Glen here…

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 9-30-98. LATEST UPDATE: 10-09-98: the following information has just been confirmed by CRUSADE creator J. Michael Straczynski.

Here’s the message I received from MIRTH. For clarity, MIRTH's message refers to the first actual *episode* of the CRUSADE TV series, and does *not* refer to the BABYLON 5 related TV movie A CALL TO ARMS (which will indeed serve as something of a prequel / prologue to the new series, but leave many "introductions" to CRUSADE itself to be dealt with in the series' opening episodes).

MIRTH's message was simple and pointed, reading:

NEW CRUSADE PILOT - they've written a new first episode for the series. Apparently, it details how each of the crew members met and got involved in the whole mess (something not in the original first episode).

don't know why they're doing this -- maybe to showcase the new sets first episode?

at any rate, the original first episode will now be the second episode, the original second episode the third and so on and so forth.

GLEN HERE again. The original first episode of CRUSADE…called "Racing the Night"…had a very interesting structure. MIRTH was right about there being no degree of the crew meeting…how the characters got together or became involved in "the mess"…etc. "Racing the Night" is very much a cut-to-the-chase episode, featuring a compelling premise and a ton of special effects. More on this in a future article - maybe.

What I’m saying is, there’s no "Hi - I’m Captain Gideon". Past a few initial flourishes, "Racing" pretty much jumps into the story on mid-mission. We’re already where we’re gonna be for that episode, our crew is already at work finding a cure for the doomsday plague which threatens the Earth. Moving "Racing the Night" to be the second episode of the series (as MIRTH has indicated would happen) should…with a little adjustment to the opening scenes…be rather simple, and non-detrimental to the series as a whole. Although, "Racing" is rather spectacular in concept, and would have started the series off with a nice *bang*!

So there you have it. I will reflect confirmation of this story as soon as formal confirmation has been given. I don’t necessarily think this is anything to worry about…perse. If true, I do think it’s rather interesting, and I’m sure it has nothing to do with TNT asking for changes. Really. I’m sure this wasn’t TNT’s idea at all. Really.