@@davidblauyoutube And that's how good Babylon 5 was as a whole. As I said to Medusa several times, I've never suffered (and cried) so much watching a SciFi series before or since but that shows how amazing the screenplay is and how much the characters matter to you. Without doubt it's my favourite SciFi series of all time.
The most heartbreaking moment is the final elevator scene with everyone when B5 is decommissioned. Everyone in that elevator, with the exception of Claudia Christian, has gone beyond the Rim.
@@daleholliday2294 Aw! Mine too 🥰 It's ironic but actually it's actually Claudia Christian who was the alcoholic in real life rather than Michael Doyle (RIP and sadly missed). Claudia created her own company called the C Three Foundation to tackle alcoholism. Of course she was also the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 which was an awesome voice part to play!
@@kivimik Oops (*blush*) my bad and as a Brit I'm a big Jennifer Saunders fan. She was in "Shrek 2: The Video Game" as the Fairy Godmother, not the film of course (in 2004 see IMDB).
Medusa at the start "I hope this doesn't break my heart" ❤It's been nearly 25 years since this first aired and Sleeping In Light still reduces this 50-year-old man to tears every time. It's been a great experience being on this B5 journey with you, your reactions are amazing and you've done a fantastic job. So thank you 😊
Me too! The only time a story got me this emotional is when I finished reading Lord of the Rings, and Frodo's departure from the Grey Havens. The entire show really did lead to that last episode, JMS did a masterful job!
It was fitting that Joe got to turn out the lights, ending the show on his terms. This episode was filmed at the end of season 4, when they didn’t know they got a season 5 which explains why Susan is there when Claudia had left. This reaction series was another dream given form, a chance for us to relive something we loved through the eyes of a true believer. Thank You 🙏
As I remember, the producers shot two endings to the series, because of the unpredictability of the production. This was the second one. The first one was done before TNT picked up the series. It had G'kar and Mollari having one last fight, and something about Mollari facing a dark future, or death, because of a parasitic alien invader that was controlling the minds of his race, leading them to destruction. I remember the production value of the episode was a bit rough. Maybe it wasn't aired at the time, because TNT revived the series? I remember seeing it on TNT's rerun of the first four seasons, in sequence. This "final" episode gave the series a pretty dark ending, not uplifting like this. That part of the timeline was tossed aside (as I remember), once TNT picked up the series, and gave it another season.
It didn't make the cut but I want to give a shout out to Vir showing his true colors yet again. He doesn't just take the letter from or even thank the ranger. Instead he pauses and says a heartfelt "I'm sorry", acknowledging the ranger's own humanity and deep feelings about what is happening with Sheridan, rather than treating the ranger as just a messenger. Between this ranger scene, and Vir's touching Londo story during the dinner, actor Stephen Furst really brought his A game to the series finale.
@@johnsmith8906 Indeed. Including the increased self-confidence he has after so many years of people actually listening to him, even though they have to since he's emperor.
Vir is the kind of person who could take Erskine's serum and not be corrupted by it. He's got a dark streak (as we see when he waves at Morden's head on a pike), but it's never unjust, never cruel, never self-serving. Morden's actions led to millions of deaths just among the Centauri and the Narn, and billions more across the galaxy, and he did it all with a smile. He deserved what he got. Vir takes no joy in death or suffering, but he's still one to be glad to see justice served. Vir could've been Captain Centauri.
Babylon 5 has major JRR Tolkien inspiration/tribute, John is Beren/Aragorn and Delenn is Luthien/Arwen. So when John calls Delenn his Silmaril and Delenn tell's John he's her Telperion and Laurelin... can't help but cry every time. And Lorien literally named after a Valar, and going into the West... hot damn.
The moment that broke me was when John puts his hand on Delenns shoulder as they say goodbye and all the poise evaporates in a moment of utter grief and resignation. Such a beautiful moment wonderfully acted by Bruce and Mira. 😢
Your reviews of B5 have been a treat to watch. From the first episode I was thinking "Oh, wait till she gets to Sleeping in Light". Thank you for your care and attention in watching this show; it's one for the ages. Susan was in this because it was filmed at the end of season 4 as a possible series finale. When they got season 5 approved they put it away and made a new season 4 ending, saving this for the end of S5.
From the first episode I was thinking "Oh, wait till she gets to Sleeping in Light." - Me, too. Sleeping In Light hits you like a ton of bricks, no matter how many times you've seen it. I knew that it would just crush her, but in a good way. Joe wanted this kind of reaction when he wrote it, and he achieved everything he set out to achieve with this episode. Yeah, Joe, "Mission Accomplished," indeed.
@@erikrupp692...also Zach saying to John we did everything we set out to do That was a middle finger to the critics and suits that said the audience would never be there for it
Only with the entirety of THE EXPANSE now done and dusted can we say there is FINALLY a worthy successpr to take on the B5 mantle. The two guys that make up "James S.A. COrey" are both unapologetic about being massively inspired by B5.
Someday watch it again, some scenes will have additional meaning. You see he had it all planned out so so knew what clues to drop. Her only had to listen to the characters speak and write it down. I bet he still sometimes hears G'Kar talking.
In the end, the vision of the destruction of Babylon 5 that Sinclair was given in Season 1 came true... just not in the way he (or any of the fans) thought it would!
Nobody predicted that JMS would shut off the lights, but then be a forgotten lower deck worker left behind by the stars as they took the elevator to the shuttle and then left the station in a grand fashion.
I’ve pointed out the same thing. Babylon 5 was always going to be destroyed at some point - the question was when, and why. JMS made a comment in one of his online posts: “‘The King died, and then the Queen died,’ is not a story. ‘The King died, and then the Queen died of grief,’ is a story.”
Or Joe at the time either. The arc of everything was altered when O'Hare had to leave the show. I'd love to see how the OG plan would have played out, but I love what we got.
If I could change one thing, It would be to replace the CGI for the Vision and have the explosion inverted, so it matches the finale. That way there is even more symmetry. The explosion did happen. There was a great war. There was much death. But B5 was not destroyed because it failed, but because it succeeded. Also, I remember being on the forums and everyone pushing JMS to make a cameo. He kept saying that he already knew where he would put in his cameo, he did not need help. Of course, he would not tell, but everyone tried to guess. It was still early in Season 3. It was not until the end, that we realized he that he had hinted all along, especially when the show was having troubles and he would remind people that he would be there until they made him turn the lights out.
@Michael Halbrook The early, ten year arc would've seen Babylon 5 destroyed by the Minbari warrior caste in Year 5. They'd have launched a coup d'etat after finding out the reason for the surrender at the Line and reignited hostilities with Earth. Sheridan, Delenn and their remaining allies would then travel back in time to steal Babylon 4, for it to become their new mobile base of operations to fight the Shadows, being rechristened Babylon Prime in the process.
Foolish, really. 😉 But, then again, most of us knew why it was foolish as soon as she said it. Medusa was overly optimistic that she could handle it without tissues. She didn't know what was coming. We did. (Of course, we didn't know the first time either, so...)
Your reaction videos are a joy to all of us old fans from so many years ago. You notice the same things we noticed and experience the same mix of feelings, with awe and wonder and gut-wrenching sorrow and joy and hope. B5 will always have a special place in our hearts. Did you know that JMS wrote a short story about Susan and Marcus? "Space, Time, and the Incurable Romantic," published in the magazine Amazing Stories, Issue 602, Summer 2000. Find it if you can - a wonderful story, almost like a "post-credits" scene!
A proper ending! I remember watching this episode with a bunch of my friends back in high school. We genuinely all cried during this episode. I distinctly remember my mother walking in the room and not having a CLUE what was going on 😂 Beautiful ending to an incredible series. And Christopher Franke’s music during the decommissioning ceremony is perfection! Having Joe flip the switch for the last time, added a level of beauty and heartbreak imo.
It's startling to think how many actors we have lost, especially compared to Star Trek. Rest in peace: Michael O'Hare Jerry Doyle Mira Furlan Richard Biggs Stephen Furst Andreas Katsulas Jeff Conoway And many, many more.
@@AshwinRamdin No he wasn't. Zathras was the great character. You're probably thinking of Zathras, he was ok most of the time. I've made that mistake a few times too. Seriously though, major respect to every actor we've lost and safe journeys for them beyond the rim.
I like to think that Lorian & John waited just beyond the rim for Deleann's death so they could come & collect so that Deleann & John could be together forever. Love your reaction to to this amazing series which is still one of the best ever written.
What's really sad about watching this episode is the realization of how many cast members are "out exploring beyond the rim," as JMS would say. Or, as he also says, "God must be a fan of B5; he keeps collecting the cast!"
At a science fiction convention in 1987, during a fan Q&A session, Joe Straczynski was asked "So how does it all end?" With a straight face, he looked at the audience, smiled, and said, "It ends with me putting all the chairs up on the tables, turning out the lights, and walking out the door." And we all thought he was being poetic.
I don't doubt the anecdote, but I do think you've got the date wrong, since B5 didn't start airing until 1993. In 1987 no one had heard of it nor would have cared.
@@moreau1755 That convention suffered the same timey wimey warping as Babylon 4. It also explains why JMS is so often credited with writing a consistent story developed over years. After that convention he already knew what was going to happen, he just had to flesh out the scripts.
@@moreau1755 Yeah, the movie was not out yet, I had (still have on a shelf) am Amiga 1000 so we were aware the movie was being made since the CG started on one. Babylon 5: The Gathering is the test pilot movie of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, aired on February 22, 1993.
Fun fact: the statue that you see VERY briefly on Ivanova's desk is one of the actual Hugo Award trophies, from when they won for both "The Coming Of Shadows" (S2) and "Severed Dreams" (S3). It was named for the man who originally sponsored the award in order to promote science fiction, Hugo Gernsbeck.
Hugo Gernsbeck did not sponsor the award. It was named after him. His claim to fame is (among other things) the publication of the first science fiction magazine, "Amazing Stories" and organizing some of the first science fiction fan groups. The first awards were given out at the 1950 World Science Fiction convention but they weren't called Hugos at that time. The term "Hugos" became the unofficial name in subsequent conventions, eventually becoming the official name.
I cry every single time I watch this episode. I'm so glad you shared this journey with us. It's wonderful to see new fans and to freshen my own appreciation and love of the show. My mother is the one who introduced me to this show. She even kept a book of quotes that she collected, many of which came from B5, which I still have and read from time to time. She died of cancer in 2008, and I will always associate B5 with her, especially Sleeping With Light.
I was in late high school/early college when this aired and is something I associate with my father - he recorded each eposide for me on VHS because I was often working at night (he also watched them). He labeled each tape with the episodes included too. He passed in 2000 and I still remember he thought Kosh looked like the top of the bottle of air freshener my mom kept in the bathroom! Far less moving than your story, but still brings a smile. I always liked Lorien's simple quotes to John: "I caught you before", "We will wait for you...", "We were waiting for you..."
I have loved your reactions from start to finish. That this story can provoke such emotions from someone 25 years after it was made is a testament to the great writing, great performances and dedicated production team. Awesome to see you commit to it so wholeheartedly ❤
Re: John going back to Coriana 6 He went back there because he was given that message from Kosh "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." via Lockley in the Day of the Dead episode, if you remember John gave a little nod of his head as he figured out what it meant. This episode was/is very poignant, perhaps too much so, I've found myself avoiding it when I watch the series again as it triggers my existential dread.
"To absent friends, in memory still bright." That's one of the phrases you'll recognize a B5 fan from. If you're going to watch a video from one of the younger conventions - say the last ten years or so - you'll hear the cast use that phrase frequently, too. For their friends who have gone beyond the rim. So much from this episode bled into reality. And every time another goes, it becomes a little harder to watch.
The ONLY Cure For The "Babylon Blues"..... Is To Watch The Series Again; See Things You Probably Missed The First Time Around..... And So It Begins! . To See Once Again All Those Who We Have Missed...
Your reaction, intelligence with emotion, is surely the most fitting for this peerless series. The only snag I've found with having become a Babylon 5 fan is that it is REALLY difficult to find any other sci-fi series that hits as many buttons.
It was written for adults. The other shows, except Lower Decks and Enterprise, are written for everybody. That is why Wesley was on the ship, solely for the kids. Enterprise was too adult and was just called Enterprise until season 3 when it was finally allowed to be called Stat Trek: Enterprise like all the other shows. ISN before Fox News existed. This guy knows history.
B5 was the main reason I subscribed to your channel. I agree with you that it is simply the finest Sci Fi show ever. Sleeping in Light broke me the first time I watched it years ago, and broke me again tonight. Thank you so very much for allowing me to re-live it through your eyes.
I lost count how many times i've rewatched this series, and seeing it from the perspective of a RUclipsr made me relive these amazing moments in the show. truly one of the finest written story in modern television. this show never had an easy going, it had a production difficulties like any other show but it never wavered thanks to the show runner.
When I was a teenager during broadcast, I remember my sisters walking in on me watching Babylon 5 several times and taking the piss out of my hysterical crying. If my sisters are allowed to cry for three days almost continuously after watching Little Women, I as a teenage boy had full permission to bawl my eyes out from Babylon 5. To be fair I took the piss out of them for Little Women, so fair is fair. They also made me sit through Poldark but refused to watch Babylon 5.
My brother always told me B5 and Star trek were trash until one of his friend like it. Then he tried to tell me about the show and I said you told me it trash I don't want to here it.
You should have brought the tissues. This is, hands down, THE most beautiful series finale that I've ever seen. A perfect send off to a truly wonderful series, the sort of which we've yet to see the like again. A heartfelt farewell, and ending that gives us a wonderful send off that wraps things up beautifully. It is truly heartbreaking.
That technician shutting down the station at the end... that was JMS. And now we know who was on that shuttle that left Babylon 5 right before it exploded, fulfilling Lady Ladira's prophecy from all the way back in season 1's "Signs and Portents.".
It's been a real honour to see you discovering this show and becoming as emotionally involved with the characters as I was 25+ years ago. No other show I have watched has had as much impact as Babylon 5 did. Thank you again for allowing me along on your journey of discovery and to enjoy seeing this show again like it was the first time. Be seeing you!
So many tear-jerk moments in this episode but the one that gets me EVERY time is when Straczynski himself takes a long, last look at the station, and then pulls the power.
Thank you so much for the B5 reaction journey. And as a babylon 5 fan who has watched the series so many times, i am glad to see this series still has the ability to touch our soul in a sense. Babylon 5 is after all those years my favourite TV series.
14 times through this series.. 14 times I ugly cry at 'Sleeping in Light'. The writing, the performances, the scoring... the best end of a series, ever! Medusa, it's been an honor joining you as you watch my favorite sci fi series. Wether you know it or not, we've cried together, laughed together, wtf'ed together and enjoyed this series together. And the score...OMG! Now, watch it again ...❤😢
Even for people like us. The line that gets me the most in this -- cause a bunch of things can make me cry a bit in this finale -- but the thing that ALWAYS gets me is right at the end in the final speech by Susan: it gave us hope, even for people like us. Even for people like us.
Oh no, I forgot that this was coming out today. I didn't buy enough tissues... Damn it, oh well, I guess it's time... The end of Babylon 5 :( I do not know how many times I've rewatched this episode, but I cry every time. Even now, seeing B5 blowing up, I can't hold back my tears.
"The One is a fan of the post." I love this quote! 😂 Put it on a tee-shirt and see if it sells. 😊 On a more serious note, I think it was JMS who said that John and Delenn were the Arthur and Guinevere of Babylon 5. I loved that final, medieval imagery of them as Delenn watched the sun come up. Truly moving. Thank you for your reaction. It was a joy and delight to experience this show with you. Beautiful and thoughtful and deeply moving.
I always cry when I watch this. In the years since I've originally watched Babylon 5, you reactions fueled the spark that I had from back then. Watching you feel, and laugh, and cry, get excited, get emotional, is the nearest thing to getting to watch it for the first time. Thank you for that.
I found your channel when I was looking up stuff due to the animated B5 movie coming out and thought I would watch a few reactions to big episodes but ended up watching your entire playlist. You've honestly got the best B5 reactions/commentaries out there.
Pre-episode. I rewatch this episode every time another cast member passes beyond the rim. If you don't cry during this episode i'll be very much surprised. There are at least 6 points i can think of that will break you. Post-episode. Glad you recognized JMS, him turning off the lights makes it so mean much more than if it had been anybody else. Even after watching this finale many times over the decades it still gets me every single time. There has never been a better final episode to a show ever made.
This is the B5 episode I've seen the most often. I was terrible at avoiding spoilers and knew much of what would happen, but on my first watch I was still in tears a minute into it. I watched it on the last Saturday evening of my summer break that year... and then, for the entire following academic year, I saw it every Saturday evening. Mildly obsessed, to put it lightly. At one point I could speak along with the entire episode. I mentioned last episode that B5 taught me to say goodbye. When I visited my dying grandma, I said good night to her in the end, not goodbye. (Of course, this is a callback to Minbari not having a word for goodbye.) And the evening of the day she passed, I turned on this episode because it helped me process. B5 taught me to grieve, too.
For those of us who either experienced Babylon 5 before and knew what was coming to those on the journey discovering it with you now it was just pure beauty. So you are aware the reason why this episode has Susan Ivanova in it was because this was actually filmed at the end of season 4 where the fear was that B5 wasn't going to get a 5th season but when it was renewed, JMS saved it for the finale of Season 5. I call this the Epilogue to the series. It ties in so much together. I also love the tribute they did at the end for both the cast as they entered the show and their last known status as well as thanking those behind the scenes. I really wish more faith had been put on B5 to have given us everything we would have wanted (the Telepath War). If you can track down the digital copy, i'd recommend getting a copy of the 3 issue series comic for B5 called "In Valen's Name" as well as a short story titled "Space, Time, and the Incurable Romantic" all written by JMS. I think you will like them.
Thanks again for keeping Babylon 5 alive for another generation to enjoy. I can't believe that we've reached the final episode. A spectacular ending for an awesome series. I just can't understand why Babylon 5 didn't get the recognition it really, truly deserved. Again, thanks for sharing your journey and B5 experience with us.
I just want to give you the biggest thank you I can, Medusa. I cannot put into words who wonderful it was watching (and suffering through) the whole of Babylon 5 with you. I agree with you. I have watched countless SciFi series before and since but none has effected me like B5 has. I have never watched any other SciFi series (and few TV series in total) which have made me cry so much but that's because I loved the characters so much and (like you) I never wanted the series to end. It's worth reviewing "Legend of the Rangers". Such a shame it was never made into a full TV series. It took a couple of episodes for me to get used to"Crusade" but it's an excellent series. I will watch all your reviews avidly but miss watching B5 with you.
I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning crying with you. That ending was a gut punch. What a wonderful journey this has been with you. I would have liked a 3-parter with this to get more reaction from the finale. If you post that, I for one would be there. *Edit in rewatching the destruction of B5 scene a few times, you can really see your heart breaking on camera. It is very touching.
John went to Coriana because in "Day of the Dead" Zoe gave Lochley a message from Kosh for John..."When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." There is nothing that I can say that has not been said by all the other comments, so I will say 'See you on the other side of the Gate!'
While he had that message, I always had the impression that he simply knew that was where he needed to go. He didn't leave for B5 because he was told to, but because he knew he was supposed to. He still carried a little of Lorien and like Lyta, echoes of Kosh that had become part of his identity.
"I'm going in .. without tissues". Bold of you. ;) It took me two weeks to watch this because I knew it was going to be a tear jerker for us both. I still remember the day I watched it when it aired. I wept. Openly. I still cry every time, and I've tried to make it a ritual that every time I moved to a new place, I had B5 on TV in the background while I unpacked, and of course, have to finish the series out later. I still cry, and I knew this would be no different, as I've cried along with you in your watching of the show. This remains one of the best sci fi shows ever, IMO, and I don't know if there will ever be anything to top it for a long, long while. Especially this finale. B5 touched my soul, and has influenced my writing and my life in general. Thank you for letting us watch it along with you. This was a fantastic journey.
When this episode first aired 25 years ago I said this was the greatest Series Final ever. Before that my fav was Star Trek TNG's All Good Things. But Sleeping in Light broke me. 25 years later it still breaks me everytime. 25 years later, even as TV production quality has improved and increased in budget, Sleeping in Light is still the best.
Couldn't leave without a comment. Lots of thanks for this, it really brought me back 25 years to when I was recording each episode on VHS. Thanks again for the commentary, the wit and the sincerity.
I had never watched Babylon 5 until the 2020 lockdowns. Binged it all off of my KODI box. Couldnt beleive I missed out on such an amazing series when it first came out..my parents being strict trekkies might have had something to do with it lol
Lol, in the past 30 years, I truly have no idea how many times I have re watched the episodes. Perhaps others will be like myself and re enjoy the story. This was one of the ‘ first ones’ where it was a continuous story throughout the seasons and groundbreaking effects for the 90s.
I'm not normally one for watching reaction videos. As someone who watched it when it originally and multiple re-watches since then I've really enjoyed watching you experience this series. Loved seeing your takes on it. Sleeping in light always makes the tears well up. I really just want to say thank you. So thank you
If it is any kind of consolation to you, the short clips you were showing, were not short enough for me to keep dry eyes. For me it starts reliably like clockwork at the words to absent friends, in memory still bright”. It got me on first airing, and on any rewatch. Your reaction to thus could not have been a surprise to anybody joining your journey here, and knowing the show. The score also killed everybody. I would also like to express my deep felt gratitude, to be able to see my favorite show, fresh through your eyes, even making me appreciate how much better than I remembered season 5 was. This was a beautiful journey, and thank you for sharing it with me.
Also like to add that at 8:52 you can see the fear in Delenns eyes that after this moment he won't be there. You can see the loss in her face. Mira Furlan, an astonishing actress and Delenn, what a character and everything a strong female character should be.
THis entire space opera absolutely in a verified manner changed the lives of many many people. Kosh especially changed the way I think about some very profund important concepts.. the whole "Understanding is a 3-edged sword" statement was finally answered in the battle at Coriana 6.. I now will never forget that there are 3 sides to any argument.
I still gets emotional thinking of this episode... Best show ever despite its flaws. Thank you for reacting to the show, nowadays you could almost call it a hidden gem in TV.
In case you're curious, Ivanova returned because this episode was originally intended to end Season 4. Back then, B5 was told by Warner Brothers that they were not getting a Season 5, so the series finale was filmed using the Season 4 cast. They got a last-minute renewal, so they put the finale on a shelf and used it after Season 5.
A cherished memory is my attendance at my one and only scifi conference in Blackpool, July 1997. Despite the 4 day conference being called Wolf 359, it was effectively all Babylon 5 related with the full cast and main production staff in attendance. It was there that JMS announced that the show had been renewed for season 5. At that time, season 4 hadn't begun to air in the UK, and most people were hyped following the season 3 cliffhanger. It was a wonderful experience. (Another highlight was when there was a fire drill, and the actors who played Bester, Morden and Na'toth entertained us in the car park by telling jokes!)
You reaction mirrored mine when I first saw this episode long ago. Am still watching your previous reactions but I skipped ahead to this one because of the intensity of your passion for B5. Your tears brought out mine. We live for the one, we die for the One, sister!
This is episode was one of the few times I've watched anything and cried. Even watching your reaction the tears were flowing. This is how a show should be ended. The respect the showrunners have for the characters; is something you simply don't get these days. 😭😭😭
The whole final conversation is how the minbari say goodbye. Remember Delenn saying that all Minbari partings hold the possibility of meeting again in another life, that there is No word for goodbye in any of their 3 languages
Thank You, Medusa, for taking me through the whole series again, from Your novice wiewpoint! I liked it very much, as I remembered my first journey in B5 universe again!! So Thank You!!
This is the one Sc-Fi show whose finale has me in tears every time I watch it and I'm stunned that it doesn't get the attention it deserves. A perfect ending for such an amazing series
Babylon 5 is one of the few TV series that become part of your life. Even if you can't have a first reaction again, the journey is still there waiting for you to take it again. For me Vir Cotto is an unlikely hero, his integrity and honesty can't be stained. His scene with Morden when he answers Morden’s question, “What do you want” is one of the highlights for me. I haven't noticed any other person commenting this but if your viewers haven't heard, J Michael Straczinsky has tweeted that there's going to be an important announcement in June.
Everything ends, and that's always sad. But everything begins again too and that's always happy. Be happy. I'll take care of the rest-The Twelfth Doctor
It has been a pleasure and a privilege watching you go on n this journey through the greatest television story ever created…it was like watching it again for the first time, with you going through the same emotional journey and connection to the story and characters as I did years ago when it first aired…you are an absolute treasure and now a key part of the B5 community…from all of us, I just wanted to say thank you x x x
Thank you so much for your beautiful reaction. It's been so great to watch you fall in love with my favourite TV series. I think the greatest strength of B5 was the incredible character writing. I've always said that if any one of these characters was in another show, they would be my favourite character in that show. That we got to see so many incredible characters in one show is such an incredible gift, and we owe Joe our thanks for that.
Thanks for reacting to this series. Really enjoyed it. If you ever did a rewatch series, I think you'd find it quite interesting how much of the story was seeded early without you realizing it the first time through. I'd certainly tune in for that.
At the end, when they are leaving B5 right before decommissioning it, the group steps into the lift. It hit me in the gut when I realized that, out of that entire lift, Claudia is the ONLY one who is still alive. =(
And so it ends... I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your reactions to this entire series. I watched this show when it first came out & multiple times since. However, I have to say that watching it again through your eyes has been an absolute joy!! You've picked up on things, made connections that I'd missed - but are so obvious now!! I honestly don't know who has shed more tears you or me!! I knew (along with everyone else) that going into this last episode that it would be a tough watch for you, as the love you have for these characters comes across so powerfully. I hope that when you watched the end credits and the characters all came up, that you noticed what was written beside Marcus by Susan. If not go back and take a look... Thank you once again & look forward to your reaction video to the new animated B5 movie that comes out later this year!!
And now after 24 years, we witness Lady Ladira's prophecy from Season 1 Episode 13 "Signs and Portents" come true. Babylon 5 is destroyed. Prophecy is a powerful thing and Joe plays fair with it, but context is everything! My favorite touch of this episode is watching the sunrise. The shows talks about Minbari believing in reincarnation, but what they don't say directly is that the Minbari believe souls collect in the heart of the sun and wait there to be born again. When they say "I will see you again in the place where no shadows fall" they mean in the sun, surrounded by light and where shadows are impossible. I will see you again, while we wait to be reborn into our next life. Delenn is watching the sun come up not only because it's the last thing she did with John in life, but also because that's where John's soul is waiting for her.
"Some of the Minibari believe he will come back again, but I never saw him again in my lifetime..." Really interesting line when you think about it. One could say that about the lifetime of another character, but you can't say that about your own lifetime (since you are still in the midst of living it) unless you are narrating the story "beyond the rim" ... At least, that's how I like to interpret it.
I like to think that the way the series can be observd by that advanced human long in the future suggests that all this has been recorded somehow, like a legend, or literally recorded, perhaps in the Great Machine, which Ivanova had no problem linking with being a latent telepath. Perhaps she's watching over the future? I think the developers of the Mass Effect games had this in mind with Shepard in the 'control' ending.
B5 has so many parallels and aligns with what exactly is happening in our world today. All you have to do is take one scenario and think about that and how it relates to B5. To me, we are living that whole story arc right now.
"I don't know if anything will ever really top this to be honest... it's going to be really hard for anything I watch from here on in to get anywhere close to this." So true. I can say right now, nothing ever will. For me, in over twenty years, nothing ever has. This is the single finest finale ever made for any television series, and one of the best resolutions for any story I've ever experienced, on top of the fact that the series as a whole is the best fiction I've ever consumed. This episode nowadays, even more than when I first watched it, reduces me to tears through its entire runtime, specifically considering almost everyone we see on screen has died now. That shot with Claudia Christian in the elevator, standing in the center and flanked by actors who are all now passed on, is just crushing. I love seeing people still coming to this series after decades, and getting to experience the masterful storytelling that it gave us all those years ago.
For me, nothing has topped B5. This episode is stunning but still kills me after so many rewatches. I thought you going tissue-less was very brave. Thanks for these reactions.
The main note on the script for Christopher Franke for the score was, "Break our hearts." And he did a fantastic job.
Even Joe struggles watching the finale. In his commentary you can hear his voice crack.
When I hear this score, I instantly break into tears. It's not fair that this music has such control over my emotions.
There is one section of the soundtrack that is reminiscient of Samual Barber's Adagio For Strings (not that its a bad thing).
@@davidblauyoutube same here, that scene in the hall gets me every time
@@davidblauyoutube And that's how good Babylon 5 was as a whole. As I said to Medusa several times, I've never suffered (and cried) so much watching a SciFi series before or since but that shows how amazing the screenplay is and how much the characters matter to you. Without doubt it's my favourite SciFi series of all time.
The most heartbreaking moment is the final elevator scene with everyone when B5 is decommissioned. Everyone in that elevator, with the exception of Claudia Christian, has gone beyond the Rim.
This gave my eyes an allergic reaction... my eyes broke out in tears
@@daleholliday2294 Aw! Mine too 🥰 It's ironic but actually it's actually Claudia Christian who was the alcoholic in real life rather than Michael Doyle (RIP and sadly missed). Claudia created her own company called the C Three Foundation to tackle alcoholism. Of course she was also the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 which was an awesome voice part to play!
@@joannecunliffe8067 Begging your pardon, but Jennifer Saunders was the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2. Claudia voiced the part in the video games.
@@kivimik Oops (*blush*) my bad and as a Brit I'm a big Jennifer Saunders fan. She was in "Shrek 2: The Video Game" as the Fairy Godmother, not the film of course (in 2004 see IMDB).
These last three episodes get harder each time I rewatch.
Medusa at the start "I hope this doesn't break my heart" ❤It's been nearly 25 years since this first aired and Sleeping In Light still reduces this 50-year-old man to tears every time. It's been a great experience being on this B5 journey with you, your reactions are amazing and you've done a fantastic job. So thank you 😊
It's been 25 years and it still gets me
Me too! The only time a story got me this emotional is when I finished reading Lord of the Rings, and Frodo's departure from the Grey Havens. The entire show really did lead to that last episode, JMS did a masterful job!
It will always get us..
It was fitting that Joe got to turn out the lights, ending the show on his terms. This episode was filmed at the end of season 4, when they didn’t know they got a season 5 which explains why Susan is there when Claudia had left.
This reaction series was another dream given form, a chance for us to relive something we loved through the eyes of a true believer. Thank You 🙏
It's also why the Season 4 finale didn't have Susan. It was filmed as the first episode of Season 5.
"was another dream given form"
Nice. :)
As I remember, the producers shot two endings to the series, because of the unpredictability of the production. This was the second one. The first one was done before TNT picked up the series. It had G'kar and Mollari having one last fight, and something about Mollari facing a dark future, or death, because of a parasitic alien invader that was controlling the minds of his race, leading them to destruction. I remember the production value of the episode was a bit rough. Maybe it wasn't aired at the time, because TNT revived the series? I remember seeing it on TNT's rerun of the first four seasons, in sequence. This "final" episode gave the series a pretty dark ending, not uplifting like this.
That part of the timeline was tossed aside (as I remember), once TNT picked up the series, and gave it another season.
It didn't make the cut but I want to give a shout out to Vir showing his true colors yet again. He doesn't just take the letter from or even thank the ranger. Instead he pauses and says a heartfelt "I'm sorry", acknowledging the ranger's own humanity and deep feelings about what is happening with Sheridan, rather than treating the ranger as just a messenger. Between this ranger scene, and Vir's touching Londo story during the dinner, actor Stephen Furst really brought his A game to the series finale.
His story of hearing the pak ma'ra singing is also heartfelt too.
@@johnsmith8906 Indeed. Including the increased self-confidence he has after so many years of people actually listening to him, even though they have to since he's emperor.
The role of Vir was the best acting of Stephen Furst's career.
@@txlyons2937 For a lot of the actors on this show, including guest stars, you can say the same.
Vir is the kind of person who could take Erskine's serum and not be corrupted by it. He's got a dark streak (as we see when he waves at Morden's head on a pike), but it's never unjust, never cruel, never self-serving. Morden's actions led to millions of deaths just among the Centauri and the Narn, and billions more across the galaxy, and he did it all with a smile. He deserved what he got. Vir takes no joy in death or suffering, but he's still one to be glad to see justice served.
Vir could've been Captain Centauri.
'I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.' - J.R.R. Tolkien
Babylon 5 has major JRR Tolkien inspiration/tribute, John is Beren/Aragorn and Delenn is Luthien/Arwen. So when John calls Delenn his Silmaril and Delenn tell's John he's her Telperion and Laurelin... can't help but cry every time. And Lorien literally named after a Valar, and going into the West... hot damn.
The moment that broke me was when John puts his hand on Delenns shoulder as they say goodbye and all the poise evaporates in a moment of utter grief and resignation. Such a beautiful moment wonderfully acted by Bruce and Mira. 😢
Your reviews of B5 have been a treat to watch. From the first episode I was thinking "Oh, wait till she gets to Sleeping in Light". Thank you for your care and attention in watching this show; it's one for the ages.
Susan was in this because it was filmed at the end of season 4 as a possible series finale. When they got season 5 approved they put it away and made a new season 4 ending, saving this for the end of S5.
From the first episode I was thinking "Oh, wait till she gets to Sleeping in Light." - Me, too. Sleeping In Light hits you like a ton of bricks, no matter how many times you've seen it. I knew that it would just crush her, but in a good way. Joe wanted this kind of reaction when he wrote it, and he achieved everything he set out to achieve with this episode. Yeah, Joe, "Mission Accomplished," indeed.
@@erikrupp692...also Zach saying to John we did everything we set out to do
That was a middle finger to the critics and suits that said the audience would never be there for it
I dare say this is the best series finale ever. I cannot think of any other shows finale that comes even close to it.
😉 I've been saying the same for 25 years. And still say it today.
I think TNG's All Good Things comes close.
I agree, but I think the finale of Angel comes close.
@@thebkg me too
Probably the final episode of 'Blake's 7'...but for different reasons... 🙂
Well well.. you made it. Babylon 5 .. an criminally underrated masterpiece and one, if not the best SF Series ever made. Welcome to the Fandom! :)
Only with the entirety of THE EXPANSE now done and dusted can we say there is FINALLY a worthy successpr to take on the B5 mantle. The two guys that make up "James S.A. COrey" are both unapologetic about being massively inspired by B5.
B5 is the Best ❤…. Hopefully no remake but some new in the universe…
Someday watch it again, some scenes will have additional meaning. You see he had it all planned out so so knew what clues to drop. Her only had to listen to the characters speak and write it down. I bet he still sometimes hears G'Kar talking.
In the end, the vision of the destruction of Babylon 5 that Sinclair was given in Season 1 came true... just not in the way he (or any of the fans) thought it would!
Nobody predicted that JMS would shut off the lights, but then be a forgotten lower deck worker left behind by the stars as they took the elevator to the shuttle and then left the station in a grand fashion.
I’ve pointed out the same thing. Babylon 5 was always going to be destroyed at some point - the question was when, and why. JMS made a comment in one of his online posts: “‘The King died, and then the Queen died,’ is not a story. ‘The King died, and then the Queen died of grief,’ is a story.”
Or Joe at the time either. The arc of everything was altered when O'Hare had to leave the show. I'd love to see how the OG plan would have played out, but I love what we got.
If I could change one thing, It would be to replace the CGI for the Vision and have the explosion inverted, so it matches the finale. That way there is even more symmetry. The explosion did happen. There was a great war. There was much death. But B5 was not destroyed because it failed, but because it succeeded.
Also, I remember being on the forums and everyone pushing JMS to make a cameo. He kept saying that he already knew where he would put in his cameo, he did not need help. Of course, he would not tell, but everyone tried to guess. It was still early in Season 3. It was not until the end, that we realized he that he had hinted all along, especially when the show was having troubles and he would remind people that he would be there until they made him turn the lights out.
@Michael Halbrook The early, ten year arc would've seen Babylon 5 destroyed by the Minbari warrior caste in Year 5. They'd have launched a coup d'etat after finding out the reason for the surrender at the Line and reignited hostilities with Earth. Sheridan, Delenn and their remaining allies would then travel back in time to steal Babylon 4, for it to become their new mobile base of operations to fight the Shadows, being rechristened Babylon Prime in the process.
Christopher Franke’s music is a huge part of what made B5 such a good show.
Also, going into this episode without tissues? Brave.
Foolish, really. 😉 But, then again, most of us knew why it was foolish as soon as she said it. Medusa was overly optimistic that she could handle it without tissues. She didn't know what was coming. We did. (Of course, we didn't know the first time either, so...)
The music from Chris Franke is Epic
Your reaction videos are a joy to all of us old fans from so many years ago. You notice the same things we noticed and experience the same mix of feelings, with awe and wonder and gut-wrenching sorrow and joy and hope. B5 will always have a special place in our hearts. Did you know that JMS wrote a short story about Susan and Marcus? "Space, Time, and the Incurable Romantic," published in the magazine Amazing Stories, Issue 602, Summer 2000. Find it if you can - a wonderful story, almost like a "post-credits" scene!
A proper ending! I remember watching this episode with a bunch of my friends back in high school. We genuinely all cried during this episode. I distinctly remember my mother walking in the room and not having a CLUE what was going on 😂 Beautiful ending to an incredible series. And Christopher Franke’s music during the decommissioning ceremony is perfection! Having Joe flip the switch for the last time, added a level of beauty and heartbreak imo.
Claudia being the only one left from the final station scene is just heart breaking.
It's startling to think how many actors we have lost, especially compared to Star Trek.
Rest in peace:
Michael O'Hare
Jerry Doyle
Mira Furlan
Richard Biggs
Stephen Furst
Andreas Katsulas
Jeff Conoway
And many, many more.
@@SpockvsEgon We also lost Tim Choate, who played Zathras. Yes he's wasn't part of the main cast, but nonetheless and great character.
@@AshwinRamdin No he wasn't. Zathras was the great character. You're probably thinking of Zathras, he was ok most of the time. I've made that mistake a few times too.
Seriously though, major respect to every actor we've lost and safe journeys for them beyond the rim.
I like to think that Lorian & John waited just beyond the rim for Deleann's death so they could come & collect so that Deleann & John could be together forever. Love your reaction to to this amazing series which is still one of the best ever written.
That final scene with Delenn and the sunrise gets me every time. Without fail.
The bit where John walks away fom Delenn for the last time always gets me
As designed
"I'm doing this without tissues."
[us] Oh, honey...
Thank you for sharing with us your journey through the best sci-fi series ever made.
What's really sad about watching this episode is the realization of how many cast members are "out exploring beyond the rim," as JMS would say. Or, as he also says, "God must be a fan of B5; he keeps collecting the cast!"
Last time I watched it, it hit me that of the cast who get on board the lift, only Claudia is still with us
@@neilbiggs1353 Bruce Boxleitner is also still alive as far as I know
@@TheDebo1983 he is
Emperor Turhan: "How will it end?"
Kosh: "In fire."
Almost literally the last scene in the show is B5 blowing up.
I think Delenn and John is the best love story I've ever seen on TV.
Yes.....i not only agree, i literally was romantic to my wife because of this show
Even better than... Twilight?
(couldn't help myself...)
@@asbjrnfossmo1589 Pinky and The Brain is a better love story than Twilight!! 😆🤪
They are ❤…
They are the beating heart of B5
At a science fiction convention in 1987, during a fan Q&A session, Joe Straczynski was asked "So how does it all end?" With a straight face, he looked at the audience, smiled, and said, "It ends with me putting all the chairs up on the tables, turning out the lights, and walking out the door."
And we all thought he was being poetic.
I don't doubt the anecdote, but I do think you've got the date wrong, since B5 didn't start airing until 1993. In 1987 no one had heard of it nor would have cared.
@@moreau1755 That convention suffered the same timey wimey warping as Babylon 4. It also explains why JMS is so often credited with writing a consistent story developed over years. After that convention he already knew what was going to happen, he just had to flesh out the scripts.
@@moreau1755 Yeah, the movie was not out yet, I had (still have on a shelf) am Amiga 1000 so we were aware the movie was being made since the CG started on one.
Babylon 5: The Gathering is the test pilot movie of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, aired on February 22, 1993.
I'm a crusty old man but this episode broke me back when it first aired and every time since.
That moment after Jon and Delenns final embrace.
The look in Delenns eyes gets me every time.
Too underrated as an actress
@@philgiglio7922 Not sure why she did not much more than Lost. (oh F! she has joined Andreas, damn Google)
Fun fact: the statue that you see VERY briefly on Ivanova's desk is one of the actual Hugo Award trophies, from when they won for both "The Coming Of Shadows" (S2) and "Severed Dreams" (S3). It was named for the man who originally sponsored the award in order to promote science fiction, Hugo Gernsbeck.
Hugo Gernsbeck did not sponsor the award. It was named after him. His claim to fame is (among other things) the publication of the first science fiction magazine, "Amazing Stories" and organizing some of the first science fiction fan groups. The first awards were given out at the 1950 World Science Fiction convention but they weren't called Hugos at that time. The term "Hugos" became the unofficial name in subsequent conventions, eventually becoming the official name.
@@PackerBroncoI stand (slightly) corrected
I cry every single time I watch this episode. I'm so glad you shared this journey with us. It's wonderful to see new fans and to freshen my own appreciation and love of the show.
My mother is the one who introduced me to this show. She even kept a book of quotes that she collected, many of which came from B5, which I still have and read from time to time. She died of cancer in 2008, and I will always associate B5 with her, especially Sleeping With Light.
I was in late high school/early college when this aired and is something I associate with my father - he recorded each eposide for me on VHS because I was often working at night (he also watched them). He labeled each tape with the episodes included too. He passed in 2000 and I still remember he thought Kosh looked like the top of the bottle of air freshener my mom kept in the bathroom! Far less moving than your story, but still brings a smile.
I always liked Lorien's simple quotes to John: "I caught you before", "We will wait for you...", "We were waiting for you..."
I have loved your reactions from start to finish. That this story can provoke such emotions from someone 25 years after it was made is a testament to the great writing, great performances and dedicated production team. Awesome to see you commit to it so wholeheartedly ❤
Re: John going back to Coriana 6
He went back there because he was given that message from Kosh "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." via Lockley in the Day of the Dead episode, if you remember John gave a little nod of his head as he figured out what it meant.
This episode was/is very poignant, perhaps too much so, I've found myself avoiding it when I watch the series again as it triggers my existential dread.
Joe admits he stole this story for the actual true story from the Bible
I feel that Kosh knew about Sheridan's Dad and the Sunday trips...
"To absent friends, in memory still bright." That's one of the phrases you'll recognize a B5 fan from.
If you're going to watch a video from one of the younger conventions - say the last ten years or so - you'll hear the cast use that phrase frequently, too. For their friends who have gone beyond the rim. So much from this episode bled into reality. And every time another goes, it becomes a little harder to watch.
And the beauty is one doesn’t even need to know the show, to understand the meaning of the words and how wonderfully appropriate they are.
The ONLY Cure For The "Babylon Blues"..... Is To Watch The Series Again; See Things You Probably Missed The First Time Around..... And So It Begins! . To See Once Again All Those Who We Have Missed...
I stole the words of Sheridan when he proposed to Delenn for my proposal. My wife didn't let me finish before she cried yes - glad I watched B5
Your reaction, intelligence with emotion, is surely the most fitting for this peerless series. The only snag I've found with having become a Babylon 5 fan is that it is REALLY difficult to find any other sci-fi series that hits as many buttons.
It was written for adults. The other shows, except Lower Decks and Enterprise, are written for everybody. That is why Wesley was on the ship, solely for the kids. Enterprise was too adult and was just called Enterprise until season 3 when it was finally allowed to be called Stat Trek: Enterprise like all the other shows. ISN before Fox News existed. This guy knows history.
Thank you so much for this watch-through! It's been a treat.
B5 was the main reason I subscribed to your channel. I agree with you that it is simply the finest Sci Fi show ever. Sleeping in Light broke me the first time I watched it years ago, and broke me again tonight. Thank you so very much for allowing me to re-live it through your eyes.
I lost count how many times i've rewatched this series, and seeing it from the perspective of a RUclipsr made me relive these amazing moments in the show. truly one of the finest written story in modern television. this show never had an easy going, it had a production difficulties like any other show but it never wavered thanks to the show runner.
When I was a teenager during broadcast, I remember my sisters walking in on me watching Babylon 5 several times and taking the piss out of my hysterical crying. If my sisters are allowed to cry for three days almost continuously after watching Little Women, I as a teenage boy had full permission to bawl my eyes out from Babylon 5.
To be fair I took the piss out of them for Little Women, so fair is fair. They also made me sit through Poldark but refused to watch Babylon 5.
My brother always told me B5 and Star trek were trash until one of his friend like it. Then he tried to tell me about the show and I said you told me it trash I don't want to here it.
You should have brought the tissues.
This is, hands down, THE most beautiful series finale that I've ever seen. A perfect send off to a truly wonderful series, the sort of which we've yet to see the like again. A heartfelt farewell, and ending that gives us a wonderful send off that wraps things up beautifully. It is truly heartbreaking.
That technician shutting down the station at the end... that was JMS. And now we know who was on that shuttle that left Babylon 5 right before it exploded, fulfilling Lady Ladira's prophecy from all the way back in season 1's "Signs and Portents.".
It's been a real honour to see you discovering this show and becoming as emotionally involved with the characters as I was 25+ years ago. No other show I have watched has had as much impact as Babylon 5 did.
Thank you again for allowing me along on your journey of discovery and to enjoy seeing this show again like it was the first time.
Be seeing you!
So many tear-jerk moments in this episode but the one that gets me EVERY time is when Straczynski himself takes a long, last look at the station, and then pulls the power.
Yeah, imagine the first time, I was yelling "that is Joe!" I had met him years before.
Thank you so much for the B5 reaction journey. And as a babylon 5 fan who has watched the series so many times, i am glad to see this series still has the ability to touch our soul in a sense.
Babylon 5 is after all those years my favourite TV series.
14 times through this series.. 14 times I ugly cry at 'Sleeping in Light'.
The writing, the performances, the scoring... the best end of a series, ever!
Medusa, it's been an honor joining you as you watch my favorite sci fi series. Wether you know it or not, we've cried together, laughed together, wtf'ed together and enjoyed this series together. And the score...OMG!
Now, watch it again ...❤😢
In the DVD commentary, JMS said the line he was most proud of writing was when Sheridan tells Delenn she is 'the brightest star in my sky"
Even for people like us.
The line that gets me the most in this -- cause a bunch of things can make me cry a bit in this finale -- but the thing that ALWAYS gets me is right at the end in the final speech by Susan: it gave us hope, even for people like us.
Even for people like us.
Me too. That whole speech but especially that part.
"Look at that, the sun's coming up."
Gets me every time. Always will.
This has been a wonderful journey, thank you for sharing this with us.
"I hope I don't cry a lot, because I don't have any tissues anymore."
*episode starts*
*cries immediately*
The feeling is mutual.
Oh no, I forgot that this was coming out today. I didn't buy enough tissues... Damn it, oh well, I guess it's time... The end of Babylon 5 :(
I do not know how many times I've rewatched this episode, but I cry every time. Even now, seeing B5 blowing up, I can't hold back my tears.
You're not alone in that.
"The One is a fan of the post." I love this quote! 😂 Put it on a tee-shirt and see if it sells. 😊
On a more serious note, I think it was JMS who said that John and Delenn were the Arthur and Guinevere of Babylon 5. I loved that final, medieval imagery of them as Delenn watched the sun come up. Truly moving.
Thank you for your reaction. It was a joy and delight to experience this show with you. Beautiful and thoughtful and deeply moving.
I always cry when I watch this. In the years since I've originally watched Babylon 5, you reactions fueled the spark that I had from back then. Watching you feel, and laugh, and cry, get excited, get emotional, is the nearest thing to getting to watch it for the first time. Thank you for that.
I found your channel when I was looking up stuff due to the animated B5 movie coming out and thought I would watch a few reactions to big episodes but ended up watching your entire playlist. You've honestly got the best B5 reactions/commentaries out there.
Yes, that last scene with Delenn gets to me too - every time I see it.
Pre-episode. I rewatch this episode every time another cast member passes beyond the rim. If you don't cry during this episode i'll be very much surprised. There are at least 6 points i can think of that will break you.
Post-episode. Glad you recognized JMS, him turning off the lights makes it so mean much more than if it had been anybody else. Even after watching this finale many times over the decades it still gets me every single time. There has never been a better final episode to a show ever made.
This is the B5 episode I've seen the most often. I was terrible at avoiding spoilers and knew much of what would happen, but on my first watch I was still in tears a minute into it. I watched it on the last Saturday evening of my summer break that year... and then, for the entire following academic year, I saw it every Saturday evening. Mildly obsessed, to put it lightly. At one point I could speak along with the entire episode.
I mentioned last episode that B5 taught me to say goodbye. When I visited my dying grandma, I said good night to her in the end, not goodbye. (Of course, this is a callback to Minbari not having a word for goodbye.) And the evening of the day she passed, I turned on this episode because it helped me process. B5 taught me to grieve, too.
For those of us who either experienced Babylon 5 before and knew what was coming to those on the journey discovering it with you now it was just pure beauty. So you are aware the reason why this episode has Susan Ivanova in it was because this was actually filmed at the end of season 4 where the fear was that B5 wasn't going to get a 5th season but when it was renewed, JMS saved it for the finale of Season 5. I call this the Epilogue to the series. It ties in so much together.
I also love the tribute they did at the end for both the cast as they entered the show and their last known status as well as thanking those behind the scenes. I really wish more faith had been put on B5 to have given us everything we would have wanted (the Telepath War).
If you can track down the digital copy, i'd recommend getting a copy of the 3 issue series comic for B5 called "In Valen's Name" as well as a short story titled "Space, Time, and the Incurable Romantic" all written by JMS. I think you will like them.
I have the original series, in print.
"It [Sleeping In Light] was everything it needed to be." --- J. Michael Straczynski
Thanks again for keeping Babylon 5 alive for another generation to enjoy. I can't believe that we've reached the final episode. A spectacular ending for an awesome series. I just can't understand why Babylon 5 didn't get the recognition it really, truly deserved. Again, thanks for sharing your journey and B5 experience with us.
Anyone else here afraid to watch Babylon 5: The Road Home. How can it hold up?
I just want to give you the biggest thank you I can, Medusa. I cannot put into words who wonderful it was watching (and suffering through) the whole of Babylon 5 with you. I agree with you. I have watched countless SciFi series before and since but none has effected me like B5 has. I have never watched any other SciFi series (and few TV series in total) which have made me cry so much but that's because I loved the characters so much and (like you) I never wanted the series to end. It's worth reviewing "Legend of the Rangers". Such a shame it was never made into a full TV series. It took a couple of episodes for me to get used to"Crusade" but it's an excellent series. I will watch all your reviews avidly but miss watching B5 with you.
I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning crying with you. That ending was a gut punch. What a wonderful journey this has been with you. I would have liked a 3-parter with this to get more reaction from the finale. If you post that, I for one would be there. *Edit in rewatching the destruction of B5 scene a few times, you can really see your heart breaking on camera. It is very touching.
John went to Coriana because in "Day of the Dead" Zoe gave Lochley a message from Kosh for John..."When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." There is nothing that I can say that has not been said by all the other comments, so I will say 'See you on the other side of the Gate!'
While he had that message, I always had the impression that he simply knew that was where he needed to go. He didn't leave for B5 because he was told to, but because he knew he was supposed to. He still carried a little of Lorien and like Lyta, echoes of Kosh that had become part of his identity.
The bit that got me the most way back on first run was watching JMS turn off the power and start the destruct sequence! that brought the tears.
That scene at the end with Delenn on the bench will forever get me.
"I'm going in .. without tissues". Bold of you. ;) It took me two weeks to watch this because I knew it was going to be a tear jerker for us both. I still remember the day I watched it when it aired. I wept. Openly. I still cry every time, and I've tried to make it a ritual that every time I moved to a new place, I had B5 on TV in the background while I unpacked, and of course, have to finish the series out later. I still cry, and I knew this would be no different, as I've cried along with you in your watching of the show. This remains one of the best sci fi shows ever, IMO, and I don't know if there will ever be anything to top it for a long, long while. Especially this finale. B5 touched my soul, and has influenced my writing and my life in general. Thank you for letting us watch it along with you. This was a fantastic journey.
When this episode first aired 25 years ago I said this was the greatest Series Final ever. Before that my fav was Star Trek TNG's All Good Things. But Sleeping in Light broke me.
25 years later it still breaks me everytime. 25 years later, even as TV production quality has improved and increased in budget, Sleeping in Light is still the best.
I completely agree.
The remasters are a nice fix too. Watchable again
Couldn't leave without a comment. Lots of thanks for this, it really brought me back 25 years to when I was recording each episode on VHS. Thanks again for the commentary, the wit and the sincerity.
I had never watched Babylon 5 until the 2020 lockdowns. Binged it all off of my KODI box. Couldnt beleive I missed out on such an amazing series when it first came out..my parents being strict trekkies might have had something to do with it lol
Lol, in the past 30 years, I truly have no idea how many times I have re watched the episodes. Perhaps others will be like myself and re enjoy the story. This was one of the ‘ first ones’ where it was a continuous story throughout the seasons and groundbreaking effects for the 90s.
I'm not normally one for watching reaction videos. As someone who watched it when it originally and multiple re-watches since then I've really enjoyed watching you experience this series. Loved seeing your takes on it. Sleeping in light always makes the tears well up. I really just want to say thank you. So thank you
If it is any kind of consolation to you, the short clips you were showing, were not short enough for me to keep dry eyes. For me it starts reliably like clockwork at the words to absent friends, in memory still bright”. It got me on first airing, and on any rewatch. Your reaction to thus could not have been a surprise to anybody joining your journey here, and knowing the show. The score also killed everybody.
I would also like to express my deep felt gratitude, to be able to see my favorite show, fresh through your eyes, even making me appreciate how much better than I remembered season 5 was. This was a beautiful journey, and thank you for sharing it with me.
Fun little detail about Zack: Sometime after 2263 his right leg was injured and replaced with a prosthetic.
It never fit right...
The whole series is just a masterclass in writing, story telling, acting and the perfectly scored music.
Also like to add that at 8:52 you can see the fear in Delenns eyes that after this moment he won't be there. You can see the loss in her face.
Mira Furlan, an astonishing actress and Delenn, what a character and everything a strong female character should be.
That's what the script books are, a master class in writing and how to produce a TV series
THis entire space opera absolutely in a verified manner changed the lives of many many people. Kosh especially changed the way I think about some very profund important concepts.. the whole "Understanding is a 3-edged sword" statement was finally answered in the battle at Coriana 6.. I now will never forget that there are 3 sides to any argument.
I still gets emotional thinking of this episode... Best show ever despite its flaws. Thank you for reacting to the show, nowadays you could almost call it a hidden gem in TV.
In case you're curious, Ivanova returned because this episode was originally intended to end Season 4. Back then, B5 was told by Warner Brothers that they were not getting a Season 5, so the series finale was filmed using the Season 4 cast. They got a last-minute renewal, so they put the finale on a shelf and used it after Season 5.
A cherished memory is my attendance at my one and only scifi conference in Blackpool, July 1997. Despite the 4 day conference being called Wolf 359, it was effectively all Babylon 5 related with the full cast and main production staff in attendance. It was there that JMS announced that the show had been renewed for season 5. At that time, season 4 hadn't begun to air in the UK, and most people were hyped following the season 3 cliffhanger.
It was a wonderful experience.
(Another highlight was when there was a fire drill, and the actors who played Bester, Morden and Na'toth entertained us in the car park by telling jokes!)
Thank you for letting us join you in your journey.
I was a wreck for two days after SiL was broadcast because they blew up my station.
You reaction mirrored mine when I first saw this episode long ago. Am still watching your previous reactions but I skipped ahead to this one because of the intensity of your passion for B5.
Your tears brought out mine.
We live for the one, we die for the One, sister!
t=4:25 that moment when Garibaldi says the simple words "20 years ago", and the full weight of those words dawns on us.
This is episode was one of the few times I've watched anything and cried.
Even watching your reaction the tears were flowing.
This is how a show should be ended.
The respect the showrunners have for the characters; is something you simply don't get these days.
😭😭😭
i’ve said this before ….it doesn’t matter how many times i watch sleeping in light it totally wreaks me even tho i know what’s coming……just superb
Been waiting for this! It totally broke me ... does every time I watch it 😢
Same here (Typing with tears rolling down my cheeks).
The whole final conversation is how the minbari say goodbye. Remember Delenn saying that all Minbari partings hold the possibility of meeting again in another life, that there is No word for goodbye in any of their 3 languages
Thank You, Medusa, for taking me through the whole series again, from Your novice wiewpoint! I liked it very much, as I remembered my first journey in B5 universe again!! So Thank You!!
This is the one Sc-Fi show whose finale has me in tears every time I watch it and I'm stunned that it doesn't get the attention it deserves. A perfect ending for such an amazing series
Thank you for the amazing watching of this series. This finale hits like a ton of bricks and was done just perfectly.
Babylon 5 is one of the few TV series that become part of your life. Even if you can't have a first reaction again, the journey is still there waiting for you to take it again. For me Vir Cotto is an unlikely hero, his integrity and honesty can't be stained. His scene with Morden when he answers Morden’s question, “What do you want” is one of the highlights for me. I haven't noticed any other person commenting this but if your viewers haven't heard, J Michael Straczinsky has tweeted that there's going to be an important announcement in June.
Sheridan is The End Of The Story....that is the Beginning Of The Next Story #thewayhome
Everything ends, and that's always sad.
But everything begins again too and that's always happy. Be happy. I'll take care of the rest-The Twelfth Doctor
It was a privilege to see someone cry like I did when I saw the series for the first time decades ago. Decades ago...
It has been a pleasure and a privilege watching you go on n this journey through the greatest television story ever created…it was like watching it again for the first time, with you going through the same emotional journey and connection to the story and characters as I did years ago when it first aired…you are an absolute treasure and now a key part of the B5 community…from all of us, I just wanted to say thank you x x x
So glad I got to enjoy Babylon 5 again through these reactions. It's absolutely my favourite scifi and especially the ending has always stuck with me.
Thank you so much for your beautiful reaction. It's been so great to watch you fall in love with my favourite TV series. I think the greatest strength of B5 was the incredible character writing. I've always said that if any one of these characters was in another show, they would be my favourite character in that show. That we got to see so many incredible characters in one show is such an incredible gift, and we owe Joe our thanks for that.
It was criminal that Andrea's passing wasn't mentioned at the Oscars that year. He Was the one armed man in the FUGITIVE movie
Thanks for reacting to this series. Really enjoyed it. If you ever did a rewatch series, I think you'd find it quite interesting how much of the story was seeded early without you realizing it the first time through. I'd certainly tune in for that.
Everybody fells a tear(or buckets of them) experiencing Sleeping in Light 🖤
At the end, when they are leaving B5 right before decommissioning it, the group steps into the lift. It hit me in the gut when I realized that, out of that entire lift, Claudia is the ONLY one who is still alive. =(
And so it ends... I just wanted to say a massive thank you for your reactions to this entire series. I watched this show when it first came out & multiple times since. However, I have to say that watching it again through your eyes has been an absolute joy!! You've picked up on things, made connections that I'd missed - but are so obvious now!! I honestly don't know who has shed more tears you or me!! I knew (along with everyone else) that going into this last episode that it would be a tough watch for you, as the love you have for these characters comes across so powerfully. I hope that when you watched the end credits and the characters all came up, that you noticed what was written beside Marcus by Susan. If not go back and take a look... Thank you once again & look forward to your reaction video to the new animated B5 movie that comes out later this year!!
And now after 24 years, we witness Lady Ladira's prophecy from Season 1 Episode 13 "Signs and Portents" come true. Babylon 5 is destroyed. Prophecy is a powerful thing and Joe plays fair with it, but context is everything!
My favorite touch of this episode is watching the sunrise. The shows talks about Minbari believing in reincarnation, but what they don't say directly is that the Minbari believe souls collect in the heart of the sun and wait there to be born again. When they say "I will see you again in the place where no shadows fall" they mean in the sun, surrounded by light and where shadows are impossible. I will see you again, while we wait to be reborn into our next life.
Delenn is watching the sun come up not only because it's the last thing she did with John in life, but also because that's where John's soul is waiting for her.
"Some of the Minibari believe he will come back again, but I never saw him again in my lifetime..."
Really interesting line when you think about it. One could say that about the lifetime of another character, but you can't say that about your own lifetime (since you are still in the midst of living it) unless you are narrating the story "beyond the rim" ...
At least, that's how I like to interpret it.
I like to think that the way the series can be observd by that advanced human long in the future suggests that all this has been recorded somehow, like a legend, or literally recorded, perhaps in the Great Machine, which Ivanova had no problem linking with being a latent telepath.
Perhaps she's watching over the future?
I think the developers of the Mass Effect games had this in mind with Shepard in the 'control' ending.
B5 has so many parallels and aligns with what exactly is happening in our world today. All you have to do is take one scenario and think about that and how it relates to B5. To me, we are living that whole story arc right now.
Darn it! I can't even get through a reaction without tearing up. Anytime I see this episode. I can't stop.😭
"I don't know if anything will ever really top this to be honest... it's going to be really hard for anything I watch from here on in to get anywhere close to this." So true. I can say right now, nothing ever will. For me, in over twenty years, nothing ever has. This is the single finest finale ever made for any television series, and one of the best resolutions for any story I've ever experienced, on top of the fact that the series as a whole is the best fiction I've ever consumed. This episode nowadays, even more than when I first watched it, reduces me to tears through its entire runtime, specifically considering almost everyone we see on screen has died now. That shot with Claudia Christian in the elevator, standing in the center and flanked by actors who are all now passed on, is just crushing.
I love seeing people still coming to this series after decades, and getting to experience the masterful storytelling that it gave us all those years ago.
For me, nothing has topped B5. This episode is stunning but still kills me after so many rewatches. I thought you going tissue-less was very brave. Thanks for these reactions.