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Babylon 5: Season 2
"And Now for a Word" takes the unusual step of presenting a day-in-the-life of B5 seen through the eyes of a TV news crew, just as the Narn declare war on the Centauri. The inclusion of a PSI-Corps commercial paid homage to Paul Verhoeven's satirical ads in Robocop (1987). In "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum", Sheridan learns that Morden was on the ship on which Anna died, this episode seeing the Captain pushed to his limits by grief and determination to discover why Morden survived. Three exceptional shows conclude the year. The Narn-Centauri war escalates in "The Long, Twilight Struggle", Sheridan faces a most unusual ordeal in "Comes the Inquisitor", while in "The Fall of Night" all hope of peace is shattered as a nerve-wracking assassination attempt reveals a startling secret about Ambassador Kosh. On the DVD: Babylon 5--Series 2 presents all 22 episodes anamorphically enhanced at 16:9, with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Originally shot with eventual widescreen presentation in mind, the programmes looks far better than they did when broadcast. The effects shots, reformatted from full-screen CGI, show occasional pixilation, but the new compositions are more dynamic than the old 4:3. Always a show with powerful audio, the remixed soundtrack is rich and involving, if lacking in the bass punch and complex layering of much more expensive cinema productions. Extras are an introduction to Series 2 (eight mins) and Building Babylon: Blueprint of an Episode (13 mins), is a perfunctory promotional piece. More interesting is Shadows and Dreams, an eight-minute feature on B5's two Hugo Awards. Three episodes have commentaries, with J Michael Straczynski examining the politics, mythology and production of In the Shadow of Z'Ha'Dum and The Fall of Night, and stars Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian and Jerry Doyle have a decidedly low-brow laugh-fest through The Geometry of Shadows. There is an alternative French soundtrack and subtitles for the hard-of-hearing. --Gary S Dalkin
RRP: £56.99
Our Price: £13.48 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Captain John Sheridan (Bruce Boxlietner) arrives on Babylon 5 in the first episode of the second series, "Points of Departure", which marks the handing over of command of B5 to Sheridan from Commander Jeffery Sinclair (actor Michael O'Hare had become a victim of studio politicians who wanted a bigger star in the leading role). This excellent instalment also reveals more about why the Minbari surrendered to Earth at the Battle of the Line when they were on the verge of victory. "Revelations" explains that Sheridan's wife, Anna, died during an archaeological survey of the world Z'ha'dum, the name being just one of many oblique references to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. "The Geometry of Shadows" introduces the Technomages, characters who featured more significantly in the ill-fated spin-off series Crusade (1999), while "The Coming of Shadows" proved to be Babylon 5's finest hour. The story of political intrigue foreshadowing the fate of two of the major characters won the Hugo award for the Best Dramatic Presentation at the 1996 World Science Fiction Convention and proved so powerful that J Michael Straczynski included it in his Complete Book of Scriptwriting.
The coming of war
Review date: 2008-04-20 Rating: 10 out of 10
This second series of the utterly brilliant Babylon 5 ups the anti considerably from the previous series with the outbreak of war between the Narn and Centauri, the rise of the Shadows and insidious organisations operating out of Earth. This year also sees changes at the top with Commander Sinclair being replaced Captain Sheridan, a hero of the Earth-Minbari War and a man with dangerous secrets of his own.
This series of Babylon 5 is when it starts to stretch ahead of other shows of its genre, with a greatly fascinating and involving plot that has been brilliantly written and competently acted. This series also sees a greater (if still small) role for Ambassador Kosh, my favourite character from the entire series. Babylon 5 also continues to have some good guest stars make appearances such as Carmen Argenziano. There are many episodes in this series that I could choose as my favourite as this is a very solid series with very few duff episodes but in the end I would have to choose the penultimate episode `Comes the Inquisitor' simply for Wayne Alexander's brilliantly sadistic portrait of the Vorlon Inquisitor Sebastian. Series two of Babylon 5 is one of the best from the shows run and I cannot recommend the enter show highly enough.
Similar Products
- Babylon 5: Season 3
- Babylon 5: Season 4
- Babylon 5 : Season 1 [1994]
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- Babylon 5: The Gathering [1993]
Reviews
And so it begins..
Review date: 2006-06-10 Rating: 10 out of 10
Season two of Babylon 5 begins with a shock: the station's brooding Commander, Sinclair, is reassigned and replaced with the charismatic and gung-ho Captain Sheridan as portrayed by Bruce Boxleitner in full charm mode. This change proved amazingly fortuitous and well-judged, helping to ease new viewers into the show without burying them under the weight of the series' mythology (in reality Michael O'Hare's departure was amicable, and he would make two further guest appearances). This almost doesn't feel like the same show at all: costumes have been subtly redesigned, sets have been redressed and expanded, and B5 as a series suddenly seems to exude a confidence and self-belief that was never present in season one.
This is also the year when things begin to happen, with the slow build up in the plot culminating in the premise-altering and award-winning episode The Coming of Shadows, and the second half of the season dominated by the first of the many major wars to occur in the B5 universe during the series' run. We begin to see big changes in the characters, with Londo completely abandoning his drunken persona as he takes the first steps along his dark and fateful path, and the previously scheming G'Kar's transformation into a noble, spiritual and persecuted individual. We also see the first hints that all is not well with the Earth Alliance. The dialogue and humour are sharper, there are not so many dud episodes (though there are still a few, especially early on), and the established universe we know and love suddenly becomes truly engrossing. The series finale demonstrates just how much B5 has matured and changed in a single year, and is genuinely jaw-dropping. It also promises great things to come.
Once again this is a great DVD set, with documentaries, a hidden gag-reel, and a further two commentaries by JMS. Best of all is the cast commentary on the classic episode Geometry of Shadows - the camaraderie and fun experienced by all involved in making the series is one of the things that most helps endear it to fans. Season 2 is where B5 began to garner viewers and accolades, and looking back on it it's not all that difficult to see why..
The Best TV Show in the world, EVER!
Review date: 2005-04-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
Listening to J. Michael Straczynski (creator) find fault with various aspects of this season in his commentary on the DVD, I was aghast. This season has NO faults Mr Straczynski! Even at his more light-hearted jibes I found myself strongly disagreeing and through no sense of loyalty to this series, but simply because this is incredibly well made television that has weathered the past decade extremely well. I guess this is the creator's prerogative, but my honest opinion on this second season is that the make-up/set-design/storyline/special-effects, all aspects that he expressed the desire to improve on, I believe...cannot be bettered.
Having now collected all the other DVD season box-sets of Babylon 5, I'm now pretty sure (even though it's torture to decide) that season 2 is my favourite- the quality of all the episodes is incredibly high, which might explain how a couple of storylines are reminiscent of later episodes in later seasons.
The season finale is the pinnacle, because it marks that now familiar point in the Babylon 5 universe when the viewer suddenly learns a whole lot more than he or she knew before, but still is blissfully unaware of this being only the tip of the Babylon 5 ice-burg. And that's the particular beauty of this season- revelation.
Even though there were radical character changes at the beginning of season 2, you can still relive them and not be bored by these transitory moments, Sheridan's arrival is still fresh and intriguing, just as the various developments from the first season remain to this day.
I'm not writing this review to convert non-believers, because I've found that an almost impossible task (even though new-comers would have no trouble watching season 2, as an introduction to the B5 world), but for all B5 fans wondering which DVD box-set should be their principle purchase- I'm telling you that this is it!!
P.S. Episode "Comes the Inquisitor" - is one of my all-time favourite episodes of Babylon 5 and of television in general- you will be glued to your seat!!!
Buying Shadows!
Review date: 2004-03-09 Rating: 10 out of 10
I would recommend any sci fi enthusiast to go and buy this DVD , Babylon 5 is generally regarded as the greatest sci fi show ever completed for television- the fact that this five year arc was completed makes it unique viewing in itself. Its original , fresh , highly thrilling and deeply moving in places. This story of destiny , choices and fate is perhaps the only television attempt at true science fiction . And it works. The break away from self contained stories is what makes B5 such a joy to behold. It's a shame Farscape suffered from the thing that gave B5 momentum. I started at season 2 though, because this is where the show really gets going , and I didn't like season 1 , so I skipped it! I had no problems with the magnificent story arc , it all made sense. Skilfully produced the CGI sequences will take your breath away , they still look better than anything done today, quite brilliant. I wouldn't worry about the occassional lack of picture quality though , this is how the show went out originally and I had no problems with the picture or sound quality. Great stuff! Buy this you will not regret it!
Comin of Shadows
Review date: 2004-02-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
Season two of B5 is when things start to get serious. Gone are the trivial episodes and there is less of the portentious scene setting. By the end of the season everything has changed. Even the lighting on the sets seems more ominous.
You'll find other comments on the Hugo winning 'Coming of Shadows', but for me the best episode was the dark 'The Long. Twilight Struggle'. Straczynsky elevates the level of writing considerably in season 2. We even get two significant dream sequences to ponder the significance of. Character's personalities change, and the stage is set for many future events.
The effects in the latter half of the season are exceptional, and again, 'the Long, Twilight Struggle' makes brilliant use of CGI - it's rare that you feel emotionally moved by computer graphics, but in combination with the script and some actually very good acting (from Jurasik/Molari and Katsulas/G'Kar) you really feel pulled into the terrible conflict between the NArn and Centauri.
Series 2 is where B5 gets seious. If you don't buy season 1, this is a good place to start.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Bruce Boxleitner
Claudia Christian
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900241687
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2003-05-26
Number of discs: 6
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 924 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1994-01-26
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)