Mack and Bo

Story: The View from the Gallery

Written By: J. Michael Straczynski & Harlan Ellison 

Season: 5

The station is being attacked by an unknown alien force, and we are seeing the events unfold through the eyes of two maintenance guys.  It is essentially the Babylon 5 version of “Lower Decks”, the TNG episode which explored the life of four junior officers on the Enterprise.  For the record that is a fantastic episode, and this is only okay.  It felt a little too self aware at times, and the characters kind of wander into scenes with many of our leads, and then comment on how great they are.  I get the idea, but it feels somewhat self-congratulatory. 

“Lower Decks” was this excellent drama that looked at a show that was winding down from a totally new angle, and managed to be funny and smart and a little sad.  I don’t mean to just compare it to that episode, because B5 and Trek are two different animals, but this is a very similar idea in many ways. This episode is inferior to that TNG episode, but it has it’s moments.  

Mack and Bo were decent one off characters, but they didn’t have too much depth to get too emotionally attached to them.  

NEXT TIME: Lessons for Rangers