The 30th anniversary of the Babylon 5 franchise was marked last year with the release of Babylon 5: The Complete Series on Blu-ray. Now available on Amazon for $75, this comprehensive collection offers a nearly 50% discount from its original launch price.
Included in this Blu-ray set are all 110 episodes of the series, along with the 1993 feature-length pilot, Babylon 5: The Gathering. Additionally, for those aiming to round out their collection, Babylon 5: The Road Home, a CG-animated feature film released last year, can be purchased for $18 on Amazon.
What distinguishes this iteration of Babylon 5 from previous releases is its remastering in high definition, providing fans with a crisper portrayal of J. Michael Straczynski’s pioneering work.
Set against the backdrop of ’90s sci-fi prominence, Babylon 5’s utilization of CG technology for its space station and interstellar engagements outshone its contemporaries, particularly Star Trek, which relied predominantly on practical effects and models.
While these visual effects may now appear somewhat dated, they were groundbreaking in their time, captivating audiences with their innovation.
Another distinguishing feature of Babylon 5 is its meticulously planned narrative, with all five seasons of the show plotted out in advance. Straczynski, a seasoned television creator, had a long-term vision for the series, a storytelling approach that would later become more commonplace in the industry.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Babylon 5 unfolds on the eponymous space station, serving as a nexus for a diverse array of human and alien civilizations striving for interstellar harmony.
However, amidst these aspirations for peace, there are formidable adversaries bent on plunging the galaxy into conflict, with each season centering on escalating threats to cosmic stability.
