Third Age Podcast - Babylon 5

In Season 1, Babylon 5 feels most like home to me. The rest of the show has grand, amazing stories. But if i think about a normal day on B5, it'll always be during Sinclairs tenure. And i think that lends the rest of the show a lot more impact.

That's fair, B5 has plenty bleakness. What i enjoy is that Sheridan gets a whole shadow storyline to be a hero, only to then struggle and even fail in the civil war and its aftermath. Its not saying everything was for nothing, but that the right side can flawed and just one step in that direction

President of an alliance barely holding together, a strained relationship with Earth which he cannot be part of, and a telepath war on the horizon because their strife they all fail to fix.
The show really has no illusuions about this being a perfect outcome or their coup fixing deeper issues.

Coming from DS9, how are you feeling about the first foray into the space politics of this new world?

I am so curious what you'll think about the first episode proper, Midnight on the Firing Line.

It is a shame that when the crews methods are questioned, it's coming from someone manipulated by "the regime", so it gets largeley invalidated.

That said, I'd argue the show is very open about the fact that a coup is neither a good or permanent solution to fix systemic issues.

Its not shy to show that, yes, crime and drugs and overpopulation are real issues, but they are issues to be overcome together, not to be avoided by running away to cabin in the mountains.
Its not glorifying the station, shows where it falls short of the ideal, and yet is uniquely important.

I love how much Babylon 5 embodies the "horribly crime ridden cespool of moral decay overrun by aliens" that big cities often get labeled as by conservatives, only to showcase also how multicultural melting pots are the only places that can facilitate the kinds of connection the world needs. 1/2

It's the strangest feeling to look back and think "didn't we all grow up watching these stories about how bad authoritarianism and nationalist ideologies were?" So much of our culture always revolved around these warnings and yet, so little of it seems to have stuck.

Babylon 5 explores a lot of alien cultures, too. If you enjoyed Kira's journey, the stories with Dukat, or the struggle between Romulans, Klingons, and Cardassians in Deep Space 9, you'll find a lot to love about Babylon 5 as well.

For the rest of the show, it is always fun to imagine what Sinclair would have done. He has a distinct style of leadership that, luckily, they didnt simply try to replicate. It makes this change of characters feel really meaningful

"IVANOVA: Damn it, John, there’s always too many of them and not enough of us. What am I supposed to do?

SHERIDAN: Fight them without becoming them."

-- Babylon 5, “Dust to Dust”, s3:ep06

If you have 3 hours, please listen to one of the best deep dive discussions of #Babylon5 Episode 209 The Coming of Shadows. Rachel and Matt are always insightful but this episode was extraordinary!

"No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.

There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.

Against that power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand."

--G'Kar, #Babylon5, s2ep20

For a show that didn't focus on Starfighters or pilots all that much , Banylon 5 really put an amazing effort into these designs, down to individual fighters getting custom decals.

Babylon 5 Books is Closing Forever Last chance ever to order B5 Books. Worldwide flat rate shipping for unlimited books is $45; USA is $9. We now offer ebooks and hardcovers.

who were not aware of B5Books, this month will be your last opportunity to get any of these books.

The many fans who interacted with Jaclyn over the decades can give her a proper sendoff here, or more privately via b5books.com.

Thanks, Captain.

JMS

Wir sind wieder online...
#Babylon5 #Podcast
www.der-graue-rat.de

Some of my Babylon 5 art to enjoy.

#scifi #scifiart #fanart #babylon5

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It's fascinating how much time Babylon 5 spends deconstructing Minbari religion, exposing corrupt institutions, how its used to justify harmful actions and ideas, and the horror of mixing zealousness and military.
And yet, it also shows how the basic philosophy of that faith can be a force for good

The side-by-side captures the evolution of EA shipbuilding so well. Both look utilitarian, but the omega has such a raw feel to it, like its been stripped down to only the most barebones components to build the biggest, strongest ship possible.

I wish we had more scenes of Vir talking about the universe. He and Lennier probably had some fascinating discussions

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The Omega is such a beast. Really sells Earth Alliance as a up and coming superpower

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Seeing Delenn give up so much if her power for the future she believes in can be pretty painful through the first and second season. It makes this return and embracing of her new role all the more gratifying!

Love #TheLordoftheRings, #TheRingsOfPower, #DoctorWho or celebrating great #television?

Theb check out the other podcasts, run by our co-host @bazgreenland.bsky.social!

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Just finished watching Babylon 5: The Coming of Shadows. A truly excellent episode of a great show.

YouTube video by Third Age Podcast Third Age Babylon 5 Podcast - Voices of Authority - Episode 050

Today, we're talking about an all-time topical episode: Voices of Authority!

Babylon 5's take on "What do you mean 1984 wasn't an instruction manual?!"

Also, pretty boy Marcus and Ivanova go on a wonderful adventure discovering the galaxy's most ill-tempered Tiki mask.

youtu.be/iXTsRW3yjD4

New episode!

Bester returns, and G'Kar has a spiritual revelation!

@pjmontgomery.bsky.social joins @lukewinch.bsky.social & @bazgreenland.bsky.social to talk #Babylon5 season 3's Dust to Dust.

Only on @filmstoriespodnet.bsky.social

open.spotify.com/episode/6rZU...

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I can hear them screeching.

Babylon 5 was really put through the wringer when it comes to any sort of planning. That said, those adversities also led to a show that was vastly different and arguably better than what we would've gotten if the original plan had been followed through.

With the Shadows, Babylon 5 does the "unknowable cosmic-horror" really well. But once Ivanova and Marcus go looking for the first ones, we quickly learn that some of that Grand Unknown is not as impenetrable as it seems.

The grounding of the First Ones is such an interesting move for this show!