Story: Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Season: Movie #6
Here we are…at the end. Babylon 5’s final entry came only a few years ago, though 7 years have actually passed since it was released. This is a Direct-to-DVD anthology movie, that features two different stories. Straczysnki had wanted to do a Babylon 5 anthology series before, but nothing came of it. He finally worked it out with Warner Bros. to create a series of Direct-to-DVD movies that would feature two stories each based on the characters in the B5 world, though not necessarily anything to do with the major arcs, just lost tales of our characters in this universe.
The first story in this movie features Lochley, who recruits a priest for an exorcism of some guy. It isn’t very interesting. Lochley is a fine character, and Scoggins does her best with her, but she was always just a last minute replacement for Ivanova, and she never did that much for me. The story itself is dull and just didn’t do anything for me.
The second story is more interesting, and a lot of credit has to go to Boxleitner who really brought this initially dreary experience of watching this thing into something semi-worthwhile. He still knows how to play Sheridan, and it is still fun to watch him. So, just like he had done for the series itself when he came in at the start of Season 2, he saves this DVD from being a totally pointless experience.
Sheridan’s story is about his visit to Babylon 5 for the 10 Year Anniversary of the Interstellar Alliance. While en route he is visited by Galen, who warns him of Earth’s destruction in 30 years. The best part of the whole movie is when Sheridan just get’s pissed because why must he always be shown shitty things like this? He is told that unless he kills a Centauri Prince, he will eventually rise to power and attack Earth. Sheridan frets over killing a young man for the sins of his future, and eventually realizes there can be another way…he decides to try and take the young man under his wing a bit, to hopefully keep him from becoming a hardened prick that will destroy people for the hell of it.
The Sheridan story is pretty light in comparison to most of his arc, but thats what the idea of these Lost Tales was supposed to be. Here are some lesser adventures our character might have had in between or after the major story of Babylon 5.
In a way, it is a shame that this didn't do well and was ceased after only one release…but at the same time Babylon 5 had it’s day and succeeded in what it set out to accomplish in Sci-Fi Television. Straczynski need not beat the dead horse, because it died well originally.
There has been talk of a possible feature film or some other revisit to Babylon 5 by Straczynski, but it seems unlikely. I was unsure about the original show at first, but it won me over and I became a fan. Pretty much the Fifth Season on is rather needless (save for Sleeping in Light), but it is a series I enjoyed overall. It shouldn’t be a franchise, it shouldn’t be revived. It was sort of perfect as that 5-year story, and chances are it will be left that way for a long time, because I don’t think the numbers are really there for a revival. I could be wrong though.
THE END (Most Likely): It’s been fun!
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Season: Movie #6
Here we are…at the end. Babylon 5’s final entry came only a few years ago, though 7 years have actually passed since it was released. This is a Direct-to-DVD anthology movie, that features two different stories. Straczysnki had wanted to do a Babylon 5 anthology series before, but nothing came of it. He finally worked it out with Warner Bros. to create a series of Direct-to-DVD movies that would feature two stories each based on the characters in the B5 world, though not necessarily anything to do with the major arcs, just lost tales of our characters in this universe.
The second story is more interesting, and a lot of credit has to go to Boxleitner who really brought this initially dreary experience of watching this thing into something semi-worthwhile. He still knows how to play Sheridan, and it is still fun to watch him. So, just like he had done for the series itself when he came in at the start of Season 2, he saves this DVD from being a totally pointless experience.
Sheridan’s story is about his visit to Babylon 5 for the 10 Year Anniversary of the Interstellar Alliance. While en route he is visited by Galen, who warns him of Earth’s destruction in 30 years. The best part of the whole movie is when Sheridan just get’s pissed because why must he always be shown shitty things like this? He is told that unless he kills a Centauri Prince, he will eventually rise to power and attack Earth. Sheridan frets over killing a young man for the sins of his future, and eventually realizes there can be another way…he decides to try and take the young man under his wing a bit, to hopefully keep him from becoming a hardened prick that will destroy people for the hell of it.
The Sheridan story is pretty light in comparison to most of his arc, but thats what the idea of these Lost Tales was supposed to be. Here are some lesser adventures our character might have had in between or after the major story of Babylon 5.
In a way, it is a shame that this didn't do well and was ceased after only one release…but at the same time Babylon 5 had it’s day and succeeded in what it set out to accomplish in Sci-Fi Television. Straczynski need not beat the dead horse, because it died well originally.
There has been talk of a possible feature film or some other revisit to Babylon 5 by Straczynski, but it seems unlikely. I was unsure about the original show at first, but it won me over and I became a fan. Pretty much the Fifth Season on is rather needless (save for Sleeping in Light), but it is a series I enjoyed overall. It shouldn’t be a franchise, it shouldn’t be revived. It was sort of perfect as that 5-year story, and chances are it will be left that way for a long time, because I don’t think the numbers are really there for a revival. I could be wrong though.
THE END (Most Likely): It’s been fun!
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