"Babylon 5" A Tragedy of Telepaths (1998)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Tony Dow

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (creator)
J. Michael Straczynski (writer)

TV Series:

"Babylon 5" (1994)

Original Air Date:

25 March 1998 (Season 5, Episode 10)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Saga | Cult Favorite | Futuristic

Cast

Bruce Boxleitner	...	President John Sheridan
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin (credit only)
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier (credit only)
Tracy Scoggins	...	Capt. Elizabeth Lochley
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto (credit only)
Jeff Conaway	...	Zack Allan
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Caroline Ambrose	...	Lara
Freddy Andreiuci	...	Worker
Tom Billett	...	Centauri Guard
Julie Caitlin Brown	...	Na'Toth
Jonathan Chapman	...	Brakiri Ambassador
Robin Atkin Downes	...	Byron
Christina Gavin	...	Telepath
Walter Koenig	...	Alfred Bester
Leigh McCloskey	...	Thomas (as Leigh J. McCloskey)
Haley McLane	...	Computer (voice)
Kim Strauss	...	Drazi Ambassador

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Quotes:

[first lines]
Capt. Elizabeth Lochley: Personal log June 16, 2282. My first CO once told me: "Wen someone asks you why you took on a job, the worst answer you can give is 'Because a friend asked me to.'" I should have listened. This place is one long exercise in frustration. After I denied permission to the telepaths who came here asking to form a colony President Sheridan overode my decision. Now they've walled themselves up in Brown Sector...

See evil telepaths fighting evil (but less evil) telepaths

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This and the following episode featuring Bester are the worst of the season, as we see more and hear much more of poor old Byron's angst. He's sad,...he has a secret,...he's pained,...he doesn't want to tell his beloved Leta the truth,...he spouts poetry,...etc., etc., etc. Byron is among the whiniest and most annoying characters in the show. The only good is that he's only in one more episode. Also, for the most part, Bester is wasted in these shows as he appears weak and ineffectual for the first time--and the chemistry between him and Byron is such that you almost wonder if their relationship was a lot more intimate than audiences were willing to hear. Actually, playing up this aspect would have greatly improved this show, though at least there are some relatively evil telepaths that break away from Byron and run amok on the ship--providing SOME excitement. All in all, this and the previous episode were rather poor in spots, though the next one sinks even lower into the abyss. It's a shame, as I loved this series and hated to see it just fizzle out this way.