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Contents: Overview - Backplot - Questions - Analysis - Notes - JMS

Overview

Sheridan's disappearance begins to unravel the alliance. Londo discovers that Emperor Cartagia has struck a disturbing deal. G'Kar decides to search for Garibaldi. Ivanova, Delenn, and Lyta head toward Z'ha'dum to search for Sheridan. Ed Wasser as Morden. Wortham Krimmer as Emperor Cartagia. Wayne Alexander as Lorien. Damian London as Minister.

P5 Rating: 8.89

Production number: 401
Original air week: November 4, 1996

Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by David Eagle

Watch For

• A switch of hands.

Plot Points

• A thousand years ago, the Shadows seeded hundreds of worlds with their ships so their forces couldn't be wiped out in a single attack.
• The explosion on Z'ha'dum destroyed the Shadows' biggest city and threw them into chaos. Now they've decided to seek outside help, and have enlisted the Centauri to shelter a small fleet of their ships in case Z'ha'dum is attacked while they're weak.
• Londo and Vir are scheming to kill Emperor Cartagia, who Londo believes has seriously endangered Centauri Prime by giving land to the Shadows.
• According to Kosh, Sheridan opened an unexpected door on Z'ha'dum. Whatever that means, Sheridan somehow survived the two-mile fall, and now finds himself in the company of an enigmatic being, Lorien, who appears to know why Sheridan survived.
• The nonaligned worlds, believing Sheridan dead and the battle against the Shadows at an end, are beginning to withdraw from the alliance.
• The Shadows have something called "the Eye" near Z'ha'dum. It appears to be able to telepathically contact normals, probing their minds and drawing them to the planet. It was this "Eye" that sensed Ivanova during her journey in the Great Machine on Epsilon 3 ("Voices of Authority.")
• The Vorlons are aware of what happened on Z'ha'dum, but according to Kosh, plan to do nothing about it. Lyta, however, believes they're planning something.

Unanswered Questions

• What did Kosh mean about Sheridan opening an unexpected door? A door to where, and why was it unexpected?
• Was Morden the human who introduced Cartagia to the term "the big picture?"
• What happened to Lyta while she was scanning for Sheridan?
• What is the "Eye" at Z'ha'dum?
• Why does it speak with a voice of infinite sadness?
• How did Sheridan survive his fall?
• Where is he now?

Analysis

• The Eye spoke to Ivanova and Delenn in the voices of their fathers. That's the same image the old Kosh chose on more than one occasion (to Sheridan in "Interludes and Examinations" and to G'Kar in "Dust to Dust.") Is there a connection?
• Is the Eye at Z'ha'dum the one Lady Morella referred to in the first of her prophecies ("Point of No Return?") If so, how will Londo be able to save it? Will it be moved to Centauri Prime, or is it perhaps already there in some form as a result of Cartagia's arrangement with the Shadows?
• Perhaps the Eye is the Shadows' main defense system on Z'ha'dum. That would explain why the White Star was able to get to the surface unharmed in "Z'ha'dum." It wasn't touched by the Eye because there was nobody onboard to influence.
• The blackening of Lyta's eyes was similar to G'Kar's telepathic experience in "Dust to Dust." Perhaps it's simply a side effect of intense telepathic activity.
• In "Interludes and Examinations," Morden warned Londo that the Shadows might turn their eye toward Centauri Prime if Londo stood in their way. Was he speaking in general terms, as it appeared to Londo, or was he referring to something more specific? If he meant the Eye in this episode, what implications are there in Londo's reply that the Centauri would pluck the eye out?
• Morden said Sheridan's actions forced the Shadows to seek outside assistance earlier than they'd planned. That implies they thought they'd eventually have to do so. When were they originally planning to get help, and from whom? Seeking outside help would seem to put them on par with the Vorlons, who Morden castigated for doing exactly the same thing in "Z'ha'dum."
• G'Kar credits Garibaldi with giving him a second chance and allowing him to redeem himself. Garibaldi probably had that capacity in part because he'd been given a second chance himself, by Sinclair.
• The White Star seems to have been replaced with one of the other ships from the fleet; Ivanova and Lyta talked about taking the White Star to Z'ha'dum without referring to the fact that Sheridan destroyed the original White Star.
• Kosh may not have meant that Sheridan opened a door in a literal sense; perhaps it's more figurative. Maybe Sheridan's attack on the Shadows has weakened them enough to make it possible for the Vorlons to wipe the Shadows out, if indeed that's what they want.
• "Some must be sacrificed for the greater good" is a sentiment that's widely shared, and "the greater good" typically means "your own good." Kosh planted the idea in G'Kar's mind, implying it was the way to the salvation of the Narn people ("Dust to Dust.") Justin told Sheridan that some races are lost along the path of evolutionary progress, but that humans would likely come out on top ("Z'ha'dum.") And here, Cartagia uses the same reasoning to justify, in his mind, the destruction of his own people, if it means his deification. About the only one firmly opposed to the idea is Delenn, who, as Lennier observed, treasures each life ("Grey 17 Is Missing") and would sacrifice herself to save another ("Comes the Inquisitor.") The latter, of course, also applies to Sheridan, and is amply demonstrated by his journey to Z'ha'dum to save Centauri Prime.
• What did Lyta mean about the new Kosh being darker than the old one? His demeanor is certainly less pleasant, but does she sense something beyond a simple difference in personality?
• Why did Lyta put on the mask after returning Kosh to his suit, if she has gills and can breathe in his quarters? Perhaps simply to conceal her modification from anyone who might see her emerging from his quarters. But gill implants aren't unheard of ("The Gathering") and it's presumably widely known that she's Kosh's aide, so there would seem to be little to gain by concealing that.
• Ivanova may not have been the only one awake during the hour of the wolf. Emperor Cartagia visited his heads late at night, and Londo called Vir in the middle of the night.
• Who or what is Lorien? Quite possibly, he's a Soul Hunter ("Soul Hunter") since he has a similar gem implanted in his forehead. If so, does that mean Sheridan is indeed physically dead? The Soul Hunters capture the personalities of the dying, then spend their days talking with the dead souls and learning from them. Sheridan's environment might simply be what one of the Soul Hunters' globes looks like to the occupant, and Lorien might be projecting himself inside somehow in order to converse with Sheridan.
• If, on the other hand, Sheridan survived physically, could it have been due to the presence of Kosh in his mind? Kosh has already shown that Vorlons can fly ("The Fall of Night") and that they have telekinetic power ("Interludes and Examinations.") The latter might well have softened Sheridan's landing.
• Does Lorien's presence on Z'ha'dum (if that's where he's speaking with Sheridan) imply some connection to the Shadows?
• Sheridan and Lorien greet each other with the Vorlon question: "Who are you?" Perhaps Lorien knows what significance that question has to the Vorlons.
• Sheridan dropped his rank insignia on the ground. This parallels his experience in "There All the Honor Lies," in which he had to give up his insignia during one of Kosh's lessons and in return was granted "beauty... in the dark." His current situation is certainly the darkest he's seen.
• Now that the Shadows are on Centauri Prime, will they begin eliminating Centauri telepaths as they did to the Narn? ("Ship of Tears")
• Why didn't Ivanova bring along more than one telepath on the White Star? Given that for all she knew, Z'ha'dum was crawling with Shadow vessels, going there with only Lyta ran the risk of the White Star being blown out of the sky the moment it emerged from hyperspace. Granted, telepaths are a scarce, strategically valuable resource, but she could probably have justified bringing three or four others to hold any nearby Shadow ships at bay.
• Is this the arrival of the Shadows and their minions mentioned by Londo in "War Without End, Part Two?" If so, why did Londo blame Sheridan for it? Certainly Sheridan's attack on Z'ha'dum prompted the Shadows to seek shelter, but as Londo described it, it seemed more like he thought Sheridan had intentionally neglected Centauri Prime.

Notes

• Filming began August 26, 1996.
• Continuity glitch: During the Morden-Londo scene, when Londo is about to sit down, Morden begins picking at his left hand. After Londo is seated, he drops a flake of skin he clearly just removed from his right hand.

jms speaks

• When I can announce the overall year 4 title, I will. Filming starts August 26th. The writing is coming well. Actually walked the sets today for the first time since we wrapped in May; it's just too depressing to walk on a dead set. Lots of work going on now, new sets being built, noise and energy and enthusiasm...much better now.

• Re: vacation...I wish. We're still doing post production, still editing, mixing, spotting for music and sound...it's a long process that will take us right through the prep time for year four, assuming renewal. I can grab a day here or there, that's about it. And even while awaiting word, I still have to begin working on year four scripts. (The tentative title for the first episode of year four is "The Hour of the Wolf.")

• The Hour of the Wolf is that hour around 3 a.m. when you can't sleep because you're worried about one thing or another....

• Well, just finished the first (writer's) draft of "The Hour of the Wolf," the first episode of year 4, to be directed by David Eagle. It was a tough one, like all first-episode scripts...but quite interesting, in its way. Once again the show takes a somewhat different tone, I'm using some tools I somewhat developed in the background in year 3 and am now trying in foreground, very interesting mood change...a good start.

• Did you know what was going to happen to Sheridan when you wrote "Z'ha'dum?"
  Well, I think you can't do something like that without knowing how you're going to pull the character's fat out of the fire, and it has to make sense. I think people will be satisfied with what they see.

• "In "The Hour of the Wolf" there are two scenes -- you know which ones -- that seemed quite a departure from what one usually sees on TV. Did you write "Wolf" before or after your revelation that you were not bound by Standards and Practices. 'Cause if you wrote this *before*, then we're in for quite a ride."

  Aside from the desk scene, which was the other you're referring to?

  Oh...and the answer is...before.

  Hang on. It's going to be a bumpy night.

• "Have you ever contemplated doing an episode of B5 that unfolds in real time (i.e. one minute of screen time is one minute of plot time, as done in the movies "Miracle Mile" and "Nick of Time"), or would that be counterproductive to the sorts of stories you're trying to tell?"

  Actually, yeah, I have considered doing that...it can be a very limiting structure, and the story has to be just right for it to work. Haven't quite worked out all the snags yet.

  "Or is "Hour of the Wolf" a story of that particular variety?"

  Nope.

• How was the first day of filming?
  It's frenetic, nuts, lots of running around and little fixes, we all get a little crazy on first days...but it'll be okay.

• John Copeland and I just got finished with the main title for year 4, which is, again, different from last year's. This time I wanted a whole new approach, on just about every level, and designed the thing myself, working with John and the editors to get the best shots and pull it all together. It's *majorly* cool. We showed it to some members of the crew, and they're all jazzed by it, they think it's our best main title ever.

• Today John Copeland and I did our producer's cut on the first episode of year 4, "The Hour of the Wolf." Granted my opinion is subjective and biased...but of all the first-episodes we've had each season, this one is the best. I was searching for the right word after looking at the director's cut, and finally came to it...maturity. It has a depth we've only skated through before, all meat, no filler. This one and the next batch are also all over the map, literally...B5, Narn, Centauri Prime, elsewhere...so it's a real challenge. But it looks great.

• Everybody's just cooking on this one, it has a very filmic, grand look to it. I love it a lot.

• It's a terrific episode. The music now echoes season one because in some thematic areas, we're starting to bend back on ourselves, and close some circles, as you'll see soon.

  That it affects the emotions is, for me, the goal. If you can make an audience *feel* something, in a medium as cold as TV, you've done your job right.

• Wayne Alexander plays Lorien, a character you'll see throughout the first six episodes of season 4. We wanted to give him more to do.

• Lorien's eyes look odd.
  The eyes have metallic gold contact lenses; you can't see them as well in the red light, but later, you'll see them better.

• There's more to Lorien than meets the eye.

• I'll string out the Sheridan info for a while; as for Morden, as he said, his associates can repair flesh, replace flesh (though where they got replacements from is something I don't want to know)....

  It's definitely a packed episode. I still find myself realizing that the end of act one feels like two acts. And the next three are every bit as intense, if not moreso. I love it....

• Why bother with the Sheridan scene at all?
  To not do so would've been vastly unfair. And it nicely replaces one mystery, is or isn't he, with "who the heck is THAT?"

• Sheridan dropped his insignia during Kosh's lesson in "There All the Honor Lies." And he dropped his stat bar here. Was Kosh preparing him to see Lorien?
  I think it was a more general sense than preparing him specifically for Lorien.

• Season 4 definitely starts in dark mode. Bigtime.

• Did you have Londo put on his old coat so there wouldn't be the costume mismatch there was with Delenn in "Babylon Squared" and "War Without End?"
  I never make the same mistake.

  I just learn how to make new ones.

  (And I'm very pleased with that scene...it's kinda goofy, with the minister in particular...he's just nuts. Well, not as much as Cartagia, obviously....)

• The non-moving Centauri Prime shot is an original Foundation shot; the one where it's moving (with the cruiser fly-bys) is the new one, and there's a lot more detail now in the surface of the planet and other stuff.

• "The first S4 episode (Hour of the Wolf) doesn't have nearly as many FX as the later S3 episodes, and what is there is mostly stock shots of the station rotating, etc."

  There are as many CGI shots in "Wolf" as in most of our episodes, and more than in "Rock," a later S3 episode. There's also the new establishers of Centauri Prime the planet, the revised Palace shots, new establishers of the station, a big new shot of the interior of the Garden that pans down, the beside-Z'ha'dum sequence...there's a LOT there. So a) your latter observation is, I gently point out, factually inaccurate, and b) most station shots have been recycled stock since year one, adding new ones each season then dropping them into rotation (so to speak).

  We always balance big EFX shows with smaller ones, building up to some big stuff. We're doing the same thing here this year as we've ever done.

• The events in 401 take place roughly 7 days after 322.

• The alien ambassadors' English has improved.
  Ambassadors have been learning as they've gone along; I took the notion that the higher ups didn't have that much contact with humans, so their grasp of english was halting at best, but over 4 years, they've gotten better. The grunts/lower echelons, though, are still marginal at best.

• About Cartagia looking up women's dresses
  "best I can tell from my (admittedly limited) knowledge of Centauri physiology, he would have been looking in the wrong place - kinda like looking down a human woman's socks, or something."

  Tell that to a foot fetishist.

• It's fun and interesting to see Londo now having to deal with being in a sense on the same side as Sheridan, but for vastly different reasons.

• By building up Cartagia offscreen, it helped pave the way for what we do finally see.

  And the only reason to not hold back Sheridan for one more ep was my feeling that if I held him *and* Garibaldi back, it'd be a bit much.

• Why did Lyta refer to the White Star as if it hadn't been destroyed?
  The ships provided by Delenn are White Star class ships, hence the usage.

• Why am I here?
  Yes, the last piece there is kind of the key, isn't it?

  I've always kept the minister just that, no name, for the reasons you cite. This is someone who's a survivor, who bends with the wind, and somehow keeps going by not being noticed, or taken seriously.

  And yes, this season I was noticing that eyes have become a predominant image, from Lyta to the shadows to Lorien to some stuff coming in the next few episodes...funny, how this stuff creeps up on you.

• Check out "Voices of Authority." You've seen those eyes before.

• Actually, the ship was what technically saved them... Lennier also began to fall under the influence of the shadow voice, as we saw. There was some forethought on his part, but the ship activated itself on timer.

• "After watching Z'ha'dum and "Wolf" (No spoilers here), my main thought was basically, who the hell are these old races who assume moral superiority based on technical superiority? How dare they interfere with our development as a species just to suit their own petty needs? I wonder if any character on the show will take that same line of thought and expand upon it?"

  Well, until now, that's been primarily unknown to the other species. Now, thanks to Sheridan's trip to Z'ha'dum, and stuff coming up, that information will start to get out.

  So yeah, you may find someone or someones picking this thread up....

Last update: January 7, 1997