Babylon 5 Season 2, Episode 16. Written by
J. Michael Straczynski, directed by
David Eagle. Originally aired on
May 10, 1995.
Primary Plot: Sheridan discovers that
Morden was aboard the
Icarus when it exploded on
Z'ha'dum, with all hands (including Sheridan's
wife) previously thought to have been lost.
Secondary Plot: A new
Earth agency,
Nightwatch, tries to recruit members.
Commentary: A sweet, sweet episode. It reveals the presence of Morden (who has been working with
Londo since
Signs and Portents) to the
command staff, although they still don't know *precisely* who he is at the end of the episode. The show also does a great job of showing just how much the death of his wife has been eating away at
Sheridan for the last few years. It's the first real glimpse we get that Sheridan isn't as happy-go-lucky as he appeared to be for the first half of Season 2 (he smiled so much that he was known online as "The Smiling Captain").
Also note how the Nightwatch starts out--small, unassuming, friendly. Compare this to later episodes (specifically
The Fall of Night and
Point Of No Return), where it turns very, very ugly as President Clark's power expands.
Vir's speech to Morden about
what he wants comes true in the Season 4 episode
Into the Fire:
"What do I want? I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I want to look up at your lifeless eyes and wave, like this..."
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Babylon 5 Episode Guide.