Top Five Favorite Episodes of "BABYLON 5": Season One (1994) "Signs and Portents"

Below is a list of my top five (5) favorite episodes from Season One (1994) of "BABYLON 5". Created by J. Michael Straczynski, the series starred Michael O'Hare, Claudia Christian, Jerry Doyle and Mira Furlan: 


TOP FIVE FAVORITE EPISODES OF "BABYLON 5":  SEASON ONE (1994) "SIGNS AND PORTENTS"



1. (1.13) "Signs and Portents" - In this episode, a Centauri noble comes to Babylon 5 to transport an important Centauri relic in Londo's possession back to the homeworld. And a mysterious man named Mr. Morden visits all the alien ambassadors in order to ask them an unusual question.






2. (1.08) "And the Sky Full of Stars" - Commander Sinclair is kidnapped and interrogated by two war veterans determined to prove that he had betrayed Earth at the Battle of the Line, during the Earth-Minbari War.






3. (1.20) "Babylon Squared" - The previous Babylon station, Babylon 4, reappears at the same place it had disappeared four years earlier. Sinclair and Garabaldi lead an evacuation team for the station's crew. The story concludes in Season Three. Meanwhile, Ambassador Delenn is summoned by Minbar's Grey Council and is asked to become the new leader.






4. (1.22) "Chrysalis" - In the season finale, Delenn commences upon a physical transformation, Ambassador Londo Mollari receives an offer from Mr. Morden to deal with a problem regarding the Narns, and Garabaldi uncovers a deadly conspiracy against the President of Earth Alliance.






5. (1.12) "By Any Means Necessary" - Following a fatal accident in the station's docking bay, an increasingly exhausted Sinclair is forced to deal with a potential labor uprising. And Ambassador G'Kar has to get a replacement G'Quan-Eth plant for an important religious ceremony.

Understanding "BABYLON FIVE" (4.06) "Into the Fire"

UNDERSTANDING "BABYLON FIVE" (4.06) "INTO THE FIRE"

I have seen the Season Four episode, (4.06) "Into the Fire" on numerous occasions, since I first started watching "BABYLON 5" some thirteen years ago.

My opinion of "Into the Fire" had always been somewhat lukewarm in the past. When I first saw it, I assumed it would be another episode that featured a large-scale battle - similar to episodes like (1.13) "Signs and Portents", (3.10) "Severed Dreams" and (4.15) "No Surrender, No Retreat". There were battle sequences featured in "Into the Fire", but to the extent that I would consider it an action-heavy episode.

Sue me. I was young and stupid in those days. I thought a top-notch "BABYLON FIVE" episode should always consist of a large-scale battle. But I finally saw the light. I finally understood what "Into the Fire" was really about. Well, I take that back. I have always understood since I first saw it. But I was so disappointed by the lack of a real battle that I allowed the message to pass over my head.

But not this time. Anticipating to be bored out of my mind, I finally allowed J. Michael Straczynski's message to filter through. I finally understood and accepted the messages about parental or colonial figures letting go and allowing the young - whether they were individuals or nations to grow in their own ways. And in the end, it brought tears to my eyes. Much to my surprise. Thank you Mr. Straczynski for a first-rate television episode. And please accept my apologies for allowing so many years to pass before finally getting the message.