The Audio Guide to Babylon 5
Summary: This is a book club without books, an episode-by-episode walkthrough of one of the most influential and important modern SF series. Each podcast begins with a spoiler-free discussion of the episode for new viewers, then we give listeners a jumping-off point and switch to a discussion of how the episode fits into the five-year history of the show.
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- Artist: Chip, Erika and Shannon
Podcasts:
For our first Extra edition of The Audio Guide to Babylon 5, Chip welcomes “Mojo,” senior computer animator during B5’s first three seasons and pilot, working with Ron Thornton’s Foundation Imaging. Be amazed at the raw processing power of the computers used to make “The Gathering”! Learn just how groundbreaking Foundation’s work was! Find out just what it … Continue reading EXTRA: B5 Animator “Mojo” Interviewed →
“It’s the end. But the moment has been prepared for.” In this pop culture-poaching edition of B5AG (seriously, we apologize for the Scarecrow and Mrs. King theme) we bring The Incomparable‘s Jason Snell back for something of a regeneration story (OK, that’s our last Doctor Who reference. Ish.) as we welcome the arrival of Bruce Boxleitner as Captain … Continue reading Episode 23: “Points of Departure” →
The first-season finale is upon us! Joining Chip, Erika and Shannon to tackle “Chrysalis” in a bumper edition of The Audio Guide to Babylon 5 are B5 newcomer Steven Schapansky and longtime fan (and Adventures with the Wife in Space author) Neil Perryman. We talk about revelations and turning points, DVD mastering and pajamas. Thank … Continue reading Episode 22: “Chrysalis” →
It’s the penultimate episode of Season 1, the calm before the storm, in which the worlds of the Minbari warrior caste and Earth’s Psi Corps collide in the presence of a human teenager. We’re talking “Legacies,” complete with an “I was right” dance by Chip.
Erika, Shannon and Chip debate the finer points of mixed martial arts and wonder aloud what happens when you have an episode without a discernable “A” plot. Grab a Zima and sit back!
Danger, Will Robinson! OK, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s enjoy a nice little reunion between two Lost in Space veterans (except they never actually share the screen) and learn the “finer” parts of Centauri physiognomy (“finer” is not meant literally). It’s a legal medical thriller and a barroom brawl thoroughly inhabiting … Continue reading Episode 19: “The Quality of Mercy” →
Just a little, inconsequential story about that predecessor station to B5 that disappeared without a trace, right? Presenting “Babylon Squared,” with all of the signs and portents it entails. And because you can’t do a podcast about “something squared” with just three hosts, we brought in our guest L.M. Myles from Doctor Who: Verity! to … Continue reading Episode 18: “Babylon Squared” →
It’s two, two B5 episodes for the price of one, as Erika, Shannon and the convalescing Chip tackle both parts of “A Voice in the Wilderness.” What did they think of the mystery of Epsilon 3? Did the Great Machine’s choices of Sinclair, Londo and Draal make any kind of sense? And what did Steven … Continue reading Episode 17: “A Voice in the Wilderness” →
Erika and Shannon are joined once more by Steven Schapansky of Radio Free Skaro to talk about an episode in which all of Sinclair’s chickens come home to roost. If you were one of those fans who wondered how the character could keep sidestepping Bester, military bureaucrats and politicians, “Eyes” cheerfully tells you, “He can’t!” … Continue reading Episode 16: “Eyes” →
Erika and Chip are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One only has eyes for David Warner. The other would prefer a date with a na’ka’leen feeder than to watch “Grail” again. How does Shannon hold it all together? And who’s our special musical guest? (That last one’s easy. It’s the fantastically anthemic rockers out … Continue reading Episode 15: “Grail” →
J. Michael Stracynski once described certain B5 episodes as “WHAM” episodes, episodes that kicked the series arc forward or had otherwise momentous events. “And the Sky Full of Stars” was the first. This is a bigger one. Or so Chip repeatedly and excitedly enthuses. To paraphrase Mr. Morden, “So tell me what ya want, what … Continue reading Episode 14: “Signs and Portents” →
Union-busting and horticulture come together in a surprisingly good mixture, as the Dockworkers’ Guild, an officious Senate negotiator, Londo and G’Kar combine to give Sinclair his worst 48 hours yet. There’s a lot of stubble and open-collar acting, but also an intriguing look at the world behind the space station. Won’t you join us for … Continue reading Episode 13: “By Any Means Necessary” →
“Podcasting again, Uncle Mike?” Garibaldi has a Really Bad Day, but that’s peanuts compared to what almost happens to the Earth Alliance President. We reflect on what happens when Ivanova and Kemmer let their hair down, Garibaldi lets his guard down and Sinclair just tries to be everyone’s Dad. (Got spoilery thoughts about this and … Continue reading Episode 12: “Survivors” →
Chip: “This is such a depressing (but good!) episode, I’m thinking about editing in a medley into the podcast somewhere to sort of lift our spirits. You know, The Partridge Family theme, Pharrell’s ‘Happy,’ that Ren and Stimpy ‘Happy Happy Joy Joy’ song…” Jason Snell, host and leader of The Incomparable family of podcasts and this B5AG‘s special … Continue reading Episode 11: “Believers” →
Na’Toth goes nuts. Earth makes a deal for immortality. A genocidal maniac plots her greatest revenge. And a good cigar is a Cuban. It’s “Deathwalker,” wherein one of the quieter races on the B5 Advisory Council flexes its muscle and Talia contemplates leaving the service industry. Who’s on Team Abbut?
