It was the dawning of the third age of television set , many days before networks would discover the mightiness of long - form storytelling , when Warner Brothers helped former Murder She Wrote writer J. Michael Straczynski realize his dream to cross The Lord of the Rings with Casablanca … IN SPACE !
The resulting series would revolutionize television storytelling . The yr is 1994 , the name of the show is Babylon 5 ! conjoin us , both B5 novices and veterans , as we recount this majuscule series ’ absolutely essential moments .
It ’s easy to block now , in the age of Battlestar Galactica , The Walking Dead , American Horror Story , Breaking Bad , Sons of Anarchy , Lost , Deadwood , The Wire , Homeland , and oh so many other series , that there was once a time when prospicient - form storytelling was all but nonexistent on television . Prime meter consultation , it was believed , were too quicksilver and discrepant to follow stories that diddle out over multiple seasons .
Now , in the age of internet recaps , fan and insider podcasts and the proliferation of medium about media , the long shape is seen as a way of life to promote viewer loyalty and online buzz . It is the one - off , sorry - guy - of - the - hebdomad series that now sense like the dying strain .
Babylon 5 represented not only a turn point in the form of television set drama , but in the family relationship between show creators and their interview . Straczynski and Warner Brothers were cognizant that the show would get up or descend with word of lip and were thus unprecedentedly candid about their mental process and about the product of the series .
The pilot burner movie , The Gathering , was intemperately promoted online in an era when few people hump what “ online ” meant . copy of discussion Straczynzki had with the lover root word during the product of the serial can still be find , along with abstract and analyses of each installment , atThe Lurker ’s Guide to Babylon 5 .
It is impossible to do any sort of analysis of this series without significant mollycoddler . Babylon 5 has a peachy many enjoyable hardening - ups and payoffs , so if you are concerned in getting into the series but do not desire to read the pamperer in the clause below , I have created a separate list of essential episodes give way down by season which you may findhere . Stop reading now if you do n’t want to know what happens .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQWFAE8at4w
The Setting and Backstory
The show takes place aboard the eponymous distance station Babylon 5 , place in neutral district in mysterious space . Babylon 5 is the 5th of the Babylon station . The first three were destroy by terrorists and the fourth mysteriously disappeared before coming online .
Babylon 5 ’s main purpose is diplomatic . It ’s a galactic UN / WTO , put up a billet where the wandflower ’s different alien races can talk terms trade and district . It was demonstrate 10 geezerhood after a warfare between Earth and an alien slipstream known as the Minbari terminate with the mystical resignation of the Minbari just at the moment of their final victory at The Battle of the crinkle . essentially Gettysburg … IN SPACE !
The Major Players
Jeffrey Sinclair – The first commander of Babylon 5 , Jeffrey Sinclair was abduct and held by the Minbari during the Battle of the stemma . Sinclair was script - picked by the Minbari governance to go Babylon 5 , bypassing several more - qualified candidates .
Delenn – The Minbari ambassador to Babylon 5 and member of the Minbari government activity ’s rule Grey Council .
G’Kar – The Narn ambassador to Babylon 5 . The Narn are a prideful , warrior race who had once been subjugated by and are now in ongoing fight with an imperialist race bed as the Centauri .
Londo Mollari – The Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5 , Mollari ’s conflict with G’Kar is both political and personal . Mollari ’s life is the tragical fib of a man ever caught between goodness and greatness .
Alfred Bester – a high rank member of Earth ’s secretive “ Psi Corps , ” an only reasonably totally fascistic organization run by telepaths . Played in “ Evil Chekov ” mode by Walter Koenig , this character could only have been amend by the judicious software of a goatee . Bester was not a regular theatrical role on the show , but he does play a decisive part in the unfolding of the main tale arc .
John Sheridan – Babylon 5 ’s second commanding officer , assigned to the place after Jeffrey Sinclair is recalled to Earth . Sheridan is the only human police captain to have ever score a victory over the Minbari in battle . Sheridan ’s wife , Anna , disappeared along with the rest of the crew of the archaeological research vessel Icarus while investigating a mystic alien universe , leave the true to the honest-to-god byword that one should never sign up for duty onboard a ship identify “ Icarus . ”
In addition to these main players , there are a number of well - developed supporting characters , including Babylon 5 ’s human command faculty ( security foreman Michael Garibaldi , first officeholder Susan Ivanova , main medical officer Stephen Franklin ) and diplomatical support faculty ( Vir of the Centauri , Lennier of the Minbari , N’Toth of the Narn . )
These characters act as so - call “ trapdoors ” for the main characters . Straczynski knew that telling a five - year storey on television would go forth him vulnerable to losing role player , so he always made sure that there were backup characters uncommitted to fill in for each of the main character . Ever the source of virtuous lemonade from necessary lemons , Straczynski makes this “ trapdoor ” scheme a theme of the show . Many of the character , most notably Delenn , are heard to annotate that should they come down in their struggle , others will jump to take their place .
Plot Summary
As withFarscape , it is foreseeable that fans of the show will view nothing short of “ all of them ” to be the correct answer to the question “ what are the essential episodes of Babylon 5 ? ” ( And , as always , I am open to proposition for how to persuade io9 to ante up me for a three - word clause . )
What are the absolutely substantive episodes of Farscape ?
But also similar to Farscape , Babylon 5 has a major story arc which constitute the meat of the show . If you do n’t like the major electric discharge nitty-gritty , you probably wo n’t get much out of the standalone potatoes . The major fib electric arc , the Shadow War and its aftermath , plays out over five season with each time of year appoint a chapter in the epic . While there are many good standalone episode that are worth watching ( A Late Delivery From Avalon , Grey 17 Is Missing , Gropos ) , my main criterion for selecting episodes is advancement of the Shadow War story .
In add-on to the main series , there are also a bit of television movies that contribute to the Babylon 5 tarradiddle . I have not included these pic in this article , as they are few enough that if you care the show , you ought to attempt them out .
Season One – Signs and Portents
The first season of Babylon 5 consists principally of Star Trek - like extraterrestrial being - of - the calendar week episodes . The main discharge episodes in this season present many question without supply many answers . Signs , portent , prophecy , substantial glimpse , secrecy and evasiveness lay over Season One like a shroud . The key outlet turn to are Sinclair ’s experience at the Battle of the Line and the subsequent Minbari yielding , the cabal to reverse the administration of Earth and the subsequent assassination of President Santiago , and the emergence of a new … or rather , very , very old … alien race that threatens the astronomical pacification .
Season One requirement
101 – Midnight on the Firing Line – The episode provides the essential backstory for the Earth / Minbari war and sets up the Narn / Centauri conflict
106 – Mind War – This episode premise the Psi Corps and psi pig Alfred Bester
108 – And the Sky Full of asterisk – This installment explores Sinclair ’s experience at the Battle of the Line and reveals that Delenn was present at his examination . It ’s also the first instance of someone saying “ if I fall , another will replace me . ”
113 – Signs and Portents – This instalment introduces Mr. Morden , the errand son for a mysterious subspecies bent on … well , we do n’t know yet
118 & 119 – A Voice In The Wilderness pt 1&2 – This episode introduce Draal and the Great Machine on Epsilon 3 , the planet which Babylon 5 orbits . The Great Machine is an homage to / ripoff of the Krell engineering from Forbidden Planet . When the alien operator of the great machine pass away , he is replaced by Draal , Delenn ’s Obi - Wan Kenobi - like mentor .
120 – Babylon Squared – Having become unstuck in time years earlier , Babylon 4 reappears and the work party hurry to deliver survivors before it disappear again . To complicate matters , it appears that a hirsute extraterrestrial being named “ Zathras ” is trying to steal / borrow / highjack the station for use in a great warfare .
122 – Chrysalis – In the season finale , Delenn goes into a chrysalis to transform into , well , we do n’t make love yet , Garibaldi is shot in the back by his own second - in - bid and the Chief Executive of Earth dies when his spacecraft explodes under mysterious circumstances .
eminent point of Season One
If you have to peck one episode to find out from season one , it has to be Babylon Squared . This is the first episode that sincerely make a contract bridge with the viewer that all these mysterious half - substantial bits of presage and prognostication are actually going somewhere . Having visit a few episode prior to this one , Babylon Squared abstract me back in the day . And , for once , the call payoff does come ( cough , missed , coughing . ) Walter Koenig ’s portrayal of Alfred Bester in Mind War is also the kickoff of what will be a superbly villainous political campaign for Evil Chekov .
time of year Two – The Coming of shadow
Season Two innovate Babylon 5 ’s Modern commander , John Sheridan . Straczynski , possess difficulty both with Michael O’Hare ( who did n’t adjust well to acting on television set ) and with the excessive tale weight he ’d laid on Sinclair decided to split Sinclair into two characters , one who would make for out the messianic human / Minbari portion and the other who would command the military group of Light in the Shadow War .
The chief discharge of Season 2 deal with the buildup to the Shadow War . The Shadows ’ modus operandi is to stir up trouble among the young races , and we see those conflicts playing out in this time of year , in special the Narn / Centauri conflict , the dissolution of the Minbari predominate order and Earth ’s retain slide into Orwellian dictatorship .
time of year Two Essentials
201 – Points of Departure – This installment introduces John Sheridan and provides an answer to the question surrounding the Battle of the Line . Long story scant : the Minbari discovered that the souls of their dead were being reincarnate on Earth and that by killing humans they were killing their own people . Sinclair is one of these reincarnate Minbari and this was identify during his examen . This is why the Minbari give up and why they ’ve been help humans ever since .
202 – Apocalypse – In this installment , we key that the Shadows are known to G’Kar and that the Narn have written about them in their ancient chronicle . Delenn emerges from her chrysalis and is now half human / one-half Minbari . She does this in edict to become a bridge between our two people and not in any way to make her more visually appealing for when she falls in dear with Sheridan . We also learn that the Shadow homeworld is a barren and evil place known as “ Z’ha’dum . ” Yeah , it does sort of auditory sensation like “ Khazad - dum ” now that you cite it .
208 – A raceway Through Dark Places – Bester riposte in this episode to enquire an underground railroad for rogue telepaths being bleed through Babylon 5 .
209 – The Coming of the Shadows – One of the most tragic moments of the time of year comes when the Centauri emperor butterfly visits Babylon 5 and gives G’Kar a glimpse through a room access to ataraxis for their respective the great unwashed , shortly before it slam shut out . This episode also introduces the Rangers , a group of wandering fighters similar to the Rangers in The Lord of the Rings . And by “ similar to ” I of row mean “ exactly like . ”
213 – hunting watch , Prey – A courier from Earth comes to Babylon 5 with critical evidence implicating the current president in the murder of previous president , only to be interrupted in his missionary post by Bull Shannon from Night Court .
215 – And Now For A Word – This episode provide an extraneous overview of the show as a team of newsperson does a narrative on Babylon 5 . This episode provides a useful review of the decisive ingredient on the show and also advances the Narn / Centauri warfare .
216 – In The Shadow of Z’ha’dum – In this episode we notice that itinerant sleazebag and Mollari benefactor Mr. Morden was on board the badly - fate Icarus , suggesting the possibility that Anna Sheridan may too have survived . This episode also introduces what is perhaps the most famous prophecy in a show where vaticination are fatheaded on the undercoat when Kosh tells Sheridan “ If you go to Z’ha’dum , you will die . ” And so he will , in a Buffy Summers kind of room .
219 – Divided Loyalties – one of the trapdoors springs when Andrea Thompson trade in Psi Corps Black for NYPD Blue and Patricia Tallman turn back to her role as Babylon 5 ’s original resident telepath .
220 – The farsighted , Twilight Struggle – Draal return , 30 years younger and hundred more melodramatic and Lord Refa , Londo ’s frenemy in the Centauri Royal Court , press a last solution to the Narn problem .
222 – The Fall of Night – With their menage world ravage , Sheridan gives sanctuary the Narn over the objections of his own governance . The increasingly creepy Nightwatch , the enforcement offset of the Earth government ’s equally creepy Ministry of Peace , prepare to seize control of Babylon 5 . Only until this present crisis is over , you understand . We are at war . With , you know , terror . As soon as threat surrender , we ’ll give you your rights back . When Sheridan nearly die in a bomb plan of attack , he is rescued by Kosh who break himself to the entire station to be , or at least to come out to be , whatever your race ’s name is for “ an angel . ”
High Points of Season Two
The catastrophe of Londo and G’Kar ’s family relationship reach a high point in The Coming of the Shadows . When G’Kar , newly optimistic about a future of peacefulness between the Narn and the Centauri , offer Londo his bridge player in friendly relationship while Londo knows that warfare with the Narn is afoot , it ’s difficult not to feel your heart swallow hole .
It would not be awry to state that , broadly speaking , if you ’re watch Babylon 5 for the acting , you ’re in for a sparse soup . But Peter Jurasik and the late Andreas Katsulas tolerate out as notable exclusion . These two great actor inculcate Babylon 5 ’s most complex and nuanced character relationship with the deepness the story needs to be more than a long serial of television biz track scenes .
The look on Jurasik ’s facial expression as he oversees the bombardment of the Narn rest home world stands out as another moment where the heartache of their tragic story shines through . It ’s as though he feels the pain of the Narn as acutely as G’Kar does .
time of year Three – breaker point of No Return
In Season Three , the conflict with the Shadows becomes a shooting warfare as Delenn and Sheridan , lacking equal musical accompaniment from their menage government , consolidate their defenses around Babylon 5 . At this point in the series , it becomes increasingly unmanageable to keep apart of the essence episodes . As the Shadow War story arc builds , there are few and fewer one - off episodes .
time of year Three essential
301 – Matters of Honor – In this episode we are introduced to Marcus , the romantic , virginal , well-chosen - go - prosperous - yet - serious - and - soulful Ranger who in no style represents the self - image of the show ’s fan foundation . We further find that Mr. Morden is ( shock surprise ) work with the fascist in the Earth regime . This installment also introduces The White Star , a Minbari / Vorlon engagement police cruiser design to give the Army of Light some humble hope of not being like a shot destroyed by the Shadows .
306 – Dust to Dust – G’Kar gets his hands on a drug project to activate latent telepath gene and judgement - fucks Londo , literally . In this episode , we get a line that there are currently no Narn telepaths , but there once were . A thousand years ago . Which was the last fourth dimension the Shadows were on the move .
308 , 309 & 310 – Messages From Earth / detail of No Return / Severed Dreams – In this three - part series , Babylon 5 severs its tie with Earth . Having discovered a vessel bury on Mars , the Earth government has been actively try out to evolve Shadow technology . Sheridan apply the White Star to destroy the Shadow vas . In reply , Earth sends a fleet to appropriate control of Babylon 5 only to be turned away by Delenn head Minbari fleet . That would be the fleet that could have destroyed Earth without getting wind .
314 – Ship of Tears – Bester returns to ask for help tracking a ship moderate “ weapon system theatrical role ” that ferment out to be cybernetically enhanced telepaths stored in suspended invigoration . Shadow vessels , it seems , are vulnerable to tone-beginning by telepaths , so the Shadows have been working with Psi Corps to train telepaths to wing Shadow vessels . Bester , offended that the Shadows are muscling in on his territory of coercing telepaths into service and as put out that they choose his girlfriend as one of their pilots , fall in with Babylon 5 in their struggle .
315 – Interludes and Examinations – Londo ’s girlfriend is polish off by Morden who pins the killing on Lord Refa , creating a rent between the two that Morden hop to overwork . Dr. Franklin replace his dependence to stims for an addiction to ego - righteous smugness , Sheridan convinces Kosh to have the Vorlons flack the Shadow fleet right away and Kosh is murdered by the Shadows in retribution .
316 - 317 – warfare Without End parts 1 & 2 – The check mark written in Babylon Squared is pay off in this bright constructed two - part series . Jeffrey Sinclair returns to Babylon 5 and Delenn announces that Babylon 4 is need to win the previous warfare against the Shadows one thousand years ago .
Straczynski quite consciously eschewed using time traveling in Babylon 5 . He reckon it as a loud trick that other show use to erase the consequences for dramatic actions . The circle of conflict and rebirth told in Babylon Squared and War Without conclusion is the single exception . Sinclair not only travels to the yesteryear to push the Shadows , but he also use the same engineering Delenn used to transform herself to transform himself into a full Minbari . And not just any Minbari , but Valen , their greatest spiritual loss leader . All of the prophecies and portents that formed the Minbari religion were facts personally know to Sinclair . In this serial we also see glimpses of the future , let in the fall of Centauri Prime .
320 – And The Rock Cried Out , No Hiding Place – Londo lures G’Kar to the Narn home man where he is subject to arrest by Lord Refa . This is one episode that is deserving not spoiling . G’Kar obviously survives with his freedom entire , but beyond that you just have to see how it plays out for yourself .
322 – Z’ha’dum – Anna Sheridan get on Babylon 5 and carry John , who is now in love with Delenn , to return with her to Z’ha’dum where we learn more about the conflict between the Shadows and Vorlons . The Vorlons are noble of order , consider that the jr. races must be trained and condition into evolving . The Shadows are Jehovah of chaos who believe that the younger race can only acquire through conflict and rebirth . The history of state of war between the two races boils down a conflict between these two philosophical system . Sheridan listen patiently to the Shadows ’ pitch and then blow up their capital city with a atomic arm he smuggle on board The White Star . Moments before the thermonuclear warhead goes off , he bound , without a refrigerator or anything , and falls into a cave far below . If Z’ha’dum is a point of reference to Khazad - dum , then I guess Anna Sheridan would be the Balrog , which is bad news for Sheridan . Who would n’t rather present a fire demon than their x ?
High point of Season Three
I can still call back the exhilaration my pee tank friend and I share get laid the last instalment of season 3 was call “ Z’ha’dum ” and seeing the “ Z negative hug drug days ” title at the heading of the episodes leading up to the closing curtain , but my personal favourite episode of this season has to be And The Rock outcry Out No Hiding Place . The evolving kinship between Londo and G’Kar is unbelievable in this episode and the finale of the Londo / G’Kar / Refa electric discharge is one of my favorite succession in the series .
War Without End is also a great mo in the series . It was gratifying indeed as a sports fan to have my three year investment in the program pay off and it strengthen my promise that the relief of the series would play out just as well . These episodes are also deserving watching for the tardy Tim Choate ’s functioning as the ever put - upon Zathras . No one listens to inadequate Zathras .
And , of course , Delenn’smonologueas she digest down the Earth fleet in Severed Dreams is a sports fan darling .
time of year Four – No Surrender , No Retreat
What was hard in Season Three has become unacceptable in Season Four . Babylon 5 was in the beginning planned to toy out the Shadow fight and the liberation of Earth from President Clark well into Season Five , but the show was threatened with cancellation after Season Three , so Straczynski tug the closing of the state of war into Season Four . He also have upon himself the herculean task of write each episode of the season himself . As emperor moth Cartagia says , you ca n’t leave these things to others , they never get it right !
Season Four Essentials
Instead of an episode - by - episode crack-up , I ’ll summarize the events of this time of year as though it was what it is : one big long episode .
John Sheridan break at Z’ha’dum , but his soul and/or soundbox ( it ’s not altogether clear ) are catch by Lorien , who is a appendage of the first species in the wandflower to come upon sentience . Lorien breathes enough life back into Sheridan for him to survive another twenty years and the two return to Babylon 5 .
The Vorlons , now symbolize by a much harsher and more sadistic ambassador whose name is “ Kosh ” just the same as every other Vorlon ( why not call them “ Koshes ” instead of “ Vorlons ? ” ) , intensify the dispute with the Shadows into a scorched beetleweed genocide , destroying entire planets where the Shadows have any influence .
Meanwhile , the new Centauri emperor , Cartagia , begins exhibit signs of lunacy and is grease one’s palms into help the Shadows in exchange for promise of godhood . Of course there was no fashion to predict that an emperor whose name rhymes with “ Caligula ” would change state out to be screwball . G’Kar is arrested by the Centauri while looking for Mr. Garibaldi and fit to help Londo remove the insane Cartagia from the commode in exchange for the liberation of Narn from Centauri rule .
The war between the Shadows and Vorlons play out to a final conflict where Sheridan announces to both races that the untested worlds are no longer concerned in choosing sides in a fight between bickering parents and tells them , in what is still the sound line in science fable idiot box history , to “ get the hell out of our galaxy . ” “ Please stay and help us clean up the flock you two made ” just did n’t have the same ring , I suppose . After the end of the Shadow state of war , Sheridan turns his sights to the liberation of Earth .
Mr. Garibaldi , who was catch by a Shadow vessel during the engagement at the end of Season 3 , is brainwash by Bester and betrays Sheridan by luring him into a trap .
Sheridan is arrested and tortured by the Earth administration who want to use him as a reformed poster tike for anti - alien view .
Garibaldi , realizing that he has been manipulated , avail rescue Sheridan and Sheridan and the Mars Resistance return to set free Earth from the government of President Clark .
High spot of Season Four
Vir look up at Morden ’s headspring on a pike and waving as he prophesied he would definitely rank as one of the high point not only of the season but of the show , but The Deconstruction of Falling star , which show up us glimpse of the future of the Babylon 5 universe is the must - see sequence of the time of year .
The episode with emperor Cartagia are also quite pleasurable . Wortham Krimmer ’s finding not to be upstaged by Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas result in a light-headedly over - the - top “ more is more ” performance that is simply not to be missed .
Season Five – Wheel of Fire
This time of year concentrate on Sheridan and Delenn ’s travail to find oneself a new galactic politics , conflict with a backwash of Shadow ally known as the Drakh who are consolidate might in the Centauri Republic , and the friction between telepaths and mundanes ( or normals or muggles or whatever . )
What was inconceivable for Season Four is much easier for Season Five . Having gain a reprieve from cancellation , Straczynski found himself without adequate clip to uprise a compelling 2nd half to his story . Consequently , this time of year has more standalone episodes and many of the major spark episodes set up narrative that are pay off in other sensitive including the television movies , novels and comic .
The telepath story is roleplay out in four primal episodes :
509 – The Kingdom of the Blind510 – A Tragedy of Telepaths511 – Phoenix Rising513 – The Corps is Mother , The Corps is Father
The dispute between the galactic Alliance and the allies of the Shadows is play out in three central episodes :
516 – All My Dreams , Torn Asunder517 – Movements of Fire and Shadow518 – The Fall of Centauri Prime
The final three episode of the time of year bring an end to the story of the last of the Babylon place :
520 – Objects in Motion521 – Objects at Rest522 – log Z’s In Light
High tip of Season Five
Though it did n’t make the cut as an all important episode , my favorite moment of season five is definitely Penn and Teller playing the previously referenced but never attend vid comedians “ Rebo and Zooty ” in installment 508 Day of the Dead . Hey Zooty ! Zoot ! Zoot !
The Fall of Centauri Prime is another eminent level in the time of year , as we see the tragical destiny of Londo and G’Kar played out . In a time of year more concerned with looking forward than looking back , this episode is a strong monitor of what made the first four season so enjoyable .
Overall , Babylon 5 was our last , best Bob Hope for the hereafter of racy storytelling on TV . It come after . In the year that would follow , increasingly satisfy long - form stories would become as common on video as lurkers in Down Below .
Jason Shankelis a writer and creative developer presently working on the aurora of the 4th age of television at theStupid Fun Club .
goggle box
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the time to come , delivered to your nowadays .
