/r/babylon5

Photograph via snooOG

Discussion of all things Babylon 5

Welcome to /r/Babylon5!

Babylon 5 is a sci-fi space opera that ran from 1994 to 1999. Pitched as "a five year story, a novel for television," Babylon 5 featured a serialized story before it was common for primetime television to do so.

The serialized nature of Babylon 5 means it is eminently spoilable. If you have not seen Babylon 5 but are interested, you may encounter spoilers here. You've been warned!

Watch Online

Babylon 5 is available on HBO Max.

It can also be purchased on iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube:

Subreddit rules

This subreddit is lightly moderated. That said, piracy and hate speech will not be tolerated. Posts and comments containing these things will be removed and repeat offenders will be banned.

Spoiler tags are not mandatory but are encouraged when the thread starter requests it. The spoiler syntax is:

>! Spoiler goes here

Flair

If you are watching the show for the first time, and want the rest of us to know, select one of the first five flairs options; these are the logos of all five Babylon stations.

Babylon Station will tell other users that you are watching Season 1 for the first time. Babylon 2 will tell us that you have not watched any further than season 2. And so forth with Seasons 3, 4, 5 (the yellow 5).

Seasoned fans of the show can dig in and display their bias with flair for their alien government or faction.

Other Resources

/r/Babylon5Gifs

It's like the Zocalo, but for gifs.

Wikipedia on Babylon 5

Wikipedia's article on Babylon 5 is very detailed.

The Lurkers Guide to Babylon 5

This is the definitive resource for Babylon 5. All episodes, all movies, commentary from the creator. It was updated in real time as Babylon 5 originally aired.

/u/mpierre's Guide to Babylon 5

A guide to Babylon 5 episodes, and their importance, by head moderator /u/mpierre.

JMSNews

News from J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5.

Denn'bok / Minbari Fighting Pike

Please note that a Comet will appear if, within one Earth-month, multiple users post revelations of the existence of this product.

/r/babylon5

30,932 Subscribers

2

Hunter, Prey gaff?

I did a quick search in the community for both the episode and the gaff but didn’t find anything. I was doing a rewatch and noticed that when Franklin and Garibaldi find Dr. Everett Jacob’s, Garibaldi tells the stooge guard to “love nice and slow”. At the same time Franklin first sees Dr.Jacobs he says “Jerry” as if to get the attention of Garibaldi - but calls the actor - not the character.

I was wondering if this gaff is common knowledge and if there are any other exams where the actors address each other by their actual names instead of character names?

5 Comments
2024/04/06
13:40 UTC

2

S3E11 - Ceremonies of Light and Dark

The renewal uniforms. I love them. I have always loved them.

IMO, they are an improvement on the Earthforce uniforms. I always hated the undershirt.

1 Comment
2024/04/06
13:12 UTC

4

rEMeMbEr bYRoN

Should've given the teeps the Markab world. Two problems solved at once.

Granted they might need to find another gate but it's not his problem how long it takes them to get there...

12 Comments
2024/04/06
12:58 UTC

110

Shortly after we got married, a friend of my wife’s visited. I learned he was a fan of B5, but never got to finish it.

I broke out my tapes and we watched a few season 2 episodes. He’d forgotten how good the show was, and my wife was mildly interested. The friend left afterward and that, I thought, was that.

The next day, I came home from work to find my wife still in her pajamas and sitting in front of the tv with all my B5 tapes scattered around her, and a mid Season- episode playing.

She didn’t even look up as she said one thing to me, “I hate you.”

12 Comments
2024/04/06
12:37 UTC

68

How did you feel about Lennier's arc and ending?

52 Comments
2024/04/06
11:56 UTC

0

The Interstellar Alliance (ISA) doesn't work.

So let's be honest here. Babylon 5's writers did just as bad a job at worldbuilding the Interstellar Alliance (ISA) as Star Trek did with the Federation and Star Wars did with the New Republic. And technically speaking if it hadn't been for its plot armor an organization like this wouldn't have lasted as long as the worlds oldest democracies (USA and the UK) after Sheridan and Delenn left office. I will give you 3 reasons why.

  1. The ISA lacks strong institutions. - Now, the one of the reasons why the UK and USA have lasted this is because they have institutions (Ex: Courts, legislatures, law enforcement agencies etc.) that do their best to uphold the law and serve the interests of the people. Admittedly it is not perfect, but like it or not governments need strong institutions to maintain a civil society and to protect the government from external threats. In summary in order to survive in the long-run a government needs strong institutions to run it, not strong individuals. Case in point one of the reasons why the Roman Empire fell was because the Empire was only as strong as its Emperor. And one of the reasons why the German Empire collapsed was because it needed someone as smart as its founder (Otto Von Bismarck) to run it. As far as I can tell, the ISA neglected to build up its institutions and the only reason it didn't fall apart in the first place was because they had two strong and cunning leaders, Sheridan and Delenn. But without them the ISA would have fallen apart and it should have fallen apart after they left office.
  2. The politicians have no good faith or mutual trust in each other. - Okay I know this next part is going to sound corny to some people, but another reason why the USA and the UK have lasted so long is that the politician have a certain amount of trust in each other. Granted each politician may have their own agenda, but they are also smart enough to know when to compromise. For example, in 1790, despite being rivals, Hamilton and Jefferson came to a compromise where Hamilton got his financial plan in place and Jefferson got the nation's capital in the South. In Babylon 5, there is never any sign of any good faith or trust amongst the various alien representatives on the station. Heck the whole reason why the League of Non-aligned Worlds agreed to join the Alliance in the first place was because Sheridan conned them. And even when they do join he has to use some gunboat diplomacy to get them to keep them in line. All in all not a healthy way to build trust in an alliance.
  3. There are not checks and balances Finally, one of the most important factors for a stable government is for there to be system of checks and balances to make sure one branch of the government is not as powerful as the other. Again, as far as I can tell there is no judicial branch and the members of its legislative branch are too busy arguing amongst themselves to get anything done. Thankfully neither Sheridan nor Delenn are not powermad, but without the necessary checks and balances what's to stop the next Clark or Cartagia from taking over the ISA.

Now in fairness JMS was probably rushed on the worldbuilding of the ISA. But the fact remains that if it hadn't been for its plot armor the ISA would have eventually collapsed if it didn't make the necessary reforms.

25 Comments
2024/04/06
04:47 UTC

28

S3E10 - Severed Dreams

I love everything about this episode.

Sheridan's secession speech is like Legate Demar's rebellion speech. RESIST!

Delenn chrysalis'd some stones.

This was a heavy, sad but momentous episode. All the feels as one might say.

All I know is - I'd stand behind Delenn anytime.

8 Comments
2024/04/05
23:54 UTC

17

Season 2, Gropos

I just finished this episode. It really hits you with the punch early, you know what's going to happen. You know nobody's going to make it out. But it's not any less sad to see when the end scene comes on and everyone is dead.

I have to say it's a testament to the actors and the writers with the characters being as likable as they are to only appear in one episode. I especially liked the bigger Marine, whose name I forget. Seemed like he was a funny guy trying to hide a lot of pain.

Franklin's father, well played. I kept trying to place the actor the entire time. I remembered it once I'd finished the episode, it's Captain Terrell from Wrath of Khan. So it was good to see him again and in a similar role.

I really like the dynamic between Franklin and his father, they left it in a very sweet place which is not where I expected it to go. So that was nice to see a father and son reconcile and beyond that be on better terms at the end of a story instead of using a falling out to drive the narrative. Which is where I figured it was going.

I'm wondering if we're going to see the outcome of the battle in the next episode, but I'm guessing we're not going to. Because Strzinski seems to like to build the tension between these climactic moments. So I'm assuming we're going to hear about it through the grapevine small talk or something later on.

The effects for the battle itself weren't great, and I wonder what strazzinski could do with an increased budget and today's leaps forward in technology. I think he could really sell his vision of the future and of Babylon 5 in a much more realistic way if it was made today.

All in all, I really enjoyed it, it's a good War story, but it's also so much more than that. It's a story about people, the dynamics we have with each other, and how we act socially. I'll say this the writers have a great grasp on sociology of characters and sort of the psychology of how we play with each other. I think that's what really makes it believable. So marks to them.

13 Comments
2024/04/05
23:48 UTC

18

S3E9 - Point of No Return

But greatness is never appreciated in youth. Called pride in midlife, dismissed in old age, and reconsidered in death. Because we cannot tolerate greatness in our midst. We do all we can to destroy it. - Lady Morella

Geez, man. So eerily relevant today.

0 Comments
2024/04/05
22:09 UTC

22

Pressure of history for Lochley

So the first commander of Babylon 5 re-forged Mimbari society, defeated the Shadows, began the migration of Souls between two species, and his (new) name is venerated for at least a thousand years.

The second commander of Babylon 5 drove the first ones out of the galaxy starting the Third Age of Mankind, saved Earth from facism, was the first President of the Interstellar Alliance, and *his* name will be venerated until Earths sun goes Nova.

Now you are Lochley on your first day.……

8 Comments
2024/04/05
17:21 UTC

388

Now that JMS has made the latest reboot news public, I'm just going to put this here.

72 Comments
2024/04/05
15:45 UTC

12

Minbari Ears

I got pretty far into this series before noticing how ears on the Minbari are different from those of the humans. There are no ear canals.

https://preview.redd.it/atqdcbkf3osc1.png?width=1535&format=png&auto=webp&s=7d4c3f4d182e4e8d84c146b530dd1a2a71e7fc3d

10 Comments
2024/04/05
14:03 UTC

119

THE PSI CORPS IS YOUR FRIEND. TRUST THE PSI CORE

18 Comments
2024/04/05
13:37 UTC

209

AITA for being mad at my husband for hiring his ex-wife for his old job?

My husband has been recently elected the president of the Interstellar Alliance after the end of the Earth Civil War. His original replacement for his old job (commanding officer of an Earth space station) couldn't take the job for personal reasons, so he had to hire someone else, another Earth captain called Elizabeth.

Now, she's the right person for the job, I won't argue that. But I just found out that she and my husband were married for three months some time ago. He didn't even tell me, I only found out because of an offhand comment she made. We've just gotten married ourselves. I just think he should've trusted me. AITA?

58 Comments
2024/04/05
11:48 UTC

22

I haven't seen anything

There is a scene, where Sheridan is in grave danger and decides to jump (no, not that one, the first instance) where he is saved by one of the embassadors. Everyone around sees some kind of luminous being. Except for Londo. Why does he not see anything? Did the being decide not to show itself to him? Have the luminous beings never been to Centauri Prime? Was Londo excluded by choice? Was he too deep in the shadows?

32 Comments
2024/04/05
09:56 UTC

84

Why the acting feels so "real"

I have just the final episode left, and i have seen this fantastic series many, many times. One of the things that really astonish me every time, are the really realisic portrayals.

They feels like really real beings, which i do not always feel with other series. JMS did not cast perfect actors and actresses. He cast the people perfect for the roles they had to embody.

I can't find a real flaw or misstep by the ppl portraying them. The flaws seen on screen, are the flaws in the characters they become.

Alsouch respect for all the artists behind the makeup, prostetics and costumes and and and...

I have the utmost respect for all the ppl behind the series for making such a fantastic and believable epic story for us.

33 Comments
2024/04/05
09:50 UTC

10

Lurker's Guide Having Technical Problems?

I went to the lurker's guide and found it seems to be erroring out on a few pages like clicking the Episodes tab from here (http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html) at the top: http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/episodes.php

I'm hoping this a transitory glitch, but I'm hoping the site maintainer is here and might see this. It would be really depressing if it went offline, since Lurker's Guide has been a mainstay of the Internet and B5 since the original broadcast run.

I'm also wondering if there's an easily accessible mirror should we need it.

7 Comments
2024/04/05
04:31 UTC

123

Sacrifice for Salvation

21 Comments
2024/04/04
18:07 UTC

505

Minbari Miracle

92 Comments
2024/04/04
17:27 UTC

120

Justice for Jebediah

18 Comments
2024/04/04
15:06 UTC

28

If you value your lives

There is very little about Babylon 5 that I don't love, but this scene always sent shivers down my spine every single time I watch it.

It is funny how this show still causes me to react in such a way, no matter how many times I watch it.

5 Comments
2024/04/04
10:29 UTC

18

S3E5 -Voices of Authority

This episode scares me. This lady from nightwatch is disturbing.

5 Comments
2024/04/04
01:34 UTC

24

Deconstruction of Falling Star and A Canticle for Liebowitz.

Just got to this episode on my rewatch, and was reminded how I thought it was inspired by the Canticle. Has JMS ever spoken too it?

1 Comment
2024/04/04
00:42 UTC

11

How to get the Babylon 5 Blu-ray disks out of the holders?

I am thrilled being able to watch the series on Blu-ray, yet I am really struggling each time I attempt to get a disk out of the holder.

I have the new package of the entire series. Is there a secret to how to easily get the disks loose from its plastic holder?

I am afraid I will break a disk trying to extract it. They pop back in place easily enough.

Any thoughts?

12 Comments
2024/04/03
21:27 UTC

236

😴🥱

19 Comments
2024/04/03
20:10 UTC

3

Favourite Babylon 5 pod?

I’ve been listening to Babylon 5 for the first time in an episode per episode watch along style but I’ve also got Grey 17 on my list to watch, which is in a similar format

Anyone got any preferences?

4 Comments
2024/04/03
12:24 UTC

0

[NO SPOILERS] Favourite commander?

3 Comments
2024/04/03
12:23 UTC

2

Lost Tales DVD issues

I watch all my DVDs and blu-rays on my PS4. Never had any issues. I bought a copy of Lost Tales on sale, and it wouldn’t play at all. It was only $5, so I ordered another one. That one didn’t play either. Exact same issue. Both copies came from Amazon. Since this has never happened to me before with any other discs, I’m wondering if there was some issue with the Lost Tales DVD production run? Has anyone else encountered this?

2 Comments
2024/04/03
17:36 UTC

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