The Name of the Place is Babylon 5: Believers


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	Babylon 5 - 'Believers' By Scott O'Callaghan Armchair Academic posted: 01:35 pm ET 11 October 2000

abylon 5 - 'Believers'

Dr. Franklin operates on a dying child, against the parents' wishes. Ingrates, they don't say thanks and kill their child instead.

(Originally aired on April 27, 1994)

Written by David Gerrold
Directed by Richard Compton

Keeping the Politics Real

LONDO: Just how much justice can you afford?

KOSH: The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.

SINCLAIR: Sometimes doing the right thing doesn't change anything. It can drive you crazy.

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GUEST STARS

Tricia O'Neill - M'ola
Steven Lee - Tharg
Jonathan Charles Kaplan - Shon
Silvana Gallardo - Dr. Maya Hernandez

WATCH OUT FOR

* The return of the Starliner Asimov and Delenn's discussion of souls: both refer back to the episode "Soul Hunter".

* Aliens with a less-than-complete mastery of English -- otherwise, Dr. Franklin's "Planet Placebo" comment would have given his entire plan away.

ANALYSIS

In the midst of an arc of action-filled episodes, Straczynski throws in one for the philosophers and ethics types. Question: whose belief is right? Whose wishes should be respected when a child's life is in danger?

In "The Parliament of Dreams" we saw cultures living side by side, trying to understand and accept each other. Here, though, those beliefs are thrown into sharp contrast. The confident -- almost arrogant -- Dr. Franklin refuses to acknowledge the validity of the Thalatine prohibition against cutting.

This is the test of pluralism. Franklin believes in the primacy of life. The Thalatine parents believe in the primacy of the soul. Only one of these beliefs can be acknowledged. Something has to give.

In another science fiction series, the doctor would self-righteously operate and the day would be saved. The aliens would come around to the Federation's . . . that is, humanity's point of view, realizing the error of their people's ways. We might even get a sermon on individualism.

But aboard Babylon 5, the parents take their child's life. They have sent their son to the Thalatine hereafter. And from a certain (human) perspective, it appears that the Bad Guys have won.

However, the episode is not about Good Guys and Bad Guys. It's about honest clashes of morality in a complex world. Every character in this episode believes herself or himself to be acting toward the highest good. But they can't all be right.

Calling all ambassadors

M'ola and Tharg's visits to the other members of the Advisory Council are studies in motivation. These scenes offer an interesting parallel to the upcoming "Signs and Portents", in which the replies of the ambassadors are weighed against each other.

Here, though, the responses are more direct, even while they remain emblematic of larger traits. G'Kar would only help someone who could offer the Narn Regime influence and power. Londo needs cash for the Centauri to justify the expense. Kosh is as enigmatic as ever and, while Delenn is sympathetic, the Minbari are forbidden from meddling in matters of the soul.

Even though M'ola and Tharg attempt to frame this issue in personal and moral terms, each ambassador sees it politically. When cultures come into contact, the results are ideological, not sentimental.

COMING UP NEXT

President to come?
Bombs go boom so Chief gets blamed.
All in "Survivors".