And Now For a Word
Encyclopedia
"And Now For a Word" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
. The documentary format used in this episode was later revisited for the fourth season episode "The Illusion of Truth
".
network on Earth, is the host of an ISN news series called "36 Hours". As the episode begins Torqueman is seen sitting at her anchor desk at ISN headquarters; she announces that the next segment of "36 Hours" will feature the Babylon 5 station and whether it is worthwhile for the Earth Alliance
to continue funding and supporting the station. A number of public opinion poll
s are shown throughout the episode, the polls indicate that humanity's support for the Babylon 5 project is dwindling as the station's proclaimed mission of "creating the peace" falters. A key theme of the "36 Hours" segment is the ongoing Narn-Centauri War. As Torqueman's ship approaches the station, its cameras record several Narn
and Centauri
merchant ships opening fire on one another. A brief battle then ensues; it is ended only when Starfury
fighters from Babylon 5 destroy or disable the fighting merchant vessels from both species and arrest their crews. Torqueman interviews Dr. Stephen Franklin, Babylon 5's medical chief, who is obviously irritated by her questions as he rushes to save the lives of various Narn and Centauri who have been wounded in the battle.
Torqueman spends most of her time on Babylon 5 interviewing the station's human command staff, its leading alien ambassadors, and talking with ordinary humans on the station (such as dockworkers). She also interviews an Earth Alliance Senator named Ronald Quantrell, who equivocates on the Project's success and claims that Earth only supported the station immediately after the Earth–Minbari War, when Earth's weakness forced it to promote galactic peace. Quantrell claims that, since the Earth Alliance has rebuilt and improved its military forces to a much greater strength since the war, the Alliance no longer needs to promote galactic peace or fund the expensive Babylon 5 station. His comments are strongly criticized by Captain John Sheridan
, Babylon 5's commanding officer, who argues that Earth still doesn't have the level of technology to fight the Minbari, Centauri, or "god forbid" the Vorlons, and that Babylon 5 is still the "last, best hope for peace" in the galaxy. However, Sheridan's message is belied by the continued fighting between the Narn and Centauri. Ambassador G'Kar of the Narn claims that the Centauri have been using Babylon 5 (supposedly neutral territory) to load illegal mass driver
weapons onto their merchant ships to attack the Narn. Ambassador Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic disputes this and claims that the Narn are lying. Both ambassadors are interviewed by Torqueman; G'Kar tells her of the Centauri occupation and enslavement of his homeworld, and of his people's determination to never let it happen again. Londo tells Torqueman that the Centauri only occupied Narn to "help" the Narn raise their standard of living and claims that his people "voluntarily" left Narn when they were asked to do so. Torqueman also interviews Delenn
, the Minbari Ambassador, and quizzes her about her physical change into a Minbari/Human hybrid; Delenn is so upset that she cannot finish the interview. Torqueman also gets a first-ever televised glimpse of Kosh, the reclusive Vorlon
ambassador, but he refuses to talk with her.
When Sheridan tells Ambassador Mollari that he has ordered all Centauri merchant vessels to be searched for illegal weapons, Mollari tells him that this "violation" of the Centauri's sovereign rights will not be tolerated. Shortly afterward, a Centauri Primus-Class battlecruiser exits hyperspace directly above Babylon 5 and targets its weapons on the station. Mollari announces that the battlecruiser will blockade Babylon 5 unless Sheridan revokes his order to search Centauri ships. Sheridan believes the Centauri are bluffing and to prove it, he sends a single merchant ship past the Centauri battlecruiser. When the battlecruiser doesn't fire and allows the merchant vessel to leave unharmed, the crew in the command center applauds their commander's seeming victory. However, a Narn G'Quan-Class Heavy Cruiser exits hyperspace and attacks the Centauri battlecruiser. A fierce battle erupts between the two ships; Sheridan tries to get the ships to stop fighting, but to no avail. The Narn cruiser destroys the Centauri cruiser, but is heavily damaged in the process. When it tries to flee, its jump engines explode and the Narn cruiser is destroyed. Torqueman concludes the segment of "36 Hours" by stating that, while Babylon 5 is definitely a dangerous place and will continue to be a source of controversy and conflict, it should also be given more time to fulfill the dreams of its founders.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
. The documentary format used in this episode was later revisited for the fourth season episode "The Illusion of Truth
The Illusion of Truth
"The Illusion of Truth" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:An ISN reporter does a report on Babylon 5 which turns out only to be propaganda.-Arc significance:...
".
Synopsis
Cynthia Torqueman, a reporter for the ISNInterstellar Network News
Interstellar Network News is a fictional TV news network in the Babylon 5 universe. ISN's motto is The Galaxy's Most Important Network. ISN was modelled on real-world news outlets, such as CNN....
network on Earth, is the host of an ISN news series called "36 Hours". As the episode begins Torqueman is seen sitting at her anchor desk at ISN headquarters; she announces that the next segment of "36 Hours" will feature the Babylon 5 station and whether it is worthwhile for the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
to continue funding and supporting the station. A number of public opinion poll
Opinion poll
An opinion poll, sometimes simply referred to as a poll is a survey of public opinion from a particular sample. Opinion polls are usually designed to represent the opinions of a population by conducting a series of questions and then extrapolating generalities in ratio or within confidence...
s are shown throughout the episode, the polls indicate that humanity's support for the Babylon 5 project is dwindling as the station's proclaimed mission of "creating the peace" falters. A key theme of the "36 Hours" segment is the ongoing Narn-Centauri War. As Torqueman's ship approaches the station, its cameras record several Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
and Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
merchant ships opening fire on one another. A brief battle then ensues; it is ended only when Starfury
Starfury
The Starfury fighter is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
fighters from Babylon 5 destroy or disable the fighting merchant vessels from both species and arrest their crews. Torqueman interviews Dr. Stephen Franklin, Babylon 5's medical chief, who is obviously irritated by her questions as he rushes to save the lives of various Narn and Centauri who have been wounded in the battle.
Torqueman spends most of her time on Babylon 5 interviewing the station's human command staff, its leading alien ambassadors, and talking with ordinary humans on the station (such as dockworkers). She also interviews an Earth Alliance Senator named Ronald Quantrell, who equivocates on the Project's success and claims that Earth only supported the station immediately after the Earth–Minbari War, when Earth's weakness forced it to promote galactic peace. Quantrell claims that, since the Earth Alliance has rebuilt and improved its military forces to a much greater strength since the war, the Alliance no longer needs to promote galactic peace or fund the expensive Babylon 5 station. His comments are strongly criticized by Captain John Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
, Babylon 5's commanding officer, who argues that Earth still doesn't have the level of technology to fight the Minbari, Centauri, or "god forbid" the Vorlons, and that Babylon 5 is still the "last, best hope for peace" in the galaxy. However, Sheridan's message is belied by the continued fighting between the Narn and Centauri. Ambassador G'Kar of the Narn claims that the Centauri have been using Babylon 5 (supposedly neutral territory) to load illegal mass driver
Mass driver
A mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds. All existing and contemplated mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential...
weapons onto their merchant ships to attack the Narn. Ambassador Londo Mollari of the Centauri Republic disputes this and claims that the Narn are lying. Both ambassadors are interviewed by Torqueman; G'Kar tells her of the Centauri occupation and enslavement of his homeworld, and of his people's determination to never let it happen again. Londo tells Torqueman that the Centauri only occupied Narn to "help" the Narn raise their standard of living and claims that his people "voluntarily" left Narn when they were asked to do so. Torqueman also interviews Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
, the Minbari Ambassador, and quizzes her about her physical change into a Minbari/Human hybrid; Delenn is so upset that she cannot finish the interview. Torqueman also gets a first-ever televised glimpse of Kosh, the reclusive Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
ambassador, but he refuses to talk with her.
When Sheridan tells Ambassador Mollari that he has ordered all Centauri merchant vessels to be searched for illegal weapons, Mollari tells him that this "violation" of the Centauri's sovereign rights will not be tolerated. Shortly afterward, a Centauri Primus-Class battlecruiser exits hyperspace directly above Babylon 5 and targets its weapons on the station. Mollari announces that the battlecruiser will blockade Babylon 5 unless Sheridan revokes his order to search Centauri ships. Sheridan believes the Centauri are bluffing and to prove it, he sends a single merchant ship past the Centauri battlecruiser. When the battlecruiser doesn't fire and allows the merchant vessel to leave unharmed, the crew in the command center applauds their commander's seeming victory. However, a Narn G'Quan-Class Heavy Cruiser exits hyperspace and attacks the Centauri battlecruiser. A fierce battle erupts between the two ships; Sheridan tries to get the ships to stop fighting, but to no avail. The Narn cruiser destroys the Centauri cruiser, but is heavily damaged in the process. When it tries to flee, its jump engines explode and the Narn cruiser is destroyed. Torqueman concludes the segment of "36 Hours" by stating that, while Babylon 5 is definitely a dangerous place and will continue to be a source of controversy and conflict, it should also be given more time to fulfill the dreams of its founders.
Arc significance
- The CentauriCentauri (Babylon 5)The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
are transporting illegal mass driverMass driverA mass driver or electromagnetic catapult is a proposed method of non-rocket spacelaunch which would use a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds. All existing and contemplated mass drivers use coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets. Sequential...
weapons for use against the NarnNarnThe Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
. A few episodes later these weapons will be used by the Centauri to bombard the Narn homeworld with large meteorMETEORMETEOR is a metric for the evaluation of machine translation output. The metric is based on the harmonic mean of unigram precision and recall, with recall weighted higher than precision...
s. - It is reported that the Narn have lost 6 of the 7 most recent battles in the Narn-Centauri War; and they are losing the war.
- Public support on Earth for the Babylon 5 Project is declining, and a growing number of Earth Alliance Senators oppose continued funding and support for the Babylon 5 station.
- Hidoshi, previously most vocal supporter of Babylon 5 and visible member of the Earth Alliance Senate, is no longer a Senator.
Production details
- The Psi-Corps commercial contains a semi-subliminal message: during the closing of the commercial "The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps" flashes on the screen. This is another reference to ParanoiaParanoia (role-playing game)Paranoia is a dystopian science-fiction tabletop role-playing game originally designed and written by Greg Costikyan, Dan Gelber, and Eric Goldberg, and first published in 1984 by West End Games. Since 2004 the game has been published under licence by Mongoose Publishing...
. See also: Hidden messageHidden messageA hidden message is information that is not immediately noticeable, and that must be discovered or uncovered and interpreted before it can be known...
. - While not credited as such, David Corwin is named on screen for the first time. He is still credited as "Tech #1" in the end credits.
- Kosh's title Naranek is spoken on screen for the first time.