Soul Mates

Infobox Television episode
Title = Soul Mates
Series = Babylon 5


"Londo's wives arrive"
Caption =
Season = 2
Episode = 7
Airdate = 14 December 1994
Production = 208
Writer = Peter David
Director = John C. Flinn, III
Guests = Keith Szarabajka (Matthew Stoner)
Lois Nettleton (Daggair)
Blair Valk (Mariel)
David L. Crowley (Lou Welch)
Carel Struycken (Trader)
Jane Carr (Timov)
Episode list = List of "Babylon 5" episodes
Prev = A Spider in the Web
Next = A Race Through Dark Places

"Soul Mates" is a second-season episode of the science fiction television series "Babylon 5". It originally aired in the United States on December 14, 1994.

ynopsis

Londo Mollari brings his three wives, all of whom barely tolerate him, to the station for the purpose of divorcing two of them as part of a special boon granted by the Centauri Emperor. Two of his wives, Daggair and Mariel, compete for Londo's affections, while the third, Timov, bluntly rejects any such competition.

Matthew Stoner, Talia's ex-husband, arrives on the station. He claims to have "left" the Psi Corps, even though "no one leaves the Corps". Later he explains to Talia that he was the subject of experimentation which eliminated his telepathic ability. He claims he can reproduce the procedure for Talia, and she can thereby escape the Corps. Although initially tempted, she refuses.

Meanwhile, Delenn is struggling with her new human characteristics, namely her hair. Ivanova helps her wash and style it, something Delenn knows absolutely nothing about.

After surviving an apparent assassination plot, Londo decides to keep Timov as his wife, saying to her, "with you, I will always know where I stand."

Arc significance

* Delenn learns more about what it means to be human. Besides dealing with her hair, she also questions Ivanova about "odd cramps".

* Londo's closeness and status within the imperial court becomes more apparent.

Notes

* While talking to G'kar about how Sheridan has noticed that people seem to be implying that he shouldn't get to comfortable as being station commander, G'kar tells him that people are merely expressing polite interest. Then, he references the sudden transfer of Commander Sinclair to Minbar, referring to it as a "strange Minbari post." He is, of course referencing the sudden disappearance of Sinclair from Babylon 5, in effect "hanging a lantern" for the fans of the show who still find the sudden change unsettling.

* During Londo's party, if one looks closely, one would notice G'kar tossing something (a grape or something small and circular) to Mariel. Whatever this may be is still subject to speculation.

Production details

* "Soul Mates" was originally titled "Pestilence, Famine and Death", in reference to Londo's three wives.
* The names of Londo's three wives were designed to reflect their characters; Daggair being a clear permutation of dagger, Timov being a reversal of vomit, and Mariel sounding the most angelic yet having the most deadly personality.
* This episode gave rise to one of the more memorable bloopers from the series. In an outtake from the banquet scene when Londo is felled by the booby-trapped Centauri artefact, Bruce Boxleitner tapped his link and said "Medlab, this is Sinclair." The room immediately erupted in laughter.

External links

Lurker|029