List of Babylon 5 episodes
Encyclopedia
Babylon 5
is an American
science fiction television series
created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski
. The show centers on the Babylon 5
space station
: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262. With its prominent use of planned story arc
s, the series was often described as a "novel for television".
The pilot film premiered on February 22, 1993. The regular series aired from January 26, 1994 and ran for five full seasons. Due to Warner corporate structure and policy concerning syndication in general and syndication of properties produced by the defunct PTEN
division in particular, the show has been syndicated only briefly and has not appeared on television since 2000. The show spawned six television films and a spin-off
series, Crusade
, which aired in 1999 and ran for 13 episodes. On July 31, 2007, a DVD
was released containing two short films about selected characters from the series.
The five seasons of the series each correspond to one fictional sequential year in the period 2258–2262. Each season shares its name with an episode that is central to that season's plot. As the series starts, the Babylon 5 station is welcoming ambassadors from various races in the galaxy. Earth has just barely survived an accidental war with the powerful Minbari
, who, despite their superior technology, mysteriously surrendered at the brink of the destruction of the human race.
Some episodes in the first two seasons were aired out of their intended chronological sequence. Straczynski has confirmed that the episodes "TKO" and "Legacies" in Season 1 fit between "The Quality of Mercy" and "Chrysalis", and that, in Season 2, "A Race Through Dark Places" should precede "Soul Mates" and "Knives" should precede "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum".
production, the DVD contains two 35 minute episodes, each focusing on a particular character. See Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction television series
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
. The show centers on the Babylon 5
Babylon 5 (space station)
Babylon 5 is a fictional space station and the primary setting in the television series Babylon 5. Its design is a variation of an O'Neill cylinder....
space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262. With its prominent use of planned story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
s, the series was often described as a "novel for television".
The pilot film premiered on February 22, 1993. The regular series aired from January 26, 1994 and ran for five full seasons. Due to Warner corporate structure and policy concerning syndication in general and syndication of properties produced by the defunct PTEN
Prime Time Entertainment Network
The Prime Time Entertainment Network was a United States television network launched in 1993 by the Prime Time Consortium, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Domestic Television and the Chris-Craft group of independent stations...
division in particular, the show has been syndicated only briefly and has not appeared on television since 2000. The show spawned six television films and a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
series, Crusade
Crusade (TV series)
Crusade is a spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. A race called the Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five...
, which aired in 1999 and ran for 13 episodes. On July 31, 2007, a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
was released containing two short films about selected characters from the series.
The five seasons of the series each correspond to one fictional sequential year in the period 2258–2262. Each season shares its name with an episode that is central to that season's plot. As the series starts, the Babylon 5 station is welcoming ambassadors from various races in the galaxy. Earth has just barely survived an accidental war with the powerful Minbari
Minbari
The Minbari are a fictional alien race featured in the television show Babylon 5. The Minbari characters of Delenn and Lennier figure prominently throughout the series; Neroon, Draal, and Dukhat are less prominent Minbari characters....
, who, despite their superior technology, mysteriously surrendered at the brink of the destruction of the human race.
Some episodes in the first two seasons were aired out of their intended chronological sequence. Straczynski has confirmed that the episodes "TKO" and "Legacies" in Season 1 fit between "The Quality of Mercy" and "Chrysalis", and that, in Season 2, "A Race Through Dark Places" should precede "Soul Mates" and "Knives" should precede "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum".
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD DVD A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions.... release date |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere Season premiere In North America, a season premiere is the first episode of a new season of a given television show. It often airs in September or October, after several months of reruns.-Evaluating the changes:... |
Season finale Season finale A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program... |
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Pilot film
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|
Season 1: Signs and Portents (1994)
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season 2: The Coming of Shadows (1994–1995)
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season 3: Point of No Return (1995–1996)
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season 4: No Surrender, No Retreat (1996–1997)
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season 5: The Wheel of Fire (1998)
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other films
| # | Title |
|---|
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
This is a direct-to-DVDDirect-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
production, the DVD contains two 35 minute episodes, each focusing on a particular character. See Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales is an anthology show set in the Babylon 5 universe. It was announced by J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2006...
.
| # | Title |
|---|