Matthew Gideon
Encyclopedia
Captain Matthew Gideon is a character in the fictional universe of the television series Babylon 5
, played by Gary Cole
. Gideon was the lead character in the B5 spin-off show Crusade
, which ran for 13 episodes in 1998-99.
serving aboard the Omega class destroyer
EAS Cerberus. During an attack by a shadow vessel of previously unseen design, Gideon was despatched outside to conduct repairs to the hull. While outside, the Cerberus attempted to escape into hyperspace but was destroyed by the intruder, leaving Gideon adrift in deep space. Seemingly by chance, a fleet of small ships passed him, and he was saved by one of them, piloted by a technomage
named Galen. During his debriefing by EarthForce, Gideon reiterated his claim that the Cerberus was destroyed by another ship - however, the official version released was that the ship was lost due to a malfunction with its jump engines.
Some years after the loss of the Cerberus, Gideon obtained possession of an alien artifact in a poker
game. The item, known as an "Apocalypse Box", is capable of providing answers to questions, but which are not always truthful.
Between obtaining the Apocalypse Box and the release of the Drakh
virus on Earth, Gideon is appointed as the captain of an Explorer class starship
.
, in which the Drakh infect Earth with a bio-genetic plague, Gideon's ship is recalled to Earth. There, he is appointed as the captain of the brand new starship IAS Excalibur
on the recommendation of President John Sheridan
of the Interstellar Alliance
, with a mission scour the galaxy to find a cure for the virus before it wipes out all life on the planet.
, the commander and military governor of Babylon 5
.
, begin approximately halfway through the first season. Three episodes had been fully scripted and were ready for shooting when the series was cancelled. Two of these (To the Ends of the Earth and End of the Line) were planned to focus on Gideon and his search for the truth regarding the loss of the Cerberus. The episode End of the Line was intended as the season one finale, and would have ended on a cliffhanger
with Gideon shot by a sniper before he can expose a conspiracy that the government of Earth has continued experimenting with Shadow
technology in contravention of various laws passed after the overthrow of President Clark
in 2261. JMS revealed in the audio commentary to Racing the Night that after being shot Gideon would have actually died "for a time" but would have ultimately been revived because his consciousness had merged with the Apocalypse Box.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, played by Gary Cole
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
. Gideon was the lead character in the B5 spin-off show Crusade
Crusade (TV series)
Crusade is a spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. A race called the Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five...
, which ran for 13 episodes in 1998-99.
Prior to Excalibur
Due to the unintended short run of Crusade, little information came to light regarding Gideon's history. The earliest event shown occurs 10 years prior to the first episode of the series when Gideon, then an EnsignEnsign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
serving aboard the Omega class destroyer
Omega class destroyer
The Omega-class destroyer is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
EAS Cerberus. During an attack by a shadow vessel of previously unseen design, Gideon was despatched outside to conduct repairs to the hull. While outside, the Cerberus attempted to escape into hyperspace but was destroyed by the intruder, leaving Gideon adrift in deep space. Seemingly by chance, a fleet of small ships passed him, and he was saved by one of them, piloted by a technomage
Technomage
The Technomages are a group of sentient beings from the fictional Babylon 5 universe. The technomages shown in the television series are primarily human, but in the "Technomage Trilogy" books, apprentices and mages of other races including Centauri are named. They are described as using "science to...
named Galen. During his debriefing by EarthForce, Gideon reiterated his claim that the Cerberus was destroyed by another ship - however, the official version released was that the ship was lost due to a malfunction with its jump engines.
Some years after the loss of the Cerberus, Gideon obtained possession of an alien artifact in a poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
game. The item, known as an "Apocalypse Box", is capable of providing answers to questions, but which are not always truthful.
Between obtaining the Apocalypse Box and the release of the Drakh
Drakh
The Drakh are a fictional alien race in the Babylon 5 universe. The Drakh were dark servants for the race of First Ones known as the Shadows. They appeared in the fourth and fifth seasons of Babylon 5 as well as the television movie, A Call to Arms...
virus on Earth, Gideon is appointed as the captain of an Explorer class starship
Explorer class starship
The Explorer-class starship is an exploratory starship of the Earth Alliance in the fictional universe of Babylon 5. The Explorer is built to explore, conduct research, and build Jumpgates.- Appearances :...
.
The search for a cure
Following the events of A Call to ArmsBabylon 5: A Call to Arms
A Call To Arms is the fourth feature-length film set in the Babylon 5 universe . It was written by J. Michael Straczynski, directed by Mike Vejar, and originally aired January 3, 1999.-Summary:...
, in which the Drakh infect Earth with a bio-genetic plague, Gideon's ship is recalled to Earth. There, he is appointed as the captain of the brand new starship IAS Excalibur
Excalibur (Crusade)
The IAS Excalibur is a starship in the fictional Babylon 5 / Crusade universe. First seen in the Babylon 5 movie A Call to Arms, the ship is a Victory class destroyer. The ship combines human, Minbari, and Vorlon technology....
on the recommendation of President John Sheridan
John Sheridan (Babylon 5)
John J. Sheridan is a lead character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Bruce Boxleitner. For most of the series, he is the commander of the Babylon 5 station; during the series' final season he is the President of the Interstellar...
of the Interstellar Alliance
Interstellar Alliance
The Interstellar Alliance is a fictional interstellar government of civilizations in the Babylon 5 universe.Formed in 2261 AD in the aftermath of the liberation of Earth and the Shadow War, the Interstellar Alliance was formed between the Minbari, Narn, Centauri, the Earth Alliance and the...
, with a mission scour the galaxy to find a cure for the virus before it wipes out all life on the planet.
Character
Gideon was chosen to command the Excalibur by Sheridan because he has the qualities required for this type of mission - he is "obstinate, difficult, independent, not prone to following orders from home, not politically astute...but he'll get the job done". He enjoys feeling the wind on his face whenever he is planetside, something that is not possible while on a starship. This is until he finds a spot in the Excaliburs "core tube" transit system where the air pressure of the cars passing simulates the wind. While he is committed to the mission he has been assigned to, he has also been engaged in trying to find out why the Cerberus was destroyed, even going to the lengths of diverting the Excalibur away from its search. Gideon engages in a sometimes flirtatious, sometimes aggressively intimate relationship with Captain Elizabeth LochleyElizabeth Lochley
Elizabeth Lochley is a lead fictional character from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 and Crusade, played by Tracy Scoggins....
, the commander and military governor of Babylon 5
Babylon 5 (space station)
Babylon 5 is a fictional space station and the primary setting in the television series Babylon 5. Its design is a variation of an O'Neill cylinder....
.
Fate
The plan for Crusade would have seen a story arc, similar to that of Babylon 5Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, begin approximately halfway through the first season. Three episodes had been fully scripted and were ready for shooting when the series was cancelled. Two of these (To the Ends of the Earth and End of the Line) were planned to focus on Gideon and his search for the truth regarding the loss of the Cerberus. The episode End of the Line was intended as the season one finale, and would have ended on a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
with Gideon shot by a sniper before he can expose a conspiracy that the government of Earth has continued experimenting with Shadow
Shadow (Babylon 5)
The Shadows are a fictional alien species in the science fiction television series Babylon 5. Their homeworld is Z'ha'dum. In contrast to the Vorlons, whose philosophy is represented by the question "Who are you?", that of the Shadows is represented by the question "What do you want?", centering...
technology in contravention of various laws passed after the overthrow of President Clark
Morgan Clark
William Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show....
in 2261. JMS revealed in the audio commentary to Racing the Night that after being shot Gideon would have actually died "for a time" but would have ultimately been revived because his consciousness had merged with the Apocalypse Box.