Gropos
| "Gropos" | |
|---|---|
| Babylon 5 episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 2 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Jim Johnston |
| Written by | Lawrence G. DiTillio |
| Production code | 210 |
| Original air date | 8 February 1995 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
Paul Winfield (General Richard Franklin) | |
| Episode chronology | |
"Gropos" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
Synopsis
Dr. Franklin's father, General Richard "Firestorm" Franklin aboard EAS Schwarzkopf,[1] leads 25,000 EarthForce marines of the 356th Infantry Division, through the station en route to a secret military operation on the planet Akdor, the third planet in the Sh'lassen Triumvirate. As Sheridan had previously been to Akdor, General Franklin intends to utilize him in planning his operation. The addition of these "Gropos" (EarthForce slang for Ground Pounders, which is, in turn, slang for the EarthForce Marine Corps) poses a logistical nightmare for Garibaldi and the rest of the command staff. Throughout the infantry division's stay on Babylon 5, Stephen Franklin works to repair his sour relationship with his father. Garibaldi becomes briefly involved with one of the female marines, though it doesn't quite work out. Warren Keffer gets involved with the marines, whom he later comes to respect. One of the final scenes of the episode shows Franklin's father speaking of a costly victory to news reporters. Then the camera pans over all the marine characters introduced during the episode, all of whom are dead.
Arc significance
- Establishes the troubled relationship Dr. Franklin has with his father, although much of that conflict is resolved during this episode. Among the points of contention is a virulent xenophobia that apparently runs through Earth Force, which the villainous President Clark will exploit for his own ends.
- Station's defense grid is enhanced, now "capable of taking on a warship," a capability that B5 will put to the test numerous times in the future.
Production details
- Full names of P.F.C. “Large” Turnbow and P.F.C. “Dodger” Durman are not in the episode credits, but are referred to in the episode (Turnbow visually and Durman both visually and in dialog). There is a reference to Dodger's first name later in the Fifth Season.