The Path of Sorrows

General Information

Episode Number: 104
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Directed By: Mike Vejar

Starring:
Gary Cole as Captain Mathew Gideon
Daniel Dae Kim as Lieutenant John Matheson
Carrie Dobro as Dureena Nafeel 
Peter Woodward as Galen
David Allen Brooks  as  Maximilian Eilerson 
Marjean Holden as Dr Sarah Chambers (not seen in this episode)
Tracy Scoggins as Captain Elizabeth Lochley (not seen in this episode)

Guest Starring:
Mark Blankfield as Jenson
Gary Graham as Bruder
Sophie Ward as Isabelle
Dawn Stern as Alison

Also Starring:
Daniel Guzman as XO
Kevyn Major Howard as Officer
Matt O'Toole as First Man
Patrick St. Esprit as Captain Ross

Plot

Summary: The crew visit a planet said to contain a place of healing and discover a strange lifeform within that seems to exert a stange influence over Gideon. Once aboard the Excaliber Gideon, Galen and Matheson realize the beings true purpose.

Detailed Summary: Coming soon.

Observations

Facts

• 40 Different languages all stating the same thing: "Enter freely through the path of sorrows" at the site.
• The internal transports speed  on the Excaliber is a 120 miles per hour.
• The Cerberus, an EA destroyer that Gideon served on as an ensign, was destroyed by  what appears to be a Shadow vessel.
• A large explosion on Mars(?) apparently killed much of the Psi Corp leadership in the final days of the telepath war.
• The alien healer lives off of forgiveness anf forgiving others.

Effects

   The effects for this episode were good, though a few CGI scenes seemed unfinished or perhaps even rushed. By this I mean the planet surface in one scene seemed smooth and without noticeable definition of surface features and yet on the ground the planet was obviously varied.

   The alien healer was interesting though for some reason it seemed familiar. (Perhaps part of it was used in Babylon 5?) In anycase it was different from the usual norm of humanoid aliens shown. The telepathic communication was a nice touch, though the addition of subtitles was pointless as the conversation was easily followed just by the characters speaking.

Characters
Captain Matthew Gideon

• While an ensign on the Cerberus, his ship was destroyed by a Shadow vessel and he was stranded in an EVA suit only later to be rescued by Galen.
• Whose side did Gideon take during the EA Civil War?
• Is in possession of an apocalypse box which he won in a card game as a Lieutenant. It's previous owner died mere moments later after trying to warn Gideon.
• Has had trouble sleeping for years, probably since the Cerberus was destroyed.

Lt. John Matheson

• Matheson appears to be a high power telepath given his association with a high ranking Psi Corps member and the apparent trust they had in him to watch over a rogue P12 and his clearance to see information on Rogue telepaths.
• Matheson played a small but apparently crucial role in helping bring about the fall of the Psi Corps by helping the rogue telepath, a secret he has told no one.
• Matheson life long dream was to be a member of Earth Force.

Galen

• Isabelle died because of her injuries after she and Galen were betrayed by three fellow Technomages.

Quotables

• "All roads intersect with the path of sorrows. Sooner or later."--Galen
• "We, all of us, have to be some where. This place seemed to be as good as any."--Galen
• "You like going no where at a 120 miles per hour?"--Matheson
• "Go around enough times and you may come to the same conclusions I have."--Galen
• "I forgive you."--Alien healer

Questions

• What planet was the alien healer found on?
• What race was the alien healer? Are there others?
• What exactly is an apocalypse box? What is it capable of aside from the description Gideon was told?
• Has Gideon used the apocalypse box since obtaining it?
• What was the alien that went to the healer after it was returned to the planet?
• Why didn't Matheson communicate to the alien telepthically since that seemed to be it's mode of communication? A habit from being around normals or just a usual human reaction to attempts at communicating verbally?
• Where was the Cerberus destroyed?
• Was it a Shadow ship that destroyed the Cerberus?
• Why were Galen and Isabelle betrayed by three members of their order?

Ratings

Story: 7.00
Acting: 7.30
Special F/X: 6.90

Notes: One of the best Crusade episodes aired to date. While mostly back story on the characters it also gave a good look into the characters current state.   On a side note, I found it interesting that the Psi Corps member that trusted Matheson so much was named Bruder, which can be defined as "brother". A nice little touch to the overall impact of Matheson's betrayal of the Psi Corps.

Best Actor/Actress: Peter Woodward. This one was a tough choice since I thought Gary Cole did an excellent jobs in this episode. Peter Woodward merely got it on the fact that he had a wider range of emotions to play.