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Reviews of Babylon 5 |
Last updated 1996
Introduction to Season One
This document lists all of the episodes that have been shown in the USA along with my reviews of them. I now include a great deal of information about the plots of the first season episodes, especially in light of what we now know is important. So be warned, I reveal nearly everything of importance in the first season plots. I am still leaving the descriptions of the second season episodes vague so as to not reveal too much for people who have not seen the episode yet.
The following is summary of each Babylon 5 episode that has been shown in the U.S. along with an evaluation of the show. Note that the word "ARC" indicates that this episode contains information that is especially important to the overall story line of Babylon 5 (in other words, the arc of the plot).
Note: JMS stands for Joe Michael Straczynski. Mr. Straczynski is: the inventor of Babylon 5; the co-executive producer of B5; and the main writer of B5 episodes. He is often on the B5 forum of CompuServe and will generally respond to questions.
Note: DeTillio stands for Larry DeTillio, second in command in the script department and a good writer. Larry did not continue his duties in season three, and as it turned out, JMS wrote every episode of season three! This is appearently the first time anyone has done that in the history of American TV.
Grades: These are the grades I assigned to the episodes up to May of 1995. Later I give them point values (for the P5 Poll).
- A = A great episode, worth repeated viewings.
- B = A worthwhile episode, enjoyable.
- C = An average effort, likely to be superior to 90% of the rest of TV fare.
- D = A weak effort with poor characters and or huge logical flaws.
Point Scale: I have given these a rating from 1 to 10 (well, nothing has a one). Obviously 10 is the best and 1 is the worst. Ratings are all entirely subjective. Feel free to harass me about them. -- Colin Glassey
Babylon 5 Pilot (2/93?) The Gathering
Writer: JMS Grade: B Poll 5 Rating: 5 ARC
Summary: The Vorlons have agreed to send a representative to the B5 station. This is the first time anyone (?) has seen a Vorlon despite their apparent power. The Vorlon ambassador (named Kosh) is poisoned shortly after he arrives and Commander Sinclair must find out who is responsible. First, Sinclair is implicated and then things get tense as a Vorlon fleet shows up, ready for battle! It turns out that a member of the Wind Swords (a very radical military clan of the Minbari) was responsible, with the help of Ambasador G'Karr of the Narn. It has further been revealed that the 2nd in command of B5 (Lt. Laurel Takashima) was involved in the plot also. The actress who played her part (foolishly) dropped out of B5 and was replaced by a different (and superior) character: Susan Ivanova.Review: In retrospect this show seems better than when it first appeared. On the other hand, I haven't seen it since it first appeared either.
Season One : Signs and Portents
#1 (1/94) Midnight on the Firing Line
Writer: JMS. Grade: C Poll 5 Rating: 6 ARC
Summary: Pirates (called Raiders) are getting weapons from an unknown source. The Narn attack a small Centauri outpost, Ambassador Londo Molari's cousin is captured by the Narn. Sinclair finds out that the Narn are responsible for arming the raiders and by threatening to reveal this information, gets the Narn to withdraw from the Centauri outpost. Nevertheless, this humiliation of Londo sets in motion the terrible wheel that is now heading our way.Review: Some scenes did not work for me, Sinclair was unconvincing, and the resolution of the problem lacked excitement. (For those who care, this was the first episode after a long break following the pilot).
#2 (2/94) Soul Hunter
Writer: JMS. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 7.5
Summary: A mysterious alien called a Soul Hunter has gone mad and decides that nothing will stop him from "collecting" the soul of Ambasador Delenn (of Minbar). Since this "collection" will involve her death, this poses a real problem for everyone, especially because the Soul Hunters cannot be killed (?). Sinclair rescues Delenn and is told by the Soul Hunter that Deleen is "Satai", i.e. a member of the Grey Council, the leaders of the Minbari.Review: I thought the torture scene was excessively graphic (what with the blood being drained out of Delenn) however, the final scene with Delenn and the spheres was just wonderful. This episode was the first to make me think that B5 might actually be different from "normal" SF shows.
#3 (2/94) Born to the Purple
Writer: DiTillio. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 7.5
Summary: A lovely young Centauri dancer steals valuable secrets from Londo at the bidding of her master. At the end, the dancer gets her freedom back, Londo gets his secret files back, and everything is back in place.Review: A very funny episode where Londo really shines as a character. DeTillo has commented at his displeasure with the actress who plays the Centauri dancer for her performance. I thought she was fine.
#4 (2/94) Infection
Writer: JMS. Grade C Poll 5 Rating: 4
Summary: The ship's doctor gets a visit from an old friend who has brought some dangerous bio-technology with him for analysis (and possible exploitation). The bio-tech takes over one of the assistants and starts wrecking the station. Sinclair goes out and defeats the machine by reasoning it to death (shades of the Nomad episode in Star Trek).Review: Not one of B5's high points but notable for good ideas (bio technology!) and a very unusual final scene in which Girabaldi takes Sinclair to task for being the hero and taking huge risks.
#5 (2/94) The Parliament of Dreams
Writer: JMS. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 9
Summary: G'Karr is threatened by a killer from his home world. Despite G'Karr's precautions, the assassin captures him and is about to torture him to death when he is rescued by his assistant, Na'Toth (played with elan by Mary Woronov). Both the Centauri and Minbari present a religious ceremony (the Minbari ceremony is VERY enigmatic, did Delenn marry Sinclair? The answer is NO, Delenn is preparing for her own rebirth). An old love of Sinclair's appears on B5 and she and Sinclair restart their relationship.Review: The first great episode consisting of some very enjoyable character/cultural studies. G'Karr has some great moments including a very funny opening sequence. Note: this episode received an Emmy award for costumes (!?! What about the writing!!!). Still one of my favorites.
#6 (3/94) Mind War
Writer: JMS. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8.5 ARC
Summary: A telepath, Jason Ironheart (Talia Winters' former lover), flees to B5 with the Psi Corps in hot pursuit. The Psi Corps chief telepath hunter turns out to be Bester (played by Walter Koenig!). Ironheart claims that the Psi Corps is evil and corupt, then he escapes from the station and disappears forever, but before he goes, he gives Talia a gift. The full nature of the gift is unknown but we do know she now has a very rare telekenetic ability). Cmdr Sinclair's lover (Catherine Saki) explores a planet near Narn space that G'Karr warns her not to visit. Saki runs into SOMETHING which fatally damages her ship, but she is rescued by Narn ships, sent by G'Karr.Review: I really like this episode, the secondary plot involving Saki as an explorer was very well done. Her final scene with G'Karr was quite impressive. Seeing Walter Koenig was fun also.
#7 (3/94) The War Prayer
Writer: D.C.Fontana. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 7
Summary: A revered Minbari poet is attacked by Earth extremists. Two young Centauris seek help from Londo's aid de camp (Vir Cotto). The extreamists turn out to be lead by a old flame of Ivanova's. Sinclair and Ivanova capture the radicals (after another attack on the young Centauri) and ship them back to Earth for trial. Londo then figures out a way for the young Centauri couple to marry as they wish.Review: Although this episode had some great lines by Londo, the episode as a whole at first viewing seemed flat and uncomplicated. However, in later viewing (now that I know the characters) it all works surprisingly well. I upgrade this episode to a B.
#8 (3/94) And The Sky Full Of Stars
Writer: JMS. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8 ARC
Summary: Two dangerous men try to pry information out of Sinclair about the missing 24 hours in Sinclair's life. They capture him and interagate him on board his own ship! How they did this and who they are is still unexplained. I suspect they are part of a branch of Psi Corps, but this is unknown. (It is known now, they made use of Girabaldi's aid). They want to know what happened to him during the Battle of the Line. This battle was the last battle of the Earth-Minbari war when the Earth force of 20,000 fighters was nearly all wiped out, and then the Minbari ehded the war, on the brink of victory. At the end, Sinclair escapes their clutches, but he now does remember something about his missing 24 hours and he knows he has seen Delenn before.Review: A riveting episode focused entirely on Sinclair and his experiences 10 years earlier. I like this episode. It's not my favorite but it is very good.
#9 (4/94) Deathwalker
Writer: DiTillio. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8.5
Summary: An evil alien (DeathWalker, the last of the Dilgar) has a drug that prevents ageing. However, she (DeathWalker) is hated by many races in the non-aligned worlds because she perpetrated great crimes including genocide. They want to put DeathWalker on trial, while the Earth government just wants access to her "magic" drug. Meanwhile, Ambassador Kosh involves Talia Winters in an odd encounter. Finally, just as DeathWalker is going off to Earth (much to Sinclair's disgust), a Vorlon ship destroy's DeathWalker's ship and that is the end of her and her drug.Review: A well done evil character, very good political machinations, and fun space ships belonging to the non-aligned worlds. Kosh gets to say "We will meet at the hour of scampering". This episode gains from a second viewing.
#10 (4/94) Believers
Writer: David Gerrold. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8
Summary: A child is dying and B5's doctor can not help due to the beliefs of the child's parents. The child's condition gets worse and worse. Dr. Franklin wants to operate but the child's parents keep refusing. Sinclair finally rules that the parrents wishes must be respected but Dr. Franklin ignores him and operates anyways. The child is healed but then, murdered by his own parents, as the child is no longer "one of the people".Review: A very tightly reasoned plot leads to the conclusion that there are no good solutions. I personally found it unpleasant to watch but I have to respect the writing and the performances. This episode has stayed with me for a year and I now give it the grade of A (my original grade was a B). Many people think this was the best episode of the first season.
#11 (5/94) Survivors
Writer: Mark Scott Zicree. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 6
Summary: Girabaldi is falsely accused of sabotage as the Earth Alliance president comes to visit B5. Girabaldi has been framed by one of the presidential security force but he manages to figure out who did it and saves the day.Review: No real weaknesses, but nothing really super either.
#12 (5/94) By Any Means Necessary
Writer: K Drennan. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8.5
Summary: The dock workers on B5 threaten to strike because they are working with poorly maintained equipment and one of them was killed recently in an accident. The problem is, a strike by them is illegal. A government slime ball from Earth is sent to deal with the strike but he just makes the situation worse. Finally Sinclair is given the athority to break the strike "by any means necessary" (courtesy of the Rush act) and so he redirects some station funds from the military to the dock workers. This does not please many hard liners back on Earth but it was the right thing to do.Review: This is the FIRST SF show to give real day to day politics and economics a believable role in the future. Sinclair has finally become a great character. As many people have said, this is one episode Star Trek would never have done. (However, they did do an episode like this on Deep Space 9 in early 1996.)
#13 (5/94) Signs and Portents
Writer: JMS. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 9.5 ARC
Summary: Londo recovers a valuable Centauri artifact (the eye) which must be sent back to the home world ASAP. A Centauri noble (Lord Kiro) and his aunt (Lady Lidera) arrive to transport it back. Meanwhile the raiders are stepping up their attacks on shipping. Before the eye can be taken back, Lord Kiro and the eye are captured on board B5 and then taken off station. This turns out to be part of complex plot involving Lord Kiro, and the raiders. The raiders attack B5 to try and cover the escape of Lord Kiro. In this they are successfull but all their fighters are destroyed in a big space battle, expertly commanded by Cmdr. Sinclair. The raider mother ship with Lord Kiro and the eye escape into hyper space but then, they are destroyed by a wierd black ship. Finally, the eye (its box somewhat chared) is returned to Londo by a strange man named Morden. (How did that happen?)Morden has been wandering around that ambasador's wing asking G'Karr, Londo, and Delenn the question: "What do you want?". G'Karr said he wanted all the Centrauri destroyed. Londo said he wanted a return to the former glory and power of the Centauri empire. Delenn, recognized Moden for what he was, and ordered him out of her quarters. Morden has an encounter with Kosh who tells him to get out, but Morden isn't cowed by Kosh (amazing!). In fact, Morden and Kosh seem to have a fight which is appearently inconclusive since we see both of them in later episodes. (Who is Morden? Who does he work for?)
Review: The best B5 episode of the season, one of the best SF TV shows ever done. If you see just one B5 episode, this is the one to see. Wow! I especially like the final scene between Sinclair and Lady Lidera, very powerfull.
#14 (5/94) TKO
Writer: Larry DiTillio. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 6.5
Summary: A human boxer seeks to compete in an alien martial arts competition (the Mutai) as a way of getting back into the sport circuit back on Earth. Lt. Commander Ivanova has a visit from her family rabbi who tries to get her to sit shiva for her dead father (I think he dies at the end of episode 1). Ivanova finally agrees and we have a touching scene of a a jewish religious ceremony. Meanwhile, the boxer is successful in getting to fight in the Mutai and he manages to fight to a draw against their best fighter.Review: Another first for SF: the presentation of an existing human religion in the future (Judaism). However, I found the dissonance between the two plot lines distracting and not effective. Cutting directly from the "shiva" ceremony to a boxing match really was poorly done. Both should have been stayed with to completion. BTW: This episode was banned in both England and Canada due to the violence of the fights. It looked a lot like boxing to me, but then I am an American.
#15 (7/94) Grail
Writer: Christy Marx. Grade D Poll 5 Rating: 3
Summary: A man visits B5 looking for the Holy Grail (absurd, I know). A criminal tries to gain power with the help of an alien called a "Feeder", much feared by the Centauri.Review: Easily the worst episode of the first season. At their core, the two plot lines were illogical. Also some poor acting from one of the guest actors (Jinxer/Thomas). JMS was very displeased by the director of this episode and he was not asked to direct again for B5. Note that the writer, Ms. Marx is the executive producer of a new young adult science fiction TV show called Hypernauts.
#16 (7/94) Eyes
Writer: Larry DiTillio. Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 7
Summary: Earth Alliance sends an investigation team to B5 to check on the behavior of the command staff of the station. The investigator tries to get Sinclair thrown out of his position as commander but is ultimately tripped up by his own mental instability. Sinclair is aided by a sympathetic Psi Corps member (Grey) who has a crush on Ivanova. Side note: Gray is one of the heroes of the first B5 novel "Voices" by John Vornhalt.Review: A solid episode with no logical flaws and some fine acting. Ivanova especially shines in this one. I almost rate this episode an "A" but there were some minor weaknesses: I felt the tension could have been tighter and the ending was a bit forced. It turns out that this was an "5 day wonder" episode which Larry had to create in five days with a tiny budget. Given these constraints, it was very well done.
#17 (7/94) Legacies
Writer: D.C. Fontana. Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 8
Summary: The body of the leader of one of the Minbari warrior castes (the Star Riders) arrives on B5 as a part of its "farewell tour". Basically the new leader of the Star Riders is trying to stir up trouble. However, the body then disappears and tensions flare as the Star Riders accuse Sinclair of responsibility (As I said he is trying to cause trouble, logic has nothing to do with this). Meanwhile, a young human girl discovers her telepathic ability. Talia Winters wants her to join the Psi Corps, while Ivanova want her to explore other options (Ivanova hates the Psi Corps!). The young girl chooses to go to Minbar but in a sudden flash of mental contact, she discovers that Delenn was responsible for the disapearing body. Sinclair confront Delenn and then they face down the new Star Rider leader (this will come back to haunt both Sinclair and Delenn later).Review: A really nice episode. I seem to have a weakness for stories involving telepaths.
#18 & #19 (7/94) A Voice in the Wilderness (Parts 1 & 2)
Writer: JMS Grade A ARC Poll 5 Rating: 8.5 / 7.5
Summary: The planet that B5 is orbiting starts having odd earthquakes. Further exploration reveals that it was once inhabited by a very advanced species. Sinclair and Ivanova explore the planet and discover that one last alien is alive in the great underground "city". The Earth Alliance sends a cruiser to B5 to "take charge" but when they try to send ships to the planet surface, it begins process that will lead to its distruction. If the planet B5 is orbiting goes bang, its so long B5!Later, an alien ship shows up, claiming the planet and telling everyone to stay back. The alien that was on the planet is dying but he tells Sinclair that the new aliens are outcast and have no claim on the planet. Delenn and her tutor (Draal) come to understand that someone must take the alien's place "in the heart of the machine". Londo agrees to pilot them down to the planet's surface and his setting forth starts a shooting war between the outcast aliens and the Earth forces. The result of the combat is undecieded when Draal, taking over for the soon to be dead alien, assumes full control over the planet and proceeds to vaporize the bad aliens (who refuse to accept his warning to stay away). Draal announces that the planet is "Not for the present", leaving open the real possibiblity that we will see it come into play sometime in the future.
Review: An awesome two hour episode with great writing, acting, and special effects. Londo shows great courage in the episode and Delenn owes him for his efforts.
#20 (8/94) Babylon Squared
Writer: JMS Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 9 ARC
Summary: The mystery of the previous station's (Babylon 4) disappearance is at least partially solved when it suddenly reappears. Sinclair and others take ships over to B4 to get the people off of it because it seems to be "unstable". On board B4, they meet the old commander and crew of B4 who have not aged much at all, even though they have been missing for several years. A strange being, Zathras, is also on board B4 and he tells Sinclair that he follows "The One", and that "The One" needs B4 as a base in the great war that has divided the galaxy. Finally, as the last ship is about to leave B4, "the One" appears and Zathras is crushed by a falling object as the station shakes. In the final scene, "The One" takes off his helmet and reveals none other than an older and greyer Cmdr. Sinclair! Meanwhile Delenn has been summoned to meet with the Grey Council where they tell her that they want her to be the new leader of the Council. She refuses, insisting that she must stay on B5 until her mission is accomplished. This does not sit well with the other members of the council.Review: ARGH!!! What with time travel, hints about the future, hints about the past, and a total surprise at the end, this episode is one of the most frustratingly fascinating episodes I have ever seen. Only JMS (who KNOWS what is going to happen) could have writen this episode. What makes this episode even more interesting, is that it was only shown once, due to a quirk in the B5 repeat scheduling. If you missed it, pray that it will be on tape someday. BTW: B4 is a very lovely space station, bigger, and more attractive than B5. There is a reason for this.
#21 (8/94) The Quality of Mercy
Writer: JMS (???) Grade B Poll 5 Rating: 6
Summary: Dr. Franklin discovers another "healer" working unofficially among the lurkers. At first Dr. Franklin thinks the healer is a fake, but it turns out that she is the real thing, using an alien device that has not been seen before. Meanwhile B5's criminal justice system comes down hard on a brutal killer, who is sentanced to brain wipe. The killer escapes, though injured, and heads right over to the healer. The healer turns the machine against the injured killer and kills him (curing herself at the same time).Review: A well thought out script and a good performance by the B5 doctor. Still, the episode was oddly unsatisfying. Everything was so neatly wrapped up by the end (this is a criticism?).
#22 Chrysalis (10/94)
Writer: JMS Grade A Poll 5 Rating: 9 ARC
Summary: The Narn-Centauri dispute turns in an unexpected direction when the mysterious Mr. Morden offers to help Londo get rid of a new Narn base in Centauri territory. Londo accpets Morden's offer and goes out on a limb, promising his home world that he (Londo) will "fix the problem". We then see the strange black ships (we believe these are "Shadow" ships) as they destroy the Narn base without taking any damage at all (most impressive). Londo looks like a man with hidden power and he gets a new, unsavory friend who is highly placed in the Centauri government (Lord Refa).Meanwhile Girabaldi uncovers a plot on B5 that relates to the safety of the president of the Earth Alliance. Before Girabaldi can tell anyone, he is shot in the back by his own aid! Girabaldi survives but is badly injured. By the time he can gasp out his speculations to Sinclair, its too late and "Earth Force One" carring the President, blows up, killing everyone on board (NOT the vice-President who was not on board at the time).
Meanwhile Delenn has finished building her odd device (it was seen several times in previous episodes) and she turns it on, after a totally mysterious meeting with Kosh (?!?) and a non-meeting with Cmdr Sinclair. The effect of her devices is to cover her in a chysalis.
BTW: in the original story line, Girabaldi was shot by Lt. Laural Takashima (the same traitor in the pilot episode). This now allows us to guess pretty well who she was working for.
Review: A wild episode that left us with lots of questions and few answers. Great special effects as the shadow ships attack the Narn colony, a great episode.
Season One Notes:
Is it an accident (or just bias on my part) that the two lowest rated episodes (Infection and Grail) were both directed by Richard Compton? For those who care, Compton was not hired by JMS to work on the second season shows.Summary: The first season of Babylon 5 ends with 11 of the 21 episodes getting an "A" rating and one getting a "D" (Grail). In comparison with STNG and DS9, Babylon 5 has done a much better job with its first year. It may even have done as well as Star Trek in its first year, though I find it hard to judge the original Star Trek series. Signs and Portents, Parliament of Dreams, Mind War, and DeathWalker are sure to be remembered as some of the best Science Fiction ever shown on television.
Forward to Season Two
Page by Colin Glassey <cglassey@teleologic.com>
