Intersections in Real Time

Infobox Television episode
Title = Intersections in Real Time
Series = Babylon 5


Caption =
Season = 4
Episode = 18
Airdate = 16 June 1997
Production = 418
Writer = J. Michael Straczynski
Director = John LaFia
Guests = Raye Birk (William)
Wayne Alexander (Drazi)
Bruce Gray (Interrogator)
Episode list = List of "Babylon 5" episodes
Prev = The Face of the Enemy
Next = Between the Darkness and the Light

"Intersections in Real Time" is an episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series "Babylon 5".

ynopsis

Sheridan is interrogated by an Earth Alliance agent.

Arc significance

* Sheridan is still a captive, being methodically and ruthlessly interrogated by Clark's people.

Production details

Trivia

*Wayne Alexander, who plays the Drazi, also played Lorien in the first few episodes of season four.
* Although it has been claimed that this episode was inspired by the series The Prisoner, and many other sources, J. Michael Straczynski has explicitly denied drawing inspiration from any other source, other than the simple truth of how interrogations have taken place in totalitarian states.
* This episode is very similar to the dungeons in the Ministry of Love from the novel 1984. In 1984 prisoners are kept in cells without windows and are subjected to torture used to break down their psyche and brainwash them into love for the party and confessing to crimes against the state. Sheridan is tortured to sign a confession of crimes against EarthGov and to embrace President Clark's regime. Room 17 is similar to 1984's Room 101 where prisoners are taken to meet their worst fears. Additionally the interrogator who questions Sheridan reveals that after he signs the confession Sheridan will be set free, and after he is forgotten he will be killed silently. The same thing happens to everyone who is released from the Ministry of Love in 1984. This is to prevent them becoming martyrs.
* This is the only episode of the series that notwithstanding the opening credits has no scenes at all on B5 (both interior and exterior shots.)
* Bruce Boxleitner is the only member of the regular cast to have a speaking part in this episode. Mira Furlan is the only other member of the cast to appear outside of the opening credits.

External links