Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Awesome / BabylonFive

Go To

1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/124654.jpg]]
2%% [[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
3
4[[foldercontrol]]
5
6[[folder:Sinclair]]
7* Regarding Sinclair's martial dealings with the Minbari, Sinclair was greatly feared by them by the time he was made ambassador. He was somewhat feared by the Minbari fighter pilots during the war. He had an unusually high kill rate against Minbari craft that were faster, better armed and better armored. At the war's start, Minbari pilots were told their craft were invincible against Earth fighters. After the Pilot movie (not the first episode), Minbari started to fear him because Sinclair killed one of them in single combat involving firearms. Minbari are much stronger and physically tougher than humans. What really made Sinclair a living legend was his brief fight with Neroon. Neroon ambushed him from behind and despite having the advantages of surprise, superior physical strength, and physical toughness, Neroon lost ... quite quickly. Neroon was one of the best Minbari warriors, he attacked in a dishonorable way, and lost to a human. Much of this comes from the first canon B5 novel, written by JMS's ex-wife.
8* From the Pilot after Sinclair tells G'Kar that there was a microscopic transmitter in the drink G'Kar just finished and that his military friends will use that transmitter to find and kill G'Kar if he ever endangers Babylon 5 again:
9-->'''Garibaldi''': I wonder if they'll ever find that transmitter you slipped in G'kar's drink.
10-->'''Sinclair''': No they won't. Because there isn't one. If I had put one in, sooner or later, they would find it and remove it. But if I just told him there was, they'd keep looking. Indefinitely.
11-->'''Garibaldi''': Do you have any idea the tests they'll put him through, the things they'll do to him looking for a transmitter that isn't there?
12-->'''Sinclair''': Yes. Come on.
13-->'''Garibaldi''': There are some days I love this job.
14* In ''Infection'' (the 4th episode), Sinclair explains why humans must venture into space...
15-->'''Reporter''': I have to ask you the same question people back home are asking about space these days. Is it worth it? Should we just pull back? Forget the whole thing as a bad idea, and take care of our own problems, at home.
16-->'''Sinclair''': No. We have to stay here. And there's a simple reason why. Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics, and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe, and Lao-Tzu, and Einstein, and Morobuto, and Buddy Holly, and Aristophanes, and - all of this - all of this - was for nothing. Unless we go to the stars.
17* Sinclair's plan proving that you shouldn't give someone the authority to use "any means necessary" unless you're 100% sure they'll decide to use the means you want them to, in the first season episode called (appropriately) "By Any Means Necessary". Specifically, invoking the Rush Act to use "any means necessary" to quell a workers' revolt--[[LoopholeAbuse and using it to tap into the military budget to hire more workers and replace the shoddy equipment that caused the strike in the first place]]. The crushed look on the face of the [=EarthGov=] goon who was expecting to see a crackdown was priceless.
18** Earlier in the episode, while the crisis that is resolved above is in full swing and Sinclair has a lot on his plate, there is a point when he is being simultaneously badgered by Londo, G'kar and a news reporter who followed him into CIC. When he snaps and bellows '''"That's enough!"''', even ''Ivanova'' has an OhCrap reaction and gives the reporter a look that says "He means business, it's time for you to leave now." Sinclair then tells Ivanova to arrest any of the above three who are still in the room after ten seconds. Ivanova gleefully approaches them while counting down.
19* Sinclair has taken Babylon 4 back in time. It takes a while for Marcus to realize what it means. Sinclair is Valen.
20-->'''Delenn''': If my people had found Babylon 4 with a human on board, they would never have accepted it.
21-->'''Marcus Cole''': Dear God. A Minbari not born of Minbari!
22* His epic use of TalkingTheMonsterToDeath at the end of Infection:
23-->'''Sinclair''': [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech You and the rest--you forgot the first rule of the fanatic: when you become obsessed with the enemy,]] ''[[HeWhoFightsMonsters you become the enemy!]]''
24* His {{The Reason You Suck Speech}} to G'Kar over the Narn sneak attack on Ragesh III.
25[[/folder]]
26
27[[folder:Sheridan]]
28* Sheridan nuking the Blackstar.
29** Hell, ''[[NuclearOption any time]]'' John [[FanNickname "Nuke 'Em"]] Sheridan uses a nuke. Effective usage throughout the series and TV films: Four successes out of four.
30* His EstablishingCharacterMoment is one. Throughout Season 1, much was said, particularly by Sinclair, how nothing in Earthforce stood a chance against the Minbari during the Minbari War. First scene of Season 2? Introducing the new commanding officer of Babylon 5, and telling you he is the only guy to win against the Minbari - their flagship and supporting ships, specifically. It almost {{Foreshadowing}} to how far up the cosmic pecking order Sheridan will go.
31--> "The last time I made "personal contact" with a Minbari warship ''I sent it straight to hell''.
32* His speech declaring B5's independence from Earth is the second of two awesome speeches from the episode "Severed Dreams" (see "Delenn" for the first one).
33-->'''Sheridan:''' In the last few hours, we have learned that warships are coming this way from Earth, their orders are to seize command of Babylon 5 by force. As commanding officer and military governor of Babylon 5, I cannot allow this to happen. President Clark has violated the Earth Alliance Constitution by dissolving the Senate, declaring martial law, and personally ordering the bombing of civilian targets on the Mars colony. He is personally responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent people. Following these attacks Orion 7 and Proxima 3 have broken away from the Earth Alliance, and declared independence. Babylon 5 now joins with them! As of this moment, Babylon 5 is seceding from the Earth Alliance! We will remain an independent state until President Clark is removed from office. At the end of this current crisis, anyone who wishes to leave for Earth is free to do so. Meanwhile, for your own safety, I urge everyone to stay in their quarters until this is over. That is all.
34* Sheridan's smackdown on not one but ''two'' First One races in B5. From the episode ''Into the Fire'' of season 4:
35-->'''Sheridan:''' The Vorlons ask only one question over and over: "Who are you?" You, for you the question is "What do you want?" I have never heard you answer that question. Who are ''you''? What do ''you'' want? ... It doesn't matter which side wins this today. A thousand years from now, it'll start all over again. You're as trapped in this cycle as much as ''we'' are. But we can't afford it anymore. We don't need it. We don't need ''you''. We've learned how to stand on our own. We'll make mistakes, but they'll be our mistakes, not yours. ... We refuse to take sides in this anymore. And we refuse to let you turn us against one another! We know who we are now. We can find our own way between order and chaos. ... It's over because ''we’ve'' decided it's over! Now ''get the hell out of our galaxy!'' Both of you!
36* From "Intersections in Real Time":
37-->'''Sheridan''': You know, it's funny I was thinking about what you said. 'The pre-eminent truth of our age is that you cannot fight the system.' But if, as you say, truth is fluid, that the truth subjective, then maybe you can fight the system as long as one person refuses to be broken, refuses to bow down.
38-->'''Interrogator''': But can you win?
39-->'''Sheridan''': ''Every time I say 'no'.''
40* Sheridan's MindScrew / KansasCityShuffle in the episode "[[http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/synops/079.html Rumors, Bargains, and Lies]]" is made of total win. Remember, [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial absolutely NOTHING out of the ordinary happened today in sector 83 x 9 x 12]]....
41** To elaborate: In the wake of the Shadow War, Sheridan wanted to post White Star patrols to the borders of the factions making up the League of Non-Aligned Worlds, to serve as a neutral arbiter in protecting shipping, refugee transits, and to discourage any adventurism from anyone looking to pick on a weakened neighbor (because of the Shadows, half the League was fighting each other before joining up to fight the Shadows). But Sheridan knew if he went to the League with this proposal, they'd fight him tooth and nail. So instead, he gaslit the entire League, making them think there was some new threat with invisible ships that only the White Stars could detect with their advanced Vorlon technology. But the League don't want to admit to Sheridan they've "figured out his ploy" or that they're afraid of an invisible enemy, so they go to Sheridan to demand he post White Stars on their borders to serve as neutral arbiters for trade and refugee traffic and discourage adventurism. Sheridan makes a great show of bowing to the League's desire, if they want this and they'll authorize it, he really can't say no. Then, as soon as they're out of earshot, he shouts "[[BigYes YES!!!!]]"
42* Sheridan reappearing after his trip to Z'ha'dum.
43-->'''Drazi Ambassador''': Captain, we're sorry. We thought you were dead.
44-->'''Sheridan''': I was. I'm better now.
45* How he ended up on Z'ha'dum in the first place. They broke his wife, and then when they realized what they had and how she could be of use to them (besides as the core of a ship), they fitted her with a new, loyal personality and had her contact him. So, he went to their home planet, and crashed his White Star into it... while it was loaded with nuclear weapons. He'd said that if he went down in Z'ha'dum, he wouldn't go easy or alone. He took the capital city of the Shadows with him.
46** They asked him to go to the dark side. He gave them a ''gigaton'' worth of "no". To put this in perspective: the energy unleashed by a one-megaton explosion could run your house for a hundred thousand years. Sheridan used one thousand times that.
47* Sheridan again, making his feeling on the subject of [[BlackShirt Nightwatch]] ''very clear'':
48-->'''Sheridan''': No more! No more of you! No more Nightwatch, no more hostages, no more lies! Not on my station! Not on my watch! No more! '''No more'''!
49** And this is while he's physically pummeling a Nightwatch hostage-taker and saboteur in ''full view'' of station civilians. That had to be one hell of a water-cooler story the next day.
50*** The next day? It was brought up 2 seasons later, in "A View from the Gallery" by the 2 maintenance workers we follow around during the episode.
51* Sheridan's "apology" in ''The Fall of Night''. Even if he only gave it to a mirror, the implication is that he was fully prepared to actually say it.
52--> "I'm sorry we had to defend ourselves against an unwarranted attack! I'm sorry that your crew was stupid enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, including your own people! And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did before I blew them all straight to Hell!... '[[IronicEcho As with everything else, it's the thought that counts]].'"
53** [[WordOfGod Confirmed by the director]]. YES he was going to say it!
54* "You tell your government that the only man to survive Z'ha'dum sends this message. We can end this, not just for now, not just for the next thousand years, but forever!"
55* In "No Surrender No Retreat", Sheridan goes into battle against a fleet of Clark loyalists, holds his own against their flagship, and ultimately shames or frightens many of them into defecting or choosing to OptOut of the war.
56* When Sheridan's liberation fleet finally confronts Earth itself:
57--> This is Captain John Sheridan. We are here on the authority of a multi-planetary force, that can no longer stand by and watch one of their greatest allies falling into darkness and despair. We are here on behalf of the thousands of civilians murdered under orders from the current administration, who have no one else to speak for them, and on behalf of the [=EarthForce=] units that have joined us to oppose the tyranny that has darkened Earth, ever since President Santiago was assassinated three years ago. We are here to place President Clark under arrest, to disband Nightwatch, and return our government to the hands of her people. We know that many in the government have wanted to act, but have been intimidated by threats of retaliation against your families, your friends. You are not alone anymore. We call upon you to rise up and do what's right! We have drawn their forces away from Earth and disabled them. The time to act is now! This is not the voice of treason. These are your sons, your daughters, whose loyalties have never wavered, whose beliefs in this alliance has [sic] forced us to take extraordinary means! For justice, for peace, for the future... we have come home!
58* Sheridan and Delenn's actions in "Come the Inquisitor" where they are both willing to die for the other, alone, away from all friends and those who would remember them. It shows the Inquisitor that not only are they good people, but the right people in the right place at the right time.
59* Shaming Kosh into getting the Vorlons to battle the Shadows, since the other races will never join the fight without seeing for themselves that the Shadows are not invulnerable. It's an absolute masterpiece of ScrewYouElves as he gets right in Kosh's face, [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu flips him off a few times]], and absolutely refuses to back down, even to the point where Kosh is pissed off enough to [[Series/{{Firefly}} threaten to kill him with his brain]].
60-->'''Kosh''': ''Disobedient!''
61-->'''Sheridan''': ''[[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu Up yours!]]''
62* Hitting his RageBreakingPoint when dealing with the minor powers of the Alliance after the Centauri have broken off relations with the Alliance, and have broken a planetary blockade and destroyed several ships. Arguably the most awesome rant of the entire fifth season.
63--> ''[quietly, with DeathGlare]'': That's enough... ''[loudly]'' I said that's enough! Now we gave you a promise. And we are bound by that promise! And damn you for asking for it! And damn me for agreeing to it! And damn all of us to hell because that is exactly where we're going! We talked about peace! You didn't ''want'' peace! We talked about co-operation! You didn't ''want'' co-operation! You want war! Is that it? You want a war? Well, you've got a war!
64** Also for Boxleitner, as in the script volumes JMS expresses his regret at the actor having to say that speech several times because of various technical issues, hitting the same exhausting emotional high every time.
65* His use of the "Bonehead Maneuver" to kill two birds with one stone. First, to destroy the jump gate to the Markab homeworld to prevent graverobbing and second, and most importantly, to destroy the Shadow Vessel following them, signifying the first victory over the Shadows in possibly 1,000 years.
66* After President Clark begins ordering his destroyers to attack defenseless civilian refugee ships, Sheridan, who had pretty much been in a cold war since breaking off Earth, begins the next episode with probably the quickest and most perfect CaptainsLog ever.
67-->'''Sheridan''': Captain's personal log. September 2nd, 2261. ''[[ThisMeansWar Enough is enough!]]''
68* As indicated, for how dangerous he is when he has a nuke, he is ''far'' more dangerous when he doesn't need one.
69[[/folder]]
70
71[[folder:Ivanova]]
72* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xO9Vr_nBE8 "Ivanova is always right."]]
73* "Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova. Commander. Daughter of Andrei and Sophie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance... and the boot that is going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart! I am Death Incarnate... and the last living thing that you are ''ever'' going to see. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8oF0i5nvPI God sent me.]]". '''AWESOME'''
74** To paraphrase the creator, "Yes it went over the top. That is so the rest of us can know where the top IS!"
75* The subsequent battle also counts. Ivanova's 20 White Stars destroy 8 Advanced Earth destroyers (augmented with Shadow technology) and their fighter complements after being basically ambushed by them.
76* From "No Surrender, No Retreat":
77-->'''Lt. Corwin''': "I guess the operational phrase is ''trust no one''."
78-->'''Ivanova''': "No. Trust Ivanova. Trust yourself. Anybody else, ''shoot 'em''!"
79* "You'll resist, I hope."
80* In "Voices of Authority" she goes to one of the First Ones, and after they refuse to join the Shadow War, she follows them and basically tells that the Vorlons told the humans that they had bigger dicks than these guys. She told this to THE FREAKING FIRST ONES and ''[[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu got them to agree to fight by pissing them the fuck off]]!''
81* In "Racing Mars", she appeals to a roomful of smugglers to break Clark's blockade and supply the station while promising them pardons, repairs from the station's mechanic, and military escorts if they do help her, and [[ShameIfSomethingHappened a reason to wish they had those military escorts]] if they refuse.
82* "Our gun arrays are now fixed on your ship and will fire the instant you come into range. You will find their power quite impressive... for a few seconds."
83[[/folder]]
84
85[[folder:Garibaldi]]
86* 500 years after the end of Season Four, a hologram programmed with Garibaldi's personality to take part in a propaganda film will hack the computer projecting him and use it to warn one faction of humanity's government that the other (Orwellian) half is about to attack their civilian population centres. A ''hologram''...
87* He discovers a certain group tried to kill him AND his wife, and accidentally wounded his wife. The board of directors of his own company. He finds these people, reveals he knows all their secrets, blackmails them into running away, reveals he has made their worst enemy the head of intelligence of the galaxy, and has set up a contingency that if he dies of ANYTHING but old age, they will have a $100,000 bounty on each of their heads.
88* Garibaldi reading several of his handpicked men the riot act for PuttingOnTheReich in "Point of No Return") is both awesome (given how he is in a room full of hostile figures) and a tearjerker.
89* After firing the old board of directors, he finds six troublemakers in the company identified by other staff. One guy assumes that the group would be fired because of their troublemaker status. Garibaldi surprises the group by increasing their pay and that their new job is to [[HonestAdvisor inform him when he screws up]] and not be [[YesMan "Yes Men"]]. If they do a good job, they'll get rewarded, but if they screw up, he'll have their heads.
90* Garibaldi, having tracked down the thugs who kidnapped Lise, introduces himself by throwing in a flash bang grenade that, just before it goes off, plays a Porky Pig "T-t-that's all folks!" Who could have guessed Garibaldi's love of Looney Tunes would have such a badass payoff? (Also counts as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.)
91* Another crossover with SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: At the end of the Centauri Prime trilogy, when Vir has just gotten the Drakh leader to confess to all manner of Bad Things that they've done, Garibaldi pops up out of a just-delivered wardrobe with the line, "What's up, Drakh?". (Garibaldi then proceeds to Shoot Him A Lot.)
92* Ivanova has been taken prisoner by a gang of Drazi, Garibaldi figures out where she is being held, then gets his foot in the door via a bunch of fast talk, giving Ivanova a chance to call out for help and confirm his suspicions.
93* After being tricked into betraying Sheridan, Garibaldi manages to link up with the Mars Resistance, Doctor Franklin, and Lyta Alexander, and convince them to help him bust Sheridan out. How does he infiltrate the prison facility? By [[RefugeInAudacity walking up to the front door]] in uniform and identifying himself by name. After all, he ''is'' [[BavarianFireDrill the guy who brought Sheridan in, right?]] It actually gets him halfway to Sheridan, before he runs into a guard who is TooDumbToFool.
94* From the BadFuture presented in "Babylon Squared", we have Garibaldi's heroic LastStand, fighting off invisible opponents with a ChainsawGripBFG to give some of the station's personnel and civilians time to escape.
95-->'''Garibaldi''': Get going, [[YouShallNotPass I'll hold them as long as I can]]. Jeff, it's okay. I finally understand. [[ObiWanMoment This is the moment I was born for!]]
96[[/folder]]
97
98[[folder:Delenn]]
99* "Only one Human captain has ever survived battle against a Minbari fleet. ''He'' is behind me. ''You'' are in front of me. If you value your lives, '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFvkgfBXHPA be somewhere else]]'''''." [[OhCrap They complied.]]
100** Just the wording. Not "begone", not "get lost" or "dissappear" - "'''be''' somewhere else". As in, they could't possibly leave fast enough for her liking.
101** The best part of that speech actually gets left out quite often: the Earth Alliance forces have just told her not to "force them" to engage her ships. Her response, which leads into the above? [[BadassBoast "Why not?"]]
102** A subtle detail - when the ships leave, they generate their own jump points rather than use the nearby jump gate. They could not have run faster.
103** Another subtle point: did the Earth ships withdraw because they were hopelessly outmatched by the Minbari ships, or because they'd probably spark another war with the Minbari, who may finish what they'd started over ten years ago (namely, wiping out the human race)? Either way, Delenn put [=EarthForce=] in an unwinnable situation ''simply by showing up''.
104** You can't really imagine the sheer impact of this scene until you're familiar with the backstory of the series. Ten years before the events of the show, Earthforce was [[CurbStompBattle slaughtered by the Minbari]] in a war of pure, unadulterated annihilation - a war for whom Delenn was the deciding vote in favor of, and [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone regretted ever since]] as her people killed humans by the hundreds of thousands. John Sheridan was the only human captain ever to win a fight against a Minbari vessel. Now John Sheridan once again finds himself in impossible odds against a numerically superior foe...only this time, the Minbari are on ''his'' side. [[TheAtoner Delenn made up for her mistake]], and then some, using one of the results of her mistake to do so.
105* Delenn breaking the Grey Council is pure, magnificent, undistilled badass.
106-->"Three years. For three years I warned you this day was coming. But you would not listen. Pride, you said, presumption. And now the Shadows are on the move. The Centauri and the younger worlds are at war, the Narns have fallen. Even the Humans are fighting one another. The pride was yours; the presumption was yours. For a thousand years we have been awaiting for fulfillment of prophecy, and when it finally happens, you scorn it, you reject it. Because you no longer believe it yourselves.\
107''[Confronts one Grey Council member.]''\
108'We stand between the candle and the star, between the darkness and the light.' You say the words, but your hearts are empty, your ears closed to the truth. You stand for nothing but '''''your own petty interests'''''.\
109''[Confronts a second Grey Council member.]''\
110'The problems of others are not our concern.' I do not blame you for standing silent in your shame. You, who knew what was coming, but refused to take up the burden of this war. If the warrior caste will not fight, then the rest of us will!\
111''[Confronts a third--the one with the staff--and takes the staff.]''\
112If the Council has lost its way, if it will not lead, if we have abandoned our covenant with Valen... ''[raises the staff and starts to bend it]'' ...the Council should be '''''broken'''''... ''[staff breaks]'' ...as was prophesied. We must stand with the others '''''now''''', before it's too late. Between the worker caste and the religious caste we control two thirds of our forces. To you, I say, listen to the voice of your conscience. Break the Council, and come with me. Our time of isolation is over. We move now, together, or not at all."
113** It should be noted that this particular speech was infused with significant RealitySubtext; Mira Furlan, a native Croatian, drew on her fury with the European powers who failed to help as the Balkans went to hell to give this speech its punch. In that context, this speech is a CMOA not just for Delenn, but for Mira as well.
114*** Mira's response to JMS? "When did you go to Croatia?"
115** Not only that, but from just after the beginning of the speech (starting with "For three years...") to just before the staff breaking? [[TheOner One continuous shot]]. Indeed, the entire scene was originally planned to be one shot, but two incidents prevented it from being so: first, the staff wouldn't break, then, as Mira turned to leave the room, she bumped into one of the Grey Council members. Still, what they ''were'' able to get in that first shot was impressive.
116** The moment just before that should be included as well, when she vented her righteous indignation at the cleric who was blocking her way (and unlike the moment in the end of the episode, she was confronting ''one of her own race''):
117-->"I served the Council for sixteen cycles. I was the chosen of Dukhat to replace him! I held him when he died! His blood is on my hands, his spirit in my eyes, his word on my lips! You will step aside in his name and mine, or—in ''Valen's'' name—I will tear this ship apart with my bare hands until I find them! ''Move aside!''"
118* Of note would have to be [[AwesomeMomentOfCrowning becoming QUEEN OF THE MINBARI!]] [[IncendiaryExponent By SETTING HERSELF ON FIRE!]]
119** Her opponent (Leader of the Warrior Caste) twists up in pain IMMEDIATELY upon entering the shaft of light. Delenn never so much as winces during the entire process, until she eventually collapses to the ground--at which point Neroon (below) has his own moment of awesome.
120* In the Distant Future, one sentence. "Sheridan was a good man." A hundred years after the events of the series, an ancient and possibly dying Delenn, who hadn't been seen in public for many years, breaks into a TV studio to interrupt a live debate over whether Sheridan was the hero the series portrays him as with two historical "experts" discrediting him for little more reason than their own ego. With that one line.
121** Same scene, different line: after saying the above sentence, one of the talking heads asks her "You came all this way just to say that?" Her response: "You came just as far to say less." ''BURN.'' Then further proceeds to berate the panel for claiming to speak of history accurately when they simply ignore or disregard facts that do not benefit them.
122** Further more, at the end of the scene, one of the panelists attempts to dismiss Delenn's statements as something expected. Mid rant she simply turns around and stares at each panelist, causing them to hang their heads in shame for what they attempted to do. 100 years later and Delenn can still affect the outcome of a situation with nothing more than her presence.
123* One of her best moments was when the Markab were plague-stricken and she ''locks herself'' in a room crowded with Markab just so they won't die comfortless.
124** Even more impressive when one considers that at that point in the story, they knew the plague could jump species, but they hadn't yet ruled out which ones, so for all she knew she was simply exposing herself to die later. Sheridan was so moved by her display of kindness and potential sacrifice that he asked her to call him "[[FirstNameBasis John]]" the next time they saw each other.
125** Sheridan, in a moment of weakness, balks at Delenn putting herself in danger for someone who wasn't even her "own people." Delenn gently but firmly smacks him down for the sentiment, while also reminding him of their own bond.
126-->'''Delenn''': I didn't know that similarity was required for the exercise of compassion. They are afraid. We wish to do what little we can.
127* In "A View From the Gallery," when the station comes under attack, Sheridan wants workers Bo and Mack to get Delenn to a shuttle. Delenn manages to point out that if she's on a pod when Babylon 5 is destroyed, she'll sabotage it as she'd rather die than leave Sheridan. Thus, by letting her go, the men will be saving her life. They admit she's right as she turns to walk off with a smile.
128-->'''Bo''': Suddenly, I understand Sheridan a whole lot better.
129-->'''Mack''': How so?
130-->'''Bo''': Dead or alive, I'd crawl my way out of Hell and through ten miles of rock to see that smile again.
131* Sheridan and Delenn's actions in "Come the Inquisitor" where they are both willing to die for the other, alone, away from all friends and those who would remember them. It shows the Inquisitor that not only are they good people, but the right people in the right place at the right time.
132[[/folder]]
133
134[[folder:G'Kar]]
135* In "Parliament of Dreams" G'Kar barely survives an attempt from his life, but the would-be assassin is part of a guild that was hired to kill him, so more would come to finish the job until G'Kar dies. How does he solve it? He ''pays the first assassin'', thus making it look like he took a bribe, forcing his own guild to kill him and then pretend they had never been hired to kill G'Kar.
136* G'Kar gets to do some impressive bit of philosophizing about ants in "Mind War". It arguably becomes a Crowning Moment retrospectively once you realize this is the first time he [[HeelFaceTurn lets his true self show to the audience]].
137-->'''G'kar''': No one here is exactly what he appears.
138** Even better, this was immediately after he'd sent a pair of fighter craft to rescue the person he's talking to (Catherine Sakai), because he knew about the danger she'd be in. Up until that point, he was pretty much seen as a character out for the interests of his people and ''only'' his people; here, he showed a nobility he'd never displayed up to that point.
139* "Comes the Inquisitor": G'Kar negotiates the purchase of black-market weapons for TheResistance on the Narn homeworld. The seller tries to gouge him on the price, and although G'Kar pays it since they need those weapons, he leaves the merchant with a parting warning.
140-->'''G'Kar''': The money to buy these weapons comes from the life savings of those Narn who were able to escape the Centauri occupation. It is a limited resource, purchased with blood. If it should be squandered, or stolen, be assured that while your body might one day be found, it could never be identified from what's left.
141* "No dictator... no invader... can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, ''we will be free''."
142** What makes it even more awesome is that, at least twice during this speech, Londo opens his mouth as if to interrupt him, but falls flat. He literally can not find the words necessary to interrupt him.
143** And afterwards in a bit sadly cut from the final episode, he admits to Sheridan that it was just a bunch of empty words to him, but he still managed to cow everyone in the room and walk out with his dignity intact.
144** Even more awesome, '''in-universe''' it is considered a Crowning Moment of Awesome. In Season 5 when Sheridan goes to G'Kar to have him write a statement of principals for the Interstellar Alliance, he cites the fact that he ''still'' gets Goosebumps just remembering that moment as the reason he is the Narn for the job!
145* In addition to the above, there ''was'' that one time he decided to help Myth/KingArthur fight a street gang...
146--> '''Thug''': ''(to Arthur, as his gang arrives as backup)'' You see, I got friends.\
147'''G'Kar''': THAT'S ALL RIGHT!! ''(jumping down from a balcony)'' SO DOES HE!!
148** To add to the awesomeness, it's later discovered it was a CurbStompBattle: as G'Kar bragged, they were the good guys, the thugs were the evil guys, and the thugs made a very satisfying thump when they hit the floor.
149** To resume it: G'kar was in a place in the Down Below for Narn Resistance-related business when he saw a man attacking two thugs to take back something they stole from a defenceless person, the thugs called reinforcements, G'Kar joined the fray because it was the right thing to do, and next we see them they're at a pub celebrating their victory, ''without a scratch on them''.
150*** And to top it off, Arthur ''knights him,'' proclaiming him '''Sir''' G'Kar, [[RedBaron The Red Knight!]]
151* He tears his ''chains'' apart even after they were reinforced, and he was thoroughly beaten, tortured and starved.
152* After the end of the Narn-Centauri War:
153-->'''Narn Warrior''': I never thought you were a coward, G'Kar. We suffered and died during their occupation. Where were you? What have you endured?
154-->'''G'Kar''': What have ''I'' endured? Hahahahahahaha! (G'Kar walks out of the room, still laughing)
155** A partial list: Tortured for days on end by professional torturers, I mean Pain Technicians; trotted out for humiliation after humiliation; had his eye plucked out...
156* G'kar had several, many in conversation with Londo.
157-->'''Londo''': (after being thanked by G'kar for saving their lives) You would have done the same for me.
158-->'''G'kar''': Yes, but I'm a better person than you are.
159* G'Kar's powers of observation dwelled in the culinary as well, noting that [[WeHaveThoseToo every sentient race he's encountered seems to have a version of what humans call "Swedish Meatballs."]], considering it a great mystery [[GoMadFromTheRevelation that probably shouldn't be further investigated]].
160* In "Acts of Sacrifice", a radical Narn is secretly gathering together fellow Narns to launch a massacre of all the Centauri on Babylon 5. When G'Kar catches wind of this, knowing that peace is the best option for his people, he confronts the would-be usurper in a duel and thoroughly beats him. Keep in mind that said Narn was much younger than G'Kar, who helped drive the Centauri off Narn when the former was just a pouchling (child).
161--> You've already made the challenge! The question is do you have the courage to back it up?
162[[/folder]]
163
164[[folder:Londo]]
165* The very first one, in "By Any Means Necessary": Londo at the height of his depression making an utter ''fool'' of G'kar by holding hostage the G'Quan Eth he needed to not lose his position - and when G'Kar came ready to fork over the immense amount of money Londo had demanded, [[YankTheDogsChain he told him he had changed his mind]] and would instead use it as a recreation drug. All as payback for G'kar using Londo's nephew in one of his plots in "Midnight on the Firing Line".
166* "Because I have asked you to, and because your loyalty to our people should be greater than your ambition, [[MagnificentBastard and because I have poisoned your drink."]] See it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_sBNX9dP-M&NR here]] in all of its magnificence.
167** For all we know, he could have been lying about the poison (as Sinclair lied about the transmitter in the pilot), but even that possibility takes nothing from the awesome of the moment, because we ''don't know for sure''--he ''could'' have actually have slipped the poison in. And Refa knows it, too.
168** Note two things on the scene: Londo did it in the middle of a bar; and there's two bottles on the table, one filled with a liquid that's yellow as their drink and one that's either empty or containing a transparent liquid. ''[[RefugeInAudacity Londo did it in public and didn't even bother to hide the bottle of poison]]'' - and got away with it.
169** The ExpandedUniverse adds another layer, as that binary poison was actually well known among Centauri nobles, and using it implies you consider the other one a WorthyOpponent due the sheer expense necessary to obtain it... But instead [[StealthInsult Londo explains how it works, as if he didn't expect Refa to know about it]].
170* Speaking with Morden on Centauri Prime:
171-->'''Londo''': "Yes, your ships are very impressive in the air, or in space. But at this moment they are ''on the ground''."
172-->'''Morden''': "Right...they're on the ground...but they can sense an approaching ship miles away! So what are you going to do, Mollari? [[TemptingFate Blow up the island?]]"
173-->'''Londo''': "Actually...now that you mention it..." ''[produces detonator from his jacket]''
174-->'''Morden''': [[BigNo NOOOO!!]]
175-->''*boom*''
176** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR7n4Gg-_ac Here]]'s the whole scene. Including Londo [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu having two Shadows killed]]. This is shared with Centauri technology, capable of creating carbine-sized weapons for the task, the two guards who did the job without breaking a sweat, and ''the two unarmed guards who physically brought Morden there while knowing of the two Shadows following them''. And the very best part of it is Londo's line afterwards.
177-->'''Londo:''' ''(examining the wall behind the Shadows that his guards just shot)'' [[BondOneLiner I'll have to have that painted over, I suppose.]]
178** Londo had the island evacuated, but a few stayed behind to keep the Shadows from realising anything was wrong, knowing full well they would die if Londo couldn't get Morden to see reason. That's a testament to how well this was coordinated and [[TakingYouWithMe how popular the idea of getting the Shadows off Centauri Prime was]].
179** Not only that, but when it appears that even ridding Centauri Prime of all its Shadow influences has not been enough, because he is still influenced by the Shadows, he begs Vir to [[HeroicSacrifice kill him]] to save their world. It's the most noble thing he does in the whole series, possibly the most noble thing ''anyone'' does.
180* The entire story arc of the Londo-led conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Cartagia is a CMOA for the series as a whole. Especially since Londo uses Cartagia's death to liberate Narn, then, due to Cartagia having no obvious heirs and the circumstances making this the worst possible time for a SuccessionCrisis, is appointed Prime Minister.
181* And how he handles Lord Refa. Putting a person in a room alone with a race he tried to commit genocide on and has been ''paid'' to kill him and [[FramingTheGuiltyParty frame him as a traitor]] in case he tried to convince them he hadn't done that? With his bodyguards bribed to walk away? AND BLACK BAPTISTS SINGING A BIBILICAL HYMN! "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zly_tL5mMc8 No hiding place down here]]"? Awesome.]]
182* From ''In The Beginning'', Londo Mollari descibes how Humanity fought during the Earth-Minbari war. It serves as a crowning moment for mankind. ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeNBJ5o-b7s The music and war visuals really help, too]].)
183-->"The humans, I think, ''knew'' they were doomed. But where another race would surrender to despair, the humans fought back with even greater strength. They made the Minbari fight for every ''inch'' of space. In all my life, I have never seen anything like it; they would ''weep'', they would ''pray'', they would say goodbye to their loved ones... and then throw themselves, without fear or hesitation, at the very face of death itself. Never surrendering.
184-->"No one who saw them fighting against the inevitable could help but be moved to tears by their courage... their stubborn nobility. When they ran out of ships, they used guns. When they ran out of ''guns'', they used... knives, and sticks, and bare hands. They were... ''magnificent''.
185-->"I only hope that when it is my time that I may die with ''half'' as much dignity as I saw in their eyes in the end. They did this for '''''two years'''''. They never ran out of courage... but in the end, they ran out of ''time''."
186* A more minor one since it ended up being unnecessary, but it still shows how noble Londo had become: after destroying all the Shadow vessels on Centauri Prime, there's still a Vorlon ship preparing to destroy the planet, and Vir realizes that there's still one person on the planet who's been influenced by the Shadows: Londo himself. Upon realizing this, Londo immediately demands that Vir kill him so the Vorlons will have no more reason to destroy the planet.
187* Way back in season one, while offering to pilot a seemingly suicidal mission:
188-->"As a young and foolish Centauri, I swore that I would die on my feet doing something noble and brave and futile. Perhaps it was not so wild a dream as I thought. Or as foolish. Better than waiting for the inevitable."
189** Cue Londo piloting his personal shuttle [[DrivesLikeCrazy like an absolute lunatic]] through a raging space battle.
190* And one for the Centauri Republic, who had been established as a weakened, decadent power the Narns had bullied throughout the first season. When the Narn finally declare war on the Centauri, the Republic shatters their fleets and drives them back to their homeworld, forcing a surrender. The Lion of the Galaxy still has some teeth!
191** While the Shadows did help, they only directly intervened (attacking Narn targets on behalf of the Centauri) ''twice.'' The war likely would have gone as badly for the Narn without Shadow assistance, it just would have lasted longer.
192* Preparing to meet [[TheCaligula the new Emperor]], Londo informs the Regent that he met the Emperor twice before. The first time, he was an infant, and drooling on himself, and later as an adolescent, trying to look up girls' skirts. And then we have [[StealthInsult this]]:
193-->'''Cartagia''': Ah, Mollari. It's wonderful to see you again.\
194'''Londo''': And you, Majesty. I could swear you have not changed since the last few times I saw you.\
195'''Cartagia''': Oh, you are of course too generous.
196 * In the non-canon novel ''Voices'', Londo is peeved when a Psi Corps conference shuts down the station's gambling tables due to all telepaths being banned from gambling due to their potential to cheat. Then, realizing that many telepaths likely chafe at obeying a rule like that, he tempts several of them into a card game that he covertly has Garibaldi tape. The threat of being accused of failing to stop his subordinates from seemingly fleecing a prominent diplomat gives Bester a crash course in BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord when he tries scapegoating Talia for a disaster.
197* In the novel ''Blood Oath'', Londo realizes G'Kar has faked his own death to buy time after being targetted by the vindictive daughter of a rival he framed for treason, finds evidence proving the rival's innocence, and trades it to the daughter by having an intermediary ask her if revenge is more important than restoring her father's good name. When G'Kar asks Londo why he did this, Londo replies "To see you murdered in some foolish family quarrel--that would bring me no cheer. To see you humbled, to see you embarrassed, to see you beholden to ''me'' and live to tell about it--that is much better!"
198[[/folder]]
199
200[[folder:Vir]]
201* Timid, milquetoast Vir telling off Morden when the Shadow agent tries to tempt him:
202-->"I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they [[OffWithHisHead cut off your head]] and [[DeadGuyOnDisplay stick it on a pike]] as a warning to the next ten generations that [[DealWithTheDevil some favors come with too high a price]]. I would look up at your lifeless eyes and [[SpeakIllOfTheDead wave...like this]]."\
203<waggles fingers, smiling>\
204"[[GoodIsNotSoft Can you and your associates arrange that for me, Mr. Morden?]]"
205** Made even better by Vir calling Morden's attention at the end of the conversation and waggling his fingers with the same smile.
206** A big part of the moment is the look on Morden's face, because he knows that the Shadows have arranged for every other request to be granted, one way or another. Although it would not benefit the Shadows for him to die, he knows that [[KarmicDeath Karma is a bitch]]. You can see this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0n2vurSBIQ here]]. That one was certainly his first Crowning Moment of Awesome. And the moment of awesome gets an extension when Vir actually gets his wish [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47DfQcHMYLY later on]]. *waves*
207** Also bears mentioning (adding to the awesome) that, while the Shadows technically grant everyone's wishes, Vir is the only one who gets what he actually wanted.
208*** Vir's wish only partially comes true. We say "partially" because he lives far longer than "just long enough" to do what he said he would do.
209*** Fridge Logic: It ''would'' have been "just long enough" if Sheridan hadn't disrupted everyone's plan forcing the Vorlons to call off the destruction of Centauri Prime.
210*** And of course, Londo, who sends Morden to his death, ''is'' one of Morden's "associates".
211* When he's sent by Londo to secure an audience with the Techno Mages, he has to face some huge, dangerous looking monstrosity. He simply stands there, giving his introduction, until the Mage controlling the beast finally gives up on sending him away. That boy's got balls!
212 --> '''Technomage:''' You don't scare easily.
213 --> '''Vir:''' I work for Ambassador Mollari. After a while... nothing scares you.
214* Vir being the one to kill Cartagia, thus saving the entire homeworld. Even more awesome because he's noble and good-hearted enough to feel guilty over killing an insane murderous tyrant.
215* After it turns out that a Drazi vendor put a spying device into Vir's grocery bag, Vir calls him out on it, but gets taunted and humiliated in return. He walks away, having seemingly put up with it once again. He returns to their quarters, calmly yet determinedly walks past the rather perplexed Mollari to the weapon stand, grabs Londo's dueling sword, returns to the vendor and hacks his whole stand into pieces, puts the blade to the Drazi's neck and makes him confess about his scam. It makes Londo proud.
216** The line he delivers to the Drazi while doing so makes the moment both Awesome [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments and Funny]] at the same time.
217---> '''Vir''': Now... want to finish our little conversation, spoo-for-brains?
218** To add Awesomeness: by doing this, Vir showed he was badass enough to be a Centauri ambassador, [[{{Ambadassador}} and got promoted]].
219---> '''Zack''': What happened to Vir?
220---> '''Londo''': I promoted him. Now, ''now'' he is ready to be the ambassador for the Centauri.
221*** Which was perfect, because he was acting ambassador at the time. Vir, assistant to Londo, can let insults pass, and did a lot. Ambassador Koto, on the other hand, cannot allow this insult to his world to go unchallenged.
222* Oh, how about the time he is discovered running the underground railroad, smuggling Narns to freedom? Apparently, he took G'Kar's comment to heart...
223** As with the one above with the Drazi merchant, it also counts as a Funny. The fake name that he used to set the operation up was "[[UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln Abrahamo Lincolni]]."
224** To elaborate: Babylon 5 was becoming more important and Londo was troubled by having his conscience around, so he promoted Vir to the Centauri ambassador on Minbar. At first Vir didn't want this promotion, but when he was visiting the station it was clear that he liked it on Minbar. Then it's revealed that he found a way to create a fake bureaucrat in the Centauri databases and use him to give orders to have Narns sent away from their homeworld to somewhere where they can get medical care. After that he declared them dead so nobody would go looking for them. 2000 Narns were saved this way and Vir's explanation about what he did made it clear that he would much rather continue than be called back to Babylon 5. Cartagia was emperor at this point, so there's little doubt that Vir was risking his life with his underground railroad. Some fridge brilliance in his reply to Londo after being told not to let anyone in the royal court think of his job as a joke.
225---> '''Vir''': I won't.
226[[/folder]]
227
228[[folder:Marcus Cole]]
229* His YouShallNotPass moment versus Neroon, who was gunning for Delenn so he could secure himself a KlingonPromotion. Not if Marcus has anything to say about it.
230-->''I am a Ranger!'' We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge, and no one may pass. We live for the One, '''WE DIE FOR THE ONE!!'''.
231** Marcus is beaten to a pulp by Neroon, but [[WorthyOpponent earns the Minbari's respect and a laugh]] at a joke that Marcus gives Neroon while the Minbari stands at the Ranger's bedside.
232* Marcus gets one when a man arrives at the station, claiming to be King Arthur, refusing to give up his sword. Marcus (a descendant of a British colony) arrives, gets the security officers to back off and let him try something. Then he kneels and calls Arthur "My Lord."
233** Pity he made reference to the wrong events...
234* Marcus is looking for the Nightwatch agents who kidnapped Delenn. So he goes into one of the roughest bars on the station, sits down at a card table surrounded by a bunch of criminal thugs, and states that he figures at least one of them knows something about where the kidnappers might be, and that if they don't tell him what he wants to know, then in five minutes he'll be the only one at the table still conscious. And if he still doesn't get the information he needs, then five minutes after ''that'', he'll be the only person in the ''bar'' still conscious. [[NotHyperbole Ten minutes later]] he shouts out [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments what is arguably the single funniest line in the entire series.]]
235-->"''Bugger!'' Now I have to wait for someone to wake up!"
236* The fight at the beginning of "Messages from Earth," including running straight up a wall to do a dropkick. All done in one take to make clear that it's really Jason Carter rather than a stuntman.
237[[/folder]]
238
239[[folder:Others]]
240* Bester's GambitRoulette ([[LampshadeHanging as he himself admitted it was]]), spanning most of the 4th season. When he delivers his TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to his AndIMustScream victim, resulting in a BigNo - definite Moment of Awesome material. This irreversibly upgraded Bester from SmugSnake to MagnificentBastard.
241** Another CMOA is in coming to Babylon 5 alone to make an alliance with his enemies to rescue [[IWillFindYou his mistress]] and [[PapaWolf his fellow Psi's]] proving that there was some truth to saying that TheCorpsIsMother. After that Bester goes home leaving information that is so valuable it can be considered his own personal RoaringRampageOfRevenge against the Shadows. Bonus points because he didn't ''know'' his mistress was aboard until he saw the ID tag; he simply thought he was rescuing fellow psis!
242* Series creator J. Michael Straczynski gets one in the closing card for the final episode of Season 4: "Dedicated to all the people who predicted that the Babylon Project would fail in its mission. Faith manages."
243-->'''JMS''': And yeah, that little closing card is going to remain on the show for its life...which will be long, long after its detractors (and admittedly myself) have gone to dust. On the one hand, it is a statement of hope to anyone else out there who has a dream, to follow it no matter who speaks against you, no matter the odds, no matter what they say to or about you, no matter what roadblocks they throw in your way. What matters is that you remain true to your vision.
244-->On the other hand, for the reviewers and the pundits and the critics and the net-stalkers who have done nothing but rag on this show for five years straight, it is also a giant middle finger composed of red neon fifty stories tall, that will burn forever in the night.
245-->In billiards, we call that a bank-shot.
246* The speech given by President of Earth at the climax of the Earth/Minbari War:
247--> "This is...This is the President.
248--> I've just been informed that our midrange military bases at Beta Durani and Proxima 3 have fallen to the Minbari advance. We've lost contact with Io and must conclude that they too have fallen to an advance force. Our military intelligence believes that the Minbari intend to bypass Mars and hit Earth directly and the attack may come at any time.
249--> We have continued to broadcast our surrender and a plea for mercy. And they have not responded. We therefore can only conclude... that we stand at the twilight of the Human race.
250--> In order to buy more time for our evacuation transports to leave Earth, we ask for the support of every ship capable of fighting to take part in a last defense of our homeworld. We will not lie to you. We do not believe that survival is a possibility. We believe that anyone who joins this battle... will never come home. But for every ten minutes we can delay the military advance, several hundred civilians may have a chance to escape to neutral territory. Though Earth may fall, the Human race must have a chance to continue elsewhere. No greater sacrifice has ever been asked of a people than I ask you now... to step forward one last time... one last battle, to hold the line against the night. May God go with you all."
251* Neroon spends the vast majority of his time on the show as the representative of the Minbari Warrior Caste, being a proud warrior who distrusts Delenn's religious caste and her belief in prophecies. During the Minbari Civil War, he's one of the leaders of the Warrior Caste who attends the final conflict where Delenn challenges the leader of the Warrior Caste to stand beneath the Starfire wheel, with the winner being the one whose willing to die for their cause. The Warrior Caste leader quickly leaves the light of the Starfire wheel, finding it too painful. Delenn, having won could leave, but she opts to stay in until the wheel burns her to death in order to end the Civil War for good. Neroon, having been a proud warrior this entire time, then jumps into the wheel and pushes her out, shouting during his HeroicSacrifice:
252--> "I was born Warrior Caste, but now I see the calling of my heart was Religious!"
253* Following his HeelRealization, Zack Allen [[AllegianceAffirmation plays a key role]] in the BatmanGambit to force all the Nightwatch members off the station, packing them all in a tight space before racing out to the hallway and diving through the closing door.
254** Gets even more awesome, when you realize two things. 1. The viewer isn't sure until the last second which side he's on, and 2. If that dive had failed, he would have either been badly hurt (or killed) by the door closing on him, and/or been trapped in a room with the entire Nightwatch, who would have been very angry.
255* When Na'Toth encounters Jha'dur:
256--> '''Na'Toth:''' "Deathwalker? Deathwalker! DEATHWALKER!"
257** This is followed up with a spanner beatdown.
258** Or how about that one time she spent oh...forever in a Centauri prison...and was still snarking.
259* Lennier picks up Marcus Cole. ''With one hand''. One can see why you CantArgueWithElves...
260* The Dilgar War in the backstory is a major Crowning Moment of Awesome for Earthforce. Before Earthforce entered the war, the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Dilgar]] were kicking the collective asses of the technologically superior League of Non-Aligned Worlds, the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Narn]] had been scared into looking the other way and the Centauri were doing nothing. Then Earthforce entered the war with a technology inferior to what the Dilgar had, and two years later the Dilgar military had been ''destroyed'' at Earth's hand, and what had not been destroyed was being dissected and studied to equip the next generation of Earthforce warships. Kinda explains why the Earth Alliance in the series is still a major power: the beating suffered at the hands of the Minbari reduced them to the same power they were before the Dilgar War, but they could still defeat someone more powerful than the entire League.
261** The Dilgar were killed later on, when their sun went supernova. The only survivors were a single colony that is now being very, very careful not to ever be discovered.
262* When Lyta is being forced out of Babylon 5, she is escorted to her shuttle in handcuffs. When someone comes forward to remove them, she casually obliterates them and goes on her way.
263* Kosh had one in the episode ''Deathwalker''. He passed the episode screwing with Talia and getting a copy of her mind while the other characters had to deal with the political fallout of the war criminal Jha'dur (called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Deathwalker]] for her body count and discovered because Na'Toth happened to be related to one of her victims. See above for what happened) showing up and offering an immortality serum that [[EquivalentExchange needed the death of a sentient to extend the life and health of another]]. When he's finished screwing with Talia, he proves that he was keeping an eye on the proceedings about Jha'dur and knew everything all along by having the shuttle ferrying Jha'dur to Earth blown up in open view and chastising everyone with the words "YouAreNotReady for immortality". And then left. Garibaldi said it best:
264-->'''Garibaldi:''' Ambassador Kosh has been a busy boy today.
265** A scenario of the ''Babylon 5 Wars'' space combat simulation game adds to the awesomeness. In the scenario Jha'dur had managed to survive, and her escape pod is the subject of a free for all among the League races. The 'Historical Outcome' explains that a Brakiri ship managed to grab Jha'dur and run... Only to disappear in hyperspace, with the League ambassadors receiving the message "You REALLY aren't ready for immortality".
266** The League of Non-Alligned Worlds gets one of their finest hours in the same episode. When they find out that Jha'dur, the war criminal who slaughtered her way through their worlds is on the station, they march up to Sinclair, refuse to let him send her to Earth for a KarmaHoudini and demand a trial. Once the Narn, Centauri, and Minbari ambassadors reluctantly vote to let Jha'dur go for {{Realpolitik}} reasons, Ambassador Kalika rants furiously about the League's nonentity status and threatens to withdraw from the Babylon 5 project in protest. This is followed by how several League species summon their most powerful warships (which are being shown for the first time in the series) to take Jha'dur by force.
267* Both times that ActionGirl [=PFC=] Elizabeth "Dodger" Durman trades blows with some of her fellow Marines in defense of the Babylon Five permanent residents in "[=GROPOS=]."
268* The unveiling of the ''White Star'' fleet was both a Crowning Moment of Awesome and a sign that shit was about to get seriously real.
269* The end of the episode "And Now For A Word" has the IntrepidReporter asking everyone, at the end of a ''very'' bad day, if they feel Babylon is worth the trouble to keep running. Most of the characters give affirmative answers for different reasons (or, in the case of Ivanova, a BluntYes with no explanation), but Franklin gives this retort, making it clear that he felt it was a plainly stupid question:
270-->'''[[TheMedic Franklin]]''': Look, if we weren't here right now, half the people in this room would be dead! Now ''that'' should be a good enough answer for anyone.
271* The season 1 episode "Signs and Portents" give us an indirect one for [=EarthForce=]'s gunmakers. Why? Well, when Sinclair realizes the Raiders' battlewagon is unarmed and thus the Interceptors aren't needed to [[ShootTheBullet intercept its fire]], the AA-guns ''[[CurbStompBattle wipe the Raiders' fighters out in a matter of seconds]]''. Whoever makes those guns is ''good''...
272** Every time someone fires pulse weapons at an [=EarthForce=] ship or installation. No matter your technological level, your fire ''will'' be intercepted.
273** And the above in turn gives one to ''Centauri'' gunmakers, when one of their ships quickly overwhelms Babylon 5's ''improved'' Interceptor grid while firing at a Narn ship ''at the same time''. The Centauri ship is then destroyed when the station gets damaged and Sheridan opens fire with the heavy weapons, but nobody else will ''ever'' succeed in overwhelming an Interceptor grid with a single ship, especially not so fast.
274* Pictured above: With the EAS Churchill about to be destroyed during the Battle of Babylon 5 at the beginning of the Earth Alliance Civil War, Captain Hiroshi decides to go down with a TakingYouWithMe moment, [[RammingAlwaysWorks and has her ship ram one of the enemy destroyers, destroying both.]]
275* More subtle than most of the above, and performed by a character denounced by many fen as TheScrappy, but Byron's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggR9Eto8bRA dismissal]] of a Downbelow thug is a thing of beauty. The textbook example of a BadassPacifist;
276-->'''Byron''': ''Was one the same as three? Was three the same as one and two?''\
277'''Thug''': ''Wh--?''\
278'''Byron''': ''Was there any difference between one, two, and three?''\
279'''Thug''': ''I... I--''\
280'''Byron''': ''And what would you expect to get out of four, five, and six that you did not get out of one, two, and three? Your anger has nothing to do with me. What will satisfy your anger will never come from me or anyone else here. I'm afraid you must look for it elsewhere.''
281--->--Byron, Babylon 5, 5x07 "Secrets of the Soul"
282* Early in season 2, Londo incurs the wrath of Elric, a powerful Technomage, for pestering him about getting an endorsement from his order. As a result, Londo and Vir suffer all sorts of technology-related mishaps and woes. As Elric and the other Technomages are about to leave Babylon 5, Londo approaches him one last time, asking for a prophecy. Elric complies, and gives one that is both awesome and frightening, indicating how deep Londo has gotten himself in trouble, and foretelling his doom.
283-->'''Elric''': As I look at you, Ambasador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sound; the sounds of billions of people calling your name.
284-->'''Londo''': My followers?
285-->'''Elric''': Your victims.
286* Kosh-as-G'Qarn's speech to G'Kar in "Dust to Dust", reminding him that the galaxy's problems are much bigger than the Narns' CycleOfRevenge with the Centauri:
287-->'''G'Qarn!Kosh:''' We are a dying people, G'Kar. So are the Centauri. Obsessed with each other's death until death is all we can see and death is all we deserve.
288-->'''G'Kar:''' The Centauri started it.
289-->'''G'Qarn!Kosh:''' And will you continue, until there are no more Narns, and no more Centauri? If both sides are dead, no one will care which side deserves the blame. It no longer matters who started it, G'Kar. It only matters who is suffering.
290-->'''G'Kar:''' No. No, I have an obligation to honor my father's name.
291-->'''G'Qarn!Kosh:''' And how have you chosen to honor that name? What is there left for Narn if all of creation falls around us? There is nothing. No hope, no dream, no future, no life. Unless we turn from the cycle of death toward something greater. If we are a dying people, then let us die with honor, by helping the others as no one else can.
292-->'''G'Kar:''' I don't understand.
293-->'''G'Qarn!Kosh:''' Because you have let them distract you, blind you with hate. You cannot see the battle for what it is. We are fighting to save one another. We must realize we are not alone. We rise and fall together. And some of us must be sacrificed if all are to be saved. Because if we fail in this, then none of us will be saved, and the Narn will be only a memory. ''[He vanishes.]'' You have the opportunity, here and now, to choose, to become something greater and nobler and more difficult than you have been before. The universe does not offer such chances often, G'Kar.
294-->'''G'Kar:''' Why now? Why not earlier? All this time, where have you been?
295-->'''G'Qarn!Kosh:''' I have always been here.
296-->''[G'Kar turns, just in time to see G'Qarn!Kosh transform into G'Lan and fly off into the sky.]''
297* "Point of No Return" and "Severed Dreams" provide plenty of moments for Clark's opponents outside the main cast, whether alongside the core protagonists or in HeroOfAnotherStory roles.
298** Earth Alliance official General Smit, who implicitly chooses to stay with Clark to try and be an InternalReformist, sends Sheridan a PublicSecretMessage that reminds him of how he can resist complying with Clark's orders with some BotheringByTheBook, which sets the stage for Babylon Five declaring its independence from Clark. He does this ''[[SmallRoleBigImpact in his only scene in the entire series]]''.
299** One of Garibaldi's security guards decides to TurnInYourBadge with a DeathGlare rather than submit to a BlackShirt ultimatum, and it is implied that many others do the same thing.
300** Some brief news footage shows General Hague and three ships being attacked by a fleet of Clark loyalists but managing to escape, causing massive cheering from the people of Babylon Five. Granted, this loses a bit of the triumph when BlackShirt goons try to break up the cheering crowds, but seeing those spectators, men, women, and aliens alike, fighting back and holding their own well is also grimly impressive.
301** An unseen ActionPolitician named Senator Borahevsky refuses to abandon her office after Clark disbands the Senate and calls for people to form a human wall around the building to make Clark back down.
302** Major Ryan spends the opening firefight of "Severed Dreams" working hard to avoid having to kill a Clark-aligned ship, but within a couple of seconds of his accepting that he can't do that and save his crew, the other ship is just debris.
303** The leader of Mars refuses to implement martial law, which inspires Babylon 5 and the other colonies to secede (albeit, sadly, only after Mars is bombed for its defiance).
304** The [=ISN=] anchors report about the bombing of Mars and the other colonies breaking away from Clark, and then an anchor named Rick hurriedly discusses how Clark's troops are surrounding the building and have spent the last year censoring vital stories about his dictatorship even as Clark's troops barge in and are likely to treat him especially harshly for that defiance.
305** Sheridan's father carefully gives him his blessings to revolt (on an open channel) and says, "The neighbors around here like us, Lord knows why. So if anybody comes for us, they're going to have quite a fight on their hands."
306** Captain Hiroshi rams an enemy ship as a successful TakingYouWithMe moment after her own vessel is about to explode during the space battle at Babylon 5.
307* John sets out on the White Star with Lyta and Lenier, waiting for a Shadow to attack to test the theory about their vulnerability to telepathic attack. When they engage, Lyta isn't able to make contact at first... but then, as Sheridan tries to help her focus, she senses the piece of Kosh inside of him AND sees his death (and maybe feels it too). Lyta stands, knowing the pain of her benefactor and mentor's loss from a new perspective, and is filled with rage as she focuses on the Shadow vessel and holds it still. The process is agonizing, causing her to bleed from her eyes, but she's able to freeze long enough for the White Star to pulverize it.
308-->'''Lyta:''' They killed him... they tore him apart. ''Burn, you bastard!''
309* In "No Surrender No Retreat":
310** There's the way that Captain [=MacDougan=] ever so slowly and casually answers a message from his commander ordering him to fight Sheridan and announces that he's staying out of the battle. Then, when his [=XO=] pulls a gun on him, he barely raises an eyebrow and makes a dry quip before the rest of his loyal crew overpower the [=XO=].
311** Captain Hall refuses to surrender because he is facing likely war crimes prosecution from Sheridan's side and rebukes his [=XO=] Levitt for considering Sheridan's comments when "I'm the one they'll hold responsible, not you." Levitt turns this around on him by lambasting him for risking the lives of their entire crew due to what is essentially his own cowardice before coldly relieving him of command and having him marched off the bridge.
312* In the pilot movie, Dr. Kyle uses a surgical laser to drive back an assassin trying to kill him and his patient.
313* The ''Film/BabylonFiveThirdspace'' {{Novelization}} includes a deleted subplot following Lennier, featuring him in full BewareTheNiceOnes mode. He takes on over a dozen BrainwashedAndCrazy people (many armed with melee weapons) with his bare hands across the last few chapters, including several he fights while reeling from a crowbar blow to the head. He also makes one stirring ShutUpHannibal comment after another to his opponents.
314--> '''Lennier''': If the One were truly confident, he would not need mindless dupes such as you to send matters into disarray.

Top