By Any Means Necessary

Season 1, Episode 12, Aired
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Episode Summary

An accident in the docking bays stars a series of problems on Babylon 5, when a Narn freighter is destroyed and one of the workers is killed. The dock workers demand better conditions or they'll go on strike. G'Kar has to get a replacement G'Quan-Eth plant for an important religious ceremony.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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  • By Any Means Necessary

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 01, 2011 Report Abuse
    By Any Means Necessary was a really great episode of Babylon 5. I really enjoyed watching this episode because it had lots of character development, drama, and intrigue. This episode had a great mix of characters whom viewers can easily connect with. I really enjoyed the back and forth between G'Kar and Londo. This episode gave us a deeper look into some of the characters. Sinclair is a wise man and knows how to really handle serious situations. This episode was entertaining and fun to watch and moves the season forward. I look forward to watching more of Babylon 5!!!!!!!moreless

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  • This episode is very good because it manages to connect the two plotlines in a manner which is not immediately obvious, but is striking once the connection is recognized.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By NawfalQ, Nov 03, 2008 Report Abuse
    As most TV serial episodes, this one has two plotlines running through a main plot and a subplot. The episode succeeds when both plotlines are interesting and evocative. This episode is very good because it manages to connect the two plotlines in a manner which is not immediately obvious, but is striking once the connection is recognized. The main storyline focuses on the working conditions of the docking-crews that staff B5. A crowded docking station staffed with harried workers results in an accident that results in a fatality and brings to the forefront the conditions of the station. This raises the questions involved in labor-relations and labor-rights, especially the governmental allocation of funding for the contracted workers. The subplot involves the matter supply and demand. The supply of an item (the G'Quan Eth) that G'Kar needs for a religious ritual is low, while the demand for it is high. Ambassador Mollari offers the item to G'Kar for an obviously exorbitant price and asks the pivotal question: "Of course it's an outrage. The question is, how important is your religious ceremony to you?" Meaning, what cost will G'Kar place on his demand for the item, and derivatively, on his religious practices.

    The underlying questions of the episode hover around the nature of supply and demand and what lengths one ought (morally) to go in order to meet demands.moreless

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  • A different kind of story

    8.4
    "Great"
    By Parricida, May 31, 2008 Report Abuse
    I adore the story of this episode. It is a sci-fi serie - heroic and all that.. but despite that kind of "crise every other day" I am glad they managed time for episode like this what reminds - so that all those our heroes could run their station and save their days, there are hundred of other little people who work for that. And this episode really shows and reminds that - gives a new point of view, offers something to think about and in the end, Sinclair can be hero and save the day by ending this crise. Little people sometimes win too.moreless

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  • Industrial relations dispute in the 23rd Century

    8.2
    "Great"
    By nazthedeep, Oct 12, 2007 Report Abuse
    Series One continues its streak of strong episodes that focus on showing how Babylon5 had to deal with moral, ethical and social problems, and how those problems had not gone away even by 2258.

    This time we have an industrial dispute that blows up - quite literally - with a docking bay accident that sets the workforce on a collision course with Sinclair and, later, with the Earth appointed representative. In the end, even after the Rush Act is invoked, Sinclair comes up with a diplomatic solution, although quite why he didn't come up with that same solution earlier is unclear.

    We also get a hint of the increasing tensions between Babylon 5 and Earth as the political scenario on earth shifts. This comes much more into focus later in the series.

    The secondary plot here is about G'Kar and his hankering after a special flower for a religious ritual which - surprise, surprise - turns up in the possession of Londo Mollari. Although it sounds a bit silly, it further advances the tension between the two of them - and any scenes with Londo and G'Kar are pure gold for entertainment value.moreless

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  • londo getting even with g'kar

    10
    "Perfect"
    By seaqueastdsv, Aug 17, 2007 Report Abuse
    in this episode of babylon 5 by any means necessary, we see an explosion in the cargo bay in which the head docking foreman eduardo delviontos younger brother is killed. because of overcrowded docking bays is blamed on obsoltete equipment and terrible working conditions. a vicious labour dispute erupts when an earth alliance hatchet man is sent to babylon 5 to resolve the crisis, by any means necessary.if this is not enough for commander sinclair, ambassador londo and ambassador g'kar are up to their old tricks stealing each others religous icons, with a funny scene where londo is the only one on the station who has something that g'kar wants. chaos reigns on babylon 5.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Director Jim Johnston has a brief cameo as a docker yelling "Strike!" at the meeting. Other production crew fill in as dockers as well. Edit
    • Macaulay Bruton appears as Jack, Garibaldi's aide, but has no dialogue and is uncredited. Edit
    • John Snyder previously played a Soul Hunter in the episode "Soul Hunter." Edit

  • Notes

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    • The writer for "By Any Means Necessary" is Kathryn Drennan, who is the wife of producer and creator, J. Michael Straczynski. He has remarked that his wife is "very astute politically, a believer in the rights of workers... and thinks that characters are more interesting if they act smart than if they act stupid." This was their first collaboration since several articles on The Night Gallery which appeared in Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Magazine. Edit
    • According to J. Michael Straczynski, the reference in the title "By Any Means..." is to Matewan, where a terrible labor strike took place (and a film was made about it). There is another Matawan which is where he used to live, but the reference in the title is to the former, not the latter. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • G'Kar: We all believe in something...greater than ourselves, even if it's just the blind forces of chance. Na'Toth: Chance favors the warrior. Edit
    • Sinclair: You should never hand someone a gun unless you are sure where they will point. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The Rush Act Deliberate intended reference to 21st century radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. Edit

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