TKO

Season 1, Episode 15, Aired

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6.7
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EPISODE RATING: Fair
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Garibaldi is surprised when an old friend comes to Babylon 5 to fight in the "Mutai" - a savage alien fighting arena. Meanwhile Ivanova has trouble dealing with her father's death
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Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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  • TKO

    7.5
    "Good"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Jan 01, 2011
    TKO was a really good episode of Babylon 5. I really enjoyed watching this episode though it was a little heavy with drama. This episode had a lot of character building, action, and drama. I think that viewers could relate easily to the characters in this episode. I thought it was nice to see the personal side of Ivanova. Garibaldi also had some interesting scenes in this episode as well. I liked this episode though not one of my favorites. This episode has good information on characters but is not vital to the overall season's story lines. I look forward to watching more Babylon 5!!!moreless

  • garibaldis old friend comes to babylon 5 for the fight of his life.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By seaqueastdsv, Nov 16, 2010
    in this episode of babylon 5 tko theres two things happening on the station. first security chief michael garibaldi helps an old friend an unfairly disgraced prize fighter regains his dignity and self respect by coaching him to enter and maybe win a lethally violent alien sporting event on babylon 5. meanwhile lieutenant susan ivanova also meets an old family friend, a rabbi from earth who has come to babylon 5 to give susan a item of her late fathers. but is he the one to help her as she grieves for her dead father. a terrific episode typical of the more intelligent and thoughtful style of the cult hit tv series.moreless

  • This episode did not worked for me

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By Parricida, May 31, 2008
    The story itself is not too bad and I cannot say it was too boring or anything, but if this season has weak episodes, then this is one of them. The Mutai and Gariabldi's friend - they all just look like appearing.. we had never heard nothing of them.. and now this is the part of the episode and somehow everything works out without major surprises.

    More interesting storyline was Susan's one. We knew she had problems with her father but now we get more and more into her past and the char is very well opened for us. And the deep emotion.. that was best part of the episode.moreless

  • Something of a filler episode

    7.1
    "Good"
    By nazthedeep, Oct 13, 2007
    After the highpoint of 'Signs and Portents', this episode was a definite step down in terms of the overall season, and provided little or nothing in terms of character development or the story arc.

    The twin themes of this one are the arrival of a former boxer and friend of Garibaldi and his subsequent fight in a brutal bare knuckle arena called the 'Mutai'; and the simultaneous arrival of a Jewish rabbi to help Ivanova mourn the loss of her father.

    It's not this a bad episode - in fact the level of acting and drama here is high. Its just that there isn't a great deal happening. You could miss out watching this episode and not lose out on anything in the overall story of Babylon5.moreless

  • Garibaldi is surprised when an old friend comes to Babylon 5 to fight in the "Mutai" - a savage alien fighting arena. Meanwhile Ivanova has trouble dealing with her father's death.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By marvelfan89, Jul 29, 2006
    Garibaldi's friend Walker Smith fights in a dangerous alien tournament known as the Mutai while Ivanova receives a visit from Rabbi Koslov.

    I really loved this episode, this has to be one of my favorites from the first season and has a grade A performance by Claudia Christian. She is absolutely brilliant here especially with her flashbacks about her father that are highly emotional. I can't really stress how great she is other than this is one my favorites.

    Garibaldi's friend from the past saves him from being stabbed by a robber. They reunite and Garibaldi's learns Smith is going to fight in the Mutai which is very dangerious.

    In a way this episode is about love and caring. Garibaldi really doesn't want to see his friend get hurt but supports him anyway. Ivanova while initially being cold to Rabbi Koslov really opens herself up and starts to put away what happened to her family and her family in one of the most powerful scenes I've seen in the series.

    moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (1)

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    • Factual Errors: Ivanova says that the Mourner's Kaddish prayer is usually said in Hebrew. Unlike other traditional Jewish prayers, the Kaddish is actually in Aramaic, not Hebrew.

  • QUOTES (4)

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    • Ivanova: I'm ready to go back on duty, sir. Sinclair: Good - I've had my fill of double shifts. Ivanova: Perhaps we'll remember that the next time Ms. Sakai visits the station.

    • Ivanova: So, how are things back home? Rabbi Koslov: They change, they stay the same. Russia is Russia. Your father used to say, "If regret could be harvested, Russia would be the world's fruit-basket."

    • Walker Smith: So they told me it wasn't my time yet. They said they'd make it worth my while to retire for a few years. Garibaldi: So you told them to stuff it. Walker Smith: And I wasn't that polite about it.

    • Walker Smith: One of these days, Garibaldi, you are gonna learn to watch your back.

  • NOTES (5)

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    • The Mutai fighter is "Walker Smith". This was the birth name of legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson.

    • There has been some controversy about the Zima sign in this episode of Babylon 5. Many consider the sign for the alcoholic beverage an example of shameless product placement. J. Michael Straczynski has said, we "got not a dime for sticking in the Zima sign. We just thought... well, it'd be funny."

    • This episode aired early in the slot meant for "Quality of Mercy" because Warner Brothers gave the wrong schedule to TV Guide. Executive producer J. Michael Straczynski did not feel it mattered except that it speeds up Susan Ivanova's development.

    • Channel 4 in the UK did not air the episode "TKO" initially. J. Michael Straczynski stated, "If the problem is showing bare-kunckle fighting to the death, then somebody should point out to C4 that nobody dies in the match."

    • The book Ivanova reads, "Writing Without a Net" by Harlan Ellison, is an autobiography he plans to write. After the episode was finished, he took the prop with him to a few conventions as joke, leading many people believe the book was already published.

  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • Tournament Name: Mutai
      The tournament in which Walker Smith participates, the "Mutai", is a reference to the national sport of Thailand, Thai Boxing or Muay Thai as it is called in Thai language.

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