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Babylon 5 Season 2 Episode 20

The Long, Twilight Struggle

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9.5

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/19/95

Draal reveals himself to Sheridan, while Refa and Londo set a plan in motion that will lead to the final defeat of the Narns.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

One of the most powerful episodes

9.7

By Parricida, May 03, 2011

This is an episode I can never forget.. It stills gives me shivers when I watch it because of all that powerful scenes, the way emotions is delivered and that amazing dialoge. I think this is an episode what proved for me what kind of great char G'Kar is. I mean, he had shown is greatness before, but he has changed so much with two years and he is no loger the char he was, and those words on the council room.. That look - it was just so powerful scene.

And other powerful scene was the one with Mollari aboard that ship, looking down to the Narn.. having those reflections.. and again, what a look. There was no words on that scene, only the music, but you did not needed them.. you could read all that from his face. Brilliant.

So.. Overall. It was amazing episode with all the things we love on this show.moreless
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The Narn-Centauri war comes to a brutal terrible conclusion.

10

By SerTyrion, Apr 07, 2011

The Narn-Centauri war comes to a brutal terrible conclusion.

I had hoped to write these reviews (this one and the next two) a few days ago when the episodes were still fresh in my head. However, that did not happen. So the reviews I am about to give are going to be second rate. I’m just going to try to reflect on a few key points, because that’s about all I can manage right now, sad, I know.

Londo finally understands how over his head he has become. It was bad enough before when the Shadows were killing one outpost at a time. But this is much worse. Now Londo must contact his allies to destroy the better part of the Narn military while the Centauri launch an offensive against the Narn home world using mass drivers. Mass drivers are basically small asteroids launched from outer space to the surface of the planet, and are banned by most races in the galaxy. We get to see a first have view of Londo's horror as the mass drivers pummel Narn back into the Stone Age.

To back track a little, during the discussion between Refa and Londo where they determine their plans of attack they are both cloaked in shadows. It stays like this until Londo says that after the upcoming attack, he wont be contacting the Shadows anymore. At that point, Refa is still in shadows while Londo can be plainly seen.

We also get the first proof that the Shadow vessels can be harmed, as the Narns damage one of the Shadow ships.

The other important aspect of this episode, is Draal (the Minbari who runs the computer in the planet around which Babylon 5 orbits) tells Sheridan that he is willing to help fight the coming war against the Shadows. Also, Draal mentions that other people help him run the planet. One of which is a being named Zathras, which could be the same person as the Zathras that appeared in the season one episode, Babylon Squared.moreless
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The Long, Twilight Struggle

10

By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 03, 2011

The Long, Twilight Struggle was a perfect and classic episode of Babylon 5. I enjoyed watching this episode as Refa manuvered Londo into a plot to destroy the Narn Home World. This episode had a lot of plot development as we met new allies and saw more of the mysterious Ancient Shadows. I really enjoyed the space battle scenes and how the Centauri are looking more and more like the Roman Empire. Londo is becoming more dark each time we see him. It was hard to watch G'Kar go through this episode. I thought it was cool that Draal introduced himself to Sheridan. I thought it was about time Sheridan met the rangers. I look forward to watching more episodes of Babylon 5!!!!!!!moreless
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the shadows begin there attacks.

9.9

By seaqueastdsv, Aug 06, 2007

after a long period of war,the narn are exhausted.world has fallen before the unstoppable might of the centauri imperial fleet,assisted by the gigantic black shawdow dreadnoughts.they have one hope a strike desperation as it would leave narn utterly defenceless.if the plans were to be discovered the narn would face total annihilations.meanwhile as the galacxy-wide carnage escalates ambassador delenn reveals to captain sheridan a precious secrect: babylon 5 is no longer the last best hope for peace.babylon5 is the last best hope for peace.babylon 5 is the last best hope for victory. THE LONG,TWILIGHT STRUGGLE. and now it begans, the fight to survive.moreless
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The Narn-Centauri War comes to a dramatic conclusion as the lives of two people are forever changed.

9.1

By starwolf99, Nov 10, 2005

We see the end of the Narn-Centauri War as the Narn homeworld is bombed with mass drivers, resulting in unconditional surrender. Everything about the episode was brillant:

There was the score used as the entire Narn fleet was being wiped out by the Shadows. This was cut with G'Kar praying, each time his words increasing in speed and desperation.

There was the image of G'Kar with all candles flickered out as he stopped praying right after all of the Narn ships were destroyed. He psychically knew that all hope was lost for the war.

There was the look of Londo's face when he saw his ships bombing the Narns back to the Stone Age. That look spoke volumes. This made the following scenes of him addressing the council even more painful as he is hardened due to Centauri policy. Despite his hesitation, and suspicions of Lord Refa using this war for his own image, Londo is going along in full force, becoming a prisoner of his own destiny and one step forward towards his tragic demise.

There was a now numbled, citizen G'Kar as he is forced to soak up his pride and painfully ask Sheridan for sanctuary. This is a far cry from the G'Kar we knew from "The Gathering" or even most of Season 1.

There was the levity from Delenn as she takes Sheridan to meet Draal for the first time. Her "Abso-fraggin'-lutely damn it!" was priceless.

There is also the revelation that Zathras from "Babylon Squared" is a resident of the Great Machine. This paves the way for "War Without End"

Like Londo says "things are spiraling out of control". This makes for dramatic television. One of the best episodes of the series.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Andrea Thompson	Talia Winters
Andreas Katsulas	G'Kar
Bill Mumy	Lennier
Bruce Boxleitner	John Sheridan
Claudia Christian	Susan Ivanova
Jerry Doyle	Michael Garibaldi

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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John Schuck	Draal	Guest Star
W. Morgan Sheppard	G'Sten	Guest Star
Elisa Beth Garver	Tech #2	Guest Star
Neil Bradley	Narn #2	Recurring Role
Jonathan Chapman	Narn Second	Recurring Role
William Forward	Lord Refa	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- In his final scene of this episode, Draal calls out for Zathras. Zathras was first introduced in "Babylon Squared", but his origin and reason for being on Babylon 4 had not yet been explained. It is now revealed that he has a connection to Epsilon III and The Great Machine.
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- Note that there appears to be a perfect mixture of Narns and Centauri present at the bar when hearing the announcement that the Centauri has begun the attack on the Narn homeworld. Why would so many Centauri and Narns mix anyhow considering they are at war?
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QUOTES (3)
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- Sheridan: Tell them that from this place, we will deliver notice to the parliaments of conquerors that a line has been drawn against the darkness, and we will hold that line...no matter the cost.
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- Londo: We are Centauri! If we are to seize our destiny, we must do it ourselves!
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- G'Kar: No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power, governments, tyrants and armies can not stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
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NOTES (1)
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- The role of Draal was recast because the original actor unavailable due to health problems, although he later appeared in the series a few times as Bother Theo.
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ALLUSIONS (5)
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- The vessel in which Refa and Londo bear witness to the destruction of the Narn homeworld is called The Valerius. Valerius was the name of one of the most powerful and influencial families of the Roman Empire who ruled themselves in much the same way as the Centauri Republic.
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- Long Twilight Struggle: The title is a reference to a famous speech by John F. Kennedy.
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- Occupation Terms: The terms of occupation laid down by the Centauri - particularly the quota of 500 Narns killed in response to any Centauri killed - is a reference to the occupation terms Nazi Germany typically set in occupied territories during WWII.
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- Bombed Back to the Stone Age: While this phrase has become common, it was first used in reference to - and the reference here is an allusion to - the Vietnam War.
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- Lord Refa: This one move will end the war and save thousands of Centauri lives.
  
  Centauri Prime uses a weapon of mass destruction banned by treaty to save lives and end a conflict with Narn. This is an analogy to the atomic bomb debate. The quote mirrors words used in discussions on the atomic bomb in WWII.
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