JMS on CompuServe (Jun 17, 1997) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

[bbarrett at speedlink.com]

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 [ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
    Sb: #677963-#<Face of the Enemy>
    Sb: #678060-Guest Editorial
    Sb: #678035-Face of the Enemy
    Sb: #678067-<Face of the Enemy>
    Sb: #678026-<FotE> telepathy
    Sb: #678065-<<A Sad Time>>


 [ Summary: "Anyhow, for a program with such a low level of direct, 
   personal violence, you can certainly do it well (as in making me 
   wince) when you want to. (And I'm serious - there really isn't 
   all that much in-your-face violence; either that or I've gotten 
   desensitized)." ]

 #: 677996 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    16-Jun-97  16:55:51
Sb: #677963-#<Face of the Enemy>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

       Actually, no, you're right, ther isn't that much direct, personal
violence in the show.  My feeling is that if you do that a lot, it loses any
potential for impact.  You only pull out that card when you really need it, to
best effect...don't waste it.  It's like harsh language, after you've heard
someone going on using all the more remarkable Anglo-Saxon words for a while,
it loses all impact.

                                                                       jms


 #: 678060 S5/Babylon 5: General
    16-Jun-97  21:09:53
Sb: #Guest Editorial
Fm: RICHARD M. PERRY

        I just picked up the latest issue of Sci-Fi Invasion on Friday while
getting my normal run of stuff at the comic shop. When I bought it I had seen
the Special Edition promo card in it, that was what I bought it for, it looks
like this is going to be a reallly cooooool set. Anyway, in reading through the
issue (and I mean the whole issue) I come to the last few pages and what do I
see... the guest editorial for this issue is by some guy named Stracynski.
(they even gave a picture of him)
        The question posed was, "What makes someone a fan of science fiction?"
I must say that I liked that writer guy's answer because it clearly shows that
he is a fan. I can't begin to tell you how many people have asked me why I like
SF, but I can tell you some of them are related to me. <G> I found your analogy
of the self-imposed prison to be very good one, and sadly enough a true one.
It's just a bit too ironic that it is in a magazine whose readership consists
of those who refuse to behind those very bars. If only this could have been
printed in something like tv Guide or Time or even Entertainment Weekly; then,
at long last, would the prisoners have the answer to their rather silly
question.
        FWIW, every time I read your writing, watch your shows (including the
play), or hear you speak at a con; I grow to respect you more than I had
before. Not because you're the famous guy, the writer guy, or the "Great Maker"
guy; but because you're all of these and have been able to keep your status as
"just one of the guys". Oddly enough, this phenomenon isn't just limited to
yourself, it's something I've noticed is a trait of the SF community almost as
a whole. (writers, producers, actors, etc and the fans) I guess it just goes to
show how powerful that hope stuff can be when you embrace it rather than run
from it.

        Here's to hope... <raising virtual glass> may its light never be
extinguished!!

May the Light shine forever,
Rich

P.S.  The next song on the CD player here is dedicated to the SF community as a
whole... it's written by David Foster/Dean Pitchford, perfomed by Robin McAuley
and it's called "Teach Me How To Dream"


 #: 678099 S5/Babylon 5: General
    17-Jun-97  00:05:43
Sb: #678060-Guest Editorial
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Actually, I'd more or less forgotten having done the article, and then
when I remembered having done it after your comment, took me a while to
remember what the heck I'd said.  (This is why I'm a terrible liar, and thus
stick almost exclusively to the truth...I ain't smart enough to be a very good
liar.)

      Anyway...thanks.

      The question was one that I get a lot, and I finally decided to redefine
the question and attack it from my own perspective.  I'm glad it came out
reasonably coherent.

      And as for being a fan...yeah, that about covers it.  This is a show for
fans, by fans.  Which is why it works.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Responding to JMS' comment about seeing "The Face of the Enemy"
   about a dozen time, this poster says, "At least a dozen times?  Not that
   I don't agree that it was a fabulous episode, but I'm not sure I ever 
   want to see it again.  The experience was just too painful." ]

 #: 678100 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    17-Jun-97  00:05:45
Sb: #678035-Face of the Enemy
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      I have to watch it at least 6-9 times just in the production process as
we edit, make changes, mix, all that...then 3-4 times afterward just so I can
get the process out of my head and be able to "see" it for the first time.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Enjoyed "The Face of the Enemy," and offers, "Oh, and 
   surely if there is redemption for Londo, there is redemption for
   Garibaldi." ]

 #: 678101 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    17-Jun-97  00:05:47
Sb: #678067-<Face of the Enemy>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks...and I've always been a big believer in the notion that we can
purchase redemption if we are willing to go to the wall, not for ourselves, but
for someone else...so there's a chance for all of them....

                                                                    jms



 #: 678026 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    16-Jun-97  19:18:04
Sb: #<FotE> telepathy
Fm: MARA K. MALOVANY


        Joe, I'm curious about how the other species have dealt with telepathy.
I'm under the impression (and, please correct me if I'm wrong) that human
telepathy came about due at least partially to Vorlonic influence, and that it
is a fairly recent event (100 years or so?).
        Did the other species have just as tough a time with this?  Did the
speed of development make a difference?  (I imagine it would be easier to deal
with if it happened slowly, as a result of natural evolution, rather than
appearing full-blown out of nowhere.)  Are the power struggles still going on,
or did they get their civil wars over with so long ago that it's just not an
issue anymore?

Mara


 #: 678102 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    17-Jun-97  00:05:49
Sb: #678026-<FotE> telepathy
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Obviously some, like the Minbari, dealt with it more easily than others;
and in some places it came through Vorlon interference, while in others it came
about naturally.

                                                                    jms



 #: 678065 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    16-Jun-97  21:20:43
Sb: #<<A Sad Time>>
Fm: BRENT BARRETT

Hello, Joe;

    Well, the current batch is over and it was surely a good ride.  From the
humor and relative high of "Racing Mars," to the misery and isolation of
"Intersections in Real Time," it was certainly a sweep of emotion that I'll not
soon forget.  I may have had my problems with some parts of some episodes, but
never believe that I don't think B5 is the best there ever was and likely ever
will be on television.

    I just finished viewing 418, and I must say that, in my quick review of its
content, I enjoyed it.   We have yet another fall for John. Interesting that in
all three of his falls, Delenn was there to catch him.

    When he fell from the transport tube in "The Fall of Night," she was able
to convince Kosh to save him.  And in "Z'Ha'Dum," it was the thought of her
that allowed him to come back from death.  Now, it's the vision of his love
that reminds him of the good in the universe -- of his hopes and dreams.  It's
that reminder that gives him the courage to say "No" and avoid the impact from
this fall.

    I love that symmetry.

    But I couldn't help but start fictating to Sheridan the moment he foolishly
gave in and spoke to the inquisitor.  If he'd just kept quiet, he could have
avoided so much of what we saw.  I know that seeing 45 minutes of an angry
inquisitor inflicting more and more pain on our hero until he died would've
been less than stellar story telling, but I had to get that off my chest.  :-)

    I'm even more convinced now that it will be Garibaldi (with or without
help) who rescues Sheridan.  There is no other way he can redeem himself not
only in the eyes of his friends, but to his own conscience.  I mean, he has
nothing else really to live for at the moment, does he?  He might as well go
out in a blaze of glory.  He might even say that it was the moment he was born
for.

    You never know.

    I really wonder what the rest of our heroes were doing during the several
days (judging by his beard growth) that Sheridan was in captivity?

    Now I know they could have easily faked the Drazi's death, but I can't help
but wonder if he was not really there at the end.  I'll have to re- watch to be
sure, but I don't think he touched or interacted with anything in that room.
Could he be a vision as well?  As Delenn was a reminder of John's hopes and
dreams, might the Drazi be a reminder of his dreads and nightmares?  I suppose
he could be serving that purpose whether he's really there or not.

    By the way, the actor who played the inquisitor did a marvelous job.
Absolutely superb.

    Was there a conscious decision on your part to cast Wayne for a role in an
episode that had such an obvious common theme with his first role in the
series?

Take care,

  -- Brent

P.S. Won't everyone be royally pissed when you reveal in 419 that John was
really in a CyberNet all along?  :-)


 #: 678103 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    17-Jun-97  00:05:52
Sb: #678065-<<A Sad Time>>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      The Drazi was really there...has to be, or the ep loses some of its
teeth.

      And yeah, we kinda liked the symmetry of Wayne being in this ep.

                                                                    jms



[END]

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