History Recap / BabylonFiveS02E14ThereAllTheHonorLies

* ClearMyName: Sheridan from the claim he killed Lavell without justification. Even if his [=EarthGov=] lawyer is able to remove him from legal harm, without actually clearing his name the damage to his reputation will mean his tenure tarnished and he will be removed and replaced as commander of Babylon 5.

* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** The "beauty in the dark" lesson Sheridan receives from Kosh not only helps him in his dire situation with the murder case, but was a prelude when he confronts darkness nearly [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS03E22ZHaDum}} a year later]] and finds [[https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Lorien beauty therein]].

* VerbalBackspace: During Vir's HangoverSensitivity where Londo says he remembers his first hangover...then recants and says that he actually can't.

In Londo's quarters, Vir is having his first hangover when Londo comes in and tells him that he's arranged for Vir to stay on as his aid. And he's arranged for Vir's family to come and see him on the station. [[INeedAFreakingDrink Vir grabs another drink]].

Later he finds Delenn in the stations rock garden. He tells her that the Minbari government wants Ashan sent back to the Minbari homeworld. Without him there can be no trial and no way for Sheridan to clear things up, ruining his credibility. Eventually they leave the garden.

Vir is getting drunk some more when Londo shows up and asks what's wrong. Centauri Prime has decided that Londo's position has grown to the point that someone more important should be his aid, and so they are replacing Vir. Vir doesn't want to go home, because his family didn't want here there. He then gets up and leaves. Londo is about to follow, but suddenly notices a group of women with a doll of himself.

After Ashan has been brought to Sheridan's office, Sheridan tries to question him. Ashan merely calls him "Starkiller." Delenn and Lennier ask if he could be mistaken in what he saw, he asks them where their loyalties lie. The interview is interrupted by a woman who arrived on station earlier and introduces herself as Guinevere Corey, Sheridan's lawyer. Sheridan insists he doesn't need on, to which she responds, "The favorite song of the legally ignorant," much to his annoyance. The Minbari excuse themselves.

Ivanova arrives at the Babylon 5 Emporium and, while initially open-minded, is completely freaked out when a Markab pulls his face to reveal a human, and the human behind her turns out to be a Drazi in a human mask.

Delenn and Lennier have managed to locate the witness, Ashan. Delenn tries to question him, but he refuses, calling her a freak. She leaves, and Lennier rebukes him for insulting her. Despite this, Ashan is willing to talk to him. Later Sheridan insists of being able to talk to Ashan, and try to sort the situation out.

* HelpingAnotherSaveFace: The investigation is temporarily stymied by the assumption that Minbari CannotTellALie, but in a CallBack to "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS01E21TheQualityOfMercy The Quality of Mercy]]" Londo reveals that they can lie in order to preserve another Minbari's honor.

* ClearMyName: Sheridan from the claim he killed Lavell without justification. Even if his [=EarthGov=] lawyer is able to remove him from legal harm, the damage to his name and reputation will mean his tenure tarnished and he will be removed and replaced as commander of Babylon 5.

* InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike: A big part of the plot is that "death first" is a near homophone for a Minbari phrase that means "I submit to your authority".

* ClearMyName: Sheridan from the claim he killed Lavell without justification. Even if [=EarthGov=] lawyer is able to remove him from legal harm, the damage to his name and reputation will mean his tenure tarnished and he will be removed and replaced as commander of Babylon 5.

-->'''Londo''': I do not lie when I say this could have been a major embarrassment to all concerned.
-->'''Sheridan''': Oh, I'm sure ambassador. You don't lie, the Minbari don't lie, no one around here...
-->'''Londo''': Who said the Minbari don't lie?

* CannotTellALie / WillNotTellALie: The Captain's legal troubles center around the fact that Minbari supposedly never lie and a Minbari is saying that he assaulted Lavell. However, Londo later tells him that Minbari ''will'' lie if it is to save face for another. This is a CallBack to ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveS01E21TheQualityOfMercy The Quality of Mercy]]'' in season one, where Lennier lied to protect Londo's dignity.
* ClearMyName: Sheridan.

* HonorBeforeReason: Lennier displays, lampshades, and openly mocks this trope during the course of the episode.
** Lennier is honor-bound to not reveal Ashan is knowingly lying about Lavell and is prepared to frame himself for the crime to stop the plot, even though it would result in their entire clan (including himself and Ashan) being disgraced. Lennier claimed he would personally retain honor by covering for Ashan, although it's not clear how this would work in an external honor system.
*** Lennier would retain his [[WhatYouAreInTheDark personal honor, doing what he knew was right to clear the Captain's name, at the knowing sacrifice of his public honor.]] That he gets to drag the clan's honor down in flames around himself for their actions is a bonus.

* LatexPerfection: Played for laughs when Ivanova pays a visit to B5's gift shop. Suddenly, all of the human/alien customers remove their 'masks', seriously freaking her out

* PetTheDog: Londo helping Vir.

* ShoutOut / TakeThat: The episode takes a gentle jab at ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', with which ''B5'' was {{dueling|Shows}} at the time. Worth noting, the episode was written by Creator/PeterDavid, known for his ''Franchise/StarTrek'' novels. He actually expected the line to be cut, but JMS went ahead and used it verbatim (to which David responded, "You people really are dangerous over there, aren't you?").
-->'''Ivanova:''' This isn't some deep space franchise, this station is about something!
* SmugSnake: Ashan.

* VerbalBackspace: During Vir's HangoverSensitivity where he says he remembers his first hangover...then recants and says that he actually can't.

* TheWarJustBefore: Minbari resentment over Sheridan's actions during the war lead some of them to try to frame him for murder to ruin his credibility.

** The "beauty in the dark" lesson Sheridan receives from Kosh not only helps him in his dire situation with the murder case, but was a prelude when he confronts darkness nearly a [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS03E22ZHaDum}} a year later]] and finds [[https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Lorien beauty therein]].

* Foreshadowing:

** Lennier would retain his [[WhatYouAreInTheDark personal honor, doing what he knew was right to clear the Captain's name, at the knowing sacrifice of his public honor.]] That he gets to drag the clan's honor down in flames around himself for their actions is a bonus.

** Lennier would retain his [[WhatYouAreInTheDark personal honor, doing what he knew was right to clear the Captain's name, at the knowing sacrifice of his public honor.]]

* CannotTellALie / WillNotTellALie: The Captain's legal troubles center around the fact that Minbari supposedly never lie and a Minbari is saying that he assaulted Lavell. However, Londo later tells him that Minbari ''will'' lie if it is to save face for another.
** This is a CallBack to ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveS01E21TheQualityOfMercy The Quality of Mercy]]'' in season one, where Lennier lied to protect Londo's dignity.

* ShoutOut / TakeThat: The show takes a gentle jab at [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine another show]] about a numbered space station:
-->'''Ivanova:''' "This isn't some deep space franchise, this station is about something!"

* YouLookFamiliar: If Julie Caitlin Brown as attorney Guinevere Corey sounds familiar, it's because she played Na'Toth in the first season. Looks very different without the prosthetics, doesn't she?

Sheridan seizes on this and is able to coax the admission out of Londo that a certain Minbari once lied to help a certain Centauri ambassador save face, something they find honor in. Sheridan realizes that must be it. Before he can pursue that train of thought a message arrives for him.

Later he finds Delenn in the stations rock garden. He tells her that the Minbari government wants Ashan sent back to the Minbari homeworld. Without him there can be no trial and no way for Sheridan to clear things up, ruining his credibility. Eventually they leave the garden.

In the worst section of Downbelow, Kosh tells Sheridan to enter a small alcove. When he asks what's in there where Kosh tells him, "One moment of perfect beauty." Uncertain, Sheridan makes his way inside, and finds a lone figure who silently moves an offering bowl toward him. Not really having much else, Sheridan drops his command bar in. The figure seems to accept and what appeared to be large orange bags move and begin singing a Gregorian Chant as he, and outside Kosh, listens.