B5 Season 5

I've now finished all of season 5 of Babylon 5 and it was way better than I remembered.

When it was first broadcast, I remember being diasppointed that the season didn't really match the previous ones with the defeat of the Shadows.

Well, it still doesn't but it's still good. It follows two (maybe three) storylines. The future of the telepaths (and Bester makes a fairly regular appearance in the first 12 episodes) and the fate of Londo and the Centauri.

The later story was more interesting as it featured Londo and G'kar who always made great scenes together. Basically, this sets up the events in "In the Beginning". So I suppose that JMS could be criticised for not finishing the story within the season and for having such a crap title for what is actually the last story featuring many of the characters.

As I've said before, I really didn't like Byron, the leader of the rebel telepaths. There was just something about his moral high ground, silly hair style, chatting-up Lyta, pathetic wimpiness that really annoyed me every time he was on screen. I'm pleased Bester eventually got to take him out.

It was a shame that the telepath wasn't resolved within the confines of season 5. I'll have to read the books to find out what happens there.

All the above seems like I'm moaning. I'm not. This was great entertainment with brilliant characters (even Elizabeth Lockley introduced at the beginning of the season integrates well, although I did miss Ivanova).

Best episodes. No.s 17 "Movements of Light and Shadow" and No.18 "The Fall of Centauri Prime".