Demon w/Glass Hand = B5!
Glenn M. Saunders
Here is a new thread which I think people will enjoy discussing. I don't
think the similarities between Outer Limits and B5 are an accident. The
fact is that before Trek, The Outer Limits was really the best Sci-Fi out
there. I regret that in my area the show was never shown in local
syndication and it wasn't until recently that I caught some episodes on
cable or tape.
Like B5 (and I guess most Sci-Fi) there were battles with the network and
budgetary restrictions.
To demonstrate a clear similarity between B5 and TOL, I will use Demon
with a Glass Hand as an example. This may merely prove Ellison's
influence on JMS, I dunno. Let's see:
Demon with a Glass hand is a MYSTERY story.
At the beginning, we are presented with a story which is really in
mid-stream. We have to catch up with what's going on, but so also does
our protagonist since he lost his memory. Thus we learn WITH the
protagonist what the "main story ARC" is. We learn HOW he got there,
what he is, and what his DESTINY is.
We eventually learn that his isn't even human at all, but an android who
is charged with saving humanity all by his lonesome.
In the end, we feel sorry for him because he has such a cross to bear.
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
In Babylon 5, the story begins in the middle of a vast epic canvas, after
the mysterious surrender of the Minbari.
Like Culp's character, Sinclair has amnesia. He isn't a vegetable, but
key things are missing in his memory. Most of his memory is restored but
still he doesn't gain back ALL of his missing info (which will come in
time no doubt).
The questions are answered THROUGH the eyes of Sinclair. We learn the
answers to the mystery mostly through Sinclair's discoveries (although
there are exceptions). We learn info through him because HE is the one
central to the whole story. In B^2 we learn that he will probably be
responsible for saving humanity in the future (the prophecy).
Like Demon, in the B5 universe, humanity is extrememly fragile and is
definitely at a disadvantage up against the humans. What humanity has
going for it (as explained by Delenn in the council scene in B^2) is
their notorious determination. This is the same as Culp's character who
must fight an eternal battle against incredible odds.
So in both Demon and B5, things will appear different from how they
actually are. We are thought to believe Culp to be human but in the end
we learn he is an android. What there may be in store for us in Season 5
we can only wait and see. I certainly thought at first that Delenn had
very evil motives but by the point of B^2 I have come to the conclusion
that if she does anything against humanity, it will be unintentional (in
an Oedipal way at the very worst) because she has already expressed her
fondness for humanity, not just as something to play around with but to
respect.
So there it is. More observations?
David B. VanMeter
>FROM: Glenn M. Saunders <kri...@max.tiac.net>
>
>The questions are answered THROUGH the eyes of Sinclair. We learn the
>answers to the mystery mostly through Sinclair's discoveries (although
>there are exceptions). We learn info through him because HE is the one
>central to the whole story. In B^2 we learn that he will probably be
>responsible for saving humanity in the future (the prophecy).
>
Just a word of caution. I'm not offended because I have already seen
B^2 (a couple of times) but you should have had a spoiler alert because
of the above paragraph. Not everybody has seen the show yet. I'm sure
you didn't intentionally ad a spoiler.
People, we all need to review submissions for inadvertant spoilers.
Mark O. Wilson
That humans in general Sinclair in particular are important to the
prophecy has been widely hinted at through out the series.
--
Mob rule isn't any prettier merely because the mob calls itself a government
It ain't charity if you are using someone else's money.
Wilson's theory of relativity: If you go back far enough, we're all related.
Mark.O...@AtlantaGA.NCR.com