Episode Info
The Spinoff To Babylon 5 - CRUSADE

RATING: ***(1/2) out of ****

CAST:
Gary Cole
Captain Matthew Gideon

Tracy Scoggins
Captain Elizabeth Lochley


David Allan Brooks
Max Eilerson

Marjean Holden
Dr. Sarah Chambers

Alex Mendoza
Trace Miller

Heburn and Tracy... Bogart and Bacall... Scoggins and Cole?

This episode could have easily been the old B5 "religious zealot/mad bomber" show that is rapidly turning into a cliche for JMS and crew. However, this episode managed to be one of the most fun episodes of the series so far. The two saving graces of this episode were the character moments between Dureena, Trace, and Eilerson and the wonderfully comic dinner scene between Captains Gideon and Lochley.

I've always like Lochley, despite the fact that she never really got anything other than the bitchy commander type parts. Seeing her in the new light of a normal person and her relationship with Gideon was a nice change, and really helped make her character stronger. Hopefully if Crusade is renewed, we can see how this subplot develops. (It could go either way, depending on how well it's written.)

The main plot was weak, involving a mad bomber who supposedly heard the voice of Joan of Arc in his head. The mad bomber plot just didn't work for me, although Trace Miller did get some interesting character development out of it. The voice of Joan of Arc sounded like the voice of Celine Dion - which, when I think about it, would make me want to blow myself to smithereens... especially if it started singing.

Still, despite its flaws, this is a good episode with some wonderful humor and character moments. It's a nice change of pace from the normal heavier episodes while still showing that the Excalibur and her crew are doing something about the plague.

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