Babylon 5 

In the mid 23rd century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions and various wars over the course of five years.

Creator:

J. Michael Straczynski

Stars:

Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Stephen Furst

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 16 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn / ... 111 episodes, 1993-1998
Richard Biggs	...	Dr. Stephen Franklin 110 episodes, 1994-1998
Stephen Furst	...	Vir Cotto 110 episodes, 1994-1998
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar 111 episodes, 1993-1998
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari 111 episodes, 1993-1998
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi 111 episodes, 1993-1998
Bill Mumy	...	Lennier 110 episodes, 1994-1998
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Capt. John Sheridan / ... 88 episodes, 1994-1998
Claudia Christian	...	Cmdr. Susan Ivanova / ... 88 episodes, 1994-1998
Jeff Conaway	...	Zack Allan / ... 74 episodes, 1994-1998
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander 48 episodes, 1993-1998
Andrea Thompson	...	Talia Winters 44 episodes, 1994-1995
Jason Carter	...	Marcus Cole / ... 45 episodes, 1995-1998

Storyline

In the year 2258, it is ten years after the Earth-Minbari War. Commander Sinclair takes command of a giant five-mile-long cylindrical space station, orbiting a planet in neutral space. At a crossroads of interstellar commerce and diplomacy, Cmdr Sinclair (2d season Captain Sheridan) must try to establish peace and prosperity between various interstellar empires, all the while fighting forces from within the Earth Alliance. It is a precarious command, particularly given that sabotage led to the destruction of Babylon stations 1, 2, and 3 and 4 vanished without trace.

---

Plot Keywords:

space opera | space station | alien technology | spacecraft | computer generated imagery | 

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

J. Michael Straczynski forbade improvisation on-camera, lest an improvised comment or conversation necessitate a change in the overall plot of the show.

---

Goofs

The series implies that Mars is "on the way to Earth." For more than six months out of the year, Mars is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth. Any ships coming to Earth would be able to travel there from nearly any direction (or if they use a jump gate, as is shown in the series, from a specific single direction) so there would be no reason to travel anywhere near Mars.

---

Quotes

Captain John Sheridan: In breaking away from Earth, we have begun a difficult and uncertain journey, and none of us can see its end, but our cause remains a just one. That truth honours and sanctifies our fallen comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might carry on the work that is ahead of us. We are gathered here today to honour their memory and their names.

---

Crazy Credits

As the credits roll in "Atonement" Jason Carter "Marcus" is singing Gilbert and Sullivan's "I am the very model of a Modern Major General."

---

Alternate Versions

The Region 1 DVDs are cropped to Widescreen with fuzzy CGI effects as well as some redone narration and alternate theme song openings for select episodes.

---

Connections

Referenced in Pastewka: Der Werbetrailer - Teil 2 (2006)

User Reviews

The best writing on television to date

One of the few examples of what television CAN be.

While I could offer many accolades for this series, I will reduce it to the statement that we have never seen better or more intelligent writing on television. Period.

I'm lost lost in blind fandom. Rather, I've come to loathe the lack of intelligence used in most television programs today (largely because of the networks' catering to the lowest common denominator). This is one of the few exceptions.

It is a true shame we cannot see intelligent writing like this elsewhere in this age of miraculous special effects.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

B5

Filming Locations:

Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Babylonian Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min (110 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1