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Babylon 5: In the Beginning (the rest of it)
I watched the first 15 minutes of "In the Beginning" back in May, and finally watched the rest last night. I enjoyed it, despite not being that interested in the 10-years-earlier part of the timeline (or the Minbari, for the most part). Annoyingly, the audio/video was a little out of sync for most of it, and I'm not sure why.
- Londo with kids continues to be utterly adorable. I liked that it cut back and forth with the future frame story, so we got to see more of that. In a no-Drakh AU, he would probably have really enjoyed being around his friends' kids, or adopting war orphans or something. (Which I guess is kinda what he did with Senna even in auxiliary canon.)
- I am not sure if I buy some of this as actual canon, particularly Sheridan, Franklin, and G'Kar meeting on Earth pre-B5. I'm not at all sure this makes sense for their early interactions on the show. However, since he's telling the story for kids, I can cheerfully headcanon it as Londo including his friends in the story just because he wanted to. It's not like he was there for the events involving them at this point anyway. (And they all would've been around, just not necessarily there. G'Kar also being on Earth around this time is interesting!)
- I don't know if the movie was filmed with the idea of Senna, Londo's ward, being the kids' governess, or if that was a later retcon, but the part where she puts her hand on his shoulder and he reacts to it is just so soft and sad; people must touch him so rarely. One thing I think is really interesting, though, is that she's clearly not afraid of him. And she tries to comfort him when he talks about his part in the war. Whatever facade he has to put on, whatever the Drakh have made him do, he evidently doesn't inspire fear in those around him, including vulnerable types (young women, kids). And the little girl who we're told almost never talks, does talk to him and ask him questions eventually. Kids like him!
- I knew the ending was going to be sad! And it was sad. T__T (A little disappointed we didn't see future!G'Kar since they had the actor around. Or Vir either. #justiceforvir) I'm glad Londo got to have this, in the middle of everything else. And he's so him here - unhappy, regretful, wistful, but not bitter or broken.
- Londo with kids continues to be utterly adorable. I liked that it cut back and forth with the future frame story, so we got to see more of that. In a no-Drakh AU, he would probably have really enjoyed being around his friends' kids, or adopting war orphans or something. (Which I guess is kinda what he did with Senna even in auxiliary canon.)
- I am not sure if I buy some of this as actual canon, particularly Sheridan, Franklin, and G'Kar meeting on Earth pre-B5. I'm not at all sure this makes sense for their early interactions on the show. However, since he's telling the story for kids, I can cheerfully headcanon it as Londo including his friends in the story just because he wanted to. It's not like he was there for the events involving them at this point anyway. (And they all would've been around, just not necessarily there. G'Kar also being on Earth around this time is interesting!)
- I don't know if the movie was filmed with the idea of Senna, Londo's ward, being the kids' governess, or if that was a later retcon, but the part where she puts her hand on his shoulder and he reacts to it is just so soft and sad; people must touch him so rarely. One thing I think is really interesting, though, is that she's clearly not afraid of him. And she tries to comfort him when he talks about his part in the war. Whatever facade he has to put on, whatever the Drakh have made him do, he evidently doesn't inspire fear in those around him, including vulnerable types (young women, kids). And the little girl who we're told almost never talks, does talk to him and ask him questions eventually. Kids like him!
- I knew the ending was going to be sad! And it was sad. T__T (A little disappointed we didn't see future!G'Kar since they had the actor around. Or Vir either. #justiceforvir) I'm glad Londo got to have this, in the middle of everything else. And he's so him here - unhappy, regretful, wistful, but not bitter or broken.
no subject
It makes no sense at all! So I'm comfortable with thinking of this as Londo's way of making the story vivid for children, by putting people he knows into it. (He probably does the voices too.)
I imagine that even as just the children's governess, she would have seen so much more of the quieter—sadder, realer—Londo, not the distant Emperor issuing his isolationist edicts. She doesn't just try to comfort him, she speaks outright of what he's endured. What has she seen? The Centauri must really be used to mad autocrats if the Keeper stayed a secret for fifteen years.
PAIN. But you're right. And whatever she's seen, it was bad enough, and clearly not his fault enough, that even not knowing (presumably) what's actually going on, she feels sorry for him. LONDO. HONEY.
And I love him defending her from the start, playfully, but seriously: one of the quiet ones, who you should always listen to because they change things. She's the one who asks for a true story.
Yes! And when her brother fails to pass along her request, Londo notices and asks him pointedly what she really asked for. ♥ However complicated his legacy as Emperor, and his life in general, these kids will be among those who will remember him fondly.
no subject
Oh, my God, Londo's Sheridan impression would be worth traveling to a fusion-bombed planet to hear. (Not an American colloquialism would survive intact.)
And when her brother fails to pass along her request, Londo notices and asks him pointedly what she really asked for.
Yes! It's such a neat, late facet to add to his character—there's no opportunity for it during the show and so few children who appear meaningfully in any case, but as soon as we see how much he enjoys interacting with this pair and how good he is with them, it's completely in character.
However complicated his legacy as Emperor, and his life in general, these kids will be among those who will remember him fondly.
brb, experiencing more emotions.
no subject
Two hours of it would be about an hour and 58 minutes too much, but I'm now picturing "In the Beginning" with Londo's impressions of everyone's voices dubbed over their actual voices.
Yes! It's such a neat, late facet to add to his character—there's no opportunity for it during the show and so few children who appear meaningfully in any case, but as soon as we see how much he enjoys interacting with this pair and how good he is with them, it's completely in character.
Yes! It makes perfect sense for him. I'm glad we got it as canon, if not in the actual show; it was worth it.
brb, experiencing more emotions.
SAME.