GROPOS

Season 2, Episode 10, Aired

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8.6
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EPISODE RATING: Great
119 votes
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Babylon 5 gets considerable space problems when 25,000 Earthforce soldiers arrive. Led by General Richard Franklin, Dr. Stephen Franklin's father, they are to use Babylon 5 as a staging point for a risky military operation.
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • GROPOS

    8.0
    "Great"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 03, 2011
    GROPOS was a really good episode of Babylon 5. I enjoyed watching this episode as Dr. Franklin was met face to face with his Father, General Franklin. This episode had some great character building for Dr. Franklin and Garibaldi. I enjoyed watching this episode because it had a good story, good mix of characters and different sub stories. This episode definitely gives a deeper look into Dr. Franklin's character. This episode was a little on the side of the main story line of the season but it was still entertaining. I look forward to watching more episode of Babylon 5!!!!!moreless

  • Helps to provide background color for the show's universe

    7.0
    "Good"
    By kuratowski, Jul 19, 2009
    I can understand why it's not the most popular episode - good but not great, and it cannot be described as part of the main story arc. Instead it focuses exclusively on the humans. This is an opportunity to provide some context to the ambitions of the Earth government and its military. And, at the same time, put in a little more shading on some of the characters (particularly Dr Franklin). In a way this episode is a good illustration of the strength of the show. So much thought has been put into the universe - the politics, the diplomacy, the motivations and the relationships. Earth are getting involved in a war that doesn't much concern them - and are willing to suffer heavy casualties - in order to improve their standing in the eyes of the League.

    I particularly like the scene where General Franklin is being interviewed by ISN. He tells how the operation was a success. And then starts to say "but at a very heavy [cost]" but he is taken away from the camera before he can finish the sentence. So in a subtle way, we see how Earth's government is becoming ever more jingoistic and martial. They want the kudos of the military victory without mentioning the politically inconvenient fact of the lives that were lost. So yet again this is foreshadows the future.

    Regarding the characterisation, the relationship between Dr Franklin and his father has been one of miscommunication, frustration and disappointment, even though at the root they do still love either either - and to me this is brought across very well. The General's hurt at being called a murderer by his son is very believable. And the history of Dr Franklin's continual frustration at his father can be read and extrapolated from the scene where he is dismissed in front of Capt Sheridan.

    The Garibaldi/Dodger relationship was also quite interesting as it told us quite a lot about Garbaldi and the insecurity he hides behind all those jokey moments. And of course there will be a nice memory of this episode in season five.

    So yeah, ok, this episode isn't as important as the ones involving the Shadows, and it doesn't have any great speeches, but it's still a nice detour that helps to add some overall background color to the story.moreless

  • Some vice versa feelings.

    8.7
    "Great"
    By Parricida, Jun 16, 2008
    I cannot remember how many times I have seen the show, how many times I have rewatched it but somehow always this episode has felt quite pointless to me. Out of pace, filler... until this time. I do not know what were the reasons but this time it moved me. Maybe it was Franklin and his relationship with his father, the way he tried to explain to Ivanova why they are acting like they are. Maybe now I understand it what was not possible for me before. Maybe it was that girl Garibaldi was dealing with or those two very different guys who ended up in the same room with Keffer. I am not sure. But suddenly this episode showed me in emotional level something I was not expecting. Maybe this episode may look simple and just a filler above and maybe it is not even meant to be reached by everyone. Maybe it is not possible for some.. or in some moments but in other times.. it has it's beautiful story, deep emotional touch and something to think about.moreless

  • the arrival of 25,000 earth foce troops

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By seaqueastdsv, Aug 22, 2007
    i just finish watching this episode and i must say i like it very much. in this episode of babylon 5 gropos. babylon 5 is over run by 25,000 earth force infantry soilders known as gropos short for ground pounders. whilst planning the troops next mission the legendary war hero general richard franklin clashes with his estranged son dr steven franklin. can they resolve their differents before war breaks out on the over crowded space station. mean while security cheif michael garibaldi may just have fallen in love the trouble is he has fallen for a gorgeous soilder who must ship out in 48 hours.moreless

  • A predictable episode. Meh.

    7.8
    "Good"
    By playwriter, Jan 18, 2007
    SPOILERS BELOW
    The thing about B5 is its unevenness in regard to quality of shows. I could tell from the set-up, that a) Franklin and his dad were not going to get along, but at the end one of them would say, "I love you."
    b) EVERY blessed grunt we got to know during the course of the ep was going to buy it.
    and hey! I was 2 for 2!
    It does not surprise me that there are no quotes, no allusions, and no trivia submitted for this ep. I think it's one for the people who hadn't been watching since the beginning, thus, easily understandible. There are episodes of B5 that are really, really good. Lots of plot interweaving, sharp writing, funny "badinage", as Miss Winters would say. This is not one of them. I'd rather watch this than an episode, of, say TJ Hooker, but still.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • Continuity: When Dodger and her unit are being chewed out by Sgt. Major Plug for fighting, her hair switches from parted bangs to straight and back to parted again.

    • The title of the episode GROPOS is Earthforce military slang for "Ground Pounders", marine infantry troops.

  • QUOTES (9)

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    • Ivanova: No traffic. No complaints. No noise. Traitors, troublemakers and ambassadors all tucked snugly in their little beds. I love this time of night. Corwin: There is no night in deep space. And time is a meaningless concept when you stop to think about it.

    • Garibaldi: What the hell is this?
      Ivanova: Earthforce calls it a classified operation. I call it a nightmare

    • General Franklin: I had an Alfredo Garibaldi under my command during the Dilgar Invasion. Excellent soldier.
      Garibaldi: That was my dad.
      General Franklin: So much for genetics.

    • Garibaldi: What the hell is Earth Central up to?
      Sheridan: Something I'd hoped we never hear again; the rattling of sabers.

    • Keffer: Look, I don't know what lamebrain came up with this idea, but there's no way you two are staying here.
      Pvt. Large: You got some kind of problem, airboy?
      Keffer: Yeah, I got a problem. Just give me a minute to find a ladder and we'll hash it out face-to-face.

    • Dr. Franklin: Life is life, whether it's wrapped in skin, scales or feathers. Now, if you respected these beings instead of trying to murder them you'd appreciate that!

    • Delenn: We are all slaves to our histories. If there is to be a bright future, we must learn to break those chains.
      Garibaldi: The only thing you can count on the Narn and the Centauri to do is break each other's heads.

    • Dodger: I'll see you around, Michael Garibaldi.
      (Garibaldi walks away)
      Dodger: Nice butt...

    • Sheridan: There's only one truth about war: People die. Killing is part of a soldier's job. We can't deny it. We can only live with it and hope the reasons for doing it are justified.

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