Oh, there’s so much in this episode to talk about, most of it invisible, all of it interesting.
Firstly, let’s get the bookkeeping out of the way: G’kar’s role in this episode is a largely self-contained plot in which he’s attempting to start a Narn resistance. His leadership is challenged, and he asks Sheridan to help him. Sheridan uses the Rangers to smuggle a message from a family on Narn to one of the Narns living on the station, thereby proving G’kar can get things done (In fact, it proves no such thing, but the others don’t know what.) He also attempts to buy weapons for the resistance using money given by Narns who were off world at the time of the bombings. A human arms dealer agrees to sell him stuff, much of which is stuff the Narns sold earth in the Minbari war. G’kar knows he’s being ripped off, but he knows he has no choice, so he agrees, and delivers the most badass line ever, warning the man not to run off with the cash, because if he did so, “Rest assured that though your body may someday be found, they would never be able to identify it.”
In the more interesting plot, Kosh says that the other Vorlons have begun to doubt Delenn’s role in the coming war. Is she the right person for the job, or just a crazy egomaniac? To decide, they send an Inquisitor to the station. Sheridan meets him at the docking bay: he’s a human in Victorian clothes, carrying a cane and a (Somewhat wobbly) English accent. He introduces himself as “Sebastian,” and when Sheridan pushes him for info, he says that he was abducted by Vorlons on November 11th, 1888, and gives his old address (They try to make this casual, but it’s still an odd ramble), and refuses to divulge more.
He brings Delenn in, and has her put on pain givers. Her choices are: prove you’re the chosen one, give up and leave, or stay and die if you fail to prove you’re the chosen one. She stays. He asks her questions that seem straightforward, but have no answer: Who are you? Your name is not you, your family is not you, your title is not you. All these were things that were given to her or assigned to her. “Have you nothing of your own? Nothing to stand on that is not provided, defined, delineated, stamped, sanctioned, numbered, and approved by others? How can you be expected to fight for someone else when you haven’t the barest idea of who you are?“ And so forth. He goes on and on about her messianic delusions, anticipating that the universe itself will step in and save her. Occasionally she manages to give an answer that surprises him (“I don’t know.” “Well then there may be hope for you yet. As a reward you may rest for ten minutes”) but it’s obvious that he’s a vicious, crazy, messed up dude, and each time she gives an unacceptable answer, the punishment gets worse. Sebastian makes it very clear that he’s done this a lot of times to a lot of would-be saviors, and *all* of them have either broken and run away, or broken and died.
Lennier sneaks in to see her, and tries to get her to escape, but she won’t go, she needs to finish this. He runs away in a panick (the only time we see that of him in the whole series) and tells Sheridan that Sebastian is killing Delenn.
Delenn has rallied, however, and has gotten Sebatian’s number. She’s figured that he, himself, is a failed messiah-type who can’t stand the thought that there might be someone out there who’s actually right, and he’d sooner destroy them than admit someone else might be able to do what he couldn’t. He snaps and basically just starts torturing her for no reason, unto death.
Sheridan bursts in with a gun, and makes him stop. Sebastian knocks him out effortlessly, and begins interrogating the captain, no longer having any interest in Delenn. He beats the crap out of Sheridan, smacking him around with rapid-fire questions. Then Delenn comes in and insists she be allowed to take his place, even if it means she dies, it doesn’t matter, because John will take her place. And if he dies, another will take their place, because it’s all about the struggle and not about the individual soldier, they’re more than willing to throw themselves
Well, (A) one could make the very strong argument that he was under arrest by the Vorlons, and had done 300+ years of community service. (B) The Earth Alliance does not have a death penalty, except for treason in time of war. (C) Try proving Sebastian was Jack in a court of (human) law. Just try it. (D) The Vorlons are kinda' jerks. Ask and they'll say 'no.' Demand, and they'll just leave you to die. I mean, if this is how they treat their friends... oh, and (E) Sebastian seemed to think it possible that the Vorlons might kill him now, or at least allow him to die, so the punishment served by them is more than he would have gotten in the EA.
The Artist Formerly Known As Republibot 3.0