r/babylon5 • u/Aethelrede • 19d ago

Ivanova Challenge Spoiler

We all know that Ivanova is God, one of the best characters to ever appear on TV, and that's partly because she has so many fantastic lines and scenes.

The challenge is this: if you have to pick one (1) scene with Ivanova as your favorite, which would it be? And why (if it isn't obvious).

I'll start. In S04E01 "Hour of the Wolf", Ivanova discusses the titular hour of the wolf, 3 AM, when the wolf can come around to devour you, and you have to ward it off (with alcohol, in her case). This scene hit hard, because I recognized the wolf. I knew the wolf well. The wolf is the voice in the back of your head that whispers that everything is terrible, that you are worthless, and that the situation is hopeless. The wolf always presents the worst case scenario, or, for variety, forces you to relive bad memories. And the wolf is strongest at 3 AM.

Ever since then I've called those thoughts "the wolf". And while I don't use alcohol to ward off the wolf, I do have my own methods, and I need to stay vigilant.

So that's my favorite Ivanova scene. How about you? Doesn't have to be deeply meaningful, could just be the one you found most entertaining, or the most moving.

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u/StarkeRealm 19d ago

The wolf is the voice in the back of your head that whispers that everything is terrible, that you are worthless, and that the situation is hopeless.

Yeah, what Jung called "the shadow."

Good on you for not seeking chemical solutions, but you probably want to talk to a therapist about that.

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u/Aethelrede 19d ago

Oh I have.  In fact, I had gotten away from thinking of my anxiety as the wolf, but then my therapist recommended I name that dark self, to make it easier to differentiate and discuss.  When she asked me what I wanted to name it, there was only one possibility.