The Ziggurat of Doom

The Fool has requested that I compile a list of Babylon 5 eps, similar to my previous compilation of Buffy eps. Thus, I have done so, like the dancing monkey that I am.

As per other requests, I am currently compilings lists of recommended books. Also, recommended cats.

Unmarked episodes on the hip and joint supplement for dogs

list are included due to arc importance. Episodes included due to overwhelming awesomeness are indicated as non-arc. Episodes that suck, but matter anyway, are similarly marked. Please note that B5 is replete with foreshadowing and tangential arc-y bits, so skipping a lot of eps, even non-arc eps, will probably cause an overall decrease in enjoyment.

Disclaimer: I’m a huge B5 dork, so it’s possible I overrate some of the eps. Also, big fan of Ivanova, Londo, and Kosh, so those eps are more likely to show up.

Season 1: Signs and Portents
Pilot: The Gathering - This two-hour movie is craptacular. It was made substantially before the rest of the series, and the sets, costumes, makeup, and acting all blow donkey balls. Nonetheless, it has several vital arc-related elements, and a great deal of unsubtle foreshadwoing. I suggest you suffer through it. But only once.
1×01: Midnight on the Firing Line
1×03: Born to the Purple
1×05: The Parliement of Dreams (non-arc, but home of some of the best Londo quotes in the series)
1×06: Mind War
1×08: And the Sky Full of Stars
1×12: By Any Means Necessary (non-arc, but an excellent episode)
1×13: Signs and Portents
1×18-19: A Voice in the Wilderness, Parts I and II
1×20: Babylon Squared
1×21: The Quality of Mercy
1×22: Chrysalis
Season 2: The Coming of Shadows
2×01: Points of Departure
2×02: Revelations
2×03: The Geometry of Shadows (only tenuously arc-related, but hands-down, one of the best eps in the series for comedy and mythology)
2×07: Soul Mates (very tangential to the major arc, but a great Londo-centric ep)
2×08: A Race Through Dark Places
2×09: The Coming of Shadows
2×11: All Alone in the Night
2×12: Acts of Sacrifice (low arc-content, but much Ivanova-related hilarity)
2×13: Hunter, Prey
2×14: There All the Honor Lies
2×15: And Now For a Word (limited arc-ness, but a neat presentation)
2×16: In the Shadow of Z’ha’dum
2×19: Divided Loyalties
2×20: The Long, Twilight Struggle
2×22: The Fall of Night
Season 3: Point of No Return
3×01: Matters of Honor
3×04: Passing Through Gethsemane
3×05: Voices of Authority
3×06: Dust to Dust
3×08: Messages from Earth
3×09: Point of No Return
3×10: Severed Dreams
3×11: Ceremonies of Light and Dark
3×13: A Late Delivery from Avalon (only arc content is some background info, but a great episode overall)
3×14: Ship of Tears
3×15: Interludes and Examinations
Fuck it. Everything else in the season, except for 3×19 - “Grey 17 is Missing”, which is a great ep anyway.
Season 4: No Surrender, No Retreat
The whole season.
Special mention: Episode 4×22: The Deconstruction of Falling Stars. My personal favorite ep, and widely considered the best (and the TRUE ending of the series).
Season 5: The Wheel of Fire
Everything EXCEPT:
5×04: A View from the Gallary (which is a neat ep anyway)
5×05: Learning Curve
5×11: Day of the Dead (which is an AWESOME ep anyway, and written by Neil Gaiman!)
The Movies, in Review:
In the Beginning: The full story of the Earth-Minbari War. An excellent film.
Thirdspace: Feels like an extended episode of the series. Strong horror theme.
The River of Souls: A few excellent moments, and some interesting questions and answers about the B5 universe andmythology, wrapped in a fairly passable movie.
A Call to Arms: Several good ideas, a unique soundtrack, decent acting, and an Enormous Space Penis.
The Legend of the Rangers: Once again, a couple of good ideas, in the middle of a fairly mediocre movie. Lamest shipboard weapon control ever. EVER.