"Crusade" The Visitors from Down the Street (1999)

Director:

Jerry Apoian

Writer:

J. Michael Straczynski (writer)

TV Series:

"Crusade" (1999)

Original Air Date:

25 August 1999 (Season 1, Episode 12)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Plague | Space | Alien | Dragon | Telepathy

Cast

Gary Cole	...	Capt. Matthew Gideon
Tracy Scoggins	...	Capt. Elizabeth Lochley (credit only)
Daniel Dae Kim	...	Lt. John Matheson
David Allen Brooks	...	Max Eilerson (credit only)
Peter Woodward	...	Galen (credit only)
Marjean Holden	...	Dr. Sarah Chambers (credit only)
Carrie Dobro	...	Dureena Nafeel (credit only)
Josh Clark	...	Kendarr
Françoise Robertson	...	Lyssa
Harry Van Gorkum	...	Durkani
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Caso	...	Maintenance Man
Sandra Gonzalez	...	Maintenance #2
Camila Griggs	...	Security #2
Eric Whitmore	...	Security #1

Quotes:

[first lines]
[travelling in the bullet car]
Lt. John Matheson: I don't-
Capt. Matthew Gideon: We're not there yet. It's right between Decks 18 and 14. - There. - Did you smell that?
Lt. John Matheson: I didn't smell anything.
Capt. Matthew Gideon: What, you mean you didn't smell that?
Lt. John Matheson: I don't smell anything.
Capt. Matthew Gideon: You're a telepath. I thought all your senses were supposed to be enhanced.
Lt. John Matheson: I don't use my abilities unless required to by the new regulations.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "The X Files" (1993)

A bit of an X-Files spoof

An obvious bit of a spoof on the X-Files. But it seemed somewhat half-hearted. They could have really run with this, made it really humorous if they wished. But it feels like they couldn't really decide what they wanted to do.

Regardless, it is an interesting take on the "UFO Sightings" phenomena. It's a little of a "what if...", almost along the lines of a couple Twilight Zone episodes. Not completely bad, but this could have been far better than it was. I did like it when one of the characters introduced themselves as "Special Agent".

Perhaps JMS will have an opportunity to remake not only Babylon 5, but Crusade as well, cutting out some of the cheesiness, improving on both series' weaknesses. At that time maybe he can give this episode the push in the right direction.