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Score: 9.4 Superb 66 votes

The Long Night

Episode Number: 71    Season Num: 4    First Aired: Thursday January 30, 1997    Prod Code: 405
As reports that the Shadows are destroying planets too start to come in, Sheridan prepares for one final showdown with the Shadows and the Vorlons. Meanwhile on Narn, Londo makes everything ready - G'Kar's chains have been weakened... an undetectable weapon has been acquired... Tonight Cartagia must die.

Cast and Crew

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Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Director: John Lafia
Star: Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander),  Bill Mumy (Lennier),  Mira Furlan (Delenn),  Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar),  Jerry Doyle (Michael Garibaldi),  Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan),  Stephen Furst (Vir Cotto),  Jason Carter (Marcus Cole),  Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin),  Claudia Christian (Susan Ivanova),  Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari),  Bruce Boxleitner (John Sheridan)
Recurring Role: Wortham Krimmer (Emperor Cartagia),  Ron Campbell (Drazi Ambassador),  Kim Strauss (G'Lorn)
Guest Star: Bryan Cranston (Ericsson),  Mark Bramhall (Centauri #2),  Carl Reggiardo (Centauri #1)

Notes

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The Shadow weapon was devised by Harlan Ellison. (edit)
In the first broadcast of this episode in the United States, the third season theme was played over the closing credits. (edit)

Quotes

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Londo: You're drunk.
Vir: Well, absolu-, positi-... oh you betcha! I figured it always worked for you, Londo. Look, lemme ask you something: how much more before I can look in the mirror and not see myself? Because I keep looking and... I'm always there. And right now I don't want to see me.
Londo: You're behaving like a fool! You did what was necessary! You saved the lives of millions of our people. He had to be stopped! He-
Vir: 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 just a good job? Small title, nothing fancy. A wife I could love... and maybe even one that could actually love somebody like me. I never wanted to be here! I never wanted to know the things that I know, or to do... to do the things that I've done.
Londo: I know. I know, Vir. I never wanted you in that hall. I never 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 still innocent in your way. You still believed. I, on the other hand ... I can not tell you that your pain will ever go away. I can not tell you that you will 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. Your heart is a good one. You would not be in such great pain, if it was otherwise. It means that there is still hope for you. And for that, I find I still envy you. (edit)
Sheridan: Captain's Personal Log. Final entry. We're going into the heart of the fire, on one side, the Vorlons, on the other, the Shadows and us in the middle. Whether any of us will ever come back, I don't know. When I took command of Babylon 5 I found a note on my desk. Someone had left it there for me. It was a poem by Tennyson. I still remember the last part of it. "Though we are not now of that strength, Which in old days moved earth and heaven, That which we are, we are, One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, But strong in will, To strive, to seek, To find, and not to yield." (edit)
Sheridan: Tho' we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (edit)
G'Lorn: We must strike back!
G'Kar: No.
G'Lorn: I never thought you were a coward, G'Kar. We suffered and died during their occupation. Where were you? What have you endured?
G'Kar: What have I endured? Hahahahaha ... (edit)
G'Lorn: Then, G'Kar, you will lead us against our oppressors. You will be the instrument of our vengeance. With you directing us, we will finally destroy the Centauri.
G'Kar: You have just tossed someone off that throne. Would you put another in his place so quickly? The Kha'Ri spoke with many equal voices, not the one voice of a single leader.
G'Lorn: We need strength to lead us, fire to forge us. We saw that in the Centauri, learned that from them.
G'Kar: Then you have learned the wrong lessons. I will not take the throne. If the Kha'Ri is restored, I will take my place among them, but that's all. I did not fight to remove one dictator just to become another myself.
G'Lorn: But the Centauri...
G'Kar: ...are a lost people! They ought to be pitied. They are already on a course for self-destruction. They do not need help from us. We need to redress our wounds, help our people, rebuild our cities. (edit)

Trivia

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Revealing Mistakes: A half-second before the executive producer credit, a group of Starfuries appear on the eight. As they move the disappear for a few frames. (edit)

Allusions

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The Planet destroyed before the last stand at Coriana 6 was most probably Zandor Prime, Dureena Nafeels homeworld
(edit)
Sheridan: Tho' we are not now that strength which in old days...To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
This quote is taken from the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem "Ulysses". (edit)
G'Kar: My eye.. offended him.
This is probably a reference to Matthew 18:9 in the Bible: "And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." (edit)
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Community Reviews (2)

 
9.3
Superb
The Long Night
"Pivotal"
Vir grows up.
Continue » Posted Apr 3, 2008 8:29 am PST
10.0
Perfect
The Long Night
"Another great installment"
the fight begins
Continue » Posted Aug 4, 2007 10:08 pm PST
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Episode Vital Stats

 
Episode: The Long Night
Season Number: 4
Episode Reviews: 2
Episode
Score:
9.4 Superb 66 votes
Rating Statistics:
superb: 40 (60.6%)
perfect: 18 (27.3%)
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