Why Babylon 5's GREATEST Space Battle is the Fight for Proxima

[@avfx]

RIP Ron Thornton .... the man you should thank for the vfx.

[@dandavidson424]

One of my favorite lines from the show- Captain John Sheridan: Well, as my great-grandfather used to say, "cool." It's a nice reminder that the show is set way in the future.

[@BogeyTheBear]

Look at how they ingress into theater: A trio of White Stars acts as a decoy on the far side of the planet to draw off the most aggressive enemies, then a flight of White Stars jump in on the blockade and get them heading away from the jump gate. _Then_ Sheridan arrives through the gate, behind the enemy, with the main force of all the remaining White Stars and squadrons of Starfuries. This is how Sheridan executed the "box them in from all sides" aspect of his plan-- making the enemy think the second wave was the main strike when it was in fact a feint to get them pointed in the wrong direction.

[@MrBirchieBirch]

The battle against the Advanced Omega Class Destroyers is probably my favourite. Ivanova's speech before it started was just epic! B5 was full of fantastic battles.

[@shaughnprestidge8400]

mine too

[@snufflebear]

Delenn's lines at the end of Severed Dreams still get me to this day. "This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari, Babylon 5 is under our protection, withdraw, or be destroyed.." EF Captain :"Negative, we have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship." Delenn: "Why Not?! Only one human captain has ever survived battle with the Minbari fleet, he is behind me, you are in front of me.. If you value your lives be somewhere else.." Chills to this day..

[@TehJumpingJawa]

Glad I'm not the only one who had that experienced from Delenn's battle scene in Severed Dreams! I think it's down to the excellent musical accompaniment that contributes to the escalating tension, and ultimately the 'hair standing on end' sensation.

[@jasonhollands5014]

Totally agree. Shivers up the spine

[@ReannaAloi]

Best line ever!!!😁😁

[@reubenmckay]

One of the best lines in the show.

[@tigerbread78]

I appreciate that dig at Discovery's poorly thought out space battle, thank you

[@NickMichalak]

Sheridan is a leader who thinks of the people on the other side, especially when it’s Earth ships. Bruce brought that humanity in Sheridan’s command mentality and his hopeful resolution. JMS wrote him as a smart strategist with a heart to guide him. With him, there’s a better way to a better Earth.

[@Phintasmo]

Absolutely! I love how he isn’t a clone of Sinclair, the two are written and played quite differently. Sheridan is probably one of my favorite ‘leader’ characters of all time.

[@jackdoyle7453]

I've seen less wooden acting in original Thunderbirds

[@oliverurbanik9647]

Yeah.. the Casting Choices in B5 were incredibly good...

[@thatsjustprime8096]

​@@jackdoyle7453You should stick to thunderbird then, son🤔🤣🤣

[@rosesareredbutzerglingssti9290]

@@jackdoyle7453 Some people think that being "edgy" and complaining about everything make them look cool... but instead, it just make them look like fools they really are.

[@aymericdeascalon4590]

Picking any single battle or scene in a series like B5 is always going to be difficult. It's a series that was so well written, cast and performed (despite what Sheldon Cooper thinks 😅) that there is too much to choose from. That said, I do have one moment in B5 that always gives me chills, not a space battle, but one of will between Sheridan and his interrogator when he is captured by Earth. He talks about fighting the system, the he interrogator asks "but can you win?" And Sheridan replies "Every time I say NO!" Love that line and sentiment

[@Phintasmo]

That episode is an excellent piece of two-man theatre.

[@tarn1135]

There was an amazing amount of HORRIBLE acting and writing in this series. However the brilliant moments out shine a lot of the bad so in the end it made a really great series.

[@nitehawk86]

And yet he didn't pick Severed Dreams. :P Though I will say that the battle for Proxima is much more subtle, and much more interesting to analyze.

[@kurtjk01]

@@nitehawk86 I think the difference, and it is important, is the relation of the "enemy" to our heroes: In Severed Dreams, the enemy is on the attack, and we know nothing about them because they are Clarke Loyalists or duped patriots; and at Proxima, Sheridan is retaliating . . . But retaliating against folks he might know, with whitestars (!) and who might or might not agree. Dreams is existential. Different kinds of tension. Hard to call.

[@numberyellow]

That was one of the best scenes in all of television.

[@repatch43]

What, are you trying to tell me that a good story with good characters trumps any amount of boom boom cgi? Man, I wish most of Hollywood would understand that…

[@RCorvinus]

Michael Bay would have an aneurysm at the very concept.

[@sandal_thong8631]

George Lucas said as much during a "making of" show about _The Empire Strikes Back._ kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYKlg32IqNuBfbc

[@DerDrecksack87]

We had both in the Expanse.

[@repatch43]

@@DerDrecksack87 damn right, that series was incredible!

[@madmotorcyclist]

I'll never forget the Narn battle with the Shadows. The soundtrack during that fight was perfect.

[@Calendyr]

That wasn't really a battle though. More of a massacre, setting the stage for the Shadows to scare the crap out of listeners everytime they appeared!

[@argentaegis]

@@Calendyr Agreed, but it was an effective massacre visually and from a storytelling standpoint. The absolute supremacy of the Shadows was on display as was the way they sowed panic and confusion. Best part is the way it manipulates the Centauri and Narn reinforcements into direct conflict, as is the aim of the Shadows.

[@ehsnils]

Or the soundtrack for the death of lord Refa.

[@KristovMars]

I think the space battles depicted during the civil war really showcase the exceptional skills of the team running the show. Both "sides" are using the same vessels and wearing the same uniforms, and still the show manages to make it clear who is aligned with whom, which way the tide of the battle is flowing, and generally what's happening. And as you pointed out (perhaps most important of all), there's genuine drama and emotion, stakes and tension - the battle is telling a story, rather than being there to fulfil a quota of "action set-pieces per season" or whatever. Damn it's an amazing show. Glad to find another B5 nerd to subscribe to on YT!

[@jasondiend4248]

It helps they engrain the names of the ships into you. They reinforce those ship names. They highlight those ships names by lighting them up on the ships. It is a clever and smart way for you a viewer to not get confused. This is sound writing, directing, editing, effects teams and so on. Everyone was firing on all cylinders that season.

[@Sethnewport]

Great episode, and from a tight story telling perspective, hard to disagree with. 'Severed Dreams' would be a great choice as well, and even won the Hugo award in 1997 for best dramatic presentation. I still remember the first time I saw that episode, the jump gate opened and the loyalist Omega destroyers came through, and the com line opened "This is Captain Dexter Smith of the Earth Alliance Destroyer Agrippa to Babylon 5 and renegade ships... "

[@micklaws5520]

One of the best SciFi series ever. Years ago I just wanted to watch an episode and got hooked into a marathon. I still watch it from beginning to end just to enjoy the whole series again. The Shadows were the best evil ruthless race ever.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

I'm not sure they were more ruthless than the Vorlons, they just went about it differently. The Vorlons are finally shown, in series 4 to be another villain on the scale of the Shadows and when they decided to come out guns blazing, they brought The Planet Killer ship.

[@micklaws5520]

@@Thurgosh_OG I remember that. They were getting ready to vaporize Landos planet when he himself blew up the Island base of the Shadows…if I remember all that correctly

[@peterfrom80s]

Shadows were chaos. But how ruthless and overruling were Vorlons was beyond my comprehention when young. Only rewatching series showed me: 1. their indoctrination of races for order disguised as "good" or "light" 2. their manipulation of DNA to create telepaths and behaving to them as products 3. their use of "Jack" to test their subjects 4. almost destroying B5 when refusing to leave and forced to go B5 was/is great series. Lower budget, less effects, but still OK for a time, but with great acting and beautifully designed ships.

[@micklaws5520]

@@peterfrom80s Supposed to be a remake in the works. It is going to take an act of Devine intervention to keep it from being ruined, Disney Style

[@Pete...NoNotThatOne]

“It was black. A shade of black so deep your eye just kind of slides off it. And it shimmered when you looked at it. A spider big as death, and twice as ugly. And when it flies by, there’s a scream in your mind.” - Lt Warren Keffer, RIP.

[@stofsk]

While I think this is a cool space battle, my favourite and imo the greatest in the show was Severed Dreams and the Battle for Babylon 5. That was the culmination of years long arc of watching EarthGov slide increasingly down a fascist path and eventually taking a stand against it. The stakes were high, the battle both in space and 'on the ground' with the GROPOS boarding B5 was scrappy and desperate, the character beats were great, and the conclusion being both triumphant and tragic with the shot of all the Narn and dead soldiers was sobering. A reminder that war is hell and how fascism leads us to this and how it must always be opposed or this is the result. Truly was the best episode of Babylon 5 imo and a really damn good hour of scifi television.

[@Phintasmo]

So many are mentioning this one! I should definitely go back and watch it again.

[@TheChromeRonin]

And a warning that fascisim would come wearing the colours of their own side.

[@nbartlett6538]

The Severed Dreams battle was the one that had me and my flatmates jumping out of our seats and cheering, both at the entrance of Delenn and her bad-ass lines immediately afterwards. The thing that makes this moment so stunning is that you believe the battle is lost. B5 has sustained heavy damage, Corwin even says "it's a good job this ended when it did". Then two more Earth heavy cruisers arrive demanding B5's surrender, and four more jump points open all around the station. A crushing blow... however emerging from the jump points are Delenn with several Minbari warships: an overwhelming force. When described like this it sounds like "deus ex machina", but the episode has set up this conclusion all the way through. As a viewer, we have forgotten about the setup due to the heat of the battle, as if it was just a detached B-plot. It's such a powerful moment.

[@planetdisco4821]

Yep, without a doubt severed dreams.

[@DarkRanger1975]

💯

[@LordTelperion]

The fall of the Narn Navy at Gorash VII was the best battle IMHO. All those miles long carriers getting sliced to pieces, the hope and pride of the once-mighty Narn war machine laid low by dark Lovecraftian powers.

[@RogueShadows]

And yet, a hint that the Shadows aren’t so invincible as they appear: the Narns are capable of damaging one of the Shadows’ vessels, the first time we see one damaged in ship-to-ship combat. It hardly makes a difference, of course….but it’s a start.

[@craigmartinj]

Is there a better space battle? Yes... TNG "Yesterday's Enterprise" where we visit an alternate universe where the Enterprise 1701-C is hurled forward in time 22 years. This is a great episode and quite possibly the best TNG episode ever aired. The final battle has all the stakes laid out, all the pieces in place, you know who is who and why it's happening and it doesn't disappoint.

[@jamesspring4610]

I love the fact that the battle is told/shown from different perspectives, adding depth to it, yet also explaining it in a way that makes sure you're following it the entire time. 😎😎😎

[@jayblake682]

I love this battle, and I agree with your arguments, but I think the battle in Severed Dreams is better. The whole tightrope Sheridan and Company have been walking gets cut out from under them. It’s put up or shut up. It also shows how the Earth Civil War affects those aliens on B5. The only thing missing is the view of the other side which is definitely a plus in this episode.

[@dennisramos9665]

Severed Dreams is also one of my favorite battles, it also shows them breaching the station with a breaching pod, and hand to hand combat with Garibaldi which is always a treat to watch him fight and kick butt! Fall of night when Sheridan destroys a Narn heavy cruiser is also a good yet brief one.

[@Calendyr]

My favorite battle of all time, all franchises has always been the battle to defend Babylon 5 against Clark's forces in Severed Dreams. But you make a really good point for the battle of Proxima 3. One thing can be said, JMS knows how to write good space battles (among other things). Really engaging and nerve racking stuff he puts on screen!

[@drivinginluton5745]

My favourite has always been the Battle of the Line from the "In the Beginning" movie. Londo Mollari's (Peter Jurasik) narration made it an epic. It is only a shame I watched after the main series. I can imagine watching it first not knowing of the Minbari surrender.

[@Markus_Andrew]

Babylon 5 is an underrated SF classic. It kind of got off to a shaky start in the first season, but found its stride in the second season and just got better and better. I'm an older guy who grew up with Star Trek TOS as a kid and progressed to stuff like Anderson's UFO and Space 1999. B5 was the kind of show which back then I always hoped someone would someday make. It was well-written, well-acted, had a beginning, middle and end, and became visually more sophisticated as it progressed. Damn, now I want to watch it again...

[@Orieni]

Gorash VII is better, IMO. It nicely shows the desperation of the Narn, the Shadows as a force of nature or act of God, G’Kar’s hopes dying and the scale of the challenges the survivors will face, but it is also one of the very few times we see space battles which aren’t pretending to take place at WWI dogfight ranges.

[@BaseDeltaZero1972]

Its B5 - It never delivered anything less than stellar story telling IMO. This breakdown really is a perfect example of this though. JMS, the cast, crew and all others involved in this series gave us something special.

[@Jasmin-lg3gf]

This, the battle before it at B5 and the fight of all species against the shadows are among the best space battles in sci-fi history. The ramming maneuver in the B5 battle in particular, together with the music, is perfection. Although we never saw what happened before, the battleship probably had a fight with the two cruisers and was able to destroy them, but was too badly damaged in the process. RIP Hiroshi.

[@Phintasmo]

So many people are saying this battle at B5 in Severed Dreams! I must go back and watch it,

[@thomasm7798]

Rip Iroshi. And the EAS Churchill too.

[@jackdoyle7453]

I mean they alright, but they are not really a patch on BSG or DS9.

[@koalabrownie]

@@jackdoyle7453Battles in BSG are always secondary to the story and DS9? DS9's problem is that they inflate the numbers beyond all meaning. They talk about having a battle somewhere and losing 600 ships or something- I care about 600 ships as much as I care about 600 crew on some ship or other.

[@popmonika]

​@@koalabrownie Ds9's biggest problem was consistency in characters and plot. For example, at the end of season 5 when the dominion help the Cardassians to retake ds9, we clearly see ds9's shields being able to sustain a heavy dominion and cadassian attack and are even told that the dominion lost over 50 ships in taking the station. Yet, basically the next episode we're told starfleet has lost hundreds of ships to the domion in a battle and despite the dominion needing a ratio of fifty to take one space station, we're lead to somehow believe that starfleet would only upgrade ds9's shields but not their entire fleets.

[@vortega472]

I like your points - and it was a very well-done video. I like that you know if Sheriden wanted - he could annihilate the Earth Force fleet - he had the firepower, but his dilemma is that he wants to in with minimal cost of life - thus his main advantage is nullified.

[@Phintasmo]

Thank you! I think it’s such a clever sequence. Most of the audience are going to assume Sheridan will win anyway, so having us wonder about the fate of the enemy ships creates a brilliant hook to drive the drama.

[@TheDeliciousOne]

Sheridan was sacrificing short-term advantage to improve the long-term outcome. He knows that if a largely alien fleet stomps EarthForce again and forces a regime change, xenophobia will skyrocket and you'll be re-fighting the exact same war in a few decades. So he makes a point of persuading as many human ships to stand down or join up as possible.

[@Revkor]

@@Phintasmo easy to quest we know how powerful the little White stars are and he had many of them to only 6 omega destoryers. good ships but the numbers are bad.

[@jiahaowang736]

Severed Dreams is the top on the list for me. First engagement by B5 against loyalist forces from EA. The utter chaos as no one wants this, paralleled with the ground troops storming B5 and the chaotic battle there, against the back drop of the music...and to finish off with Delenn's more than epic line. Just pure magnificence in that episode.

[@devilmaycare2809]

Another good and well thought out scene. The battle where Kosh sends the Vorlon ships to destroy the Shadows (I think it was "Interludes and Examinations"), this ends in his death. Brilliant episode and a small (one sided) excellent battle.

[@leto-nl]

I do remember this episode had me in suspence the whole time. A great vid and very well analyzed. I dont see a single thing I disagree with you. Would love to see more babylon 5 vids from you.

[@Phintasmo]

Got two more planned for December - one B5, the other a holiday binge-watch recommendation.

[@siceman105]

The B5 Severed Dreams battle was epic.

[@GregR9712]

Great show and a Great battle but I do have to say that The Expanse has some of the best space battles ever put on screen. For example Season 5 Episode 10 Free Navy vs the Rosinante.

[@Butler195]

I think the Narn fleet vs the Shadows is a close second. Seeing massive capitol ships getting cut in half! there was nothing else like it on TV at the time.

[@sandal_thong8631]

That was a complete slaughter; they had no chance.

[@MarkT5371]

The fact they dragged it out when they could of just sliced them to ribbons within the first 30s. Then to gave them the slightest hope of escape but to collapse it on top of them 😮. It's harrowing to watch and shows just how evil the Shadows could be.

[@Phintasmo]

That was memorable - really got over the power of the Shadows.

[@613harbinger316]

It was a good demonstration of how lopsided the power/tech levels were between them, but I thought the initial attack on the Narn colony that started the war was better. Can you imagine living in a nice comfy apartment overlooking a secure colony of your people (or hell, maybe a single disabled fighter watching it all)? You'd never imagine that in less than a minute, you and everyone on the station, and a huge chunk of the people planetside, could be dead and dying with literally no response that could make a difference. It's basically Lovecraftian levels of overwhelming (helped by shadow vessel design and sounds).

[@aedwynn6474]

"The Long Twilight Struggle" I like that fight as it attempts to show the extreme ranges vessels engage at. Only the final (catastrophic) stage of the battle is at 'knife-fight' range.

[@geoffharper8650]

From the point of highlighting Sheridans tactics it is the best battle . Though I still think the battle in severed dreams is more impactful .

[@Phintasmo]

I must go back and watch that one. That’s the fight at Babylon 5 when they first declare independence right?

[@John2Ward]

@@Phintasmo That is the one, yes.

[@Xingmey]

@@Phintasmo Season 3 Episode 10 but seeing what happens on the Zocalo in S3 E9 where vir gets hit by a bottle is also very important to that one, since that one sets up the whole civil war thing

[@gehrehmee]

SD has some greater emotional punches in its big battle - but the actual space battle at Proxima is better orchestrated.

[@GusMcGuire]

The battle in Severed Dreams finally showed that Babylon 5 had the courage of its convictions. It was built up to be similar to the sort of face-off battles that Star Trek had regularly showed. In those cases, diplomacy always prevailed at the last possible second, drawing both sides back from the brink. And I remember seeing the B5 and Earthforce fleets moving toward one another, watching Sheridan muttering about "illegal orders" and thinking to myself "Oh I bet something will happen and they'll end up not fighting." (just like in Star Trek). Instead, we get Earthforce ships opening fire and everything instantly going to hell in a bucket, and I thought "Wow! They actually went there!" They also showed the battle from multiple viewpoints. We got to see the station proving beyond all doubt that it could go toe-to-toe with Earthforce and take a pounding. We saw the capitol ships knocking chunks out of each other, Ivanova and the Starfury pilots looking like fleas ready to be swatted. We even got to see hand-to-hand combat as the station security took on a boarding party from Earthforce. Up until this moment, there hadn't been a single depiction of a space battle in a TV series that actually changed everything about that series. Star Trek DS9 attempted it with "The Way of the Warrior" but the series kept its episodic nature and little changed about the characters and setting. But "Severed Dreams" had permanent consequences and repercussions and, after it, nothing would ever be the same about Babylon 5.

[@bindiestewart-fitzpatrick8093]

I did not know Dr Bob Kelso (Scrubs) became a Earth Alliance Captain haha. The actor plays these roles well. Not my favourite battle, however I did like how this was played out and the script for the episode.

[@carloscaraballo4121]

This is a good and well done video. Thanks for it.

[@kineticdeath]

i mean, that segment with the 2 white stars charging head on into the Pullux's frontal weapons arc with all ships involved going all in weapons fire is amazing visually. Surely one of the coolest looking battle scenes on tv

[@jeremywaltz]

This battle is the best I've ever seen. I vividly remember watching it when the episode aired. I remember what I was feeling and how I reacted. The writers accomplished everything they set out to do here.

[@carolbriscoe9337]

It's such a treat revisiting various scenes from B5! One of the Best SCIFI series written for TV

[@markeh1971]

Hi, good review and shows why it was so good. It’s about the people and the journey they undertake. Take care all M.

[@aurigo_tech]

I really liked the Battle at the Supergate in Stargate. There is a long setup, just like here, our heros prepare some great plans, as always. An alliance of many factions - thats how the good guys do it and thats how they always win, right? Teal'c gets reinforcements in the last possible moment with even another faction - and then...they lose. And they lose hard. How can that be? They always win? ALWAYS. But not this time. Very hard hitting and well made. That is how you establish an enemy as fearsome.

[@Phintasmo]

I’ve got a soft spot for stargate - but it feels like there’s now hundreds of episodes in that expanded universe. Not sure I’m ready to dive back in yet.

[@jimyoung9262]

There's some good stuff in the Expanse too.

[@brianmcguinness9642]

Babylon 5 is my favorite television series. A lot of thought was put into the characters and their development, the background universe, and the basic storyline. Although the story gets quite dark at times, there's always hope for the future. I wish that Crusade could have worked out as well, and in accordance with Joe's original vision.

[@Phintasmo]

Crusade really messed up by making the battles silent and switching composer.

[@ChairmanMo]

@@Phintasmo Some the characters still actually developed quite a bit because that cast was good. Seriously you literally forgot that the actor who played Captain Gideon was also the evil boss in the movie Office Space!

[@sandal_thong8631]

Star Trek decided to do a space station show after getting their hands on the B5 bible, then B5 decided to do a starship space exploration show. I don't think either worked.

[@connarcomstock161]

I'd really like to hear your take on BSG. Specifically the fight in the asteroid belt from Season 1, they do a great job doing similar and putting the viewer on the other side (not in the cockpit, but in the CIC ) seeing how a fight actually plays out. Also better space battle? BSG, specifically Adama's "Leroy Jenkens" moment and Lee's similar one later in the same two parter.

[@hughsmith7504]

I could also recommend the dog fight in Space Above and Beyond's episode "The Angriest Angel"

[@Phintasmo]

That’s a real throwback! I think all the episodes are up on KZbin

[@briandeiwert5911]

The fight between Chiggy von Richthofen and Col McQueen is still the greatest mano v mano fight of all time. Col McQueen refused to fail, so he did not fail.

[@icecold9511]

Ill drink a bottle of scotch to that! Like it was Chiggy Von Richthofen's blood.

[@icecold9511]

Or that battle on the cargo ship against a chiggy destroyer

[@FabricioDeMarchi]

This kind of humanity is sorely needed nowadays. The reality of human nature: we can tell a great human story with all of human flaws in plain sight but we always seem tumble and disregard our best qualities in favor of the tragedy of living in reality. Have a nice day.

[@MessagesFromEarth]

"What is even happening here?" is what I was thinking every minute of Discovery I watched

[@Trek001]

One thing that a lot of people overlook is the fact the White Stars were, at first, running with their stealth and jamming systems down hence why a few of them got glancing hits. After one of the ships gets disabled and takes out the _Pollux_ no other White Star is damaged except for close shots at point blank range

[@peterpan4962]

Nope sorry those Omega destroyers simply gotten upgrades and can now lock on Membari stealth tech, this was explained in the episode where Sheridan takes a White Star to destroy a Shadow Vessel Earth Gov was unearthing.

[@rubbersidedown5620]

Damn dude I watched this and couldn't believe you only have 495 subscribers! Your storytelling excellent and had me hooked from the getgo.

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks so much!

[@nicholasklangos9704]

Excellent points and I had forgotten how great this show was! Need to watch again!

[@padawanmage71]

I love nuanced battles like this. Really didn’t see in contemporary shows of the time, but definitely further on with shows like Battlestar Galactica 2003 and The Expanse.

[@michelecastellotti9172]

What gets me in EVERY battle in this show is just how much they show you of the battle. Each ship is like a ferocious wolf, tearing each others flesh from each other with unimaginable ferocity and bloodthirst, then the cherry on top: every time a ship is destroyed is treated like a man dying horribly with multiple gushing stab wounds in his chest, its meverjust glossed over like in most other franchises, you can feel the weight of the loss... even those ships that were not living had a life in this show!!!!

[@JaimeWulf]

I really enjoyed your breakdown on this episode... B5 was always about telling a story... hat's what set it apart, along with excellent actors portraying complicated characters... Sadly we've lost several of them over the years.... :(

[@lovipoekimo176]

I also loved the opponent, Captain Hall. He plays villains, whether military or medical, very well

[@ChefSandwichboy]

While I wholeheartedly agree this is one of the best in the series and a great example of why the best battle/fight scenes are stories within stories, IMO the best space battles put to screen are all in The Expanse. The level of granular detail that's packed into every shot is astonishing, even moreso because of how little fanfare is given to what's going on. Spin station, Ganymede, the Zmeya and run for the Chetzemoka, and the duel with the Pella in particular are just masterclasses in how to visually load a fast paced space combat scene with information without making it overwhelming AND rewarding going back and slowing it down to look for a the details you missed in all the excitement. It doesn't hold your hand, it trusts that you've been paying attention and have absorbed enough of how things work to be able to understand what's going on without needing to resort to clunky infodumps or technobabble. All while being arguably the most grounded hard sci-fi setting to depict space combat on screen.

[@DungeonsforDecades]

Miss this show soooo much. Thanks for this analysis. Well done!

[@Phintasmo]

My pleasure!

[@dressinggownsessions7296]

You make a good case. I'm seeing a lot of love for Severed Dreams in this category too and I'd have to watch them both again to decide. They both tell the stories rather than just show lots of ships firing at each other. Much as I love Star Trek, we don't often see the captains' tactical thinking in the big space battles. The one-on-one situations like Balance Of Terror or Wrath Of Khan do have it, but not the big mass engagements.

[@quantumband]

Great video with excellent commentary! Thank you.

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks!

[@ballroomdru]

Well done. Well said. A great breakdown. And it is the most emotionally charged space battle in all of television.

[@donlengel4770]

Just got in the blurays of B5 . This will be the 5th time I've watched the series. This time finally on Blu Ray.

[@FiveToedSloth]

Fantastic video! Can't wait to see what other videos you make because these have been great so far!

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks!

[@michaelhancock1954]

This was well said and very imformative.

[@StephensCrazyHour]

The battle at the end of season 2 where the Narn fleet are wiped out is probably the most followable space battle I've seen, and it also shows the great distance that most battles would be fought at.

[@cptnemo20kl]

While I have my personal favorites, you make a really great point about this being the greatest. It is an entire episode revolving around the battle, and so it is given the time and space for tension, character, and impact. Having the POV of the Clark forces makes a big difference compared to other space battles that only show the hero side. The best space battles/fights have that two-sided view to bring more weight to the changes and shifts in the battle. Thanks for bringing more B5 commentary content to YT!

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks! I had no idea there were this many people out there looking for B5 stuff after all these years.

[@Don-ol8ze]

Think I'd agree. Always look forward to this episode in any B5 run. Always love Sheridan's reaction when Ivanova shows him the video of civilians being deliberately killed, and how his rage leads to decisive action, though not without losing his sense of humanity in wanting to limit the casualties on all sides.

[@RichtorLazlo]

So this video makes me think of a question I posed to my group of friends, what is the best/most important space battle in all sci-fi franchises ❓ Some bounced all over(Enders last battle from the book)some picked some you would not have expected (zentradi global assault ) and some were exactly what you would think(battle of sector 001). One of my top picks was battle of the line (B-5). This is and could be a good discussion group.

[@Phintasmo]

People are suggesting so many good ones.

[@GuntherRommel]

Great video. Liked and subbed.

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks!

[@andrewwatts2443]

I just love the writing in this show. Any scene with Londo and G'Kar just had me glued to the screen. The battles were great for their day and I think (despite effects) hold up today.

[@cg4658]

I remember when I saw the CGI and thought how goofy! But then I watched and couldn't get enough! What a great series! Thanks for the vid

[@Kragnar1]

Severed dreams was probably my favourite. But this one was a close second. Or the time they tested telepaths against the Shadows… especially after the shadows annihilated the Narns, showing themselves a real force to be reckoned with… bah! So many good ones! I think severed dreams is my favourite because of the stakes, and the end where Delen saves their arses, then after being told to leave so they don’t get engaged with earth ships, she responds with the kickass line,”why not? Only one captain has survived battle with a minbari fleet, he is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, withdraw, or be destroyed”. Or something to that effect, it’s been damn near 20 years since I’ve seen it. Still stays in my mind, and probably always will.

[@MidnightAphelion]

Fantastic video, completely agree with you that so many modern 'space battles' are... fungible.

[@erictheblue7256]

Well done! This is a blatant example of what made B5 so compelling. Sheridan (and his instructor) understood the terrible irony of the battle: That humans were destroying other humans (fratricide) when there were far greater threats in play (the shadows).

[@233Deadman]

The Shadows weren't in play anymore, this battle comes after Sheridan tells them and the Vorlons to "get the hell out of our galaxy" Though the Shadow's allies such as the Drahk are still around, but that probably wasn't known at the time.

[@janetcameron4652]

Maybe the battle with Sheridan and the combined fleet with the First Ones against the Vorlons with a side of Shadows. Had me on the edge of my seat the whole show. Although.... hmmm...the epic speech, " Who am I? Who am I?" That was epic too. OK. OK. I can not choose one. How about chasing the show from one night to another,one time to another, one channel to another. That was an epic battle to see all 5 years of this awesome Sci Fi show. See can not choose. Dang it. See you on the other side where shadows never fall. Back to you ISN.

[@svenholtmann3549]

Totally agree. One of the best episodes of B5. Nowadays space battles are messed up. We get no idea about tactics and strategies and the place where the fight takes place etc. It is usually just pew pew pew ...

[@Phintasmo]

There’s a scale problem with a lot of contemporary sci-fi. In ST Discovery and Star Wars Rise of Skywalker there are battles that seem to involve hundreds of ships. It’s impossible to know what is going on or tell a coherent story.

[@xchrishawkx]

Yes and it is also my favorite B5 battle in terms of visuals. A close second would be the white stars vs the earth shadow destroyers.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Excellent analysis! B5 has ever been my most favourite of all sci-fi series ... tho' Stargate gives it a real fight :) It's the story-telling that is the thing and the character building brought to light by a stellar cast.

[@oliverrichardson7856]

Agreed, this and severed dreams are favourite battles. Love the ships and staging.

[@DeaconBlu]

New subscriber here. I’m loving your B5 stuff! Nicely done! Thanks! 😎👍

[@matthewfriedewald8551]

The series was a master piece. Both in its story and the way the story is told... "Space above and Beyond" was on par with it

[@iamthedarkmagician475]

I was feeling down and talking to my cat. Thanksgiving is really hard for me. Your commentary makes me think about another youtube video that said DS9 plagiarized B5 and I can honestly see it. This makes me want to watch B5 as I am a huge Trekkie and not familiar with it.

[@Phintasmo]

There’s a whole debate about DS9 vs B5. I think that regardless of their origins they both evolved into very different and compelling shows in their own right.

[@mclaine7342]

Good writing...good writing!

[@alpachino468]

I remember as a teen, my older brother used to watch this, but for some reason I could never get into it. Maybe as an adult, I should try watching it again...?

[@icecold9511]

Yes. Real story, unlike modern crap.

[@Archangelglenn]

No Surrender, No Retreat and Severed Dreams are two of my favorite episodes from B5. I really hope you do a review of an episode from season 5 The Paragon of Animals and Learning Curve.

[@sid2112]

That was well put together.

[@Ugnutz]

B5 is just one of the shows that just screams for a remaster with updated CGI effect and redone space footage like they did with Star Trek TOS.

[@ryanhampson673]

Man, Babylon 5 had some stellar story arcs. It was probably the first TV series that had a continuing story arc. Almost every show before was a “monster of the week” format that was wrapped up neatly at the end of each episode. Season 1 was mainly like that for B5 but season 2 on they began the long arching arc. If you’ve never seen this series and like sci-fi definitely check it out. The graphics are dated sure but they blew everyone away in the mid 90’s.

[@alittlefromcolumna7575]

Great video 👍

[@Phintasmo]

Thanks!

[@Potrimpo]

One thing I often thought about is Babylon 5 should have been a blueprint for both the Star Wars prequels and Enterprise, with Enterprise finally getting its space legs on its 4th season, and the prequels are still below The Rise of Skywalker (2019) quality. Ouch. The Battle of Proxima is one of many examples why B5 is highly underrated, and one of the best sci-fi series of all time.

[@khidorahian]

This battle, the Battle in the Mutara Nebula and the Battle of the Rainbow Star Cluster are all my number ones, for TV, for Film and for Animated.

[@antonnurwald5700]

It's quite telling they took a battle from Discovery as a reference for "WTF is even going on here?"

[@StevenLockey]

100% agree. Most of the battles in B5 were extremely well done but this one was awesome.

[@darahdoyle3176]

This is just a microcosm of what made B5 one of the best sci-fi shows ever made. The storylines, JMS being in almost total control of the whole arc. It was one long epic. Magnificent. I'd love to see it remastered.

[@2Quietus]

B5 was an amazing series and anyone that says ill of it, hasn't watched it thru. It has the complex overlapping storylines, amazing space battles, deep characters that matter to everything going on, all set in a VERY cool "what if" universe. Was really sad to see it end...

[@paulevans9858]

That's why, in my opinion, Babylon 5, star trek, and Battlestar Galactica are my three most favorite science fiction series!!!!! Hon. Mention: forever knight!!!!

[@Phintasmo]

Kudos for the unexpected mention of Forever Knight, I haven’t thought about that one in years!

[@thelisanalgaib9702]

I will always love Babylon 5 seasons 1 to 4, but I think the reboot of Battlestar Galactica has some really good space battle/drama scenes as well. especially early on: Starbuck takes on all 8, the asteroid fight to take out the Cylon base without trashing the fuel, the homage to Ensign Gay where the Galactica and Pegasus take out the resurrection ship.

[@s10r1de]

I would contend that space above and beyond episode 'the angrist angel' is best. "Who am I and what's the point?" Has been burned into my brain

[@Phintasmo]

You are the second one to mention this! Maybe a retrospective is in order…

[@Rocketsong]

Battle of the Mutara Nebula, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. Not only can you follow what is going on, it is scored so perfectly you could almost follow it with your eyes closed.

[@Phintasmo]

That score is incredible! Khan’s sneak attack earlier in the movie is also outstanding.

[@Revkor]

@@Phintasmo remember hearing they told the composer you can't beat the Imperial March from star wars so don't try

[@davidembrey4248]

I think Severed Dreams stands alone at the top. The emotional weight is gut wrenching, and Captain Hiroshi's sacrifice brings a tear to my eye every time. Plus it has...That Delen moment.

[@sergioaccioly5219]

Personally, I think the battle in Severed Dreams to be the best there is, but Battlestar Galactica also had some pretty well told ones.

[@MD2389]

Severed Dreams was by far my favorite

[@Phintasmo]

That the kick-off to Earth civil war right?

[@davidclegg7874]

@@Phintasmo it’s when EarthForce units try to take Babylon 5 and are beaten back at great cost, only to receive reinforcements and look set to win, until Minbari forces arrive and they withdraw.

[@patrickschulz2193]

I derive amusement from how Discovery Season 2's finale in particular has become the poster child for how NOT to do a space battle, lol.

[@Shadowkey392]

And yet it was a pretty good space battle.

[@patrickschulz2193]

@@Shadowkey392 I'm inclined to disagree. It was very busy while simultaneously having very little real ship action going for the most part, relying instead on swarm-bots versus remote-shuttles which get lost in a chaotic blur.

[@ChrisEly]

The Expanse has some excellent space battles with stakes that are well set too. Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe does excellent space battles also. Particularly when the Ori transit to the Milky Way galaxy.

[@Phintasmo]

I lost track of SG-1 at around season 5 during its first run. By the time a turned my attention back there were 10 seasons, multiple spin offs, tv movies. I know it’s a good shoe, but there’s an overwhelming amount of stuff.