Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Directed by John C. Flinn III

Grey 17 Is Missing is one of the more unusual episodes of Babylon 5, dividing its story between two seemingly unrelated plots. The first follows Security Chief Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle) as he investigates a mysterious missing level of the station. The second, and much more important to the overall series, deals with Minbari Ambassador Delenn’s (Mira Furlan) appointment as leader of the Rangers and a confrontation between Marcus (Jason Carter) and Neroon (John Vickery).

Garibaldi becomes involved when a maintenance worker disappears while investigating a problem in Grey Sector. While looking into the disappearance, Garibaldi notices something strange about the station’s layout. The elevators appear to spend an unexplained amount of time traveling between Grey 16 and Grey 17. His investigation eventually reveals that there is a hidden level of Babylon 5 that doesn’t appear on the station’s official plans. Garibaldi discovers that the forgotten section is inhabited by a strange religious community led by a man named Jeremiah (Robert Englund). The group believes that the universe is a living entity attempting to achieve self-awareness, and they have isolated themselves from the rest of the station while pursuing their beliefs. The group also worships a dangerous creature called a Zarg. Garibaldi is captured, but eventually escapes and kills the creature. He returns to the main station after his unexpected adventure, leaving Captain Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) and the others to deal with the bizarre revelation that an entire level of Babylon 5 has effectively been forgotten.

Although the mystery initially seems as though it might have major implications, the incident ultimately has little impact on the larger story. The much more important storyline concerns Delenn and the Rangers.

With Jeffrey Sinclair no longer leading the Rangers, Delenn is asked to become their new leader. She accepts the position, becoming Entil’zha, the leader of the Rangers. Her appointment creates considerable tension among the Minbari, particularly with Neroon, a powerful member of the Warrior Caste. Neroon believes that Delenn’s appointment represents an unacceptable increase in the power of the Religious Caste. He is already suspicious of Delenn’s growing influence and sees her leadership of the Rangers as another step toward political domination. His opposition eventually becomes serious enough that Delenn’s life is threatened.

Delenn does not want Sheridan to intervene because she fears that doing so could turn an internal Minbari conflict into an even larger crisis. She therefore asks Lennier not to tell Sheridan what Neroon intends to do. Delenn’s aide, Lennier (Bill Mumy), respects Delenn’s wishes but realizes that something must be done. He quietly turns to Marcus.

Marcus challenges Neroon to a traditional Minbari duel. The odds are overwhelmingly against him. Neroon is a highly experienced warrior, while Marcus knows that he is unlikely to survive the confrontation. Nevertheless, Marcus fights because he believes protecting Delenn and the Rangers is more important than his own life.

The episode crosscuts between Marcus’s brutal battle with Neroon and Delenn’s ceremony as she formally assumes leadership of the Rangers. Marcus is eventually defeated and badly injured. Yet his sacrifice has the effect that Lennier hoped for. Neroon realizes that Marcus was willing to die for Delenn. The fact that a human is prepared to make such a sacrifice for a Minbari forces Neroon to reconsider his assumptions about humans and about what truly makes someone honorable. When Neroon arrives at the ceremony, his attitude has changed. He acknowledges Delenn as Entil’zha rather than continuing to oppose her.

The episode ends with Neroon visiting Marcus in MedLab. His encounter with Marcus has clearly affected him, even though Marcus remains badly injured. The scene provides a surprisingly humorous conclusion to an otherwise very serious storyline.

Grey 17 Is Missing is an uneven episode of Babylon 5. Its two stories differ dramatically in quality, and the stronger one is the story that matters most to the larger series. The Delenn storyline is the real heart of the episode. Delenn becoming Entil’zha is an important development in the continuing evolution of her character. She has gone from Minbari ambassador to one of the central leaders in the fight against the Shadows, and becoming head of the Rangers represents another major step in that transformation. Her appointment also exposes the growing divisions within Minbari society. Neroon is particularly effective because he isn’t simply presented as a villain. His opposition to Delenn reflects a genuine struggle between the Minbari castes. He believes the Warrior Caste is losing influence while Delenn and the Religious Caste are becoming increasingly powerful. His eventual change of heart is therefore more meaningful than a simple defeat.

Marcus’s role in the story is equally effective. He knows he is unlikely to defeat Neroon, but he fights anyway. His willingness to sacrifice himself demonstrates the courage and loyalty that Neroon believes belong exclusively to the Minbari. In a sense, Marcus wins precisely because he loses the fight. Neroon defeats him physically, but Marcus’s actions force Neroon to question his prejudices. A human has demonstrated the same courage, honor, and willingness to sacrifice that Neroon associates with Minbari culture. It is one of Marcus’s strongest moments in the series.

Unfortunately, the episode’s title storyline is much less successful. The idea of a forgotten level of Babylon 5 is initially intriguing. The mystery surrounding the elevator and the unexplained gap between levels creates some genuine suspense. The problem comes when Garibaldi discovers what is actually there.

The isolated religious community is never developed enough to become particularly interesting, and the group’s philosophy feels more bizarre than profound. There are also obvious questions about how an entire level could remain hidden on a space station as heavily populated and monitored as Babylon 5. The Zarg is another weakness. The creature is intended to be frightening, but the execution doesn’t create the sense of danger or horror the story needs. Instead, the entire subplot has a somewhat campy quality that clashes with the seriousness of the Rangers storyline. Most importantly, almost none of it matters afterward. Garibaldi solves the mystery, kills the Zarg, and returns to the station. The hidden level doesn’t significantly affect the station or the larger Shadow War. That makes the storyline feel more like a self-contained oddity than an important part of the series.

Despite its unevenness, the episode explores several recurring Babylon 5 themes. Sacrifice is the most important. Marcus is prepared to die for Delenn, demonstrating that loyalty and courage can cross species and cultural boundaries. Prejudice is also central. Neroon believes that humans are fundamentally inferior to Minbari, but Marcus’s actions challenge that assumption more effectively than any argument could. The episode also highlights the changing nature of Minbari society. Delenn’s rise represents a challenge to the traditional balance between the Minbari castes, while Neroon represents resistance to that change. These ideas connect directly to the larger political and philosophical conflicts that Babylon 5 develops throughout its later seasons.

Grey 17 Is Missing is a frustratingly inconsistent episode. The Garibaldi storyline is strange, underdeveloped, and ultimately forgettable, while the Delenn, Marcus, and Neroon storyline is important, character-driven, and genuinely compelling. The biggest problem is that the weaker story gets the episode’s title and much of its attention.

Still, the episode deserves credit for several important developments. Delenn formally becomes Entil’zha, Marcus demonstrates his willingness to sacrifice himself for the cause, and Neroon begins to question his assumptions about humans and Minbari superiority. For fans following the larger Babylon 5 story, those developments make the episode worthwhile. The best way to approach Grey 17 Is Missing is to think of it as two very different episodes sharing the same hour. One is a bizarre and largely disposable monster mystery, while the other is an important chapter in Delenn’s rise and the continuing transformation of Minbari society. Overall, it is an uneven episode with a weak central mystery but a strong and significant character story.

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