No Surrender, No Retreat ( *Spoilers* )

[B5JMS Poster]

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: Laura Appelbaum <l-appelbaum at usa.net>
Date: 31 May 1997 02:09:57 -0400
Lines: 65

Spoilers for No Surrender, No Retreat

























I usually refrain from filling up the newsgroup with the obligatory
kudos after episodes, but since the 8 of us who made it to my house for
this week's Gathering in Maryland tonight felt compelled to REWATCH "No
Surrender, No Retreat," only minutes after we watched the broadcast, I
felt that maybe an exception was in order.  

And this WAS an exceptional episode.  I was particularly moved by last
week's ep. as well, (Mira Furlan is truly a great actor) but EVERYTHING
came together so well in this one -- the increasingly, startlingly
realistic CGI effects, stellar performances by Jurasik, Katalus (sic?)
and Boxlitner, consistently effective deliveries by ALL of the guesting
actors, etc.  Seeing Londo take the next step in his redemption by
actually abasing himself before G'Kar was incredible -- especially with
the foreknowledge that in days, weeks, too soon, he will be taken over
by a Keeper and forced to act against these very acts of contrition --
it was awesome.  A collective gasp escaped all of our lips when the
scene finally ended. 

I was also struck, upon the second viewing, by how LONG that monologue
was -- and it was on TELEVISION no less!  That was such a theatrical,
stage moment; almost unheard of for tv, unusual even for B5.  And how
BADLY we wanted G'Kar to drink from that glass!  We were totally
enthralled.  

Sheridan's scenes were much improved also -- we saw him in his element,
as a trained and skilled fighter, and his lines "felt" just right. 
Incidentally, have he and Delenn been in correspondence -- does she know
what is happening with him and the rest of the B5 Alliance at this
point?  

At any rate, thank you again for bringing this beautiful, tormenting,
uplifting, depressing, always challenging work to our homes.  For all
the complaints I've had over the years (and no doubt will continue to
have), they are all rooted in a deep and abiding appreciation of the
show.

LMA



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 1 Jun 1997 13:05:06 -0400
Lines: 17

"I was also struck, upon the second viewing, by how LONG that monologue
was -- and it was on TELEVISION no less!  That was such a theatrical,
stage moment; almost unheard of for tv, unusual even for B5."

Thanks...I love those sorts of moments.  I like to push it as far as I
can.  My background is really in the theater, from the perspective of
dialogue construction, and those are the kind of scenes I enjoy most.  I
figure, if it's interesting, let it go on as long as need be; if it ain't,
no matter how short it is, nobody's gonna care.


 jms





-***
-*** B5JMS SUBSCRIBERS: Replies to messages go to the list maintainer,
-*** <b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu>.  If you want to reply elsewhere, adjust
-*** the "To" field.  The best way to reach JMS is to post to rastb5m, which
-*** can be done by sending email to <b5mod at deepthot.cary.nc.us>.