Tracy Scoggins

Phil Jones' horror film Asylum of the Damned starts with Dr. James Bishop being appointed to work at St. Andrews Asylum for the Criminally Insane. He begins the job full of optimism, but soon he discovers the dangers of his professions when he becomes involved with "The Harvester." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Although the popular science fiction series Babylon 5 had officially run its course, one final two-hour episode was deemed necessary to segue into the spinoff series Crusade. Thus, on January 3, 1999, the TNT Network offered the world premiere of Babylon 5: A Call to Arms. The year is 2266: After several years' development, the first destroyer prototypes based on the White Stars (proposed by B5 crew member Delenn in the fifth-season episode "Movements of Fire and Shadow") have been completed. While inspecting the results, Alliance President Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) experences disturbing visions of a future Apocalypse -- and of a doomsaying stranger named Galen. Sheridan's visions seem poised to become reality when the Drakh, the dreaded allies of the defeated Shadows, mount a counteroffensive against humanity. It is up to a new team of space warriors, manning the twin battlecruisers "Excalibur" and "Victory," to prevent Galen's predictions from coming true. Babylon 5: A Call to Arms was written by J. Michael Straczynski, and later novelized by Robert Sheckley. As for Crusade, that oft-postponed series finally debuted on June 9, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Four Rangers arrive on Babylon 5, preparing to begin their training. At least two of those Rangers are in for a valuable lesson before the episode is over. Meanwhile, Zack is targetted for extinction during a Downbelow power struggle. The venerable Turhan Bey makes his second Babylon 5 appearance, this time in the role of Turval. First telecast on February 18, 1998, "Learning Curve" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Perhaps as a byproduct of all his scheming and conniving on earlier episodes, Londo Mollari collapses from a heart attack. As he lies unconscious, his guilt feelings run amok in a surrealistic dream world. Meanwhile, Lennier begins his training as a Ranger, partly out of a sense of obligation, and partly to assuage his dismay over the marriage of Delenn and President Sheridan. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" first aired on January 28, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Unbeknownst to President Sheridan, Delenn sends Lennier on mission to the Centauri border. The purpose: to determine where the cargo-vessel attacks are coming from. And Vir reacts strangely upon receiving a political promotion. Keep an eye out for a brief spoof of the McDonald's restaurant chain (Hint: look for the Golden Headbones). Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Meditations on the Abyss" first aired on May 27, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In a followup to the November 4, 1998 episode "The Wheel of Fire", several residents of Babylon 5, including G'Kar, prepare to bid their final farewells to the space station. But crew members Lise and Michael have neither the time nor the inclination for goodbyes: They have just been informed of a plot to assassinate them both. Marjorie Monaghan appears as Number One, aka Tessa Holloron, Garibaldi's successor as head of security for the Alliance. Scripted by J. Michael Straczynski from a story by Straczynski and Harlan Ellison, "Objects in Motion" first aired on November 11, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

B5 once more plays reluctant host to mercurial Psi Cop Bester (Walter Koenig. This time, Bester is determined to arrest the Downbelow refugee Telepaths. Elsewhere, Garibaldi has a falling out with Captain Lochley, and Delenn arranges for Londo, who has just barely survived assassination, to be given a bodyguard. As the episode draws to a close, an important revelation is made vis-a-vis the relationship between Sheridan and Lochley. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Strange Relations" made its American broadcast premiere on February 25, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Garibaldi is dispatched to the Drazi homeworld in hopes of solving the mystery behind the violent attacks on the Alliance cargo ships. Alas, Garibaldi nearly scuttles the mission when he "falls off the wagon" once again. And a confused G'Kar finds himself the object of unsolicited scrutiny by a religious sect. A mixture of the heavy and humorous, "The Ragged Edge" was written by J. Michael Straczynski; the episode made its first American TV appearance on April 8, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When it seemed certain that Babylon 5 would be cancelled at the end of the fourth season, a "finale" was filmed in May 1997. That episode, "Sleeping in Light" (aka "Farewell"), was withdrawn from the series' manifest when Babylon 5 was picked up for a fifth season by TNT. As it turned out, "Sleeping in Light" would not air until November 25, 1998, when the series finally ended its five-year run. Written by producer J. Michael Straczynski), this valedictory episode was set in 2281 AD, 20 years after the series' time-frame. As he prepares to shuffle off his mortal coil, John J. Sheridan, the former commander of Babylon 5, is visited by his old friends and colleagues. Among those gathering around Sheridan's bedside are his son David, his former fellow officer Susan Ivanova (now a General), ex-security chief Garibaldi, the recently retired Zack, and newly-installed Centauri emperor Vir. Several past Babylon 5 regulars make cameo appearances, as do series producers John Copeland and George Johnsen. "Sleeeping in Light" earned a 1999 Hugo Award nomination for Best Dramatic Presentation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As the year 2262 draws to a close, so does the saga of Babylon 5. The Alliance relocates to Minbar, requiring Sheridan and Delenn to go along for the ride. G'Kar and Garibaldi have already said their farewells to their fellow crew members and gone their separate ways. And Dr. Franklyn launches a second career on Earth. So does everyone live happily ever after? Not so far as Lennier is concerned; a past mistake will cost him dearly before episode's end. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and first telecast November 18, 1998, "Objects at Rest" was, technically, the last episode of Babylon 5, though the series' "official" finale, "Sleeping in Light" (actually filmed in 1997) would not air until the following week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide