"Babylon 5" Midnight on the Firing Line (1994)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Richard Compton

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (writer) and
J. Michael Straczynski (creator)

TV Series:

"Babylon 5" (1994)

Original Air Date:

26 January 1994 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Narn attack a Centauri colony, while Raiders attack transport ships. And Talia Winters arrives at the station. |

Plot Keywords:

Time For Title | Space | Space Station | Saga | Mass Destruction

Cast

Michael O'Hare	...	Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair
Claudia Christian	...	Lt. Cmdr. Susan Ivanova
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin (credit only)
Andrea Thompson	...	Talia Winters
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier (credit only)
Julie Caitlin Brown	...	Na'Toth (credit only) (as Caitlin Brown)
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Paul Hampton	...	The Senator
Peter Trencher	...	Carn Mollari
Jeff Austin	...	Centauri #1
Ardwight Chamberlain	...	Kosh (voice)

Runtime:

44 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Babylonian Productions

Trivia:

Producer Douglas Netter's picture appears in the first season episode "Midnight on the Firing Line" as President Louis Santiago, who is later assassinated.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Centauri #1: Watch Commander Ayla reporting for duty. You're relieved. - Wait. Picking up disturbance. Trying to get a fix. Jump point forming in Sector 3. Great Maker! Activatig mines. Notify Centauri Prime. Tell them we're under attack. Tell them it's the -

Movie Connections:

References Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)

The series premier is about what you'd expect

While the very first glimpse of Babylon 5 was in the made for TV movie (THE GATHERING), this is the first regular episode. And, since the movie was the series pilot, there were a few changes. The doctor, second in command and station's telepath were both replaced, though Lyta Alexander (the telepath) did return to the series several years later. And, like almost every premier episode of every series ever made, there really isn't an over-abundance of plot--since all the major players in the series are being introduced. Sure, a lot of the show is about the growing tensions between the Narn and Centauri governments, but nothing of any serious consequence is accomplished. This really isn't a complaint--after all, how else COULD you start a TV series other than establishing the characters and setting the stage for future episodes?