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In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum

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Episode no.
  
Season 2 Episode 16

Written by
  
J. Michael Straczynski

Original air date
  
10 May 1995

Directed by
  
David J. Eagle

Production code
  
217

"In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.

Contents

Synopsis

Babylon 5 is swamped with Narn and other war refugees passing through. By order of Captain Sheridan, any too sick or injured to travel are sent to medbay until they are well enough to travel.
Sheridan holds Morden in custody and learns some of what happened to the expedition on which his wife was lost. Kosh and Delenn explain to Sheridan about the Shadows. Kosh warns Sheridan "If you go to Za'Ha'Dum, you will die." The Night Watch is introduced as a vigilance Organization.

Arc significance

  • Vir reveals his desire to see Morden beheaded:
  • The history of the war between the Shadows and the other races, including the First Ones, is described for the first time.
  • This episode establishes Morden's relationship to Anna Sheridan.
  • This is the first episode where Franklin states he's taking stims, foreshadowing his future abuse.
  • Franklin reveals himself to be a Foundationist, a religion founded just after humans first went into space.
  • The first mention of the Nightwatch.
  • The Vorlons are revealed as being one of the First Ones.
  • Z'ha'dum is revealed to be the home of the Shadows.
  • This episode establishes Sheridan's relationship with Delenn.
  • The question that Delenn asked in Season 1 to which she was simply given the answer 'yes' was 'Have the Shadows returned to Z'ha'dum'?

    • Production details

  • This episode was originally intended to air after "Knives", rather than before, with Sheridan's hallucination of the Icarus in that episode serving as a reminder to the audience of his wife's fate before more details were revealed in this episode.

    • References

    In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA