This is a big Garibaldi episode, as we learn about his past problems, not least of which is with the bottle. This gets all tangled up with his old family friend niece still blaming him for her father's, and being in a (dubiously acted) position to do something about it, a Home Guard conspiracy against the EarthGov President who's coming to B5 for a visit, and Sinclair and Ivanova doing what they can (to what limits they are able) to help Garibaldi survive. Plus, we get some enjoyable Londo and G'kar moments, as each offers to help Garibaldi in their own way and for their own reasons.
It's not a great episode, hampered by uneven acting among the main players (Sinclair, Garibaldi, and particularly Kemmer). We get some nice time Downbelow, some decent bits from Londo and G'kar, and a sense of politics beyond just B5, so that's all good. But aside from telling us some Garibaldi backstory, this is an episode you could skip with minimal effect.
Most Dramatic Moment: Garibaldi "wins" but realizes how he's lost in the process.
Most Amusing Moment: Ivanova being snarkily uncooperative.
Most Arc-ish Moment: A plot against the president, who "loves Babylon 5". Heh heh heh. Or maybe Londo's bonding with Garibaldi as both being outsiders and perceived losers.
Overall Rating: 2.0/5 – A few moments that make it some degree of fun, but mostly a plot that could be ripped from the pages of a 70s cop show.
Midwinter Guide: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/011.html
Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Survivors
Guide page: “Survivors”
Garibaldi’s past catches up to him, with some disastrous consequences. He’s blamed by some for an accident aboard B5, which leads to hitting the bottle again after a prolonged abstinence. Elaine Thomas as Lianna Kemmer. Tom Donaldson as Cutter. Originally titled “A Knife in the Shadows” …
I remember reading the posts on GEnie from JMS about his new show in development. Babylon 5, Sci Fi with a five year arc, no kids or cute robots. And as a bonus the special effects were done with Lightwave on the Amiga. I worked on the Amiga Users help desk on GEnie at the time. Great Sci Fi and my favorite computer to…
I was just getting online when B5 started, so for me it was the B5JMS listserv I first got tied into.
There's a lot about B5 that is sketchy with age, two decades on: the CG, the music, the overall production values, a fair amount of the acting.
But there's some stuff in here that still just sings, even with the march of time. And I know it gets better.