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** The StockholmSyndrome is called "''Helsinki'' Syndrome" in ''The Illusion of Truth''.
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** The StockholmSyndrome is called "''Helsinki'' "''[[NorseByNorseWest Helsinki]]'' Syndrome" in ''The Illusion of Truth''.
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Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly. Presumably, the Rabbi was going along with it to be polite, and it was an interfaith session given the presence of aliens.
to:
* CriticalResearchFailure: CriticalResearchFailure:
** After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly. Presumably, the Rabbi was going along with it to be polite, and it was an interfaith session given the presence ofaliens.aliens.
** The StockholmSyndrome is called "''Helsinki'' Syndrome" in ''The Illusion of Truth''.
** After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly. Presumably, the Rabbi was going along with it to be polite, and it was an interfaith session given the presence of
** The StockholmSyndrome is called "''Helsinki'' Syndrome" in ''The Illusion of Truth''.
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** IronWoobie: Vir
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** IronWoobie: VirVir.
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** StoicWoobie: Susan
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* BaseBreaker: Marcus Cole caused huge trouble while the show was being broadcast, with all out war between the fans who thought he was a fun GentlemanSnarker and the ones who thought that he was an irritating Gary Stu who'd only been brought in as EstrogenBrigadeBait. Things got even worse when [[spoiler:he died (mostly) at the end of the fourth season, and his anti-fans celebrated while his fans launched a fervent campaign for his resurrection.]]
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These aren\'t YMMV. Moving.
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* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Shadows
** The Shadows are actually a rare case of AlwaysChaoticEvil KnightsTemplar due to BlueAndOrangeMorality. They believe what they do is best for the younger races.
** The Drakh might count too. But then, they're servants of the Shadows.
* AlwaysLawfulGood: Well, Always Lawful something when talking about the Vorlons.
** The Shadows are actually a rare case of AlwaysChaoticEvil KnightsTemplar due to BlueAndOrangeMorality. They believe what they do is best for the younger races.
** The Drakh might count too. But then, they're servants of the Shadows.
* AlwaysLawfulGood: Well, Always Lawful something when talking about the Vorlons.
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* ChewingTheScenery: While Londo Mollari is clearly ''supposed'' to be a LargeHam, in the first season there is also a lot of bad '''''ACTING!!!''''' by the principals, possibly as a result of trying to overcome the limiting effect of their [[RubberForeheadAliens facial applications]]. They get more subtle as time goes on.
** G'Kar is another big offender. He emphasizes every word so much that when actual emphasis is called for, he looks like he's having a small stroke. Again, his performance becomes far more nuanced with time.
** Bruce Boxleitner said in one of the cast commentaries that it didn't matter what anyone else did in a scene if they were sharing it with Stephen Furst (Vir), since he was the only one the audience would be paying attention to.
** G'Kar is another big offender. He emphasizes every word so much that when actual emphasis is called for, he looks like he's having a small stroke. Again, his performance becomes far more nuanced with time.
** Bruce Boxleitner said in one of the cast commentaries that it didn't matter what anyone else did in a scene if they were sharing it with Stephen Furst (Vir), since he was the only one the audience would be paying attention to.
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* LargeHam: "My deeeaarr... ''Meeester'' Garibaldi!"
** Cast commentary reveals that Londo's actor would get into character by strutting back and forth repeating that exact line.
** There is no ham larger than '''DRAAL'''.
*** The younger version of '''DRAAL''', at least. The older '''DRAAL''' (played by the same actor who portrayed Brother Theo) was much more subtle. Which is to say, he was still a LargeHam, just not to the epic levels he reached once he was in The Great Machine.
** G'Kar was this in the first season, less so as the series went on.
--->'''G'Kar:''' "They've got us sitting next to ''the Vreeeee!'' Have you ever seen them eat? There's horror for you."
** Cast commentary reveals that Londo's actor would get into character by strutting back and forth repeating that exact line.
** There is no ham larger than '''DRAAL'''.
*** The younger version of '''DRAAL''', at least. The older '''DRAAL''' (played by the same actor who portrayed Brother Theo) was much more subtle. Which is to say, he was still a LargeHam, just not to the epic levels he reached once he was in The Great Machine.
** G'Kar was this in the first season, less so as the series went on.
--->'''G'Kar:''' "They've got us sitting next to ''the Vreeeee!'' Have you ever seen them eat? There's horror for you."
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Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
** In season 3, there is mention of a serial killer named Charles ''[[Series/Dexter Dexter.]]''
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** In season 3, there is mention of a serial killer named Charles ''[[Series/Dexter ''[[Series/{{Dexter}} Dexter.]]''
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** In season 3, there is mention of a serial killer named Charles ''[[Series/Dexter Dexter.]]''
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** The Season 5 episode "Learning Curve" shows the Rangers will circumvent rule of law and due process to avenge an attack on one of their own.
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** Much like Bester, Mr. Morden sits right on the line between a MagnificentBastard and SmugSnake, depending on the episode.
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** The scene after Londo gets G'Kar removed from the council, where Sheridan tells him that he'll miss him and how the council just won't be the same without him. The actor playing G'Kar, Andreas Katsulas, died from lung cancer in 2006, and was mourned by all the rest of the crew.
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The definition of Complete Monster is pretty loose, but it does NOT include people acting out of very firmly held religious beliefs.
Deleted line(s) 16 (click to see context) :
** The alien child's parents in ''Believers''. They knew that nothing except surgery would save their child's life, [[spoiler:and came to see his body when they thought he would already be dead. Instead they found him alive, which means he was operated on. Their reaction? They disowned their son, saying he was now a "demon", took him to their room and ritually killed him.]]
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** Franklin eventually gets a pretty major WhatTheHellHero speech for running off on his friends while the fate of the Galaxy was in question. [[spoiler: By himself, no less.]]
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** Bruce Boxleitner said in one of the cast commentaries that it didn't matter what anyone else did in a scene if they were sharing it with Stephen Furst (Vir), since he was the only one the audience would be paying attention to.
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** What really sells the comedic aspect of the scene is [[ChewingTheScenery Vir's facial contortions]] as he listens in growing horror to the Emperor.
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Changed line(s) 13 (click to see context) from:
** G'Kar is another big offender. He emphasizes every word so much that when actual emphasis is called for, he looks like he's having a small stroke.
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** G'Kar is another big offender. He emphasizes every word so much that when actual emphasis is called for, he looks like he's having a small stroke. Again, his performance becomes far more nuanced with time.
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** G'Kar is another big offender. He emphasizes every word so much that when actual emphasis is called for, he looks like he's having a small stroke.
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** Franklin's musing on the briefness of human life in his debut episode. His actor Richard Biggs only lived half of one.
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Changed line(s) 43,45 (click to see context) from:
->'''Londo:''' ''Mister Garibaldi, it '''can't''' be that bad!''
->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
to:
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
** Also the scene where Garibaldi vents his frustrations by slamming a bar loudmouth's head down on a desk [[TheDarkKnight while claiming it is a magic trick]].
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** Also the scene where Garibaldi vents his frustrations by slamming a bar loudmouth's head down on a desk [[TheDarkKnight [[Film/TheDarkKnight while claiming it is a magic trick]].
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Moved from Main
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* HarsherInHindsight: One of Zathras's most memorable lines is "[Zathras] probably have very sad death." The actor playing him, Tim Choate, died in a motorcycle accident.
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Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly. Presumably, the Rabbi was going along with it like Delenn and Lennier were, who are aliens.
to:
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly. Presumably, the Rabbi was going along with it like Delenn to be polite, and Lennier were, who are it was an interfaith session given the presence of aliens.
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** Also the scene where Garibaldi vents his frustrations by slamming a bar loudmouth's head down on a desk [[TheDarkKnight while claiming it is a magic trick]].
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Unless you\'ve got evidence of this, it\'s probably safer to assume he was going along with it because he was friends with the other priests.
Changed line(s) 20,21 (click to see context) from:
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly.
** FridgeBrilliance: maybe the rabbi in question was a Messianic Jew?
** FridgeBrilliance: maybe the rabbi in question was a Messianic Jew?
to:
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly.
** FridgeBrilliance: mayberepeatedly. Presumably, the rabbi in question Rabbi was a Messianic Jew?going along with it like Delenn and Lennier were, who are aliens.
** FridgeBrilliance: maybe
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** FridgeBrilliance: maybe the rabbi in question was a Messianic Jew?
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*** Of course, the Minbari were very isolationist before, so it's possible that it was just some weird Warrior Caste tradition that generally was just used for one group of Minbari Warriors to say "Sup?" to another group of Minbari Warriors. Still, kind of a [[StealthPun boneheaded]] thing for them to do when dealing with aliens.
to:
*** Of course, the The Minbari were very isolationist before, so it's possible that it was just some weird Warrior Caste tradition that generally was just used for one group of Minbari Warriors to say "Sup?" to another group of Minbari Warriors. Still, kind of a [[StealthPun boneheaded]] thing for them to do when dealing with aliens.
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* CompleteMonster: [[SmugSnake Lord Refa]], [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]], [[PresidentEvil President]] [[OffstageVillainy Clark]], [[AbusivePrecursors the Vorlons]] and [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Shadows]]. With ''one'' exception for the Vorlons, which is Kosh. And that's just the major characters.
to:
* CompleteMonster: [[SmugSnake Lord Refa]], [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]], and [[PresidentEvil President]] [[OffstageVillainy Clark]], [[AbusivePrecursors the Vorlons]] and [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Shadows]]. With ''one'' exception for the Vorlons, which is Kosh. And that's just the major characters.Clark]].
Changed line(s) 25 (click to see context) from:
** And the music playing at the end of the very last episode. If you're not fighting back tears as [[spoiler: B5 goes up in flames]], [[CompleteMonster you have no soul]].
to:
** And the music playing at the end of the very last episode. If you're not fighting back tears as [[spoiler: B5 goes up in flames]], [[CompleteMonster you have no soul]].
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* FridgeBrilliance: Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary leader whose followers were known as Red Shirts, [[CaptainObvious because they wore red shirts.]] "Red shirt" also refers to the disposable security guards on the original [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries starship Enterprise.]] Who's the security chief on B5? Garibaldi!
to:
* FridgeBrilliance: In 1848, Giuseppe Garibaldi was an led the Italian revolutionary leader whose followers were revolutionaries known as Red Shirts, [[CaptainObvious because they wore red shirts.]] Shirts. "Red shirt" also refers to is a fan nickname for the disposable security guards on the original [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries starship Enterprise.]] Who's ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}''. On B5, the head of station security chief on B5? Garibaldi!is Michael Garibaldi.
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Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
* FridgeBrilliance: Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary leader whose followers were known as Red Shirts, [[CaptainObvious because they wore red shirts.]] "Red shirt" also refers to the disposable security guards on the original [[StarTrek starship Enterprise.]] Who's the security chief on B5? Garibaldi!
to:
* FridgeBrilliance: Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary leader whose followers were known as Red Shirts, [[CaptainObvious because they wore red shirts.]] "Red shirt" also refers to the disposable security guards on the original [[StarTrek [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries starship Enterprise.]] Who's the security chief on B5? Garibaldi!
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* FridgeBrilliance: Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian revolutionary leader whose followers were known as Red Shirts, [[CaptainObvious because they wore red shirts.]] "Red shirt" also refers to the disposable security guards on the original [[StarTrek starship Enterprise.]] Who's the security chief on B5? Garibaldi!
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Changed line(s) 40,42 (click to see context) from:
-->'''Londo:''' ''Mister Garibaldi, it '''can't''' be that bad!''
-->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
-->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
-->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
-->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
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Deleted line(s) 70,78 (click to see context) :
* TearJerker: The memorial service for the pilots and soldiers who fell in the station's first engagement with Earth Force when they declared independence.
** Also, in the finale: [[spoiler:The demolition of Babylon 5, with producer Joe Straczynski cameoing as a technician turning off the lights before he leaves.]]
** In fact, the entire episode "Sleeping in Light." All of it.
---> '''JMS:''' Pretty much everybody cried. I came home to a message on my machine from Mira, who was almost unable to speak, and another from Claudia who said she was honored and proud to be a part of this, and the script had made her cry. Bruce, Richard, big beefy guys on the crew...all said the same thing. And there I have to concur; I lost it several times as I was writing it, due to the content; there's one scene in particular... you'll know it when you see it... that put me away for an hour when I finished writing it.
** Yeah.
---> '''Sheridan:''' [[spoiler:Good night, my love... The brightest star in my sky.]]
---> '''Delenn:''' [[spoiler:You ''were'' my sky...and my sun...and my moon.]]
** You can hear JMS' voice breaking from emotion as he's doing the commentary track for ''Sleeping in Light'', and he did the commentary track '''ten years''' after the episode was filmed.
** Then there was the episode "Confessions and Lamentations". An entire freaking ''species''.
** Also, in the finale: [[spoiler:The demolition of Babylon 5, with producer Joe Straczynski cameoing as a technician turning off the lights before he leaves.]]
** In fact, the entire episode "Sleeping in Light." All of it.
---> '''JMS:''' Pretty much everybody cried. I came home to a message on my machine from Mira, who was almost unable to speak, and another from Claudia who said she was honored and proud to be a part of this, and the script had made her cry. Bruce, Richard, big beefy guys on the crew...all said the same thing. And there I have to concur; I lost it several times as I was writing it, due to the content; there's one scene in particular... you'll know it when you see it... that put me away for an hour when I finished writing it.
** Yeah.
---> '''Sheridan:''' [[spoiler:Good night, my love... The brightest star in my sky.]]
---> '''Delenn:''' [[spoiler:You ''were'' my sky...and my sun...and my moon.]]
** You can hear JMS' voice breaking from emotion as he's doing the commentary track for ''Sleeping in Light'', and he did the commentary track '''ten years''' after the episode was filmed.
** Then there was the episode "Confessions and Lamentations". An entire freaking ''species''.
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* AlienScrappy: The Drazi are the race on which the most problematic and borderline-racist alien customs are dumped, everything from overenthusiastic religious pilgrims to the whole fiasco with the green and purple sashes. The Minbari's [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy warrior caste]] are a close second, especially due to their asinine habit of brandishing their ships' weapons during all first contact situations.
** Frankly, the Drazi come across as a PlanetOfHats whose "hat" is not so much a hat as a special helmet they have to wear in order to avoid hurting themselves...
** The Minbari warrior caste considers brandishing their weapons during a proper honorable gesture of greeting between warriors. Showing all your weapons without trying to defend yourself could be seen as a gesture of trust and that you're not trying to set up a trap. Of course, it's very easy to get misinterpreted when they use their extremely powerful scanners on ships that screw up the scanned target's engines and use stealth sensors to keep them from scanning you.
*** Of course, the Minbari were very isolationist before, so it's possible that it was just some weird Warrior Caste tradition that generally was just used for one group of Minbari Warriors to say "Sup?" to another group of Minbari Warriors. Still, kind of a [[StealthPun boneheaded]] thing for them to do when dealing with aliens.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Shadows
** The Shadows are actually a rare case of AlwaysChaoticEvil KnightsTemplar due to BlueAndOrangeMorality. They believe what they do is best for the younger races.
** The Drakh might count too. But then, they're servants of the Shadows.
* AlwaysLawfulGood: Well, Always Lawful something when talking about the Vorlons.
* {{Anvilicious}}: Boy, howdy. JMS wanted to make an Important Show full of Significant Messages, and he wanted to make sure you ''knew'' it. Almost every episode has a moral, usually delivered with a sledgehammer. He gets more graceful after the first season, but subtlety is never his priority. By and large, though, most of them are [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped pretty good anvils]].
* BetterOnDVD, makes it easier to follow the arc-based story structure.
** It also makes Season 5's [[ArcFatigue telepath arc]] better, since you can move along faster.
* ChewingTheScenery: While Londo Mollari is clearly ''supposed'' to be a LargeHam, in the first season there is also a lot of bad '''''ACTING!!!''''' by the principals, possibly as a result of trying to overcome the limiting effect of their [[RubberForeheadAliens facial applications]]. They get more subtle as time goes on.
* CompleteMonster: [[SmugSnake Lord Refa]], [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]], [[PresidentEvil President]] [[OffstageVillainy Clark]], [[AbusivePrecursors the Vorlons]] and [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Shadows]]. With ''one'' exception for the Vorlons, which is Kosh. And that's just the major characters.
** The alien child's parents in ''Believers''. They knew that nothing except surgery would save their child's life, [[spoiler:and came to see his body when they thought he would already be dead. Instead they found him alive, which means he was operated on. Their reaction? They disowned their son, saying he was now a "demon", took him to their room and ritually killed him.]]
** Boggs' sidekick, who describes in detail how he spent a week killing a Minbari during the Earth Minbari War. And then proceeds to sing a flat rendition of [[IronicNurseryTune Dem Bones]] to nobody in particular. Note that, ''nobody was talking about the Earth Minbari War'' before he decided to share this with everyone else. It says much of the company he kept that nobody seemed bothered by this.
** Lyndisty, the character from ''Sic Transit Vir'' who was supposed to marry Vir. She personally slaughtered thousands of Narn civilians, and described in full detail the ecstasy she felt while doing so.
* CrackShip: [[LoveAtFirstPunch Marcus/Neroon]] is ridiculously popular with the fandom.
* CrazyAwesome: David Mckintyre AKA "King Arthur"
* CreatorsPet: An awful lot of minor characters early in the 5th season seem to go on at length about how amazingly awesome Captain Lochley is, to the point of her getting a standing applause by a mess hall full of personnel after going on a tirade at Garibaldi.
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly.
* CrossesTheLineTwice: Cartagia walking up to Londo & Co. in his pure white suit, except for his entirely blood-red hands, talking ''boredly'' about how his torturers--"excuse me, pain technicians, the ''used'' to be called torturers but ever since they [[WeirdTradeUnion got organized]] it's been ''pain technicians''"--just couldn't manage to make G'Kar scream, and, well, he'd just had to do it himself... On its own, the scene would be horrifying, but between the way the scene is written Wortham Kimmer's utterly bored delivery as Cartagia you can't help but laugh.
** Then he pours the bloody water he rinsed his hands in on some flowers in the garden, to help them grow.
* CrossoverShip: Elizabeth Lochley (with Captain Gideon of ''Series/{{Crusade}}'')
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Quite a few over the show's run. Special mention goes to "And The Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place."
** And the music playing at the end of the very last episode. If you're not fighting back tears as [[spoiler: B5 goes up in flames]], [[CompleteMonster you have no soul]].
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ff2zZ27ow&feature=related The bar music]] in “The Face of the Enemy” playing when Sheridan is [[spoiler: arrested thanks to a brainwashed Garibaldi]].
* DracoInLeatherPants: Morden in the official spin-off novel ''The Shadow Within'', which most fans consider non-continuity as a result
* FanonDisContinuity: ''Babylon 5'' had four seasons. And no TV movies save for "The Gathering" (which is more properly a part of the first season) and "In The Beginning".
** To explain, Seasons 2 - 4 are pretty much the height of canon. The first and last seasons can be jettisoned. The Films and Season 5 are mostly self contained, so they can be disregarded easily. Season 1 has a different lead, so the new commander works as a [=PoV=] coming in on season 2. Crusade and Call to Arms tend to get grouped because the latter is a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for the former.
** Although a fair number of fans, particularly those who saw the show on DVD rather than first airing and so didn't feel the effects of ArcFatigue in the first half of season five, consider that season just as good as the rest.
* FoeYay: Londo and G'Kar, lots of it.
** Even {{lampshaded}} as early as the first season.
* HilariousInHindsight: Occurs with HeyItsThatGuy, when one sees [[MalcolmInTheMiddle Malcolm's Dad]] as a Ranger and [[{{Scrubs}} Dr. Kelso]] as an Earthforce Captain.
** Also, with [[MemeticMutation "You Can't Break Those Cuffs"]], the scene in which G'kar is chained up, and told that he can't break those chains. [[spoiler: G'kar breaks the chains.]]
* HoYay: Played with hilarious LampshadeHanging during Marcus and Franklin's trip to Mars due to a SmithicalMarriage in their stolen [=IDs=].
** Londo and G'Kar from late season 4 on. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in a season 5 episode when two workers who encounter them ''for the first time'' comment on their relationship with: "How long have they been married?"
*** The irony is, they technically have been married, at least according to ''Minbari'' tradition, since the middle of ''Season One!''
**** Except G'Kar didn't eat the red fruit, nor did he and Londo exchange long, meaningful glances- just the joke of them being at the ceremony. Delenn, on the other hand, might have some claim to the Valen estate.
**** Oh, she ''does''. [[spoiler:She's a distant descendent.]]
-->'''Londo:''' ''Mister Garibaldi, it '''can't''' be that bad!''
-->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
-->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
* LargeHam: "My deeeaarr... ''Meeester'' Garibaldi!"
** Cast commentary reveals that Londo's actor would get into character by strutting back and forth repeating that exact line.
** There is no ham larger than '''DRAAL'''.
*** The younger version of '''DRAAL''', at least. The older '''DRAAL''' (played by the same actor who portrayed Brother Theo) was much more subtle. Which is to say, he was still a LargeHam, just not to the epic levels he reached once he was in The Great Machine.
** G'Kar was this in the first season, less so as the series went on.
--->'''G'Kar:''' "They've got us sitting next to ''the Vreeeee!'' Have you ever seen them eat? There's horror for you."
* LesYay: I mean, ''come on''. Talia and Susan? Is it not that obvious? [[spoiler: When they had their sleepover, the sexual tension could have been cut with a knife!]]
** {{Word of God}} says they actually did have sex the night Talia stayed over at Ivanova's place. [[spoiler: Later Ivanova says "I think I loved Talia."]]
* MagnificentBastard : Londo Mollari is either a MagnificentBastard or a TragicHero, depending on the episode-- sometimes both at once. He's vastly entertaining to watch, but once his machinations begin to spin out of control, everyone knows it, and even his few friends stop liking him.
** Bester qualifies as well, managing to get the upper hand every time with even the protagonists impressed by his [[KarmaHoudini evasion of karmic justice]]. He slips into SmugSnake at times, though. Too many of the heroes think just shooting him is a reasonable option.
*** It should say something about Bester that even Doctor Franklin, a through-and-through pacifist, feels that Bester needs to be shot.
* MoralEventHorizon: [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]] manages to cross it in the same episode he's introduced. Sheridan comes perilously close to crossing it when he [[spoiler: orders the use of human telepaths altered by the Shadows as weapons against Earthforce]]. Only the fact that he does it reluctantly and fully understands the implications of what he's doing prevents him from fully succumbing to the MEH.
* NightmareFuel:
** Drakh keepers. Guaranteed they'll make your skin crawl.
** Garibali's subplot in "Grey 17 Is Missing" as well.
** Do not think for a moment that the Shadows can't be scary.
* OnlyTheAuthorCanSaveThemNow: How to face the Shadows [[spoiler:''and'' Vorlons?]]
* ReplacementScrappy: Elizabeth Lochley - rather unavoidable as she was replacing the much-beloved Susan Ivanova.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Ducky from ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' apparently has an archaeologist descendant named Vance who's an old friend of Stephen's.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Particularly if you've already seen other, subsequent, MythArc SpaceOpera shows such as ''[[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined Battlestar Galactica]]''.
* TheScrappy: Byron. Mention him on a board with a lot of B5 fans, and watch the flames pour in.
** ReplacementScrappy: Captain Lochley. In-universe, Garibaldi doesn't particularly care for her either.
* SpecialEffectsFailure: The version of the Drakh that appears in one scene in Season 4 is never seen again, and for good reason: it looks like someone got ahold of RickMoranis's [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Dark Helmet]] costume and spray-painted it to look like [[HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse Skeletor]]. Even filming it through a deliberately blurred lens can't make it look like a living creature, and not a hunk of rubber or plastic.
** A couple of episodes of Series/{{Crusade}} introduce that kind of Drakh again with a better make-up design, with the implication that the Drakh have a FantasticCasteSystem with that type as a warrior and the one we saw on Centauri Prime as a leader caste. Also, WordOfGod eventually admitted that the blur effect was because they tried to get the actor to do weird alien movement and it just looked stupid.
* StrawmanHasAPoint: After [[spoiler:Garibaldi]] is brainwashed, he develops an irrational hatred of Sheridan. While his accusation that Sheridan has started to buy into his own messianic hype is completely bogus, he has a point when he compares Babylon 5 to a military dictatorship.
** Of course, for all intents and purposes, it ''was'' a military dictatorship, but one that tried to be benevolent while still keeping in mind its higher purpose.
** A number of StrawmanPolitical characters who visit the station browbeat Sheridan for not taking into account the political ramifications for Earth of his decisions. Considering that he is effectively Earth's ambassador on Babylon 5 in addition to being a military commander in a key region of space, he really ''should'' be considering the policies being pursued by his government and how his actions will impact them. Of course, he might be less inclined to do so [[spoiler: once he finds out President Clark had his predecessor assassinated.]]
* TearJerker: The memorial service for the pilots and soldiers who fell in the station's first engagement with Earth Force when they declared independence.
** Also, in the finale: [[spoiler:The demolition of Babylon 5, with producer Joe Straczynski cameoing as a technician turning off the lights before he leaves.]]
** In fact, the entire episode "Sleeping in Light." All of it.
---> '''JMS:''' Pretty much everybody cried. I came home to a message on my machine from Mira, who was almost unable to speak, and another from Claudia who said she was honored and proud to be a part of this, and the script had made her cry. Bruce, Richard, big beefy guys on the crew...all said the same thing. And there I have to concur; I lost it several times as I was writing it, due to the content; there's one scene in particular... you'll know it when you see it... that put me away for an hour when I finished writing it.
** Yeah.
---> '''Sheridan:''' [[spoiler:Good night, my love... The brightest star in my sky.]]
---> '''Delenn:''' [[spoiler:You ''were'' my sky...and my sun...and my moon.]]
** You can hear JMS' voice breaking from emotion as he's doing the commentary track for ''Sleeping in Light'', and he did the commentary track '''ten years''' after the episode was filmed.
** Then there was the episode "Confessions and Lamentations". An entire freaking ''species''.
* TrappedByMountainLions: Several episodes have major, galaxy-wide ranging A-Plots with B-Plots, who while they might be of great consequence to a specific character, seem petty in comparison to the main plot. Most noticeable is Dr. Franklin's stim addiction problem and subsequent journey to find himself - while the Shadow War is raging.
* UglyCute: The pak’ma’ra. Their dull, bovine eyes and tentacle faces make them rather appealing in an odd way.
* TheWoobie: Lennier, Vir
** IronWoobie: Vir
** JerkassWoobie: Londo
** WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Lyta
** Frankly, the Drazi come across as a PlanetOfHats whose "hat" is not so much a hat as a special helmet they have to wear in order to avoid hurting themselves...
** The Minbari warrior caste considers brandishing their weapons during a proper honorable gesture of greeting between warriors. Showing all your weapons without trying to defend yourself could be seen as a gesture of trust and that you're not trying to set up a trap. Of course, it's very easy to get misinterpreted when they use their extremely powerful scanners on ships that screw up the scanned target's engines and use stealth sensors to keep them from scanning you.
*** Of course, the Minbari were very isolationist before, so it's possible that it was just some weird Warrior Caste tradition that generally was just used for one group of Minbari Warriors to say "Sup?" to another group of Minbari Warriors. Still, kind of a [[StealthPun boneheaded]] thing for them to do when dealing with aliens.
* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Shadows
** The Shadows are actually a rare case of AlwaysChaoticEvil KnightsTemplar due to BlueAndOrangeMorality. They believe what they do is best for the younger races.
** The Drakh might count too. But then, they're servants of the Shadows.
* AlwaysLawfulGood: Well, Always Lawful something when talking about the Vorlons.
* {{Anvilicious}}: Boy, howdy. JMS wanted to make an Important Show full of Significant Messages, and he wanted to make sure you ''knew'' it. Almost every episode has a moral, usually delivered with a sledgehammer. He gets more graceful after the first season, but subtlety is never his priority. By and large, though, most of them are [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped pretty good anvils]].
* BetterOnDVD, makes it easier to follow the arc-based story structure.
** It also makes Season 5's [[ArcFatigue telepath arc]] better, since you can move along faster.
* ChewingTheScenery: While Londo Mollari is clearly ''supposed'' to be a LargeHam, in the first season there is also a lot of bad '''''ACTING!!!''''' by the principals, possibly as a result of trying to overcome the limiting effect of their [[RubberForeheadAliens facial applications]]. They get more subtle as time goes on.
* CompleteMonster: [[SmugSnake Lord Refa]], [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]], [[PresidentEvil President]] [[OffstageVillainy Clark]], [[AbusivePrecursors the Vorlons]] and [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Shadows]]. With ''one'' exception for the Vorlons, which is Kosh. And that's just the major characters.
** The alien child's parents in ''Believers''. They knew that nothing except surgery would save their child's life, [[spoiler:and came to see his body when they thought he would already be dead. Instead they found him alive, which means he was operated on. Their reaction? They disowned their son, saying he was now a "demon", took him to their room and ritually killed him.]]
** Boggs' sidekick, who describes in detail how he spent a week killing a Minbari during the Earth Minbari War. And then proceeds to sing a flat rendition of [[IronicNurseryTune Dem Bones]] to nobody in particular. Note that, ''nobody was talking about the Earth Minbari War'' before he decided to share this with everyone else. It says much of the company he kept that nobody seemed bothered by this.
** Lyndisty, the character from ''Sic Transit Vir'' who was supposed to marry Vir. She personally slaughtered thousands of Narn civilians, and described in full detail the ecstasy she felt while doing so.
* CrackShip: [[LoveAtFirstPunch Marcus/Neroon]] is ridiculously popular with the fandom.
* CrazyAwesome: David Mckintyre AKA "King Arthur"
* CreatorsPet: An awful lot of minor characters early in the 5th season seem to go on at length about how amazingly awesome Captain Lochley is, to the point of her getting a standing applause by a mess hall full of personnel after going on a tirade at Garibaldi.
* CriticalResearchFailure: After being criticized for showing a rabbi singing and dancing along to the eponymous gospel song in the episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place," JMS claimed he hadn't realized it was pretty much a New Testament-exclusive song. One wonders if he ever actually listened to it, since it's a song about sinners trying to avoid the wrath of God on Judgement Day, and name-checks Jesus repeatedly.
* CrossesTheLineTwice: Cartagia walking up to Londo & Co. in his pure white suit, except for his entirely blood-red hands, talking ''boredly'' about how his torturers--"excuse me, pain technicians, the ''used'' to be called torturers but ever since they [[WeirdTradeUnion got organized]] it's been ''pain technicians''"--just couldn't manage to make G'Kar scream, and, well, he'd just had to do it himself... On its own, the scene would be horrifying, but between the way the scene is written Wortham Kimmer's utterly bored delivery as Cartagia you can't help but laugh.
** Then he pours the bloody water he rinsed his hands in on some flowers in the garden, to help them grow.
* CrossoverShip: Elizabeth Lochley (with Captain Gideon of ''Series/{{Crusade}}'')
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Quite a few over the show's run. Special mention goes to "And The Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place."
** And the music playing at the end of the very last episode. If you're not fighting back tears as [[spoiler: B5 goes up in flames]], [[CompleteMonster you have no soul]].
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ff2zZ27ow&feature=related The bar music]] in “The Face of the Enemy” playing when Sheridan is [[spoiler: arrested thanks to a brainwashed Garibaldi]].
* DracoInLeatherPants: Morden in the official spin-off novel ''The Shadow Within'', which most fans consider non-continuity as a result
* FanonDisContinuity: ''Babylon 5'' had four seasons. And no TV movies save for "The Gathering" (which is more properly a part of the first season) and "In The Beginning".
** To explain, Seasons 2 - 4 are pretty much the height of canon. The first and last seasons can be jettisoned. The Films and Season 5 are mostly self contained, so they can be disregarded easily. Season 1 has a different lead, so the new commander works as a [=PoV=] coming in on season 2. Crusade and Call to Arms tend to get grouped because the latter is a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for the former.
** Although a fair number of fans, particularly those who saw the show on DVD rather than first airing and so didn't feel the effects of ArcFatigue in the first half of season five, consider that season just as good as the rest.
* FoeYay: Londo and G'Kar, lots of it.
** Even {{lampshaded}} as early as the first season.
* HilariousInHindsight: Occurs with HeyItsThatGuy, when one sees [[MalcolmInTheMiddle Malcolm's Dad]] as a Ranger and [[{{Scrubs}} Dr. Kelso]] as an Earthforce Captain.
** Also, with [[MemeticMutation "You Can't Break Those Cuffs"]], the scene in which G'kar is chained up, and told that he can't break those chains. [[spoiler: G'kar breaks the chains.]]
* HoYay: Played with hilarious LampshadeHanging during Marcus and Franklin's trip to Mars due to a SmithicalMarriage in their stolen [=IDs=].
** Londo and G'Kar from late season 4 on. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in a season 5 episode when two workers who encounter them ''for the first time'' comment on their relationship with: "How long have they been married?"
*** The irony is, they technically have been married, at least according to ''Minbari'' tradition, since the middle of ''Season One!''
**** Except G'Kar didn't eat the red fruit, nor did he and Londo exchange long, meaningful glances- just the joke of them being at the ceremony. Delenn, on the other hand, might have some claim to the Valen estate.
**** Oh, she ''does''. [[spoiler:She's a distant descendent.]]
-->'''Londo:''' ''Mister Garibaldi, it '''can't''' be that bad!''
-->'''Garibaldi:''' ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext You try and kiss me and I'll break your arm.]]''
-->'''Londo:''' ''We're not that close, Mister Garibaldi!''
* LargeHam: "My deeeaarr... ''Meeester'' Garibaldi!"
** Cast commentary reveals that Londo's actor would get into character by strutting back and forth repeating that exact line.
** There is no ham larger than '''DRAAL'''.
*** The younger version of '''DRAAL''', at least. The older '''DRAAL''' (played by the same actor who portrayed Brother Theo) was much more subtle. Which is to say, he was still a LargeHam, just not to the epic levels he reached once he was in The Great Machine.
** G'Kar was this in the first season, less so as the series went on.
--->'''G'Kar:''' "They've got us sitting next to ''the Vreeeee!'' Have you ever seen them eat? There's horror for you."
* LesYay: I mean, ''come on''. Talia and Susan? Is it not that obvious? [[spoiler: When they had their sleepover, the sexual tension could have been cut with a knife!]]
** {{Word of God}} says they actually did have sex the night Talia stayed over at Ivanova's place. [[spoiler: Later Ivanova says "I think I loved Talia."]]
* MagnificentBastard : Londo Mollari is either a MagnificentBastard or a TragicHero, depending on the episode-- sometimes both at once. He's vastly entertaining to watch, but once his machinations begin to spin out of control, everyone knows it, and even his few friends stop liking him.
** Bester qualifies as well, managing to get the upper hand every time with even the protagonists impressed by his [[KarmaHoudini evasion of karmic justice]]. He slips into SmugSnake at times, though. Too many of the heroes think just shooting him is a reasonable option.
*** It should say something about Bester that even Doctor Franklin, a through-and-through pacifist, feels that Bester needs to be shot.
* MoralEventHorizon: [[TheCaligula Emperor Cartagia]] manages to cross it in the same episode he's introduced. Sheridan comes perilously close to crossing it when he [[spoiler: orders the use of human telepaths altered by the Shadows as weapons against Earthforce]]. Only the fact that he does it reluctantly and fully understands the implications of what he's doing prevents him from fully succumbing to the MEH.
* NightmareFuel:
** Drakh keepers. Guaranteed they'll make your skin crawl.
** Garibali's subplot in "Grey 17 Is Missing" as well.
** Do not think for a moment that the Shadows can't be scary.
* OnlyTheAuthorCanSaveThemNow: How to face the Shadows [[spoiler:''and'' Vorlons?]]
* ReplacementScrappy: Elizabeth Lochley - rather unavoidable as she was replacing the much-beloved Susan Ivanova.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Ducky from ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' apparently has an archaeologist descendant named Vance who's an old friend of Stephen's.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Particularly if you've already seen other, subsequent, MythArc SpaceOpera shows such as ''[[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined Battlestar Galactica]]''.
* TheScrappy: Byron. Mention him on a board with a lot of B5 fans, and watch the flames pour in.
** ReplacementScrappy: Captain Lochley. In-universe, Garibaldi doesn't particularly care for her either.
* SpecialEffectsFailure: The version of the Drakh that appears in one scene in Season 4 is never seen again, and for good reason: it looks like someone got ahold of RickMoranis's [[Film/{{Spaceballs}} Dark Helmet]] costume and spray-painted it to look like [[HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse Skeletor]]. Even filming it through a deliberately blurred lens can't make it look like a living creature, and not a hunk of rubber or plastic.
** A couple of episodes of Series/{{Crusade}} introduce that kind of Drakh again with a better make-up design, with the implication that the Drakh have a FantasticCasteSystem with that type as a warrior and the one we saw on Centauri Prime as a leader caste. Also, WordOfGod eventually admitted that the blur effect was because they tried to get the actor to do weird alien movement and it just looked stupid.
* StrawmanHasAPoint: After [[spoiler:Garibaldi]] is brainwashed, he develops an irrational hatred of Sheridan. While his accusation that Sheridan has started to buy into his own messianic hype is completely bogus, he has a point when he compares Babylon 5 to a military dictatorship.
** Of course, for all intents and purposes, it ''was'' a military dictatorship, but one that tried to be benevolent while still keeping in mind its higher purpose.
** A number of StrawmanPolitical characters who visit the station browbeat Sheridan for not taking into account the political ramifications for Earth of his decisions. Considering that he is effectively Earth's ambassador on Babylon 5 in addition to being a military commander in a key region of space, he really ''should'' be considering the policies being pursued by his government and how his actions will impact them. Of course, he might be less inclined to do so [[spoiler: once he finds out President Clark had his predecessor assassinated.]]
* TearJerker: The memorial service for the pilots and soldiers who fell in the station's first engagement with Earth Force when they declared independence.
** Also, in the finale: [[spoiler:The demolition of Babylon 5, with producer Joe Straczynski cameoing as a technician turning off the lights before he leaves.]]
** In fact, the entire episode "Sleeping in Light." All of it.
---> '''JMS:''' Pretty much everybody cried. I came home to a message on my machine from Mira, who was almost unable to speak, and another from Claudia who said she was honored and proud to be a part of this, and the script had made her cry. Bruce, Richard, big beefy guys on the crew...all said the same thing. And there I have to concur; I lost it several times as I was writing it, due to the content; there's one scene in particular... you'll know it when you see it... that put me away for an hour when I finished writing it.
** Yeah.
---> '''Sheridan:''' [[spoiler:Good night, my love... The brightest star in my sky.]]
---> '''Delenn:''' [[spoiler:You ''were'' my sky...and my sun...and my moon.]]
** You can hear JMS' voice breaking from emotion as he's doing the commentary track for ''Sleeping in Light'', and he did the commentary track '''ten years''' after the episode was filmed.
** Then there was the episode "Confessions and Lamentations". An entire freaking ''species''.
* TrappedByMountainLions: Several episodes have major, galaxy-wide ranging A-Plots with B-Plots, who while they might be of great consequence to a specific character, seem petty in comparison to the main plot. Most noticeable is Dr. Franklin's stim addiction problem and subsequent journey to find himself - while the Shadow War is raging.
* UglyCute: The pak’ma’ra. Their dull, bovine eyes and tentacle faces make them rather appealing in an odd way.
* TheWoobie: Lennier, Vir
** IronWoobie: Vir
** JerkassWoobie: Londo
** WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: Lyta
