Forgive them, Sheridan. They know not what they do. Biblical justice comes to Babylon 5 -- with a vengeance.
(Originally aired on November 27, 1995)
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by Adam Nimoy
GUEST STARS
Brad Dourif - Brother Edward
Patricia Tallman - Lyta Alexander
Louis Turenne - Brother Theo
", where we first learned about the futuristic punishment of "death of personality" in the context of a convicted, unrepentant criminal.
Now we see the consequences of this supposedly humane approach to criminal justice.
By becoming Brother Edward, Charles Dexter, the Black Rose Killer, pays his debt to society. Outfitted with a new personality, the criminal dedicates the remainder of his natural life to making the community in which he lives and works a better place.
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Therein lies the problem. Community service isn't satisfying in a Biblical sense -- most people, like Garibaldi, would rather have the pound of flesh.
Justice without vengeance does not reconcile with the ugly, messy, visceral side of human nature. As a result, Edward's tormentors are not above getting back at the shell that once contained him, even though the actual criminal no longer exists.
Once he learns who he was, Brother Edward decides to give "his" victim's families what they want. In doing so, he measures himself against the central moment of his faith, and finds himself capable of the same courage and resignation that he ascribes to that moment in Gethsemane.
Of course, dying is the easy part. Brother Edward's death leaves the real burden on Sheridan's shoulders, who has to forgive Edward's murderer. To summon up such profound forgiveness, Sheridan must rise above all those ugly impulses that cry out for the cycle of vengeance to continue.
COMING UP NEXT
"Voices of Authority"
The Great Machine knows
Ivanova finds First Ones
What's code 7-R?
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