Babylon 5: Season 5 [DVD] [1994]

Season 5 beguins with the introduction of a new character ( Captain Lochley ) played by Tracy Scoggins. The captain like in funny TV ploys turns out to be Sheridan's first wife, but the story does justify this later on. The first major story is that of the rogue telepaths allowed to stay onboard Babylon 5. This story places Lyta Alexander at the forefront of the action and acts to develope her charcter and the story later on.

The next story plot is the conflict with the Centauri Republic. This story elaborates on the connection between the Drakh who were first mentioned in season 4 and were the allies of the shadows. This story also relates to the apotheosis of Londo Mollari, this is shown in 'The Fall Of Centauri Prime'.

'Sleeping In Light' Set 20 years after the shadow war acts as fitting farewell to the show. Like my fellow fans I was quite moved by this episode, the last few scienes are particularly emotional.

A lot of people have knocked this season unjustifiably. This final season was the most dark and emotional of the 5 seasons but stands out for its excellent character developement and resolution. I personally was quite moved by the stories presented thoughout this season.

Regarding the missing scene at the start of 'The Fall Of Centauri Prime', this error seems to have been resolved ( well at least on mine anyway ). Thanks to my fellow customers for mentioning the fault, hence the reason I waited before I made my purchase.

GOODBYE BABLYON 5 YOU ARE BOTH MISSED AND NOT FORGOTTEN

As 2262 begins, things are looking up for our characters. The Alliance has been formed and Sheridan is taking office as its first President. The station itself is getting a new captain as Elizabeth Lochley steps in for Ivanova who has left to captain a ship. But things soon take a dark turn. Sheridan agrees to let a colony of rogue telepaths live on the station. Their interactions with Lyta Alexander change her profoundly. Some mysterious force is attacking members of the Alliance. And Londo and G'Kar try to solve the mystery of the royal court back on Centauri Prime.

This season is not as strong as the seasons preceding it. Because this was a last minute save, all plot lines had been wrapped up in season 4, and it takes a few episodes to get the ball fully rolling forward again. Personally, I loved Ivanova, so I miss her absence in this season as well. While watching this set, I realized why else this season isn't a favorite. It's much darker. We see Londo's final fate, Garibaldi hits the bottle again, and Lennier makes some poor choices. My final complaint is the endings left open involving Lennier and Sheridan and Delenn's unborn son. While this season may be dark, it is still powerful and moving drama that pulls you in and doesn't let you get. Especially if you've spent the four previous years with the characters. Fans can't help but watch this to get the next chapter in these character's lives.

And this doesn't even touch the final episode. Filmed as part of season four, it's set 19 years in the future and does include Ivanova. If that episode doesn't move you, nothing will.

If you've bought the previous season sets, you know exactly what to expect here. The episodes are presented in widescreen with some grain and dust in the picture. The full surround audio makes an impressive display of the soundtrack. Extras include the intro to the season on disc one, three commentary tracks, documentaries on the digital effects and fans and other merchandise related to the show and personnel and data files and the season gag reel. This set features three scenes from "Sleeping in Light" that hit the cutting room floor, a first for any of the sets. And there is an Easter egg to look for as well.

It's unfortunate that this series couldn't go out with quite the bang fans had hoped for. Still, this is a good end to a great series that all fans will want to have on DVD.

Season Five begins very ploddingly in a time of peace and explores the setting-up of the new alliance with the former Captain of Babylon 5 John Sheridan as its President. The new Captain of the station Elizabeth Lochley is very likable almost immediately- despite being written to oppose almost every regular on the show before she's even got both feet through the whooshing space-doors- but she is in my view a very solid replacement for Susan Ivanova, who especially gets the chance to shine in the "River of Souls" TV Movie made at the same time as this season.

The telepaths invited to start a colony on the station are one of the two main subjects of the season, but it's not until episode seven that this storyline picks up pace and becomes absorbing. But even then- after the so-called "telepath war" was alluded to more than once in previous seasons- it's somewhat of a disappointment when you consider what could have been had Straczynski chosen to really take on such a large story-arc and all that it entailed ethically, socially and politically for the universe of Babylon 5. The telepaths' story, which comes at a time between their exploitation by Earth Gov. in the past and the war (between them and the "mundanes") that's to come...is an interesting one, but the main problem is that as a group they are largely uncharismatic and with the exception of their leader- mute, which doesn't make for thrilling viewing. But on the flip side this story does provide Patricia Tallman (Lyta Alexander) with the screen-time she deserves and also some fantastic character dilemmas to sink her teeth into and that's reason enough for me be glued to my seat throughout this season. And once it gets up some momentum the storyline and the characters involved do make for compulsive viewing. The second subject of the season I won't give away for those who haven't seen it before, but it's much more thrilling than the telepath story-arc and also ties in with the finale of the show and also the fabled Babylon 5 feature film, which has yet to materialise...

Every season of Babylon 5 is marked by at least one superlative episode that takes every revelatory idea, every glimmer of brilliance and every subtle exploration into what it means to be human to extraordinary heights and it's no surprise that "Sleeping in Light," the episode in the fifth and final season of Babylon 5 and the finale of the show as a whole...is the episode for me, which attains that inexplicable goal. Even though I hadn't followed the programme from the beginning- when I saw this episode for the first time I was moved to tears, such was the power of the feeling and ability of all those involved in its making and I dare anyone not to react in the same way. The last thing you'll want to hear is that this episode alone is worth the price of the box set, because that implies the rest is below par. Well unfortunately...it is to some extent, but this is Babylon 5- it's still an awesome season, so buy the set for every episode, all 22 and be more than pleasantly surprised by a gem of an episode right at the end.