Line #69 Heartwarming/BabylonFive


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7	* During season 1, the station holds a festival for each race to demonstrate their most prominent religious rites. Sinclair is tasked with providing humanity's demonstration, and naturally is overwhelmed at how to do it when we have so many different religions. In the final scene, he gives his demonstration, [[spoiler:introducing the other ambassadors to a member of each of humanity's religions, enough that they fill an entire hallway, making the point that what truly makes humanity's religion special is the ability for so many different kinds of belief to exist in harmony.]] There are reports of crew members having {{Manly Tears}} as it was shot.
8	** This goes into tearjerker territory if you consider that JMS, the show's creator, is a self-declared atheist.
9	** And CMOF, when he mentions something: [[spoiler: The atheist was first in line, and 'best dressed']]
10	** And CMOA, when the camera pans down the line, and you see a Hasidic Jew standing next to a very obvious Muslim. Humanity may have problems in the future, but religious intolerance apparently isn't one of them.
11	* After confronting G'Kar about his intention to smuggle weapons for the Narn resistance through Babylon 5, Garibaldi gives him the name of a trustworthy contact who can handle the smuggling far more effectively, because G'Kar didn't lie to him.
12	-->'''G'Kar:''' Why are you doing this?\
13	'''Garibaldi:''' Because you didn't lie to me.\
14	'''G'Kar:''' But you must have known that ahead of time.\
15	'''Garibaldi:''' Like you said, I never start a conversation unless I know where it's going... but I always leave a little room for someone to disappoint me. Thanks for not doing it.
16	* When Kosh is being executed by the Shadows for heating up their [[EnforcedColdWar Cold War]], he appears to Sheridan as he sleeps, in the guise of Sheridan's father. Vorlons never do anything without a purpose, and everything they do is on purpose. Think about that- Kosh saw Sheridan as the closest thing he had to a son, and what he did was the only way he could ever show it.
17	* The meeting between "King Arthur" and Delenn, an exquisite symbolism. Two [[TheAtoner atoners]] who were similar in personality in some ways and who both knew themselves to have responsibility for the beginning of the Earth-Minbari war, meeting to forgive.
18	* Lennier retaining unshaken his UndyingLoyalty toward Delenn after hearing her darkest secret in ''Atonement'':
19	-->'''Lennier:''' Delenn, I have pledged myself to your side...come fire or storm or darkness or death. Can understanding be a greater danger?
20	** Most of what Lennier does is either heartwarming or tearjerker. Same goes for every aspect of his relationship with Delenn.
21	* Londo's outright admiration of Vir handling the Drazi spy.
22	* G'Kar was hell-bent and determined to get Na'Toth out of that cell.
23	* "It's easy to find something worth dying for. Do you have anything worth living for?" "Delenn!"
24	** Let's emphasize this for a minute - John Sheridan loves Delenn enough to ''[[spoiler:defy death]]''. Now ''that'''s ThePowerOfLove.
25	* When G'Kar and Londo part ways in Season 5. "Mollari .. understand .. that I can never forgive your people for what they did to my world. My people can never forgive your people. But I .. can forgive .. you."
26	** One of the core starting points for this change was also a CMOH. In "No Surrender, No Retreat" Londo approaches G'Kar in private to ask him to issue a joint statement on behalf of both their Governments supporting Sheridan's new campaign, offering him a drink - as G'Kar had once done with him (even though Londo had unknowingly ruined any chance for rapprochement that time). G'Kar silently and coldly turns him down to the point of pouring the drink back into the bottle and Londo leaves. Then at the episode, without warning and clearly having thought and struggled on it, G'Kar suddenly sits next to Londo at a public bar, gets a drink and silently drinks it. Then, he turns to tell Londo that he will sign the joint statement with him. Granted, not on the same page ... but it is a core turning point as their transactional teeth clenched teamwork started to become something very different.
27	** Londo has had a dream all his life of his death, he would be strangled to death by G'Kar while Londo strangles him. This was taken for years to mean their hatred would kill them both. But as the plot evolves [[spoiler:and Londo is given his Keeper, it is shown that it was a tremendous act of love and self-sacrifice. Londo was kept under the control of the keeper for the last 18 years of his life. It would control him and and his actions, using the MagnificentBastard for evil. 18 years of being a prisoner in his own body. G'Kar, as Londo's greatest foe and friend, releases him from the prison as a MercyKill, despite the Keeper waking up and killing him as well.]]
28	** The ExpandedUniverse takes it one step further. After rebuilding Centauri Prime from the Drakh bombings, Emperor Vir Cotto commissioned two massive statues of Londo and G'Kar, taller than most buildings, to be built to stand like two colossi at the main roads leading to the capital city. They faced outward, at opposite ends of the city but standing back-to-back, as though to defend the capital (and each other) from harm. Facing in opposite directions, as far apart as could possibly be, but both dedicated to a common cause; you'd have to look far and wide for a more appropriate tribute.
29	* "I'll never leave you, Delenn. Not even if the whole universe stood between us."
30	* The Marriage at the end of Season 4, and G'Kar using his eye to look in and see how it is going...
31	* In a more ironic fashion, in "Soul Mates" when Londo Mollari chooses the frankly sharp-tongued Timov to be his remaining wife. When she asks why, he responds, "Because, with you, I will always know where I stand." When Mollari leaves her alone, you see her smile a little at her husband's genuinely charming respect for her BrutalHonesty.
32	** More sweet when you realise that, earlier in the episode, she was the only one who genuinely wanted to help him, by giving him the blood needed for his life-saving transfusion, without him knowing. It's nice watching the scene, knowing he made the right choice without even realising it.
33	* Delenn making it rain.[[note]]During a long flight aboard a Minbary starship Sheridan struggles to sleep on the wake of a major battle, and he confesses to Delenn how the sound of rain on the roof always helped him fall asleep back on Earth and how one time his father helped him get some shuteye before an exam by spraying the roof of their house with a hose. So Delenn orders the ship to playback the sound of rain, and Sheridan finally dozes off.[[/note]]
34	* Any of Londo's PetTheDog moments, really. One that springs to mind is when he helps two Centauris who wanted to marry for love defy their disapproving families.
35	-->'''Mollari:''' My shoes are now too tight, and I have forgotten how to dance.
36	-->'''Vir Cotto:''' I don't understand.
37	-->'''Mollari:''' Nor should you.
38	--> [Later, when he helps the two young Centauri and they ask why]
39	-->'''Mollari:''' Because you are still children, and children should be allowed to '''dance!'''
40	* Later in the series, Londo is in a {{plan}} that spun out into a GambitRoulette, with the fate of an entire world in the balance. An assassination attempt has gone awry, and could lead to the death of billions. Londo stands revealed as a traitor, and is helpless to stop the upcoming slaughter... until [[BreakTheCutie Vir steps in and finishes the assassination.]] Londo, realizing this is the first time Vir's ever compromised his morality, tells him that the knowledge that the act was necessary doesn't make up for him, but gently reminds Vir that the overwhelming guilt he feels means he's still a good person. The heartwarming really steps in, however, at FridgeBrilliance: by this point in the story, Londo's killed far better people for far less, with far fewer moral qualms than Vir. Londo has long since convinced himself that he is past redemption, but in a quiet moment where Vir is all but asking Londo to tell him the ends completely justify the means, Londo caringly but firmly tells him that they don't, because he knows better and wants what's best for Vir.
41	* The end of the Vorlon/Shadow War in Season 4, after Sheridan and Delenn tell them both off, Lorien steps forward and explains that they need to let go of the younger races, leave the galaxy to them, and move on as he and his kind did long ago. The Shadow is the first to respond, in such an unexpectedly timid tone. The Vorlon's response is much the same. They were simply afraid, and Lorien's reassurance of them is equally as heartwarming. In the end, these ancient, powerful, and enigmatic beings were in many ways still children, needing the comfort and reassurance of their "parent".
42	--> '''Shadow:''' Will you... come with us?
43	--> '''Lorien:''' I have been here since the beginning. I will not leave you now. I will go with you beyond the Rim, and we will see again all those who went ahead of us. All those who we have missed for so long.
44	--> '''Vorlon:''' Then... we will not be alone?
45	--> '''Lorien:''' [[YouAreNotAlone No, never alone.]]
46	* The GrandFinale is made of heartwarming. While Babylon 5 dies in fire, the light does not go out. It taught us many things, but mostly there is still hope, even for people like us.
47	** Interestingly, the end actually matches the prescient vision of how Babylon 5 would be destroyed. A single shuttle leaving the station as it begins to explode. What the prophetic vision did not show was that the shuttle was ''not'' fleeing as it appeared. It was carrying the remaining protagonists who had come to witness the station's end. The shuttle then flies down a row of honor guard ships -- all the younger races that had come to Babylon 5 to try to secure their futures -- and succeeded.
48	* The penultimate episode has a very moving CallBack to the Season 1 credits, where all the main characters lined up in front of the window in C&C. Only now, all the characters are the replacements, stepping up to take the place of those who've moved on: Captain Lochley replacing Sinclair/Sheridan, [[MauveShirt Lt. Corwin]] replacing Ivanova, [[FemmeFatale Number Two]] replacing Lyta, [[AscendedExtra Zack]] replacing Garibaldi, [[TheMedic Lillian Hobbs]] replacing Dr. Franklin, [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Ta'Lon]] replacing [[MessiahCreep G'Kar]], and [[{{Adorkable}} Vir Cotto]]replacing Londo. It's an incredibly poignant PassingTheTorch moment, showing that no matter what happens, Babylon 5 will still be there.
49	** Even more heartwarming than that, the GrandFinale also features [[spoiler: A CreatorCameo of ''the entire production crew'', along with a shoutout to "[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes Those of you who have been archiving]] this [[ShowWithinAShow Special ISN Documentary]]...]]
50	* Lennier sticking his neck out for Sheridan in a big way in "There All the Honor Lies", despite having had family on the ''Black Star''.
51	* Neroon finally working together with Delenn.
52	-->'''Neroon:''' Dukhat chose you above all to follow him. Slowly, dimly, I begin to understand why. I do not know what lies ahead of us, Delenn. But I do know that it is right that we are here together.\
53	'''Delenn:''' Was that a compliment, Neroon?\
54	'''Neroon:''' ''[Actually smiling]'' After a fashion.
55	* Londo asks Garibaldi to have a drink with him in "Acts of Sacrifice" while stressing that he knows Garibaldi has reason to be wary of his recent actions, but Londo still views him as a friend who treated him kindly even when he didn't have to, and hopes Garibaldi is still willing to drink with him. After a pause, Garibaldi agrees to come back for that drink when he has time.
56	* All of Sheridan and Ivanova's PlatonicRelationship. Their friendship was one of the mainstays of the show's entire run, and proved that a relationship didn't have to be romantic to be heartwarming, awww-worthy, and generally all-around awesome. Sheridan realizes that he has one hell of a second-in-command in Ivanova, and Ivanova appreciates that Sheridan fully understands and respects his recognition of this.
57	** The moment in "The Geometry of Shadows" where he casually promotes her to full [[CommandingCoolness Commander]]; her face just [[WhenSheSmiles lights up]]. Quickly shifts to a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments moment of funny]] when [[ThisIsGonnaSuck she realizes]] that her first order of business is to sort out the [[SillyReasonForWar ridiculous Drazi clusterfuck]]...
58	** In season 4, Sheridan sends Ivanova out with Lorien to locate and recruit the remaining First Ones. She protests furiously, not because of the difficulty (indeed, he was sending her because of her previous contact with one of them; she the ''best and only'' one for the job) but because she hates being left behind. So Sheridan reassures her that he's not leaving her behind but asking her to rally forces for the climactic final battle of the Shadow War. It was only because of their mutual respect and understanding that Ivanova agrees to do it. And to her credit, she succeeds with Lorien's help and pushes herself to make to the battle site before everything went down. She made it with moments to spare.
59	---> '''Sheridan:''' Susan, you made it.\
60	'''Ivanova:''' You think I'd miss a party like this?
61	** Later, after the Shadow War but before the Earth Alliance Civil War heats up again, Ivanova rather forcefully relieves Sheridan of command of the station for a day. She goes about her explanation in a elaborate and rather amusing way, but she soon makes the point clear. They've just been through one war, another is just over the horizon, he's been though like nine months of sheer hell. It's quiet right now. ''Take a break while you can!'' And Ivanova stands firm. What makes it this is that, although he protests for a bit, Sheridan realizes ''she's right''; she's looking out for him.
62	** Ivanova's [[spoiler:last request]] was that Sheridan [[spoiler:win the war]] from the bridge of the ''Agamemnon''. [[spoiler:So he did.]]
63	* Lochley sending for [[LoveInterest Lise]] to help Garibaldi out of his funk at the end of season 5.
64	* In "Passing Through Gethsemane", when Brad Dourif's character (Brother Edward) tells Delenn what the defining moment of his faith is. He describes the scene in Literature/TheBible where Jesus prays in the garden at Gethsemane for his terrible fate to be passed on to someone else, and how he eventually found the strength in himself to let the Roman soldiers capture and imprison him. Dourif does an incredible job of delivering the monologue, and it's no wonder Delenn looks like she's on the verge of tears as she listens to him. What makes this doubly awesome is that the scene was written by an atheist.
65	** Also, the final scene of the episode, where Brother Theo shows that he has found it in himself to forgive the man who [[spoiler: murdered Brother Edward]], and convinces Sheridan to do the same, with nothing more than softly-spoken words.
66	** [[spoiler:As he's dying]], Brother Edwards asks Brother Theo for forgiveness. Theo gives him a full pardon, without hesitation. He also asks Theo to forgive [[spoiler:the ones who killed him.]]
67	* The three-issue comic series, ''In Valen's Name'', shows the final fate of Babylon 4, when it reappears in the present, during Season 4. However, more importantly, it offers a cryptic hint that Sinclair finally found Catherine Sakai in the distant past, and it seems they lived more-or-less happily ever after...
68	* ''[[Recap/BabylonFiveS04E19BetweenTheDarknessAndTheLight Between the Darkness and the Light]]'':
69	** When a drugged-up and torture-battered Sheridan is rescued from Earth Alliance custody, and sees Garibaldi ([[spoiler: who betrayed him to his captors]]) among the rescue party, says in a slurred voice:
70	---> "Michael... boy was I gonna ''kick your butt'' for something... but I don't remember."
71	** The final scene of the episode shows Narn and Centauri vessels flying next to each other in Sheridan's fleet as it gets underway for Mars. Considering how they spent most of the series at each other's throats it shows just how much Sheridan and his people brought the two races [[RivalsTeamUp together]].
72	* In fourth season, G'Kar goes looking for the missing Garibaldi and is captured, tortured, and maimed by the Centauri as a result. Garibaldi is therefore a little nervous when he finds G'Kar on his doorstep in "Epiphanies"; he backs away and G'Kar moves in...and gives him a huge, joyous hug.
73	-->"''Welcome home, Mr. Garibaldi!''"
74	** Earlier in the season, we see G'Kar on his search for Garibaldi. Finding himself in trouble, G'Kar is rescued by Marcus, of all people. Later, after the pair had gone to ground, Marcus asks why G'Kar is putting so much on the line for Garibaldi. G'Kar reveals that it's because Garibaldi is his friend- the first friend he had who wasn't a Narn. When G'Kar asks Marcus why he followed him, Marcus response it that he never had a friend who was a Narn before.
75	* in "Endgame", as President Clark [[spoiler: turns Earth's defenses on the planet itself, the Minbari fleet arrives to help save the day]]. Especially warming if you remember the events of the Earth-Minbari war. [[spoiler: The last time a Minbari fleet reached Earth, they fought against the Alliance to try to exterminate humanity. Now they arrive to fight side-by-side with it, to ''save'' it]].
76	-->'''Sheridan:'''"Delenn, [[GondorCallsForAid we need you.]]"
77	-->'''Delenn:'''"[[YouAreNotAlone We are there.]]"
78	** The Agamemnon’s guns are crippled, but she’s the only ship in range of stopping [[spoiler: one of the last defense systems, one that would vaporize most of the east coast of North America. Sheridan [[RammingAlwaysWorks orders the command to]] [[HeroicSacrifice ram the satellite, knowing they won’t survive it.]] But suddenly a jump point forms, and an [=EarthAlliance=] ship that survived the booby trap back on Mars [[MyCountryRightOrWrong swoops in and destroys the satellite just before the Agamemnon would have collided with it.]] Even if they were on opposite sides of the conflict, they knew what their true priority was.]]
79	* "I think it's time you knew that I can no longer imagine my world without you in it. I don't know when or how it happened, ''but I'm glad it did.''" Damn it, John Sheridan. Just... damn it.
80	* In a combination of this, Awesome, and Tear Jerker, Michael O'Hare delayed treatment for his schizophrenia until the end of the first season to avoid costing the cast and crew their jobs (as well as dooming a franchise that was trying to get off the ground). And J. Michael Straczynski honored his request to keep his condition secret until after his death, not revealing the truth of why O'Hare left the series until 9 months after he had died.
81	** At the event where Straczynski first told about this, he also spoke about how important the fans were to O'Hare and how they helped give him the strength to finish the job. After meeting and interacting with fans, he always returned better and stronger, knowing how all these people cared about what he did.
82	* From ''In the Beginning'', there is Londo describing humanity's continued determination and defiance in the face of fighting a completely unwinnable, genocidal war. The sheer admiration he has for humans because of this comes through in every line.
83	-->'''Londo''': 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. I only hope that when it is my time I may die with half as much dignity as I saw in their eyes at the end. They did this for two years. They never ran out of courage, but in the end they ran out of time.
84	** Doubly heartwarming, and doubles as a Tearjerker, when you realize as Londo is telling this, he is [[spoiler: completely aware that his time is hours, maybe less, away, as when he finishes telling the story we'll pick up the events Sheridan saw in ''War Without End'' and Londo and G'kar will die together. ''And Londo knows this.'']]
85	* The reunion between Jeffrey Sinclair and Catherine Sakai in ''To Dream in the City of Sorrows''. From the first time they see each other to Jeff quoting Tennyson at her like the DorkKnight he is, it's just the most freaking adorable thing. Their relationship didn't get nearly enough screen time or development, but this novel makes up for that and then some.
86	* Vir's position was originally seen as a joke. When Londo became more important in season 2 the politicians on Centauri Prime wanted to replace Vir with someone else. Londo told them and Vir's family that he had never had a more capable assistant and that if Vir left he would also leave. Doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment\|s}} when Vir has his first hangover and Londo loudly asks him how quickly he can pack. Vir gets up to go to his quarter and pack, but Londo tells him to start with "this stuff" before explaining what he did.
87	-->'''Vir:''' But this is yours.
88	-->'''Londo:''' Good, Vir. You're sobering up.
89	* In ''And The Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place'', Sheridan is [[TheChainsOfCommanding straining under the weight of his responsibilities]] as leader of the Army of Light. Reverend Dexter comes to pay him a visit and talks to him about what he's going through, and suggests that Sheridan should talk with [[LoveInterest Delenn]] about his troubles. Sheridan of course doesn't want to burden her, so Dexter tells him a story about how before they were married, his wife would always come to his house to help clean up, even though her house is a mess too. When he asked her why she bothered, she told him:
90	-->'''Emily''': Because cleaning up your place helps me to forget what a mess I've made of mine, and - when I sweep my floor, all I've done is sweep my floor. But, when I help you clean up your place, I am helping ''you''.
91	* Dr. Stephen Franklin has put Garibaldi, Ivanova, and Sheridan on "food plans" because they aren't looking after themselves nutritionally. Garibaldi spends most of the episode trying to get the ingredients for bagna cauda, which Franklin had flat-out refused to let Garibaldi eat, past him. When Franklin catches Garibaldi red-handed taking possession of said ingredients, Garibaldi tells him why he was so fixated on the dish, and why it was ordered for his birthday. Garibaldi's father was a master chef, and bagna cauda was his specialty, and every year on Michael's birthday, his father would make bagna cauda for him, as his special nonverbal "I love you" from father to son. Michael now makes it for himself in memory of his father. Franklin is moved enough to not only authorize the meal, but ask Garibaldi if there's enough for two (which leads to a Crowning Moment of Funny.)
92	** Later in the series, when Garibaldi attempts to confront Franklin about his possible stim addiction, Garibaldi does it over dinner in Garibaldi's quarters, with the implication that the two eat together, with Garibaldi cooking, fairly routinely.
93	** This is also largely based on the childhood of the episode's writer D.C. Fontana, and was important enough to her that she kept an eye on the production process and stepped in when someone made a prop request for a "plate" of bagna cauda, not realizing it's a fondue.
94	* In "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E17Knives Knives]]", Franklin is once again invoking DoctorsOrders for the sake of Sheridan's health, ordering him to take time off from work to rest when Sheridan seems to be having some sort of breakdown (Sheridan is actually dealing with an incorporeal alien which as taken shelter inside his body and mind, but nobody knows that yet). Sheridan compares him to his notoriously hard-edged Marine father:
95	-->'''Sheridan''': You know, [[ToughLove you're just]] like [[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E10GROPOS your father]].
96	-->'''[[DoctorJerk Franklin]]''': ''[Genuinely pleased]'' Well, thank you.
97	* Londo and Vir celebrating saving Centauri Prime from both the Shadows and the Vorlons in "Into the Fire" is a good ThrowTheDogABone moment for both of them.
98	* In "Day of the Dead", there's the way that all of the temporarily resurrected people are enjoying their returns while being unafraid of how they will soon return to being dead. Whether it's Zoe being fascinated by the future, Adira and Londo reaffirming their true love and having a romantic night together, or Dodger and Garibaldi settling on platonic flirting, singing, and chatting about how their lives are going, there are no truly negative interactions to be found. Even the villainous Morden saves Lennier's life (albeit for arguably selfish reasons).
99	* In "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS03E10SeveredDreams Severed Dreams]]", the station staff are about to declare independence in response to President Clark's attacks on civilian populations on Mars. They know this will mean a shooting fight with [=EarthForce=]. Before making the announcement, Sheridan calls his father, knowing they won't be able to speak again for some time. His father tells him he understands, and gives him some reassuring words:
100	-->'''David Sheridan''': "John, I can't imagine the kind of decisions that are going through your mind right now. I'm sure they're not easy. The important ones never are. [[SoProudOfYou But when push comes to shove, you've always done the right thing.]] What was the first lesson I ever taught you?"
101	-->'''John Sheridan''': "[[GoodIsNotSoft Never start a fight, but always finish it.]]"
102	* Some of Marcus's DoggedNiceGuy moments with Ivanova
103	** Making a goofy chart for the sole purpose of getting a tense Ivanova to smile
104	** Importing bacon and eggs for her to have for breakfast one morning. Even Garibaldi, no stranger to importing luxury foods, considers these nearly nearly impossible to get on Babylon 5.
105	* In "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E18ConfessionsAndLamentations Confessions and Lamentations]]", the Markab population has been stricken by a deadly plague, causing widespread panic (especially since it's initially unclear whether other species might be vulnerable) and a station-wide quarantine. Garibaldi comes to the rescue of a Markab being attacked by a mob, chasing them off. After a long moment of hesitation, Garibaldi offers his hand to help the Markab to his feet.
106	** Delenn wants to go with the Markab into their self-isolation to offer comfort. Sheridan is [[AngerBornOfWorry afraid for her]] and tries to stop her:
107	-->'''Delenn''': They're in pain, frightened, dying. Minbari are taught that at such a time, the afflicted should be ministered to, comforted.
108	-->'''Sheridan''': [[MomentOfWeakness They're not your own people, Delenn.]]
109	-->'''Delenn''': [[WhatTheHellHero I didn't know that similarity was required for the exercise of compassion]]. They are afraid. We wish to do what little we can.
110	** Before Delenn and Lennier go to be locked in with the Markab, Delenn offers Sheridan some ministry and comfort as well:
111	--->'''Delenn''': Don't look away, Captain. [[WhoWantsToLiveForever All life is transitory, a dream]]. We all come together in the same place, at the end of time. [[NeverSayGoodbye If I don't see you again here]], [[ReunionVow I will see you, in a little while]], in a place where no shadows fall.

Context Heartwarming / BabylonFive