Story: Thirdspace
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Season: Movie #2
This was the second Babylon 5 film to be released, and was actually released during a small hiatus in the fifth season. I am watching and reviewing it here because from everything I’ve read, it takes place within season 4, most likely between episodes 8 and 9 (I guess it even clears up some continuity errors too). So with the background that it was shot and released later, but taking place within this timeframe...let’s begin!
Mostly, this is a standalone story. It doesn’t heavily rely on continuity, though it is clearly mentioned as taking place “between wars”, and it is clear that this is not long after the Shadow War ended. I’d assume the next war is the war that is currently being built up with Earth. I haven’t seen the whole season, but I’d safely assume that is where it is heading. But you really don’t need the context of the whole season or where this really fits in chronologically, as the story definitely stands on it’s own two feet.
So Ivanova completes a mission, and on her way back to the station she discovers something huge, a great big huge artifact in space. They hall it back to the station to figure out what it is. Not long after, archeologists show up to investigate it, despite the current quarantine of B5 sanctioned by Earth. Soon people start acting weird, they do things that they are clearly not in control of, and they begin fighting each other.
The artifact turn out to have been created by the Vorlons, as explained by Lyta who is possessed by some leftover bit of Vorlon from the past (whatever that means). She explains what the artifact is, a jump-gate the Vorlons built to reach heaven essentially, but it just unleashed powerful beings from another universe, who can only get in when their door, and our door are open. So Sheridan has to close the door...with a nuke.
It is a fairly straightforward story, not too many subplots, but it focuses the story and keeps moving. It has some pretty great action, and some of the best CGI I’ve seen on this show. The CG of Sheridan in a spacesuit making his way to the artifact while all these ships are shooting lasers around him is pretty great.
I enjoyed this movie. It doubt it needed to be seen in this order, but I’m glad I watched it, and took a break from the ongoing stories of season 4.
NEXT TIME: Franklin and Marcus Head to Mars
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