Comes the Inquisitor
Encyclopedia
"Comes the Inquisitor" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
.
s bring an "inquisitor" to the station, a human male named Sebastian, to test Delenn
's readiness to lead the "army of light". Surprised that a human is working directly for the Vorlons, Sheridan
questions the man about his past, eliciting little more than that he was from Earth, and lived in London
in the year 1888.
When Delenn meets with Sebastian, he gives her a pair of bracelets. She may take them off at any time, but will fail the test if she does. He asks her a simple question: "Who are you?" When the answers she gives are unacceptable to him, he uses the bracelets to administer painful shocks. The pain increases with each wrong answer, until eventually the shocks envelop her entire body. When Sheridan attempts to rescue Delenn, he finds himself captured by Sebastian and subjected to similar torture.
Only after Delenn declares her willingness to die in order to save Sheridan does Sebastian conclude both Delenn and Sheridan are, indeed, the "right people, in the right place, at the right time".
Sheridan does some investigating and discovers that there was a man named Sebastian in London who disappeared in 1888 – the day after the last of a well-known series of murders
. Sebastian acknowledges that it was no coincidence: he believed, like Delenn, that he was "chosen" for a "holy cause" – until he was abducted by the Vorlons and taken into their service. The Vorlons have been keeping him alive for 400 years, pulling him from stasis when needed for this inquisitorial service for which he was "ideally suited". Although it is not specifically stated, Sebastian's identity is clear when Sheridan mentions the dates and Sebastian leaves with his parting words: "...remembered not as a reformer, not as a prophet, not as a hero...not even as Sebastian. Remembered only...as Jack
".
d back to the Narn
homeworld for an underground resistance against the Centauri
occupiers. Garibaldi
learns of this, and orders G'Kar to not use Babylon 5 as a port through which these weapons are smuggled. G'Kar agrees, and Garibaldi provides G'Kar with an alternative, safer route.
The Narn population of Babylon 5 begins to question G'Kar's credibility as leader of the Narns on the station. In order to gain their loyalty, G'Kar agrees to get a personal message through to the Narn homeworld, to which all communications have been cut off by the Centauri. G'Kar turns to Sheridan for help in doing this, and Sheridan enlists the Rangers
, who successfully get the message through, ending the current challenges to G'Kar's leadership of the Babylon 5 Narns.
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...
.
A-Plot
The VorlonVorlon
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...
s bring an "inquisitor" to the station, a human male named Sebastian, to test 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....
's readiness to lead the "army of light". Surprised that a human is working directly for the Vorlons, 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...
questions the man about his past, eliciting little more than that he was from Earth, and lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the year 1888.
When Delenn meets with Sebastian, he gives her a pair of bracelets. She may take them off at any time, but will fail the test if she does. He asks her a simple question: "Who are you?" When the answers she gives are unacceptable to him, he uses the bracelets to administer painful shocks. The pain increases with each wrong answer, until eventually the shocks envelop her entire body. When Sheridan attempts to rescue Delenn, he finds himself captured by Sebastian and subjected to similar torture.
Only after Delenn declares her willingness to die in order to save Sheridan does Sebastian conclude both Delenn and Sheridan are, indeed, the "right people, in the right place, at the right time".
Sheridan does some investigating and discovers that there was a man named Sebastian in London who disappeared in 1888 – the day after the last of a well-known series of murders
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
. Sebastian acknowledges that it was no coincidence: he believed, like Delenn, that he was "chosen" for a "holy cause" – until he was abducted by the Vorlons and taken into their service. The Vorlons have been keeping him alive for 400 years, pulling him from stasis when needed for this inquisitorial service for which he was "ideally suited". Although it is not specifically stated, Sebastian's identity is clear when Sheridan mentions the dates and Sebastian leaves with his parting words: "...remembered not as a reformer, not as a prophet, not as a hero...not even as Sebastian. Remembered only...as Jack
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
".
B-Plot
G'Kar begins buying weapons in order to be smuggleSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
d back to the 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...
homeworld for an underground resistance against the 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...
occupiers. Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
learns of this, and orders G'Kar to not use Babylon 5 as a port through which these weapons are smuggled. G'Kar agrees, and Garibaldi provides G'Kar with an alternative, safer route.
The Narn population of Babylon 5 begins to question G'Kar's credibility as leader of the Narns on the station. In order to gain their loyalty, G'Kar agrees to get a personal message through to the Narn homeworld, to which all communications have been cut off by the Centauri. G'Kar turns to Sheridan for help in doing this, and Sheridan enlists the Rangers
Ranger (Babylon 5)
Rangers are a fictional class of warriors that play a prominent role in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-History:...
, who successfully get the message through, ending the current challenges to G'Kar's leadership of the Babylon 5 Narns.
Arc significance
- This episode presents another example of someone, in this case the Vorlons, wondering whether or not Delenn has messianic delusions. (This was the reason given for her being removed from the Grey CouncilGrey CouncilIn the Babylon 5 fictional universe, the Grey Council is the governing body of the Minbari Federation. Its members carry the title satai...
in All Alone in the NightAll Alone in the Night"All Alone in the Night" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.- Plot :As the episode begins, Babylon 5's command staff receives reports of mysterious attacks on merchant ships near Babylon 5. Captain Sheridan decides to take a wing of Starfury...
, and she ultimately breaks up the Grey Council in the cause of prophesy in Severed DreamsSevered Dreams"Severed Dreams" is an episode from the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.-Synopsis:...
. Neroon states she has messianic delusions in Grey 17 Is MissingGrey 17 Is MissingGrey 17 Is Missing is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Garibaldi investigates an abandoned level of the station. Delenn is installed as head of the Rangers, but Neroon believes her to be a megalomaniac with messianic delusions...
). - The Vorlons have visited Earth in the past.
- G'Kar starts a public propaganda campaign against the Centauri.
Production details
- Sheridan states Sebastian's disappearance date as 11 November 1888 after "the last of a string of murders". The "last of the string" of Ripper murder victims, Mary Jane KellyMary Jane KellyMary Jane Kelly , also known as "Marie Jeanette" Kelly, "Fair Emma", "Ginger" and "Black Mary", is widely believed to be the fifth and final victim of the notorious unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper, who killed and mutilated prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London from late August to...
, was slain on 9 November 1888.
- Due to a mistake in the screenplay, Sheridan remarks that Jack the Ripper committed his murders in the "West End" of London, when in fact the murders took place in the East End. After the original airing, the line was dubbed over to correct this error, and the dubbed version can be found on the DVD release. The captions have not been corrected and still refer to the "West End" of London. With reference to the gaffe, writer Straczynski has stated, "So I content myself with the notion that it's west...of B5. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go shoot myself."
- Straczynski was in part motivated to write this episode to make the Vorlons appear more morally ambiguousAmbiguityAmbiguity of words or phrases is the ability to express more than one interpretation. It is distinct from vagueness, which is a statement about the lack of precision contained or available in the information.Context may play a role in resolving ambiguity...
. He wanted to point out that people should not instantly fall for what others say they are.
Notable out-of-universe references
These are the historical, scientific, literary, cultural and other educational references found in this episode.- Sebastian's observation, "No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother", is a paraphrase from the Gospel of JohnGospel of JohnThe Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
. - Sebastian describes himself as, "Diogenes with his lamp, looking for an honest man willing to die for all the wrong reasons". Diogenes the Cynic was a Greek philosopher who is reputed to have sought "an honest man".
- Jack the RipperJack the Ripper"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
slew at least five people in London in 1888.
Out-of-universe media gallery
This media from Wikimedia Commons illustrates the references in this episode.External links
- "Comes the Inquisitor" at Wikiquote