In The Begining.... (Babylon 5)

Member Name: wyrdsister

Product:	Babylon 5
Date:	23/05/02 (204 review reads)
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In the nineties, there was a covert war: the war between the people who watched Star Trek and those who favoured Babylon 5. As televised science fiction goes, Babylon 5 is regarded as ground breaking. Its story spans five seasons and is almost entirely written by Michael J. Straczynski with Harlan Ellison as conceptual consultant. The first season is definitely the hardest one to follow as it serves as a platform for the rest of the story to develop, introducing and giving the series a firm grounding for the future as Straczynski gradually and subtly introduces the first elements of his overall arc story. Some arc episodes are difficult to grasp at first and leave the viewer with a sense of wonder at what is coming. This is what makes Babylon 5 so interesting and compelling to watch: its epic quality.

· Prologue

It was the dawn of the third age of Mankind. In the beginning, the Human race had ventured into space and met the Centauri, an advance race of humanoid alien beings. They gave them the Jump Gate technology, which allows ships to travel further and faster through space. And with that, Man began to make his mark in the universe. But the humans had heard of a very advanced civilisation, a peaceful race called the Minbari. They were warned, but still they looked for them.

It was on the edge of space that the Humans first encountered the mysterious Minbari, but, misunderstanding their intentions, the Humans attacked. The Minbari suffered a tragic loss: their leader Dukhat was killed. Stirred out of their peaceful ways by this affront, they vowed revenge and began an unstoppable assault. The human race was on the brink of extinction, and in a desperate last stand, the remaining fleet formed a last line of defence around the Earth. And the Minbari came, then on the eve of their victory, the guns stopped and inexplicably, they surrendered.

The Battle of the Line was the last in the Earth-Minbari war. It was agreed that a meetin
g place should be created in neutral space, a place where peace and understanding could grow: The Babylon project was born. It was a dream given form. The first three Babylon stations were destroyed and Babylon 4 disappeared without a trace. In 2258, ten years after the end of the Earth-Minbari war, the last of the Babylon stations became operational: Babylon 5. Five miles long, holding on average up to a quarter of a million people, over forty alien species, 30.000 nationalities and religions, it is a place of trade, diplomacy, intrigue and mystery. Above all it is the last, best hope for peace.

· The main protagonists

Commander Jeffrey Sinclair (Michael O’Hare). Human. Career military. Babylon 5 CO. Veteran of the Battle of the Line. Later reassigned to Minbar as ambassador.

Captain John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner). Human. Decorated war hero and authoritarian. His wife died on board the Icarus on a scientific mission near the rim.

Commander Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian). Human. Second in command. Career military and latent telepath. Blames the Psi-Corp for her mother’s death.

Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle). Human. Chief of Security on Babylon 5, old friend of Sinclair and recovering alcoholic. His responsibilities include security, intelligence and custom.

Dr. Steven Franklin (Richard Biggs). Human. Chief Medical Officer. Obsessed and dedicated to his work.

Delenn (Mira Furlan). Minbari Ambassador. Member of the religious cast and closely associated with the Grey Council. She was the protégée of Dukhat and was with him when he was killed.

Kosh Naranek (Ardwight Chamberlain). Vorlon Ambassador. Never seen without his encounter suit. He speaks in riddles and always answers a question with a question.

G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas). Narn Ambassador, member of the Narn ruling body: the Kha’Ri. His outlook and character change dramatically as the story unfolds.


Londo Molari (Peter Jurassic). Centauri Ambassador. Gambler and heavy drinker. Dreams of restoring his race to its past grandeur at all cost. Fated to become Emperor.

Mr Morden (Ed Wasser). Human. Crewmember aboard the Icarus, presumed dead until his arrival on Babylon 5. Acts as an intermediary for an anonymous race.

Marcus Cole (Jason Carter). Human. Member of the secret Minbari-Human army called the Rangers.

Lyta Alexander (Pat Tallman). Human. Rogue telepath. The only human to return from the Vorlon Home world. Seeks freedom for rogue telepaths.

Lennier (Bill Mumy). Minbari. Diplomatic Aide to Delenn. He later joins the Rangers.

Vir Cotto (Steven Furst). Centauri. Diplomatic Aide to Londo Molari. Temporarily assigned to Minbar. Fated to become Emperor.

* The following section contains some spoilers*

· Pilot
The Gathering

This prologue to the epic Sci-fi series created by Michael J. Straczynski introduces the viewer to the social and political universe of Babylon 5. The story begins when the different ambassadors and staff living on the station are to welcome the Vorlon ambassador, Kosh. An assassination attempt is made on Kosh to sabotage the station’s main peaceful objective and incriminate its commander, Jeffrey Sinclair. The story moves at quite a slow pace and some of the characters seem duller than others. Despite these flaws, it is an excellent introduction to the story as Straczynski establishes the first element of the arc that will continue till the end of the series.

· Season 1
Signs and Portents

Babylon 5 has just become operational. With the repercussions of the Earth-Minbari war still being felt, there is still some contention as to the usefulness of the station as a peace forum. Most of this season concentrates on the racial tensions and divides and shows a grim and gritty vision of the future. Sinclair,
while trying to maintain order, also tries to make sense of the gap in his memory during the Battle of the Line. There is a new race appearing, or perhaps an old one. The first season serves as an introduction to the characters, situation and prepares the viewer for the overall arc story. The first episode is first class, the majority of the season, however, suffers from a slower pace. “Signs and Portents” will be better appreciated after experiencing the rest of the story. Best of: And the Sky Full of Stars * Signs and Portents * Babylon Squared.

· Season 2
The Coming of the Shadows

After the dramatic changes at the end of 2258 comes more uncertainty and instability in 2259. Sinclair is re-assigned and replaced by decorated career officer John Sheridan. His appointment is controversial. Tensions between the Narn and the Centauri are escalating. A rift between Earth and Babylon 5 appears, primarily because of Earth’s ever growing and neo-fascist non-human policies. A mysterious race called the Shadows are taking a more active role behind the scenes. Sheridan joins Kosh and Delenn in the preparations for the coming war. This season is of a faster pace and shows more complexity than “Signs and Portents”. Although there are still a few independent episodes, the arc story really begins to take precedent.
Best of: In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum * Divided Loyalties * The Fall of Night.

· Season 3
Point of No Return

2260. The war is coming ever closer. The Rangers, the army created a thousand years ago by Minbari spiritual leader Velan, are coming out of hiding towards a more active role. Ranger Marcus Cole joins the ensemble. The Shadows are stepping up their attacks. Rogue telepath Lyta Alexander returns to the Station. Unrest and violence spreads throughout the Earth Alliance. Babylon 5 declares a state of independence. The Narn situation worsens.
Delenn and Sheridan become closer. The pace in “Point of No Return” steps up drastically as the war comes out in the open. Chaos seems to reign and the Allies are hard pushed to keep Babylon 5 together. The station’s role has changed. Peace failed, only hope and victory remain, but they require sacrifices. At this point, nearly every single episode focus on the arc and the epic quality of Babylon 5 five really begins pay off. There is a superb Season 1 tie-in episode, as well as a most daring and gripping season finale. Best of: Interludes and Examinations * War Without End (Part 1&2) * Z’ha’dum.

· Season 4
No Surrender, No Retreat

2261, all hopes of victory seemed to have vanished in the shadows of Z’ha’dum. Garibaldi and Sheridan are missing. Ivanova is left with the burden of running the station. At great risk for his own life, G’kar goes in search for Garibaldi, while Londo return to his home world to find it in terrible danger. Delenn desperately tries to keep the fragile alliance from breaking. When Sheridan returns, he is not alone and he is not unchanged. As the war intensifies, a more dangerous and deadly side of the Vorlon is revealed. Sheridan will also have to contemplate the impending war against Earth and the betrayal of one of his own. This season follows all conflicts to their conclusions. “No Surrender, No Retreat” continues well from the flawless “Point of No Return”. It does, however suffer slightly from the end of the Shadow War coming so soon into the season. Still, Straczynski manages to keep the rest of the season interesting while bringing together most elements of the arc. Best of: Falling Towards Apotheosis * Atonement * The Face of the Enemy.

· Season 5
The Wheel of Fire

2262. Ivanova has left Babylon 5 and a new Captain is introduced in the form of Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins). Sheridan is now
president of the newly formed Interstellar Alliance. A new crisis is at hand as the future of the new alliance is already threatened. More telepaths struggle for freedom from the Corp, their leader, Byron, heads the resistance from Babylon 5. Garibaldi vows to avenge himself from Psi-Cop Bester (Walter Keonig). G’Kar becomes Londo’s Bodyguard as he returns home in a desperate attempt to save his world and seeks redemption for himself. “Wheels of Fire” primarily deals with the aftermaths and consequences of the Shadow War. The fate of Centauri Prime is at the centre of this season, as well as the telepath situation. Although this season lacks the strength of seasons 2 and 3, there are some loose ends that are nicely tied up. Best of: Phoenix Rising * And all my Dreams, Torn Asunder * Sleeping in Light.

Babylon 5 owes much to science fiction and fantasy authors such as Tolkien, Lieber and of course Ellison in its conceptual design. There are parables and references to their works as well as historical nuances throughout. The arc story is complex and grows in intricacy as the seasons progress. There are suitable twists and intriguing metaphysical concepts as well as interesting spiritual questions that help keep the viewer interested.

An attractive distinction is the darker backdrop provided for the show. The Babylon 5 Universe isn’t black and white. The social and political climate is somewhat reminiscent of our own and the racial tensions provide a contemporary point of reference. The characters are flawed and none are entirely without guilt. Similarly, the adversaries aren’t as one-dimensional as expected.

Because of Straczynski’s choice to tell the story over a five years period, Babylon 5 is a refreshing and daring change from the Star Trek format, which primarily deals with one story per episode. This however demanded a faithful viewing of all episodes in order to comprehend the ric
hness of the story and contributed to the show’s final season being axed by Warner. Straczynski tried to conclude the arc in season 4, and the content of season 5, eventually endorsed by TNT, does suffer slightly as a result but not overwhelmingly as it gives a good insight into the aftermath of the wars.

Babylon 5 is repeated on the Sci-Fi Channel.

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