What the Heck Is Babylon 5?

[@accidentallyderivative]

I feel stupid for leaving this out, but the first season has some episodes written by Star Trek greats Dorothy "D.C." Fontana and David Gerrold! And Harlan "City on the Edge of Forever" Ellison served as a consultant on the whole series. Ain't that always the way, though? You hit "Publish" and immediately go, "Nuts! I didn't mention that Ian McShane is in one of the TV movies!"

[@exile220ify]

McShane was in the same one as Sheen. And really, they should have swapped roles because neither was suited for the role they were playing. But could you imagine Ian McShane as a Soul Hunter? COOL!

[@ohauss]

The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace. It failed. But in the year of the Shadow War, it became something greater: our last, best hope…for victory.

[@sergioaccioly5219]

One of the few shows you can't even show the credits without spoiling something to the newbies.

[@missyprime8198]

The true secrets, the important things. Fourteen words to make someone fall in love with you forever. Seven words to make them go without pain. How to say good-bye to a friend who is dying. And the biggest secret of all, the 4 words to make every Lurker Cry The sun's coming up.

[@erictaylor5462]

"Do not force us to engage your ships." "Why not? Only one human has survived battle with a Minbary fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."

[@wackyvorlon]

Walter Koenig’s performance as Bester is phenomenal. It’s an absolutely fantastic show.

[@ohauss]

Anatomically impossible, Mr. Garibaldi - but you're welcome to try!

[@wackyvorlon]

@@ohauss one of my favourite lines.

[@stuartwald2395]

In his first appearance ("Mind War"), Bester leaves the command staff (and us) with the "Be Seeing You" phrase and gesture from . While we (the audience), whether we recognize the gesture or not, are left with the possibility that this was actually a "PsiCorp thing", I think that Bester, as a character, was familiar with the 1960's show and consciously used it as a mocking statement of his dominance and ultimate control of the situation, regardless of whether he specifically got all that he wanted out of the immediate conflict.

[@stuartwald2395]

...from . (this got auto-deleted out of my comment...sorry).

[@johndemeritt3460]

@@stuartwald2395, from Patrick McGoohan's classic, The Prisoner.

[@afaultytoaster]

"Intersections in Real Time", an episode about 2 men in a room talking, is one of my favourite episodes of TV

[@accidentallyderivative]

It's unreasonably good. Boxleitner kills it in that episode.

[@nicoj84]

As a diehard fan and a 12 year old at the time, I hated this episode. It felt like a filler. Every rewatch after the first time has made it feel better and better. I now think it's such a clever review on the human condition.

[@Muck006]

@@accidentallyderivative Boxleitner is great, but his performance wouldnt have worked if the interrogator had been acted differently ... like a stereotypical evil villain. Sheridan is at a disadvantage but still outmaneuvers the "logic" of his enemy, again showcasing the NEED for PRECISE USE OF LANGUAGE. *_"If you can't say what you're meaning, you can never mean what you're saying. The details are everything."_*

[@ktrimbach5771]

“There are 4 lights!”

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks Rob. I loved B5, it's sad how many of the cast have already died.

[@Tsurnari]

Truly one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made. A show that has made some notable 'firsts' for tv shows. However the greatest sadness is that the show has gained something of cursed reputation, nearly half of the main cast have past beyond the rim. I believe that Richard Biggs was the youngest at 44 and that Mira Furlan was the oldest at 65 when they past away.

[@timbmusician]

The last five minutes of Sleeping In Light leave me wrecked for days even now 26 years later! What a show!

[@djolds1]

Best. Scifi. Show. Ever. Even the way JMS adapted to missteps and unexpected catastrophes was masterful.

[@TherealSBlair]

A Sci-Fi series that has more grounding in actual science than most.

[@StarkeRealm]

Fun Trivia: Walter Keonig's character, Alfred Bester, is named after the science fiction author of the same name. Bester's probably most famous for his use of telepaths, and his work heavily influenced B5's telepaths and the Psi Corps.

[@Vulpine407]

And I have to agree with Rob. I think Koenig really got into the "Alfred Bester" role. After B5, I always thought of him in that role first and Chekov second.

[@christianemden7637]

I think pavel checkov was a one note forgettable character. Alfred Bester was not, he owned the screen every time he was on the show, a guy one absolutely loved to hate, and feel good about it. So I’m with you, Bester was Koenigs best role ever.

[@johndemeritt3460]

@@Vulpine407, Koenig himself said that Bester was his favorite role.

[@Karajorma]

@@johndemeritt3460 You can't blame him for that. In Bester he got to really show his talent as an actor and play one of the best villains in TV history, a man who definitely is a bad guy but is also perfectly understandable.

[@johndemeritt3460]

@@Karajorma, blame him for that? He OWNED that role! And he played it with such relish that I find it hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Please forgive me this short response, but I'm trying desperately to avoid a hotdog joke . . . .

[@hemaccabe4292]

I saw JMS at a con. He was so cool. Had a jacket with the Starfury patch that says, "Ugly but well hung." I have that patch on my jacket now!

[@Vulpine407]

Lol, I heard about that patch. He wasn't wearing it when I saw him at a convention. But he DID have his excellent collection of bloopers from B5, Captain Power, Star Trek and the Adam West Batman series. "Holy bat$#!% Fatman... wait... oooh, $#!%" "CUT. Save it..."

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@Vulpine407 We did not get the blooper real. So we're even. You may still be able to find the patch for purchase out there.

[@degriffon]

This is my first introduction to Babylon 5. You made me interested! Great show

[@daveofyorkshire301]

One of the best Sci-Fi stories made... No beaming, no federation, a realistic storyline, enemies, allies and a single underlying thread through all seasons... Plus seasonal storylines...

[@johndemeritt3460]

What impressed me the most about B5 is how the personal story lines always wove back into the overall story arc seamlessly.

[@atariboy9084]

FINNALY! Im not the only one who knows this that not only did both Bruce Boxleitner as Capt. John Sheridan and Peter Jurasik as Londo was in Babylon 5 but the two was also in the 1982 Disney film TRON Bruce Boxleitner as Tron and Peter Jurasik as Crom.

[@markboozer3234]

Oh yeah, I knew it. Big fan of TRON!! I have both movies and watch them regularly. I pointed it out to the wife who Loves B-5. We met Peter at a con in Phoenix. He pulled her right up next to him for the photo! It caught me with my mouth open! Lol!!! Nice Guy!

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

I'm glad you discovered this gem. Babylon 5 was a fresh, with new and interesting characters and a story arc. There was a lot of cheese, but a it was always pretty much highly entertaining.

[@accidentallyderivative]

Oh, believe me, I’ve been a fan since the beginning. It didn’t come on in the town where I was going to Possum College, so we had to get a guy from Arizona to mail us VHS tapes of the show. I was actually at Dragon*Con (with Possum Wizard from the TV shows video) when Peter David announced that TNT picked it up for season five. We were ecstatic. Little did we know then what those jackasses would do to Crusade…

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

@@accidentallyderivative That's awesome. I stumbled onto it on cable one night and was like "Where have I been??" and was lucky enough to catch it near the beginning of the story arc. I knew nothing but a Star Trek-like show was on TV. And surprise, surprise, it wasn't a juvenile piece of sh*t like Buck Rogers In The 21st Century abominations that were meant to mock scifi fans while selling us cologne. It was real, it was serious, and I was in for a heck of a ride. And it came out with so little fanfare.

[@craiglortie8483]

@@accidentallyderivative yeah, studios were stupid then just as they are now. not enough money in it and they screw with it or cancel it. they did that with another good show, space: above and beyond!

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

@@craiglortie8483 Was that the one that had the Kzinti?

[@johndemeritt3460]

@@accidentallyderivative, OK, I just have to know . . . was Possum College anywhere near Possum Lake?

[@elwood5892]

It’s a shame so many of the actors on this show passed away. Like a shockingly amount of the actors.

[@Vulpine407]

IKR?! Just to name a few: Andreas Katsulas, Jerry Doyle, Tim Choate (Zathras), Richard Biggs, Stephen Furst, Jeff Conaway (Zack), Micheal O'Hare, and the one I miss the most, Majel Barrett. Yes, she is best know for her work on Star Trek, but her quest appearance on B5 was the greatest. I got to meet Jerry Doyle at a convention in Florida around the turn of the century (give or take a few years), he was funny as hell and completely unpretentious. Instead of standing behind the podium set up for him, he pulled up a chair to the edge of the stage and just started talking with us like a regular joe.

[@elwood5892]

Don’t forget Mira Furlan too.

[@Vulpine407]

@@elwood5892 Oh, crap! I didn't know she had passed on too! Dammit.

[@StarkeRealm]

@@Vulpine407 She died in 2021.

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

I guess one could talk about "the Babylon Curse"... 😢

[@matthewdavies2057]

Good morning gentlemen, this is your wakeup call.

[@guardian1326]

I'm right there with you on that last episode. It is one continuous tear jerker, and anyone who can watch it and not go through a box of kleenexes is made of sterner stuff than I am.

[@markboozer3234]

I rarely watch that one. I get Way too emotional with that one.

[@mayra3277]

I only saw B5 for the first time three years ago and couldn't keep myself away from spoilers. So I knew what was coming (and watched the episode on a Saturday evening on purpose)... and still cried like hell. Immediately followed it up with the audio commentary version. Went to bed late and set an early alarm... to watch the sun come up. For a year after that SiL was my Saturday evening ritual. I cried every time. Eventually I had the episode as good as memorised. Even just the soundtrack and the closing titles make me tear up.

[@ktrimbach5771]

Excellent introduction to the best Science Fiction TV series EVER!!

[@craigs71]

The final piece of music in Sleeping in Light gets me very time, it is quite similar to Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings (which also gets me emotional).

[@One-Watermelon]

Such a great into! Love DS9 so I really need to get into B5! A crime you only have so little views!

[@mattcannon6148]

To me it's sad to see all the actors who are gone.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

I enjoyed this all the way through but you really sold me with your feelings in Sleeping in Light - you and me both, good sir. My wife and I always said that our bond of love was like that of Sheridan and Delenn, which would make watching that tale unfurl emotional enough. But then I lost her to cancer far too young so, with the roles reversed, that scene of Delenn on the bench as the sun rises ... well, let's just say it's hard to stay stoic and leave it at that. For all views here, go watch B5, it's fantastic and just leave your expectations of current time effects at the door; it's the story and the characters that count.

[@franzfranz9144]

We agree - Babylon 5 is top shelf. Have been through it more times that I can count.

[@wrorchestra1]

Missed out Robert Englund as Jeremiah. Sleeping in Light is so very emotional, even just listening to the soundtrack is enough to get you.

[@accidentallyderivative]

Yeah, someone else mentioned Grey 17 and I immediately realized I left ol’ Bobby out. And again, without spoiling nothing, Franke’s sudden music cue just before the Sunday drive, when Delenn finally breaks, puts me *under* the table. I’m tearing up just typing this.

[@wrorchestra1]

@@accidentallyderivative the Sunday drive scene always gets me too.

[@tulinfirenze1990]

@@wrorchestra1 Agreed - I just hear a few notes in my head and I start choking up. B5 got into my heart THAT much.

[@hemaccabe4292]

I would have focused on how B5 pioneered having an arc story. Got it right first time out of the box by also making each episode a self-contained story. DS9 radically improved when they started copying B5's arc idea.

[@Nikioko]

B5 wasn't the first show to have a story arc. Twin Peaks did that years before. And even Twin Peaks wasn't the first show to do that, but the first successful one.

[@hemaccabe4292]

@@Nikioko Soap operas had evolving plots as well. B5 was the first Sci Fi show to do it ever. If not ever, in a very long time. Further, B5 did it so well that every other series now emulates them.

[@pitmatix1457]

@@Nikioko Twin Peaks is the only TV show I love more than Babylon 5 but I'd have to concede that there's probably a lot more "making it up as I go along" in David Lynch's masterpiece compared to JMS' "This is how the five seasons will go" approach.

[@markboozer3234]

And Sheldon Cooper still can’t stand B-5! ☹️

[@Nikioko]

@@markboozer3234 Sheldon Cooper is a sociophobic idiot and has no idea of what he is talking about.

[@italianviking80]

"Yes. Yes. Zathras is used to being beast of burden to other people's needs. Very sad life. Probably have... very sad death. But... at least there is Symmetry."

[@accidentallyderivative]

“YOU are finite. ZATHRAS is finite. THIS is wrong tool…”

[@ktrimbach5771]

@@accidentallyderivativeI forgot that! Hilarious!

[@erikrupp692]

Best. TV. Show. Ever. I was actually a fan before the series started filming. JMS did a presentation at a Star Trek convention in San Diego, and his description of the show, along with concept art, totally sold me on the series. Turns out the show was even better than I expected (although the pilot was... less than great, even if entertaining and filled with great concepts). I never get tired of re-watching the series. I just wish I could Men In Black myself so I could watch it again for the first time! 😂

[@warsmith01]

I always loved being THAT guy in the classic Star Wars v Star Trek debate... Which do you like? Wars or Trek? And I'm like... Babylon 5 🧐👍

[@ComradePhoenix]

So, I've never seen B5, but speaking of crying, I bawl my eyes out every time I watch SG-1's Unending. Just, that montage. Gets me every time.

[@sharkdentures3247]

Great summary/ explanation video! And I agree, Garabaldi is DEFINITELY "my guy" too! Sure, Londo & G'kar are better acted & have superior character arcs, but Garabadi & Jerry Doyle will always be my FAVORITE! And yes, several episodes, like Sleeping in Light, just rips the tears out of your eyes. (or rip your heart out) Absolute WONDERFUL series.

[@m.h.6470]

there is absolutely no show, that comes even close to B5 in my opinion. It is just legendary.

[@tulinfirenze1990]

And JMS did it FIRST! Every show has an arc today and is binge-watched but B5 did it THIRTY YEARS AGO!

[@m.h.6470]

​@@tulinfirenze1990 even better: B5 has several arcs, that start early and payed out several seasons later, out of the blue. It is just epic. All while maintaining the feeling, that you could watch an episode without keeping track of the arks and still be entertained.

[@dbell1016]

Hello. You've just earned a new subscriber. I love your format, and I also love your description of one of the best sci-fi series ever. There's a rumor that JMS is trying to reboot the series. If he's allowed full creative control, I would have high hopes. If the studio exects interfere then... In today's entertainment environment I'm not encouraged. I hope you get many more subscribers. This vid was better than ones I've seen on many more established channels. Good luck.

[@salvationsplace]

Absolutely one of the best non spoiler reviews of a show I have seen. Immediately subscribed. This is perfect for showing someone to introduce the series. -also...lol about 3x, well done The only line I disagree with was b5 doing alien makeup and prosthetics "as good as" Star "here's a different bump on the nose aliens" Trek. B5 left ST in the dust with alien makeup

[@grandpaladin1701]

I was a fan of B5 from the start, it's still one of the most compelling SF shows ever produced. We remember those who have journeyed beyond the Rim, to the place where no shadows fall.

[@Vulpine407]

OMG! Thank you for uploading a video about my favorite sci-fi series! Gonna watch now and come back to comment. Edit: Fantastic! Thank you for touching on all the major points of what made this series great without giving spoilers. Folks, if you've never seen this before, go get the original five seasons. I also recommend the Babylon 5 movies: "In the Beginning" and "Thirdspace". There are other B5 movies, but they weren't quite up to the original series level of writing in my opinion. Still, "The gathering" (the pilot movie for the series) is interesting. And "The River of Souls" is okay.

[@john_not_a_replicant]

The only bad thing about this video is that it ends. It was a joy to watch!

[@AlexandreMS71]

I was unable to watch Sleeping in Light to the end the first time I saw it, tears clouded my vision for a long time. And yes, I saw it "live" when it first came to TV, luckly I taped all episodes to watch again later.

[@daveofyorkshire301]

B5 was a masterpiece of writing and continuity. It only really ran 4 seasons, the first being all introduction and scene setting but essential viewing, season 5 was an add-on, like Crusade was. One of the best sci-fi shows you will ever see, so far... Not what I was expecting from this video, but a great summation of a great show...

[@indetigersscifireview4360]

I love Babylon 5! I don't like serial television for the most part, there are a few exceptions, but B5 is fantastic storytelling. Possibly because it was so thoroughly mapped out from the beginning. And my favorite character is Londo Molari played impeccably by Peter Jurasik. You hate to live him and you love to hate him. But he is so unique of a person. I like the way you describe the Centauri Republic as a glory hungry fading Russian empire before the revolution. Very apt description.

[@hemaccabe4292]

Hey Rob, I've been waiting for the next episode. Glad to see it out. Suppose if I have to wait for quality, it's worth it.

[@Belbecat]

😍 I’m so so so glad this show is finally able to be watched beyond the dvds - honestly the amount of relevance it has today will knock anyones socks off. Love your format here, gunna browse your videos :)

[@hemaccabe4292]

Keep up the good work.

[@lcb5651]

This is for me one of my favourite tv series, I wached it with my father (and he didn't liked any sci-fi stuff) I ejoyed a lot all episodes and had good memories from them... Thanks for trating it with respect it was a very nice show. Keep it up.

[@davidschmitz4300]

Speaking of Star Trek alumni, Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun) also appears as the telepath Harriman Grey in S1E16.

[@accidentallyderivative]

Well spotted! I guess he was easy to miss because he had to share the screen with ol' Ari Ben Skippingactingclass over there. Kinda jammed the signal.

[@davidschmitz4300]

@@accidentallyderivative I missed it myself on the first watch. The second go, his voice is what hit it for me, it's unmistakable.

[@SirReptitious]

This December B5 is FINALLY being released on Blu-Ray! I recall reading years ago that the reason it hadn't been done was that while the live action scenes were filmed, the CGI was obviously all done digitally in SD. I have no idea if the CGI has been re-rendered for Blu-Ray or not. But even if they didn't, there have been free programs out for years now that will automatically upscale SD to HD using AI upscaling. So for those that haven't seen it yet but want to, put if off for a little while longer so you can watch it in HD.

[@kant12]

Possum friends really are awesome friends.

[@douglasmcclelland]

Excellent summary and background for anyone not familiar with the show. I hope it attracts more viewers to B5!

[@kelliehowe9211]

Love how you break down the characters.

[@exile220ify]

This was EXCELLENT!

[@mayra3277]

People describing B5 in general terms to highlight the parallels with DS9 may be my new favourite rhetorical tool! Also, I feel like the endings of B5 and RotK do have a little bit in common. SiL certainly fits the Into the West theme too at least :)

[@JohnGardounis]

Just found your channel just because it had B5 in it. sub'd cause of how well you put things out in the open without spoiling. Good job! And thank you for doing this video. Babylon 5 is my favourite show.

[@accidentallyderivative]

Glad to hear it, my friend! Happy to meet a fellow possum of taste and distinction! Or human. Whatever. Welcome!

[@matthiasbecker5064]

"Sleeping in Light" - I feel you, just thinking about it.... crap... its raining right now!

[@michaellawton2150]

This was absolutely delightful thank you much!

[@royfugate]

One of my favorite characters didn't even make it to the series. Laurel Takashima from the pilot movie The Gathering played by Tamlyn Tomita. She declined to return for the series, so her character was modified into the character of Susan Ivanova. She was originally going to be the traitor, shooting not only Garibaldi, but would have had the Psi Corps hidden personality that was later written for the character of Talia Winters.

[@cpmf2112]

Every time I hear B5 had a rough first season I think of Code Of Honor and laugh 😂

[@markboozer3234]

That episode was cringeworthy then! But at the times we’re in today, it is even worse.

[@badplay156]

One if the things you didn't mention, the story consultant was the great Harlan Ellison, noted Hugo and Nebula award winning author (also screen writer for City on the Edge of Forever of Star Trek). As a favour he also given a cameo as a uniformed thug in one episode. Ellison was hated by the Hollywood elite because of his high intellegence, unwavering commitment to excellence, and a tongue that would make a sandblaster seem very gentle.

[@accidentallyderivative]

Yeah, I was kicking myself over that and a couple of other things I left out, but I put them in that pinned comment up there, which is better than nothing, I guess. Ellison was also the voice of the computer's personality program Garibaldi accidentally activates in "Ceremonies of Light and Dark." I actually got to meet Ellison at DragonCon one time. He's as warm and sociable as he seems. Heh.

[@missyprime8198]

I've binge watched an average of 4 times each year since the show aired. 2yrs ago I broke my personal record and binged 9 times in one year (I do skip TKO and Grey 17 is missing, it can bloody well stay missing). A few years ago I changed my name to Delenn.

[@accidentallyderivative]

"It can bloody well stay missing."

[@missyprime8198]

@@accidentallyderivative for TKO, I'm not a fan of fighting films plus the stereotypes haven't aged well. As for Grey 17, JMS said he took too much flu medicine and wrote it in one night for filming to start next day... and that's what we got! Thank you for reminding me about the good Marcus B plot. I sometimes completely forget that happened. You made me laugh many time so If I made you laugh in return then to quote Marcus "my work here is done"

[@christianmcneill699]

Those episodes overshadow their B plots so much that you forget what happens in them. TKO' B Plot has Susan's rabbi visit to help her sit Shivvah for her father. It's a bit melodramatic but it's nice character building. And Grey 17's , has Neroon coming to B5 to kill Delenn to stop her becoming Ranger One. This is the episode where Neroon almost kills Marcus and Marcus has the line "The next time you want a revelation, could you possibly find a way that isn't quite so uncomfortable?" I can understand you wanting to skip those epsiodes, but you should watch them every now and then, even if it's only to remind yourself why you do skip them.

[@lightsonno1home311]

​@@christianmcneill699 grey 17's B plot is absolutely crucial to the Minbari civil war plotline. Without it, Neroon's heel-face turn makes a lot less sense.

[@mayra3277]

If I knew how to video edit, my suggestion would be to make an edit of the episode with only the B plot so you can still watch that during rewatches but skip the bad parts :D

[@geodog6854]

I enjoyed this show in late-night syndication until our local channel dropped it after season 3. I guess I'm going to have to rewatch it now.

[@mrs.wontkins9294]

I deeply enjoyed your video and intend to show it as an introduction to the series for my Fiancee.

[@nicoj84]

I see hints of Babylon 5 in The Expanse too, and I love that show and DS9. Love B5

[@OG21020]

Great tour. 👍👍 I've watched B5 btw, back in the 90s when it was aired. The wait for each season was a killer. 😄😄 I'm also a Star Trek fan. Watched TOS back in the 70s. I'm not so keen on the new Trek after ST Enterprise but I heard SNW is promising. I've also watched The Expanse which is one of the better present day SF tv series to come out since B5. It's good but can't beat B5 in my list though.

[@loslobos786]

SNW isn't good it's more of the same NEW Trek woke BS. Where Picard and STD are in your face with their BS SNW is subversive in it's politics you only realize you're being preached to halfway through the sermon but it's the same woke sermon.

[@winstonllamas5163]

The Commodore Amiga was in hot demand for a reason. Too bad it didn't get updated too much before it went the way of the dodo. It was a machine way ahead of its time.

[@wademcginnis9361]

Good vid. Always loved this universe

[@williamozier918]

Just last night I showed a friend of mine Season 2 episode 1 because I said that was the best episode to start with.

[@KitShannon]

My favorite show of all time.

[@Harldin]

G'Kar's speech. TV doesn't get any better.

[@NZBigfoot]

As someone that watched B5 at broadcast, along with DS9 at the same time, voyager, TNG and pretty much every other sci-fi tv series of the 90's... B5 was my favorite (I still have all the VHS recordings I made every week starting with 'the Gathering', even though I have the entire series on DVD lol). This is a good video initializer thats balanced and fair in its run down of the show for anyone who wants to start watching the show and its good to see a big ST fan give the show praise (I had a friend at the time who loved ST especially DS9 but gave me alot of Flak for liking B5 more/equally and he refused to watch or give the show any sort of props). Also, as someone that watched the show at first airing, the VFX were fine, and latter great they looked good for the time and while not the same level as the real models like ST used, the fact they had far far more VFX scenes than ST had per episode and the range of action in those scenes was FAR better too, because of that it worked in B5's favor big time... they really where near the start of sci-fi CGI in television and did alot to push it forward... and compared to the CGI in console and PC games of the time, they where amazing looking on an old 21inch CRT TV. Just a pitty they lost all the CGI VFX shots in a warehouse fire before they were able to update them to widescreen and improve them, given the entire shows nonCGI parts were filmed in widescreen despite that format being almost nonexistant for home TV's at the time, since JMS had faith in its potential and preempted entertainment tech and planned accordingly. All i can really say is, F Sheldon Cooper.

[@accidentallyderivative]

We're cut from the same cloth, my friend. The local cable provider when I was in college didn't carry PTEN, so we had to get a friend who was living in Phoenix to tape the show for us and ship us the tapes. I never understood the knee-jerk ire some Trek fans had toward the show, but that's people, I guess. "F Sheldon Cooper"

[@DarkNoiseBW]

Ahh but you also forgot in the first season an appearance from the legendary Jeffery "Who am I not playing in Star Trek" Combs too! hehe

[@ProjectDv2]

I never thought of the Centauri as impartial Russians, I thought they were imperial French. Russians...makes a lot of sense.

[@Nikioko]

I thought of the Roman Republic/Empire.

[@ZakhadWOW]

The accent as used by Londo and Refa showed a sort of Russian Romanian flavor, but there were also Murican (Vir, Cartagia, Lyndisty) and British (Virini, Timov, various ministers) ones as well.

[@Brendan1259]

Have all the seasons on DVD and I love it.

[@LostieTrekieTechie]

The description that starts at 1m in wouldn't have to be changed very much to also apply to SG-1. Not in neutral territory in any way, but it has a big swirly blue thing, ancient aliens, high stakes determining fate of the galaxy, etc etc

[@themisspultone]

yeh Sleeping in the Light. THAT corridor scene, just rip my heart out why dont ya

[@somthingbrutal]

one of the all time greats

[@Warped9]

After Star Trek TOS I rank B5 as my second favourite television series.

[@rfletch62]

Bester is one rat SOB, but I still see his side of the argument. Subscribed.

[@ivett5]

Thank u for this video i wish more ppl would watch it. Its the best scifi show ever made ! Last episode sleeping in the light - well yeah 100%agree w u! tearswell. 😅

[@jackburton806]

Surprised you didn't mention Harlan Ellison and his contribution to the show.

[@andrewfischer8564]

a kid i was in scouts with plays a telepath in the drad dorf episode.. laugh every time i see it

[@Muck006]

adjusted for inflation EPISODE COST COMPARISON: - Star Trek TNG: ~$3,1 million for 45 minute episodes - Babylon 5: ~$1,3 million for 45 minute episodes, including "groundbreaking for TV" CGI - The Acolyte: ~$22 million for 22-30 minute episodes The past was CLEARLY better!

[@JFinSD2]

Great bab 5 overview

[@Psi105]

To give B5 a chance you need to watch until the end of S2

[@Nikioko]

The hot stuff happens in seasons 3 and 4, true. But to fully understand them, you must have seen seasons 1 and 2.

[@Otokichi786]

I watched "Babylon 5" from the beginning, stayed with it when they wee dropped by their original company and had to scramble to stay afloat. Back then, other SF detractors would refer to "Babble On Five" and some were less than happy to see Bruce Boxleitner replace Michael O'Hair as station commander. I noted that this series had numerous female fans due to the story arc, which they saw as "soap-operaish," It was a long, strange journey, then The Shadow War broke out and Earth Alliance became splintered between "the chain of command" and supporters of raving lunatic "President Clark." Would I sign up for anoither series/season? Like "The All New 'Futurama," the action will take place behind a streaming service paywall, so maybe not. (Losing "The Expanse" and "The Orville" was a bit too much, but life goes on.)

[@cabbageplays6710]

The only thing me and my (hated) step dad have in common is "Star Trek", he is the reason i got into it. But i have to admit, Babylon 5 is just a much better show. So much more realistic, funny, emotional and scary(at times). Star Trek is all fantasy. I mean, how do you go from an economy based on personal wealth to no money. It really doesn't make sense in my head, hence the fantasy. But Babylon 5 got it just right. How (at least in my opinion) things might actually look in the future, if we ever get into space. Gravity is a thing, technology is based on known laws of science. Jump gates/drives are a little far fetched, but then we dont know what minerals we might find in space, hell, we barely know what minerals are on the moon. So im willing to go with it. Great run down of the show btw. My fav character is also Micheal Garibaldi. He is funny just at the right moments in the show.

[@garysmith3037]

I think Deep Space 9 wasn't sure what to do with itself at first and Babylon 5 helped push it to be better and take some chances.

[@hemaccabe4292]

Don't forget my video idea, times Kirk played possum to win the fight. Would be a natural for your channel.

[@Darkwintre]

Strange New Worlds where the cloaked Romulaan ship immediately attacked him instead of the flagship of Starfleet. Maybe he took offense at Kirk looking at his Empire, he does have a reputation after all!

[@darrinwebber4077]

It was a "United Nations" in space.

[@ThugCave]

neat channel you´ve got here. i think i´ll stick around ;D

[@jacquie58]

In answer to the question. It’s the best sci fi to be seen on tv.

[@bryanstephens4800]

Best Sci fi show since Twlight zone

[@jacksmith4460]

its where ...it Begins...(its f*cking brilliant that is wht it is)

[@Demortixx]

I always thought he wrote every episode

[@stevetheduck1425]

The bit about the stand-alone episodes is copy-pasted from so many sites these days... Every episode is part of the arc. Even season 1 episode 4 'Infection'. It's about how cultures destroy themselves by letting mythic delusions replace rationality. It's something that happens a dozen times in the series, not least with King Arthur. - anoher thing. Check the series in detail again and notice how many times a hugely important detail is brought up casually in conversation (say, at the beginning of a scene, just before someone rushes in and says 'Boss, we got one!' or something). The whole thing with the telepaths and the subsequent telepath war starts in the middle of season 5 because Sheridan thinks of it, starts to ask about it as it's something he should pay attention to, then he gets distracted. Happens all the time in B5, those moments of transition G'Kar was talking about are small, not large. My favourite? Someone: 'Michael, why do we keep making the same mistakes...?' Garibaldi: 'I don't know. Maybe... maybe people just want to see something big blow up and fall apart. Maybe we...' His daughter: 'Daddy, Daddy! I won the tennis game!' 'Hey punkin' '

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

love B5

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Evidently DS9 is not a B5 Clone. B5 changed the Commander, while the Sisko changed his haircut (drastically). See! Clearly totaly different.

[@stevetheduck1425]

Very late in Babylon 5, they got a holodeck, just for one episode, and yes, it was sleazy, used images of the command staff for the johns to mess with, and was always in danger of electrocuting the johns. Take that, Star Trek! ;-) Just kidding, B5 never needed to copy anything from ST, not then, not ever... I hope in my heart that any B5 reboot is actually better, as what was planned for B5 is so different from what was allowed...

[@sergioaccioly5219]

B5 is, in my not-so-humble opinion, isthe best SF show of all times. It's not perfect, it does have some stinkers, but 95% of it is AWESOME. You cry, you laugh, you whoop with the characters. The space battle mid third season was the best after Return of theJedi and better than most that came after. Much better than anything Star Trek did at the time or later. The misteries, the character developments, theworldbuilding, the plot twists... 10/10. JMS is working in a new version of the series. I'll watch, of course. And I do hope it's different from the original, since it makes no sense to retell the same story again. But the original IS my gold standard of what a science fiction show must be about. A piece of advice: The pilot is weak, the first episodes are lame - until episode 9 (that ending should be required viewing in oh so many courses). But you can see the two parter "A Voice in the Wilderness" ahead, to get a feel of what the show promises - and delivers - to be. Then you must go back to watch every episode in order. Don't skip, don't play out of order again. It's well worth watching.

[@MyriadColorsCM]

Babylon5 is my favorite sci-fi series of all times, I liked it even better than Battlestar Galactica (mostly because BSG´s last season was garbage). The only "series" I like even better than B5 is Legend of the Galactic Heroes, but they are fundamentally distinct media, B5 is a live-action western show, while LoGH is a japanese anime, but I had to say it. But I do not include it in ym ranking. It got everything i love about SciFi: technology, philosophy (you shall be missed G´Kar), social commentary and politics (the smart kind of politics, not the sludge we see nowadays), I still remember this one episode where G´Kar rescues some girl who tried to investigate an space anomaly and almost got killed, and then proceeded to explain to her how, despite all their technical advancements, there are some stuff beyond our comprehension, just like humans are beyond the comprehension of an ant. Think of amazing characters such as Lando and G´Kar, who have amazing character development and realistic motivations. Of course, there are some...questionable, story choices, such as (SPOILER!): Delenn becoming """human""" (END OF SPOILER) But generaly speaking it was a very tight show and overall a masterpiece. God willing we shall never see the promised "reboot", today´s Hollywood could never replicate what Batltestar Galactica was and would never be able to do B5 justice. Edit: HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT GARIBALDI? I am not a true B5 fan. *commits sudoku* Edit: The thing with Sinclair leaving B5, I understand there were some real-life stuff and all, btu I cant help but to think the showrunners always intended him to take the place Sheridan ended up taking. He holds a special place for me still..

[@Darkwintre]

Half elven sorry Minbari. With hair

[@Nikioko]

BSG was nice, but the first show after B5 reaching that quality was The Expanse.

[@Darkwintre]

@@Nikioko Bought the first season on blu ray still searching for the second.

[@astral_haze]

My advice is: don't skip what exists of crusade, but don't expect it to be the same, (and expect it to end abruptly and without a resolution because it was cancelled) particularly if you have watched some of the worse movies: if you made it through legend of the rangers then rest assured crusade is not that, even if it's also not the main series either

[@astral_haze]

particularly because i made this mistake. the demon episode, and the rangers movie strike me as way worse than crusade so finally watching it kinda left the series on a better note for me

[@accidentallyderivative]

I don't remember which episode it was, but my favorite JMS story was when TNT was forcing his hand on some elements of plot they wanted in an episode, and whenever that plotline they specifically demanded showed up in the episode, JMS would have the characters smell something bad that later was revealed to be a leak in the Excalibur's sewage system. It was a great idea for a spinoff series, but TNT really borked it with their interference.