Synopsis:
Set between episodes 5.21 and 5.22, an archeologist (Ian McShane, before Deadwood fame) searches Eternal Life, financed by Edgars Industries. During his quest he finds and keeps a glowing orb. A Soul Hunter (Martin Sheen, before West Wing fame) is tasked with returning the stolen orb. They meet on Babylon 5, and the fates of the station and an entire civilization hang in the balance. Also starring: the holo-brothel!
Intentions:
River of Souls has a great premise: Is death really the end, and how disastrous are the consequences if you're wrong? Add a Soul Hunter and examples of primal human nature, and this could have made a stellar episode. At movie length, however, it feels stretched. And tonally off: RoS has more cheap jokes than any other B5 story. The goal is to cut the cheap laughs, tighten the pacing, and replace the funky closing music with Season 5's closing theme. Only 3 minutes are cut, but the improved focus and pacing give the feeling that more was cut.
Change List:
Opening: trim Klaus' back-talk. Cut "not die for your whispers", shift assistants as cutaway shot. Trim holo-pimp to be less annoying. Cut hostility between Bryson and Garibaldi during meal. Trim Bryson with orb. Trim Zack with pimp. Cut Garibaldi's and Bryson's hostility at room door. Cut Zack's cough when the Soulhunter arrives. Cut lawyer in Captain's office (at 48 minutes). Cut pimp mentioning his lawyer to Zack and Garibaldi (at 1h12m). Trim Captain holo jokes. Multiple small trim in the second half for pacing. Dub Season 5 theme (rock cover by Heropoint) over end credits (the original music can still be heard on the Commentary track).
Additional Notes:
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Other Sources:
Heropoint's rock cover of the Babylon 5, Season 5, theme.
Special Thanks:
All the Babylon 5 fans on FE.