EpDis: The Summoning

[vacantlook]

Refresher Links:
Lurker's Guide Main Page for The Summoning
Lurker's Guide Extended Synopsis for The Summoning

[aajay]

Big A for me. Totally enjoy the banter between Marcus and Ivanova.
Who knew they were French??
Xog what? Xog yes? Xog no?

Great stuff!

[Elipsis]

Very serious and very dark. Lyta scanning Ulkesh was just fucking metal, but what really made this episode stand out were the scenes on Centari prime. A

Totally agree with aajay, loved that line from Marcus.

"They figured out our language they just didn't bother to tell us." - Ivanova.

"Who knew they were French."

Priceless!

[Galahad]

Except that was the season 3 episode "Voices of Authority".

This episode contained the other funny lines during those missions...

the reference to being godlike and four poster beds

The reference to the infamous unicorn

And Marcui's typically British reaction to the sight of a Vorlon planet killer.

[Estelyn]

We've seen Christlike references to G'Kar; this episode has some of the strongest images in that direction so far. The scenes with Cartasia very much echo the torture of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. The helmet he's given to wear reminds of the crown of thorns, the whipping he's given, and most of all, seeing Cartasia wash the Narn's blood off his hands is powerful and disturbing.

Mollari's (and Vir's) very real distress over G'Kar's torture was shown previously, and it increases with the situation.

The other disturbing plot element is the increasing brutality of the new Narn's treatment of Lyta, foreshadowing the Vorlons' plans to destroy the Shadows and anything that stands in their way. Again JMS takes someone (a race, this time) we thought was an ally and turns them into a foe. More horrifying than a known enemy is having someone you thought was on your side turn against you.

Marcus' and Susan's dialogues make for a delightful break in the tension. It's fun to see him dropping clues as to his feelings for her while she remains completely ignorant of them. Favourite line there: "If you're going to go for delusions, may as well go for really satisfying ones."

Is Garibaldi the only one sensible enough to question Lorien's presence and significance, or is his suspicion a glimpse of what's to come for him? For having been so cooperative before Sheridan's and his disappearance, he seems very uncooperative now.

[vacantlook]

Originally Posted by Estelyn

The other disturbing plot element is the increasing brutality of the new Narn's treatment of Lyta....

You meant Vorlon there instead of Narn, right? I actually had to go look up the synopsis of the episode on the Lurker's Guide because I couldn't remember a Narn being mean to Lyta and was wondering if I was completely forgetting something.

[Jade Jaguar]

Eh, all those alien races look alike to me...

[vacantlook]

I've got to admit, reading Estelyn's episodic commentary is starting to put me in the mood to watch through the show again.

[Estelyn]

Originally Posted by vacantlook

You meant Vorlon there instead of Narn, right?

Oops!! Yes, of course I *meant* Vorlon. I could, of course, quote from Alice, about a word meaning exactly what I choose it to mean, but it was a plain and simple mistake on my part. On the other hand, it provoked some responses, so maybe I should try that approach more often!

Originally Posted by vacantlook

I've got to admit, reading Estelyn's episodic commentary is starting to put me in the mood to watch through the show again.

That would be nice! I realize that I found this forum much later than most, so there's not as much actual discussion going on now. It would be nice to have someone sharing the experience with me. At any rate, though it takes some time and thought to comment, I am determined to continue the project until I'm through. And I do enjoy reading past comments by others.