Babylon 5's best and worst moments

Demiurge · Post by **Demiurge** » 2005-07-06 01:59pm

From the actual series, not the spinoffs and movies.

Worst moment: any fight scene. Particularly the fight scenes involving Marcus. He was always surprisingly slow with his pike.

One really bad fight scene was the one where G'kar and that other Narn were hissing and waving their arms around.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2005-07-06 03:16pm

By fights I take you to mean personal level brawls because the space fights were mostly awesome.
Worst: Ivanova's 'God sent me' speech from 'Between the Darkness and the Light' is definitely among them.
Best: The conclusions of 'Points of Departure' and 'By any means neccessary' (yes there were good first season episodes. Just not many of them), and Sheridans private apology speech from 'The fall of Night' come to mind.'

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-07-06 04:28pm

Well, discounting the entire first season (which was just GOD AWFUL) ... hmm ... its hard to think of any, although I will echo the fight choreography was lame, I'd have to say Sheridan after he got the 'god complex' - he just annoyed the fuck out of me and when Garibaldi sold him out, I was actually cheering as he got the fuck beat out of him.

Best moment, I don't know, anything with Bester I'd guess.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2005-07-06 04:39pm

Best moment: Sleeping in Light. Brilliant end to the series.

Worst moment: Hard to say. Garibadi fights the alien monster in the missing level sucked hard. As really did most of Deconstruction of Falling Stars.

Both those went WIDE.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2005-07-06 05:04pm

Stormbringer wrote:Best moment: Sleeping in Light. Brilliant end to the series.

Worst moment: Hard to say. Garibadi fights the alien monster in the missing level sucked hard. As really did most of Deconstruction of Falling Stars.

Both those went WIDE.

I actually liked the Deconstruction of Falling Stars; particurlarly the part with the media panel. It really displayed how somone's great accomplishments can be torturously reinterpreted to paint them as a villian.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2005-07-06 05:38pm

The episode consisiting entirely of Sheridan's torture (the name of which I have forgotten) was one of my favorite parts of the series. Worst part?
Hard to say, but a lot of the first season was pretty bad.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2005-07-06 05:48pm

Great scene: The entire episode "The Coming of the Shadows." That was television at its absolute best.

Worst moment: the episode where Franklin's friend shows up with the bio-weapon disguised as a cigar box that turns someone into a super-soldier programmed to kill everyone.

Actually, now that I think about it, it was the episode with the alien probe that asked a whole bunch of questions and would blow up if someone sent them the right answers. That episode was AWFUL, and marred an otherwise good season.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2005-07-06 06:04pm

Actually, now that I think about it, it was the episode with the alien probe that asked a whole bunch of questions and would blow up if someone sent them the right answers. That episode was AWFUL, and marred an otherwise good season.

I dont get why people dont like that episode. I liked the concept, although I havent seen it for years, so bad elements may have escaped me.

CJvR · Post by **CJvR** » 2005-07-06 06:15pm

Master of Ossus wrote:Great scene: The entire episode "The Coming of the Shadows." That was television at its absolute best.

Absolutely that episode was, WOW! "The long twilight struggle" where Londo's little war ended was also great. The Londo/Gkar fued was the best part of B5.

Timov expressing her emotions for her husband was a classic.

Deathwalker was good, after all that trouble the Kosh have her squashed like a bug.

There are so many great moments in B5 it is hard to pick one but "Coming of Shadows" would probably be my pick.

For worst pick, there are many options with some real turkey episodes but the plot line I least enjoyed was the telepath arc so teep related stuff generally rank low. Particulary Garibaldi's little Martian adventure that was more an annoying distraction from the civil war than anything else. When Ivanova issued the "shoot on sight" order I agreed completly.

SpacedTeddyBear · Post by **SpacedTeddyBear** » 2005-07-06 07:36pm

Best moments: Any scene involving G'kar and Londo. Especially in The Fall of Centauri Prime.

Worst moment: Garibaldi encounter with the Zarg.

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2005-07-06 07:39pm

My favorite episodes typically included anything relating to Londo trying not to get Centauri prime glassed over, especially that moment with Reefa's lynching, and Vir waving gleefully at Morden's head on a pike.

Also, the entire Earth Civil War and related things, such as Severed Dreams were quite good. Second, Third, and Fourth season were for the most part wonderful beyond words.

Of course, bad parts. Most of season 1 was bad, but it had to be to set up later stuff. I mean, I thought Zathras was cheesy as hell, until I saw the later time travel two-parter episode that was one of the most brilliant TV episodes of anything I've seen. Em... yeah, the archeologist-nazi-monster episode (ep 3?) was terrible. As was Soultaker. As was Grey 17 is Missing...

Basically, any monster related episodes.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2005-07-06 09:35pm

Worst moment: "Grey 17" Nuff said.

Best Moment: The conclusion of the Earth Civil War.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2005-07-06 09:36pm

One of my favourate scenes still is at the end of 'The Long Night' when Sheridan looks around his office for the last time, then starts the VO of Sheridan reciting part of Tennyson's Ulysses as it slowly pans over the Whitestar and her fighter escort, then the HUGE FUCKING FLEET around it as they accelerate away.

"...and tho' We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are, One equal temper of heroic hearts.
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and NOT to yield"

Then the normal ending credit music was for some reason replaced with part of the season 3 opening theme for some reason...which fit the damatic and frantic idea of the young races stepping out to claim their birthright so well.

There were dozens of other excellent scenes in B5 all over the place...but damnit, that just always comes out as my number 1.

desertjedi · Post by **desertjedi** » 2005-07-06 11:09pm

Best: G'Kar's speech when he is kicked out of the Council by Londo when the Centauri finished their invasion of the Narn homeworld.

"No dictator, no invader, can hold an imprisoned population by the force of arms forever. There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom. Against that power governments, and tyrants, and armies can not stand. The Centauri learned this lesson once. We will teach it to them again. Though it take a thousand years, we will be free."

Worst: That Season 5 episode that focused on Bester and PsyCorp. I was really underwhelmed by the "scope" of the Psycorp. Of course, not including Season 1.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2005-07-06 11:30pm

Best moments:

• Sheridan's announcement that Babylon 5 was seceeding from the Earth Alliance.

• Sheridan's "We have come home" speech to President Clarke and the people of Earth in "Endgame"

• G'Kar's monologue at the end of "Z'ha'dum".

• Bester outlining to the paralysed Garibaldi just how completely he had been used in "The Face Of The Enemy".

• "Mr. Sebastian's" benediction to Capt. Sheridan wishing him better luck on his crusade than he experienced on his at the end of "Comes The Inquisitor".

• The exchange between Sheridan and Elric in "The Coming Of Shadows".

• Elric's pronouncement of Londo's future in "The Coming Of Shadows".

• The Vorlons disposing of Deathwalker, so succinctly summed-up by Garibaldi: "Funny, we finally find a reason to keep Jha'Dur alive, and the Vorlons smoke her for the same reason."

• The climactic moment of "Believers", when Dr. Franklin discovers how completely wrong he could be in a truly tragic moment.

• Sheridan's defiance of Kosh and risking his own death to goad him into bringing the Vorlons fully into the Shadow War in "Interludes And Examinations".

• Lord Refa's final moments on Narn in "And The Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place".

• Vir answering Mr. Morden's question: "I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favours come with too high a price. I want to look up into your lifeless eyes and wave —like this (waves). Can you and your associates arrange this for me?"

• Londo's final dealings with Mr. Morden in "Into The Fire", when he blows up the island.

• Vir finally getting his wish in "Into The Fire".

• The last three minutes of the episode "Movements Of Fire And Shadow".

• Byron making an ash of himself —probably the best Byron moment of the whole series seeing how much I wanted that pathetic little twit dead.

Worst moments:

• Every other scene with Byron.

• The whole of the episode "Grey 17 Is Missing".

Skylon · Post by **Skylon** » 2005-07-07 12:43am

Oh, come now, there were some good season 1 eps.

Anyway, some favorite moments (there are a lot)...

- Refa's death intercut with gospel music.

- The battle in "Severed Dreams" is probably the finest space battle sequence done on a sci-fi TV series.

- The revelation Sinclair was Valen (for those of us who were watching since season 1 had first been on).

- B5's death in "Sleeping in Light", TV never brought me to tears before.

- Londo and G'Kar stuck in an elevator. "Convictions"

- Kosh reveals himself for the first time in "The Fall of Night". It was one of those "duh, why didn't I realize it sooner" moments.

- I have a perverse delight in the "evil" ISN broadcasts of the Clark era. Like when Sheridan was captured "Captain Sheridan is being well treated and fed, and is expressing sorrow for his actions".

- The assassination of President Santiago in "Chrysalis" was the final push that got me really hooked into the series.

Worst:

- "View from the Gallery" Good idea, executed piss-poor.

- Every Byron scene except where he dies.

- "A zarg?! Are you nuts?" - Even JMS apoligized for "Grey 17 is Missing"

- G'Kar's transformation into crappy comedy relief at points in season 5.

- "Grail", the whole episode. I like about two little moments, other than that I find it to be the worst single episode of Babylon 5 produced. At least "Grey 17" had the subplot involving Delenn taking over the Rangers. This had nothing I was interested in.

Civil War Man · Post by **Civil War Man** » 2005-07-07 01:09am

Moments I like:

- Byron dying in a fire
- Refa's death
- Scott Adams asking Garabaldi to help find his dog and cat
- Sebastian: "INCORRECT!" *zap*
- The Handy Dandy Microhelper
- Kosh punching Sheridan with his mind. Insolence, indeed.
- Bester: "Be seein' ya."
- Vir waving

Moments I didn't like:

- Byron when he wasn't dying in a fire
- The season 1 episode with the cyber-zombie assassin
- Most anything that included Delenn as the central point
- Day of the Dead
- Sheridan H. Christ
- Prophet G'Kar, except when he smashes that dense disciple's nose with his book
- Interrogation of Sheridan. Too much like the end of 1984

Argosh · Post by **Argosh** » 2005-07-07 09:10am

Best moment: Any scenes in space with Shadow ships cutting Younger Race's ships apart. Really, look at the Season 1 and Season 2 spacebattles with Shadows, their tactics are

Worst moment: Byron/Lyta sex scene in Season 5. :barf:

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2005-07-07 02:39pm

Best moment: Any scenes in space with Shadow ships cutting Younger Race's ships apart. Really, look at the Season 1 and Season 2 spacebattles with Shadows, their tactics are

Season one spacebattles with the shadows?

Post by **NecronLord** » 2005-07-07 02:45pm

Noble Ire wrote:Season one spacebattles with the shadows?

Replace 'battles' with 'teeth-kickings.' The one that springs to mind is in "Signs and Portents" where the raiders get stomped.

Noble Ire · Post by **Noble Ire** » 2005-07-07 02:47pm

NecronLord wrote:
Noble Ire wrote:Season one spacebattles with the shadows?
Replace 'battles' with 'teeth-kickings.' The one that springs to mind is in "Signs and Portents" where the raiders get stomped.

Ah yes, I remeber that now. As you say, it really wasnt a battle...

Balrog · Post by **Balrog** » 2005-07-07 07:16pm

There are so many, how can one man choose!

(one of the) Best Moment: "Severed Dreams" When, after the intense fighting around B5, another wave of EA ships come in then Delenn jumps in with a Minbari fleet behind her:

"This is Ambassador Delenn of the Minbari. Babylon 5 is under our protection. Withdraw, .. or be destroyed."
"Negative. We have authority here. Do not force us to engage your ship."
"Why not? Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."

Worst Moment: The whole Psy-Corp/Telepath story arc

<--Byron

Post by **Dalton** » 2005-07-07 07:34pm

B5 contains, pound for pound, some of the most spine-tingling and jaw-dropping moments I have ever, ever seen in a television show. Pretty much all of them have been well covered, but my favorite has to be at the end of Z'Ha'Dum, with the Sheridan/Delenn intercut and the swelling music, and G'Kar's monologue at the end. I'm also very fond of War Without End.

Also, I agree with Chrysalis being the ultimate hook for me. When EarthForce One was destroyed...yeah, my jaw dropped. Some truly great television.

B5 also contains, pound for pound, some of the most cringe-worthy moments I've seen. Most of the special effects, for one, because they all looked cheap and crappy to me. Some of the dialogue, simply because it felt unnatural. Especially Sinclair's.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2005-07-07 07:56pm

I agree some of the dialogue was...not fit to comment upon but what was wrong with the special effects? They were certainly not Oscar material but I rather liked the PPG effects, and one of the things I'm proud of B5 for is that they didn't even try to make the CGI space battles look real and instead apparently went 'They're going to look CGI anyway. Let's make it GOOD CGI!'.
About the only complaint I have is that in some of them, considering the number of vessels involved, the intensity of fire exchanged is rather on the low side ('Into the Fire' comes to mind).

Argosh · Post by **Argosh** » 2005-07-08 03:48am

Noble Ire wrote:
Best moment: Any scenes in space with Shadow ships cutting Younger Race's ships apart. Really, look at the Season 1 and Season 2 spacebattles with Shadows, their tactics are
Season one spacebattles with the shadows?

Well, they were rather one-sided with the Narn ships being carved in half quickly.