The 10 Best Babylon 5 Episodes Ever

In the first season, “Babylon Squared'' raises questions that persist throughout the series, engaging viewers in long-running mysteries.

The crux of the episode revolves around the return of Babylon 4, the station that preceded the Babylon 5 station, but went missing years prior.  Sinclair and Garibaldi set out on a mission to rescue the crew of the mysterious station. 

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While many fans will admit that Babylon 5 began with a shaky start, it found solid footing in “Chrysalis.” 

Drawing the first season to an eventful close, “Chrysalis'' weaves together engaging subplots with dramatic series-altering shifts, and builds momentum for the second season. 

Delenn morphs into a Minbari-human hybrid, in an attempt to better bridge the divide between the two species. Meanwhile, Garibaldi dives into the recent death of an informant, putting his own life in danger as a shocking assassination changes the Earth Alliance forever.

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Though this episode begins with an attempt at reconciliation, it ends with galactic war. 

 “The Coming of Shadows” follows a series of sharp calculations and treacherous political maneuvers, advancing expansive story arcs. 

After arriving on Babylon 5 to reconcile with Narn Ambassador G’Kar, the Centauri Emperor's health deteriorates. As he nears death, Lando and Refa subvert hopes at peace and launch an attack on a Narn colony. Working in tandem with the Shadows, their attack throws the universe into chaos. 

The episode also features Garibaldi receiving an ominous message from the long-absent Sinclair, which helps to set the stage for another war to come.

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Featuring covert schemes and the end of a brutal war, “The Long Twilight Struggle” has some must-see moments. But what steals the show — or the episode, in this case — is a particularly-stirring monologue. 

With the Narn cornered, the Centauri devise a ruthless plan to bring the enemy to their knees. Benefitting from the help of the Shadows, the Centauri are able to drive the Narn to surrender, a decision  which is formalized in an emotional scene between Ambassador G’Kar and Londo. 

As the war between the two races is brought to a crushing conclusion, the looming troubles with the Shadows become more clear.

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A two-part episode, “War Without End” features the reemergence of past characters, and paints a fuller portrait of the Babylon 5 universe.

Set at the height of the Shadow War, this episode contains a variety of unique missions. With the return of Sinclair, those on Babylon 5 begin to take on daunting tasks across space and time. 

Sheridan must travel to the future, while other characters revisit the past in an episode that reveals the history of Babylon 4.   

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Coming in the middle of the third season, “Severed Dreams” brings loads of fast-paced action to a show that often relies more heavily on its dialogue and intrigue. 

As the conflict within the Earth Alliance finally erupts into a full-fledged civil war, “Severed Dreams” marks the culmination of long-building tensions. 

President Clark’s attempts to consolidate power lead Sheridan to secede from the Earth Alliance, sparking an attack from a fleet of warships under orders from Earth. 

A thrilling episode,“Severed Dreams” not only became a fan favorite, but also won a Hugo Award in 1997, beating out Independence Day  and Star Trek: First Contact  to win Best Dramatic Presentation.

The Season 3 finale “Z’ha’dum” brings to light crucial information about the Shadows, and has a massive impact on episodes to come. 

Sheridan’s wife arrives on Babylon 5, surprising many who assumed she was dead. She requests that Sheridan accompany her back to the planet Z’ha’dum, leaving some — including Sheridan — suspicious. With an explosive ending, this season finale left fans reeling. 

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Centered on Earth’s Civil War, “Endgame” features Sheridan’s efforts to defeat President Clark and his increasingly oppressive regime. Hoping to free Earth from Clark’s iron grip, “Endgame” brings a much-awaited development to the series, and showcases a gripping battle as Sheridan enlists the help of other races to weaken Clark’s forces. 

Sheridan’s forces battle the colony on Mars and then on Earth, but reveal that President Clark’s erratic behavior is the biggest threat of all.

The finale of Season 4, “The Deconstruction of Our Falling Stars” offers a unique perspective on the series. It reaches a million years into the future, to share the magnitude of the events that have unfolded over the course of the first four seasons.

Ultimately, the episode showcases the long-term impact of the crew and their heroism. Visionary in its scope and thoughtful in its execution, “The Deconstruction of Our Falling Stars” stands out from much of the show.

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Unsure whether they would be renewed for a fifth and final season, the creators of Babylon 5 filmed “Sleeping in the Light” at the end of the fourth season. While the episode would have been a fitting conclusion to Season 4, it instead became a touching series finale.

Set two decades after the Shadow War and Sheridan’s return from Z'ha'dum, “Sleeping in the Light” centers on Sheridan’s final meeting with the most memorable and well-loved characters aboard Babylon 5. 

As he nears his death, Sheridan and his old friends recount their experiences over the years. With emotional exchanges, the episode gives viewers a fleeting glimpse of each character's life, as well as the life of the Babylon 5 space station.