History Recap / BabylonFiveS02E03TheGeometryOfShadows

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: Just dyeing the green sashes purple ends the conflict. Very simple and easy, especially compared to other suggested solution: killing everyone on the other side.

* ObviousRulePatch: "No non-Drazi can become green or purple leader.", a rule that should have been implemented once Drazi became starfaring and met other sentient species. It got stuck in committee for ages, though and is still not implemented.

!The Geometry of Shadows

* ObstructiveBureaucrat: The rules which drive the Drazi conflict, which the Drazi seem very determined to obey, do ''not'' specifically require that Green or Purple Leader be a ''Drazi'', which allow Ivanova to unintentionally sieze power by grabbing Green Leader's sash during an argument. There has been a proposed rule change to address this, but it has [[DevelopmentHell evidently been stuck in committee]] since the Drazi discovered alien life. Ivanova sympathizes with their dilemma, but is not above taking advantage of it for her own purposes.

* ComedicSociopathy: Ivanova breaking her leg when the brawling Drazi pile on top of her, despite the fact that she's sympathetic and therefore doesn't qualify for the usual reasons. Perhaps it's her cynical outlook on life that makes it funny? In fact, the whole episode plays around with ComedicSociopathy, really. Drazi die, but its overshadowed by the sheer humour of the conflict.
* ContinuityNod: Mention is made of a [[Recap/BabylonFiveS01E00TheGathering Changeling Net]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Sheridan's line, "If you took this station back in time a thousand years..."

Ivanova is recovering from her injured foot in Medlab when Sheridan comes to see her. He was expecting her to fall on her face a couple time, though not quite so literally. She insists she can do it and heads off to chambers again.

** For that matter, not only will we see techno-mages again, but the next person to talk to one (that we see, at least) [[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm04ACallToArms will be Sheridan]].

** For that matter, not only will we see techn-omages again, but the next person to talk to one (that we see, at least) [[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm04ACallToArms will be Sheridan]].

* SillyReasonForWar: From a human perspective, anyway. The ''Passing of the Techno-mages'' novels reveal that the Drazi tradition is a remnant of Shadow influence on their world, in keeping with the Shadows' SurvivalOfTheFittest philosophy.

Later, after seeing Refa off, Londo notices an oddly-dressed trio of humans coming through security. He calls them Technomages, people who use technology to create the appearance of magic. They aren't usually seen and are considered by some to be an omen.

Vir finds Londo in a bar, deep in thought. He recounts how the first emperor of the Republic received the blessing of three Technomages, and he has the idea to get an image of himself with one of them, something that would hold a lot of sway back home. He tells Vir to arrange a meeting, then leaves. Vir, not looking forward to meeting them, drinks the rest of Londo's drink, and falls right over.

In some dark corner of the station, Vir is cautiously making his way to where the Technomages are said to be staying. When he arrives he is confronted by a towering monster which advances on him threateningly. He stands his ground and repeats his statement until a voice calls from behind, ending the program, and the monster vanishes. The Technomage seems impressed by Vir standing his ground. Vir's reply: "I work for Ambassador Mollari. After a while nothing scares you anymore." The Technomage then asks what the ambassador wants, and Vir explains that Londo wishes an audience, but the Technomage refuses. Vir becomes insistent, but after a veiled threat, he simply asks for the man's name: "Elric." He is then warned not to return.

Londo is speaking with someone the Technomages can't ignore, Captain Sheridan. He tell Sheridan that Technomages can be a lot of trouble if one doesn't know how to handle them, and offers his assistance to the captain. Sheridan accepts; Earthforce is also interested in what they are up to.

As Sheridan walks Elric back the two start talking about magic, and Elric takes the opportunity to explain what the Technomages are.

Londo now makes his way to the Technomages' lair. As roaring of the monster is heard, he struggles to say what he came here to say, "I'm sorry!" The growling abruptly stops. He calls out a few times, but when he gets no response he turns to leave... unaware of the three creatures clinging to his back.

Sheridan is on the command deck as the Technomages' ship is prepared to leave. He grants them clearance and watches as they jump out. He then muses that he doesn't think they've seen the last of them.

* ClarkesThirdLaw: Deliberately invoked by the Technomages.

* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: The reason the Technomages are leaving known space is to preserve their knowledge in the face of a "great darkness" that is coming.

** For that matter, not only will we see Technomages again, but the next person to talk to one (that we see, at least) [[Recap/BabylonFiveFilm04ACallToArms will be Sheridan]].

* FromBadToWorse: For Londo, his attempt to trick Elric into blessing him results in an escalating series of Technomage curses. For Ivanova, her attempts to mediate the [=Green/Purple=] Drazi feud only makes things worse.

* HypocriticalHumor: After Elric plays a recording of Vir delivering Londo's request for an audience with the Technomages, Londo indignantly complains, "Recording a conversation -- a very low thing to do"... as the camera cuts to a view of Londo's own recording device. Elric calls him out on precisely this seconds later.

* MagicFromTechnology: The Technomages' ''Modus Operandi'', as Londo explains to Vir.

** The Technomages are made of them - the one we meet is named [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric]], and he paraphrases, among other things, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Arthur C. ClarkesThirdLaw and ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory''.
** Londo's tale of the first Emperor receiving the blessing of three Technomages is a reference to the opening of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'', with the three witches predicting Macbeth's rise to the throne.
* SillyReasonForWar: From a human perspective, anyway.
* SurvivalMantra: As the Technomage's monster advances on him:

* {{Technopath}}: Technomages are able to control technology seemingly at will.

* [[BlueAndOrangeMorality Green And Purple Morality]]: To the Drazi, their method of choosing a new government, namely splitting their entire race into green and purple factions based on randomly pulling a coloured sash from a barrel, then duking it out to see which side comes out on top, makes prefect sense. To Ivanova and the other B5 officers, it all seems ridiculous, especially when their conflict escalates to outright murder.

* LoopholeAbuse: Ivanova ends the fighting by taking Green Leader's sash, thereby becoming Green Leader. When she asks, she's told that the rules never mention aliens.
-->'''Former Green Leader''': Rules change caught up in committee, not come through yet.

* ShoutOut: the Technomages are made of them - the one we meet is named [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric]], and he paraphrases, among other things, ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', Arthur C. ClarkesThirdLaw and ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory''.

"Your victims."

* YouAreInCommandNow: Again, a humorous case; Ivanova accidentally becomes leader of the green Drazi by taking the leader's sash.

-->"As I look at you, Ambassador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sounds -- the sounds of billions of people calling your name."
-->"[[AProtagonistShallLeadThem My followers?]]"
-->"[[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Your victims.]]"

* OhCrap: Ivanova's reaction when she learns that the Drazi's feud has turned lethal on their homeworld.
* OnSecondThought: When Vir first proposes that Londo apologize to Elric, Londo scoffs at the suggestion. After the holodemon forces yet another investment in a useless company, Londo reconsiders.
* PersonaNonGrata: After Londo gets caught planting the bug, Sheridan threatens to have him shipped back to Centauri Prime if he doesn't get out of his office.

* HypocriticalHumor: After Elric plays a recording of Vir delivering Londo's request for an audience with the Technomages, Londo indignantly complains, "Recording a conversation -- a very low thing to do"... as the camera cuts to a view of Londo's own recording device. Eric calls him out on precisely this seconds later.

* HypocriticalHumor: After Elric plays a recording of Vir delivering Londo's request for an audience with the Technomages, Londo indignantly complains, "Recording a conversation -- a very low thing to do"... as the camera cuts to a view of Londo's own recording device.

** Elric's prophecy gives a fairly accurate prediction of the cost of Londo's ambition, and the fact that the cost will not be shouldered by him alone.

* YouAreInCommandNow: Again, a humorous case; Ivanova accidentally becomes leader of the green Drazi by taking the leader's sash.

* WrittenInInfirmity: Claudia Christian broke her foot in a skiing accident shortly before taping began on this episode. As a result, this episode had to be rewritten around her injury. (Contrary to a popular rumor, her foot was ''not'' injured during the fight scene that broke out among the Drazi, though her shout of pain ''was'' because someone landed on her already-broken foot.)

* {{Technopath}}

* Lord Refa mentions that the emperor is sick. We find out just how sick in "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E09TheComingOfShadows The Coming of Shadows]]".