110-Episode Space Opera Is A Masterclass In Sci-Fi Storytelling
Most sci-fi shows set in space look up and speculate about our place in the stars. However, one iconic space opera looks inward and explores our civilizations and geopolitical conflicts through its expansive galactic lens. Owing to this, the show in question still feels timeless even though it first premiered a long time ago.
Created by J. Michael Straczynski (JMS), Babylon 5 was meant to be a television novel. Each episode in the series was treated as a detailed chapter that perfectly tied into a larger pre-planned narrative. Even before the inception of its production, Babylon 5 was planned to have a 5-year arc with five whole seasons.
Unfortunately, as fate would have it, Babylon 5 faced the threat of cancellation after four seasons. Although its fifth and final season still saw the light of day, the cancellation threat slightly marred its narrative momentum. Still, after all these decades, Babylon 5 remains a masterclass in sci-fi storytelling, and more 21st century sci-fi TV shows should learn from its approach.
Babylon 5’s Pre-Planned 5-Year Story Was Unheard Of On Television
Episodic TV reigned supreme back in the 1990s. Some of the most popular ’90s sci-fi shows, like Star Trek: The Next Generation, walked through fresh arcs in almost every episode to ensure viewers could walk in and out whenever they wanted. J. Michael Straczynski, however, hoped to get a little more ambitious than conventional additions to the genre.
He envisioned a grand space opera, Babylon 5, which had a pre-planned 5-year arc. JMS himself wrote 92 of Babylon 5‘s 110 episodes, ensuring that even the smallest details in the series had compelling payoffs much later. Apart from merely planning a long-term story for the series, Straczynski even accounted for production hiccups in his writing.
Realizing that some actors would not be able to commit to his long-term plans for the show, he intentionally set up narrative “trap doors.” Each trap door ensured that an alternative story could emerge if a primary cast member from the series was forced to depart.
With this narrative setup, Babylon 5 maintained strong momentum even when Michael O’Hare (who played Sinclair) had to exit the show. Instead of completely breaking his storyline, JMS’ established “trap door” evolved Sinclair’s existing arc into a brilliant time loop twist.
Babylon 5 Deserves New Life After All These Years (But With 1 Condition)
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Apart from its writing format, Babylon 5 was also known for its geopolitical realism. In its portrayal of space diplomacy, Babylon 5 features no black-and-white heroes or villains. Even some of the darkest characters in Babylon 5, like G’Kar, become incredibly rootable figures, while comical diplomats, like Londo, become victims of fascist ruin.
In its 110-episode runtime, the space opera also does an incredible job of building a fantastical world that feels both real and incredibly human. It features everything from unique alien species to distinct otherworldly religions and spiritual beliefs. Yet, its drama operates on a deeply human level where it highlights how prejudice and economic strain can never cease to exist.
The only aspect of the series that has not aged too well is its CGI. It was visually ahead of its time, but 30 years are enough to make a sci-fi series look dated. Owing to this, it is hard not to see how Babylon 5 is one space opera sci-fi that could really benefit from a reboot. Its reboot, however, will only work if it primarily focuses on improving the original show’s visuals while still following JMS’ original story plan.
Babylon 5 is a science fiction television series set on a space station built by the Earth Alliance. Released in 1994, it acts as a diplomatic sanctuary to preserve peace among various alien races, doubling as a military post and a bustling hub for travelers and traders. As Commander Jeffrey Sinclair and later Captain John Sheridan oversee the station, they become caught in a growing conspiracy and an ancient conflict that threatens the future of the galaxy
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