The main antagonist, Neroon, is the chief acolyte / senior officer of the Minbari general, Branmer, the late hero of the Star Riders clan, part of the Minbari Warrior Caste. John Vickery plays the xenophobic, spoiling-for-a-fight hawk with occasional over-enthusiasm, but never drops into the Ben Zayn excesses of "Eyes". He makes for a good recurring character (and, yes, oh my, we will see him again).
There's some great stuff going on here in learning more about the Minbari, the Warrior and Relgious Castes (and clans), their service mentality, and what went on before, during, and after the Earth-Minbari war. It tends to come out all in a rush, though, providing mostly fodder for fans to mull over and other eps to be built around, but it creates a thematic feel for the race, already hinted at, which will become much more significant in the next season.
Far more interesting is Delenn's role in the episode. She's gotten far less screen and character time in B5 than G'kar and Londo at this point, and "Legacies" gives her some clear spotlighting that will pay off very soon. Her part in dealing with Neroon and the crisis over Bramner's mysteriously missing body is interesting (and, given the original episide order, even more so, as she invokes authority as a member of the Grey Council when she maybe-sorta oughtn't). Overall, Delenn's character continues to develop as having wheels within wheels, all for what is doubtless a good cause — we hope. She's tricksy.
One element that, sadly, doesn't show up in the story is how any other humans on the station besides Sinclair and Garibaldi feel about Bramner's body being displayed here at B5. We get no reporters, no protestors, no snark or protests from EarthGov, nobody trying to get past security with a rotten tomato, none of the things we should have gotten from a broader context of the B5 universe. Frankly, I'd rather have seen some of that than the herky-jerky B Plot.
Ah, that B Plot, about a young girl (played by neophyte and apparently 20-year-old Grace Una) who suddenly comes into her telepathic powers. The character is the least convincing Lurker ragamuffin one can imagine, and the actress' interactions with the rest of the cast are awkward in the extreme. The story built around here — Ivanova and Winters squaring off over whether she should be shipped back to Earth to join the Psi Corps or, maybe, end up on a different world where her talents would be appreciated — is kind of goofy, too: a nice idea, but plotted improbably. Though from that comes some convenient accidental mind probes of a couple of characters, and an amusing interlude with Na'Toth.
The wrap-up — everyone's happy by the resolution, and Talia buys Susan a coffee — is also kind of goofy. Alas.
This episode's air order leads right into a big count-down for the season, the final five, only one of which is less-than-series-shaking. Looking forward to them.
Most Dramatic Moment: Delenn faces down Neroon.
Most Amusing Moment: Neroon's "You talk like a Minbari, Commander. Perhaps there was some small wisdom in letting your species survive." Possibly followed by Na'Toth attempting to sell the telepath girl on coming to Narn ("Good idea about the teeth" http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwfdmm30xW1qbtmv5o1_250.gif).
Most Arc-ish Moment: Sinclair asks the girl if she caught anything else in Delenn's head, and learns a single word: "Chrysalis". Heh, heh, heh. It's a nice bit of unethical inquiry by Sinclair, as well as a nice way to get the fans in a froth.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 — Should be a 4, but the B plot drags things down at least half a point.
Lurker's Guide: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/017.html
Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/Legacies
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517664/
AV Club: (along with "Eyes"): http://www.avclub.com/review/babylon-5-eyeslegacies-83171
Making Light: http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/012906.html
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