Why So Series is a weekly feature on DVD boxsets, to guide your summer viewing…
Anyone that has recently finished watching Battlestar Galactica or has had their love for Star Trek reignited by the new movie is probably in dire need of some more science fiction. Unfortunately there is slim pickens out there, especially when you’re looking for something intellectually stimulating that also manages to entertain you with plenty of action, energy and character development. There’s a severe lack of good science fiction on TV at the moment. You’ll find all of this and more if you take a step back 14 years into the fictional future universe of Babylon 5.
Initially Babylon 5 focuses on the lives of those posted on the Babylon 5 space station – a mixture of races from all over the galaxy. I’m sure your alarm bells are ringing “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” at this point, but that’s where the similarities stop. This show in no way fit the mould of other sci fi shows before it. It didn’t finish up every episode back where it started. The future it showed us was imperfect and in no way idyllic.
Also, most importantly, in this universe, humans are in no way the dominant species and the aliens that inhabit it are not cookie cut humanoid forms, they are incredibly diverse and the characters they produce are captivating. The character development and relationships between them are a key element to this series, some of the most interesting stories and episodes revolve around the difficult and yet rewarding interspecies relationships.
However, no one is what they seem on this space station, and this is all revealed over the 5 seasons.
Babylon 5 was a series with an epic and ingenious story arc, but never felt like it didn’t know where it was going and wrapped itself up beautifully. Overall it’s an incredibly satisfying TV show to watch, something that the likes of Lost or Prison Break could never possibly manage. Each episode is woven so carefully into a tremendous overall arc that you’ll never be disappointed or baffled/enraged by a plot hole.
This show also manages to highlight the best of science fiction, for example telepathy, alien races, time and space travel – all of which are regularly used as plot devices rather than simply objects of curiosity, and the brilliant Harlan Ellison was consulted to bring realism and science to these theoretical concepts. Religion and spirituality are often touched upon, as are the principals of free will and authoritarianism.
All of these elements combined makes for an enthralling 80+ hours of TV viewing. Not to mention a number of truly wonderful guest appearances by Walter Koenig, who is quite terrifying as a senior psychic cop. You’ll also find Mira Furlan – most recently playing the character of Danielle Rousseau from Lost – who manages to steal every scene she is in as the mysterious Mimbari ambassador Delenn.
The one downfall of Babylon 5 is probably the first half of season one – it might be a bit of a struggle for some people to get through, but by the second half of season one it makes for gripping viewing. Also, the special effects might seem a little out dated but it doesn’t take away from the suspense felt during the action sequences.
Amazon.co.uk are currently selling a special exclusive complete boxset of Bablyon 5, and by complete, I mean, complete. It includes the 110 episodes of the show, plus 6 made for TV movies and season one of the spin-off series (which was unfortunately woeful and promptly canceled). If you do decide to pick it up let me advise you – watch the show from season 1 to 5 and then watch the movies. It’ll only knock you back about €80 including postage and packaging, but I’ve also seen a similar boxset for sale in HMV for about the same price. A total bargain for such an amazing show.
Nice write up, Sinead, I only casually watched the series, it was interesting. Regarding Rodenberry works, thought Enterprise should not have been cancelled, should have run its course, also liked Earth: Final Conflict, was quite unique, though killing off the lead actor at the end of the first season was a mistake, never seemed as good, I prob gave up on that before the end.
I’ve never been one for space sci-fi series apart from BSG which truely surprised me.
I remember Babylon 5 from many years ago when it was first shown on Irish TV. If I can recall it had something of BSG in it in that it focued heavily on the characters and intrigue rather than just jumping from here to there in the search of black holes.
Your timing is excellent Sinead as I’m definitely sci-fi started at the moment. Believe it or not I’d never seen any of BSG until I decided to get the box-set (minus the last season) last autumn and when I got into it (instantly) I couldn’t stop watching. Coming to the end of it was like arriving at a deep dark chasm of emptiness. So it looks like Babylon 5 is the way to fill it.
I’d disagree with you though on Lost. Every episode of last season was excellent and the story arcs started coming together majestically. I’m truly in awe of writers who could thread such complex story lines together over such a long period of time.
@James You should definitely check Bab5 out. As for Earth: Final Conflict, I actually watched it and enjoyed it, but honestly couldn’t recomend it to anyone. Same goes for Enterprise. I stopped watching it about half way through the series.
@Lottie BSG is one of those shows, like Bab5, that concentrates more on the stories and the characters, this is why it’s accessible to anyone that hasn’t enjoyed science fiction in the past. I’m going to buy that boxset, you’re welcome to borrow it once I’ve gotten through it… so… about 6 months…
@Sinead - I finished off BSG a few months back - and it had a really good payoff at the end. Nicely tied up.
You left out the important history of Babylon 5. It showed that long form, multi season story arcs work on television. The X-Files picked that up and ran with it from season 2 on.
True, you can blame Straczynski for Lost, but that discovery (actually assuming the audience has a brain and could remember things) meant that TV changed.
True, the downside was the addition of soap opera elements in to everything, but is some cases its been an improvement.
@James Corbett - Missed your comment there, sorry… I watched three seasons of lost and became quite frustrated with it because it started to feel like the writers didn’t know where it was going and that they were making it up as they went along.
@Will I absolutely agree with you, I love a continuous storline but those shows *can* begin to suffer from soap-itis.
Yeah, I adored BSG and was thrilled with how it finished. I’ve only caught a few bits of B5 over the years but it never grabbed me. Maybe it’s time I sat down and embraced it.
I think I’d be more interested in rewatching the early series of Lost. How can you knock Lost, particularly the most recent series - it’s the best so far.
In my personal opinion, BABYLON 5 and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER are the two best science-fiction/fantasy television series that have ever been on television. Nothing has ever surpassed these two series. Not even overrated series like LOST and the recent version of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
Cool Sinead.
B5 doesn’t age too well (cgi has come a long way in a short time) but I really enjoyed it at the time and would watch it again. Extras and interviews are worth checking out when finished to add another layer to it.
We had a show about the show:
“MoLarii Whoh-Oh, Centauri Whoh-oh-oh-oh. First season, it’s drinks that he buys, Next season he’s **spolier alert.. just go watch **
(aww Rosie. don’t be dissin the BSG! it is a great series