History Recap / BabylonFiveS02E15AndNowForAWord

!And Now For a Word

** This has been depicted before in the show whenever the local ISN reporter, [[https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Ann_Cramer Mary Ann Cramer]] is seen such as in [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS01E12ByAnyMeansNecessary}} By Any Means Necessary]] , the floating cameras are seen hovering around her. The cameras were also seen during Sinclair's trial on [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS01E00TheGathering}} The Gathering]].

We start from a report from an ISN news desk with special correspondent Cynthia Torqueman, as we the viewers are treated to her experience of the controversial Babylon 5.

* CastingGag: Sheridan's line about how he isn't very much into gambling may come out as HilariousInHindsight when you know Boxleitner featured prominently in the western Movie ''Film/TheGambler'' some ten years before B5 went on air.

* CallingYourAttacks: Over the comms, the Starfury pilots report if they have fired or being fired upon.

* MagicalSecurityCam: Barely averted. Upon realizing a camera couldn't fit into some of the angles seen (at least, as we knew them in the mid-'90s), JMS ordered a CG small floating camera in the background of an early shot to explain this.

* WithDueRespect: Sheridan's reaction to some of the senator's comment.

On C&C there is jubilant applause, but just as Sheridan opens a channel, a Narn cruiser jumps in and assaults the Centauri cruiser and manages to destroy it. Narn cruiser then attempts to jump out, but their drives have been damaged and the ship explodes.

Ivanova's investigation is finished, and the League is session to discuss the findings. G'Kar's suspicions have been verified, and Sheridan is royally ''upset'' at Londo; Babylon 5 is in neutral territory, and ''not'' to be used as a staging area/munitions depot, and anything that causes that to change would put all the residents in a dangerous situation. Londo is quick to retaliate, but Sheridan and Delenn shoot him down, then G'Kar demands that the remaining Centauri ships be seized and searched, which Londo vehemently protests promising Centauri ships will defend themselves against any boarders. Just before the debate gets seriously heated, the Narn and Centauri ships outside start fighting. Delta Squadron is deployed, and Sheridan, after some deliberation, calls for a neutralization order (disable first, destroy as a last resort). Sheridan calls for any combatants to be thrown in the brig, then nearly orders Londo and G'Kar thrown in as well if they refuse to return to chambers, but calls for a "neater" action since the cameraman's on his left.

After the human staff are consulted Torqueman begins talking about the alien population, including a shot of the mysterious Vorlon Ambassador Kosh, but is not able to talk. Delenn is next. She talks about her homeworld, how she had changed overall after since last year, but when the Earth-Minbari War gets mentioned, and Torqueman begins asking how the relatives of those who died would feel to see a Minbari with human features, Delenn nearly breaks down in tears until Ivanova calls to request her presence in chambers.

After the human staff are consulted Torqueman begins talking about alien population, including a shot of the mysterious Vorlon Ambassador Kosh, but is not able to talk. Delenn is next. She talks about her homeworld, how she had changed overall after since last year, but when the Earth-Minbari War gets mentioned, and Torqueman begins asking how the relatives of those who died would feel to see a Minbari with human features, Delenn nearly breaks down in tears until Ivanova calls to request her presence in chambers.

* IntrepidReporter: Cynthia Torqueman.

* NotSoDifferent: When G'Kar describes his childhood under Centauri occupation to Torqueman, he points out that there are humans for whom the words "never again" mean something after what happened to their ancestors.

* SubliminalSeduction: PSI CORPS IS YOUR FRIEND. TRUST THE CORPS. Arguably the whole point of the episode, considering its title. "And Now For A Word" [[CompleteTheQuoteTitle calls to mind the phrase continuing]] "...from our sponsors". As only two organizations get an advert inserted into the program (well, every ''version'' of the program, and this is the only full-length advert), we might guess who was sponsoring it. They certainly got that word in. Word of God is that the producers made the message flash as quickly as they could without violating the real-world laws against subliminal messaging.

* SubliminalSeduction: PSI CORPS IS YOUR FRIEND. TRUST THE CORPS. Arguably the whole point of the episode, considering its title. "And Now For A Word" [[CompleteTheQuoteTitle calls to mind the phrase continuing]] "...from our sponsors". As only two organizations get an advert inserted into the program (well, every ''version'' of the program, and this is the only full-length advert), we might guess who was sponsoring it. They certainly got that word in.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: G'Kar reveals his, and it puts a really [[ItsPersonal personal]] spin on his hatred of the Centauri. He was raised a slave in a Centauri household, and watched his father be hanged to death for three days for spilling a hot drink on the lady of the house.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: G'Kar reveals his, and it puts a really [[ItsPersonal personal]] spin on his hatred of the Centauri. He was raised a slave in a Centauri household, and watched his father get lynched for a minor infraction.

** Torqueman mentions reports that the Narns have been losing more battles than not.

* {{Tuckerization}}: WordOfGod is that Lt. Corwin was named after [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Corwin Norman Corwin]], one of Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's writing instructors.

* JerkassHasAPoint: "Jerkass" is strong, but Torqueman doesn't hold back in pointing out that many humans who lost friends and loved ones during the war are going to be unhappy about a Minbari taking on a human face and feel that she's taking a part of humanity she's not entitled to. Delenn did, in fact, not ask any human's permission before undergoing her transformation.

* BlatantLies: Corwin's (very nervous) description of Babylon 5 as a calm, cheerful workplace where nobody ever gets mad. While Commander Ivanova glares at him from the background.

** When present-day fighter pilots fire weapons, they say "Fox one" over the radio when they use radar-guided missiles, "Fox two" when using heat-seeking missiles, "Fox three" for smart missiles, and "Fox four" for guns. During the battle, a Starfury pilot said "Fox five," suggesting some other sort of weapon (or perhaps they regard the Starfury's standard weapons as different from the previously mentioned 4 weapons.

** This has been depicted before in the show whenever the local ISN reporter, [[https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Mary_Ann_Cramer Mary Ann Cramer]] was show such as in [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS01E12ByAnyMeansNecessary}} By Any Means Necessary]] , the floating cameras are seen hovering around her. The cameras were also seen during Sinclair's trial on [[{{Recap/BabylonFiveS01E00TheGathering}} The Gathering]].