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EpDis: Sleeping In Light
- Thread starter vacantlook
- Start date
Babylon5fan07
Member
My wife told me if I'm correct that channel 40 is somewhere off of Fruitridge? Gerber is only 5 minutes or so away driving distance wise. (When you go east on Mack Road going over the freeway keep going past Stockton Blvd. Instead of going left on Stockton where your going to CHP keep going down to Power Inn turn left all the way down to Gerber Road there is an Ampm and McDonalds in the same parking lot)
Sindatur
Regular
Yea, FOX 40 is right on Fruitridge, in between Stockon and 99. I go to Stockton and mack often to a friends house.
Elipsis
Regular
And with this, I have rated every one of the episodes.
A+.
I was thinking just an A, but to my surprise... I actually found myself crying here even though I knew what was in the episode.
It's my first time with having watched the episodes properly in sequence... an adventure that took my girlfriend, and two of my friends 1 1/2 year watching a few a week together.
And while I am sad that there is no more B5 left to watch.... The episode reminded me more so than any other that the story of Babylon 5 is fucking beautiful, and as my favorite series sharing it with my girlfriend for the first time has been a somewhat emotional experience for some stupid reason.
I can't give it anything less than an A+ after the emotional state it put me in. She, of course, was fine while I was teary eyed and hanging off of her.
My friends were also fairly unmoved... but these are people who think the end of Evangelion is the most riveting thing they've ever seen... so go figure.
A+.
I was thinking just an A, but to my surprise... I actually found myself crying here even though I knew what was in the episode.
It's my first time with having watched the episodes properly in sequence... an adventure that took my girlfriend, and two of my friends 1 1/2 year watching a few a week together.
And while I am sad that there is no more B5 left to watch.... The episode reminded me more so than any other that the story of Babylon 5 is fucking beautiful, and as my favorite series sharing it with my girlfriend for the first time has been a somewhat emotional experience for some stupid reason.
I can't give it anything less than an A+ after the emotional state it put me in. She, of course, was fine while I was teary eyed and hanging off of her.
My friends were also fairly unmoved... but these are people who think the end of Evangelion is the most riveting thing they've ever seen... so go figure.
G'Kar
Regular
It's rare for me to even come close to crying during a television series (Yes I can be a very cold hearted person), but when watching this episode it really touched me in a way very few shows have (except maybe "Sunday" of Stargate Atlantis). For that alone this episode deserves an A+.
Sindatur
Regular
Definitely. I can't recall a more perfect Series Finale, perhaps some that were close, and 10 years later some may be able to argue how it could've been more perfect, but, I'm thinking it's pretty much unrivaled as Series Finales go
Oh, and BTW, welcome to the site, if you like to debate, check the News and Politics sub-forum once you absorb all the treasures in the B5 specific ones. If you like to role play, cyber party, babble, etc, check the Salad Bar and Chat area.
G'Kar
Regular
Oh I'm sure I'll get there eventually.
I actually just watched this episode a few weeks ago with the commentary from JMS and I must say you can really see that he put his heart and soul into this after listening to it [the commentary].
Estelyn
Regular
"Sleeping in Light" had me weeping most of the way through it - it is so very sad, beautifully so. I tried to pinpoint what made it so special (I very rarely cry for movies, even less for TV); the story is wonderful, the music evocative, but in the end it comes down to the actors, especially Bruce and Mira. Their ability to portray the characters' emotions is extraordinary; every look, every gesture is absolutely believable.
Now for some details:
Voiceover at the beginning - Garibaldi; at the end - Ivanova. I wonder why that choice; JMS didn't comment on it. For the closing words, I would guess that she was chosen because the events of this story changed the direction of her life and gave her hope.
I did a double-take when Sheridan walked into the picture - I wouldn't have expected him to be wearing Ranger clothing. But as was said later, he took on a greater role for the Anla'Shok since Delenn took over the presidential role for the Alliance.
My heart starts to break when Delenn tries to hold on to the hope that it may not yet be the appointed time and he replies that it is. She may think that she's prepared, knowing about this all those years, but when it comes down to actually letting him go, it's much harder than she realized.
Seeing the reactions of each of Sheridan's friends when they get the invitation breaks me up a little more. They know what to expect, yet they are devastated that the time has come. I like Garibaldi's statement that they often disagreed, but in the end, he's "a good man". That was Delenn's statement in the "Deconstruction"!
It's actually strange that Garibaldi is the one character who now has the most "normal" life! Wife and daughter, serious work, even wealth. The cigars are a great metaphor.
Yes, JMS knows exactly how different the typical male and female ways of handling such a situation are. Despite her own needs to talk about it more, Delenn lets him choose his own method. And the laughing and joking at the table is so very male! I'm amused to see Vir's hair as high now as Londo's was. And how typical his story about the Pak'ma'ra is for Londo - from something funny, a very touching tale emerges.
I do enjoy seeing Ivanova again! And when the toast is spoken, and she says Marcus' name, we can see where her underlying sadness comes from. She and Delenn withdraw for a female moment when the men are still talking - a very typical situation in any mixed gathering.
Sheridan's wish for a happy Sunday as his last day is so poignant. Interesting that he dons his B5 uniform for his final flight - apparently he still identifies strongly with the station as a vessel for his life's work. When he and Delenn say their final "good night", there's no stopping my tears. I choke up just remembering the scene now! So sad, so beautiful.
This scene reminds me very much of Arwen and Aragorn's farewell in the Lord of the Rings (Appendix A). It too is bittersweet, and though she pleaded with him to stay a bit longer, he knew it was time to depart.
Sheridan's last journey really has something Western-like to it - the lone cowboy riding off into the sunset. And the light metaphor shows up several times.
The last visit to the station is also bittersweet - we've seen it as the center of so many stories that it's hard to imagine it almost empty. How nice that at least one familiar face - Zack - shows up. G'Kar's statement that the voices would remain comes true here.
To have the station and Sheridan's existance linked is a poignant idea - reminds me of that old song about the grandfather clock that "stopped short, never to go again, when the old man died".
How appropriate that it's JMS who turns off the lights! Nice cameo - the only one, iirc.
"This journey is ended; another begins." I wish - as we all do - that we could have had another such journey. But maybe the good things can't be repeated (another Tolkien motive, for example the Two Trees and the Silmarils).
Despite the sdaness, it all ends with hope - there can always be new beginnings.
It doesn't get better than this.
Now for some details:
Voiceover at the beginning - Garibaldi; at the end - Ivanova. I wonder why that choice; JMS didn't comment on it. For the closing words, I would guess that she was chosen because the events of this story changed the direction of her life and gave her hope.
I did a double-take when Sheridan walked into the picture - I wouldn't have expected him to be wearing Ranger clothing. But as was said later, he took on a greater role for the Anla'Shok since Delenn took over the presidential role for the Alliance.
My heart starts to break when Delenn tries to hold on to the hope that it may not yet be the appointed time and he replies that it is. She may think that she's prepared, knowing about this all those years, but when it comes down to actually letting him go, it's much harder than she realized.
Seeing the reactions of each of Sheridan's friends when they get the invitation breaks me up a little more. They know what to expect, yet they are devastated that the time has come. I like Garibaldi's statement that they often disagreed, but in the end, he's "a good man". That was Delenn's statement in the "Deconstruction"!
It's actually strange that Garibaldi is the one character who now has the most "normal" life! Wife and daughter, serious work, even wealth. The cigars are a great metaphor.
Yes, JMS knows exactly how different the typical male and female ways of handling such a situation are. Despite her own needs to talk about it more, Delenn lets him choose his own method. And the laughing and joking at the table is so very male! I'm amused to see Vir's hair as high now as Londo's was. And how typical his story about the Pak'ma'ra is for Londo - from something funny, a very touching tale emerges.
I do enjoy seeing Ivanova again! And when the toast is spoken, and she says Marcus' name, we can see where her underlying sadness comes from. She and Delenn withdraw for a female moment when the men are still talking - a very typical situation in any mixed gathering.
Sheridan's wish for a happy Sunday as his last day is so poignant. Interesting that he dons his B5 uniform for his final flight - apparently he still identifies strongly with the station as a vessel for his life's work. When he and Delenn say their final "good night", there's no stopping my tears. I choke up just remembering the scene now! So sad, so beautiful.
This scene reminds me very much of Arwen and Aragorn's farewell in the Lord of the Rings (Appendix A). It too is bittersweet, and though she pleaded with him to stay a bit longer, he knew it was time to depart.
Sheridan's last journey really has something Western-like to it - the lone cowboy riding off into the sunset. And the light metaphor shows up several times.
The last visit to the station is also bittersweet - we've seen it as the center of so many stories that it's hard to imagine it almost empty. How nice that at least one familiar face - Zack - shows up. G'Kar's statement that the voices would remain comes true here.
To have the station and Sheridan's existance linked is a poignant idea - reminds me of that old song about the grandfather clock that "stopped short, never to go again, when the old man died".
How appropriate that it's JMS who turns off the lights! Nice cameo - the only one, iirc.
"This journey is ended; another begins." I wish - as we all do - that we could have had another such journey. But maybe the good things can't be repeated (another Tolkien motive, for example the Two Trees and the Silmarils).
Despite the sdaness, it all ends with hope - there can always be new beginnings.
It doesn't get better than this.
Last edited:
Jan
Regular
Amen.
I imagine I've also posted this upthread but the two places in this episode that have me sobbing are John & Delenn's farewell scene and the station destruction.
I hope someday to experience a show as good again.
Jan
hypatia
Regular
I love a good "crier" movie. And this really was the perfect episode for that, and for nostalgia.
But my favorite episode over time, by far, has to be "War Without End". Everyone has that truly magical "oh.... OH, so THAT is what's up" moment. Interestingly, they are often at different points in the episode.
But that is a moment I will always treasure. A detail that was always there, floating under the surface, that made absolutely perfect sense in every possible way.
I guess a moment of realization is bigger to me these days than a moment of pathos. But there are a lot of great criers out there. There are not a lot of movies with a really great "Eureka" moment.
But my favorite episode over time, by far, has to be "War Without End". Everyone has that truly magical "oh.... OH, so THAT is what's up" moment. Interestingly, they are often at different points in the episode.
But that is a moment I will always treasure. A detail that was always there, floating under the surface, that made absolutely perfect sense in every possible way.
I guess a moment of realization is bigger to me these days than a moment of pathos. But there are a lot of great criers out there. There are not a lot of movies with a really great "Eureka" moment.
In the script, Ivanova has both the opening and closing voiceovers.
It was also to connect back to the vision Sheridan had in season two, when we see Ivanova dressed for a funeral, according to Joe in his comments on "All Alone in the Night" in the script book.
deaded
Regular
I just watched it for the ninth time and I STILL don't like it. In fact I really didn't like "Objects in Motion," "Objects at Rest," OR, "Sleeping in Light.". Nothing happened except for Lenier betraying the Rangers. The rest was just silly goodbyes. One goodbye show is OK. Three is ridiculous (not even counting 'Deconstruction' which was the best IMHO.
vacantlook
Super Moderator
I don't think I've ever seen anyone who disliked this episode.
Alioth
Regular
Well, "Objects at Rest" included Londo bearing that certain "gift" to the Sheridans' soon-to-be-born son... which figures significantly in the Centauri Trilogy, and (though unseen) the events we see in Sheridan's flash-forward in "War Without End".
But series-ending "goodbye" shows are almost always a bummer, and not things I look forward to with series that I've come to love.
deaded
Regular
I can send you a picture if you want.
KoshN
Super Moderator
Vacantlook is not alone: I, too, have never seen (or known or met) anyone who has disliked Sleeping in Light.
Jade Jaguar
Regular
Sleeping in Light will never be my most-watched ep, because it is sad and painful. But, it is also beautiful, and wonderful. I think most B5 fans consider it to be one of the best final eps of any series, ever. I know I do. I certainly prefer it to Deconstruction of Falling Stars, which was decent for something thrown together at the last minute, and without a prepared context in the B5 story, but none the less inferior to most B5 eps. That's my opinion, and others are equally entitled to theirs.
Lennier's Tears
Regular
I'm with Jade Jaguar on this ... I can't just casually watch this, I have to be ready for it. It's both the best and the saddest series finale of any TV show I've ever seen. I have never not cried while watching this. In fact, I could cry just thinking about it. That means it's excellent TV.
That's all I've got just now ...
That's all I've got just now ...
Satai
Member
This is my post from FB of the finale which I just watched tonight. I also included a blurb on the similarities I saw between it and the BSG finale.
Wow...just beautiful I literally cried the entire episode which I haven't done that since the Battlestar Galactica finale. Watching the sun come up, having to discuss with the love of your life that you are going to die- heartbreaking. Seeing how all the characters turned out, looks like ole' Vir made it to Six! Ivanova nice to see her again (i know this was filmed during Sn 4) and ready to kick ass when that Ranger showed up. Garibaldi and Franklin still friends, even Garibaldi wanted to say goodbye. Dinner where they mentioned all those who passed on, sad to see even Lennier didn't make it. Mentions of Marcus, liked how Ivanova wanted to say his name. She is now Entil'zha interesting, she wouldn't take any crap that's for sure. Delenn/Sheridan that goodbye, her dressing up because it's Sunday. Sheridan going on his Sunday drive.... frown emoticon Loved that he returned to B5 and like Zack said he was still there, especially when they turned out the lights. I don't agree that they should have blown it up, but wow seeing it go as all the ships flew away. Looks like everyone did OK in the end, saw Zack working for Vir which was nice. Delenn waiting for sunup everyday... frown emoticon
Some suggested I compare it to the Battlestar Galactica finale. I did see two similarities: both ships were destroyed. BSG being flown into the sun, It guess that B5 got the better send off. Although the Galactica had the major battle before hand and then found Earth. Other similiarity: Delenn/Sheridan and Adama/Roslin. Adama on the hilltop by Roslin grave, was similar to Delenn sitting up waiting for sunrise. Although while Roslin's death scene was beautiful while being a tearjerker. She died before saying anything to Adama would have been nice to have seen a similar exchange to what Delenn/Sheridan did. (Heartbreaking to see him talk, as she is passing away and then have him look over at her) But both were beautiful TV Couples. Overall I feel this was more of a tearjerker then the BSG finale. Although I do cry at the end of the BSG one.
One hell of a ride and i'm glad I took it.
Renee
Wow...just beautiful I literally cried the entire episode which I haven't done that since the Battlestar Galactica finale. Watching the sun come up, having to discuss with the love of your life that you are going to die- heartbreaking. Seeing how all the characters turned out, looks like ole' Vir made it to Six! Ivanova nice to see her again (i know this was filmed during Sn 4) and ready to kick ass when that Ranger showed up. Garibaldi and Franklin still friends, even Garibaldi wanted to say goodbye. Dinner where they mentioned all those who passed on, sad to see even Lennier didn't make it. Mentions of Marcus, liked how Ivanova wanted to say his name. She is now Entil'zha interesting, she wouldn't take any crap that's for sure. Delenn/Sheridan that goodbye, her dressing up because it's Sunday. Sheridan going on his Sunday drive.... frown emoticon Loved that he returned to B5 and like Zack said he was still there, especially when they turned out the lights. I don't agree that they should have blown it up, but wow seeing it go as all the ships flew away. Looks like everyone did OK in the end, saw Zack working for Vir which was nice. Delenn waiting for sunup everyday... frown emoticon
Some suggested I compare it to the Battlestar Galactica finale. I did see two similarities: both ships were destroyed. BSG being flown into the sun, It guess that B5 got the better send off. Although the Galactica had the major battle before hand and then found Earth. Other similiarity: Delenn/Sheridan and Adama/Roslin. Adama on the hilltop by Roslin grave, was similar to Delenn sitting up waiting for sunrise. Although while Roslin's death scene was beautiful while being a tearjerker. She died before saying anything to Adama would have been nice to have seen a similar exchange to what Delenn/Sheridan did. (Heartbreaking to see him talk, as she is passing away and then have him look over at her) But both were beautiful TV Couples. Overall I feel this was more of a tearjerker then the BSG finale. Although I do cry at the end of the BSG one.
One hell of a ride and i'm glad I took it.
Renee
