Turning Point

Story: The Long, Twilight Struggle

Written By: J. Michael Straczynski

Season: 2

The Narn-Centauri War is at the cusp of a major turning point.  The Narn plan a major attack they hope might turn things around for them, but the Centauri already have a bigger plan of attack...they are going to take the Narn homeworld itself.  The Narn plan goes completely belly-up, with the Shadows awaiting them and destroying every ship sent in, and then the Centauri take the Narn homeworld, and the Narn are forced to surrender.  

Theres a minor subplot early on about the return of Draal, the Minbari who joined wit hthe Great Machine in Season 1, it sort of furthers this growing relationship betwene Sheridan and Delenn, and it foreshadows some of the bigger Shadow stuff to come as well as leads up to the whole end of the Narn-Centauri war thing.  It was important, but it really wasn’t the most meaty stuff of the episode.  

The scene of the Centauri surrounding the Narn homeworld with Londo looking on was vey good stuff, and the scene in which Londo lists the stipulations of the surrender and calls for G’Kar’s ejection from the council and for him to head back to the homeworld for trial is also excellent (G’Kar asks for sanctuary, which Sheridan grants him).  

The episode ends with Delenn and Garibaldi introducing Sheridan to the Rangers and the Army of Light, with the Rangers declaring loyalty to Sheridan. He gives a nice speech about taking on the conquerers and pricks of the universe (I assume he means Londo, the Centauri, and the Shadows), and it got me pretty pumped up for more.  It took this show a while to realize that sometimes you have to stop foreshadowing and start doing, but when it gets to doing, it does it good.  

NEXT TIME: Jack the Ripper