Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by Kevin G. Cremin

The first episode of the third season of Babylon 5 picks up right after the events at the conclusion of season two. It also sets up many of the themes that will be explored this season, as well as confirming a few things that have been hinted at previously.

Captain Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) meets with Ambassador Kosh to thank him and asks if everything is all right. He asks why Kosh took the chance by revealing himself. Kosh responds that it was necessary.

A Drazi ship is doing battle with the Centauri. He ejects a smaller ship just before he is blown apart. Inside, a man directs the ship to open a Jumpgate and proceed to Babylon 5. He arrives at the station barely alive. However, when Dr. Franklin (Richard Biggs) turns his back, he disappears.

David Endawi (Tucker Smallwood) from Earthforce Special Intelligence arrives on Babylon 5. He wants to talk to Sheridan and Commander Ivanova (Claudia Christian) alone, along with Minbari Ambassador Delenn (Mira Furlan). Endawi produces the footage of the Shadow vessel that Keffer captured on film before he disappeared. Delenn denies ever having seen a ship like it before while Sheridan and Ivanova claim Keffer’s investigation was unauthorized. Endawi states he has to meet with the other Ambassadors as well, very quietly. Once Endawi is gone, Sheridan asks Delenn if it’s a Shadow vessel. She affirms what he suspects.

Centauri Ambassador Londo Mollari (Peter Jurasik) meets with Mr. Morden (Ed Wasser) and says he doesn’t need the help of his associates any longer. Mr. Morden says he must discuss it with his associates and he’ll meet with Londo later.

The assistant to the Minbari Ambassador, Lennier (Bill Mumy) intercepts Delenn on her way out of Sheridan’s office and tells her “a friend” is looking for her. He shows her a piece of jewelry the mysterious man was wearing. They disguise themselves and meet with the man in Downbelow who calls himself Marcus (Jason Carter) and identifies himself as a Ranger. They are attacked but they fend off their attackers. They meet with Sheridan and Security Chief Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle). Sheridan brings in Ivanova and starts to explain things to her, but she is already quite aware.

Marcus is there to plead the case of the Rangers who are trapped in Drazi space by a Centauri planetary blockade. Mr. Garibaldi worries about Sheridan leaving Babylon 5 while Mr. Endawi is still there. Sheridan assigns him to deal with Endawi, while he and Ivanova take a shuttle to rescue the stranded Rangers on Zagros 7.

Endawi meets with Londo and asks him what he knows about the ship in Keffer’s recording. Londo tells him that he’s seen it in a dream where he is standing on Centauri Prime and there are ships like that one passing overhead.

Mr. Morden meets with Londo in his quarters. Mr. Morden shows a map of space and says the Centauri can only attack worlds in certain parts of space and the rest belong to them. Londo asks for assurance that Mr. Morden’s associates will not decide to attack the Centauri, but Mr. Morden refuses to give it. Mr. Morden tells Londo that there was one planet they wanted secured and he had Lord Refa secure it for them. This makes Londo a bit uneasy. He asks about the ships they have used, but Mr. Morden deflects and says to get the ships out of there since the Centauri will not want to be around when they come for Zagros 7.

Marcus brings Sheridan and Delenn to where a new ship is, the White Star. It’s a new design of a warship using both Minbari and Vorlon technology. It is staffed by members of the religious caste since the Minbari have had difficulties with the warrior caste in the past. Sheridan directs them to Zagros 7.

Garibaldi tells Endawi to meet with the former Narn Ambassador G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas). Endawi is hesitant due to the non-aggression treaty with the Centauri. Garibaldi tells him to speak with him unofficially. G’Kar tells Endawi that the ship is familiar to the Narn, having been described in the Book of G’Quan almost a millennium before.

The White Star comes out of hyperspace near Zagros 7. They begin destroying the mines that are in orbit around the planet. There are no signs of Centauri warships, but a Shadow vessel appears. The Rangers clear out while the Shadow vessel pursues the White Star into hyperspace. Sheridan has them head for the Jumpgate in the Markab system and opens a jump point while inside the Jumpgate, destroying the Shadow vessel while the White Star is damaged, but escapes.

Sheridan and Delenn come up with a story about a disabled Minbari shuttle to throw Endawi off the track.

Back on Earth, Endawi makes his report to a Senator. She dismisses him, and then Mr. Morden enters the room, happy that the report shows nothing really about the Shadow vessel, just a lot of conjecture and legends. A member of the Psi Corps is also at the meeting and wants to use the mysterious vessel as a way of speeding up their plans for Earth.

Sheridan creates a war council on Babylon 5. It includes Delenn, Ivanova, Garibaldi, Dr. Franklin, and Marcus.

There have been hints before now that something wasn’t right with Earth Government. With Matters of Honor, we now know that Psi Corps and other members of the government are involved with The Shadows. As we are seeing in our own time, people will make a deal with the devil to get the power they desire so badly. The only question is what the cost will be in the long run.

Londo’s misgivings finally come to a head as he attempts to back out of the deal he has made. For now, it looks like he has succeeded, although the fact that Mr. Morden would not give assurances that “his associates” would not attack the Centauri is something to remember, especially considering that viewers know his associates are the ships in Londo’s dream.

Babylon 5 is supposed to be neutral, but since the Captain and officers are part of EarthForce, it would seem that it is strongly under the control of Earth Government. With the knowledge that The Shadows have made inroads into Earth Government, it is troubling, at the very least. This is the beginning of the fracture between the leadership of Babylon 5 and Earth Government. Sheridan is smart enough to have picked up on this, which is why he agrees with keeping secrets from Earth Government in regard to The Rangers as well as the White Star, as well as forming the secretive War Council. They all know something bad is on its way, and Earth will not help them and might possibly be the enemy.

The introduction of the White Star means there is more of an opportunity for space battles. There have been some CGI effects over the first two seasons, but this seems like a way to bring in more of the effects science fiction fans were enjoying back in the 1990s. Thankfully, these episodes have now been remastered. When I watched them on the original DVD release, the effects were cringy on today’s high-definition televisions. Now it’s a pleasure to watch and enjoy. The battle here is well done and gives Sheridan a chance to show how well he thinks outside the box when it comes to confronting an enemy. This is why he was successful against the Minbari in the Earth-Minbari War. At the same time, he’s not a warhawk. He has a strong moral compass and knows the cost of war.

Matters of Honor is a solid start to the third season that sets the tone that things will be different this year. It is the year the war that has been set up in previous season finally comes to Babylon 5 and the known universe. Get ready for the ride!

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