Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Larry DiTillio
Directed by Mario DiLeo

As we have learned over the past few years, loyalty to one person is quite different from loyalty to one’s country, even if that person is the so-called “leader” of the country. J. Michael Straczynski knew this back in the 1990s and set the stage for a storyline that rings all the more true after events of the past eight years.

All Alone in the Night opens with Minbari Ambassador Delenn (Mira Furlan) receiving a message from the Grey Council recalling her to Minbar to decide whether she should continue to serve on the Council. Her aide, Lennier (Bill Mumy) tries to reassure her, but she is prepared to be removed. He insists on accompanying her, despite her concern that the controversy surrounding what she has done will rub off on him.

Meanwhile, Commander Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian) tells Commander Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) about missing transports in a sector of space, and he decides to check it out himself. He’s antsy to get out in a ship again, and she insists on sending along a full escort. There’s also word that General Hague Robert Foxworth) is going to be arriving, but Sheridan is sure it will be a quick mission At first, Sheridan and his escorts don’t see anything. However, just before they are about to return, something arrives through the jumpgate and takes out the squadron. Sheridan manages to eject from his ship but then is pulled in by the alien ship, which vanishes.

Sheridan wakes up on the alien ship. He seems to be tied down to a medical bed of some kind and soon instruments appear from the ceiling. They seem to be torturing Sheridan. Soon, a Drazi appears and attacks him. However, Sheridan figures out that he is being controlled by the device in his head and being forced to do it. Soon, a Narn appears and attacks him. He helps the Narn get free of the device controlling him and the two bond. Sheridan has a vision of his crew that alludes to “the man in between” who is searching for him.

Ivanova greets General Hague, who is concerned when he hears that Sheridan is not on board. He knows it’s not like Sheridan not to be there when he arrives, even though it’s earlier than he originally planned. 

Only one member of the Grey Council, Hedronn (Robin Sachs), greets Delenn. Hedronn informs her that she has been expelled from the Grey Council. She asks what that means about her status as ambassador to Babylon 5. They are still debating and she can make a statement. She learns that Neroon (John Vickery) from the warrior caste has replaced her and she is angry. Neroon is angry as well and tells her to go back to Babylon 5 since she is no longer Minbari.

On her way back, Delenn receives communication from Ivanova who tells her about Sheridan being missing. Delenn recognizes the ship as something the Minbari have encountered before. They are known as the Streibs. Delenn sends the coordinated of their homeworld to Ivanova. While Sheridan is trying to survive with the Narn, Ivanova, and the Agamemnon attack the alien homeworld as well as the ship Sheridan is imprisoned on. He manages to escape in a lifepod with the Narn.

Back on Babylon 5, Sheridan meets with General Hague and reveals that he was sent to Babylon 5 to determine whether or not people on Babylon 5 are loyal to Earth. Sheridan doesn’t like spying on his people. General Hague reveals that Sheridan is assumed to be a “jarhead” loyal to Earth, which is perfect for their needs. Hague and others think that President Santiago might have been assassinated, but have to step carefully. They will assume that Sheridan is a patriot and not worry as much about what he’s doing on Babylon 5. 

Sheridan meets with Dr. Franklin (Richard Biggs), Mr. Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle), and Ivanova. He fills them in on what’s going on and they agree to stick with him to the end.

The assassination of President Santiago and the subsequent takeover of the government by his Vice-President took place at the end of season one Garibaldi’s suspicions about this almost cost him his life, making the case for a widespread conspiracy. With the departure of Michael O’Hare and the arrival of Bruce Boxleitner, that story was in the background for much of the early part of season two. Now we begin to see the payoff. That payoff is eerily reminiscent of our current day where a cult of personality around someone intent on being a fascist dictator seems to be doing the same thing. There is an assumption that certain people, especially the military, are loyal followers who do not think for themselves. This probably is not the case, as much as some people would like it to be. There is also an assumption that being a “patriot” means following a leader, no matter how much it goes against the principles we are supposed to be upholding. Is that tendency towards fascism on the part of humans something that has always been there and always will be?

Back to Babylon 5, this episode almost seems to stand on its own with the story surrounding the Streibs. However, there is a lot here that continues the ongoing story as well. Delenn’s demotion in the eyes of the Minbari makes her an outcast. They are happy to have her off on Babylon 5 as ambassador, because, in truth, they are as afraid of her influence as they are disgusted by her. Neroon may be correct, to a degree, about her hubris in deciding she was part of the prophecy. At least, it seems so right now.

Babylon 5 may be far removed from Earth, but it is not removed from the influences. The four senior staff of the station have a lot to lose if they are discovered, but they have been suspect of what has been going on for quite some time now. Garibaldi, in particular, was nearly killed when he discovered the assassination plot. They have a lot to lose, but their distance also protects them a bit, as we will see in the future. There’s a lot of setup for future stories in this moment.

The remastering is hit or miss in this episode. The scene where Ivanova is watching the Starfuries launch is very obviously a green screen and looks artificial despite the remastering. However, the battle scenes in space itself between the Commander and his escorts against the alien ship look very good, as do the later battles involving the Streibs and the Agamemnon. The special effects are particularly well done in this episode for the most part, and the result is some beautiful battle scenes, considering this was created almost thirty years ago.

I wouldn’t necessarily call All Alone in the Night pivotal episode, but it is setting the stage for a number of things that will be happening. Skipping it would leave people at a loss for why Delenn is no longer on the Grey Council as well as the loose network that is concerned that President Clark staged a coup. The story is solid and worth watching.

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