Appearances and Other Deceits

General Information

Episode Number: 108
Written By: J. MIchael Straczynski
Directed By: Stephen Furst

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

Guest Starring:
Luanne Ponce as Janey
John Vickery as Mr. Welles
Wayne Wilderson as Kevin Sprach


Also Starring:
Cristopher Michael as Earthforce Captain

Plot

Summary: The Excaliber discovers of an alien ship with a lone survivor that is brought aboard the Excaliber shortly before dying. Soon after the crew soon begins to act strangely. Meanwhile, consultants from Earth Force's Political Affairs Office are on board to improve the crew and ship's "public image".

Detailed Summary: Coming soon.

Observations

Facts

• Earth Alliance is paying for the cost of the search for the cure, including the Excaliber's operation.
• The bio-energy Aliens colonize by infecting other species brainwaves by touch rather than spend the effort terraforming worlds to their needs.
• The dark uniforms worn by the crew are standard Earth Force issue for long range and exploration vessels.
• Written alien language: 94 Basic letters, 114 basic language coimponents.
• Infected individuals: Janey, Graham, Romero, Kira Coombers(?), Kleist, Welles
• Guard who saved Eilersons life and was used later to destroy the aliens: Stewart Greenburg
• The aliens don't have names.
• The first alien ship is the Thoth.
• Officer killed by aliens as an example was: David Arkam

Characters:
   Max Eilerson

• Likes salt.
• Threee things he hates: pulling a piece of skin near his nail because it catches when he puts it in his pocket, hates going to movies with kids in the audience, and hates contradictions.

Quotables

• "If anyone knows how tos urvive political changes, it's me."--Mr. Welles
• "Who would have thought to look for penicillan in bread mold?"--Cpt. Gideon
• "Never a Rosetta stone when you need one."--Eilerson
• "Goodness know I try. It's just so hard somedays"--Sprach
• "I hate it when he's right. He'll be insufferable for days."--Cpt Gideon
• "I'm a puntual kinda guy."--Cpt Gideon
• "I look like a bellhop."--Cpt Gideon

Questions

• What world or area of space were the unknown aliens from?
• Why did the aliens write on the wall and what was it for?
• When infected do the aliens learn all the memories of their hosts or just some such as the information regarding the Drakh plague?
• If the aliens had the answer to finding a cure for the Drakh plague why didn't they mention it before once they realized what was happening?
• Is the Thoth the alien ship found or the name of the race that operated it before being invaded?

Ratings

Story: 6.00
Acting: 7.10
Special F/X: 6.40

Notes: Another filler episode it seemed a bit stilted in certain areas but overall was a decent episode to watch. As usual John Vickery did an excellent job reprising his role of Mr. Welles. I did find the sterotyping of the design consultant a bit annoying but forgivable (barely!) when he was actually given something substantial to say in the episode instead of being all "fluff".
   The Thoth aliens and their ship were well done and different than most of the aliens seen in the Babylon 5 universe.
   One word for the new uniforms: Gag! Can you say 'StarFleet Academy'? That's the first thing that popped into my mind upon seeing them.Fortunately the original dark uniforms shown were intended to be the ones used through out the series.

Best Actor/Actress: David Allen Brooks