The Exercise of Vital Powers

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"The Exercise of Vital Powers"
Babylon 5 episode
B5 The Exercise of Vital Powers 1.jpg
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 16
Directed by John LaFia
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Production code416
Original air dateJune 2, 1997
Guest appearance(s)
Episode chronology
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"No Surrender, No Retreat"
Next 
"The Face of the Enemy"
List of Babylon 5 episodes

"The Exercise of Vital Powers" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 .

<i>Babylon 5</i> American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski

Babylon 5 is an American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski, under the Babylonian Productions label, in association with Straczynski's Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Warner Bros. Domestic Television. After the successful airing of a test pilot movie on February 22, 1993, Babylon 5: The Gathering, in May 1993 Warner Bros. commissioned the series for production as part of its Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN). The first season premiered in the US on January 26, 1994, and the series ultimately ran for the intended five seasons, costing an estimated $90 million for 110 episodes.

Synopsis

Ivanova broadcasts news that the resistance is continuing to liberate more colonies and make progress towards Earth. Garibaldi sees this as part of Sheridan's continuing megalomania. Garibaldi arrives on Mars to meet his new employer, Bill Edgars.

Susan Ivanova fictional character from the televsion series Babylon 5

Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.

Michael Garibaldi fictional character from the television series Babylon 5

Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.

John Sheridan (<i>Babylon 5</i>) fictional character in Babylon 5

John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar Alliance.

Franklin tries to wake up one of the frozen telepaths, without success. He wonders why Sheridan is suddenly in a hurry to do so. Lyta comes into Medlab looking for Zack and seemingly out of curiosity tries to contact the telepath. This wakes him up.

Stephen Franklin (<i>Babylon 5</i>) character in Babylon 5

Stephen Franklin is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Richard Biggs. He serves as the chief medical officer on the Babylon 5 space station.

Lyta Alexander character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman

Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.

Zack Allan

Zack Allan is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jeff Conaway. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station. In the fourth season, he was promoted to become Babylon 5's Security Chief and he retains that position through to the end of the series' fifth and final season.

Garibaldi meets Lise Hampton and Bill Edgars. Garibaldi explains that he's come to find out what he's been smuggling past customs and to stop Sheridan's war against Earth. Bill replies that President Clark needs to be stopped, but not by military action.

Morgan Clark fictional character from the television series Babylon 5

William Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show.

Lyta apologizes for ruining Franklin's experiment. Her intervention was in fact helpful, though, so he asks how she did it and requests she do it again.

Garibaldi is taken by force from his bed to an interrogation room. Edgars asks him what he thinks about telepaths. Garibaldi states that he doesn't trust them and that they are a menace to society. A telepath in the room finds out that he is still in love with Lise. Garibaldi leaves and the telepath is killed.

Lyta successfully wakes up a male telepath slowly with Franklin monitoring what happens. Unfortunately the telepath attacks Franklin and then attempts suicide. He is prevented only by Lyta.

Bill Edgars explains to Garibaldi that Clark has been putting telepaths into positions of power, to ensure people's loyalty to him. However, the real power is with the megacorporations. They do not want to see telepaths taking power from them, so they have a plan to stop this. However, Sheridan's actions are disrupting their timescales, and giving Clark a real enemy makes him more paranoid.

Franklin talks with Sheridan and says that he has found a way to neutralize the telepaths' implants for a brief period of time. Sheridan shocks Franklin with the way he wants to use the telepaths, even though Franklin thinks he's right. Franklin tells Lyta that he has long-term work for her on Mars.

Lise and Garibaldi talk about their relationship. Lise loves Bill, but still has feelings for Garibaldi.

Edgars visits a small hospital ward with three very sick telepaths who have not received a drug for five days. They are in pain and dying. Edgars asks for them to be put down. Later Edgars asks Garibaldi to capture Sheridan to prove his loyalty. Garibaldi says he will do that by tracking down Sheridan's father.

Arc significance

<i>The Lurkers Guide to Babylon 5</i>

The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 is a fan-run website that includes detailed episode guides and analyses, production history notes, background materials, references and other information related to the science fiction epic, Babylon 5. The name is derived from the term lurker, which Straczynski adopted to refer to the underclass residents on the Babylon 5 station.

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