Radio Free Skaro‘s Steven Schapansky joins Shannon, Chip and Erika as we explore what someone new to Babylon 5 makes of “And the Sky Full of Stars,” probably the first “WHAM!” episode of the series. Sinclair’s character arc kicks into high gear as the mystery of the Battle of the Line is foregrounded, and your hosts and guest talk about the surrealism, The Prisoner, director Janet Greek and of course our regular Sinclair Check. Then we “space” Steven, leap into spoiler space and read Universe Today.
What do you want? (What do you want…? What do you want…? What do you want…?) Do you want a place to discuss “And the Sky Full of Stars” without being spoiled for future episodes? This is your thread.
Back in the day, the rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 community described certain B5 episodes as “WHAM!” episodes–eps that dramatically kicked the story arc in gear. Here’s our first, which you may discuss here with all of the spoilers and implications you desire: “And the Sky Full of Stars.”
Like the Mark Twain short story itself (included as bonus audio at the end of the podcast), its namesake B5 episode “The War Prayer” is in no way, shape or form subtle. Find out what Erika, Shannon and Chip thought of this first foray into the B5 universe for legendary Star Trek writer D.C. Fontana.
Whether you’ve seen “The War Prayer” for the first time or would like to share your wisdom about the episode without spoiling future ones, this is your commenting space.
We’ve got our first guest co-host, and he’s a doozy: please welcome Chicago Sun-Times columnist and podcaster Andy Ihnatko to the B5AG Advisory Council, as we tackle “Mind War.” The telepath storyline expands significantly with the introduction of the PsiCops and Bester, and for a second straight episode G’Kar and the Narns shed their Klingonish cloak as Catherine Sakai drives into a rough part of town. Come for the peek into a possible future for humanity; stay for the Jerry Lewis impression.
Watching “Mind War” for the first time in advance of B5AG episode 7? We’re happy to talk with you about it here without spoiling the rest of the show for you…
So many fishies, gods by the bushel, curiously attached spectacles and little red fruit: it’s an episode that Shannon and Chip thought would be a perfect jumping-on point and Erika kinda dreaded. Welcome to “The Parliament of Dreams”!
