s2e15: And now for a word
Armchair quarterbacking
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Until this week’s episode, the most experimental B5 has been was probably with ‘And the sky full of stars’, way back in the first half of season 1 when Sinclair got trapped in a VR interrogation cycle. ‘And now for a word’ goes a step further, entirely ripping up the show’s usual structure and presenting itself, from end to end, as a news investigation feature. It works.
One of the great benefits of the older structure of US television shows is that they averaged out around 22 episodes per season. That is a lot of television! Streaming shows today tend to hit closer to 8 episodes, which is part of why they’re able to raise the overall production value and look so much closer to feature film quality. The downside is that there’s no room to breathe. When you have a tiny number of episodes in which to tell your story, every single one has to focus on forward momentum and plot. The pacing of streaming shows often feels more like a pulpy novel than a serial.
Rewind to the 90s and most American shows were going for 22-ish episodes. In the science fiction genre, that led to the likes of Babylon 5, Deep Space Nine and Farscape, all of which had the space to be experimental in and around their core episodes. Farscape in particular had all sorts of fun with its formula.
Which brings us to ‘And now for a word’, where Babylon 5 takes the time to do an entire episode away from the usual structure and presentation. It still advances characters and plot and does some brilliant world building, but the show was able to explore a somewhat experimental approach because it had the space. 1 experimental episode out of 22 isn’t a big risk; if it doesn’t work, you haven’t just lost a big chunk of your storytelling screen time. The only modern streaming show I’ve seen which dares to do this, despite its short episode numbers, is Strange New Worlds.
So, ‘And now for a word’. For the most part it’s a clever piece, committing fully to the conceit of the roving reporter. There’s one scene in C&C that slightly breaks the rules, switching to a more standard way of shooting a dialogue sequence (Ivanova talking to the reporter), but otherwise it remains handheld and feels like every scene is starting slightly after the main action. I love the way the reporter desperately tries to provide some quick context, before the cameraman whips away to find G’Kar already mid-shout. There’s one moment where we catch Sheridan after the council meeting, emerging from the chamber looking harried — in an ordinary episode of Babylon 5 we’d have seen the council scene itself, but here we just get the aftermath, and it feels all the more real for it.
The live video journalism is interspersed with interviews, which also feel like new angles on characters we know well. In particular, seeing G’Kar and Londo playing to the camera is brilliant: we know what they’re both really up to, but they’re both masters of propaganda — Londo in particular.
It’s impressive that they commit to the look and feel even with the visual effects and exterior shots. Having all of the space stuff shot either through cockpit windows or by maintenance and security cameras is genius: diagetically rooting the visuals gives the show a very different feel, and probably hadn’t been done much at the time (especially in CG, where the idea of handheld camerawork was a novel idea).
Throughout, we get the sense of the Narn-Centauri conflict starting to spin out of control, affecting Babylon 5 and other races rather than being contained. There’s a tension in the second half that is palpable, as Sheridan tries to defend the station without pulling Earth into another interstellar war — bearing in mind that the Earth-Minbari war was triggered accidentally. The arrival of the Narn war cruiser at the end is a real forehead-slap of a moment, just as the B5 command staff had managed to defuse the situation.
It’s a clever, highly effective episode.
Oh! And we get a Psi Corps advert, which is hilarious.
Next up is ‘Knives’, which is a slight departure from the blu-ray episode order.
‼️ SPOILER STUFF ‼️
The conflict around B5 in this episode is a precursor to the season 2 finale, when a Narn cruiser shows up again. The transferring of weapons of mass destruction is also leading us inexorably towards the climax of the Narn-Centauri war — it’s not dwelt upon in this episode, but it’s entirely likely that the Centauri preparations here lead directly to the destruction of the Narn homeworld.
While we’ve seen ISN in the background of multiple episodes, ‘And now for a word’ really cements the news channel as an intrinsic part of the show. This will prove a savvy move once we hit season 3 and the Earth civil war, when ISN gets taken off the air.
We learn of G’Kar’s childhood, which I think is the first time we’ve had those details? We’ll see more of that in season 3, in his dust-fuelled visions..
Given the fourth-wall breaking presentation of the episode, there’s a surprising amount of detail in the story developments.
As Mike Miller caught the reference to former senator Hidoshi, I'll just note that there's more than a few Markab in the background when the reporter is doing her monologue at the beginning about the humans and aliens who live in B5. Oof. Ironic, that the ISN reporter is the one who points out that the alien-human framing is reversed from the other species' viewpoint.
I'm glad someone caught the PsiCorp subliminal text: I tried at least three times to freeze-frame it but couldn't quite get it there. The commercial's hilarious, though (although I can only imagine the Perky and Energetic IVANova's reaction when she saw it.
Non Spoiler 2:
JMS noted this episode had two purposes, which work against each other. First, the episode is designed as a mid-season jumping on point with lots of exposition. Second, the episode is subversive and format twisting for the long time viewer. It's a level of clever Stephen Moffat dreams of, but JMS knows how to plan things out and resolve them, not write himself into a corner and pull something out of his ass at the end.
And Now for a Word (from our Sponsor). And exactly who is sponsoring this report? IPX, the shady corporation we know does trade in bio weapons, and Psi Corp, which is shady. The agenda of the sponsors is subtle, but the "36 Hours" documentary begins with a discussion on the odds against B5 lasting 6 months (perhaps a jab at those who said the show would not even last a season), and on how public opinion is increasingly negative. We'll also note Senator Hidoshi - who was always on the link with Sinclair in s1 - is gone (mid-term one must assume), while Senator Quantrell - head of the relevant Senate Committee - seems unenthused. There are subtle undertones of propaganda in the entire broadcast. Especially the interview with Delenn.
"Office of Public Information" and the "Ministry for Public Morale" aren't ominous names at all. There's no way the Clarke administration would be doing anything untoward, is there? *cough cough*
For anyone who didn't pause the "subliminal," well... On initial airing I was taping, and my buddy and I went RIGHT back to it. "The Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps." *cough cough*
The writing for Londo and G'Kar is so beautiful. Londo is VERY good at spin. G'Kar, too honest and too passionate to gain sympathy with Earthers on this broadcast. Notice how Londo is in his purple during his interviews and council meetings when bring "reasonable," but his black coat when being a dick (six dicks, he's Centauri) over his warship. Good on costumer Ann Bruice. Londo's darker outfit is a deliberate choice to illustrate his arc.
Delenn's interview is... Becoming half-human and being on the receiving end of racism from human and Minbari alike is obviously wearing her down. This is Delenn who can hold her cool when being kicked out of the Gray Council or being assaulted by GROPOS losing it on TV. It's very upsetting to watch - especially as we, the audience, knows she underwent transformation for noble reasons.
On the journalist, JMS noted, "The Torque- part of her name came from Torquemada, that's correct. Just seemed appropriate since... *SPOILER REDACTED*"
Hey, we got to see our favorite dock rat again!
Hey, after a year and a half on the show Lt. David Corwin gets a name! His little interview is quite funny.
Speaking of funny, the tiny little glance of disgust Claudia Christian whips out when the reporter mispronounces her name is gold. Also, "There must be more to your story." "Yes."
Boxlightner gives his usual solid performance, but, when the Narn cruiser shows up right when he's almost got the situation under control, that, "What... No!" he gives is just a superlative bit of acting. For a fraction of a second Sheridan is rattled to the point of losing it, and has to - very quickly - pull it together. Contrast that with the later, "Get all the civilians to the shelters, and get the defense grid online." That line almost feels TOO slow given situation, but it's the delivery of a Captain who just almost soiled his trousers, and has yanked himself back to calm. It's one of Boxlightner's best moments in the series.
Hey, how about that awesome bit where we get to ride along with Zeta Leader, and Keffer is super-chill while taking out a Centauri! Oh, that's Delta Leader? Never mind. Ok, I get you don't burn one of Robert Russler's contracted episodes on an over-the-shoulder VO, and you give it to a loop group actor, but, still - it's part of why no-one likes Keffer. We'll never see Keffer do anything useful again.
Franklin's story about seeing his buddy blown out the airlock... Man, Richard Biggs is a fine actor.