d-57751 I can not stress enough how excellent this show is. The plot is intricate, sprawling, and interconnected. It is the perfect example of the difference between "complicated" and "Complex". The characters are realistic, and well-developed. The world it creates is equally complex. This work will linger in your dreams and thoughts, the world and its inhabitants so well-drawn that they will simply refuse to leave. And of course, one can never overstate the truly immense talents of the actors. Every actor, even the bit parts, gave it their all, and the main cast really grew into their characters. For me, Boxleitner will always be Sheriden, any other name simply refuses to stick. Londo and G'Khar have such chemistry, both comedic and dramatic, that their interweaving subplots are truly the highlight of this already marvelous work of art.From an artistic standpoint, this is quite possibly the pinnacle of television, nay, of fiction. The dialogue is distinct and consistent for each character, and is perfectly written. Every word and every line is important, either for adding into the main plot, or in simply fleshing out the setting and the characters. The dialogue is worthy of Begin the subject of study in school. The story is amazing, perfectly integrating both the classic epic space-opera elements and the more mundane interpersonal struggles of the large and varied cast, perfectly blending the sweeping epic with the highs and lows of the human condition.The story includes deep exploration of deep, timeless themes, like the conflict between devotion to your country and to your own ideals, the role of religion in society, the nature of free will, the all- too-timely and eerily prescient, themes in a certain season-three- and-four story arc (Fans will know what I am talking about). THesea, and countless more, are woven into an already massive story, being present and central without being preachy of over-the-head.There have been complaints that the effect's have not aged well, but I beg to differ. While the outer-space and ship-battle scenes are clearly product of the time, they are still good, and fit perfectly with the feel of the work as a whole.INside, it is another matter entirely, relying on a very limited CG combined with some of the best make-up and prosthetic i have ever seen. Indeed, I have personally always preferred practical effects, though unfortunately they had become a lost art even prior to my birth. Indeed, many of the interior scenes arguably look better than any modern day CG- extravaganza.In short, this work is perhaps the apex of television, indeed, the apotheosis of the entire principle of storytelling. Its world is larger, more detailed, and more engrossing than any save perhaps Tolkien. Its characters are more memorable than a Shakespearean hero or or villain, and more realistic than many heroes of more modern literature. ITs acting and writing are on-par with some of the greatest classics of cinema. As a narrative, it is perhaps the best ever, and as a guide for ethics and morals it surpasses potentially even the Bible. IT is, in every possible sense, a masterpiece of unparalleled proportion, unmatched by any other work of fiction before or after it. Highest possible recommendations for anyone, whether they like science fiction or or not.

Engelberth This is the easiest review I've ever made) Actually ..and yes it is a spoiler sorry... To make a review about one of my best loved TV show it is just to recite the manifest of G'Kar..something of UN stuff..the message of the United Nations) OK I must elaborate. spoilers beware) Michael Straczynski created the world)) something like United Nations in space) The fairy tale where in the end peace was a great victory ))However... like the style of the many of the Polish authors ... The peace was gained not without very terrible sacrifices and yet.. not without goodness and humanity in all)) So.. here goes) "The Universe speaks in many languages but only one voice. A language which is not Narn or Human or Centauri or Gaim or Minbari. It speaks in the language of hope.It speaks in the language of trust. It speaks in the language of strength and the language of compassion. It is the language of the heart and of the language of the soul; but always it is the same voice; it is the voice of our ancestors speaking through us, and the voice of our inheritors waiting to be born; it is the small still voice that says: "We are one." No matter the blood, no matter the skin, no matter the world, no matter the star. We are one. No matter the pain, no matter the darkness, no matter the loss, no matter the fear. We are one. Here, gathered together in common cause we agree to recognize this singular truth and this singular rule: that we must be kind to one another.Because each voice enriches us and ennobles us, and each voice lost diminishes us. We are the voice of the universe, the soul of creation, the fire that will light the way to a better future. We are one."

flowirin Is it really 20 years since this launched?Somewhere in the back of my mind I had this weird nostalgic love of babylon 5 - something i had never really watched at the time, only catching the odd (bizarre) episode. In my memory, it was an amazing, complex show with awesome aliens and space scenes. Looking into the haze of the past, it rated above Star trek, Voyager and that one with the cute blue alien woman.Which just goes to show the inherent fallacy of human memory. Episode 1, season 1 fired up and it was shockingly bad. Graphics were shoddy, sets were ugly, Aliens were a joke. Perhaps modern set design has made someone waving a torch about behind a room divider picked up from an op-shop while someone else plays dramatic music on a synth seem weak, or perhaps it always was? Perhaps playing Tie-Fighter vs Xwing had reduced my cgi expectations so the truly terrible on screen horrors looked cool?Perhaps it was something in the water?The first show, we get introduced to the players for the season. A captain figure, who can't act his was out of a paper bag, stilted lines. Phrasing so badly timed that sentences don't make sense. Alien 'diplomats' fresh from the munsters, complete with silly accents and an apparent inability to behave like, you know, a diplomat. Good points? the alien portrayed by a torch was kinda cool in his fancy costume, and the plastic and latex head monster alien was great, if you ignored the fact the he and every other alien looked like a human in a mask or bad hair don't. You also don't _have_ to watch it again, and you can keep those treasured half-memories of uber-cool, complex, aliens intact

meinhoff First of all, the story, actors and characters is a 10/10, but I've given it a 9/10 due to the (very) outdated effects/computer graphics.I watched some of the episodes "back in the days" when the series was first aired (in Sweden). Got somewhat hooked (even though I missed much of the first season), but not enough to ride the whole series out (was very hard to find a complete series box back in that time here "up in the mountains of Sweden"). To be honest I might have seen five or six episodes in total from season one and two (none from the others). Forgot about it until about two months ago.One day (about two months ago) I was bored and I googled "sci-fi series". Babylon 5 was one of the "hits". I thought to myself. Why not, I have only seen a few episodes and as far as I can remember they where everything from 'ok' to 'very good'... and hey, it's sci-fi :)I started watching.. and to be honest, the first half of the first episode I was a bit skeptical. This skepticism disappeared however. I totally fell in love with the characters. Especially G'kar and Mollari. So incredibly good actors. I was totally blown away. Usually, sci-fi series actors are "so-so", but the "so-so" actors in Babylon 5 are far and between (most are great). Checked all of them out and I was sad when I saw that Andreas Katsulas had died (2006). He is my favorite of them all.There is a "red thread" (as we say in Sweden) through all the seasons, from the beginning to the end. What happens in season one can and will influence what happens in season five. People (even more or less main characters) die and/or leave in one way or the other. You really feel the personal struggle of Mollari and Lennier.. the pain of G'kar and his struggle for the Narns for example.There are very few "filler" episodes in my humble opinion. If you watch it from the beginning you will (as I did) feel that each episode pushes the story forward or at least adds something new and interesting.Do I recommend it? Oh hell yes. If you can see past the "90's effects" (computers and 3d-effects was still in its infancy) you have many hours of joy before you. I wept during the final episode. What a great way to tie it all together.... I wish I could re-see the whole series without knowing what I know. There is not much, if any, sci-fi that can beat this./M