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The merits of Byron
- Thread starter HeinleinFan
- Start date
phoenixrising
Regular
Don't hold back, GKE, tell us how you really feel.
Byron's purpose was simply to give Lyta a purpose. JMS set Byron up as yet another Christ-figure (along with Sheridan and Sinclair and probably a few others). It's a good thing that at least one of them wasn't sympathetic. That said, I found him annoying and illogical, too. Give me Bester any day. A strong anti-hero is always more interesting than a whiny "hero".
My question is: do short-haired telepaths have to grow their hair for two years before they can join the club? What the heck was that all about?
My question is: do short-haired telepaths have to grow their hair for two years before they can join the club? What the heck was that all about?
B5obsessive
Member
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
I absolutely agree with Jade J. LAY OFF BYRON! I admire his determination and non-violent stance, and personally thought that the sense of family and love amongst the majority of hs people beautiful and admirable. If the idea of hugging the peple you care about and singing together about your dreams makes you uncomfortable, that's your problem, and I think it is a sad example of how cold and selfish the world has become, that we should scoff at such genuine, open-hearted behaviour. And if you think I'm soft for thinking this, again, your problem.
a better place than this!
I absolutely agree with Jade J. LAY OFF BYRON! I admire his determination and non-violent stance, and personally thought that the sense of family and love amongst the majority of hs people beautiful and admirable. If the idea of hugging the peple you care about and singing together about your dreams makes you uncomfortable, that's your problem, and I think it is a sad example of how cold and selfish the world has become, that we should scoff at such genuine, open-hearted behaviour. And if you think I'm soft for thinking this, again, your problem.
a better place than this!
GKarsEye
Regular
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
You're missing the point. The fact that so many became violent and petty as soon they ran into trouble means they were following a cult of personality. And we know the telepath war was.. well, a war, violent. Where was Byron's peace without him?
It was also implied that he bagged the chicks in his group. Classic cult-leader behavior (David Koresh, etc).
You're missing the point. The fact that so many became violent and petty as soon they ran into trouble means they were following a cult of personality. And we know the telepath war was.. well, a war, violent. Where was Byron's peace without him?
It was also implied that he bagged the chicks in his group. Classic cult-leader behavior (David Koresh, etc).
GaribaldisHair
Regular
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
I stand by what I have said here before. I don't think Byron was meant to be a "likeable" character.
The whole storyline indicated to me that he was intended as a character whose situation and goals we could sympathise with, but who made us feel massively uncomfortable as a person, both for the power that he held in his mind, his single-mindedness to achieve his goals whatever the cost to himself, and the fact that (as noted above) his followers more violent tendencies were only being held in check by the force of his personality.
I loved the character of Byron for all those reasons - even though I didn't actually like him.
And as for the criticism of him being too like Marcus for fans to deal with ... erm ... that was precisely the point. It was those similarities to Marcus that were supposed to draw Ivanova to him - unfortunately that part of the story went out of the window when CC decided not to come back.
I stand by what I have said here before. I don't think Byron was meant to be a "likeable" character.
The whole storyline indicated to me that he was intended as a character whose situation and goals we could sympathise with, but who made us feel massively uncomfortable as a person, both for the power that he held in his mind, his single-mindedness to achieve his goals whatever the cost to himself, and the fact that (as noted above) his followers more violent tendencies were only being held in check by the force of his personality.
I loved the character of Byron for all those reasons - even though I didn't actually like him.
And as for the criticism of him being too like Marcus for fans to deal with ... erm ... that was precisely the point. It was those similarities to Marcus that were supposed to draw Ivanova to him - unfortunately that part of the story went out of the window when CC decided not to come back.
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
The most poignant part of the Byron story for me was when the telepath terrorist announced he would shoot the hostages, saying "after all, to us--" and Byron completes the sentence, "they're only mundanes." At that terrible, bitter moment, Byron understood why he had failed. He was still Bester's protege. He hated and despised the mundanes as much as Bester did -- jms makes that clear in the earlier episodes. He realized that was what made him make the decisions that led to disaster, and the despair that understanding brought upon him led to his suicide.
The most poignant part of the Byron story for me was when the telepath terrorist announced he would shoot the hostages, saying "after all, to us--" and Byron completes the sentence, "they're only mundanes." At that terrible, bitter moment, Byron understood why he had failed. He was still Bester's protege. He hated and despised the mundanes as much as Bester did -- jms makes that clear in the earlier episodes. He realized that was what made him make the decisions that led to disaster, and the despair that understanding brought upon him led to his suicide.
vacantlook
Super Moderator
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
Ooo, nice point Stanley!
Ooo, nice point Stanley!
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
This is now my chance to air my oppinion on a subject that has been annoying me for sometime on B5 sites. Robin Atkin Downs was a strong addition to season 5 & he's a good actor. I liked the charater, and he also had some of the best moments and lines of that season. i'm also glad that my favorite character, Lyta, got to play the love interest with Claudia's departure. let's face it, there were far more irritating characters in the series, ie Billy mumy as Lennier for one. but then again, things like this only draw you into caring and hating characters, making watching more enjoyable.
This is now my chance to air my oppinion on a subject that has been annoying me for sometime on B5 sites. Robin Atkin Downs was a strong addition to season 5 & he's a good actor. I liked the charater, and he also had some of the best moments and lines of that season. i'm also glad that my favorite character, Lyta, got to play the love interest with Claudia's departure. let's face it, there were far more irritating characters in the series, ie Billy mumy as Lennier for one. but then again, things like this only draw you into caring and hating characters, making watching more enjoyable.
darth_librarian
Regular
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
Dude, Lennier rocked!!! Byron was always to prim to be likeable. I take offence to overtly ifeminate British men on TV anyway, but he did not help.
Good point though, at least we are getting an emotional response.
Dude, Lennier rocked!!! Byron was always to prim to be likeable. I take offence to overtly ifeminate British men on TV anyway, but he did not help.
Good point though, at least we are getting an emotional response.
GKarsEye
Regular
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
There's alotta love for Lennier. But interesting that you brought him up because I also wanted to punch him sometimes, like Byron (who I wanted to punch all the time).
And I don't think people now criticise the actor (though I remember once reading that he wouldn't get a lot of attention at conventions).
There's alotta love for Lennier. But interesting that you brought him up because I also wanted to punch him sometimes, like Byron (who I wanted to punch all the time).
And I don't think people now criticise the actor (though I remember once reading that he wouldn't get a lot of attention at conventions).
A_M_Swallow
Regular
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
That was said by Pat (Lyta) Tallman and was before Season 5 had been broadcast.
That was said by Pat (Lyta) Tallman and was before Season 5 had been broadcast.
Re: Cutting Byron from season 5
Quite well put (as is you later, unquoted part about Byronic semblences). We were not supposed to like him, we were only supposed to (slowly) understand his impossible situation, and that of Lochley and Sheridan. I would say he was more sympathetic than Lochley or Sheridan, and that is good writing and acting.
