Gropos
Encyclopedia
"Gropos" is an episode
from the second season of the science fiction
television series
Babylon 5
.
's father, General Richard "Firestorm" Franklin aboard EAS Schwarzkopf
, leads 25,000 EarthForce marines of the 356th Infantry Division, through the station en route to a secret military
operation on the planet Akdor, the third planet in the Sh'lassen Triumvirate
. As Sheridan had previously been to Akdor, General Franklin intends to utilize him in planning his operation. The addition of these "Gropos" (EarthForce slang for Ground Pounders, which is, in turn, slang for the EarthForce Marine Corps
) poses a logistical nightmare for Garibaldi and the rest of the command staff. Throughout the infantry division's stay on Babylon 5, Stephen Franklin works to repair his sour relationship with his father. Garibaldi becomes briefly involved with one of the female marines, though it doesn't quite work out. Warren Keffer gets involved with the marines, whom he later comes to respect. One of the final scenes of the episode shows Franklin's father speaking of a costly victory to news reporters. Then the camera pans over all the marine characters introduced during the episode, all of whom are dead.
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
from the second season of the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Babylon 5
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...
.
Synopsis
Dr. FranklinStephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by the late Richard Biggs. He serves as the chief medical officer on the Babylon 5 space station.-Personality:...
's father, General Richard "Firestorm" Franklin aboard EAS Schwarzkopf
Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.
General Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf KCB , also known as "Stormin' Norman" and "The Bear", is a retired United States Army General who, while he served as Commander of U.S. Central Command, was commander of the Coalition Forces in the Gulf War of 1991.-Early life:Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New...
, leads 25,000 EarthForce marines of the 356th Infantry Division, through the station en route to a secret military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
operation on the planet Akdor, the third planet in the Sh'lassen Triumvirate
Triumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
. As Sheridan had previously been to Akdor, General Franklin intends to utilize him in planning his operation. The addition of these "Gropos" (EarthForce slang for Ground Pounders, which is, in turn, slang for the EarthForce Marine Corps
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
) poses a logistical nightmare for Garibaldi and the rest of the command staff. Throughout the infantry division's stay on Babylon 5, Stephen Franklin works to repair his sour relationship with his father. Garibaldi becomes briefly involved with one of the female marines, though it doesn't quite work out. Warren Keffer gets involved with the marines, whom he later comes to respect. One of the final scenes of the episode shows Franklin's father speaking of a costly victory to news reporters. Then the camera pans over all the marine characters introduced during the episode, all of whom are dead.
Arc significance
- Establishes the troubled relationship Dr. Franklin has with his fatherFatherA father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
, although much of that conflict is resolved during this episode. Among the points of contention is a virulent xenophobia that apparently runs through Earth Force, which the villainous President Clark would exploit for his own ends. - Station's defense grid is enhanced, now "capable of taking on a warship," a capability that B5 would put to the test numerous times in the future.
Production details
- Full names of P.F.C. “Large” Turnbow and P.F.C. “Dodger” Durman are not in the episode credits, but are referred to in the episode (Turnbow visually and Durman both visually and in dialog). There is a reference to Dodger's first name later in the Fifth SeasonDay of the Dead (Babylon 5)"Day of the Dead" is an episode from the fifth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It was written by science fiction and fantasy author Neil Gaiman, and is the only episode after the second season not written by J. Michael Straczynski. The episode also features Penn & Teller,...
.