J. Michael Straczynski’s “Babylon 5” started its life as a two-hour TV film referred to as “Babylon 5: The Gathering” which aired on February 22, 1993. There was some controversy in regards to the sequence, nevertheless, as Straczynski pitched his house station sequence to Paramount as early as 1989. Paramount turned Straczynski down, and he took his sequence to Warner Bros., who accredited. Suspiciously, solely two months after Warner introduced “Babylon 5,” Paramount introduced their very own house station sequence, “Star Trek: Deep House 9.” In a Tweet from 2018, Straczynski claimed that Paramount “put their present into excessive gear, spending 4 occasions what we did so that they’d make it to air first.” Certainly, “Deep House 9” first aired on January 3, 1999, beating “Babylon 5” by a month and a half. No authorized motion was taken in opposition to Paramount, however there was a specific amount of bitterness ever since.
Moreover, the “Babylon 5” TV sequence did not start airing in earnest till late January of 1994, leaving a cushty manufacturing hole between the 2 reveals. Regardless of many similarities, “Babylon 5” and “Deep House 9” had been simply completely different sufficient to type their very own distinctive fanbases. Additionally, as a result of “Babylon 5” wasn’t connected to a preexisting sci-fi franchise, it was free to increase its personal universe and discover its personal sprawling mythology. Certainly, there have been three “Babylon 5” TV reveals, six TV motion pictures, and, as of 2023, a straight-to-video characteristic.
Protecting observe of the assorted “Babylons” may show tough, however we right here at /Movie are right here to assist. Here’s a helpful, clear listing of the proper order of all of the “Babylon” movie media produced thus far.
The discharge order
Warner Bros. Tv
Listed here are all the films and reveals within the order of their launch. The central TV sequence is damaged up across the launch of a number of TV motion pictures, and the present will probably be marked in daring.
“Babylon 5: The Gathering” (1993) – TV Film
“Babylon 5,” seasons 1 by means of 4 (January 26, 1994 to October 27, 1997) – TV sequence
“Babylon 5: Within the Starting” (January 4, 1998) – TV film
“Babylon 5,” season 5, episodes 1 – 17 (January 21, 1998 to Jun 17, 1998) – TV sequence
“Babylon 5: Thirdspace” (July 19, 1998) – TV film
“Babylon 5,” season 5, episodes 18 and 19 (October 28, 1998 and November 4, 1998) – TV sequence
“Babylon 5: The River of Souls” (November 8, 1998) – TV film
“Babylon 5,” season 5, episodes 20 – 22 (November 11, 1998 – November 25, 1998)
“Babylon 5: A Name to Arms” (1999) – TV film
“Campaign” (June 9 – September 1, 1999) – TV sequence
“Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Stay and Die in Starlight” (January 19, 2002) – TV film
“Babylon 5: The Misplaced Tales” (2006) – Straight-to-video anthology particular
“Babylon 5: The Street Residence” (2023) – Straight-to-video film
And that listing would not embody the 22 “Babylon 5” novels, nor the numerous comedian books or board video games the sequence spawned. Straczynski has mentioned that he additionally needed to reboot the sequence, and is at present on the lookout for a community keen to fund it.
The right order is the mythology
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It is necessary to work one’s manner by means of the Babylon sequence within the appropriate order, because the tales and characters are massively sophisticated, and by design. “Babylon 5” takes place on board the titular house station, constructed particularly to be diplomatic impartial floor within the wake of a number of devastating pan-galactic wars. Ships go to the station utilizing wormhole-like “bounce factors,” permitting everybody to go to Babylon 5 as they had been in a position. Aliens snarl at one another, and people, who run the station, try and hold the peace. The sequence centered on non secular zealotry, post-war resentment, assassinations, psychic powers, and bonafide godlike prophecies.
One should familiarize themselves with the Drakh assault of the Shadow Battle, the Telepath Battle, the Earth Alliance Civil Battle, and the Independence of Mars. Not like “Star Trek,” “Babylon 5” by no means offered itself as a utopia, and was free to begin wars and have devious, fallible, depraved characters. The Earth Alliance is not like the Federation. In some ways “Babylon 5” was the anti-“Star Trek,” stating that utopian sci-fi was churlish and unrealistic. People (and aliens) might be able to journey the celebrities, however they will be simply as divided and petty as ever.
Sure, each “Babylon 5” and “Deep House 9” had wormholes close to the title stations, and followers of each will have the ability to level out quite a few parallels in addition to, however, as talked about, they’re certainly separate entities. It is price noting that “Babylon 5” would finally poach just a few recognizable “Star Trek” actors, together with Walter Koenig, who performed Alfred Bester in 12 episodes of the present.
