Byron would have worked a lot better as a B plot to that, as he wouldn't have been the center of attention until he started getting dangerous. With nothing but filler in those eps, he was just annoying. (Think about Lyta coming back from that HORRIBLE experience on Mars. From her perspective, all that makes Byron look less like a schmuck, doesn't it?)

I have to say, the rate at which characters are getting shuffled around is a little disconcerting -- we'd just gotten used to the idea that maybe Talia was going to start relaxing about the PsiCorps propaganda and become a reasonable human being (see the episode where her ex-lover came back, the episode with the underground railroad, her growing closeness/relationship with Ivanova-the-Great), when she got booted off the show. I'd started to allow myself some emotional investment in her as a character, and then.... Bam! Gone! It kind of sucked.

I've been given to understand that the actress was being a prima donna and a PITA to work with, which is why she got fired. But still. Bah!

And the sudden loss of Cmdr Sinclair at the end of S1, JUST when his acting was starting to get better, was also kind of jarring. I'm still convinced he's married to Delenn thanks to that one 'everybody show off your religions' ceremony early on in S1, which makes her flirtation with Capt Sheridan very ...  for me. I do not want to know the truth of this, ftr. I'll see it when I see it! 

And I really prefer the 'look' of S1 Delenn -- the hair and such is just disconcerting to me, and she was so exotically lovely in S1. But I still want to cosplay as her sometime -- her clothes are just so darn pretty.

I'm really enjoying Lennier (omg, ) and Vir finally growing a backbone (his conversation with Morton ("And I'm going to give you a little wave, just like this") was beautiful) and I feel so bad for G'Kar and am so frustrated with Londo. I adored S1 Londo; S2 Londo makes me want to shake him for his short-sightedness, but it's still completely in-character so I can't be TOO upset with HIM... just the situation.

That said, I'm loving the overarching storyline. I am VERY distrustful of the Earth government -- I suspect the new president is a puppet of the PsiCorps, who are really goddamn corrupt and into brainwashing in the worst way. The little subliminal message during their "ad spot" during the one "36 Hours on Babylon 5!" pseudo-documentary thing was only the most-recent "final" nail in the coffin on that conclusion for me.

I have to say, the rate at which characters are getting shuffled around is a little disconcerting...

Well, I always felt, even early on, that it was one of B5's strengths that all characters were important, but very few were vital. That meant that the PC Shield, which in most series is utterly invulnerable, was much weaker for B5 -- but the story not only didn't suffer but grew and was enriched as a result.

Since you've seen through the end of S2, you've now seen Confessions and Lamentations. An entire species got killed off. You can't assume anything will not be changed by the plot; you have to adapt to events as they occur. There Is No Reset Button; The End Credits Are Not A Safety Net. I *loved* that; no one else was doing anything like it at the time.

-- we'd just gotten used to the idea that maybe Talia was going to start relaxing about the PsiCorps propaganda and become a reasonable human being...

Tragic, ain't it? Just another person used up and thrown away. The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father... and They Know Best.

And the sudden loss of Cmdr Sinclair at the end of S1, JUST when his acting was starting to get better, was also kind of jarring. I'm still convinced he's married to Delenn.... I do not want to know the truth of this, ftr. I'll see it when I see it! 

Just wait...

And I really prefer the 'look' of S1 Delenn -- the hair and such is just disconcerting to me, and she was so exotically lovely in S1. But I still want to cosplay as her sometime -- her clothes are just so darn pretty.

Mira Furlan has not yet begun to rock your world.

I'm really enjoying Lennier (omg, )

Don't you just want to hug him?

and Vir finally growing a backbone (his conversation with Morton ("And I'm going to give you a little wave, just like this") was beautiful)

The Vir/Londo relationship was close to my favorite overall.

I adored S1 Londo;

Well, he was fun to be around, but I didn't trust him from the start. My first impression was of a washed-up used car salesman.

S2 Londo makes me want to shake him for his short-sightedness, but it's still completely in-character so I can't be TOO upset with HIM... just the situation.

Morden's good at this, isn't he?

The little subliminal message during their "ad spot" during the one "36 Hours on Babylon 5!" pseudo-documentary thing was only the most-recent "final" nail in the coffin on that conclusion for me.

Heh, glad to see you caught that!