A-Plot: A space probe arrives in B5 space (http://goo.gl/Q9M4Oe), offering the humans all sorts of cool tech advances if they are worthy … said worthiness to be demonstrated by showing that they are already advanced in various scientific areas. The humans have a deadline to radio the probe with the answers to hundreds of questions, or else it will detonate and destroy B5.
It's something that would fit right into "Star Trek" TNG (or even TOS), but it's an oddly subdued "ticking time bomb" plot, without spilling over into panic on the station (again), or a diplomatic crisis, or anything else. There's lots of "how are we doing getting those answers?" but not a lot else, until the very end, when Sheridan concludes (a touch dubiously) that the aliens aren't out to help, but to identify possible future threats; if the questions are answered, the probe will explode. When they fail to transmit their answers, the probe leaves, instead (at which point they trick it into blowing itself up).
End of story, but kind of lame, frankly, mostly because the suspense about it is dragged over the length of the episode and without any interaction with other plotlines.
The only somewhat saving grace is that the episode is framed with some loud, shouty debates with cargo shippers and the unions and the like over the new delays in shipping because of having to search for weapons transfers. Sheridan opines a couple of times that being blown up would have the advantage of not having to resume those meetings (http://goo.gl/rl17tv) …
B-Plot: The "Provisional Narn Government" (i.e., Centauri appointees — think Vichy) send out a new representative to B5 to represent their interests (http://goo.gl/P4UzUs). He is also there to tell G'Kar he needs to go home, lest the Narn he's informally leading there on the station and elsewhere start discovering their families are being harrassed back home, or worse (http://goo.gl/j23h8F and see note [1] below).
It's a remarkably clever idea, and the sort of "aftermath" concept that is both very mundane and often overlooked in these sorts of situations. The way it's handled is pretty good, too. The Narn rep — Na'Far, played by Stephan Macht (http://goo.gl/Fz8vsu)– is no cardboard cut-out Quisling, but an honest patriot. He hates the Centauri, too, and with equally good reason (his report to Londo is truly chilling [1]) — but Na'Far is willing to work within the system to eventually see their oppressors overthrown … just not … quite … yet. Wait, build strength, hold on until the Centauri grow careless again. It's just the sort of debate one would expect amongst a conquered people, but the power imbalance (in different ways) between Na'Far and G'Kar makes it effective.
G'Kar decides, after he sees how divisive Na'Far's presence is (including foiling one attack on the newcomer), to give in and go back to Narn (and certain death). He and Garibaldi have quite a nice scene in the process [1]. But when G'Kar announces his departure, the local Centauri rebel against him, refusing to let him leave, and acknowledging that they and their families would rather be harassed than give in to the conquerors [1]. G'Kar acquiesces, gladly (http://goo.gl/9Ak0Q8), Na'Far (presumably) departs, and life goes on.
Nicely done and well played. And it serves as a re-introduction to Ta'lon (http://goo.gl/me4Gy2), the Narn that Sheridan resucued from the Streib back in "All Alone in the Night". Now he's working as a katana-toting bodyguard, initially for Na'Far, but eventually staying on the station (http://goo.gl/SQR7Vu), where he (not quite jokingly) offers to watch Sheridan's back.
SHERIDAN: I don't know what my superiors would say if I starting showing up everywhere with a Narn bodyguard.
TA'LON: They would say "Here is a man who will live to be a hundred and fifty."
C-Plot: Things continue to get more and more tense between Londo and Vir, especially after Londo kicks Na'Far around a bit, verbally, and makes it clear to Vir that the only way to deal with the Narn this time around is to completely break their spirit, such that they never can become a serious enemy again [1].
At the same time as he's getting darker and more — well, "evil" is such an easy word — Londo realizes that Vir is becoming increasingly at risk. So he calls in a favor to Delenn (lovely scene http://goo.gl/Vv5gyL and [1]) to reopen the Centauri consulate on Minbar, with Vir as the consul. It will be good for Vir and his career — but will leave Londo without his attache's advice in the future (http://goo.gl/tVx0nn). Both realize that's probably not good, but that's something Londo cannot admit, even to himself.
(The departure was prompted by Stephen Furst getting a gig on a new sitcom, "Misery Loves Company" — which only lasted 8 episodes. He'll be back …)
D-Plot: Franklin's hitting the stims harder and harder, enough so that Garibaldi, who's had his own substance abuse issues in the past, recognizes it (http://goo.gl/5KSIAE). They have some hard words (http://goo.gl/dQIFZJ and [1]), and Franklin commits to show that he's not hooked — and then promptly lies to Garibaldi as to whether he needed any stims to make it through the most recent crisis (http://goo.gl/z2Qiuh).
This will not end well.
Overall, this is an epsiode that, plotwise, one could probably skip (Vir being shipped off and Franklin having stim problems are the only arcish elements). But there's enough decent here that it's worth a viewing. The acting is reasonably good for the regulars, and Stephen Macht does a very nice job with Na'Far, playing a "bad guy" (in terms of audience sympathies) who clearly has his own arguably virtuous agenda.
Most Dramatic Moment: G'Kar tries to leave the station — and encounters a series of Narn, asking him, quite sincerely, to stay [1].
G'KAR: If I stay here, your families are in jeopardy. Is anything more important than their safety?
NARN: Yes. Their freedom. It's better to die in the cause of freedom than to live in comfort as a slave.
Most Amusing Moment: Ivanova (and Corwin) have a few amusing dialog moments in C&C. E.g. (http://goo.gl/cIwpkL),
SHERIDAN: If that thing blows at least it'll save me from one more annoying conversation.
IVANOVA: Always find the good in any situation, eh Captain?
SHERIDAN: Absolutely. If I didn't I might end up like you. [walks away]
IVANOVA: [beat] Hey what's that supposed to mean? [to people in C&C] Did anybody else hear that? [to Corwin] Did you hear that?
CORWIN: [deadpan[ No, Commander.
IVANOVA: Good. I swear, if we live through this somebody's going to find their automatic shower preferences reprogrammed for ice water.
Most Arc-ish Moment: Londo calls in the favor with Delenn, attempts to make small talk with her, and realizes how very much he's alienated someone he respects.
Overall Rating: 2.9 / 5 — Another plebeian plot, which drags down even the nice character moments we get.
– Lurker’s Guide: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/047.html
– Babylon Project: http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/A_Day_in_the_Strife
– IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517615/
– AV Club: http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/babylon-5-a-day-in-the-strifepassing-through-geths-98625 [includes next episode]
– Kay Shapero: http://www.kayshapero.net/b5review/Strife.htm
– TV Tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/BabylonFiveS03E03ADayInTheStrife
[1] There are some good (embedded, unlinkable) videos from this ep at http://scifimusings.blogspot.com/2008/05/b5-s3-ep3-in-my-life-i-loved-them-all.html — it's worth hopping over to view them.
Next episode: "Passing Through Gesthemene" is one of those episodes, full of thought-provoking thoughts and ethical challenges. (Rubs hands together fiendishly.)
