Babylon 5
July 13th 2008 02:03
In 1991 a new TV pilot was commissioned written by a guy called J Michael Straczynski. The Pilot aired in February of 1993 and was followed by the first season in 1994. It was called Babylon 5
The thing about Babylon 5 that made it different than anything before and something that has me coming back to watch it again and again is that when JMS began the show in 1993 he had the whole story in his head from the start.
Now having just read the original outline that he wrote before they filmed the pilot, it is not beat for beat the whole story that appeared on screen. It finished in a different way, but he did have a five year story him mind when he began.
I remember watching the pilot on TV in Batemans Bay out on the New South Wales south coast as part of a Channel 7 summer promotion that would get viewers to vote several saturday night films over the course of two weeks to see what they liked better.
What I was introduced to was the story of a Station out in the middle of Neutral Space, 10 years after the Earth - Minbari war. The Capitan Jeffry Sinclair ran a station that was home to the ambassadors from each of the four alien governments. The station Called Babylon 5 was the fifth to bare that name. Babylon 1 - 3 were sabotaged and destroyed. Babylon 4 disappeared just before it was commissioned and Babylon 5 we are told in the opening voice over was the last of the Babylon Stations
I was interested in what I saw a film with action, but also intrigue and a real sense of world. I didnt hear anything again till about 1994 when B5 started to air on channel 7. This was for the first season and the show aired out of order and as such was hard to follow.
One thing that i noticed from the get go is that this show looked better than anything else I had seen. This was due to the use of CGI on a tv show something that had never been done on TV before. If you did space ships on TV it was done with models, something that was more expensive. The CGI on babylon 5 gave you a better look at the world outside the station.
In the show itself when it aired season 1 you had a lot of stand alone episodes and from time to time you would get glimpses of a larger story. The one thing that B5 did very well was that the reset button for the most part didnt exist in season 1 and the show was smarter.
Season 2 changed the captain of Babylon 5 to a new character that we had never met before and at first it was a bit jarring. But by about the middle of Season 2 the series as a whole got more engaging and Sherridan became the preferred captain.
Then Babylon 5 moved to Channel 9 and begun to do the dance that all sci - fi has done on channel 9. It was reliably aired at 11pm on thursday night for a while. Then would be moved for sport. Bumped later for the footy show.
Watching B5 on australian television was a real endurance test that no amount of communication with the programming department of channel 9 could make easier.
If you smell a its all geek to me rant later down the track you would be correct.
Around Season 3 Babylon 5 really started to cook with gas. Not only that but from Season 3 to the end of Season 5, save for one episode written by Neil Gaimen Babylon 5 was written by JMS.
For those of you who may read that last line and shrug, you need to know that to write 3 seasons of a weekly TV show by one person is akin to professional suicide and had never been done before.
But JMS was on a mission. He promised us the viewers a story and by god he would deliver it.
And deliver it he did. Season 3 is when by most account the show really starts cooking with gas. Season 2 was good but by Season 3 we had a full scale war going on, it was and still is compelling stuff.
Then around the end of season 3 in Australia I went to Perth and met a woman who was part of the B5 fanclub in WA through her I got the first six episodes of Season 4.
Once i took them home I got a preview of what life will be like with the rise of TV on DVD.
I watched all 6 episodes in 1 sitting with a friend. It started out as just a couple but by episode 5 I could not stop till I had seen all 6.
I dare anyone who is watching B5 through, to get to season 4 and watch those first 5 episodes to stop and wait a week to see episode 6 i dont think anyone would do it by choice.
Season 4 was a thrill ride that slowed till we got to a point of stillness and a truely unusual season finale. Not a cliff hanger, more a view of things to come.
Then Season 5 shifted the tone of the game and became a story of empire building and really expanded the universe.
All this culminates in the final episode Sleeping in Light. One of the best final episodes ever. I have to tell you that this is one of the pieces of TV that I cried. And when I watch it next I am sure I will shed a tear.
Sure it wasnt beat for beat what JMS wanted to tell but what we got was a ripping great yarn that may be different from what was originally set down but many of the main beats are there on screen so the man managed to tell a single story for five years on network TV.
As is confirmed by the message on the screen at the end of Season 5 "Faith Manages" that is inspiring for me.
My final thoughts on Babylon 5 are varied. It is clear from reading this that I love the show. I love the writing and what it had to say. I love that you were shown things in season 2 that happened as they were shown in Season 4.
Most of all I love that this year I got more Babylon 5.
So what I would say to those who are interested is that you should start with season 1 and dive in. If you have the self control you should watch the pilot first (available on the B5 movies boxed set. But you have to let the other films remain unwatched till after season 4).
If you dont like it give it a chance and watch season 2. Once you get to the end of Season 2 If it is not for you then I understand, but if you are engaged then you are in for a real treat and have discovered something truly special.
Man I love Babylon 5.
If you want to give it a go try these links
Your Season 1 JB hi fi
Ezy DVD
Or try Ebay
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. I have my next session on Saturday week so I cant wait.
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