| Babylon 5 is my favorite sci-fi series. While watching the second season, I decided to start ranking them. Since I had already gone through that effort, I decided I might as well make a web page of those rankings. I don't tend to watch a whole lot of television, and my tastes are rather varied. The shows I've gone out of my way to watch: This Week (formerly, with David Brinkley), The McLaughlin Group, Hardball (with Chris Matthews), The Tick, Animaniacs, Babylon 5, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'd love to see what the ratings guys would think of me. Note: The scores for seasons 1 and 5 were decided on well after watching the shows, while those for seasons 2 through 4 were chosen almost immediately after seeing the episode. Also note that the summary should be enough to remind people who have seen it before which episode it was, but not enough to truly spoil anything for those who haven't. At least, that was my goal. If you're particularly spoiler-sensitive, it would probably be best not to go beyond the season summaries.
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To understand my rankings:
For reference, my favorite non-B5 episode, "The Best of Both Worlds, Part 1," from Star Trek: The Next Generation, would rank at about 9.2. |
| Season Summaries: |
| Season_One: High: 9 |
A decent start as sci-fi series go. I liked how Sinclair was played: tough as nails, dangerous but in control, a good commander. Many weakly written episodes, but a few gems, and great improvement toward the end. After seeing "Grail" I was curious. After seeing "Babylon Sqaured" I was enthusiastic. After seeing "Chrysalis" I was hooked. |
| Season_Two: High: 10 |
The most inconsistant season, with my favorite episode, and a couple of real losers. Despite its relatively low average, it's my second-favorite season, on the strength of the good episodes, and the remembrance of "discovering" the show. |
| Season_Three: High: 9.5 |
All-around excellent. My favorite season. The relatively poorly ranked ones (5 and lower) at least had a decent sub-plot. Writing, acting, special effects: all of them were quite solid throughout. |
| Season_Four: High: 8 |
The most consistant season. A huge amount of plot movement, little filler. Probably due to the fact that most indications were that this would be the last season. Aside from the unsatisfying conclusion to the Vorlon/Shadow conflict, very solid. You won't lose too much if you stop right here, as if it were indeed the last season. |
| Season_Five: High: 7 |
Something of a let-down. There were a few times where it seemed like the characters were expressing JMS's frustration with the viewers, but the stories simply didn't seem to be as well written. I didn't care for the whole telepath arc, and I think the Lyta/Zack storyline took a wrong turn. I'm glad that it exists, but the series would be more solid if it didn't. Possibly my least favorite season, due to the let-down feeling. |
| SEASON ONE (2258) (Season title: "Signs and Portents") | ||
| Score | Episode | Short-short summary |
| 3.5 | The Gathering | Kosh arrives; Vorlon problems; Lyta scans; Londo drinks; G'Kar irritates |
| 3 | Midnight on the Firing Line | Raiders annoy; Narn attack Ragesh 3; Santiago re-elected |
| 4.2 | Soul Hunter | Soul Hunter/Delenn/Sinclair |
| 6.7 | Born to the Purple | Londo/Adira |
| 1 | Infection | Franklin/old professor/alien biotech |
| 3.5 | The Parliament of Dreams | G'Kar taken; Na'Toth vs Tu'Pari |
| 4.7 | Mind War | Talia/Jason Ironheart/Psi Corps |
| 3.7 | The War Prayer | pro-Earth group vs. Delenn/Ivanova/Sinclair |
| 4.5 | And the Sky Full of Stars | Sinclair captured; VR interrogation; one secret revealed |
| 4.3 | Deathwalker | Struggle for immortality formula |
| 1 | Believers | Doctor/patient religious clash |
| 5 | Survivors | Garibaldi framed; conspiracy implications |
| 3.5 | By Any Means Necessary | Dock strike |
| 6 | Signs and Portents | Morden appears; the Eye; Londo/Seer |
| 1.5 | TKO | Garibaldi's friend/alien fight; Ivanova/Rabbi |
| 6 | Grail | Aldous/Jinxo/Deuce/True Seeker |
| 4.7 | Eyes | Col. Ben Zayn vs. Sinclair |
| 4.2 | Legacies | Neroon vs. Sinclair re: missing body; young telepath |
| 4.7 | Voice in the Wilderness I | Epsilon 3 tremors; Great Machine found |
| 6 | Voice in the Wilderness II | Struggle for Great Machine; Draal |
| 8.5 | Babylon Squared | Babylon 4 is back; Zathras; The One |
| 4 | The Quality of Mercy | Healing machine |
| 9 | Chrysalis | Morden/Londo deal; Garibaldi discovers plot; Clark/Santiago; Delenn fulfills prophecy |
| SEASON TWO (2259) (Season title: "The Coming of Shadows") | ||
| Score | Episode | Short-short summary |
| 5.7 | Points of Departure | Sheridan arrives; Minbari problems |
| 4 | Revelations | G'Kar warns; Sheridan's sister; Franklin heals Garibaldi; Delenn awake; Narn/Shadow Boom; Morden |
| 8.7 | The Geometry of Shadows | Ivanova promoted; Green/Purple; Londo/Technomages |
| 2.5 | A Distant Star | Explorer ship; Food plan |
| 1.6 | The Long Dark | Old Earth sleeper ship |
| 3.5 | A Spider in the Web | Talia, Free Mars, Murder, Bureau 13, Control |
| 7 | Soul Mates | Londo's Wives; Talia's Ex. |
| 5 | A Race through Dark Places | Bester bested; telepath underground; Delenn date |
| 10 | The Coming of Shadows | Centauri emperor; G'Kar/Londo/Refa; Rangers |
| 1 | GROPOS | Franklin's father; Garibaldi/Dodger |
| 8.5 | All Alone in the Night | Sheridan and Streib; Grey Council and Delenn; General Hague visits |
| 5.3 | Acts of Sacrifice | G'Kar asks for help; Narn/Centauri feud; Social Darwinists |
| 5.5 | Hunter, Prey | Fugitive from Clark; Bay 13 |
| 5.5 | There All the Honor Lies | Sheridan/Minbari self-defense trouble; Merchandizing |
| 4.7 | And Now for a Word | Narn/Centauri M.A.D.; ISN report |
| 3.5 | In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum | Morden/Sheridan interrogation; Narn refugees; Night Watch arrives |
| 3 | Knives | Londo's old friend |
| 1 | Confessions and Lamentations | Markab disease |
| 7 | Divided Loyalties | Lyta returns with warning |
| 9 | The Long, Twilight Struggle | Narn/Centauri turning point; Draal meets Sheridan |
| 2 | Comes the Inquisitor | Kosh/Delenn/Inquisitor; G'Kar rallies Narn |
| 6.5 | The Fall of Night | Narn Cruiser seeks help; Earth takes sides; Keffer investigates; Kosh revealed |
| SEASON THREE (2260) (Season title: "Point of No Return") | ||
| Score | Episode | Short-short summary |
| 5.6 | Matters of Honor | Earth investigator; Londo/Shadows; Sheridan receives info. |
| 6.5 | Convictions | Bomber; Monks; Lennier/Londo/G'Kar |
| 5 | A Day in the Strife | Alien bomb; Narn Gov; Franklin stims; Vir to Minbar |
| 4 | Passing Through Gethsemane | Lyta returns; Monk's hidden past |
| 5 | Voices of Authority | First Ones; Political Officer; Nightwatch |
| 7 | Dust to Dust | Bester, drug; G'Kar's turning point; Vir returns |
| 2.5 | Exogenesis | Memory Aliens; Marcus; Promotion |
| 6.5 | Messages from Earth | Insane Shadow; Marcus; Nightwatch |
| 8 | Point of No Return | Earth Crackdown; Nightwatch; Centauri Seer; G'Kar released |
| 9.5 | Severed Dreams | B5 secession, fight |
| 6.5 | Ceremonies of Light and Dark | Delenn kidnapped; Rebirth ceremony; Londo redeemed; Marcus |
| 5 | Sic Transit Vir | Vir wife; Centauri/Narn |
| 5.5 | A Late Delivery from Avalon | "Arthur"/G'Kar/Delenn |
| 8 | Ship of Tears | Bester vs. some Psi Corps; G'Kar joins |
| 8.5 | Interludes and Examinations | "Direct Confrontations with the shadows begin in earnest." |
| 7 | War Without End, Part I | Sinclair returns; Zathras; B4 mission; Sheridan unstuck |
| 8 | War Without End, Part II | Continue B4 mission; The One; Londo prophecy revealed |
| 5.5 | Walkabout | Lyta tests; Franklin walks |
| 5 | Grey 17 is Missing | Delenn/Marcus/Neroon; Garibaldi's bad day |
| 7 | And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place | Londo/G'Kar/Refa; Sheridan strategizes |
| 7.5 | Shadow Dancing | Light vs. Shadows; Franklin painfully enlightened |
| 8 | Z'ha'dum | Sheridan's past leads him; Shadows threaten |
| SEASON FOUR (2261) (Season title: "No Surrender, No Retreat") | ||
| Score | Episode | Short-short summary |
| 5 | The Hour of the Wolf | Alliance problems; Cartagia mad; G'Kar search; Ivanova/Delenn/Lyta search |
| 6 | Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi? | G'Kar search problems; Delenn urges strike |
| 7 | The Summoning | Zack follows a clue; Delenn struggles; Dramatic entrance |
| 7 | Falling Toward Apotheosis | Vorlons fight; Cartagia mad; Kosh II BOOM |
| 6 | The Long Night | Alliance prepares strike; Londo plots vs. Cartagia; More First Ones |
| 4 | Into the Fire | Vorlon/Shadow (anti?) climax |
| 7 | Epiphanies | Bester/Z'ha'dum; Clark vs. B5 take I |
| 2.5 | The Illusion of Truth | ISN vs. B5 |
| 7 | Atonement | Delenn to Minbar: dream; Marcus and Franklin to Mars |
| 6.5 | Racing Mars | Franklin/Marcus at Mars; Sheridan/Garibaldi confrontation |
| 6 | Lines of Communication | Franklin/Marcus deal Mars; Delenn meets Drakh |
| 6 | Conflicts of Interest | Garibaldi: new job; Voice of Resistance begins |
| 5 | Rumors, Bargains, and Lies | Sheridan/League pact; Delenn/Neroon try to deal |
| 6 | Moments of Transition | Delenn surrender; Bester/Lyta deal; B5 commits re: Earth |
| 7 | No Surrender, No Retreat | B5 at Proxima 3; Londo/G'Kar ally |
| 7 | The Exercise of Vital Powers | Garibaldi meets Edgars; Lyta contacts frozen telepaths |
| 5 | The Face of the Enemy | Franklin/Lyta begin Mars plan; Sheridan snared; Edgars falls |
| 5 | Intersections in Real Time | Sheridan's Inquisitor |
| 6 | Between the Darkness and the Light | Garibaldi captured; Ivaonova vs. Earth's Black Projects |
| 8 | Endgame | Sheridan's strike; Clark falls; Marcus decides |
| 7 | Rising Star | Earthgov/Sheridan deal; League grows; Ivanova promoted; Londo rises |
| 8 | The Deconstruction of Falling Stars | The rest of far future history |
| SEASON FIVE (2262) (Season title: "The Wheel of Fire") | ||
| Score | Episode | Short-short summary |
| 5.5 | No Compromises | New Captain; Telepaths seek sanctuary |
| 7 | The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari | Londo's hearts; apology |
| 6 | The Paragon of Animals | Sheridan vs. League re: principles; Garibaldi recruits teeps |
| 6 | A View from the Gallery | Mack and Bo carry on while station attacked |
| 5.7 | Learning Curve | Minbari Rangers-in-training face DownBelow |
| 4 | Strange Relations | Bester tries deal with teeps; Garibaldi confonts Lochly; Londo's bodyguard |
| 3 | Secrets of the Soul | Hyach secret revealed; Byron/Lyta... |
| 5 | In the Kingdom of the Blind | Byron/Alliance ultimatum; Londo to Centauri Prime; loony Regent |
| 4.5 | A Tragedy of Telepaths | Teep situation worstens; raiders continue; Na'Toth found |
| 3.3 | Phoenix Rising | Bester/Byron/Garibaldi breakpoint |
| 6.3 | Day of the Dead | Rebo and Zooty; Brakiri celebration; Visits from the past; Odd closing line |
| 5.7 | The Ragged Edge | Garibaldi to Drazi, grim outlook; G'Kar's fans |
| 4.2 | The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father | Bester, rookie Psi Cops vs. mind shredder |
| 5.2 | Meditations on the Abyss | Lennier discovers source of raiding |
| 5 | Darkness Ascending | Lennier returns; Lise visits Garibaldi; Lyta tries to strike a deal |
| 6.2 | And All My Dreams, Torn Asunder | Reveal evidence; Londo, G'Kar to Centauri Prime; Zack/Garibaldi stress |
| 6 | Movements of Fire and Shadow | Centauri escalation; Weird weapon systems; Delenn, Lennier attacked |
| 6.5 | The Fall of Centauri Prime | Sheridan vs. Alliance ships at Centauri Prime; Londo realizes fate |
| 5 | Wheel of Fire | Lochley/Garibaldi help; G'Kar hides; Lyta arrested |
| 5.5 | Objects in Motion | Garibaldi/Lise to Mars; G'Kar/Lyta away |
| 7.2 | Objects at Rest | Alliance to Minbar; Franklin to Earth; Number One in Intelligence; Lennier shamed |
| 4.2 | Sleeping in Light | 2281; reflection |