Year: 1998

Categories
Babylon 5 / Crusade TV Movies

In The Beginning

Babylon 5The year is 2245. The Earth Alliance, still swaggering from its victory over the Dilgar, prepares to expand its sphere of influence. The Minbari Grey Council seeks to verify the truth of prophecy on a distant world called Z’ha’dum. A chance meeting of the two expeditions ends in disaster, when misunderstandings escalate into open battle and the Minbari leader, Dukhat, is killed. So begins a holy war that changes the shape of the galaxy’s future, and its past.

Delenn, the newest member of the Grey Council, must find a way to fulfill Dukhat’s last request, which goes against the wishes of her entire race – and she is uncertain of the mysterious involvement of a pair of Vorlons. Dr. Stephen Franklin must choose between loyalty to Earth and loyalty to his conscience. Earth turns to the Centauri Republic and Narn Regime for aid, but the animosity between those two races may doom its only chance for survival. As the Alliance faces annihilation, the last desperate act of a lone pilot may be all that stands between humanity and the abyss…and the beginning of the galaxy’s last, best hope for peace.

Order the DVDsDownload this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Michael Vejar
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (Lt. Commander John Sheridan), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Stephen Franklin), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Peter Jurasik (Londo Mollari), Claudia Christian (Susan Ivanova), Theodore Bikel (Lenonn), Reiner Schone (Dukhat), Robin Atkin Downes (Morann), J. Patrick McCormack (General Lefcourt), Tricia O’Neil (President), Robin Sachs (Coplann), James Patrick Stuart (Presidential Aide), Jason Azikiwe (Captain Sterns), Yasemin Baytok (Centauri Woman), Kristin Birch (Woman 1), Justin Carroll (Comm Officer), Jacob Chase (Luc), Tim Colceri (Captain Jankowski), Lane Davies (Callier), Timothy Davis-Reed (Man 1), Pancho Demmings (Alpha 7), Steven Ford (First Officer), Mio R. Jakula (Ganya Ivanova), Nick Jameson (Minbari Pilot), Mike Kennedy (General Fontaine), Erica Mer (Lyssa)

footage from And The Sky Full Of Stars directed by Janet Greek
footage from Points Of Departure directed by Janet Greek
footage from A Late Delivery From Avalon directed by Michael Vejar
footage from War Without End Part 2 directed by Michael Vejar
footage from Atonement directed by Tony Dow

Appearing in footage from previous episodes: Michael O’Hare (Jeffrey Sinclair), Justin Williams (Mitchell), Michael McKenzie (Vastor), Michael York (David MacIntyre)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Earth: Final Conflict Season 1

Live Free Or Die

Earth: Final ConflictTwo test pilots – subjected to disastrous biological experiments when the Taelons first introduced their interdimensional shuttles to humanity – slip into an astronomical symposium host by Da’an. The men render everyone unconscious with the use of nerve gas and kidnap Da’an, intending to return the Taelons’ grisly favor to their representative on Earth. Doors harbors an ambition to recruit the kidnappers for the resistance, but when Sandoval and others suspect the resistance of engineering the hostage crisis, even Doors orders his followers to kill the kidnappers if necessary. And while in captivity, Da’an is taking steps to relieve his kidnappers of their prize.

written by Malcolm MacRury
directed by David Warry-Smith
music by Micky Erbe & Maribeth Solomon

Guest Cast: Majel Barrett Roddenberry (Dr. Belman), Nigel Bennett (Major Ray McIntyre), Maurice Dean Wint (Captain Lucas Johnson)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Deep Space Nine Season 06 Star Trek

Waltz

Star Trek: Deep Space NineStardate 51408.6: Sisko is on the ship on which Gul Dukat, now said to be recovered from his mental instability following the loss of his empire and his daughter, is en route to a Federation starbase to be arraigned as a war criminal, when the ship is destroyed. Injured, Sisko finds himself alone with Dukat on an inhospitable planet – and Dukat is slowly deteriorating back into a state of madness.

Order the DVDsDownload this episode via Amazonwritten by Ronald D. Moore
directed by Rene Auberjonois
music by Paul Baillargeon

Guest Cast: Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun), Marc Alaimo (Dukat), Casey Biggs (Damar)

LogBook entry by Tracy Hemenover

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Season 1 Space Island One

Message From Keeler

Space Island OnePaula Hernandez is a young scientist, and Space Station Unity’s most recent arrival. While the mysteries of the universe intrigue her, they don’t fascinate her as much as trying to find out what happened to her predecessor, a man named Keeler. Not only have all official records been expunged from the station’s database, but none of Paula’s crewmates seem to want to talk about it. When she digs deeper into the station’s computer mainframe, she finds an odd entry for Keeler, consisting of an incomplete verse of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” When Paula completes the verse, she sets into motion a deadly program buried deep in the station’s computer, carrying out Keeler’s final wishes regarding his former crewmates – and apparently, he wanted them all to die.

Space Island Onewritten by Andrew MacLear
directed by Dirk Campbell
music by Richard Blackford & Glenn Keiles

Cast: Judy Loe (Kathryn McTiernan), Indra Ove (Paula Hernandez), Angus MacInnes (Walter B. Shannon), Bruno Eyron (Dusan Kashkavian), Julia Brennerman (Harry Eschenbach), Kourosh Asad (Dr. Kaveh Homayuni), William Oliver (Lyle Campbell), Sally Grace (Control voice)

Notes: Space Island One was a short-lived attempt at a serious, not-too-far-into-the-future SF series set aboard an Earth-orbiting research station. Befitting a series set on a near-future space station, there were very few guest stars, with most of the show revolving around the main cast. Numerous bits of dialogue establish that Unity is a privately-owned corporate space station, since Keeler’s fate was apparently covered up to appease shareholders on Earth.

Space Island OneJudy Loe had been one of the stars of Russell T. Davies’ church-scandal soap opera Revelations, and had appeared in everything from Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life to hospital drama Casualty and its spinoff, Holby City. Angus MacInnes may be a familiar face to SF fans: he appeared briefly in Star Wars as Gold Leader, whose wingman insisted upon staying on target (leading to both Rebel pilots’ demise). Indra Ove had recently appeared in The Fifth Element and would also go on to appear on Holby City. Bruno Eyron, born Bruno Eirund, was a familiar face on German TV with starring roles in such series as Balko and Vienne Crime Squad; fellow German actor Julia Bremermann went on to star in the German series Coast Guard. (Since Space Island One was a British-German co-production, the German producers, Vox Film Und Fernseh-GMBH & Co., had casting input.)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Earth: Final Conflict Season 1

The Scarecrow Returns

Earth: Final ConflictScientists working with the resistance try to learn more about the alien probe captured in Paradise, but the trapped device lashes out and kills one of the scientists, assuming her form in the process. Eventually, it is discovered the that the alien probe is sending information to a location distant from the Taelon homeworld – and its transmissions allow Da’an and Sandoval to trace its location straight to the resistance headquarters. Boone must figure out how to hand the deadly device over to Da’an – who seems to be not only concerned with its whereabouts, but also experienced in containing it.

written by Paul Gertz
directed by David Warry-Smith
music by Micky Erbe & Maribeth Solomon

Guest Cast: Damon D’Oliveira (Sahjit Jinnah), Sonia Dhillon (Rayna Armitraj)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 3 Xena: Warrior Princess

Warrior…Priestess…Tramp

Xena: Warrior PrincessWhen Gabrielle arrives in the village where she was to meet Xena, she’s surprised to see that her friend is about to let a group of warriors burn her at the stake. Thinking fast, the bard manages to extinguish the fire and frees Xena. They flee the village square and hide in an alley. It’s then that Gabrielle realizes that’s not the warrior who is with her. The look-alike identifies herself as Leah, a Hestian Virgin Priestess. The two women finally meet up with the real Xena. The warrior realizes that someone may be intentionally putting the priestess in danger. The trio head to the temple to find out what is going on.

Order the DVDswritten by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
directed by Robert Ginty
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Lucy Lawless (Leah/Meg), MacGregor Cameron (Balius), Ted Raimi (Joxer), Matty J. Ruys (Dexon), Ted Clar (Thoracles), Jodie Dorday (Bordello Girl #2)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

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Season 04 Star Trek Voyager

Waking Moments

Star Trek: VoyagerStardate not given: Many members of the crew report the sudden incongruous appearance of a previously unknown alien being in their dreams. Discussion of the alien’s appearance reveals that everyone has seen the same creature, even though no one has ever met this species before. The Doctor fights to keep the crew from falling into comas, but before long he is fighting a losing battle. Chakotay, whose Indian meditation practices include a thorough knowledge of directed dreaming, believes he may be able to lead the rest of the crew out of the alien’s trap…but even his abilities may not match up the power of the crew’s uninvited guests.

Order the DVDswritten by Andrè Bormanis & Kenneth Biller
directed by Alexander Singer
music by David Bell

Guest Cast: Mark Colson (Dream Alien), Jennifer Grundy (Ensign)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Earth: Final Conflict Season 1

Sandoval’s Run

Earth: Final ConflictSandoval collapses while interrogating a suspected resistance sympathizer, and Dr. Belman believes that his CVI is deteriorating – and taking its host with it. Da’an and Belman reveal a previously unknown ability – the ability to use an anti-virus to destroy a CVI and prepare its host for a new implant. But Sandoval, stripped of the device that ensures his loyalty to the Companions, doesn’t intend to stick around for his new implant. Instead, he breaks free, hijacking Lili and her shuttle, and sets off to free his wife from the mental institution where he sent he when he was first implanted with his CVI. Da’an orders Sandoval killed immediately – his CVI carried more information than was given to most hosts, making Sandoval a high security risk. Sandoval reunites with his wife and seeks the help of the resistance in keeping her safe from the Taelons, but he knows that he must eventually allow a second CVI to be implanted or he will die. And in order to convince him to undergo the procedure, Boone must return a “favor” Sandoval once performed for him.

written by Paul Aitken
directed by Milan Cheylov
music by Micky Erbe & Maribeth Solomon

Guest Cast: Majel Barrett Roddenberry (Dr. Belman), Shary-Lee Guthrie (Dee Dee Sandoval), Diana Belshaw (Dr. Sharpe), T.L. Forsberg (Nell Hagar)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Season 3 Xena: Warrior Princess

The Quill Is Mightier…

Xena: Warrior PrincessAphrodite is furious when punks paint graffatti in and around her temple about Xena. Ares tells her that the problem isn’t Xena, but with her bard companion, Gabrielle. The goddess agrees with him and decides to do something about it. Aphrodite pays a visit to the warrior and bard’s camp, and places a spell on Gabrielle’s scroll. The next morning, Gabrielle discovers that things she has written on the scroll are coming true. The bard decides to use the opportunity to do good deeds. But soon things aren’t going quiet the way she planned.

Order the DVDsby Hilary J. Bader
directed by Andrew Merrifield
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Kevin Smith (Ares), Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite), Ted Raimi (Joxer), Allison Wall (Minya), Stephen Hall (Thelonious), Ranald Hendriks (Munk), John Mckee (Scaberus), Paul Norell (Street Vendor)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Categories
BBC Radio

The Sevenfold Crown

Blake's 7: The Radio AdventuresAn unusually vivid nightmare gives Avon a horrifying preview of Servalan’s latest scheme. Using a jewel of alien origin, she can inflict her will upon others in a very limited fashion. A sudden escape from a Federation interceptor leaves Scorpio’s newly-installed stardrive drained. Since the stardrive’s advanced power cells can only be procured from a Federation installation, Avon decides to strike Servalan’s current hiding place, the planet Feron, where she is researching the origins and potential power of her new weapon. Avon and Vila eavesdrop in hiding as a scientist reveals the crystal’s secrets (and then condemns himself to a premature death by admitting that he knows that Servalan isn’t “Commissioner Sleer”). From that moment, the race is on to find a jeweled diadem whose telekinetic and telepathic properties would give its wearer more than enough power to topple the Federation. But when Avon learns that an even more powerful crown, of which the diadem is only a part, could give him the ability to rule the entire galaxy… why stop with just the Federation?

Order this CDwritten by Barry Letts
directed by Brian Lighthill
music by Jeff Mearns

Cast: Paul Darrow (Avon), Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan), Michael Keating (Vila), Steven Pacey (Tarrant), Angela Bruce (Dayna), Paula Wilcox (Soolin), Peter Tuddenham (Orac / Slave), Pip Donaghy (King Gheblakon), Janet Dale (Jelka), Christian Rodska (Dr. Kapple), Simon Carter, Kim Durham, Cornelius Garrett, Susan Jeffrey, Katherine Mount, Graham Padden (Vledka), Rob Swinton

Original BBC Radio 4 broadcast: January 19, 1998

Timeline: this story takes place between the fourth season episodes Stardrive and Animals.

Categories
Season 1 Space Island One

Quarantine

Space Island OneAn unmanned Mars lander is returning to Earth, and is expected to berth at Unity before its precious samples of Martian soil are returned to Earth. The station’s scientists are bucking for a chance to get the first crack at analysis, though scientists on Earth are clamoring for the same prestigious opportunity. A malfunction on the lander itself means that it’ll be docked at Unity longer than expected, giving the station crew no excuse not to examine the samples. Harry finds herself under strict orders not to participate: a recent medical exam has shown her to be pregnant, so handling potentially dangerous samples is out of the question. But when strange things begin happening in the lab, and a strange phenomenon is observed within the space probe that brought the samples back from Mars, it could be that Unity’s crew has instead gotten the first look at something that could kill them all.

Space Island Onewritten by Stephen Baxter
directed by Crispin Reece
music by Richard Blackford & Glenn Keiles

Cast: Judy Loe (Kathryn McTiernan), Indra Ove (Paula Hernandez), Angus MacInnes (Walter B. Shannon), Bruno Eyron (Dusan Kashkavian), Julia Brennerman (Harry Eschenbach), Kourosh Asad (Dr. Kaveh Homayuni), William Oliver (Lyle Campbell), Sally Grace (Control voice)

Notes: An on-screen graphic identifies the just-arrived space probe as “Mar’s Lander” – so if there is life on Mars, it doesn’t know where to put an apostrophe.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

Categories
Babylon 5 / Crusade Season 5

No Compromises

Babylon 5Change is the order of the day aboard Babylon 5 as it accepts its new role as capitol of the Interstellar Alliance. Sheridan prepares for his inauguration as his handpicked replacement, Earthforce Captain Elizabeth Lochley, arrives. Sheridan pointedly ignores her role in Earth’s civil war – but others in the crew are not so quick to overlook the past. A group of telepaths approaches Lochley, seeking sanctuary from Psi Corps and a place to call home. Garibaldi, now a civilian, hovers over Zack and clashes with the new captain on matters of security. And G’Kar must create two of the first symbols of the new alliance – an oath of office and a declaration of principles. The preparations may be for nothing, however – a would-be assassin stalks B5, ready to make Sheridan pay for his actions during the war.

Order now!Download this episodewritten by J. Michael Straczynski
directed by Janet Greek
music by Christopher Franke

Cast: Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi), Mira Furlan (Delenn), Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Bill Mumy (Lennier), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), Stephen Furst (Vir), Jeff Conaway (Zack Allan), Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander), Peter Jurasik (Londo), Andreas Katsulas (G’Kar), Joshua Cox (Lt. Corwin), Anthony Crivello (John), Robin Atkin Downes (Byron), Timothy Eyster (Simon), Mauricio Mendoza (Ranger)

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 04 Star Trek Voyager

Message In A Bottle

Star Trek: VoyagerStardate not given: Seven of Nine uses an alien communications relay to locate a Federation starship in the Alpha Quadrant. Janeway decides to send the Doctor through the relay as a data stream with orders to tell Starfleet of Voyager’s misadventures. When the Doctor arrives aboard the U.S.S. Prometheus, however, he discovers that the experimental warship has been hijacked by Romulans, and the Starfleet crew are all dead. He can’t return to Voyager without drawing attention to himself, so he passes himself off as the ship’s holographic doctor when he is discovered. But he discovers that the Prometheus has its own EMH program – supposedly an improvement on the original Zimmerman model – who is hiding from the Romulans. The Doctor must put his years of unprecedented experience to work to thwart the Romulans single-handedly, while trying to prove to the next generation of the holographic doctor that there’s more to life than waiting to be activated in sick bay. Meanwhile, a lone alien tries to warn Voyager away from the communications array, and Seven tires of attempts at diplomacy and kills him, unwittingly alerting the rest of his race that Voyager is there.

Order the DVDsteleplay by Lisa Klink
story by Rick Williams
directed by Nancy Malone
music by Paul Baillargeon

Guest Cast: Andy Dick (EMH-2), Judson Scott (Romulan Commander), Valerie Wildman (Romulan Officer), Tony Sears (Starfleet Officer), Tiny Ron (Hirogen), Majel Barrett (Computer Voice)

Notes: Judson Scott appeared in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan as Khan’s right-hand man, Joachim, as well as with Trek II co-star Merritt Butrick in the early Next Generation episode Symbiosis.

LogBook entry by Earl Green

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Season 01 SG-1 Stargate

Cor-Ai

Stargate SG-1SG-1 visits a planet that Teal’c recognizes as a frequently-used harvesting ground for new Jaffa hosts. The team enters what appears to be an abandoned building, but they are ambushed by the locals, who seem to be human or closely related, and while they warily establish some trust with O’Neill and even tell him he can leave unharmed – but they recognize Teal’c as a Jaffa and refuse to allow him to leave. One of the men claims that Teal’c killed his father, and declares a ritual called the Cor-Ai. O’Neill volunteers himself to represent Teal’c at the trial, and when Daniel raises concerns that perhaps O’Neill lacks diplomatic skills, Daniel and Carter join Teal’c’s makeshift legal team. There’s only one problem – in the opening moments of the trial, Teal’c readily admits his guilt. O’Neill tries to save Teal’c’s life by recounting SG-1’s adventures with Teal’c, shifting the blame to Apophis, who ordered Teal’c to kill a prisoner at random. When this legal tactic doesn’t seem to be helping, O’Neill decides that the team will have to fight their way out to help Teal’c escape.

Order the DVDsDownload this episode via Amazon's Unboxwritten by Tom J. Astle
directed by Mario Azzopardi
music by Joel Goldsmith and Richard Band

Guest Cast: David McNally (Hanno), Peter Williams (Apophis), Paulina Gillis (Byrsa Woman), Christina Jastrzembska (Female Elder), Kirby Morrow (Militia Man), Michasa Armstrong (Shak’l), Devon Finn (Young Hanno)

LogBook entry by Earl Green with notes by Dave Thomer

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Season 3 Xena: Warrior Princess

Maternal Instincts

Xena: Warrior PrincessXena and Gabrielle arrive at the village where the Centaurs are to meet in an effort to reunite their nation. They are greeted by Kaleipus, Solan, Ephiny, and her son Xenan. Not far from the village, a young girl is playing with a ball near a canyon. Suddenly the ground far below cracks open, freeing Callisto. The evil goddess decides to send a message to Xena about the warrior’s secret.

Order the DVDswritten by Chris Manheim
directed by Mark Beesley
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Hudson Leick (Callisto), Danielle Cormack (Ephiny), David Taylor (Solan), Amy Morrison (Hope), Jeff Boyd (Kaleipus), Reece Redewk (Xenan)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell