This is it. This is the one of the few Science Fiction series which provokes thinking , addressing to life and thinking process of viewer , makes excellent comparisons with real historical or current world events , social/political problems or famous personalities. It takes enormous risks and it pays off. Babylon 5 has a real artistic value with its writing , incredible five year storyline ( which was through over and written by Joe Michael Straczyski before series ever started ) , excellent acting performances of Mira Furlan ( who is in LOST now as French woman ) Peter Jurasik , Claudia Christian , Jerry Doyle , Bruce Boxleitner , Michael O'Hare and late Andreas Katsulas , Richard Biggs. Drama is at its best. I haven't seen that level of dramatic acting since "Farscape"
Babylon 5 is a science fiction show spanned to five year period , every level has been through over or pre-planned. The main cast is not always present in this all time however. Some come and some leave but that does not limit their performance. Set between 2258-2262 , the series explains what happened during that critical time period at Babylon 5 space station which is some kind of United Nations in space. It was built by Earth Alliance ( humans ) and serving as a meeting point between different alien species ( including humans ) for diplomacy and trade. It has a huge population ( over 250.000 humans and aliens ) Functioning like a small city in space it has problems of present day ( crime , poverty , social unfairness , class distinction , racism , diplomatic intrigue vs ) and the series shows us these matters in a masterful way , delivering the current problems of our world and leaving some outcomes to viewer. It makes you think over various matters ( social problems , society , politics , economy etc ) Somewhere along Season 1 you begin to see clues about main storyline with stand alone episodes but sometimes you realize that and sometimes not. A whole unimportant and necessary plot might become a very important point in storyline.
However Babylon 5 is not perfect. During during pilot movie "The Gathering" and Season 1 , CGI effects and sets are much below the standards of other sci-fi series in same genre. Some first episodes are just mediocre at best. The whole season gets better and better as you watch toward middle and end. Besides leading actor Michael O'Hare , despite delivering a good performance a realistic career military officer as Jeffrey Sinclair commander of Babylon 5 , was seen as stiff and uncharismatic by some viewers. However with beginning of Season 2 , CGI effects are much more improved and a new male leading actor Bruce Boxleitner comes in as Captain John Sheridan , new commander of station. Althrough he is a career military officer like Sinclair , he has a more human outlook and charming personality than Sinclair. With Season 2 also you enter the main story completely. ( but Season 1 should be watched first otherwise later seasons would seem meaningless. You understand that Season 1 is a necessary introduction. An absolute must see )
Season 3 and Season 4 are amazing , just incredible ( in fact this good quality starts with Season 2 ) Some of the best writing and visual effects of entire Science Fiction universe. Season Five is huge let down at first but toward the middle of season , it becomes excellent Babylon 5 we used to know again. The finale is absolutely one of finest.
There are also a number of Babylon 5 TV movies also and although some of them are very good and tied to original storyline ( like "In the Beginning" , "Thirdspace" , "A Call to Arms"-which is pilot movie of a fine but short lived spin-off series "Crusade" ) some are just lame or bad ( B5 pilot movie "The Gathering , "River of Souls" , "Legend of Rangers" )
To summarize all , Babylon 5 is a one wonderful sci-fi feast. It has a most detailed universe , very believable and realistic characters ( characters change , develop and evolve. Which other series do that ! ) and amazing storyline which is spanned to five years. Nothing more and nothing less. It does not go forever unnecessarily just for ratings , money or pretty faces of characters. Babylon 5 just tells its story and ends it meanwhile easily smashes all so called sci-fi series of present and tears up their borders , parameters. Watching this show is like reading a novel. Don't miss it. With Farscape , Babylon 5 is on top of my favorite sci-fi series.
Babylon 5 is a science fiction show spanned to five year period , every level has been through over or pre-planned. The main cast is not always present in this all time however. Some come and some leave but that does not limit their performance. Set between 2258-2262 , the series explains what happened during that critical time period at Babylon 5 space station which is some kind of United Nations in space. It was built by Earth Alliance ( humans ) and serving as a meeting point between different alien species ( including humans ) for diplomacy and trade. It has a huge population ( over 250.000 humans and aliens ) Functioning like a small city in space it has problems of present day ( crime , poverty , social unfairness , class distinction , racism , diplomatic intrigue vs ) and the series shows us these matters in a masterful way , delivering the current problems of our world and leaving some outcomes to viewer. It makes you think over various matters ( social problems , society , politics , economy etc ) Somewhere along Season 1 you begin to see clues about main storyline with stand alone episodes but sometimes you realize that and sometimes not. A whole unimportant and necessary plot might become a very important point in storyline.
However Babylon 5 is not perfect. During during pilot movie "The Gathering" and Season 1 , CGI effects and sets are much below the standards of other sci-fi series in same genre. Some first episodes are just mediocre at best. The whole season gets better and better as you watch toward middle and end. Besides leading actor Michael O'Hare , despite delivering a good performance a realistic career military officer as Jeffrey Sinclair commander of Babylon 5 , was seen as stiff and uncharismatic by some viewers. However with beginning of Season 2 , CGI effects are much more improved and a new male leading actor Bruce Boxleitner comes in as Captain John Sheridan , new commander of station. Althrough he is a career military officer like Sinclair , he has a more human outlook and charming personality than Sinclair. With Season 2 also you enter the main story completely. ( but Season 1 should be watched first otherwise later seasons would seem meaningless. You understand that Season 1 is a necessary introduction. An absolute must see )
Season 3 and Season 4 are amazing , just incredible ( in fact this good quality starts with Season 2 ) Some of the best writing and visual effects of entire Science Fiction universe. Season Five is huge let down at first but toward the middle of season , it becomes excellent Babylon 5 we used to know again. The finale is absolutely one of finest.
There are also a number of Babylon 5 TV movies also and although some of them are very good and tied to original storyline ( like "In the Beginning" , "Thirdspace" , "A Call to Arms"-which is pilot movie of a fine but short lived spin-off series "Crusade" ) some are just lame or bad ( B5 pilot movie "The Gathering , "River of Souls" , "Legend of Rangers" )
To summarize all , Babylon 5 is a one wonderful sci-fi feast. It has a most detailed universe , very believable and realistic characters ( characters change , develop and evolve. Which other series do that ! ) and amazing storyline which is spanned to five years. Nothing more and nothing less. It does not go forever unnecessarily just for ratings , money or pretty faces of characters. Babylon 5 just tells its story and ends it meanwhile easily smashes all so called sci-fi series of present and tears up their borders , parameters. Watching this show is like reading a novel. Don't miss it. With Farscape , Babylon 5 is on top of my favorite sci-fi series.