TV Babylon 5 (1993-1998) | Crusade (1999) | Legend of the Rangers (2002) | The Lost Tales (2007)

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An Old Friend
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Babylon 5
In the year 2258, it is ten years after the Earth-Minbari War. Commander Sinclair takes command of a giant five-mile-long cylindrical space station, orbiting a planet in neutral space. At a crossroads of interstellar commerce and diplomacy, Cmdr Sinclair (2d season Captain Sheridan) must try to establish peace and prosperity between various interstellar empires, all the while fighting forces from within the Earth Alliance. It is a precarious command, particularly given that sabotage led to the destruction of Babylon stations 1, 2, and 3 and 4 vanished without trace.


Genre: Science fiction
Created by: J. Michael Straczynski
Developed by: J. Michael Straczynski
Composer(s): Christopher Franke, Stewart Copeland (pilot)
Country of origin: 22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png United States
Language(s): English
No. of seasons: 5
No. of episodes: 110 episodes, Six films
Executive producer(s): Douglas Netter, J. Michael Straczynski
Running time: 43 minutes
Broadcast: Original channel PTEN (1994-1997), TNT (1998)
Picture format: 4:3 (broadcast), 16:9 (DVD)
Audio format: Dolby Surround
Original run: February 22, 1993November 25, 1998
External links: Official website IMDb profile TV.com summary

9 Spin-offs
Fun Facts!
  • Claudia Christian auditioned for the role of Seven of Nine on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995). In fact, several B5 actors also did Trek:
    • Andreas Katsulas was Romulan Commander Tomalak;
    • Bill Mumy was an engineer on Starfleet's AR-558 outpost; and more.
    • Trek co-creator Majel Barrett made an appearance on B5 as the seer who foretells Londo's ascension to the throne. Majel Barrett's character, Lady Morella, was the widow of the recently deceased Emperor Turhan, no doubt an homage to Gene Roddenberry.
    • Walter Koenig plays Psi Cop Alfred Bester. Alfred Bester (1913 - 1987) was a leading science fiction writer, one of whose best works, The Demolished Man, deals with murder in a world where the police are telepathic, as is the Bester character in Babylon 5.
    • Robert Foxworth, who played General Hague during Season 2, was supposed to return for _"Babylon 5: Severed Dreams (#3.10)" (1996)_. However he got booked on an episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) that same week. So they re-wrote the script, killed off his character and brought in Bruce McGill as his aide, Major Ryan. Oddly enough, Foxworth's Deep Space Nine character attempted a coup on Earth, whereas his Babylon 5 character was a loyalist fighting against a coup on Earth. Also, in a "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode, Foxworth's character was nearly the victim of a coup on his home world, and in an "Enterprise" (2001) episode, he attempted yet another coup on the planet Vulcan.
  • When B5 entered production, there were claims that the creators of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) had stolen the basic Babylon 5 premise. It was never proven, though both shows share striking similarities. This controversy led to friction between Babylon 5 and Star Trek fans over the course of both series.
  • The Babylon 5 station is an "O'Neil class space station". Gerard K. O'Neill was a physicist and space visionary who suggested the use of large rotating cylindrical habitats for future space stations.
  • The Medlab was deliberately designed to display few tools and instruments. The designers considered less to be more in guessing future medical technology.
  • The Babylon 5 station is claimed to be operated by an artificial intelligence computer system provided by the Centauri.
  • Babylon 5 filmmakers received informal technical advice on the series from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  • According to Usenet posts by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, the term "psi cop" (for the powerful, merciless enforcers of the Psi Corps) intentionally echoes the acronym "CSICOP" - the acronym for the "Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal", a group of scientists and professional magicians who investigate psychic phenomena and unmask frauds and hoaxes.
  • The series was conceived to run for five seasons as a sort of giant video novel. This plan was nearly shelved when it appeared B5 was going to be canceled after the fourth season. J Michael Straczynski pushed forward much of the material he had planned for the fifth season into the fourth, and even filmed the planned series finale for that year. When word came that the fifth season had been granted after all, the series finale was held back and used in its proper place.
  • J. Michael Straczynski, the series creator, makes a cameo as the technician who turns off the station's lights in the series finale.
  • The Teddy Bear...
    • The teddy bear that Radu finds in "Space Cases: Who Goes Where (#1.2)" (????) is the very same one that Sheridan tosses out of an airlock into space in "Babylon 5: There All the Honor Lies (#2.14)" (1995), which was written by Space Cases creator Peter David.
    • It's a running gag between David and Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski.
    • David's wife gave the bear to JMS, who hates "cute" things, and thus had Sheridan dispose of it in a rather unkind manner.
    • Peter David took revenge in defense of his wife's honor.
    • When Radu brings in the bear, Rosie says, "What kind of dope would toss a perfectly good Earth bear into space?"
    • Later, we find out that the bear was left by an evil race called the "Straczyn."
    • JMS has reportedly sworn vengeance.
  • During the run of the show, the show's creator, J. Michael Straczynski, was contacted by NASA officials who asked if they could borrow the design of the show's fighters - the StarFuries - for use on the International Space Station. NASA wanted to use the ships as a combination tug and forklift, adding, "Your design is the most practical we've seen." Straczynski replied that it was fine with him, but that NASA had to call them StarFuries. NASA agreed.
  • Because of the epic five season video novel format, ad libs were forbidden on set. Any script changes had to be approved by series creator J. Michael Straczynski.
  • Claudia Christian was originally scheduled to appear in season 5. According to series creator J. Michael Straczynski, she backed out of the final season due to a contract dispute. However, according to Christian, she was fired by the producers.
  • Series creator J. Michael Straczynski once said that the Earth Alliance military used a "blending" of rank systems, although this was never spelled out in detail on the show. Thus, the exact EA rank structure remains unknown, although most fans assume the different branches (Navy, Marines, Security) each use the appropriate system of ranks for that branch. (Contrary to popular belief, Admirals have been mentioned twice on the show, in "And the Sky full of Stars" and "Signs and Portents") There are Generals who have been seen wearing the blue Navy uniform, although this could be evidence of yet another branch (Air Force?).
  • Although Morden's first name is never mentioned in the entire series, his full name is Dr. Paul Morden.
  • The character Susan Ivanova was bisexual.
  • Series creator J. Michael Straczynski made television history by becoming the first person to write an entire 22-episode season of a television series (Babylon 5's 3rd season).
  • Based on onscreen evidence, the Earth Alliance military appears to have at least three different branches: Marines (brown uniforms), Security (gray), and Navy (blue). We have seen blue-uniformed officers with 'ground' ranks (like General); it is unclear what this means, possibly a fourth branch ("Air Force"?). A popular fan theory is that this last branch is for EarthForce officers who work in space but have not yet received flight status (i.e. certification as a starship officer or StarFury pilot).
  • The Omega-class destroyers used by the Earth Alliance military were based on the design of the Russian spaceship 'Leonov' from the film 2010 (1984).
  • During the first season, Commander Sinclair said, "This station creates [artificial] gravity by rotation, so the room never stops spinning." Reportedly, the animating team had the station spinning at a near-Earth gravity simulation. This was determined by a physicist who was also a fan of the show, who determined the approximate size of the station by comparing it to the image of a human being on the edge of the station and extrapolating.
  • Delenn was originally going to be a male character. The "transformation" at the start of season 2 would have been from a male character to a female character - both incarnations were to have been played by Mira Furlan. This is why, in the pilot, Delenn's appearance is much more severe and masculine than in the first series. The plan was to electronically modulate Furlan's voice into a lower register, so her voice would sound male. JMS wasn't happy with the results, so the male-to-female idea was dropped; Furlan's unaltered voice was used for the pilot, and her makeup was made more feminine for the series.
  • Ranked #13 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!" (30 May 2004 issue).
  • Captain John Sheridan was ranked #9 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends" (1 August 2004 issue).
  • The Centauri Celebration of Life, in the episode "Parliament of Dreams", was shot all in one take.
  • Won two Hugo awards in two consecutive years.
  • The Vorlon encounter suit actually didn't fit through the doorways on the set, so the alien was never shown entering or leaving a room.
  • Although Producer J. Michael Straczynski had said several times in public that the series outline was on his computer under a triple-encrypted code lock, the series plans were also in a couple of three-ring binders directly above his desk in his studio office.
  • The actors were never told in advance what was in store for their characters. Each new episode was just as much a surprise for them as it was for the viewers.
  • Two blooper cassettes were made of various gaffes and mistakes (and traded hands as bootlegs for many years), but they were never commercially released. A short "gag reel" features on most of the season box sets, however.
  • The inspiration for the design of the Vorlon ships was a clove of garlic.
  • Many of the plot elements and the storyline itself were inspired by the poem, "Ulysses", by Alfred Lord Tennyson. The poem is mentioned four times throughout the series.
  • Spoo, an oft-mentioned Babylon 5 food, had its first mention years earlier in the "She-Ra: Princess of Power" (1985) television series for which JMS was a writer. Spoo was mentioned as an Etherian delicacy in the episode "Gateway to Trouble"
  • During the fifth season, Producer J. Michael Straczynski wanted to have actors David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson do a cameo appearance playing Psi Cops, but the plan fell through.
  • "Minbar" is a word in Arabic; it is the seat that serves as a pulpit in a mosque.
  • The StarFuries were the first cinematic spacecraft to fly according to Newtonian principles in a vacuum rather than maneuvering like aircraft in an atmosphere.
  • For Centauri males, longer hair is associated with higher status. However, at least three Centauri emperors (Emperor Tuscano, Emperor Turhan, and Emperor Cartagia) had hair shorter than that of Ambassador Londo Mollari.
  • In addition to Bruce Boxleitner, other actors who were considered for the role of John Sheridan included Roger Rees, James Earl Jones, John Rhys-Davies, Barry Bostwick, Michael York, Michael Moriarty, and A Martinez.
  • One of the visible differences between humans and Centauri is that Centauri canines are slightly longer. Stephen Furst found that the canine extensions gave him a noticeable lisp, and stopped using them.
  • The set dressers and stage hands were only hired if they had previous experience in theater work. In theater, sets are constantly reused and minimally altered to resemble new locations, something that was done repeatedly on Babylon 5 to save money.
Babylon 5 Online

Season 1
  • Season 1, Episode 1: Midnight on the Firing Line
    • Original Air Date: 26 January 1994
    • The Narn attack a Centauri colony, while Raiders attack transport ships. And Talia Winters arrives at the station.
  • Season 1, Episode 2: Soul Hunter
    • Original Air Date: 2 February 1994
    • A mysterious alien who steals the souls of the living arrives on the station putting Delenn's life in danger.
  • Season 1, Episode 3: Born to the Purple
    • Original Air Date: 9 February 1994
    • Londo falls for a beautiful slave, whose owner wants to steal sensitive information. Garibaldi discovers that someone is using a restricted communications channel.
  • Season 1, Episode 4: Infection
    • Original Air Date: 16 February 1994
    • A living weapon wreaks havoc on the station.
  • Season 1, Episode 5: The Parliament of Dreams
    • Original Air Date: 23 February 1994
    • A week long cultural festival is takes place on board the station. Catherine Sakai, Sinclair's old girlfriend, arrives on the station and G'Kar receives a death threat.
  • Season 1, Episode 6: Mind War
    • Original Air Date: 2 March 1994
    • The Psi-Cops arrive at the station to capture Talia's old Psi Corps instructor. Catherine is warned not to survey a sector of space by G'Kar.
  • Season 1, Episode 7: The War Prayer
    • Original Air Date: 9 March 1994
    • A pro-Earth group attacks a Mimbari poet and two Centauri lovers seek Londo's help.
  • Season 1, Episode 8: And the Sky Full of Stars
    • Original Air Date: 16 March 1994
    • Sinclair is kidnapped by people who want to know what happened when he disappeared in the last battle of the Earth/Minbari war, knowledge that even Sinclair does not know.
  • Season 1, Episode 9: Deathwalker
    • Original Air Date: 20 April 1994
    • A war criminal scientist who is the last of the notorious Dilgars is discovered on B5 bearing an extraordinary medication that all the powers want.
  • Season 1, Episode 10: Believers
    • Original Air Date: 27 April 1994
    • An alien family refuses surgery to save their dying child.
  • Season 1, Episode 11: Survivors
    • Original Air Date: 4 May 1994
    • Garibaldi is blamed for an accident aboard B5, leading to his return to the bottle.
  • Season 1, Episode 12: By Any Means Necessary
    • Original Air Date: 11 May 1994
    • An illegal strike hits the station's dock workers while elsewhere on the station G'Kar tries to take part in a Narn religious ceremony.
  • Season 1, Episode 13: Signs and Portents
    • Original Air Date: 18 May 1994
    • Londo obtains a priceless Centauri artifact and a stranger visits each alien ambassador asking only one question.
  • Season 1, Episode 14: TKO
    • Original Air Date: 25 May 1994
    • A disgraced boxer comes to Babylon 5 to compete in the Mutai, an alien fighting match. Meanwhile, an old friend visits Ivanova so that she can mourn the loss of her father.
  • Season 1, Episode 15: Grail
    • Original Air Date: 6 July 1994
    • A man searching for the Holy Grail arrives. Ambassador Kosh may be behind a string of attacks on the station.
  • Season 1, Episode 16: Eyes
    • Original Air Date: 13 July 1994
    • An Colonel investigates Sinclair, and his command staff, for recent station actions.
  • Season 1, Episode 17: Legacies
    • Original Air Date: 20 July 1994
    • A Minbari military leader's dead body disappears on the station.
  • Season 1, Episode 18: A Voice in the Wilderness: Part 1
    • Original Air Date: 27 July 1994
    • One of Delenn's old friends arrives on the station when an extinct civilization is found on the planet that Babylon 5 orbits.
  • Season 1, Episode 19: A Voice in the Wilderness: Part 2
    • Original Air Date: 3 August 1994
    • An Earthforce captain and an alien race both lay claim to the planet below.
  • Season 1, Episode 20: Babylon Squared
    • Original Air Date: 10 August 1994
    • B5's immediate predecessor, Babylon 4, suddenly reappears after mysteriously vanishing years ago.
  • Season 1, Episode 21: The Quality of Mercy
    • Original Air Date: 17 August 1994
    • Talia must enter the mind of a convicted murderer while Dr. Franklin goes to Downbelow to investigate a doctor who apparently is 'magically' healing people.
  • Season 1, Episode 22: Chrysalis
    • Original Air Date: 3 October 1994
    • Garibaldi investigates a death on the station which leads him to a terrible discovery.

Season 2
  • Season 2, Episode 1: Points of Departure
    • Original Air Date: 2 November 1994
    • As Captain John Sheridan assumes command of B5, he learns the reason why the Minbari inexplicably surrendered to Earth in the Earth-Minbari war.
  • Season 2, Episode 2: Revelations
    • Original Air Date: 9 November 1994
    • G'Kar brings news of an old enemies return. Dr. Franklin tries to bring Garibaldi out from his coma. Delenn returns, quite changed.
  • Season 2, Episode 3: The Geometry of Shadows
    • Original Air Date: 16 November 1994
    • Ivanova deals with a Drazi custom, which only occurs once every 5 years. Techno-mages arrive on the station.
  • Season 2, Episode 4: A Distant Star
    • Original Air Date: 23 November 1994
    • Captain Sheridan's old commanding officer arrives at the station, and disaster ensues in Hyperspace.
  • Season 2, Episode 5: The Long Dark
    • Original Air Date: 30 November 1994
    • A sleeper ship is found adrift near the station, where a deadly force awaits.
  • Season 2, Episode 6: Spider in the Web
    • Original Air Date: 7 December 1994
    • Talia witnesses a murder at the hands of a Free Mars member.
  • Season 2, Episode 7: Soul Mates
    • Original Air Date: 14 December 1994
    • Londo's three wives arrive on the station. Talia's ex-husband arrives. He is no longer telepathic, and offers her way to leave Psi Corps.
  • Season 2, Episode 8: A Race Through Dark Places
    • Original Air Date: 25 January 1995
    • Bester has Talia investigate an "underground railroad" of telepaths escaping the Psi-corp.
  • Season 2, Episode 9: The Coming of Shadows
    • Original Air Date: 1 February 1995
    • The Centauri emperor visits the station, leading G'Kar to attempt to assassinate him. Lord Refa and Londo conspire to expand their power on Centauri Prime.
  • Season 2, Episode 10: GROPOS
    • Original Air Date: 8 February 1995
    • A task force of ground troops lead by Dr. Franklin's father is assembled at B5, leading to some friction.
  • Season 2, Episode 11: All Alone in the Night
    • Original Air Date: 15 February 1995
    • Sheridan is kidnapped onto an alien ship and General Hague makes an unofficial visit to the station.
  • Season 2, Episode 12: Acts of Sacrifice
    • Original Air Date: 22 February 1995
    • G'Kar asks Sheridan for Earth Force help in the Narn/Centauri war.
  • Season 2, Episode 13: Hunter, Prey
    • Original Air Date: 1 March 1995
    • A fugitive with secret Earth Force data flees to Babylon 5.
  • Season 2, Episode 14: There All the Honor Lies
    • Original Air Date: 26 April 1995
    • Sheridan kills a Minbari warrior in self-defense.
  • Season 2, Episode 15: And Now for a Word
    • Original Air Date: 3 May 1995
    • ISN arrives on the station to film a documentary of the station and crew.
  • Season 2, Episode 16: In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum
    • Original Air Date: 10 May 1995
    • Sheridan discovers that Morden has a connection with his dead wife. Nightwatch, a new agency on Earth is trying to recruit new personnel.
  • Season 2, Episode 17: Knives
    • Original Air Date: 17 May 1995
    • An old friend asks for help from Londo. Sheridan is possessed with a strange creature.
  • Season 2, Episode 18: Confessions and Lamentations
    • Original Air Date: 24 May 1995
    • Dr. Franklin tries desperately to find a cure for a disease which is killing off all the Markab on the station.
  • Season 2, Episode 19: Divided Loyalties
    • Original Air Date: 25 July 1995
    • Lyta Alexander returns to the station with news that one of the officers on the station is an undercover operative.
  • Season 2, Episode 20: The Long, Twilight Struggle
    • Original Air Date: 1 August 1995
    • The Narn/Centauri War comes to a devastating turn of events.
  • Season 2, Episode 21: Comes the Inquisitor
    • Original Air Date: 8 August 1995
    • Kosh tests Delenn's allegiance while G'Kar attempts to bring his people together on Babylon 5.
  • Season 2, Episode 22: The Fall of Night
    • Original Air Date: 15 August 1995
    • While the Centauri/Narn war escalates the Earth government enters into a non-aggression treaty with the Centauri. While in Keffer is in Hyperspace, he discovers a dangerous secret.

Season 3
  • Season 3, Episode 1: Matters of Honor
    • Original Air Date: 6 November 1995
    • A small colony is attacked by the Shadows. It's the location of a Ranger training base, Marcus Cole goes to Babylon 5 to get help. Sheridan and Delenn embark on a mission to help the Rangers in the newly built White Star. Meanwhile Earth force sends a representative to find out more about the ship that destroyed Lt. Keffer.
  • Season 3, Episode 2: Convictions
    • Original Air Date: 13 November 1995
    • A mad bomber is loose on Babylon 5. When they find him, he threatens to detonate the station, if his demands are not met. Meanwhile G'Kar and Londo are trapped in an elevator. Londo wants to work together so they can escape, but G'Kar refuses to aide his nemesis.
  • Season 3, Episode 3: A Day in the Strife
    • Original Air Date: 20 November 1995
    • Sheridan and Ivanova deal with a dispute with the worker's guild. Then a probe arrives, and gives the station a test. If they pass, it promises to share advanced technology, if they fail the station will be destroyed in a few hours. Garibaldi talks to Franklin about his stim use-age.
  • Season 3, Episode 4: Passing Through Gethsemane
    • Original Air Date: 27 November 1995
    • Kosh's ship arrives at the station bearing a surprise visitor, Lyta Alexander returns after visiting the Vorlon home world. Brother Edward, a monk with Brother Theo visits with Delenn to discuss religion. Soon he begins to hear voices. They discover that Edward is experiencing repressed memories, someone is forcing him to relive past moments. Why would someone make a monk relive such horrors?
  • Season 3, Episode 5: Voices of Authority
    • Original Air Date: 29 January 1996
    • Sheridan has an interesting time dealing with the new Political Officer stationed by EarthGov and Ivonova visits the planet below Babylon 5 in search of the "first ones".
  • Season 3, Episode 6: Dust to Dust
    • Original Air Date: 5 February 1996
    • Bester returns to Babylon 5 to stop the flow of Dust, a powerful new drug which can temporarily unlock telepathic powers. But Captain Sheridan and the crew can't risk Bester reading their minds and uncovering their secret Shadow war preparations.
  • Season 3, Episode 7: Exogenesis
    • Original Air Date: 12 February 1996
  • Season 3, Episode 8: Messages from Earth
    • Original Air Date: 19 February 1996
  • Season 3, Episode 9: Point of No Return
    • Original Air Date: 26 February 1996
    • Nightwatch takes control of Babylon 5 security. The widow of the former Centauri Emperor visits Londo, and gives Londo and Vir news of their future.
  • Season 3, Episode 10: Severed Dreams
    • Original Air Date: 1 April 1996
    • President Clark escalating his brutal repression of the people of Earth Alliance, Captain Sheridan declares Babylon 5 independent.
  • Season 3, Episode 11: Ceremonies of Light and Dark
    • Original Air Date: 8 April 1996
    • After severing ties with Earth, the command staff must deal with some unexpected issues. Delenn suggests they go through a Minbari rebirth ceremony. Secrets are revealed, and hidden dangers are revealed as a group loyal to Clark takes Delenn hostage.
  • Season 3, Episode 12: Sic Transit Vir
    • Original Air Date: 15 April 1996
    • Vir returns to Babylon 5, and meets his fiancée'. As he and his bride to be get to know her, a Narn attacks, and takes a blood oath to kill them. The command staff must figure out why someone would want to kill Vir.
  • Season 3, Episode 13: A Late Delivery from Avalon
    • Original Air Date: 22 April 1996
  • Season 3, Episode 14: Ship of Tears
    • Original Air Date: 29 April 1996
    • Bester arrives in a starfury. He wants their help in tracking down weapons, which turns out to be telepaths captured by the Shadows. The discover why the Shadows wanted telepaths for their war.
  • Season 3, Episode 15: Interludes and Examinations
    • Original Air Date: 6 May 1996
    • Garibaldi tries to get Franklin to face up to his stim usage. Londo waits anxiously for Adira to return. Morden returns first, and manipulates the situation to his advantage. The alliance asks Sheridan to prove he has forces equal to the Shadows before they will commit. Sheridan calls on Kosh for assistance, but Kosh is resistant at first, Kosh finally agrees to help Sheridan, and later pays the price for his involvement.
  • Season 3, Episode 16: War Without End: Part 1
    • Original Air Date: 13 May 1996
    • Babylon 4 reappears. Sinclair returns to Babylon 5 with a mission to take Babylon 4 where it is most needed. This is a continuation of First Season's Babylon Squared. Many things about the past are explained. And some surprises about the future are revealed
  • Season 3, Episode 17: War Without End: Part 2
    • Original Air Date: 20 May 1996
    • The mission to send Babylon 4 where it's needed continues. Sinclair's destiny is revealed. Sheridan sees what will happen to Centauri Prime in the future. Zathras explains who the "One" is.
  • Season 3, Episode 18: Walkabout
    • Original Air Date: 18 August 1996
    • Kosh's replacement arrives and Dr. Franklin falls in love with a singer during his search.
  • Season 3, Episode 19: Grey 17 Is Missing
    • Original Air Date: 1 September 1996
    • With Sinclair gone, the Rangers need a new leader, and everyone looks to Delenn. But some in the warrior caste will not accept her in this new role, and seek a way to block her. Marcus must stop Neroon from interfering in the ceremony at any cost. Meanwhile Garibaldi investigates the death of a maintenance worker and a mysterious cult on a section that "vanished"
  • Season 3, Episode 20: And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place
    • Original Air Date: 8 September 1996
    • Religious leaders gather on Babylon 5 bringing news of events on Earth. Sheridan and Delenn figure out where the Shadows will strike next. G'Kar is captured by Refa, this will lead to a final confrontation with Londo.
  • Season 3, Episode 21: Shadow Dancing
    • Original Air Date: 15 September 1996
    • Delenn asks the League for ships for a mission, she won't tell them where or when the mission will take place. The League hesitates, but they agree to support her. The fleet manages to prevent an attack by a Shadow Fleet. Franklin finally finds himself, and confronts his inner demons. An unexpected visitor from Sheridan's past arrives.
  • Season 3, Episode 22: Z'ha'dum
    • Original Air Date: 22 September 1996
    • Sheridan goes to Z'Ha'Dum, to try and prevent the fall of Centauri Prime, and end the Shadow War. Secrets are revealed, and Kosh's warning haunts Sheridan.

Season 4
  • Season 4, Episode 1: The Hour of the Wolf
    • Original Air Date: 4 November 1996
  • Season 4, Episode 2: Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?
    • Original Air Date: 11 November 1996
  • Season 4, Episode 3: The Summoning
    • Original Air Date: 18 November 1996
  • Season 4, Episode 4: Falling Toward Apotheosis
    • Original Air Date: 25 November 1996
  • Season 4, Episode 5: The Long Night
    • Original Air Date: 27 January 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 6: Into the Fire
    • Original Air Date: 3 February 1997
    • Sheridan has managed to get the Vorlons and Shadows into one sector, where they are not attacking each other directly. He and Delenn lead a fleet into the sector where the source of the conflict is finally revealed, this is the end of the Shadow War.
  • Season 4, Episode 7: Epiphanies
    • Original Air Date: 10 February 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 8: The Illusion of Truth
    • Original Air Date: 17 February 1997
    • ISN reporters come to Babylon 5 to interview the Command staff, and film them for a documentary. The staff is reluctant at first, but they finally agree.
  • Season 4, Episode 9: Atonement
    • Original Air Date: 24 February 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 10: Racing Mars
    • Original Air Date: 21 April 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 11: Lines of Communication
    • Original Air Date: 28 April 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 12: Conflicts of Interest
    • Original Air Date: 5 May 1997
  • Season 4, Episode 13: Rumors, Bargains and Lies
    • Original Air Date: 12 May 1997
    • Delenn meets with Neroon to discuss the war that's torn their planet apart. She proposes a plan but she'll need his support. Sheridan launches an eccentric plan involving misdirection, rumors, etc, to get the League to agree to a new role for the White Star Fleet.
  • Season 4, Episode 14: Moments of Transition
    • Original Air Date: 19 May 1997
    • The Mimbari war between the warrior and the religious castes comes to an end. Leading to the formation of a new Grey Council. Bester comes to Babylon 5 to make Lyta an offer. Clark's forces attack a transport filled with thousands of civilians, prompting Sheridan to change strategies.
  • Season 4, Episode 15: No Surrender, No Retreat
    • Original Air Date: 26 May 1997
    • After Clark's order causes the death of civilians, Sheridan decides it's time to attack Clark's forces directly. First mission is a colony that's being oppressed by some Earth Cruisers. Some in Earth force also distrust Clark, Sheridan might find some allies, amongst those he might be fighting.
  • Season 4, Episode 16: The Exercise of Vital Powers
    • Original Air Date: 2 June 1997
    • Garibaldi meets with his benefactor. He wants to join with Edgar Industries. But his employer wants proof of his commitment. He want Garibaldi's to bring in Sheridan. Meanwhile Franklin finally manages to temporarily revive a telepath that had been captured by the Shadows. He'll need Lyta's help to continue his research
  • Season 4, Episode 17: The Face of the Enemy
    • Original Air Date: 9 June 1997
    • Garibaldi sets up Sheridan who is promptly taken into custody by Clark's men. Garibaldi's behavior and what happened to him when he disappeared in his Starfury is revealed.
  • Season 4, Episode 18: Intersections in Real Time
    • Original Air Date: 16 June 1997
    • Sheridan has been captured. Now he's being tortured for information. How long can he hold out?
  • Season 4, Episode 19: Between the Darkness and the Light
    • Original Air Date: 6 October 1997
    • Garibaldi now freed of Bester's influence tries to find allies to free Sheridan. But no one trusts him, not even those who used to call him friend. Now Garbaldi, Franklin, and Lyta try to free Sheridan. Meanwhile Ivanova and Marcus find out Clark has new more powerful ships. They take a contingent of White stars to destroy the new ships, someone will pay a high price for the victory.
  • Season 4, Episode 20: Endgame
    • Original Air Date: 13 October 1997
    • The battle for Earth concludes as Sheridan leads his forces to Earth to confront Clark's forces in an all out battle. Meanwhile Marcus learns of the alien device Franklin used to heal Garibaldi when he was critically injured. But to save a person's life, someone else must die.
  • Season 4, Episode 21: Rising Star
    • Original Air Date: 20 October 1997
    • Earth is now free from Clark. Sheridan must now face the new President for his actions. He's forced to resign. Delenn, G'Kar, and Londo offer the Earth President a chance to join the newly formed Inter Stellar Alliance. Garibaldi searches for Lise. Ivanova revives and tries to deal with what her recovery cost someone else.
  • Season 4, Episode 22: The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
    • Original Air Date: 27 October 1997
    • In the distant future, a man exams key moments in history that have shaped the world. Starting with the formation of the Alliance that was formed on Babylon 5.

Season 5
  • Season 5, Episode 1: No Compromises
    • Original Air Date: 21 January 1998
    • Captain Lochley arrives just as preparations are underway for Sheridan's swearing in ceremony as the President of the newly formed Interstellar Alliance. Telepaths arrive seeking a sanctuary while they search for a home world.
  • Season 5, Episode 2: The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari
    • Original Air Date: 28 January 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 3: The Paragon of Animals
    • Original Air Date: 4 February 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 4: A View from the Gallery
    • Original Air Date: 11 February 1998
    • A day in the life of 2 maintenance workers on Babylon 5. As crisis arises, they encounter the command staff, and the ambassadors each dealing with the crisis.
  • Season 5, Episode 5: Learning Curve
    • Original Air Date: 18 February 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 6: Strange Relations
    • Original Air Date: 25 February 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 7: Secrets of the Soul
    • Original Air Date: 4 March 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 8: Day of the Dead
    • Original Air Date: 11 March 1998
    • It is the Brakiri Day of the Dead. They purchase a large section of the station for their holiday. That night everyone in that sector meets with people who have passed away. Most of the inhabitants of the sector are happy to see their loved ones, but Lennier's encounter leaves him with troubling news about his future.
  • Season 5, Episode 9: In the Kingdom of the Blind
    • Original Air Date: 18 March 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 10: A Tragedy of Telepaths
    • Original Air Date: 25 March 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 11: Phoenix Rising
    • Original Air Date: 1 April 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 12: The Ragged Edge
    • Original Air Date: 8 April 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 13: The Corps Is Mother, the Corps Is Father
    • Original Air Date: 15 April 1998
    • A day in the life of Alfred Bester, who starts his day in Psi Corps HQ, where he is well liked and respected. He gets an assignment to track down a rogue telepath, two recruits accompany him. They follow the telepath's trail to Babylon 5, where he isn't as popular.
  • Season 5, Episode 14: Meditations on the Abyss
    • Original Air Date: 27 May 1998
  • Season 5, Episode 15: Darkness Ascending
    • Original Air Date: 3 June 1998
    • Sheridan finally discovers why Delenn had Lennier assigned to the White Star Fleet, and orders his ship to return. But Lennier takes his fighter and continues his mission, where he finally gets the information the Alliance needs. Lyta contacts G'Kar and reminds him of the offer he made to her in "The Gathering." She's willing to help the Narn in exchange for money to find a home world for telepaths.
  • Season 5, Episode 16: And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder
    • Original Air Date: 10 June 1998
    • The Alliance show the member worlds evidence of the Centauri actions, while Londo and Vir are in their room with copies of the evidence. Eventually they're let into the meeting, where they all see the evidence Lennier gathered. Sheridan comes up with a plan to peacefully enforce a blockade, but Garibaldi's issues jeopardize his plans.
  • Season 5, Episode 17: Movements of Fire and Shadow
    • Original Air Date: 17 June 1998
    • Londo and G'Kar return to Centauri Prime to figure out who in the government started the attacks, and are put in jail. G'Kar eventually figures a way for Londo to get out, and Londo tries to gather support. Garibaldi learns of two member worlds's plans to attack Centauri Prime. He informs Sheridan, who rushes off to try and stop the attack. Delenn and Lennier head back to Minbar to convince the council to build new ships, but are attacked in hyperspace. Lyta and Franklin find out what's been controlling the Centauri attack fleet.
  • Season 5, Episode 18: The Fall of Centauri Prime
    • Original Air Date: 28 October 1998
    • Centauri Prime has been attacked, thousands have died. Londo finds out the truth, who masterminded the war, and why they allowed the attack on Centauri Prime to happen. Londo becomes Emperor, and has to act hostile to those he once called "friend."
  • Season 5, Episode 19: The Wheel of Fire
    • Original Air Date: 4 November 1998
    • G'Kar returns to the station to find he has become a religious icon. Sheridan confronts Garibaldi about his drinking problems. Lyta is taken into custody for planning attacks on Psi Corps. Delenn collapses, and they find out she's pregnant.
  • Season 5, Episode 20: Objects in Motion
    • Original Air Date: 11 November 1998
    • Garibaldi and Lise are going to get married, he'll run her late husband's company. An assassin is hired to kill Lise. Zack has a plan to smoke him out, but another person wants G'Kar dead as well. Both attacks are prevented. Garibaldi deals with the people who ordered the hit on Lise. G'Kar and Lyta leave the station.
  • Season 5, Episode 21: Objects at Rest
    • Original Air Date: 18 November 1998
    • Garibaldi forms a new Board of Directors for his company. Ta'Lon becomes the new Narn ambassador. Sheridan and Delenn leave for Mimbar. An accident on board their White Star ship creates doubt/hesitation for Lennier, who fails to act appropriately. He leaves the ship, and tells Delenn he'll come back one day to atone for what he's done. Sheridan and Delenn are greeted by Londo on Mimbar who has a gift for them.
  • Season 5, Episode 22: Sleeping in Light
    • Original Air Date: 25 November 1998
    • 20 years after he visited Z'Ha'Dum, Sheridan knows his time is short and gathers his old comrades together. Afterwards he takes personalized White Star to Babylon 5 where it's going to be decommissioned shortly. The final leg of his journey takes him to Coriana 6 where they ended the Shadow War, and meets with one last person. The old command staff gather on Babylon 5 to watch its decommissioning.
 
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Who was your favorite character?

Which was your favorite alien civilization?

Which had the best ship design?

Who was your favorite Guest Star?
 
The series started off great but by the last season it seemed as though the writers just lost direction. I would still argue that the first few seasons of B5 is what DS9 should have been.
 
i treated myself for my birthday all of the babylon 5 seasons, so cheap now realy.
this for me is still the best scifi tv show out there, makes the star trek universe look positively dull, plus the amazing story arc covering all of the seasons is just amazing.
 
I always used to look forward to watching new episodes, in the hope it would kick off with some exhilarating battle, but they always fizzled out. The same thing sort of happened with the later series' of DS9.

Claudia Christian's monologue as she went for the final Earth push sticks in the mind after Markus gave his life for her. I only recently got hold of a dvd set from the low budget Starhyke series that was made over here. Sort of a mix between Red Dwalf and Hyperdrive. She's starting to age a bit, but gracefully.

If you sit down and watch the entire B5 collection back to back, you see the adult humour that pops out from time to time. The murderous revenge, that 'statue' of the Centauri love goddess, and the diplomatic bedchamber scene with Claudia Christian "Boom shaka laka!" The scene focusing on the repairmen was illuminating.
 
i'm happyly going through all of the seasons right now, i know it was made in 1994, but, i can still remember most of the episodes. hopefully doing all of it over about a month or so i'll be able to fully appreciate the amazing story arc i grew to love so much.

season 4 is my fave; the shadow war is excellently done

my face character has to be Londo followed closely by Morden, Bester and Lyta Alexander
 
Am I the only one thinking that the first season is a bit dull, and the series really becomes great after that?

I really think Babylon 5 is the greatest sci-fi story ever told, and it's my absolute favorite show. I love the philosophical theme, and I really love Sheridan telling the Shadows and Vorlons that we won't choose between order and chaos - that's SO Nietzsche :-D
 
Crusade never truly got off the ground for me even if it did have just the one season. Look at Space, Above and Beyond, it had only one season but it was a hell of a one as was Firefly's. Their stories were far more engaging than those of Crusade's and the characters didnt seem to gel as well as those from say B5. The 1st season of B5 trounced Crusade's first season by a long shot, I just couldnt take to Crusade at all.
 
So lately all of the talk around here about "classic" sci-fi has gotten thinking about some shows I haven't watched lately and that includes B5.

The five seasons of B5 is available for streaming from Amazon Prime and I've started watching it from the beginning. It really was a great show! (y)

With each season of B5 being 22 episodes and then the Crusade season and then the various made-for-tv movies it's going to take me a long time to rewatch everything! :eek:
 
I've been re-watching B5 for a few years now as I listen to "The Audio Guide to Babylon 5" podcast. It comes out every two weeks. The podcast is in the last few episodes of Season 5. You can go back and listen to the podcast episodes as you watch. Here's the site link: The Audio Guide to Babylon 5

What I like is that one hosts' husbands has never seen the show. He's the podcast's "control group." She gives a check-in with his views every episode, and he's been on a few times. They've also broken the show into a main segment and then a shorter "Spoiler Space" segment to talk about how the series episode fits into the 5-year arc. They also have spoiler-phobe and spoiler-iffic forums at the website.
 
If you can get Comet TV in the US, you can watch Babylon 5; starts tonight with "The Gathering":
Show Page - COMET TV Sci-fi Network
The live stream can also be viewed online at COMET TV Streaming Watch Live. The Verizon FiOS market I'm in carries Comet TV but only the SD version, no HD. :( Of course most older TV shows aren't available in HD but for stuff like the old movies they show I like watching it it online to see the full widescreen instead of the panned version.
 
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