JMS on Compuserve: October 30 , 1995
The Green Meddler
kilgalen at tde.com
Mon Oct 30 14:09:18 EST 1995
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Subj: Influence? Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard P. Manny, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386727
<I've never heard this one although I've read a number of Ripper texts. I
could cheat and ask for a reference, but I won't. I'll do a little digging.>
That's because it isn't *in* any of the Ripper texts as a suspect....
jms
Subj: Bab5 cancellation HELP Section: Babylon 5
To: Marion J Nalepa, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386726
The stations that keep the show consistent do well with it, and don't
usually drop it. So you're probably in good shape here.
jms
Subj: <spoiler>Comes the Inq Section: Babylon 5
To: Rick Corey /NY Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386729
I guess also that the key to avoid something becoming cliche is to
turn it on its head. Which was the case with Sebastian.
One thing I neglected to mention was the need to have an absolute
mirror-counterpoint to Morden. Here you've got the smiling, pleasant,
utterly charming and good looking fellow who is our "mirror" if you will in
which we see the Shadows reflected.
So now you need something dark and ominous and terrible as the mirror
through which we briefly glimpse the Vorlons, which has to be done all in
one episode, you can't develop it gradually as with Morden.
So everything about Sebastian was the opposite of Morden...and each is the
opposite of what they represent. As it appears to us now, anyway.
To the question of Crowley, I've read a little of his work, but only a
little...
I've never believed in the dictum of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole
of the law." I've generally leaned in the direction of "Do what thou ought
shall be the whole of the law."
Crowley was a very strange man, and while clearly some of his reputation was
blown out of all proportion -- was he not kicked out of an entire country
once, called The Most Evil Man Of All Time? -- but at the heartmeat core of
it was something dark and tw
jms
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
To: Deonaha M. Conlin, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:18 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386730
<<OF course, that raises the question -- Is penance enough?>
At some point, it must be. Even the worst of us must have some hope for
reprieve at some point. Either let the creep out of jail, or kill him. I
think four hundred years of not knowing would even do justice to Manson.
I may be a little soft-appearing, but I am not. I simply believe that
there must come an end, at some point, to the suffering of any living,
thinking being, no matter how awful they are.
Sebastian has not yet had the chance to answer to his God, if he is a
believer. Apparently, he is kept suspended between missions. Thus, no time
to face his demons himself. Maybe he seems unrepentant because he hasn't
had the chance to think things over.
The Vorlon have cheated him out of the very thing we send criminals to
prison for, and that in itself is not only criminal, but immoral. IMHO.
I don't mean to get up on a soapbox. This was a terrific ep, and seems to
have generated much deep thought on a lot of things like ethics, crime &
punishment, and sacrifice.
I think I will go downstairs and watch it again.
BTW, what is WB's corporate address? I can't believe they can't see a
demand for videos. Perhaps they are color-blind in that range.>
No, I think your points are all excellent, and tie right into the whole
question at hand. Nothing soft about them, just very thoughtful and
insightful.
One of the primary functions of the show, beyond entertainment, is to
provoke questions, discussion, and the comparison of views.
I think my message titled videotapes from jms is still here with an
address for WB about tapes.
And thanks.
jms
Subj: <CTI> Did Sinclair pass? Section: Babylon 5
To: Don Chase Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386731
<< When this gets answered later this season, you may have your answer
there.>
Is that this season, as in Season 2, or Season 3?>
I think I was referring here to season 3.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquistor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Don Chase, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:09:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387083
Can G'Kar grow to forgive? I don't think so...and yet in a way he must
come to something more than rage, and other than forgiveness. There is an
important step in his development yet to come.
And he will have to go there by a very hard road.
jms
Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek
To: JAMES M. TRAPP, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:14:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387093
<I thank you for your very gracious offer of getting to know BABYLON 5 a
little better.
However--neither my wife nor I particularly care for what seems to be never
ending plot lines.
We do prefer to have at least one story started and completed in each
episode. This is not neccessarily a knock on B5. We felt the same way about
"Hill Street Blues" which was hugely successful without us.<g>
Also, the plot 'strings' tend to create dialogue that does not relate to
the current situation in the story being viewed.
And if you/we don't have the time to catch each episode then much of what
transpires is lost to us. But you are getting some terrific actors to work
with. And we are SciFi fans so the best to you and the show.
---jim <<<who can follow a P.K.DICK story!<g>>
That's great, and I appreciate the honest answer. Not every show is
for everyone. Continued good luck.
jms
Subj: <CtI---OK> Section: Babylon 5
To: John M. Kahane, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:14:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387095
< Actually, there *was* a scene where Lennier, concerned, tracks down Kosh
to inquire after Delenn's situation, which report alarms him and sends him
after Sheridan. It was filmed...but cut for time.>
Really? Now that *is* interesting....for several reasons.
We've known for a long time that Lennier truly cares for Delenn, and seems
to be able to treat much more as an equal since her transformation, but that
kind of scene would have shown us the depth of his caring about her welfare.
Something that we've known about, but haven't *seen* in the series, per se.
I've seen some of the unshown scenes posted for "The Gathering." Is
there any chance that you could post that particular filmed, but cut, scene
here on CIS, so we can all see what might have been happening there?
I'm assuming, of course, that you have this on computer still, somewhere.
(The script with that scene in it.) It sounds like a *terrific* scene, and
I'd *love* to know what Kosh's dialogue with Lennier was like. <g>
Can't really post that kind of stuff, alas....
jms
Subj: Avalon? Section: Babylon 5
To: Elyse M. Grasso, Monday, October 30, 1995 2:35:16 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387324
<Does the episode title "A Late Delivery from Avalon" imply that Jinxo will
be back?
(Which begs the question: who or what is delivered, and which meaning of
delivery...)>
Nope, no Jinxo.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Mark D. Smith, Monday, October 30, 1995 2:35:16 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387325
<Another thought about Sebastion. After the 5th viewing of CtI, I REALLY
watched Sebastion and his facial expressions. Of course his fixation on
being "chosen" is obvious.
BUT, when Delenn delivers her speach about "this body is only a shell", at
the end of it, watching Sebastion, the dissapointment on his face! To me,
he looked like Delenn had just kneed his jewels up around his ears!
He was so horribly wrong about his "choseness" that he seems to expect
everyone else to be wrong too. It's almost as if THAT's his punishment.
That there's somebody out there who's convinced of their being chosen and
actually being the right person, for the right reason, in the right place at
the right time, again, where he was so so wrong.>
Yeah, beautiful subtle work, wasn't it...?
Wayne Alexander. Remember the name. This guy's gonna Be Somebody.
jms
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