Story: In the Beginning
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Season: Movie #1
So TNT picked up Babylon 5 for a fifth and final season ,and in the process worked out a deal to produce a few TV movies based on the series. This is the first, though I previously watched the second in the midst of Season 4, as it takes place then. This is a prequel to the series, showcasing the events leading up to and throughout the Earth-Minbari War. It goes through it all, the events that lead up to the war, the entirety of the thing, and all the way up to the Battle of the Line in which Sinclair is captured by the Minbari.
The story is told from the framing of Old Emperor Londo telling this tale to two young Centauri children. I liked the way the story showed us these characters younger, some are only briefly seen, like Ivanova. Others are more prominent, like Delenn and Sheridan. Sinclair shows up via footage already shot of the Battle of the Line, featured in episodes from Season 1. There is probably some new stuff shot to match up with the Sinclair stuff and beef up that scene a bit.
There is some good stuff in this, but I would definitely recommend having seen most everything up to Season 4 before watching this. I’d at least watch through Season 3. Some of the stuff thrown in here could easily spoil certain events that I think unfolded nicely over the course of the series, some of the things wouldn’t really spoil anything, and could easily leave a bit of mystery of things to come. Still, I’m glad I held off on watching this until I had watched the bulk of the series.
A solid film to reintroduce the major backstory of these characters and this story before the final season begins.
NEXT TIME: The Final Season Begins
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