Babylon 5, "The Illusion of Truth", S04E08, OAD 2/17/97 *spoilers*

[gchance]

Guide page: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/074.html

"What could they do to us?"

There really isn't much new here, but it's a good study on propaganda and how things can bet twisted. It was also directed by Vir himself, Stephen Furst.

- Smile! You're on Candid Camera!
- The reporter obviously went to the Michael O'Hare School of Acting.
- Head butt by the butt head!
- Awww, don't coerce Steven Spielberg.
- 1999 Clinton Creates Commission On the Future? Niiice.
- "Minbari War Syndrome"
- The White Star was used in B5's "recent military campaign"? Either Clark thinks nobody knew about the Shadow War, or he's been successful at keeping news of it away from Earth. Or both.
- Bester's "lover" Carolyn was featured in ISN's report. So was one familiar person:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/3038844124_d78d8ee7aa.jpg

John C. Flinn III, one of B5's directors.

Enjoy, guys.

Greg

[aintnosin]

John C. Flinn III, one of B5's directors.
Also one of the series' two primary directors of photography (cinematographers).

This was one episode I never felt came off right. It seemed like they were covering ground already done better in "And Now for a Word..." Sheridan walked right into the reporter's trap like a lamb to the slaughter. It's not believable he would be that gullible.

[aintnosin]

Also, this episode refers to "Helsinki Syndrome" instead of "Stockholm Syndrome." Die Hard made the same mistake. Is "Stockholm Syndrome" trademarked or something?

[gchance]

Either thar or Stockholm really hates being referred to as a syndrome.

Greg

[aintnosin]

Either thar or Stockholm really hates being referred to as a syndrome.
http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/walt_disney/the_incredibles/jason_lee/face1.jpg

Hey, I resemble that remark!

[Sirius Black]

Either thar or Stockholm really hates being referred to as a syndrome.

Greg

But Helsinki has no problem with it?

:D

[gchance]

But Helsinki has no problem with it?

:D

Oh, it's not that they don't have a problem with it. It's just that they're trying to accumulate titles. They're a syndrome AND a formula. They're ill, yet they cure baldness.

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/resources/information/img/helsinki_formula.jpg

Shoot, if it weren't for syndromes and formulas, nobody would even know the name Helsinki.

Greg

[gschrock]

This was one episode I never felt came off right. It seemed like they were covering ground already done better in "And Now for a Word..." Sheridan walked right into the reporter's trap like a lamb to the slaughter. It's not believable he would be that gullible.

I actually felt the other way. This was always one of my favorite episodes. I personally don't find it all that difficult to believe that he'd fall into the trap. I suspect most people would without even realizing it.

[busyba]

ISN: We Report, You Decide.

[BitbyBlit]

I actually felt the other way. This was always one of my favorite episodes. I personally don't find it all that difficult to believe that he'd fall into the trap. I suspect most people would without even realizing it.

And in this case, I think they were all well aware of the potential for the trap. I think they were holding on to a glimmer of hope that perhaps things could be resolved this way, and decided to take a chance because of how much they hated being apart from Earth.

[Craigbob]

One thing that was missed in the previous comments was the ties to the HUAC from the 50's. The list of names were all tied directly to the list of Hollywood writers that were blacklisted for supposedly being communists.

This story came out of Joe's background as a reporter. But like others say there is not a whole lot more to this ep. than appears on screen.

[Hunter Green]

Between John's comments about "short declarative statements" and the reporter's come-on about "showing your side", I can believe John could hope. But I am hard-pressed to think he wouldn't imagine the idea of editing in different questions. Some of the things he said made me wince the first time through; he didn't follow his own advice. Still, even if he had taken his own advice about short declarative statements, they still could have made things awful, so this is how it was necessary to show us in just an hour.

Watching the report is painful. I feel like we, the audience, are having our noses ground into the lesson at greater length than necessary. But I don't disagree with the writing or directing. It's supposed to be painful. And it sure was. But it's hard to endure.

[JYoung]

I had to do some business travel and with illness and the holidays, I'm playing catch up.

I really wonder if it wouldn't have been smarter for Sheriden just to kick the reporters off the station in the first place.

It's a good episode but I still have a nagging feeling it was a really dumb move on Sheriden's part.

Plus, the cult of personality seems to be backfiring as far as Garabaldi is concerned.