I don't have much time today but I thought I would mention that there is soon to be a new DVD released of Babylon 5 stories with many of the original actors. From what I read the stories are interconnected (a little confused about HOW!) and happen about 10 years after the interstellar alliance begins. The "
Lost Tales of B-5" will be out at the end of this month and can be pre-ordered at the usual websites - Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com. I really suggest you don't bank on stores like Walmart and Costco carrying the DVD; B-5 isn't popular in the same sense Harry Potter, Star Trek or Star Wars are popular, its more like the 'Firefly' series in appeal, popular among a small group of fans who both love & know what science fiction is and what makes great science fiction but totally lost on the vast majority.
Its a bit too meaty for children and your usual T. V. viewers - its not sexy soft porn nor is it a soap opera or a Mafia fantasy - it is the story of real people caught in the historical patterns of their era struggling as we all do, to do the right thing when faced with difficult choices. It reminds me of some of the great novels of the golden age of Science fiction and real science fiction fans (You know the kind, they have read everything that Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradberry ever wrote and they actually had a model of the Enterprise in their bedroom when they were 16, that is me and people like me!) are the people, who, in adulthood will most cherish its complex and endlessly deepening plot lines & finely crafted characters.
I always found Star Trek a disappointment after I grew up - it wasn't deep enough, though I liked 'Deep Space 9" a bit more than STNG - it became more and more a disappointment as my political sensibilities grew mature and I became aware of m ch of its world-views stated or implied. I threw up my hands in despair whenever Wesley Crusher walked into a scene. And Star Wars endlessly disappointed me after the first trilogy was over (the first set of three seemed to really work at being true myth!) and it has never been more than a bunch of moving shapes, since that time. I must comment that the excuses for Darth Vadar's fall from grace were laughable and nonsensical - as if the author never really grew up or learned the depths of the human soul; it was a child trying to make up a story about adults instead of an adult telling a story about a fellow adult ! The second trilogy was a complete and utter failure no matter how much money it made and I grew to hate Jar-Jar almost as much as Wesley Crusher.
B-5 is for ADULTS and many of its most important themes are some of the deepest & sincerest concerns a human can aspire to in adulthood: sacrifice, duty, honor, service, mercy as forgiveness, courage in all of its shades, knowing right from wrong, commitment to the good and the right, putting the good of the many before personal desire, rejection of fear in all its forms, fearlessness when faced with death and the ability to surrender to fate and necessity in dire situations.
Did I also mention that it has fine Character development so well crafted that they become real identifiable individuals when it is watched through all five years that the show ran? (I should mention there are various movies and two short spin-off shows that happen in the same universe all worth watching!) I consider Sheridan, G'Kar, Delenn and Marcus Cole friends of the family, so to speak. I particularly liked G'Kar, the reptilian Narn, who seemed just a rage-filled (one note) alien when the story opened , yet, matured into both a leader of his people and a man who overcame his inner rage, becoming a soul of incredible beauty by the end. I can honestly say I would be honored to have such a friend.
' I did find a "My Space" website devoted to the new DVD I am no fan of "My space" but I suggest a go-see anyway. I have heard some pretty bad things about the place but I suggest its a bit like 'down below' - keep your hand on your weapon and stay alert!
Though a bit clunky here is the Warner Brothers website
what it lacks in style it makes up in lack of content. I think what I find most impressive with Babylon 5 is that it is a story I would have been very proud of writing, myself. It's a real masterpiece for its author, JMS, and it was a successful attempt to put great science fiction on T.V.. Using only the Amiga computers of that era for the special effects its special effects are still quite outstanding. It had great space battles, moving emotional scenes and a story line that covered billions of years of galactic history, what more could anyone want? Its a good job, its coherent and true to itself and its chief failing is that it had to end. I will admit, though, I am not that big a fan of the last season, but that is another matter entirely and is something that could be debated among fellow B-5 fans but no where else.
I think one of the things that impressed me most about B-5 is that while JMS is not a religious man himself he treated religious themes and individuals with more respect than I have ever seen on any other T.V., except maybe Firefly. It is an amazing thing to watch my culture and religion treated with the respect and awareness that it deserves, as a Christian Gnostic, I was honestly amazed how many times he said truly very preceptive things about Christianity.
The Lurkers website is one of the oldest devoted to the show and has a great deal of content. Well, I hope I have inspired fans to go back and watch the series once again, and buy the new DVD. I hope I have inspired the uninitiated to seek out Babylon 5 series and watch all 5 years.
