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Babylon 5

Chrysalis

Season 1, Episode 23, Aired Oct 26, 1994

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9.4

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The Centauri are about to withdraw from a quadrant of space because the Narns are harassing them, when Londo gets an offer to take care of the problem. Meanwhile Garibaldi tries to find out what his informant stumbled upon that got him killed.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Julia Nickson

Catherine Sakai
GUEST STAR
Liz Burnette

Lurker #1
GUEST STAR
Edward Conery

Devereaux

Julie Caitlin Brown

Na'Toth
Jerry Doyle

Michael Garibaldi
Claudia Christian

Susan Ivanova
Richard Biggs

Dr. Stephen Franklin
Bill Mumy

Lennier
Andreas Katsulas

G'Kar

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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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Chrysalis

10

"Perfect"

By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 02, 2011

Chrysalis was a perfect and very entertaining episode of Babylon 5. I really enjoyed watching this episode because it was full of character and plot development. It was cool to see more of the elusive shadows and get ominous warnings from Kosh. I thought this episode had a great story, interesting character developments, and dramatic intrigue. I think this epiosde was a good wrap up of season one and sets the course for season two. I enjoyed watching the multiple story lines of the various ambassadors as they all walk their own paths during this time of change. I look forward to watching more of Babylon 5!!!!!!!moreless
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At last in the season one finale, Babylon 5 is cast into the shadows

10

"Perfect"

By kuratowski, Jul 08, 2009

For me this episode is where the true Babylon 5 begins. So far, it has all just been hints, but now finally some serious action begins. And in what a way - so much is packed into this episode, and it will have a transformative effect on the future of the show. The entire tone of the show becomes darker as the characters become involved a fight for survival against very powerful enemies.

Delenn begins her transformation into a half-human. Londo begins his faustian pact with Morden. G'Kar becomes aware of the existence of another race, "There's someone else out there" and repents too late his people's aggressive stance towards others.

But bleakest of all the President of Earth is *assassinated*. And there is straightaway a cover-up - Sinclair is ordered not to publicise his suspicions. So we know from now on, we can't trust the Earth government.

Even on a small scale the mood is grim: Garibaldi's conversation with a lurker in downbelow highlights the darker side of earther society, people are desperate for work.

Finally Sinclair's last line "Nothing's the same anymore" can be read as a promise from the writer that, from now on, things are going to CHANGE. (Of course, the first change will be the removal of Sinclair himself and his replacement by the much more dynamic Sheridan.)

Really, knowing what is coming, I could watch this one again and again.moreless
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Shadows are coming...

9.9

"Superb"

By Parricida, Jun 11, 2008

I would say, that there is not many episodes I like more than this. It is so busy episode, always something happening, those great important things running around and Sinclair, trying to be over it all even if it looks impossible.

First Delenn and her machine. I really like the desing of that. And Lennier there and all the thing with Kosh and asking if they are back.

Then ofcourse the main storyline is Garibaldi and his sense that Devereaux is more than just first thought and things get more and more ugly and in the end when he is on the medlab and Sinlair tells to keep watch all the time and we see who he tells that - even more frightening.

And the things set in motion on this episode. It is just huge. The whole season has lead to this point - Londo and mr. Morden.. G'Kar having the idea who attacked them, Delenn and her prophecy... everything...moreless
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And so it begins..

9.3

"Superb"

By nazthedeep, Oct 17, 2007

Season One of Babylon5 comes to an exciting conclusion in an episode that manages to skillfully weave together several plot elements.

We see the beginning of the descent of Londo Mollari into a tragic despot, when he collaborates with Morden to take care of a problem with a Narn base. It is fascinating to see the last vestiges of decency coming out of Mollari, as Moden urges him along the Shadow path.

Garibaldi uncovers a plot to assassinate the Earth President and gets blasted by a traitor in his own staff. As his life hangs in the balance in Med Lab, and Sinclair tries to get a message to Earth Force One, it is blasted from the sky. As a postscript we see the swearing-in of President Clark with the pro-Earth agenda that will play such a big part of later seasons.

Meanwhile, Sinclair proposes to Catherine - but this isn't going to go anywhere, since the prophecies and promises about Sinclair are coming to fruition. Delenn finally completes the puzzle thing she's been building, and enters the cocoon. Kosh is somehow involved in this prophecy, although we don't really find out how or why.

This is an amazing episode, packed with action and intrigue. By the end of hour we are left wondering what the future will hold for Sinclair, Delenn, G'Kar, Garibaldi, Londo.... just what is needed to wrap up the season and look forward to the next season.moreless
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sinclair is being resigned.

10

"Perfect"

By seaqueastdsv, Aug 13, 2007

the cliff hanger final year one episode of the best sci-fi show today, it is a time of incredible upheaval on babylon 5 as the forces of light and darkness gather themselves for the titanic conflict which is to follow. a sinster and evil shadow is falling on the galaxy, an anicent darkness which threatens to annihilate everything in its path and ambassador londo mollari's in league with them. meanwhile garibaldi uncovers vital evidence in the hunt for the earth president's assassin, and ambassador delenn is about to undergo a unique and lasting transformation. we say goodbye to friends and hello to new ones, and the question remained, who shots garibaldi and who killed the president.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- The device Delenn uses to undergo her transformation can be seen on many occasions during the first season. Mira Furlan herself didn't know what it was until she got the script for this episode.
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- This is the final appearance of Michael O'Hare as Jeffrey Sinclair as a regular character, although he will make a special guest appearance in The Coming of Shadows in season 2 and War Without End in season 3.
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- Giannin Lofler (Lurker #2) later plays a telepathic lurker in Season 2's A Race Through Dark Places. It is unclear if this is the same character or not.
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- Revealing Mistakes: Original satellite feed in the US, featured a missing a special effect, which was the first shot of Londo walking in the hedge maze, the scene was supposed to show the maze at the bottom of the frame and a view down the center of the station above that. Instead it feature a back wall of the sound stage behind the hedges, complete with "Exit" sign. Strangely this screw up that aired in the US on its first run, was aired complete with the special effect in the UK which had an earlier air date. On later runs of this episode, the missing special effect was corrected.
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QUOTES (2)
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- Londo: Now out of that fifty, how many gods do you think I must have offended to have ended up with G'Kar's teeth buried so deeply in my throat that I can barely breathe? Vir: All of them? Londo: Sounds right. And now I have to go back to the Council and explain to them that in the interest of peace the Centauri government will agree to give quadrant 37 to the Narns. I think I will stick my head in the station's fusion reactor. It would be quicker. And I suspect, after a while I might even come to enjoy it. But this - this, this, this is like being nibbled to death by... what are those Earth creatures called? Feathers, long bill, webbed feet... go quack... Vir: Cats. Londo: Cats. I'm being nibbled to death by cats.
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- Kosh: And so it begins.
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NOTES (1)
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- Michael J. Straczynski [on Season 1 DVD]: "Producer Douglas Netter played President Santiago. First chance I had, I killed him off."
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The swearing in of the Vice-President after the death of the President is eerily and deliberately made similar to the swearing in of Lyndon Johnson on Air Force One after the assassination of Kennedy. Ironically, the scene was filmed on the anniversary of the swearing in.
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