The Coming of Shadows
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| “The Coming of Shadows” | |
|---|---|
| Babylon 5 episode | |
 Shadow Encounter |
|
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 9 |
| Guest stars | Fredric Lehne (Ranger) Malachi Throne (Centauri Prime Minister) Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan) William Forward (Refa) Turhan Bey (Centauri Emperor) |
| Written by | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Directed by | Janet Greek |
| Production no. | 209 |
| Original airdate | 1 February 1995 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "A Race Through Dark Places" | "Gropos" |
| List of Babylon 5 episodes | |
"The Coming of Shadows" is an episode from the second season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. It won the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
The Centauri emperor visits Babylon 5, G'Kar plans to assassinate him. Before the Emperor can give a major speech, he falls ill. He asks Dr. Stephen Franklin to tell G'Kar that he apologizes for all the evil that Centauri brought to the people of Narn. G'Kar is astonished by that. The Emperor also receives a personal audience with the Vorlon ambassador. Londo plots to increase his influence, and in so doing, sparks a war between the Centauri and the Narn. The Emperor is told about the war, he curses Mollari and Lord Refa and dies.
[edit] Arc significance
This episode marked the beginning of the Narn-Centauri war, as well as marking a significant step in Londo's rise to power. Besides marking the failure of Babylon 5 to keep the peace, the Narn-Centauri war also played into the Shadows' hands, creating fear and chaos through the League of Non-Aligned Worlds.
The death of the Centauri emperor allows for Emperor Cartagia, a deluded megalomanic, to assume the throne.
It also introduces the Rangers, a covert organization sponsored by the Minbari to monitor the unfolding of a "coming darkness". One of their number is sent at the behest of former Babylon 5 commander Jeffrey Sinclair, who is doing more than his ostensible work as Earth ambassador to Minbar. This is also Sinclair's first appearance since his recall from Babylon 5.
We get our first look at Londo Mollari's prophetic dream of his fate, which includes several scenes that will appear in the coming years of conflict, and finishes with the part he has previously related about struggling to the death with G'Kar in their mutual old age.
[edit] Production details
[edit] Trivia
- The Centauri Emperor and Prime Minister featured in this episode are not named; however, later in the series, they are referred to by the names of the actors who played them: Emperor Turhan and Prime Minister Malachi.
