Grail (Babylon 5)
Encyclopedia
"Grail" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
.
. Having sent information requests to the ambassadors prior to his arrival, he is greeted as a very important guest, "Honored Seeker", by Ambassador Delenn
and her aide Lennier
. In Minbari culture, "Honoured Seeker" is used to denote those on a spiritual quest, and are afforded considerable respect, even if the Seeker is not himself Minbari. In the process of his search, Gajic gets caught up in the underworld of Babylon 5, as an underworld thug, Deuce, starts using an alien to "brain wipe" people who pose a threat to him.
Thomas "Jinxo" Jordan, who was present on all four previous Babylon stations, believes that he is a bearer of the Babylon Curse because every time Jinxo has left a Babylon station, the station is either destroyed or, in the case of Babylon 4, it disappears.
After being caught red-handed
by security, Jinxo initially is tried for picking Gajic's pocket, but during the trial Gajic requests that Jinxo be released into his remedial custody. These two characters form an unlikely friendship.
Jinxo owes Deuce money.
Gajic and Jinxo go to Delenn and Lennier and to Ambassador Londo Mollari and Vir
, neither delegation can help him to find the Grail. They go to Ambassador Kosh's quarters, and Jinxo recognizes him as the thing that has been brain-wiping people.
Meanwhile Dr. Franklin
figures out that a quasi-sentient beast from Centauri
space called a Na'ka'leen Feeder is what is "brain wiping" people. Centauris Londo and Vir lock themselves into the quarters, for Centauri fear Na'ka'leen Feeders.
Later while trying to get Jinxo, Deuce's men capture Gajic. Jinxo goes and gets Sinclair
and Garibaldi
, with a team they fight off Deuce and his men, and the Na'ka'leen Feeder that Deuce put in a replica of Kosh's suit. Since no one knows what Vorlon
s look like, he put the feeder inside the replica of Kosh's suit, to scare people into thinking he has the Vorlons on his side. They save the person the feeder is about to get, and Deuce is about to shoot Jinxo, but Gajic jumps in the way and is shot.
Garibaldi and his team then open fire on the feeder, which has came out of the suit and got one of his men, they kill the feeder, and Deuce is about to run away and Sinclair shoots him. Gajic dies after he was shot by Deuce. Jinxo takes his place trying to find the Holy Grail.
Garibaldi is able to convince Londo and Vir to come out of their quarters.
Babylon 5
fails to go 'boom' on Thomas' departure, possibly breaking the Babylon Curse.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
.
Synopsis
A traveler named Aldous Gajic comes to the station in search of the Holy GrailHoly Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
. Having sent information requests to the ambassadors prior to his arrival, he is greeted as a very important guest, "Honored Seeker", by Ambassador Delenn
Delenn
Delenn is a fictional lead character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Mira Furlan.-Overview:Delenn, an alien ambassador and leader from the planet Minbar, is one of the pivotal characters in Babylon 5....
and her aide Lennier
Lennier
Lennier is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bill Mumy. He is Minbari and acts as ambassadorial aide to Delenn throughout most of the series.-Background and career:...
. In Minbari culture, "Honoured Seeker" is used to denote those on a spiritual quest, and are afforded considerable respect, even if the Seeker is not himself Minbari. In the process of his search, Gajic gets caught up in the underworld of Babylon 5, as an underworld thug, Deuce, starts using an alien to "brain wipe" people who pose a threat to him.
Thomas "Jinxo" Jordan, who was present on all four previous Babylon stations, believes that he is a bearer of the Babylon Curse because every time Jinxo has left a Babylon station, the station is either destroyed or, in the case of Babylon 4, it disappears.
After being caught red-handed
In flagrante delicto
In flagrante delicto or sometimes simply in flagrante is a legal term used to indicate that a criminal has been caught in the act of committing an offence...
by security, Jinxo initially is tried for picking Gajic's pocket, but during the trial Gajic requests that Jinxo be released into his remedial custody. These two characters form an unlikely friendship.
Jinxo owes Deuce money.
Gajic and Jinxo go to Delenn and Lennier and to Ambassador Londo Mollari and Vir
Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto is a character from the fictional Babylon 5 universe, played on screen by Stephen Furst. He is a Centauri male who was from a family of minor nobility, who would eventually become the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5, and then became the Emperor of the Centauri Republic in 2278.Vir Cotto...
, neither delegation can help him to find the Grail. They go to Ambassador Kosh's quarters, and Jinxo recognizes him as the thing that has been brain-wiping people.
Meanwhile Dr. Franklin
Stephen Franklin
Stephen Franklin is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by the late Richard Biggs. He serves as the chief medical officer on the Babylon 5 space station.-Personality:...
figures out that a quasi-sentient beast from Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
space called a Na'ka'leen Feeder is what is "brain wiping" people. Centauris Londo and Vir lock themselves into the quarters, for Centauri fear Na'ka'leen Feeders.
Later while trying to get Jinxo, Deuce's men capture Gajic. Jinxo goes and gets Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
and Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
, with a team they fight off Deuce and his men, and the Na'ka'leen Feeder that Deuce put in a replica of Kosh's suit. Since no one knows what Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
s look like, he put the feeder inside the replica of Kosh's suit, to scare people into thinking he has the Vorlons on his side. They save the person the feeder is about to get, and Deuce is about to shoot Jinxo, but Gajic jumps in the way and is shot.
Garibaldi and his team then open fire on the feeder, which has came out of the suit and got one of his men, they kill the feeder, and Deuce is about to run away and Sinclair shoots him. Gajic dies after he was shot by Deuce. Jinxo takes his place trying to find the Holy Grail.
Garibaldi is able to convince Londo and Vir to come out of their quarters.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 (space station)
Babylon 5 is a fictional space station and the primary setting in the television series Babylon 5. Its design is a variation of an O'Neill cylinder....
fails to go 'boom' on Thomas' departure, possibly breaking the Babylon Curse.
Arc significance
- Jinxo's explanation of his "curse" clarifies the circumstances of the destruction of the first three previous Babylon Stations, and indicates that the disappearance of Babylon 4 was particularly sudden and uncanny.
- While talking with Gajic, Delenn and Lennier indicate for the first time that the warrior and religious castes of Minbari are often at odds.
- Kosh's reply of "good" when told that the mystery of the Vorlon's true appearance has been misused to provoke fear among the population of the station hints at the deliberate manipulation he is engaged in.
- According to series creator, primary writer, and executive producer J. Michael StraczynskiJ. Michael StraczynskiJoseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
, "...the [G]rail story was fairly self-contained, not much in the way of arc related stuff there."
Production details
- The character of Mr. Flinn is played by and credited as John Flinn, AKA John C. Flinn III, the primary DP for the series.
- The term "cycles," as used in Grail, refers to station revolutions, a period of about one minute. The reference is not used again in that way in the series.
External links
- Grail at The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 is a fan-run website that includes detailed episode guides and analyses, production history notes, background materials, references, and other information related to the science fiction epic, Babylon 5...