Ardwight Chamberlain Movies

The long-awaited "backstory" for the popular syndicated science-fiction saga Babylon 5 was provided some five years after the series premiered, courtesy of the two-hour movie special Babylon Five: In the Beginning. Set in the year 2278, the film takes a backward glance at the Earth-Minbari war, as seen through the eyes of Londo Mollari (Peter Jurasik), now the emperor of Centauri. Detailed for the first time are the tragic beginnings of the war, the involvement of the Minbari Delenn (Mira Furlan), and the death of Dukaht (Raynor Scheine). In addition to featuring most of the series' current regulars, the film also brings back such early defectors as Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair (Michael O'Hare) and Ambassador Kosh (Ardwright Chamberlain). As a bonus, Claudia Christian appears unbilled in her familiar role of Lt. Cmdr. Susan Ivanova, here depicted as an 18-year-old civilian. The film was written by series producer J. Michael Straczynski, and later novelized by Peter David. First telecast on January 4, 1978, Babylon 5: In the Beginning launched the two-year association between Babylon 5 and the TNT cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The final five episodes of Babylon 5's third season were originally shown in England from August 19 to September 22, 1996, but the American syndication service PTEN did not wish to "throw away" these episodes during the low-rated late summer months. Thus, viewers in the US did not see the season's final story arc until September, beginning with the telecast of "Walkabout" during the week of September 30, 1996. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Walkabout" finds Captain Sheridan and telepath Lyta Alexander (Patricia Tallman) preparing to exploit the Shadows' newly-discovered "achilles' heel" to mount a counteroffensive against the enemy. Meanwhile, Dr. Franklin heads DownBelow to determine his true purpose in life. Erica Gimpel appears as Cailyn, a beautiful singer who will have a profound effect on the introspective Franklin. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After several weeks of cat-and-mouse, the Shadows finally make an open attack. Hoping to rally support against the aggressors, Sheridan turns to Kosh for help. And Londo's efforts to patch up his differences with Morden (Ed Wasser) only makes a bad situation worse. Rance Howard, the father of actor/director Ron Howard, shows up briefly as David Sheridan, the Captain's father (it would spoil things to explain the elder Sheridan's surprise appearance). First telecast in America during the week of May 6, 1996, "Interludes and Examinations" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Zack Allen joins in the ongoing search for Mr. Garibaldi, still missing in the wake of the Z'ha'dum explosion. Meanwhile, Ivanova and Marcus seek out additional First Ones to help them in the war against the Shadows. And G'Kar, reeling from torture at the hands of Centauri Emperor Cartagia (Wortham Krimmer), reluctantly takes advice from Londo. J. Michael Straczynski's teleplay ends with a long-awaited revelation. "The Summoning" first aired during the week of November 18, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"No Surrender, No Retreat" was the overall title of Babylon 5's fourth season. The first chapter of this saga, "The Hour of the Wolf," aired in America during the week of November 4, 1996. Picking up where Season Three ("Point of No Return") left off, a thermonuclear explosion has rocked the Z'ha'dum, homeworld of the hated Shadows. In the aftermath of the detonation, B5 security chief Garibaldi is missing, and Captain Sheridan is presumed dead. As a result, the Alliance is shattered, despite the strenuous efforts of Delenn to keep it together. As Delenn, Ivanova and Lyta search for Sheridan, G'Kar combs the skies for Garibaldi. And on the Centauri front, Londo learns that Emperor Cartagia (Wortham Krimmer) has entered into a potentially disastrous deal. "The Hour of the Wolf" was written by series producer J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lyta Alexander (Patricia Tallman, B5's first telepath, pays a return visit to the station. But it isn't a social visit: Now the head of a resistance movement, Lyta is determined to expose a Psi Corps "sleeper" spy, who has the power to recruit other spies without their conscious knowledge. Sheridan gives Lyta a free hand in her investigation, but Ivanova offers unexpected resistance. Another surprising development occurs when Lyta comes face to face with Vorlon ambassador Kosh. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Divided Loyalties" made its TV debut in the United Kingdom on July 2, 1995, but was held back from American release until October 12 of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Point of No Return" was the blanket title for the third-season episodes of Babylon 5. The first installment in this saga, "Matters of Honor," was written by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, who went on to script every episode during the 1995-96 season. Things get under way as Captain Sheridan heads to Vorlon, there to thank Ambassador Kosh for saving his life. Back on B5, Earthforce Special Intelligence officer Endwai (Tucker Smallwood) investigates the strange ship encountered by Lt. Keffer, while a rift delevops in the relationship between Londo and Morden. As the episode rushes to its conclusion, Sheridan mans a Minbari-Vorlon vessel to confront a dangerous new enemy: the Shadows. Jason Carter joins the cast as Ranger Marcus Cole. "Matters of Honor" first aired the week of November 6, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sheridan is kidnapped by aliens, just as General Hague (Robert Foxworth) arrives for an important conference with the B5 Commander. Left in charge, Ivanova is forced to make a fateful decision--and a potentially fatal journey towards an unknown source of "bright light and turbulence". Meanwhile, the "new" Delenn is expelled from the Grey Council. Originally telecast on February 15, 1995, "All Alone in the Night" was written by J. Michael Straczunski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sheridan learns that Morden (Ed Wasser) survived the explosion that supposedly killed the Commander's wife. Pumping Morden for details, Sheridan inadvertently endangers everyone on board B5. Meanwhile, the station is besieged by both Narn refugees and a recruiter from a new Earth Alliance Agency. To reveal any more of the plot would, in this case, be unthinkable. Originally broadcast on May 10, 1995, "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A fugitive from the Security Force, Dr. Everett Jacobs (Anthony Steadman). has evidence pertaining to the assassination of the Earth President. Sheridan would like to protect him, but may overstep his authority in doing so. And some pertinent facts about Ambassador Kosh are revealed. Bernie Casey guest-stars as Special Intelligence Agent Derek Cranston, who might be pursuing his own agenda while chasing after Dr. Jacobs. First broadcast on March 1, 1995, "Hunter, Prey" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Warner guest-stars as Aldous Gajic, a futuristic "King Arthur" who has spent all his life searching for the Holy Grail. His arrival on B5 coincides with a plot hatched by Downbelow hoodlum Deuce (William Sanderson) to gain control of other people's minds. And what has all this to do with the erratic behavior of Ambassador Kosh? Written by Christy Marx, "Grail" first aired July 6, 1994, after nearly six weeks' worth of rerun episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nearly a full year after the first telecast of the two-hour pilot, the weekly, 60-minute Babylon 5 series proper began on January 26, 1994 with "Midnight on the Firing Line." It is now 2258 AD; the Babylon 5 has become the target of increased attacks from enemy pirates, a situation exacerbated by a personal feud between Londo and G'Kar. Making matters even worse, a Narn attack on the peaceful agricultural colony of Ragesh 3 threatens to explode into all-out warfare unless Sinclair can put a lid on the crisis. Watch for cameo appearances by executive producer Douglas Netter and costume designer Ann Bruce. "Midnight on the Firing Line" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Susan discovers that her ex-lover Malcolm Biggs (Tristan Rogers) is a member of the Homeguard, a radical pro-Earth terrorist group. The Homeguard intends to rekindle old prejudices by assassinating Minbari poet/ambassador Shaal Mayan (Nancy Lee Grahn). Meanwhile, a young Centauri (Rodney Eastman) balks at the prospect of a tradtional arranged marriage. Written by Star Trek fixture D.C. Fontana, "The War Prayer" first aired on March 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide