Babylon 5 | S5E17 - Movements of Fire and Shadow | Reaction 

"Leeta's gone past the point of no shits"- That should totally be a legitimate screenwriting term

After five seasons and with the end in sight, the impact of Babylon 5's long-term storytelling can hit like a hammer. It's a work of art.

Yep, we've seen those guys before: When Caroline (Bester's blimp girlfriend) remembered having the shadow implants put inside her head. Morden did say... or rather scream: "Even if my associates lose, they have allies. They will remember what you've done" or something along those lines.

"Oh, Lita's gone past uh, the point of no shits" LOL!!!

Londo's face as he realised that Centauri Prime was doomed.... Credit Peter Jurasik. What a performance.

That final “no” from Londo before the ships open fire….one of the most heartbreaking “no’s” you’ve ever heard. Peter Jurasik at his finest!

''You've just made a mistake Londo! Even if my associates lose this war, they have allies! - they'll make sure Centauri Prime pays the price for what you've done here today!!''

Such a great Peter Jurasik episode. But Damian London as the Regent was equally amazing. Consider that character's arc - one of the most tragic in the series and a 180 from how we used to know him (I'm thinking...pastels!) Inept innocence to inescapable imprisonment.

I’ll never forget watching this on Channel 4 in the late 90s. We got that absolutely superb cliffhanger, then the announcer said “and ‘Babylon 5’ will return later in the year.” I knew the rest of the season had already been broadcast in the US, so was aghast that they were pausing it at this point. I was like “noooooo!” just like Londo at the end there. When it did return a while later, it was in a morning slot.

You are not imagining things. J.M.S. knew the five year story that he wanted to tell and filmed many scenes in advance of when the events related to them would actually be happen in the story. The benefit of having your show properly planned out in advance.

With the enemy bombarding the homeworld while it's completely undefended, the Centauri are experiencing a role reversal of when they bombed the Narn homeworld.

Best writing in a sci-fi series ever. Ending 5 season story arcs while building tension within the final few episodes... Absolutely Epic. I have enjoyed your reactions since the 1st episode. Well done!❤

"You can blame me for everything. I won't mind," I liked the Regent.

The abductor aliens were seen in 'Ship of Tears' when Bester's girlfriend had a flashback to being modified for a Shadow vessel. They also look similar to how I think the aliens that abducted Sheridan were meant to look, but I think JMS said that was just coincidence.

You remember the Drakh from the Minbari Civil War arc from Season 4's "Lines of Communication" where Delenn first met them, shortly after the Shadow War.

We are nearing the end of Londo's journey. We have seen those aliens before, they were in Bester's lovers mind from when she was implanted to merge with Shadow ships.

The aliens Londo saw we saw previously as the ones that Leeta saw in the mind of one of the telepaths they found that were being taken to the Shadows as "weapons components"

G'kar upchucking last night's supper on Londo was the highlight of this episode! XD

It's going to be strange not having a new B5 reaction video from you very soon. Get the tissues ready.

Interesting/sadistic fact: Back in the day, we had to wait over 4 months to see the next episode. At 2AM if I recall correctly. Apparently, the Americans found out we were watching the episodes before they were, and the broadcaster was told to hold off showing more episodes until instructed to continue. This is a rumour, but it's probably true.

@11:56, I always loved that part when G'Kar looked up for some reason.

And now you see the tragedy that is Londo. Good intentions. The best for his people. Yes he benefited too, but it was never selfishness above his world and his people.

I had that same look of horror when I first saw this episode, right when all the Narn and Drazi ships jumped in over Centauri Prime.

B5 is just so tragic at this point in time. Actions have consequences and there are no magic happy endings. What an incredible story.

The Shadows' allies may be motivated by revenge, but they also needed a new home.

Yes, you've seen those aliens before. Look for the episodes about "Weapons components".

Love your reactions to B5. You're on the home strait of episodes now!

When Kosh appeared at Emperor Turhan's deathbed, Turhan asked how it will end, and Kosh said "In Fire." Clearly Kosh could sense things that most of his own people could not.

"It's cool but it's terrifying" My response to Leeta fuckin' shit up

I think those creatures are from Season 3 Ship Of Tears, They were operating on the Telepaths for the Shadows. I think thats who they are?

Thank you for reminding me of JMS genius in long-term story arcs that can hit really hard emotionally.

If you ever have the DVD of this episode - play the commentary - Patricia Tallman is hilarious in the stuff she says - The Music Loving Klingon

For all the disappointment of JMS's five year plan going to shit (to use your parlance) season 5 had some incredibly dramatic moments and this cliffhanger is the high point.

To think, If you go back far enough, Londo laid the first stones on the path that led to the assault on Centauri Prime.

I'm not sure how the Drazi and Narn are still part of the Alliance after this...

Good to see you! Thanks! :)

At 5:47, correct me if I'm wrong but are those the Streibs that kidnapped Sheridan?

Tell me again how Narns are the victims. How they do not deserve what Centauri did to them. Drazi knew sh!t was Shadow related and kept it quiet in order to go on attack, since Cetauri Republic was a major rival and they could not go against them without the help from rest of Interstellar Alliance. Sheridan tried to build something new and better and they were not interested. Say what you want about Centauri, it will probably be true, but they knew who Narns are and how far they are willing to go. Take note that just a year or two after their military was virtually wiped out they again have military presence. Surely the rebuilding could better use those resources with all those hungry and homeless Narn back home... Londo called them out on this senseless militarization in season one. Same with Drazi. Remember how Centauri were building a buffer zone to secure themselves from Drazi attacks before Shadow War started openly? And how Drazi posed as raiders in order to ransack neutral worlds on their borders. Of course Centauri were outraged by accusations against them, none of them were involved, ships were remote piloted. And most of them have no idea what is going on and those that do think they can handle any opposition in current galaxy with First Ones gone. Which they actually can provided Minbari stay out of it and Drakh do not hobble them every time out of revenge for destroying Island of Salini Shadow base. But do you know who I blame for all this sh!t going as far as it did? Sheridan. He had info from time jumping and he knew it was important and highly reliable, yet he did nothing about it. He never took Londo aside to talk about it in private and we know they take prophecies seriously. When Za´Ha´Dum blew up and the remaining inhabitants evacuated he did not contact Centauri Prime to warn them they might be a target. When Drakh were confirmed to act against Minbari during their civil war and they wondered where they operated from he did not even mention Centauri space as an option. Plot needed to happen but I hate it when it happens my a proven smart character suddenly picking up idiot ball and putting on a blindfold.

i really cant see how the drazi and narn can remain in the alliance after this

I know you had to make difficult choices on what to cut, but one of the funnier scenes in an otherwise dark episode was G’Kar trying to concentrate on helping Londo get out of the jail.

Yeah, those aliens working on Londo are the same ones that put those machines inside those telepaths, that made them compatible with the shadow vessels. The end is near, too near, it's so intense. Too bad we won't see the 2nd part of this 2 parter until next week. That episode will be painful.

Well, I was going to give you the opportunity to _opt out_ of reading where you've seen those aliens before. But it looks like a number of people in the comments just went ahead and told you flat out.🤷🏼‍♂️ I just wasn't sure if you wanted to be told like that, or instead work it out for yourself. I was going to say, _"If you want to know where you saw those other aliens then scroll down."_ But clearly it's too late. I wanted to give you the opportunity to avoid the info, rather than just hand it to you. Sorry for the redundancy in my comment. 🥱 I just woke up, and am therefore _not quite up yet._ 🥴 Be well! 🙋🏼‍♂️

The next episode though... Oh man... ;(