This episode is highly reminiscent about an earlier one about a the 23rd century's answer to capital punishment. The previous one starred June Lockhart and introduced the idea of "death of personality"--when a convicted murderer has has personality erased by a telepath and the new personality is devoted to a lifetime of service to others. This time, this theme is only revealed towards the end. Up until that time, a nice monk who is serving aboard the station is being terrorized by horrific images of murder and bloodshed. Eventually, you learn that this sweet-natured monk was in fact a recipient of a brain wipe--as he had been convicted of murder years earlier! This is a wonderful moral quandary that is explored, as he is NOW a decent man but the families of his victims STILL want revenge! The best part of the show, though, is the super-ironic twist at the end that make this an episode not to be missed!!
7 Reviews
Filler,...but EXCELLENT filler nevertheless that will make you think!
planktonrules11 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Thoughtful and respectful exploration of faith
GentlemanGeorge31 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Derided by some reviewers as a "filler" that does nothing to advance the story arc, this episode nonetheless provides an engaging exploration of the topics of faith and justice.
While most viewers will figure out by the end of Act 2 that Brother Edward was serial killer Charles Dexter before being sentenced to "death of personality" and being mind-wiped, that secret was not intended to be hidden from the viewer. We know the truth before everyone (except Brother Theo) so that we can share in his confusion and ultimate anguish when he discovers the truth.
Brad Dourif is memorable in this role for the measured, nuanced portrayal of a man with a terrible past who cannot reconcile that past with his newfound moral conscience. The script wisely avoids tropes like Edward talking to his evil former self in a mirror, or wild histrionics as he loses his grip on reality. Edward remains Edward, calmly using the skills he was taught by the Order to discover the hidden truth and then, repentant for his crimes and unable to forgive himself, submits himself for judgement to those who seek his death.
The "death of personality" sentence was mentioned in previous episodes and the mechanics and aftermath of that obvious alternative to capital punishment gets good exposition here. Edwards killer confesses and apparently is judged, mind-wiped, and accepted into the Order (as Brother Malcolm) by the final act which is a bit jarring and an unrealistically speedy course of events. There was an opportunity missed here to delay that shock by introducing Malcolm a few episodes later and working him into a plot twist somewhere but JMS was writing EVERY episode by this time so you can't fault him for wanting to tie up loose ends that weren't part of "The Arc."
This episode was also noteworthy for the respectful inclusion of faith as a major focus of the plot. You will not see this anywhere on television these days. It is possible the mere mention of religion was enough to raise the hackles of some reviewers. I think the idea that the future should be devoid of faith or spirituality is a bit silly. This is J Michael Straczynski's universe after all. Viewers who don't like it should go and try to create their own.
While most viewers will figure out by the end of Act 2 that Brother Edward was serial killer Charles Dexter before being sentenced to "death of personality" and being mind-wiped, that secret was not intended to be hidden from the viewer. We know the truth before everyone (except Brother Theo) so that we can share in his confusion and ultimate anguish when he discovers the truth.
Brad Dourif is memorable in this role for the measured, nuanced portrayal of a man with a terrible past who cannot reconcile that past with his newfound moral conscience. The script wisely avoids tropes like Edward talking to his evil former self in a mirror, or wild histrionics as he loses his grip on reality. Edward remains Edward, calmly using the skills he was taught by the Order to discover the hidden truth and then, repentant for his crimes and unable to forgive himself, submits himself for judgement to those who seek his death.
The "death of personality" sentence was mentioned in previous episodes and the mechanics and aftermath of that obvious alternative to capital punishment gets good exposition here. Edwards killer confesses and apparently is judged, mind-wiped, and accepted into the Order (as Brother Malcolm) by the final act which is a bit jarring and an unrealistically speedy course of events. There was an opportunity missed here to delay that shock by introducing Malcolm a few episodes later and working him into a plot twist somewhere but JMS was writing EVERY episode by this time so you can't fault him for wanting to tie up loose ends that weren't part of "The Arc."
This episode was also noteworthy for the respectful inclusion of faith as a major focus of the plot. You will not see this anywhere on television these days. It is possible the mere mention of religion was enough to raise the hackles of some reviewers. I think the idea that the future should be devoid of faith or spirituality is a bit silly. This is J Michael Straczynski's universe after all. Viewers who don't like it should go and try to create their own.
Passage Through Gethsemane
samjeude-1287430 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Aa searing look into Capital Punishment is etched into the main question facing a young monk: how much punishment is enough? Brother Edward, one of Brother Theo's younger Brothers, is asked by Delenn to consider what he feels was Christ's greatest act of courage, answers that he's not certain he could face staying in a place where he knew pain and torment would come for him. Before the day ends, he learns the answer to that question.
Sheridan and his crew, having never known'Charlie', cannot understand why Edward is tortured. Only later does Sheridan learn the importance of forgiveness - and then only with a sharp reminder from Brother Theo. Considering the broader arc to this and next season, an important question to consider.....
Sheridan and his crew, having never known'Charlie', cannot understand why Edward is tortured. Only later does Sheridan learn the importance of forgiveness - and then only with a sharp reminder from Brother Theo. Considering the broader arc to this and next season, an important question to consider.....
Excellent
VenVes31 July 2018
Another excellent episode that incorporates the significant talents of Brad Dourif to great effect. He's also appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Lon Suder. Terrific moral dilemmas and philosophical quandaries are in full force in this episode. A Sci-Fi show that manages to treat religion with a measure of respect rather than outright abandonment? Who woulda' thunk it.
Very Inspirational
pauljenkinsjd1 August 2020
Total lack of subtlety
phenomynouss27 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Probably the most frustrating thing about Babylon 5 thus far is the highly compelling main story, which is carried out sluggishly, drawn out over the seasons, with tons and tons of filler episodes in between.
This is one of those filler episodes. It involves a concept previously remarked upon; the use of telepaths to "destroy" personalities of murderers and essentially creating entirely new people who will be "good" and help society.
With a level of subtlety I've not seen since the first two seasons of "Enterprise", the entire concept mentioned above is re-introduced via a newscast, and then explained again immediately afterwards, in case you didn't get it.
Then we start to have this guy, played by Brad Douriff, a Catholic priest/monk having bloody memories suddenly striking him. From there, depending on how clever and/or intelligent you are, you should immediately figure out that he was once a murderer and had his personality destroyed, and then made into a monk called Brother Edward. But even the most oblivious of viewers would figure it out immediately once Edward goes to the computer and has a search done on all the things he's seeing in his visions among criminal records/databases, etcetera.
So it turns out that Edward is being intentionally pursued and tortured to remember his murders by a group of people, made up entirely of family members of the deceased, because that's just the most on-the-nose choice. So obviously, they kill him, but just slowly enough for him to say he forgives them, and have the abbot guy pray with him and forgive him as he dies.
Then the guy who actually committed the murder freely confesses, and by the end of the episode, he's become a monk, too, after having his personality destroyed.
Maybe there's some thoughtfulness to be had in this. Maybe some debate or discussion. I was bored, save for the steady performance of Brad Douriff, who despite the lame, monotonous tone of his voice here, manages to speak volumes and avoid expected cliché's, such as going on a killing spree, or screaming and crying and lashing out, or committing suicide out of grief.
This is one of those filler episodes. It involves a concept previously remarked upon; the use of telepaths to "destroy" personalities of murderers and essentially creating entirely new people who will be "good" and help society.
With a level of subtlety I've not seen since the first two seasons of "Enterprise", the entire concept mentioned above is re-introduced via a newscast, and then explained again immediately afterwards, in case you didn't get it.
Then we start to have this guy, played by Brad Douriff, a Catholic priest/monk having bloody memories suddenly striking him. From there, depending on how clever and/or intelligent you are, you should immediately figure out that he was once a murderer and had his personality destroyed, and then made into a monk called Brother Edward. But even the most oblivious of viewers would figure it out immediately once Edward goes to the computer and has a search done on all the things he's seeing in his visions among criminal records/databases, etcetera.
So it turns out that Edward is being intentionally pursued and tortured to remember his murders by a group of people, made up entirely of family members of the deceased, because that's just the most on-the-nose choice. So obviously, they kill him, but just slowly enough for him to say he forgives them, and have the abbot guy pray with him and forgive him as he dies.
Then the guy who actually committed the murder freely confesses, and by the end of the episode, he's become a monk, too, after having his personality destroyed.
Maybe there's some thoughtfulness to be had in this. Maybe some debate or discussion. I was bored, save for the steady performance of Brad Douriff, who despite the lame, monotonous tone of his voice here, manages to speak volumes and avoid expected cliché's, such as going on a killing spree, or screaming and crying and lashing out, or committing suicide out of grief.
Infuriating and Moralising
machina2225 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I've recently been watching Babylon 5 for the first time, going through the episodes in order. After having now watched the first 3 seasons I've come to the firm conviction that episodes which don't contribute towards the overarching story arc of the Shadows tend to be by far the weakest of the bunch.
This, in part, is because it was not until the first hints at a lengthy, epic story arc were made that I began to finally appreciate Babylon 5 (and for this reason the first season is largely a dud to me). The overarching story arc of the Shadows and all that they entail (most notably, thus far, instigating the war between the Centauri and the Narn) is compelling in its breadth and potential.
Passing Through Gethsemane, as other reviewers have noted here, is a filler episode. It does nothing to push forwards the major story arc and does little to add to it either. Not necessarily a negative thing, if the self-contained story were interesting. It isn't.
The monk-like religious order which came onto the station a few episodes back takes centre stage, which in itself is the first negative. Their patronising nature is annoying at the best of times and they frankly make for bland character studies.
Enter 'Brother Edward', a serial killer whose mind and personality has been wiped as punishment for his crimes. The Edward we see here is one who does not know anything of his past, and is as far as we know 'a good man'. He slowly learns about his past, however, through the events of the episode.
We're supposed to sympathise with Edward - and certainly every major character in this episode does, from Sheridan (who ridiculously loathes the man who ultimately kills Edward, even after he undergoes the same memory wiping process - a man whose loved one(s) were killed by Edward and wishes for revenge/justice - but is hugely sympathetic to Edward) to Ivanova (who simply refuses to even acknowledge that Edward was a serial killer).
It's all extremely frustrating, almost infuriating. If anything I sympathise with the person who kills Edward - he becomes a killer not because of his own sadistic nature like Edward, but because of a drive for retribution and because society now refuses to truly punish killers.
There's certainly a debate to be had there, but the writing in this episode preaches at the viewer, much in the same way as Brother Theo preaches his creed in almost every conversation he engages in - you're told who you're supposed to sympathise with and who to condemn, without any hint of subtlety, and not a single member of the crew argues against any of it.
This, in part, is because it was not until the first hints at a lengthy, epic story arc were made that I began to finally appreciate Babylon 5 (and for this reason the first season is largely a dud to me). The overarching story arc of the Shadows and all that they entail (most notably, thus far, instigating the war between the Centauri and the Narn) is compelling in its breadth and potential.
Passing Through Gethsemane, as other reviewers have noted here, is a filler episode. It does nothing to push forwards the major story arc and does little to add to it either. Not necessarily a negative thing, if the self-contained story were interesting. It isn't.
The monk-like religious order which came onto the station a few episodes back takes centre stage, which in itself is the first negative. Their patronising nature is annoying at the best of times and they frankly make for bland character studies.
Enter 'Brother Edward', a serial killer whose mind and personality has been wiped as punishment for his crimes. The Edward we see here is one who does not know anything of his past, and is as far as we know 'a good man'. He slowly learns about his past, however, through the events of the episode.
We're supposed to sympathise with Edward - and certainly every major character in this episode does, from Sheridan (who ridiculously loathes the man who ultimately kills Edward, even after he undergoes the same memory wiping process - a man whose loved one(s) were killed by Edward and wishes for revenge/justice - but is hugely sympathetic to Edward) to Ivanova (who simply refuses to even acknowledge that Edward was a serial killer).
It's all extremely frustrating, almost infuriating. If anything I sympathise with the person who kills Edward - he becomes a killer not because of his own sadistic nature like Edward, but because of a drive for retribution and because society now refuses to truly punish killers.
There's certainly a debate to be had there, but the writing in this episode preaches at the viewer, much in the same way as Brother Theo preaches his creed in almost every conversation he engages in - you're told who you're supposed to sympathise with and who to condemn, without any hint of subtlety, and not a single member of the crew argues against any of it.
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