very conflict has its defining moment, a crossroads from which there's no turning back. It's the moment when destiny collides with duty—when tough choices must be made, regardless of the personal consequence.
In the Babylon 5 saga, that defining moment comes in "Severed Dreams," the dramatic episode that falls near the midpoint of the third season—aptly titled "Point of No Return"—and at a juncture that also happens to be near the halfway mark for the entire five-year series. Through B5's first two seasons, we followed these characters on their personal journeys, each as different and disparate as the colorful characters populating the Zocalo or Down Below.
Now, in season three, these different journeys converge, melding with the various story threads parceled out across earlier episodes. The story arc becomes irrevocably serialized, with events building on one another fast and furious, even as we get to see subtler slice-of-life storylines play out on the station. Part of the beauty that is B5's third season is that series creator J. Michael Straczynski wrote all 22 episodes, an unusual move that gave the show an unparalleled sense of continuity in both story and characters.
As conflicts ensue and the inevitable Shadow War approaches, the series takes on a darker, more somber tone. That shift is reflected at the start of the season's first episode, "Matters of Honor," which unveils a new theme and title sequence, a new warship, dubbed the White Star, and a covert war council that's spearheaded by the ever-closer Capt. Sheridan (Boxleitner) and Minbari ambassador Delenn (Furlan). And it continues even as pivotal events unfold in episodes like "Voices of Authority," in which evidence surfaces implicating a conspiracy behind President Clark's ascension to power, "Messages from Earth," in which Sheridan strives to destroy a Shadow vessel, and of course "Severed Dreams," in which the command crew of B5 take a stand for freedom against the fascist-style dictatorship on Earth, and Sheridan declares the station an independent and neutral territory.
Many of the individual characters go through their own trials against this dramatic backdrop of change. Sheridan has to decide for himself what defines—and confront his destiny—as does Delenn. Dr. Franklin (Biggs) experiences an addiction, G'Kar (Katsulas) becomes a sage and Zen assistant in the war effort, and Londo (Jurasik) realizes the full consequences of his association with Mr. Morden.
These individual journeys converge in the latter third of the season, starting with the marvelous two-parter "War Without End"—a mythologically complex time travel that explains events from a thousand years ago, and resolves the fate of B5's first commander, Sinclair (Michael O'Hare), and of Babylon 4, which mysteriously disappeared before it became operational, as seen in the first season's "Babylon Squared." The mythological parallels only deepen as the series marches on to its two concluding episodes, "Shadow Dancing" (Sheridan battles the Shadows) and "Z'Ha'Dum" (Sheridan's presumed dead wife returns from the dead, and he returns with her to the Shadow's homeworld to accept his destiny).
The six-disc DVD box set includes three audio commentaries (two by Straczynski, for "Severed Dreams" and "Z'Ha'Dum"), an intro summarizing the season and three featurettes documenting different aspects of production. There's also a section that provides a handful of sound bites that delve deeper into the B5 universe, and bloopers that are hidden deep within.
Content triumphs over presentation
Although B5, the series, got by on a tight budget, and it's not surprising that the DVD looks as if it's doing the same, one can't help but wish the DVDs' navigation menus had a more polished look and higher production values. However, if you value the quality of the content over anything else, then you won't be too disappointed by this set.
As with previous editions, the set includes flipbook-style packaging (warning: the fixture holding the DVDs' plastic inserts to the binding seems to be of a flimsier design than in the past). Also, the menu structure is similarly designed, with its clean, functional lines and easy episode and chapter navigation (including the nice touch of making the episode preview teaser accessible right alongside the episode).
Disc one contains a short intro to the season, with comments from Straczynski and other cast and crew members. Though positioned as an intro, this six-minute segment serves as much as a season overview as it does an intro (spoiler warning: those watching the series for the first time might prefer to save this short segment for later).
The audio commentaries, located under the Special Features section of appropriate discs, are worth a listen, and provide a good mix of entertainment and trivia. As expected, Stracyznski's commentary tracks for "Severed Dreams" and "Z'Ha'Dum" are articulate and entertaining to hear, and they don't struggle to provide forced, shot-by-shot plays through every second of the episode. The "Z'Ha Dum" track offers some terrific insights into the episode, positing (among other things) a philosophical consideration of the fundamental questions of the series: From the Vorlons, the question is "Who are you?", and from the Shadows, "What do you want?"
As easy on the ears as Straczysnki is, the same can't be said for the actors' commentary track accompanying the episode "Interludes and Examinations." Unfortunately, it's much tougher to sit through the ramblings of Boxleitner, Doyle, Biggs and Ed Wasser (the Shadows' crafty associate Mr. Morden); though their enthusiasm and rapport never wane, the near-incessant crosstalk makes the shoutfests on cable news channels seem civilized.
Disc six contains the three featurettes, the Universe of Babylon 5 section, and some lame textual biographies of series producers Straczynski and Douglas Netter. All three featurettes offer solid reflections on the making of Babylon 5; however, with each clocking in at 10 minutes or less, one can't help but wish more care was given to filling out these mini-documentaries.
The first segment, Creating the Aliens of Babylon 5, runs eight minutes and focuses the creation of Narn, Centauri, Minbari and Vorlon makeups. The interviews go straight to the source, spotlighting makeup effects supervisor John Vulich and his Optic Nerve studio; additional comments from Straczynski and producer John Copeland help flesh out the process of creating flesh.
The seven-minute Building a Better Narn sequence goes into far greater depth in showing what's entailed in creating a Narn. Vulich and his willing subject, Marshall Teague (Ta'Lon), go through the process in painstaking detail. (Tip: Don't miss the great shot at the end of the Marshall, in full Narn regalia, driving off in a convertible.)
The final featurette, Designing Tomorrow: The Look of Babylon 5, is headlined by interviews with production designer John Iacovelli, Straczynski, Netter, set decorator Jason Howard and costume designer Ann Bruice Ailing. This segment feels a bit rushed, in spite of its being packed with tons of info and still photos that recall the sets and design processes of B5.
The Universe of Babylon 5 seems rudimentary in graphical design, and a bit arbitrary in its content, but the (mostly) 30-to-40-second sound bites do offer some trivia about B5's universe that neophytes and longtime fans can appreciate. For example, the Shadow Dossier cleverly packages Garibaldi reciting all known info on the Shadows in three minutes or less. The Personnel Files and Data Files are more scattered in their content; the former offers info on lesser characters Zack Allan, Marcus Cole, David Corwin and Zathras, while the latter details the specs and capabilities of the White Star, defines Grey 17, mindwipe, thunderbold and the battle for Babylon 5 (as history apparently remembers the last stand battle in "Severed Dreams").
The best part of the Universe of Babylon 5 is its hidden gift of a blooper reel. (To find the bloopers, click on the lower half of the circle in the center of the Data Files, to highlight the 5.) Three minutes of pure fun, the bloopers show a whole other side to the experience that was B5.
