Babylon 5

The sci-fi series Babylon 5 is a must-see for anybody who enjoys a touch of grit and filth in their tales of the future, concentrating in this instance on a space station built to preserve peace in a galaxy plagued with warring aliens. Diplomacy's efficiency is only one of the many difficult themes covered in this episode, which also examines the development of authoritarianism when you least expect it, the realism of being a hero in a vast galaxy, and the continuing popularity of Bugs Bunny cartoons. There's never a terrible moment to return or discover this one for the first time, especially now that it's available in HD on HBO Max.

The primary plot arc of Babylon 5 takes place between the years 2257 and 2262. The show shows a future in which Earth has a unified Earth government and has developed technology enabling faster-than-light travel using 'jump gates,' a type of wormhole technology that allows travel across the other realm of hyperspace. The Earth Alliance is made up of colonies throughout the solar system and beyond that have made contact with other spacefaring species. Ten years before the series begins, Earth narrowly avoided annihilation at the hands of the technologically superior Minbari, who sought vengeance when an Earth spaceship unintentionally murdered their leader during first contact, only to surrender unexpectedly on the verge of triumph.

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Created by: J. Michael Straczynski
Cast: Bruce Boxleitner, Michael O'Hare, Claudia Christian, Jerry Doyle, Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Andrea Thompson, Bill Mumy, Jason Carter.