Image of G'Kar, a speckled alien with a patch over his eye and the text 'The Long Night.'

You know, it’s been a while since I’ve written about Babylon 5. Let’s pretend to not look back at the dates of previous entries just for my sanity, please? Ironic enough, as I find myself deep into another viewing of Babylon 5, we’re sitting on the precipice of another potential dark age here in the United States. I know many people who are retreating into comfort watches that depict better times, but I’m again drawn to the show I’m always drawn to, which is Babylon 5. A show that depicts the failures of certain democratic systems in the face of imminent fascism and external threats.

Much like the other great show about a space station, Star Trek: DS9, Babylon 5 doesn’t pull any punches and uses the genre of science fiction to talk about big issues masked under costumes, alien sounding names and all the other trappings of sci-fi. I’ve given up talking about each individual episode long ago, because there are plenty of episodes that provide background information or standalone amid the much longer story, and some of the core story episodes tend to be action-oriented and straightforward.

The war with the Shadows is interesting, for sure, but it’s a lot of the other stuff that always stands out to me and holds up over multiple re-watches. Today I want to talk about the episode The Long Night, nestled into the early part of the action-packed season 4, it depicts a lot of the failings of the Centauri while the war with the Shadows has escalated to include the Vorlons, intent on destroying Centauri Prime. The awful, mad Emperor must be dealt with, and it falls upon the shoulders of Londo, Vir, and the unexpected ally in G’Kar to handle this.

Emperor Cartagia has proven himself fully gone, ready to sacrifice his entire planet and people for a chance at “god-like powers” at the hands of the Shadows. Londo is to be his right-hand man, but it’s clear this is all wrong. Londo has come around to the fact that he has indeed been the villain and a pawn throughout this intergalactic game of chess for the Shadows, and while Cartagia is falling right into that same trap, Londo, with the help of Vir, can see that.

We’re witnessing Rome burning and Nero fiddling.

The plan itself is very Centauri; stabbing the Emperor in the back with a poisoned blade, but it requires one last show of force from G’Kar, who is sentenced to death. While they originally provide him with chains he can easily break, the emperor reveals he had them replaced, although he doesn’t seem to understand it was Londo responsible. What ensues is G’Kar, being brought into the Imperial Court for sentencing, breaks through the literal chains that bind him, even if they are incredibly strong, and flames the passions of the other Narn who were being brought up on sentencing alongside him. The Narn rise up, begin to battle with the guards, and Londo whisks the confused emperor away. Of course, Londo fumbles the ball when the times comes, the Emperor swats at his hand when Londo calls him foolish and beings choking him, which forces a nearby Vir to grab the needle and thrust it into the heart of the Emperor.

While Londo, and the Centauri way, was to stab in the back, Vir was never given that option. Vir, the gentle-hearted and soft-spoken attaché to Londo, is always forced to do the dirty work. But he’s empowered here, locking eyes with the Emperor as he breathes his last, pained breaths. There’s no doubt it was a Londo plot, but Vir is no longer the stuttering, feeble assistant. He’s a part of history by slaying the mad emperor.

The power of this episode, though, is not these things, nor is it the talk of First Ones, Vorlons, or Shadows. It is instead in the always capable hands and words of G’Kar. G’Kar finds Narns trashing the throne room and looking to him for guidance, asking him to assume control and strike back at their enemies the Centauri, not understanding G’Kar had already struck a deal with Londo that with his help to slay the emperor, there was a promise of a free Narn.

G’Kar no longer yearns for power, though.

“… I did not fight to remove one dictator just to become another myself.”

“But the Centauri—”

“Are a lost people! They are to be pitied. They are already on a course for self-destruction. They do not need help from us.”

The lesson G’Kar learned from his trials and tribulations was not one of vengeance or spite. It was not about endless bloodshed. It was about peace, and that unchecked power only brings more bloodshed. If his government were to re-form, he’d take his place, but have no desire to be a sole dictator. It’s a distinction that I feel is the direct opposite of something like, say, Dune. In Dune, Paul Atreides is a chosen one, and while later installments in the series do their best to tear down this idea of a chosen one ascending to power (never mind the endless debate over the intent or execution of the idea in the books, exhausting), in the first book itself, everything leads to that moment and then, well, it happens.

Instead, G’Kar is presented with his ultimate victory. He could merely reach out and grasp power, and it would be his. His heroic trials would be codified into a religious act of divine right to rule and he could crush the Centauri. But why?

G’Kar’s entire character arc is that of a mildly villainous ambassador on Babylon 5, to a political refugee, to a prisoner for attempting to murder Londo, then in prison he has an awakening. The person we’d already seen growing and becoming more of an actualized being found meaning in his life through the idea of service to his people. That marked him as a leader, although he never wanted that. When push came to shove, he was willing to risk his freedom and life for his people, which led him into the hands of the Centauri. When accused of being a coward for refusing to accept power, and when asked how he’d suffered, instead of fighting his allies and proving his worth, he merely laughed and walked off, just being freed himself from torture and coming close to death numerous times.

What G’Kar’s arc does is remind us what everyone is fighting for in Babylon 5. Yes, they’re fighting for victory against powerful ancient forces who were working behind the scenes to curate sentient life as a part of some power struggle, but what happens after that victory? The Earth government is broken, thanks to the work of the PsyCorp and the Shadows. The Mimbari have splintered. The Centauri are in ruins. The Narn have barely held on. What’s the end goal?

What G’Kar’s arc shows us is that sometimes violence is necessary to overcome an adversary, but that relishing in, or getting lost in that violence as a means of control, is how to perpetuate that cycle. It might not always be possible to make amends, but that doesn’t mean further destruction will improve anyone’s lives. It won’t bring back the dead, it’ll only create more.

On the other side of the equation is Vir. Londo believes it’s right for him, the newly appointed Prime Minister, to return to Centauri Prime to take care of his people. When he looks for Vir, he’s deep into a bottle, torn up over his actions. We talk a lot about the powerhouses that are Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasik, with their performances stealing the show much of the time, but god damn is Stephen Furst something here.

“Don’t you understand? I’ve never done anything like this before. I close my eyes and I always see his face… Don’t you know that all I ever wanted was to do a good job? A small title, nothing fancy. You know, a wife I could love and… maybe even one who could actually love someone like me. I never wanted to be here. I never wanted to know the things that I know. To do… the things that I’ve done.”

“I know. I know, Vir. I never wanted you in that hole. I wanted you to… I remember when you first arrived on Babylon 5. You were so full of life, innocent. I was not kind to you. I treated you poorly. I think that I did that because I was envious of you. Envious that you had come so far and were still innocent in your way. You still believed. I, on the other hand… I cannot tell you that the pain will ever go away. I cannot tell you that you’ll ever forget his face. I can only tell you that it was necessary. You may have helped to save our people. You did a hard thing. But you still have your heart, and it is a good one. You would not be in such great pain otherwise. It means there’s still hope for you. And for that, I find I still envy you.”

Not everyone can be a G’Kar. Not everyone can be a revered leader. In life and struggles, there are always the people like Vir. The people who believe. The people who will do the right thing, even if it hurts them, and do so while not giving up hope. There’s a lot we can learn from Vir Cotto, the character. Is he destined to become the Emperor, like was predicted? Does it even matter? Vir was a good person in a bad spot, forced to take action for the betterment of the many, even if it hurt him.

Vir is not a powerful warrior, or a brave chosen one. He’s not the usual hero you get in science fiction, just like G’Kar isn’t. That is the beauty of this show, even after all of these years. That there’s still hope. There’s always hope. As long as there are good people doing good things, there will always be hope.

I’ve announced my next book, Iconoclast, will be coming out this year.

Chaotic background with crazy directions of light streaks in blue and red for concepts about movement

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