniform of a Centauri Palace guard. If you paid money for it, you suck.
ROOM: *is more tense, for a different reason*
Later, in Sheridan and Delenn's quarters...
DELENN: I didn't know what to say at that point.
SHERIDAN: And that's why you elected me *dun dun dun DUUUUUN* President of the Universe. ...But I don't know what to do now. *sullen face*
G'KAR: Don't tell him anything. Londo's oblivious to what's going on in his government, and that's fine. Knowing stuff will only get him killed. And then who will trade jabs with me?
INTELLIGENT!VIEWER: Wow, G'Kar, you rule. A year ago you wouldn't have had a problem with him being killed. Talk about awesomeness of character.
***
G'Kar agrees to speak to his people.
NARN: Most Holy--
G'KAR: *RAGES INSIDE THAT HE IS NOT NARN JESUS* ... *takes a deep breath* There is no 'Most Holy' here. There is only me. What is it?
NARN: It says in the book that the Centauri can't be trusted, so WHY IN THE NAME OF YOURSELF ARE YOU BEING A BODYGUARD FOR ONE?
G'KAR: I wrote that before I was enlightened.
NARN: *doesn't get it*
G'KAR: *sees a long and heartburn-filled road ahead*
***
Sheridan works late that night. We know it's late because he's working by very little light, which can't be good for his vision... but it's the future, so he can probably get infinite laser surgeries. So whatever. Franklin comes to the door.
FRANKLIN: So... you know how in the pilot there was that doctor who wasn't me? Yeah, well, he's still around, only he's retiring, and he asked me to take over for him next year as Head of Xenobiological Research at Earthdome. And I said I would, because it's a pretty cool gig. Just thought you ought to know.
SHERIDAN: YOU CANNOT LEAVE! I AM NOT HAPPY FOR YOUR AND YOUR AWESOME PROMOTION! I'M THE ONLY ONE AROUND HERE WHO CAN GET PROMOTIONS AND MOVE AWAY!
FRANKLIN: *is way less upset with Sheridan about his attitude than he ought to be*
SHERIDAN: ...Well, congratulations, I guess.
FRANKLIN: Oh, golly gee boss! Thank you! Now I need to tell my wife Garibaldi. I mean, I mostly took this job because I think there's a distance that's come between us and I don't think I can be in this relationship anymore, so it makes sense I should talk to him next. I just wish I knew what the heck was going on. But instead of going to his quarters personally to talk to him, I just sent him a voicemail.
SHERIDAN: *approves*
GARIBALDI: *could've used an in-person visit*
***
No discussion questions, really. Feel free to talk about whatever you want - Londo, G'Kar, Garibaldi, selfish!Sheridan, Franklin's promotion, why the Drazi Homeworld doesn't have a cooler name, etc.
How about a little "movies in 15 minutes"?
***
Sheridan and Delenn are adorable newlyweds.
SHERIDAN: *Signing papers in a rush.* Ohai, have I mentioned it's the 23rd century and we haven't figured out how to go paperless yet? Damn bureaucracy.
DELENN: *offers a cheeky reply*
SHERIDAN: Definitely. Whatever you say. Yep. You're the boss.
DELENN: *knows it*
Some-several minutes later in the conference room...
CHAIRS: *are all empty*
DELENN: They all said they're not coming back until we figure out how to get the bullies to stop breaking their toys.
SHERIDAN: *is not good with bullies, though he can sometimes be one himself* Well. That sucks.
DELENN: You're so smart. I can totally see why they voted for you to be president instead of me. /sarcasm
***
Lucky for Sheridan, the break they’re looking for just happens to fall into his lap, when the Human pilot of a Drazi smuggling ship survives an attack. They think. Garibaldi to the rescue! And Franklin, too!
GARIBALDI: No, I don’t want him to come with me.
SHERIDAN: *gives Garibaldi the side-eye* Why not? You two are, like, married or something. I mean, you’ve known each other forever and you both went through that… addict… thing that I've been continually oblivious about.
GARIBALDI: Don’t you have some secrets you keep from your wife?
SHERIDAN: …Good point. You can totally go alone.
FRANKLIN: *pouts*
In customs, before Garibaldi boards his transport, Franklin comes to say goodbye.
FRANKLIN: Are you mad at me?
GARIBALDI: No, I’m totally not mad at you.
FRANKLIN: You’re keeping secrets from me, though.
GARIBALDI: … … No, I love you just the same as you loved me when you were struggling with stims. Now go away.
FRANKLIN: *side eye*
Garibaldi goes to the Drazi homeworld, where he meets his old buddy Fariq. Fariq doesn’t know that Garibaldi is an alcoholic/doesn’t care, nor does Garibaldi care to clue him in, so they get passed-out drunk on something that looks like mouthwash.
***
Meanwhile, Londo and G’Kar have returned from Centauri Prime, and All The Narns Are Staring At G’Kar.
G’KAR: *is annoyed*
LONDO: *is gleefully amused, not so much at the attention as he is at G’Kar’s annoyance*
G’Kar retreats to his quarters, where a group of Narns are assembled, including Talon.
G’KAR: WHAT IN THE NAME OF G’KOAN IS GOING ON HERE??!!
TA'LON: Calm down, old man. See, we didn’t think you were going to make it back here from Centauri Prime. Figured they’d kill you, since they had all the reason to. But they didn’t, and you’re here, so now I have to tell you that we published your book.
G’KAR: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!
TA'LON: *thesis* So, you’re Narn-Jesus now.
G’KAR: *very un-Jesus-like facepalm*
NHPW: *ignores the part where Ta'lon cuts his hand because it grosses her out*
***
Back on Drazi, Fariq awakes. Garibaldi does not. Fariq unwisely leaves Garibaldi’s hotel room without a buddy and gets himself shot for the trouble. Also, a helicopter comes to the hotel, presumably looking for Garibaldi and/or the missing pilot. Garibaldi manages to escape one Drazi and then flees the light of the ‘copter and exits his room, where he discovers Fariq, who is not quite dead. Fariq tells him to go meet the pilot. Garibaldi goes. He runs into some hooded figures at the base of the stairs and fights them off… somehow, IDK. Hungover!Garibaldi has superpowers or something. The pilot is already dead, and he can hear police, probably looking for him. Somehow, however, he manages to make a call to Babylon 5, which I can only presume he made from his Pocket iPhone 5000 and he better hope and pray is untraceable.
DELENN: Michael… what the hell happened?
PARANOID!GARIBALDI: The mission is FUBAR and everyone is chasing me and WILL YOU PLEASE RESCUE ME AND DON’T TELL SHERIDAN???!!! ‘Cause he’ll probably be mad at me.
DELENN: *agrees*
***
Franklin eats a sullen meal alone, because apparently he wants to mope about Garibaldi some more. Also apparently he’s not cool with telling EarthDome that they can fraggin’ wait for him to take their call until he finishes his dinner.
***
There’s a meeting in Sheridan’s office. Garibaldi is explaining that everything got f’d up, his friend is dead, the pilot is dead, and all he brought back is a button.
SHERIDAN: *is angry and suspicious*
GARIBALDI: *sekritly feels bad*
ROOM: *is kinda tense*
Lucky for everyone, Londo arrives late! Luckier still, the conversation is finished by the time he gets there! Completely finished! He didn’t hear a word!
LONDO: *looks at the button* Great Maker, where did you get that?
GARIBALDI: I bought it in the Zocalo and brought it for show-and-tell. Only it’s mostly “show” because the “tell” is sekrit.
LONDO: This is from the uniform of a Centauri Palace guard. If you paid money for it, you suck.
ROOM: *is more tense, for a different reason*
Later, in Sheridan and Delenn's quarters...
DELENN: I didn't know what to say at that point.
SHERIDAN: And that's why you elected me *dun dun dun DUUUUUN* President of the Universe. ...But I don't know what to do now. *sullen face*
G'KAR: Don't tell him anything. Londo's oblivious to what's going on in his government, and that's fine. Knowing stuff will only get him killed. And then who will trade jabs with me?
INTELLIGENT!VIEWER: Wow, G'Kar, you rule. A year ago you wouldn't have had a problem with him being killed. Talk about awesomeness of character.
***
G'Kar agrees to speak to his people.
NARN: Most Holy--
G'KAR: *RAGES INSIDE THAT HE IS NOT NARN JESUS* ... *takes a deep breath* There is no 'Most Holy' here. There is only me. What is it?
NARN: It says in the book that the Centauri can't be trusted, so WHY IN THE NAME OF YOURSELF ARE YOU BEING A BODYGUARD FOR ONE?
G'KAR: I wrote that before I was enlightened.
NARN: *doesn't get it*
G'KAR: *sees a long and heartburn-filled road ahead*
***
Sheridan works late that night. We know it's late because he's working by very little light, which can't be good for his vision... but it's the future, so he can probably get infinite laser surgeries. So whatever. Franklin comes to the door.
FRANKLIN: So... you know how in the pilot there was that doctor who wasn't me? Yeah, well, he's still around, only he's retiring, and he asked me to take over for him next year as Head of Xenobiological Research at Earthdome. And I said I would, because it's a pretty cool gig. Just thought you ought to know.
SHERIDAN: YOU CANNOT LEAVE! I AM NOT HAPPY FOR YOUR AND YOUR AWESOME PROMOTION! I'M THE ONLY ONE AROUND HERE WHO CAN GET PROMOTIONS AND MOVE AWAY!
FRANKLIN: *is way less upset with Sheridan about his attitude than he ought to be*
SHERIDAN: ...Well, congratulations, I guess.
FRANKLIN: Oh, golly gee boss! Thank you! Now I need to tell my wife Garibaldi. I mean, I mostly took this job because I think there's a distance that's come between us and I don't think I can be in this relationship anymore, so it makes sense I should talk to him next. I just wish I knew what the heck was going on. But instead of going to his quarters personally to talk to him, I just sent him a voicemail.
SHERIDAN: *approves*
GARIBALDI: *could've used an in-person visit*
***
No discussion questions, really. Feel free to talk about whatever you want - Londo, G'Kar, Garibaldi, selfish!Sheridan, Franklin's promotion, why the Drazi Homeworld doesn't have a cooler name, etc.