A Tragedy of Telepaths
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| “A Tragedy of Telepaths” | |
|---|---|
| Babylon 5 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 9 or 10 |
| Guest stars | Julie Caitlin Brown (Na'Toth) Robin Atkin Downes (Byron) Leigh J. McCloskey (Thomas) Kim Strauss (Drazi Ambassador) Walter Koenig (Bester) |
| Written by | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Directed by | Tony Dow |
| Production no. | 510 |
| Original airdate | 25 March 1998 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "In the Kingdom of the Blind" | "Phoenix Rising" |
| List of Babylon 5 episodes | |
"A Tragedy of Telepaths" is an episode from the fifth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
Londo and G'Kar rescue Na'Toth from imprisonment on Centauri Prime.
[edit] Detail
The telepaths have made their home deep in brown sector and are on hunger strike to try and obtain a planet of their own. Sheridan is busy with the attacks on shipping , so Captain Elizabeth Lochley calls on Bester for help to resolve the situation. Zack tells her the telepaths are using suggestion to slow down attempts to cut through to them. Lochley decides she will make an attempt to reason with them by going through the air ducts to talk to them.
On Centauri prime, G'kar discovers that Na'Toth is in the cells, she has been left there since the days of the previous emperor. G'Kar and Londo free her and work on a plan to get her back to Narn.
The Drazi meanwhile have found debris from Brakiri ships after the latest attacks, and plan to introduce it as evidence at the council meeting.
Lochley makes it through to Byron, and tries to reason with him. He will not compromise, and finally she asks why she was allowed to see him. He says that it was to say goodbye.
In the council meeting the Drazi are threatening to destroy Brakiri ships, but meanwhile the Gaim have found Drazi debris after the latest attack on their ships. Sheridan points out that analysis shows the debris was cut off the ships, not blasted off, and is an obvious plant. He pleads for more time to work out the source of the attacks, but the ambassadors have run out of patience.
Londo gets Na'Toth onto a transport ship by dressing her as a Centauri, and escorting herself whilst pretending to be drunk.
Bester arrives on the station, and some of the telepaths panic and attack the guards, stealing weapons.
Sheridan meanwhile has dispatched the Whitestar fleet to patrol the borders with the threat they will fire on any ship taking action against other members of the alliance.
Na'Toth is transferred to a Narn ship, and returns successfully, although deeply traumatised. G'kar thinks she will recover in time.
Bester's bloodhounds arrive on the station and the assault on the telepaths stronghold starts.
[edit] Arc significance
- The alliance is starting to show signs of cracking under the shipping attacks.
- The telepath crisis continues to worsen.
[edit] Production details
"A Tragedy of Telepaths" was originally titled "Cat and Mouse."
[edit] Trivia
- Julie Caitlin Brown, the actress who portrayed Na'Toth, had to be listed in the opening credits because of Screen Actors Guild requirements, despite the fact that this spoiled the surprise appearance of Na'Toth in this episode.
- The name for this episode may have been a play on the term 'The tragedy of the commons', a name given to the parable by William Forster Lloyd which was based on the philosophic teachings of Aristotle. The parable involves a group of people caught in a conflict over resources whom are stuck between individual interests and the common good.
