Bester comes to Babylon 5 to shut down an "underground railroad" smuggling telepaths to freedom. Meanwhile, Sheridan and Delenn have a dinner date – but it’s Ivanova who is doomed to listen to Sheridan’s late-night knock-knock jokes.
(First aired on January 25, 1995)
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by Jim Johnston
GUEST STARS
Apesanahkwat – Telepath #1
Brian Cousins – Rick
Diane Dilascio -- Telepath #2
Gianin Loffler – Lurker
Walter Koenig – Bester
WATCH OUT FOR
* Bester’s fellow Psi Cop on Mars. Actress Judy Levitt is Walter Koenig’s wife.
* Sheridan’s terrible jokes. Ivanova’s right – only a saint could put up with being married to him.
ANALYSIS
[poetry, much like nuclear energy, appears to be a difficult technology to stuff back into the bottle once it's gotten loose -- editor]
A crossing point for Talia
Ivanova’s fears of Psi Corps control
Are epitomized in Bester.
His lust for power
Concealed as his love for telepaths
Forces her dangerous choice.
Her life never seemed like a choice.
Wearing the badge was easy for Talia
The symbol bound her to other telepaths.
Ironheart warned her the Corps wanted control
His knowledge became her power
Her mind primed to stand against Bester.
Is she so different from Bester?
Like her, his life has little choice.
Raised by the Corps, trained to wield power
He is no less molded than Talia.
Maybe
his dreams aren’t just about control
Maybe he really does love telepaths.
There are always choices, even for telepaths
Though flight from the Corps means pursuit by Bester
Babylon 5 is the edge of Psi Corps control
And the end of control is the beginning of choice.
The Underground Railroad brings changes for Talia
Psi Corps’ ragged edge makes her face her power.
Her rebellion is the first stirring of B5’s power.
The telepaths foreshadow Sheridan’s defiance
But the revolution happens without Talia.
Her doom underscores the will of Bester
Though
it springs from an actress’ choice
Talia’s departure emphasizes Psi Corps’ control.
For this moment, though, Talia is in control
Standing united, the free telepaths have power
Later, the non-aligned worlds will mirror their choice.
For now, this is just a story about telepaths
The entrenched authority of Bester
The blending of individuals around Talia.
Control drives the tragedy of the telepaths,
Power and love balance in Bester.
Choice tips the balance, but no future awaits Talia.
COMING UP NEXT
"The Coming of Shadows"
There was an old actor named Bey
Who a role on B5 said he’d play
He heard the Centauri
Could get pretty naughty
But he died – it wasn’t Bey’s day.
What, you were expecting haiku?
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