SummaryThe Emmy-winning Babylon 5 brought many exciting innovations to science fiction television. Computer-generated effects, five-year story arcs, and elaborate mythology made this series stand apart from what came before and point the next generation of sci-fi/fantasy series in bold new directions. This show realized creator J. Michael Straczynski'... Read More
Created By:J. Michael Straczynski
❮ Babylon 5
Season 1
5 Seasons
Season Premiere:
Feb 22, 1993
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.8
My Score
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Season Episodes
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
31% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
62% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Jun 18, 2015
80
Emphasizing action more than character, Babylon 5 is a show that's simply grittier, more exuberantly freewheeling and more fun [than "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"]. [25 Jan 1994, p.9D]
Jun 18, 2015
70
Although Babylon 5 is less than cutting-edge sci-fi, it does display a certain kind of pluck, a sense of humor, some neat special effects and an assemblage of aliens every bit the equals of their human counterparts. [25 Jan 1994]
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.8
91% Positive
52 Ratings
52 Ratings
7% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Nov 24, 2018
10
This show is a masterpiece, unequaled and unrivaled to this day. Nobody did politics in space as well as Babylon 5. Their empires, as well as their characters, actually carry believable motivations and interests. The arching story-line is excellent, the universe is fascinating, and the smaller moral dilemmas presented in each episode can sometimes be quite thought-provoking. The visuals, unfortunately, did not age well, but I cannot judge them by today's standards. I - like many others, I'm sure - would've loved to see an update to the low-res CGI scenes. I believe those will be enough superlatives, Vir. Send the message, and by the Grreat Makerr, let us pray it shall be received.
Feb 28, 2018
10
This is the truly masterpiece of the SCI-TV cinematography. A Tv show where each season (not episode) was planned way ahead. Where most of the characters delivers emotional deep and quality. The best in Babylon 5 that so much more adult and different than Star Trek.
Jun 18, 2015
60
To paraphrase poet Robert Frost, there's miles to go before this show will put you to sleep.
Jun 26, 2013
58
It doesn't help the show to have such a wooden presence al the helm. As Commander Sinclair, lead actor Michael O'Hare is like Lorne Greene under hypnosis. In fact, this colorful but cheesy satellite opera aspires to nothing greater than being a '90s Battiestar Galactica.
Jun 18, 2015
50
It's escapist sci- fi hooey that is simultaneously slick and tacky. In other words, a breath of fresh air compared to the average tabloid newsmagzine. [26 Jan 1994, p.6D]
Jun 18, 2015
50
The acting is pretty much non-existent, casting is weak, and the special effects are unimpressive. But there's some terrific makeup work on some of the non-human creatures around, and somebody went to the trouble of deciding that a space station for many different species would have to be equipped with many different environments to accommodate them...Nice touch. [22 Feb 1993, p.5D]
Aug 14, 2017
10
Babylon 5 is the best SciFi show ever. The characters and their motivations are integral to a grand story. This show would have been even better if it not for the sword of damocles hanging over it at every turn. But somehow it survived to tell the full 5 year tale. It's biggest problem stems from that and the rush to get a conclusion that would be satisfying at the end of the 4th year, left the last season feeling too much like epilog.
Aug 21, 2015
10
No doubt one of the best sci-fis I have ever seen. A terrific storyline with some very good spaceship battles in. It's great to see how different alien races and the humans integrate and the consequences of it.
Sep 4, 2011
10
Greatest TV series ever made I cant say any bad things about it the storylines and character development were superb. The series may be finished but the characters will live on in our memories for ever.
Sep 13, 2013
9
Babylon 5 is simply the best Scifi show on TV and has been for 2 decades and counting. But watch them in order, otherwise its a massive spoiler. Seasons 1 to 4 are the best, Season 5 never really goes anywhere and the spin offs lost money. But the main series made money, was extremely popular and the story arc actually finished before the series ended. In my opinion the story arc ended at the end of season 4.
Feb 5, 2013
9
Season 1 was watchable but the series finds it's stride in seasons 2 thru 4. Babylon 5 tells a complex story of inter-planetary politics, justice, and culture. The graphics are extremely dated and the sets are low budget but the story more than makes up for the show's visual shortcomings. Season 5 is more of an extended last episode for the series showing what happens to all the characters after the main story arcs are resolved.
