Science Fiction & Fantasy Reviews (Page 2)

The year is 2257. The setting: Babylon 5, last of the Babylon space stations. After the Earth - Minbari War ten years before, the Earth Alliance had commissioned the building of a neutral port of call for diplomats, refugees and travellers from a hundred worlds. It is now their last best hope for peace since Babylon 1-3 were sabotaged and destroyed, and Babylon 4 vanished without trace 24 hours after becoming operational.

Lyta Alexander arrives to take her place as resident telepath on Babylon 5. Commander Jeffrey Sinclair shows her to her quarters, cutting through the alien sector where the atmospheres and gravitational rotations are adjusted to suit the requirements of individual species. A human has arrived on the station with the throng of visitors. As he schemes behind closed doors, a mysterious limpet-like craft latches on to the hull and begins penetration.

The four main ambassadors operate as an advisory council to their races, like the old United Nations on Earth. Delenn represents the Minbari, comprised of three casts, religious, warrior and worker. Londo is the representative of Centauri Prime; the Centauri are grouped into houses, rather like ancient China, although Londo himself comes across as a gambler and womaniser, an individual nobody takes very seriously. G'Kar is from the Narn homeworld, a seemingly warlike race of humanoid reptilians.

The Vorlon Kosh, the last of the main four ambassadors, catches security off-guard by arriving two days early. No human has ever seen a Vorlon. When Kosh arrives a sudden power loss means Sinclair, chief of security Michael Garibaldi and first officer Laurel Takashima are locked behind a door leading to the docking bay. When it opens they find Kosh has been attacked. They get Kosh to medlab where they plan to open the encounter suit - in which the true being is encased - to assess the injuries. However, the Vorlons refuse permission for security reasons. Doctor Benjamin Kyle is ordered by Sinclair to carry out the tests anyway and he soon discovers that Kosh has been poisoned.

The doctor and Laurel persuade Lyta to perform an unauthorised telepathic scan on Kosh to find out what he saw, because if Kosh dies the Vorlons could retaliate and the consequences would be disastrous. When Lyta experiences a mental image of Sinclair slapping a poison patch on Kosh there is an immediate hearing. G'Kar acts as prosecution, suggesting Sinclair be tried in a court of law on the Vorlon homeworld.

Del Varner, the suspicious human visitor to the station, seems to be the obvious link until he is found murdered in his quarters, putting the frantic investigation back to square one. Having identified the poison, Doctor Kyle begins work on a counter-agent, with time seriously running out for Kosh.

Lyta tries to sabotage the progress of ambassador Kosh by attacking the doctor and altering medlab instruments, but Kyle manages to injure her and stabilise Kosh. It turns out that the aggressor wasn't really Lyta but an imposter. The limpet ship is a short-range vessel large enough to carry only one individual. That person is a shapeshifter, which is why Kosh saw Sinclair attack him. Sinclair and the others trace the energy output required to produce a holographic field, and Sinclair and Garibaldi (with flying recorder in tow) go hunting.

The Vorlon ships arrive demanding that Sinclair be handed over. Laurel patches into the recorder's images and broadcasts to the Vorlons. Kosh recovers, and Sinclair discovers G'Kar's Narn ship brought the changeling to the station, but has no definite proof. He bluffs G'kar into thinking he has swallowed an electronic locator device.

J. Michael Straczynski had carried many of the situations and ideas for Babylon 5 around in his head for five years before he got the chance to write the pilot. The Gathering was the selling point for the entire serial. It was offered around the TV stations and within minutes he would see eyes glaze over. Warner Brothers immediately understood the concept, however. For JMS it was a chance at last to realise his vision. "You just hope it's something close to how you conceptualise it. When I told Warner it was a five-year arc, they said 'You'll be lucky to get ten episodes, what makes you think you'll get five years?' I said, 'We're on a mission from God, all right? That's how I know.' They laughed."

When JMS became executive producer for The Gathering he made a couple of small changes to the finished product and let it go. He now admits that was a huge mistake, because just complaints were aimed at the lack of humour and characterisation, which were left on the cutting room floor. Obviously, he jumped at the chance when T&T offered him the opportunity to reconstruct and edit it for DVD, as part of the 5 TV movie boxset released on region 1. However, the film store which all the takes were in was damaged in an earthquake. Rats infiltrated through the fissures and ate some of the film, and there was additional stock which could not be used. Testament to the fact he learned a lot between the pilot and the first series about how the project should work was the evident complete change in look and feel on this producer's cut of The Gathering. Scenes have been rearranged, extended or edited, and the effects updated to reveal a finished product which naturally falls more in line now with the five seasons and other TV movies; whereas the original format looked a little stilted and felt too cold and clinical whilst still displaying all the makings of a stunningly original show.

Many of Babylon 5's story threads saw their origins first mentioned in The Gathering. There is the fact that Sinclair has a period of amnesia that he can't account for; the mysterious Grey Council, a group of the most influencial Minbari; the Earth-Minbari War, during which the latter astoundingly made the decision to surrender when they were at the point of winning (Delenn was originally to have been a male who becomes a female after metamorphosis, but the production suffered problems with the voice. And on the subject of voices, the studio asked for Patricia (Lyta) Tallman's voice to be looped because it was too harsh, and after the pilot aired they told JMS that she wasn't very convincing! So for this version of The gathering the original voice was used. The Psycorps, of which Lyta Alexander is a registered member, is to become a regular headache for Babylon 5 independent operations in the future.

On the subject of characterisation, Laurel Takashima was the person who was originally going to turn traitor, but actress Tamlyn Tomita didn't feel comfortable in the role so they went for someone stronger. Ed Wasser, who plays ops man Guerra under the orders of Takashima, would later return in a regular role as the Shadows' emissary, Morden. In this pilot G'kar is seen as the overall protagonist. The idea from the start was that JMS would offer a package which we are used to seeing as an audience, and then during the course of the series proceed to take everything we think we know and turn it on its head.

During the vision of the poisoning JMS admits that the patch was slapped on to a human hand which should not have been there. Similarly, why is there water leaking in when Sinclair and Garibaldi look over the damaged limpet (or spider) craft?! However, the pilot showed much promise for the five-year story arc to come. The sets and lighting are top-notch, and the computer-generated effects (innovative at the time) have been updated for the region 1 special edition. The amount of music by Christopher Franke has been doubled for this version. Straczynski could have left the final epilogue out of the re-gig, wherein Laurel announces that Babylon 5 is open for business, but that's a minor quibble.

The new version of The Gathering incorporates an entertaining and informative commentary by J.Michael Straczynski and Production Designer John Lacovelli (he reveals that whenever a member of cast or crew made a mistake the others would say, "There's a hole in you mind."), and an optional introduction to the story. Many changes took place (all for the better) between the recording of The Gathering and the beginning of Season 1, so it's rather ironic that the original format of the pilot was televised at the end of the first season in the US (Channel 4 flew the flag in the UK). Nevertheless, you have to admire the faith and confidence JMS had in Babylon 5; the original ideas, the determination to turn events and characters on their heads (it's all too easy to be protective of your characters), and the plain logic of revealing only the currently relevant snippets of information to the studio executives and particularly the actors, so as not to influence their decisions.

A solid start showing only a tantalising hint of the magic to come over the next five years.

(Review by Ty Power. A shorter version of this review originally appeared on my previous website 2005).

The story so far... Babylon 5 is the last of the neutral outposts, a five-mile long space station designed as a meeting place for diplomats, traders and entrepreneurs, and considered to be the last best hope for peace. Permanently based here are the ambassadors of four prominent races: Delenn of the Minbari, an old race consisting of warrior and religious casts (who also fought a major war with Earth, before mysteriously surrendering when they had the upper hand); Londo of the Centauri, an imperial Romanlike people steeped in blood; G'Kar of the Narn, the reptilian looking race (actually marsupials) which has long lived under the pressure of war; and Kosh of the Vorlons, an ancient race, the identity of which is concealed within encounter suits.

G'Kar extends a hand of friendship, but Londo authorises an attack on a Narn outpost, causing a terrible war. Londo's mysterious allies in the offensive come via a human called Morden. Delenn undergoes a metamorphosis which prophecy dictates will bring the Minbari and human races closer together, and aid in the struggle against the greater threat. Kosh, after revealing his true form (appearing differently to each witness) to save Sheridan from an act of terrorism, becomes even more illusive and somewhat sinister. The greater threat to all races is discovered to be the Shadows, oldest of the First Ones, last seen in local space by other races more than a thousand years ago...

In season three the stakes are raised, there is plenty of upheaval, and nothing ever feels comfortable again. Every event produces major consequences which reverberate through the storylines so that you never discount the possibility of a central character being killed or changed in such a significant way that they effectively become somebody else. Every episode makes for compelling viewing.

Matters of Honor kicks us off in fine style. Londo, realising at last who his dangerous benefactors are, tries to sever his ties with them, an act which proves practically impossible. In the same story, we see the arrival of new regular, Marcus Cole, a representative of the Rangers, a highly-trained unit created by Sinclair, Babylon 5's original commander (during season one) from the Mimbari homeworld - their mission to collect intelligence on the Shadows. Sheridan sets up a regular secret war council with Delenn; and we see the White Star for the first time, a beautiful Mimbari warship incorporating organic Vorlon technology, which can generate its own jump points between star systems. Sheridan is given command of the ship by Delenn.

In Voices of Authority, Susan Ivanova tries to enlist the aid of another race of First Ones in the fight against the Shadows, but receives only a noncommittal reply. In Messages From Earth, Sheridan attempts to prevent the re-activation of a dormant Shadow vessel. Point of No Return sees Earth's current martial law extended to the Earthforce-run Babylon 5, but Sheridan finds a way to combat the Night Watch enforcers. The follow-up, Severed Dreams, has Earthforce destroyers arriving to demand Sheridan's surrender. But Sheridan decides to fight. Sheridan forms a romantic as well as strong political alliance with Delenn, in Sic Transit Vir. In Interludes and Examinations, Sheridan asks Kosh for help in securing a morale-boosting small victory against the Shadows.

So, plenty going on. Television just doesn't get any better than Babylon 5. They say that the best special effects are those which you don't notice. This is never more true than in Babylon 5. This is not so much science fiction, as war, mind games and political intrigue within a science fiction setting.

The characters, stories and situations are so strong and gripping that you quickly forget someone is wearing prosthetics and make-up, and that the wonderfully realised sets are not on a five-mile long station but a huge series of warehouse spaces. And talking of the sets, these have escalated from 12 main sets in the pilot episode, to over 300 by the end of season three.

The computer generated imagery used for the Babylon 5 exteriors, assorted spacecraft and battles, and the jumpgates, was pretty much in its infancy but still looks superb and brilliantly understated today. Just watch the fighter craft being released downwards from the launchbays, or witness a Shadow craft materialising into real space to understand what I mean.

Extras in this case consist of three new documentaries: Behind the Mask: Creating the aliens of Babylon 5; Building a better Narn; and Designing Tomorrow: The look of Babylon 5. There is also The Universe of Babylon 5, containing video data files, personnel files, and a Shadow dossier. Commentaries for two episodes come from series creator J. Michael Straczynski, and a further one from four regular cast members.

Talk of synergy and juxtapositions; this is a series where every component was right, creating a balance you seldom, if ever, see elsewhere. J. Michael Straczynski was a genius to have come up with such a concept and five-year story arc, but he must also be counted fortunate to have assembled such a strong team, both in front of and behind camera.

Buy this to see what you've been missing, and wait with baited breath for the faultless perfection that is season 4. I was going to hold off my maximum points until that coveted season, but this is very nearly as good.

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2003)  

We are Rangers.
We walk in the dark places no others will enter.
We do not break away from combat.
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass.
We do not retreat whatever the reason.
We live for the one, we die for the one.

A Ranger ship is tailing a vessel from a new race which has been responsible for several raids, when it is in return attacked. With the captain dead and weapons down, the highest ranking officer, David Martell, stands down from the chase. Subsequently, he is accused of breaking the Rangers' most strict rule of never disengaging from a fight. He is on the brink of being dismissed, even though his crew realise he made the decision to save their lives and the ship, and stand with him. The Narn Ambassador G'Kar intervenes in the Mimbari Grey Council session (who originally formed the Rangers). He has been asked to find out more about the new race, and sees this as one possibility. Martell is reinstated but as the captain of an old ship which is considered haunted and bad luck. The Valen is a new Ranger ship transporting several diplomats to a colony world. Martell's first job in the old ship is to escort them, but the new enemy attacks and the Valen is lost after ejecting the diplomats in pods, which the little ship collects. Then a spy is discovered in their midst...

The Legend of the Rangers was intended to be the pilot episode of a spin-off series from the first-rate Babylon 5, originally planned prior to the 13-part Crusade spin-off. In fact, it even carries a typical Straczynski poetical title: To Live and Die in Starlight.

Whilst far from being the best charge from the impressive Babylon 5 canon, it is jam-packed with potential. There's intrigue from the start, not so much from the story but rather the situations - the actual environment the characters are placed in. The decor and technology is purposefully different to that from the five-year arc that was Babylon 5. References are made to events which have gone before, but it's to the writer's credit that no prior knowledge of the programme is necessary. Also, for the old fans there is the comfortable slippers effect to carry you over this transitional period, with the return of Christopher Franke to the music composition (missing for Crusade), and of course the presence of G'kar.

I realise it takes time to accept a new format and particularly new faces; however, in truth it's the actors that let the side down. Not the entire cast, but I would change the majority of the main players. I grew to like Gideon in Crusade; David Martell in Legend is another matter. He seems to be a stereotypical young captain of the 1960s Captain Kirk ilk, with little or no personality whatsoever. Of the nine new crew members of this old dilapidated ship - comprising 4 human, 3 Minbari, 1 Narn and 1 Drazi - I would retain only two. The others are faceless. Weapons and tactical expert Sarah Cantrell, from Mars colony, simply makes herself look foolish when she slides into a weapons station which shows her surrounded by space. Her body flips over and she hurls firepower by physically punching and kicking it out, the ship responding to her movements. On paper this is a sensible science fiction idea, but on film it's so cringeworthy that you actually feel embarrassed for her. When she quickens her movements, anger rising, you just want to laugh.

The two characters which stand out like a shining light are the Minbari Dulan and the Drazi Turk. Since the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars it's no new idea to have a small bucket-of-bolts ship as the central focus. The film Event Horizon gave us the notion of a haunted spacecraft, but that was the ship taking on its own dark sentience, whereas in this instance the previous crew is dead but still present. It's a nice touch to have Dulan being a sensitive and the only person able to see the individual crew members.

The potential for story plots based on this alone are endless. When the new crew introduce themselves to each other in the traditional Ranger manner of revealing their name and something about the inner psyche, the Drazi Turk hesitates before announcing enthusiastically, "Turk... Drazi... I carry very large things..." Turk doesn't pretend to be anything he's not. Slightly slow, but very strong and useful, he's obviously intended as the light relief. Unsurprisingly, G'kar is the best character here, with many of the best lines (the moment when he peeks into the cowl of a Council member is priceless), but he's not meant as a regular.

With only two decent portrayals it might make you think The Legend of the Rangers has nothing going for it. All I would say is look to The Gathering, the feature length Babylon 5 pilot. Between that and the first episode pretty much of the style and structure had changed quite drastically, and many from the main cast were replaced. When the Region 1 version of the Babylon 5 TV Movie Box Set was released with the full five films, it came with a super-improved cut of The Gathering, proving just what can be achieved with the nucleus of a good idea.

Enjoy, and imagine the possibilities.

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2005) 

The year is 2267 A.D. The Shadow War is long over and the Psicorps has been officially disbanded. However, a new threat comes in the form of the Drakh Plague. After fending off a Drakh offensive of Earth, the human homeworld is obliged to quarantine itself. The Drakh have left behind a microbial, biogenetic plague which, after the estimated five years it will take to adjust to our biology, will kill everyone on the planet. Captain Matthew Gideon (Gary Cole) is given command of the Excalibur, the latest and fastest exploration ship Earth has, and a mission to do whatever is necessary to find a cure or combatant to the plague...

Other assembled key crew members include Lieutenant John Matheson (Daniel Dae Kim), Gideon's First Officer and the first telepath to be admitted in to Earthforce; Max Ellerson (Daniel Allen Brooks), a sometimes hot-headed and selfish but expert archaeologist and linguist; Dureena Nafeel (Carrie Dobro), an accomplished thief and locksmith; Dr. Sarah Chambers (Marjean Holden), the ship's medical doctor; and Galen (Peter Woodward), a powerful Technomage who uses science to simulate magic. Also credited among the regular cast is Captain Elizabeth Lochley (Tracy Scoggins), the character from the latter part of Babylon 5, but with the series having it's plug pulled after only thirteen episodes it's a case of spot the Lochley. Answers on a postcard please. I suppose I should also mention that Dr. Stephen Franklin (Richard Biggs), the Babylon 5 medical officer, guest stars in episode thirteen. Unlucky for some; we'll blame him then, shall we?

Crusade  is a spin-off series from the situations created in Babylon 5. In fact, the Babylon 5 TV movie A Call to Arms sets the scene with the Drakh battle and the first action of the Excalibur.

The good thing is it's not necessary to have any knowledge of that TV movie, as this pretty much starts afresh. In theory, this show would have run a similar five-year arc as the Babylon 5 series, and it's sad that we never got to appreciate its full potential.

I know that J. Michael Straczynski is working on an original feature film set in the Babylon 5 universe, but perhaps he might take the Joss Whedon path on Firefly and attempt to rekindle the series with a movie. Let's hope so.

Crusade starts slow but soon gets moving. One of the most difficult arrangements to pull off convincingly is tackled in practically the first scene. The multiple fist-fight comes across as being more than a little contrived, and also in the first episode  John Matheson does little more than release a half-smile every now and then. He's a character that will gradually grow on you, although at times you'll want to shake him in to some sort of activity.

By the second episode the show is already well into its stride, supported by two main strengths. The first is the writing of J. Michael Straczynski, which is as tight and plot-driven as ever. As with Jeremiah, Straczynski's most recent TV serial, you can instantly tell which episodes he has written himself because the quality of output is so much better. Thankfully, of the thirteen parts collected together in this attractive package, all but three are written by the man himself.

The second strength is the character of Galen, brilliantly portrayed by Peter Woodward (son of Edward). Galen has some of the qualities of the first Kosh in Babylon 5, but is significantly more multifaceted. He makes infuriatingly vague comments, he comes and goes like the wind, gives the Impression of being all-powerful and all-knowing when he's clearly not and, best of all, his quirky enthusiasm for the smallest events hook you and reel you in. Galen turns a good show into a great show.

One of the best episodes, in my humble opinion, is The Long Road, in which Edward Woodward plays a Technomage trying to scare away strip minors from his adopted planet. There's plenty of twists and turns, and the victims are not beyond using ruthless means to get their way. It must have been quite strange for Peter Woodward to play against his father.

Extras include commentaries for two episodes, The Making of Crusade  documentary, and Forging Excalibur: describing the layout and capabilities of the starship.

This set is well worth a look, as long as you don't expect a conclusion to the Plague story; the nearest you'll get is a hint at a new experiment in the episode Each Night I Dream of Home. It didn't bother me. I just wished for more.

All hail Straczynski.

(Review originally written by Ty Power for sci-fi-online 2004)