"Babylon 5" (1994) TV series 1994-1998

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Creator:

J. Michael Straczynski

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

26 January 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

A space station in neutral territory is the focus of a unique five year saga.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Saga | Alien | Space Opera

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 16 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin / ... (110 episodes, 1994-1998)
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn / ... (109 episodes, 1994-1998)
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto / ... (109 episodes, 1994-1998)
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari (109 episodes, 1994-1998)
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi (108 episodes, 1994-1998)
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier (108 episodes, 1994-1998)
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar (108 episodes, 1994-1998)
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Capt. John Sheridan / ... (88 episodes, 1994-1998)
Claudia Christian	...	Cmdr. Susan Ivanova / ... (88 episodes, 1994-1998)
Jeff Conaway	...	Zack Allan / ... (72 episodes, 1994-1998)
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander (47 episodes, 1995-1998)

Also Known As:

B5 (USA) (promotional abbreviation)

Runtime:

45 min (110 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (season 5) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Babylonian Productions

Trivia:

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: In "Parliament of Dreams" when Lennier first arrives, the same man goes up the entry ramp twice.

Quotes:

Citizen G'Kar: We all believe in something... greater than ourselves, even if it's just the blind forces of chance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pastewka: Der Werbetrailer - Teil 2 (#2.5)" (2006)

Best science fiction television ever

Even though the final season was rather slow, and glossed over a lot of plot lines that probably would have been more interesting, it was still better than most science fiction, and any on television other than the earlier seasons. Other than the final season and scattered weak episodes, the series is the best television science fiction, and near the best dramatic television, and competes with the best movie science fiction.

The action in the series is mostly about the Shadow war, but the real key is the intrigue between the characters, and the personal growth of the characters. Londo is one of the best dramatic characters in any series. He starts as an ambitious schemer who drinks too much, but develops a conscience as he learns the consequences of his ambitions, and finally ends up as a tragic character who reached even beyond his early ambitions, but at a cost that he regrets deeply.

Maybe some day there will be a better science fiction series. But for now this is the level of story-telling television science fiction should try to reach.