The honesty and passion in Mira Furlan's performance here was a mirror of real life, seeing her native Croatia tear itself apart in civil war and sectarianism just a few years before. She was an outspoken advocate of women's rights and peace activist, receiving graphic death threats that forced her and her husband to leave their homeland. You can be certain that every line in this scene was delivered with 110% conviction.
"The problems of others are not our concern. I do not blame you for standing silent in your shame, you who knew what was coming but refuse to take up the burden of this war." Justifiably calling the Warrior caste cowards to their face. Harsh
" I am Grey, I stand between the Candle and the Star. We are Grey, We stand between the Darkness and the Light. " - Ambassador & Grey Council Member Delenn. Well Mira, you are Light now and Shine with the Stars in the Sky. Thank you. You will be Missed and Remembered.
I love this scene so much. As beautiful, loving and gentle as Delenn can be in other parts of her life, when she gets angry she is terrifying! Look how her face transforms when she glares down the acolyte at 0:10 - she begins stern, turns incredibly cold and ends with flat-out murderous intensity; her elegant, sensual voice changed to an animal snarl - that poor acolyte would have been shredded if he'd not stepped aside. Neither he nor the Grey Council stood any chance against her colossal power and determination. Brilliant stuff, and I do believe that ONLY Mira could have pulled it off with so much graceful strength.
@@LordTalax That might have very well caused a civil war. Delenn was a powerfull political figure with many allies. Just putting her into a cell would probably have broken the council by itself. Also she was furious, and we have seen how powerfull an angry Mimbari can be and that poor guy probably was already terrified because the situation was way above his paygrade so to speak. So she probably could have gone right through him.
Babylon 5 was truly epic because the *characters* were epic! While they didn't have the big budget for FX that Star Trek had, they more than made up for it with quality writing and powerful performances. Delenn was such an awe-inspiring female lead.
Daniel Haar Jr Actually, when JMS drew up the outline for B5, it was assumed to run a 5 season arc. It was never expected to be open-ended in any case.
I love the tidbit at the end where one od the council gently tries to stop another, good friends perhaps, and they get rejected. It is so small a detail but emphasis the divide and the closeness of those on the council.
@Phelan You're right. My bad, it had been a long time since I watched the commentary and somehow got a couple things he said mashed up. And it’s been even longer now, so I had to break out the DVD listen to it again. He does mention the hoods, but in regard to Mira's acting ability. And, like you said, it was Mira who almost ran into the guy - and actually _did_ in one take, according to JMS. 🤣 I'm not sure how I got that the reaching out part as accidental out of that. I might have seen it in a comment somewhere and it seemed to fit my jumbled memory so I didn't check or it was just a total brain fart. Either way, I was clearly wrong. lol I’m usually fairly obsessive in fact checking my posts and rarely make that kind of mistake. Figures, this time I don’t, I’m _way_ off the mark. 😣
Delenn really is such a very great character, she is a Minbari with a great heart, mind, and spirit. Love how she stands up to the Grey Council and shames them for them being cowards, standing by and doing nothing.
@@alexanderrowe790 That too. But I have to emphasize on female here since it's that much of a rarity growing up. Also, it's tragic hearing the actress died today as of this post. I was literally remarking that she did play one of the best strong leads on any franchise.
I do like the little gesture that one of the warrior caste council members gives to the last person to follow Delenn. He/she reaches out to touch them. It could be taken in a multitude of ways, but I think it's a final gesture of friends to each other who will soon be on opposite sides of a war.
@@saquist That was probably the one Warrior caste who broke rank. See, when they replaced Delenn on the council, they broke tradition and replaced her with a Warrior caste instead of a Religious caste, so there were four Warrior caste on the council. One of the four decided to go with Delenn.
The only way that a modern tv writer would know how to make Delenn "strong" would be to put a gun in her hand. They can't understand that quality in her character that made it so believable so many would be willing to fight and die for what she believed in, and ultimately for her.
I actually showed this clip to a mid-20’s coworker who’d never seen B5 before. His immediate reaction: “THIS is how you write a strong female character, who can be formidable without punching guys three times her size.”
@@garereeve117 Well, it's no wrong to sometimes have a female character who goes punshing. But I agree with that it's a problem that it's become almost the only way they know to write a 'strong female character' too often.
I have always been impressed by the useless arrogance of the bullies that call themselves the Mimbari Warrior Caste, even Klingons aren't this pointlessly cowardly
"Or in Valen's name, I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them!" What a line. I'm totally certain that she's willing and able to do it.
"I was the chosen of Dukat to replace him, I held him when he died, his blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips, you will step aside in his name and mine, or in Valen's name I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them, move aside"
Only way to read this is that the Worker and Religious castes were uncomfortable with the Warrior castes' increasingly militant isolationism, but were intimidated into acquiescing until Delenn showed up, handed the warrior caste members their asses on a plate and reminded the other five that they had spines.
I love this scene but 3:03 always gets me where Mira barely misses walking right into the extra standing behind her on her dramatic exit, and she has to make a very quick course adjustment to avoid walking right into him.
I feel like that only adds to it. She is in a rage, having just vented years of frustration out loud to those who caused it. She is still gentle and sincere but she is nevertheless a wrathful storm given form
0"05 ... "I told you Delenne, they will not speak to you" .... "then they will listen to me!" ... "I served the council for 16 cycles , I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him , I held him when he dies .. his blood is on my hands, . his spirit in my eyes , his word on my lips , you will step aside in his name and mine, or in Valen's nameI will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I ind them ... moove aside!!! ~ wisely moves aside LOL
Delen is one of those characters who is the nicest, most peaceful, kind, and gentile person you could ever meet and be friends with. If you cross her, though, she is your worst nightmare.
How many do I have to come here ? I know you are watching.. among others... speaking to the Symbol that is being represented here ... not the actor or tv show itself...
@@OpenMawProductions Happy couple who supported each other… Now that explains everything, so THATS why she looks so sad and broken all the time especially in season 5. EVERY woman wants support in form of all so subtle patronization, overbearing being talked over and being taken for granted.
@@saquist That was what I meant. I guess if you see her getting less and less screentime and if she does only for moments that further Sheridans and not her own story or where she does nothing else but admiring him and sighing “Oh John” from time to time as degrading or not really is a thing of interpretation, actually. But for me as someone who loved Delenn as a character in her own right it was very frustrating.
@@Hyzentley Understood. To me...degrading is what they did with female characters in Naruto...make them emotionally useless and irrelevant. Sheridan was a standard Hero's Mo-tiff with all the God worship and great leader shtick. She was the herald, the oracle the cause and Sheridan was the effect. Her role was fulfilled. Could their be more YES...but only if there is a story to tell. What would be that story for Delenn?
