"Babylon 5" The Fall of Centauri Prime (1998)

Director:

Douglas E. Wise

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Babylon 5" (1994)

Original Air Date:

28 October 1998 (Season 5, Episode 18)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Centauri Prime has been attacked, thousands have died. Londo finds out the truth, who masterminded the war...

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Saga | Empath | Head On Stake

Cast

Bruce Boxleitner	...	President John Sheridan
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier
Tracy Scoggins	...	Capt. Elizabeth Lochley (credit only)
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto
Jeff Conaway	...	Zack Allan
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wayne Alexander	...	Drakh
Simon Billig	...	Ranger
Damian London	...	Regent
Robin Sachs	...	Na'Tok
Larry Varanelli	...	Queens Guard

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Trivia:

Many viewers were puzzled as to why the Drakh allowed the Centauri to be attacked. The answer was that the attack provided the chaos necessary to allow the Drakh to completely infiltrate Centauri society.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Previously on Babylon 5:
Lennier: I read four Centauri warships. Too many to fight.
Lyta Alexander: This is leftover Shadow technology, Mr. President. It's an organic device used to control a ship from a long distance....

A great way to tie everything together

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

A lot takes place in this episode and there's barely enough time to breath since the action comes so quickly and you are on th edge of your seat. Throughout the first half of season five, BABYLON 5 has been a big disappointment, as there wasn't much purpose or suspense. It was obvious that this was originally planned as a four season series and the fifth one was hastily slapped together when Turner Broadcasting unexpectedly renewed it. Fortunately, the dull episodes abated for a while and this one is well worth seeing.

While I can't say too much (this would spoil several excellent surprises), the exact power behind the war and why they are doing it is finally revealed. Now Mollari's reaction to this does seem awfully strange, but the WHO and WHY is truly interesting and surprised me a bit.

At the same time, two major events are unfolding. The attack on Centauri Prime begins and the White Star Fleet are unable to stop them. Additionally, Delenn and Lennier are lost on route to Minbar as a result of an attack by a Centauri ship.

The key to this episode is action and suspense--something sorely lacking in much of season five.