#babylon5 — Public Fediverse posts

On most Mondays, I live toot an episode of a TV show at about 1PM EDT (UTC-4).

Babylon 5 is the progenitor of televised, arc based science fiction. At some point in the future, humanity has joined the species who have interstellar space travel. In order to avoid future wars, they create a space station (the one in the name) to serve as a place for commerce and diplomacy.

Unfortunately, fascists have taken over Earth Gov and Babylon 5 had to break away both to protect themselves and to fight a war against an ancient evil. The war against the ancient evil has finished and now the fragile alliance must turn their attentions to resolving the ascendant authoritarianism at home.

Of this episode, TMDB says:

When her clan has doubts about her reason for taking Sheridan as a mate, Delenn is required to go to Minbar to attend "the Dreaming". Sheridan sends Marcus and Franklin to Mars to make contact with the resistance there.

On most Mondays, I live toot an episode of a TV show at about 1PM EDT (UTC-4).

Babylon 5 is the progenitor of televised, arc based science fiction. At some point in the future, humanity has joined the species who have interstellar space travel. In order to avoid future wars, they create a space station (the one in the name) to serve as a place for commerce and diplomacy.

Unfortunately, fascists have taken over Earth Gov and Babylon 5 had to break away both to protect themselves and to fight a war against an ancient evil. The war against the ancient evil has finished and now the fragile alliance must turn their attentions to resolving the ascendant authoritarianism at home.

Of this episode, TMDB says:

When her clan has doubts about her reason for taking Sheridan as a mate, Delenn is required to go to Minbar to attend "the Dreaming". Sheridan sends Marcus and Franklin to Mars to make contact with the resistance there.

Two things #Babylon5 does well about its Earth arc - it does the chaotic fracturing of a government well and makes it interesting, and it did its foreshadowing correctly.

I don't think I've seen a recent show that bothered spending years slowly kindling story arcs the way B5 did. Having all the S1 and S2 episodes with Earth-centered intrigues earns the S3 and S4 payoff.

Two things #Babylon5 does well about its Earth arc - it does the chaotic fracturing of a government well and makes it interesting, and it did its foreshadowing correctly.

I don't think I've seen a recent show that bothered spending years slowly kindling story arcs the way B5 did. Having all the S1 and S2 episodes with Earth-centered intrigues earns the S3 and S4 payoff.

In the #Babylon5 earth civil war, its a little unclear what exact demographics back the Clark regime and why. We know the Psi Corps backs them, with Shadow help, which explains the palace side of the coup.

But we know people on Earth seem to mostly treat it with a "silent majority" shrug, being glad martial law lowers crime.

It seems like Earth mostly leans pro-Clark while its colonies are solidly anti-Clark, but we're not sure why it lines up like that.

In the #Babylon5 earth civil war, its a little unclear what exact demographics back the Clark regime and why. We know the Psi Corps backs them, with Shadow help, which explains the palace side of the coup.

But we know people on Earth seem to mostly treat it with a "silent majority" shrug, being glad martial law lowers crime.

It seems like Earth mostly leans pro-Clark while its colonies are solidly anti-Clark, but we're not sure why it lines up like that.

Compare the #babylon5 rebellion to the #hungergames, where the evil empire is toppled by a popular revolt that goes out of its way to create a new status quo.

If the B5 rebellion is a "centrist" response to a power mad dictatorship, the Hunger Games adopts a more revolutionary framing. It's also very clear on the exploitative relationship between the capital and its districts - B5 is more vague on how the EA's political economy functions.

Compare the #babylon5 rebellion to the #hungergames, where the evil empire is toppled by a popular revolt that goes out of its way to create a new status quo.

If the B5 rebellion is a "centrist" response to a power mad dictatorship, the Hunger Games adopts a more revolutionary framing. It's also very clear on the exploitative relationship between the capital and its districts - B5 is more vague on how the EA's political economy functions.

The fictional Clark administration and its henchmen seem generally smarter and more orderly than the clown car of assholes running the US government.

But they also encounter a lot more institutional opposition. The Earth senate actually opposes him and Clark has to send troops to squash it. Military units defect and colonies (including #babylon5) declare independence. The media (ISN) goes rogue and turns suddenly critical before his solders squash it.

The fictional Clark administration and its henchmen seem generally smarter and more orderly than the clown car of assholes running the US government.

But they also encounter a lot more institutional opposition. The Earth senate actually opposes him and Clark has to send troops to squash it. Military units defect and colonies (including #babylon5) declare independence. The media (ISN) goes rogue and turns suddenly critical before his solders squash it.

I decided to rewatch part of the #Babylon5 Earth independence arc today, because that seems appropriate. It makes a very interesting contrast with the rise of authoritarianism in the real life USA (and other places).

Despite significant mismatches, it's weird how a melodramatic 90s space opera show seems kinda prescient. It wasn't quite a prophecy, but more like a vision of the future viewed through a 90s funhouse mirror.

I decided to rewatch part of the #Babylon5 Earth independence arc today, because that seems appropriate. It makes a very interesting contrast with the rise of authoritarianism in the real life USA (and other places).

Despite significant mismatches, it's weird how a melodramatic 90s space opera show seems kinda prescient. It wasn't quite a prophecy, but more like a vision of the future viewed through a 90s funhouse mirror.