WELCOME TO "BABYLON 5": THE DAWN OF THE THIRD AGE OF MANKIND!!

The evocative group publicity shot compiled for Season One of BABYLON 5. All images: WARNER BROTHERS. 

Created by Academy Award Screenwriter nominee, J.Michael Straczynski, the epic space adventure series BABYLON 5, first shown in the early to mid-nineties in the US on WARNER BROTHERS now deceased PTEN channel, is returning for a new, much deserved, weekday repeat run on the UK's FX channel from tomorrow onwards, and if you haven't seen it before, now's the time to discover it-you won't be disappointed.

Set in the year 2258, the series is best described as STAR WARS meets THE LORD OF THE RINGS-one of its strengths being the almost book-like feel to it-each season acting like parts of a much larger canvas- with an ultimately epic, and thoroughly involving story of courage, romance, war, political intrigue and high adventure, spanning five years, involving the last of the BABYLON stations-BABYLON 5-a mighty space station set up by Earth in neutral territory so as to broker peace between the multitudes of alien galactic empires out in the galaxy (as well as acting as an important place of commerce)-all with their own hidden agendas and politics. However, in the dark and distant regions beyond them all lies a far greater threat, re-awakened from a thousand year slumber and getting ready to re-claim it's place in the universe.

Here's the Season One title sequence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfnsc9waugI

First aid! Commander Sinclair (Michael O'Hare) and Dr. Stephen Franklin (Richard Biggs) check in on the ailing Ambassador Delenn (Mira Furlan) in SOUL HUNTER.

BABYLON 5 aired in the mid nineties and, though it never quite captured the same kind of global popularity as STAR TREK, the fact that it is recognised in many critics top twenty lists of best TV science fiction shows cannot and must not be under-estimated; though its place in the hearts of its die-hard fans is certainly guaranteed forever, recent years in release on DVD and in re-runs has seen it continue to find new audiences, too, and they are liking what they see. Unlike the modern STAR TREK series that followed in its original's wake, BABYLON 5 feels totally new and distinctively fresh, with characters and aliens the likes of which we'd never seen before, with a look of production design that, despite budget limitations, was certainly impressive and looked even better when viewed in its original widescreen ratio (another first for B5-it was one of the earliest nineties TV series to be shot in the format, long before it became a common practice), and it also helped usher in the full integration of (then) state-of-the-art CGI graphics, several years before the STAR WARS movie saga returned to break controversial new ground with it's Prequel Trilogy in 1999. Also unlike other science fiction series, and other drama TV in general of that time, this was more of a continuing story the likes of which had never been attempted before (until the arrival of modern fantasies like LOST and FLASH FORWARD)-the multi-faceted human and alien characters lives, responsibilities, and allegiances continually changed, heroes became baddies and vice versa, some beloved characters died or disappeared, and, by the end of the show's second season, nothing would ever be the same for the residents of the space station-The Shadows had returned arrived, with millions of lives hanging in the balance, and there was no re-set button where everything was hunky-dorey for our heroes next week: BABYLON 5 was about truth, responsibility and consequences-and many of its best episodes saw those three factors deeply ingrained in them, with each season getting better and better, and even more ambitious in the tale it was telling. That doesn't necessarily mean the series was totally dark, though, as some early episodes also got to see a unique use of humour that, though not always totally successfully, and could be considered an acquired taste, at least persevered in trying to do something different.

Resident telepath Talia Winters (Andrea Thompson) comes under Psi Cop attack in Mind War.

Perhaps the complexity of the series-that you had to have watched it from the start to enjoy its full story richness (like THE WEST WING)- may have been a hindrance to the show, potentially stopping it becoming as universally loved as STAR TREK, which, for many years in its different incarnations, was almost like a weekly anthology series. Nonetheless, you have to applaud Straczynski with sticking to his principled guns, against much critical disdain from his homebase at WARNER BROTHERS), creating a show that bucked the science fiction television status quo forever (resulting in  all the other genre series around on television at the time of its transmission having to perk up their ideas and be better in its presence-just look at how STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE improved in its third and fourth seasons around the time that B5 began airing!!). There may have been the odd wonky set or alien here and there, and a bit of a dialogue that didn't sound quite right, but, in general, BABYLON 5 revolutionized television in all forms.

Very Important Aliens! Left to right: Centauri Ambassador Londo Mollari (Peter Jurasik), Mimbari Ambassador Delenn (Mira Furlan), the mysterious and enigmatic Encounter Suit wearing Vorlon, Kosh (Jeffrey Willerth), and Narn Ambassador G'Kar (Andreas Katsulas).

In full battle mode! Commander Sinclair (Michael O'Hare) and Security Chief Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle) hunt for a living biological weapon at loose on BABYLON 5, in the first regular series episode filmed: INFECTION.

A dying alien child's religious beliefs contradict Dr. Franklin's desire to save him in the haunting BELIEVERS, written by STAR TREK's David Gerrold. 

Showcasing the shows then revolutionary CGI effects, a heroic X shaped Starfury, protecting an attacked transport ship, takes on a deadly Raider vessel in MIDNIGHT ON THE FIRING LINE.

When originally shown on the UK's innovative Channel 4, it's first three seasons proved a big success for the network despite their constant changing its transmission time and days (of which fan clubs, appreciation societies, and the birth of conventions dedicated to the series, quickly sprung), and with its fourth season, now moved to a late night slot due to its more intense themes and graphic violence, garnered record general audience appreciation figures for the channel in its timeslot. It may also have been due to the shows success in the UK that the series managed to fight its way, against overwhelming odds, to be renewed each season. Past the five seasons, seven television movies and a one season spin-off, CRUSADE, would follow in its tail feathers. Not a bad little run for the show's creator, who apparently came up with the original series concept whilst in the shower!! Mister Straczynski, may future trips to the bath be equally successful for you!!

To ease newcomers into the swing of watching BABYLON 5 for the first time, and to help them get used to it's continuing storyline, here's a guide to the best, most important episodes of the premiere season.

THE GATHERING (feature length pilot): Obviously you gotta start at the start, and this is the one that introduces most of the main players-human and alien- of the season, with more added to the show as it begins its regular series run. Listen out on all the dialogue-important plot points and character developments affecting the next four seasons begin with this tale.

In his Starfury spacecraft, Sinclair leads the hunt for Raiders terrorizing the shipping lanes in MIDNIGHT ON THE FIRING LINE.

MIDNIGHT ON THE FIRING LINE (Episode One). The series first regular episode may not be one of the best but its vital you see it as it establishes the alien races known as the Narn and the Centauri, their decades long conflict being a key to the plot, and the showcasing of the personal rift between Ambassadors from Centauri Prime: Londo Mollari (Peter Jurasik), and the Narn: G'Kar (the excellent Andreas Katsulas).

A terrifying variation on the Boogeyman- the Soul Hunter- is stalking Delenn in SOUL HUNTER.

SOUL HUNTER (Episode Two). Recovering a damaged ship in local territory, Sinclair and his team discover that a legendary enemy of the Mimbari, one of the Soul Hunters (W. Morgan Sheppard) is hiding in the lower levels of the station and out to capture his most prised soul yet: the secretive member of The Grey Council, Ambassador Delenn!

Sinclair unwillingly assists the Psi-Cops, led by Bester (STAR TREK's Walter Koenig), in the hunt for a dangerous and powerful rogue telepath in MIND WAR. 

MIND WAR (Episode Six). The dangerous Psi-Cops, led by the creepy Bester (STAR TREK's Walter Koenig) arrive on BABYLON 5 in pursuit of a dangerous rogue telepath named Jason, whose powers are rapidly increasing to dangerous proportions. Only one problem: Jason is the ex-boyfriend of B5's resident commercial telepath, Talia Winters (Andrea Thompson). The Psi-Cops go on to play a dark and disturbing role in future episodes of the series.

Sinclair is trapped in a terrifying nightmare scenario by the mysterious Number One (Christopher Neame) in the superior episode AND THE SKY FULL OF STARS. 

AND THE SKY FULL OF STARS (Episode Eight). BABYLON 5's commander, Jeffrey Sinclair (Michael O'Hare), is kidnapped and brutally tortured by two unknown humans who are determined to find out why he was at the forefront of the cessation of war between the Humans and the Mimbari years earlier. Lots of twists and surprises to come from this episode's revelations.

SIGNS AND PORTENTS (Episode Eleven). As BABYLON 5 comes under attack from space raiders, a mysterious human known only as "Mister Morden" arrives on the station to ask the human and alien ambassadors a single, simple question that will have terrifying future repercussions: "What do you want?"

BABYLON SQUARED (Episode Nineteen). Having previously disappeared without trace minutes after its activation, the BABYLON 4 space station re-appears: its crew in desperate need of rescue as it begins to disintergrate in time-quakes. As Sinclair and Security Chief Michael Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle) arrive on the sister vessel to seek answers, an unknown alien, followed by an equally mysterious space suited figure, add to the grim intrigue-but is this duo from the past, present, or future? A superb tale with a storyline that continues well into Season Three.

A shock for Delenn's assistant, Lennier (Bill Mumy), and Sinclair in the closing scenes of Season Finale CHRYSALIS.

CHRYSALIS (Season One finale). As political tension permeates the corridors of BABYLON 5 during an important event in welcoming Earth President Luis Santiago, Mimbari Ambassador Delenn (Mira Furlan) undergoes an unusual transformation. Can't reveal too much about this episode, but its a cracker, full of intrigue and drama-nothing will be the same again with its finale...

Keep an eye out for future KOOL TV articles on subsequent BABYLON 5 seasons and episodes.

BABYLON 5 is playing on the UK FX and WATCH channels (be aware that, being aired in the Afternoon, the episodes may be cut for certain violent scenes). All five seasons, and its spin-offs, are available on DVD from WARNER BROTHERS DVD.