Babylon 5: Season 1 (1994)

Signs and Portents (1994)

22 episodes, approx 44 mins each.

"It was the dawn of the third age of mankind – ten years after the Earth-Minbari War. This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5."

J. Michael Straczynski, the creator of Babylon 5, set out to create a science fiction show unlike anything that had existed before: a show with complex plot threads that appealed to an adult audience; a show about more than just the weird alien of the week that was a metaphor for some part of us. I admit that sounds arrogant, but he did it and he did it well.

He populated his floating tin can in space with a number of different dramatic stock types culled from a wide variety of genres. They clash and forge friendships, fight and find comfort in the familiar just like everyone. No one in the B5 universe is infallible, everyone is flawed, and as such it felt real.

Despite being principally run by Earth, each of the alien governments places a representative ambassador aboard the station. That many egos in one place always spells trouble.

At its core the series revolves around a five-year story arc that had a beginning, middle and end already in place before shooting began. That singular focus is what makes it extra special.

Season One introduces and explores the interpersonal relationships of the many characters and their individual dealings within the larger political standing, which makes sense when you consider that a fragile peace time exists after an interstellar war between humans and an ancient race known as the Minbari. Who actually won the Earth-Minbari War is open to interpretation and there remains bad blood and hatred in the hearts of many on both sides.

The Commander of Babylon 5 fought on the front line and ever since there exists "a hole" in his mind, a void that he seeks to fill, a memory that was taken from him that explains why he's there, where he came from and where he's going. Nestled within that mystery is the beginnings of an ambitious drama that is exciting, engaging and at times even heartbreaking.

The first season has some bad acting and low budgets, but it's essential background for seasons two, three and four, which, together, forever changed how TV sci-fi was made. If you can forgive its failings and embrace its aspirations, you likely won't be disappointed.

There are a couple of really duff episodes, Infection (Ep.04) and TKO (Ep.14) are the worst it has to offer, in my opinion. But then there are the episodes that stand head and shoulders above the rest, the very best of which is undoubtedly Babylon Squared (Ep.20); take a note of it because you'll be referring back to it more than once in the years that follow.