We geeks create antagonism where none is necessary (Star Wars vs Star Trek, DC vs Marvel, PCs vs Macs, GameCube vs PS2 vs X-Box). But sometimes, in the case of fiction, a later work can make an earlier one pale in comparison. B5 made me realize that my tastes had been compromised — bastardized, even — by too much Star Trek. I'd always suspected the kid was a slacker, but it didn't really sink in until the neighbour's child became an overachiever.
On both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, it was common for the Enterprise to be taken over by aliens. After a while, I got used to this plotline, evening coming to expect it with quiet resignation. By the time B5 started airing, I couldn't help but expect Babylon 5 (the space station itself) to be overrun by some kind of hostile force. And I kept expecting it for five years, the entire run of the series, because that's what's supposed to happen. But it never did. There were battles in and around the station, but nobody ever took over B5 itself. I never had to suffer through the equivalent of Captain Kirk or Captain Picard trying to figure out a way to outsmart the invading aliens. Finally, I realized that a show could be engaging and exciting without that tiresome, predictable plot device.
But Babylon 5 unintentionally showed up Star Trek in other important ways:
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Permanent Changes
One of B5's greatest strengths was its ongoing narrative. You had to watch the entire show chronologically, without missing any episodes, to really appreciate the epic storyline. And you were rewarded with many changes that weren't only important, but permanent. This was much more satisfying that the reversals that often occurred on Star Trek. Some of Star Trek's most blatant examples occurred in the movies. During the first three (The Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock), James Kirk was promoted to Admiral, it was revealed he had a son named David, the Enterprise was destroyed, and Spock died. Yet by the end of the fourth film (Voyage Home), Kirk had been demoted back down to Captain, David was killed off, a new Enterprise was built, and Spock was resurrected. We were right back to where we'd started. All those changes had been for nothing. These were the sort of cop-outs Star Trek was often guilty of.
Character Development
Compare the characters in the first season of The Next Generation with its final season, and there is almost no change. After seven years, Picard and his crew had barely grown. This is even more true of The Original Series; you can watch the seventy-nine episodes in any order, since character development was never an issue.
Article comments
1 - visualsimplicity
I loved Babylon 5, although I don't and never really watched any of the Star Trek stuff, but didn't Deep Space Nine have permanent consequences? (but you did site that as a rip off) Anyway, I thought the best part of B5 was the Shadow Wars. I was deeply disappointed when the networks left the B5 writers in limbo and as a consequence, forced the writers to end the Shadow Wars. I thought the aftermath of the Shadow Wars was a bit anticlimatic and lost most of my interest in the series. A shame really.
2 - dal_timgar
I consider your criticism reasonably accurate but unfair.
I started reading science fiction novels in 1961 so I always knew Star Trek wasn't great sci-fi, but it was television, in the 60's. To some extent all later Treks are trapped by that heritage. Babylon 5 had a blank slate to start with and the Star Trek legacy to learn from.
What I find striking is the similarities between Deep Space 9, the best of the Treks, and Babylon 5. Quasi-religious and military power games based around a space station.
Dal Timgar
3 - Phillip Winn
DS9 did definitely aim for the B5 audience, and somewhat succeeded. But B5 was simply wonderful. Too bad about the fear of never having a fifth season and what that did to seasons 4 and 5.
4 - Jesse Bryant
(I know you made this post a long time ago but...) I totally agree with you, and they did finally find a way for people to get sick of Star Trek...Star Trek: Enterprise
but while (in my opinion) every star trek show got better as it aged another year, Babylon 5 had it's best area in Seasons 3 and especially 4
jesse
5 - ertl
Spoilers
It was a shame that b5 got SO sped up in season 4. The Shadow War ended with a bang but it could have been a WAY BIGGER bang. A few more episodes about the planetkillers (instead of the 10 seconds total) and the entire agenda of the vorlons and more about the suffering of people when the vorlons blew up entire planets. It felt like the shadow war just began in the end of season 3 and it was ended in just 6 episodes with only one episode devoted to a sapce battle. I wanted MORE!! But it wasn't JMS's fault. Otherwise, if the pacing was kept as it was in the first 3 seasons, it would've been the best scifi show of all time hands down, right now, Ds9 still has areas of more merit because b5 was sped up.
6 - Uri
B5 is so much better than ST!
7 - JIm
Star trek ended, i i was reveilved that they stoped shooting episodes. B5 ended and i cryed. t was like loosing a friend. This is not to say that i was entertained by Star trek, but too me its like comparing a comic book to a work of lititure like the lord of the rings. Both are designed to entertain, but on completely differant levels.