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Into the Fire (Babylon 5)
Encyclopedia
"Into the Fire" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5
.
It marks the end of the "Shadow War
" story arc.
stages a final showdown between the Vorlon
s and the Shadows
at Coriana VI.
This episode uses a massive amount of CGI
effects to show the strength of the fleet that Sheridan has amassed to confront the Vorlons and the Shadows. In one sense, it is similar to the Battle of the Line
in the Earth-Minbari War
–a desperate attempt to stop a seemingly unstoppable enemy.
Sheridan shows his strength as a leader by being able to assemble a fleet from so many diverse worlds, many of whom are historical enemies of one another, now united against common enemies.
Meanwhile, Londo commences plans to evict the Shadows from Centauri Prime. While doing so, he is given the upsetting news that the assassination of his beloved Adira had been orchestrated by none other than Morden
, who then pinned the blame on Lord Refa
so as to convince Londo to ask for his aid again. This gives Londo even more reason to confront Morden with his ultimatum: remove the Shadow vessels or else. When Morden refuses, Londo destroys the entire island upon which the ships were based and then orders Morden executed. He thinks he has removed the last reason for the Vorlons to attack Centauri Prime but forgets that he himself was once a Shadow associate and reason enough for the Vorlons to attack. He begs Vir to kill him - to remove the last trace of Shadow influence from Centauri Prime - and then tell the Vorlons that Londo is dead. Fortunately, the planet and Londo are spared when Sheridan's assault at Coriana forces the Vorlons to summon away their remaining ships. Centauri Prime is safe, as is Londo, but Londo still has his future to consider.
The Vorlons and the Shadows make one last attempt to sway the younger races to follow them by explaining to Sheridan and Delenn their different viewpoints. Lorien
secretly broadcasts these conversations to the entire assembled fleet. It is clear that the Vorlons and the Shadows have become so consumed in their own philosophies, they have forgotten that their original purpose was to help the younger races develop. Hearing this, Sheridan utters the line "Get the hell out of our galaxy
!"
Lorien then tells the Vorlons and the Shadows, as well as the remaining First Ones
that have been assembled that their time is over and they must all go "beyond the rim." He assures them that he is going with them. This will leave the younger races to define their own history without interference.
The "Third Age of Mankind" has begun.
-- Sheridan to the Vorlons and the Shadows
"To live on as we have is to leave behind joy, and love, and companionship, because we know it to be transitory, of the moment. We know it will turn to ash. Only those whose lives are brief can imagine that love is eternal. You should embrace that remarkable illusion. It may be the greatest gift your race has ever received."
-- Lorien to Ivanova
"You just made a mistake, Londo! Even if my associates lose this war they have allies! They'll make sure Centauri Prime pays the price for what you've done here today!"
"What I've done?! Oh, Mr. Morden, I haven't even started with you yet."
-- Morden and Londo
"Will you come with us?"
"I have been here since the beginning. I will not leave you now. I will go with you beyond the rim. And we will see again all those who went ahead of us, all those who we have missed for so long."
"Then we will not be alone?"
"No, never alone."
-- Vorlons, Lorien, and the Shadows
"Strange. The galaxy seems somehow smaller now that the First Ones are gone forever. It feels like the magic's gone now."
"No, not gone. Now we make our own magic. Now we create our own legends. Now we build the future. Now we stop--"
"--being afraid of shadows."
-- Sheridan and Delenn
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...
.
It marks the end of the "Shadow War
Shadow War
The Shadow Wars are a fictional series of wars involving the Shadows in the television science fiction series Babylon 5. There have actually been many Shadow Wars since ancient times in the galaxy. Roughly every thousand years, the Shadows begin a new Shadow War to promote chaos in the universe in...
" story arc.
Synopsis
At the height of the Shadow War, SheridanJohn Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
stages a final showdown between the 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 and the Shadows
Shadow (Babylon 5)
The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
at Coriana VI.
This episode uses a massive amount of CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
effects to show the strength of the fleet that Sheridan has amassed to confront the Vorlons and the Shadows. In one sense, it is similar to the Battle of the Line
Battle of the Line
In the Babylon 5 fictional universe, the Battle of the Line was the final battle of the Earth-Minbari war. The Battle of the Line was a desperate attempt by the Earth Alliance to stop a Minbari combat fleet from attacking Earth. Over 20,000 Human defenders fought in the battle; including most of...
in the Earth-Minbari War
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
–a desperate attempt to stop a seemingly unstoppable enemy.
Sheridan shows his strength as a leader by being able to assemble a fleet from so many diverse worlds, many of whom are historical enemies of one another, now united against common enemies.
Meanwhile, Londo commences plans to evict the Shadows from Centauri Prime. While doing so, he is given the upsetting news that the assassination of his beloved Adira had been orchestrated by none other than Morden
Morden (Babylon 5)
Morden is a fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Ed Wasser. He is a recurring antagonist in the show.-Overview:...
, who then pinned the blame on Lord Refa
Lord Refa
Lord Antono Refa is a fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by William Forward. He is a regular guest character in the second and third seasons.-Personality:...
so as to convince Londo to ask for his aid again. This gives Londo even more reason to confront Morden with his ultimatum: remove the Shadow vessels or else. When Morden refuses, Londo destroys the entire island upon which the ships were based and then orders Morden executed. He thinks he has removed the last reason for the Vorlons to attack Centauri Prime but forgets that he himself was once a Shadow associate and reason enough for the Vorlons to attack. He begs Vir to kill him - to remove the last trace of Shadow influence from Centauri Prime - and then tell the Vorlons that Londo is dead. Fortunately, the planet and Londo are spared when Sheridan's assault at Coriana forces the Vorlons to summon away their remaining ships. Centauri Prime is safe, as is Londo, but Londo still has his future to consider.
The Vorlons and the Shadows make one last attempt to sway the younger races to follow them by explaining to Sheridan and Delenn their different viewpoints. Lorien
Lorien (Babylon 5)
Lorien is a fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. He appears at the start of season four and again in the last episode of the show. Lórien is also a name given to one of the Valar, god-like beings in the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, of whom series...
secretly broadcasts these conversations to the entire assembled fleet. It is clear that the Vorlons and the Shadows have become so consumed in their own philosophies, they have forgotten that their original purpose was to help the younger races develop. Hearing this, Sheridan utters the line "Get the hell out of our galaxy
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
!"
Lorien then tells the Vorlons and the Shadows, as well as the remaining First Ones
First Ones
The First Ones is the collective name of a group of aliens from the television science fiction drama Babylon 5.-Overview:The First Ones are the ancient alien races of the galaxy, the first organisms to achieve sentience and the first to become spacefaring. Of these races, Lorien's was the first,...
that have been assembled that their time is over and they must all go "beyond the rim." He assures them that he is going with them. This will leave the younger races to define their own history without interference.
The "Third Age of Mankind" has begun.
Arc significance
- Morden is dead, fulfilling Vir's fondest wish from "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dumIn the Shadow of Z'ha'dum"In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Sheridan holds Morden in custody and learns some of what happened to the expedition on which his wife was lost....
." - The Vorlons, Shadows and other First Ones have left the galaxy, leaving the younger races to fend for themselves, initiating the beginning of the "Third Age of Mankind."
Quotes
"Now GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR GALAXY, both of you!"-- Sheridan to the Vorlons and the Shadows
"To live on as we have is to leave behind joy, and love, and companionship, because we know it to be transitory, of the moment. We know it will turn to ash. Only those whose lives are brief can imagine that love is eternal. You should embrace that remarkable illusion. It may be the greatest gift your race has ever received."
-- Lorien to Ivanova
"You just made a mistake, Londo! Even if my associates lose this war they have allies! They'll make sure Centauri Prime pays the price for what you've done here today!"
"What I've done?! Oh, Mr. Morden, I haven't even started with you yet."
-- Morden and Londo
"Will you come with us?"
"I have been here since the beginning. I will not leave you now. I will go with you beyond the rim. And we will see again all those who went ahead of us, all those who we have missed for so long."
"Then we will not be alone?"
"No, never alone."
-- Vorlons, Lorien, and the Shadows
"Strange. The galaxy seems somehow smaller now that the First Ones are gone forever. It feels like the magic's gone now."
"No, not gone. Now we make our own magic. Now we create our own legends. Now we build the future. Now we stop--"
"--being afraid of shadows."
-- Sheridan and Delenn
External links
- Into the Fire 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...