One of the greatest finales of all time. I was a teenager when this first came out. Me and a group of my friends all watched it together. At one point, my mother walked into the room and found a bunch of teenage boys crying and sobbing 😂 She had no idea what was going on.
Remember Zack's line in the last episode? "I'll probably still be here when they turn the lights off." And sure enough he was. Congratulations for making it to the end. And don't feel bad. We all had the same reaction you did. Many of us still do even after all these years.
The flickering images just before the end credits is a slide show of everyone who worked on this wonderful show, from JMS to the caterers. It's worth frame-hopping to enjoy pictures of the crew.
The scene where Garibaldi picks up the shot glass and rolls it in his hands and then gets into that elevator. All those actors are gone, bar Claudia. But their work will remain.
JMS saved his cameo for this one scene, turning the lights off on B5. If you truly love the series, you must watch the series again, whether on personal level or reaction. There's so much more to discover.
You are now part of a special club, Shelley. People that have watched B5 all the way through and cried at "Sleeping In Light". I loved your comment about how you never thought you'd care so deeply about the characters when you first started. I think we ALL feel and felt the same way. I can tell you that as a now 54 year old man who started watching this show when he was 22, this story and these characters WILL stay with you for a VERY long time. I STILL hear them whispering to me at times when I really need their wisdom. I'm SO GLAD you enjoyed the show and the story. Be well.
This finale was written for season 4 when they announced that the B5 would would be only B4 and not renewed. This was how they planned to quickly wrap up the series before its time. After a lot of work, it was finally renewed and this was sent to the end of S5 as it should have been. For this reason, Ivanova appeared in this finale (at end of s4) before she left the series. Had this been filmed in S5, we would have had her replacement sitting at the table there. As a replacement for the finale we had that episode about how the universe would appear 100, 500, and 1 million years into the future.
The fate of Londo and G'kar does not change from when we first see it, but the context does. G'kar killing Londo is an act of mercy. He is freeing Londo from his keeper in the only way he can.
As I understand it from other sources Vir killed Shiv’kala (the Drakh we saw earlier) which released anyone in thrall to one of his keepers, including David.
I always fear this moment...how many youtubers have i watched going through the series? maybe 3 so far? it always makes me cry! it was great watching b5 with you, thank you so much!
Oh man, it's only starting and I'm already feeling it. It's been such a delight to revisit this whole series through the channel. It absolutely holds up. So much of this show has stuck with me my whole life. This has been a blast.
Yeah, I knew the tears were going to flow, during this one. I've watched it many times and always brings tears to my eyes. I've got to give credit to the score. The music was designed to break our hearts, and it sure does. Also, the actors acted the hell out of this one. That scene in the bed, after John leaves, and Delenn grabs the pillow and hugs it, just shatters me.
On the plus side, you're now able to go back through the series and pick up on all the small bits you missed the first time! You can now introduce friends to it, to give you an excuse to do it...
This episode is so emotional that even J Michael Straczynski chokes up on the DVD commentary for it when he watches it again. John and Delenn's goodbye is heartrending - and that's real emotion pouring out from Bruce and Mira there.
In the scene where Sheridan is looking at himself in the mirror, an accident of lighting created a shadow of a cross on the wall behind him. JMS yelled out, 'DON'T MOVE ANYTHING!'
Some of the sweetest sadness ever put on film. A perfect moment of beauty. It's a tough one to get through. John Sheridan died on January 14, 2281. For historical reference, Vir has been emperor for about three years following the death of Londo and G'Kar in 2278. Although never canonically shown, it was understood that Lennier's death was to occur near or at the end of the Telepath Conflict in 2264 in the company of Lyta Alexander. Of course, this could have all changed....
Fun facts: the first episode written for the show, back in the late 80s or early 90s, was this one. Everything else was built to bring us here. The statue you see on Ivanova's desk (very briefly) is the Hugo Award Trophy they won for "The Coming Of Shadows" (the one where the Centauri emperor dies). The show was nominated for 4 Hugos, winning two (the other was "Severed Dreams", the one where they break away from Earth) When it came time to score the destruction of Babylon 5 the composer Christopher Franke asked for direction. JMS basically told him to make us cry (or words to that effect) The technician who throws the switch that shuts down the station is, in fact, show creator J. Michael Straczynski. It is his first of two acting credits, the other being for the movie Thor in which he had a minor role
What's your source for that first fact? Because the original plan for the show was apparently quite different (besides, of course, involving a different lead character).
@@rukbat3 I didn't mean to imply that changes weren't made along the way. Many had to be made, including replacing Sinclair and Talia and introducing Koenig as Bester in an episode he wasn't intended to be in (and then doing 11 more unplanned episodes). I was speaking in GENERAL terms. My source is both JMSNEWS and the Lurker's Guide To Babylon 5, which JMS regularly participated in.
@@rukbat3 The Lurker's Guide is always a good source for these sort of questions. JMS would appear on the B5 USENET group after each episode aired and answer questions. I found the following quote there. On GEnie, 11 April 1992: A few days ago, I sat down with our line producer, John Copeland, and production designer John Iacovelli, and we were talking about the need to move quickly on some stuff, and how painful the process is to have the whole story in your head, already told, really, and then have to make it all over again so we can put it on film. "You think you've got it bad," I noted, "I've already worked out the last scene in the last episode of the last season (#5)...and I've still got to make Movie #1." They called me on it and asked what that scene was. Just to see their reaction, I told them. They looked at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted three heads and feathers. It was worth it. (Happily, they're sworn to secrecy.) It was also good because I think that, even without filling in the beats in between, it gave them a good sense of where the series was going to go.
Well here was me thinking I hadn't spent enough time crying at my computer today /s To clarify because you seem to have misunderstood: Delenn is still the President of the Interstellar Alliance. The position Ivanova took over was the head of the Rangers. And Kosh's message was "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." So as I interpret it, the long night refers to death; and the beginning refers to the whole age of the galaxy in which the younger races were manipulated by their elders, specifically the Shadows and Vorlons, which ended with the end of the Shadow war at Coriana 6.
RIP Andreas, Michael, Stephen, Paul, Richard, Tim, Jeff, Jerry, and my dear beautiful Mira. To G'kar, Cmdr Sinclair, Emperor Vir "Flounder" Cotto first of his name, Dr Franklin, General Franklin, Zathras, Zack, Girabaldi, and my dear beautiful Delenn of Mir. All life is transitory. A dream. We all come together in the same place at the end of time. If I do not see you again here, I will see you in a little while in the place where no shadows fall.
Not many shows get a send off like this. Most especially when we're talking about from the stand point of the better part of the back half of season 5 being a send off. We got to say goodbye to each of these characters. What I love is that not every ending for every character was a fairy tale. Many of them were bittersweet, others downright tragic, but they all feel incredibly real and organically drawn from the years this show was around. There's a reason that, as much as I love the original Star Trek, Babylon 5 is probably my favorite science fiction show. What's next, Shelley?
Thanks for all the great reactions! Londo & G’Kar’s final fate is explained in a trilogy of Novels called “The Legion of Fire.” Also JMS has said that Crusade was supposed to run 5 seasons. They would have resolved the Drakh plague around season 3 and transitioned into a different overall arc for the rest of the series.
Earlier, Sheridan and Delenn swapped positions. After Sheridan's death (or whatever that was), Delenn remained president of the Alliance. Ivanova became the head of the Anla'Shok.
I think a good part of the reason that Babylon 5 fans have stayed loyal is that they stuck the landing, which is so, so rare in TV, especially sci-fi. Regarding the music for this episode: Chris Franke had one instruction from JMS: “Break our hearts.” He succeeded so, so, well.
I've seen this finale countless times...I've never made it through without several tissues mysteriously dampening. Such a worthy finale -- a very satisfying denouement for an exceptional if underappreciated-by-the-masses series.
I'm not bawlin' right now.... not at all. :) Since this episode aired in 1998, I have seen it many times, and I cry EVERY single time I watch it. When Sheridan and Delenn hug for the last time... when he has to walk away and she reaches for him... when she's in bed alone and hugs the pillow... when Sheridan passes away... and damn it all when the station blows up it breaks my heart... just like JMS wanted (his only instruction to the music composer for that scene was to break his heart). This series was very special and unique when it first aired, and it warms my heart to see new fans still watching it and seeing what we saw and feeling what we felt long ago... when the internet was a new thing for most people :) Thank-you for sharing your journey and tears with us. It means a lot.
This is one of those vanishingly rare stories that I just can't experience too often or it will absolutely break me. Damn. The quote was: "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." The long night being death, of course, and the end of the beginning being the moment that the younger races first stood on their own (which happened at Coriana 6).
So many series have tried a distinct story arc and fail to stick the landing, but B5 was the first and had one of the bests endings, even if it does tear your heart out.
My favorite aspect of the Last Dinner was how the ruler of the mighty Centauri Empire was just .. Vir to the other diners. Yeah, I think you're missing the context of G'Kar and Londo's mutual deaths. G'Kar strangled Londo out of love, to free him from his Keeper. The Keeper fought back causing G'Kar's death. The context was revealed after the deaths scene.
"Sleeping In Light" is up there with M*A*S*H's "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" as one of the greatest series' finale ever. I saw it first run, have seen it countless times since and then cried again, just then, watching it with you.
The best finale fit for the best Sci-fi show and one of the best TV shows in general. Lennier and Lyta both died in the War against the Psi Corps, but their sacrifice was not in vain. JMS wanted to make a whole movie about the Telepath War, that's why he didn't include it in season 5, sadly it never happened...
JMS was the guy who shut off the big switch (the light of B5) and he really did play the heartstrings at every opportunity and exactly perfectly! I had the same pounding of emotion during this that all of us weekly TV watchers were fearing and wanting! The G'Kar that strangles Londo _is_ the enlightened one, but he had a deal with Londo to try to end the shadow influence, and a regular handoff of power would not suffice. They had almost certainly helped Vir avoid the same fate and unroot the shadow influence in the Centauri civilization!
THIS is how you do an ending! - warned you to keep tissues close to hand! Not a single space battle or punch-up in sight- cos they just weren't needed, especially with such a beautiful script just full of emotion - apparently JMS said something along the lines of whatever the fate of B5 (this was recorded at the end of S4 when S5 was in doubt), he wanted to make sure this particular story was told! I know this episode by heart, & it still chokes me up every time I see it- and hats off to the amazing Christopher Franke - the score is just emotional perfection. I challenge anyone to name a more perfectly beautiful & emotional ending to a Sci-fi tv series..... I'll wait.. ❤🥹
It’s ok… I’ve seen this ending a couple dozen times and every time the lines “Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations” and “got up before dawn to watch the sun rise” just wreck me… every time
Little moment you may have forgotten about: back in season one we got a prophecy about the destruction of Babylon 5. One last shuttle left right before it blew. And there it was.
Shelley, welcome to the club of "Crying at Sleeping in Light". It's a very big club. To me it's the greatest series finale I have seen. G'Kar killed Londo because Londo asked him to do it, and it shows the great friendship they developed. Ivanova didn't become president of the Alliance, but took Sheridan's role as Ranger One, and Christopher Franke's music underscores it all. "every morning, for the rest of her life, Delenn got up before dawn and watched the sun come up" "It taught us that we have to create the world we want to live in, or others will do it for us"
Remember when Sheridan was taught about beauty in the dark by poor old Kosh? And then the story about Londo being struck by the music...I think they both experienced the same music.
I don't know anyone who hasn't cried by the end of this episode. The music made even JMS himself cry. Btw that technician who was shutting down the station, that was JMS. A little symbolism. But I'm glad you were able to finish this amazing journey, only a few more movies and Crusade left.
This was originally meant to be placed after Season 4, but then Season 5 got approved at the last moment. (Which is why Ivonnava - Claudia Christian, is present.) So, it got moved to the end of Season 5 & they put together "Deconstruction of Falling Stars" and had it take this episode's place at the end of Season 4. I've said it many times but my ONLY complaint about this episode I have is that Garabaldi didn't says "Jeff" during the "toast scene"! (it's just a nit-pick but I would have been a nice callback to Sinclair. Thus tying the beginning and the ending together a little more.) They WERE "best friends" after all.
G'Kar and Londo killing each other still happens, but the context is different than we thought when we saw it. Londo asks for his death as an act of self-sacrifice. G'Kar has to kill Londo before the Keeper wakes up in order to give Sheridan and Delenn time to escape. The grim expression on G'Kar's face is one of deep pain and regret, not implacable hatred. It isn't until the Keeper wakes up that Londo is forced to strangle G'Kar. The two were friends right to the end.
So glad you finally made it to the end! What an emotional episode it was. You will have to read the Centauri Prime Trilogy to find out what happened to Vir, G'kar, Londo and the Drakh storyline. The Psi Corps trilogy explains how Psi Corps started, how Bester became what he was, and what happens to him after. Unfortunately there is STILL no proper coverage anywhere for the Telepath Crisis, just a few hints here and there. Do you want to know what happened to Lennier? See my comment below for spoilers
Lennier ... eventually got involved in the telepath crisis and was there in the last major battle against Psi Corps leaders who were putting rogue telepaths in concentration camps and trying to take over EarthGov. Lyta Alexander led a group of rogue teeps against Psi Corps HQ and died destroying the base, as did Lennier. Psi Corps was then essentially finished and the Crisis ended. We know this only from a few comments by JMS.
On a second watch through, you'll understand why G'Kar and Londo had to end the way it did. Friends do what they need to in order to help their friends.
As I sci-fi nerd, this was my favorite tv show. I've recently been trying to convert my Trekkie brother. Don't know how to deal with my Star Wars friend in conversion. B5 was the best. Ok, Cleopatra 2525, but that's a different story...
Babylon 5 was heavily influenced by the Lord of The Rings, so in that universe there really is a beyond in "beyond the rim". Sheridan's death was basically him sailing to the undying lands with the old races. (I know, not that great a consolation, but I tried)
It's definitely a tough episode to watch. I've rewatched the whole series a few times, but somehow I never get around to re-watching this one. Even to watch this reaction-video I waited until everyone else had left work for the day. Tough episode. But a great ending for a great series.
One of the greatest finales of all time. I was a teenager when this first came out. Me and a group of my friends all watched it together. At one point, my mother walked into the room and found a bunch of teenage boys crying and sobbing 😂 She had no idea what was going on.
Little Detail JMS himself turns off the lights of his creation as the tech flipping the switch.
One of the greatest finales of TV
Fun note- the guy shutting off the lights was JMS
Not so fun note - only Claudia Christian is alive of the cast that shared that elevator scene with him...
Remember Zack's line in the last episode? "I'll probably still be here when they turn the lights off." And sure enough he was. Congratulations for making it to the end. And don't feel bad. We all had the same reaction you did. Many of us still do even after all these years.
JMS's note to Chris Franke for the music during the 'decommisioning' of B5: 'Break my heart.'
Mission accomplished.
Chris Franke's music is very much a cast member!
Shelley, thank you for all of your reactions to this epic adventure that is known as Babylon 5. It truly has been a wonderful journey.
It is a big commitment to react to a show and a lot of effort goes into it. Much appreciated.
"I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil."
The flickering images just before the end credits is a slide show of everyone who worked on this wonderful show, from JMS to the caterers. It's worth frame-hopping to enjoy pictures of the crew.
This was a tear jerker when it aired, but it's absolutely heartwrenching now given how many cast members we've lost.
The scene where Garibaldi picks up the shot glass and rolls it in his hands and then gets into that elevator. All those actors are gone, bar Claudia. But their work will remain.
Seeing old Franklin is particularly sad. He never got close to old.
@@sdfried4877 Agreed. I met him at a signing a few months before he died. His was the most tragic of the main cast.
Yep, even the ones present at the small dinner only two remains.
"To absent friends-in memory still bright."
Well, I'm not doing anything at work today so I guess I can cry in my office watching this.
JMS saved his cameo for this one scene, turning the lights off on B5. If you truly love the series, you must watch the series again, whether on personal level or reaction. There's so much more to discover.
You are now part of a special club, Shelley. People that have watched B5 all the way through and cried at "Sleeping In Light". I loved your comment about how you never thought you'd care so deeply about the characters when you first started. I think we ALL feel and felt the same way. I can tell you that as a now 54 year old man who started watching this show when he was 22, this story and these characters WILL stay with you for a VERY long time. I STILL hear them whispering to me at times when I really need their wisdom. I'm SO GLAD you enjoyed the show and the story. Be well.
This finale was written for season 4 when they announced that the B5 would would be only B4 and not renewed. This was how they planned to quickly wrap up the series before its time. After a lot of work, it was finally renewed and this was sent to the end of S5 as it should have been. For this reason, Ivanova appeared in this finale (at end of s4) before she left the series. Had this been filmed in S5, we would have had her replacement sitting at the table there. As a replacement for the finale we had that episode about how the universe would appear 100, 500, and 1 million years into the future.
The fate of Londo and G'kar does not change from when we first see it, but the context does. G'kar killing Londo is an act of mercy. He is freeing Londo from his keeper in the only way he can.
One could argue the context never changes, either… we just learn the context which changes… everything
@@txheadshots Yes, to be more accurate it is our understanding of the context that changes.
@@DeonTainWe thought they would die full of hate. What was really going on was much more tragic and yet so much better.
As I understand it from other sources Vir killed Shiv’kala (the Drakh we saw earlier) which released anyone in thrall to one of his keepers, including David.
I always fear this moment...how many youtubers have i watched going through the series? maybe 3 so far? it always makes me cry! it was great watching b5 with you, thank you so much!
MC's reaction was tough to watch.
@ianstopher9111 oh yeah she was a mess lol
@@ianstopher9111 Yeah I remember her saying she was going to try it without Kleenex....
I thought - BIG Mistake!
Oh man, it's only starting and I'm already feeling it. It's been such a delight to revisit this whole series through the channel. It absolutely holds up. So much of this show has stuck with me my whole life. This has been a blast.
Yeah, I knew the tears were going to flow, during this one. I've watched it many times and always brings tears to my eyes. I've got to give credit to the score. The music was designed to break our hearts, and it sure does. Also, the actors acted the hell out of this one. That scene in the bed, after John leaves, and Delenn grabs the pillow and hugs it, just shatters me.
Zack always had a thing for Lyta. if he was at that last meal i think he would have raised a glass to her.
I'm gonna add to the chorus of everyone saying... this ending gets me every time. one of the best final episodes ever
" . . . Even for people like us." Best show ever made. Told ya so.
On the plus side, you're now able to go back through the series and pick up on all the small bits you missed the first time! You can now introduce friends to it, to give you an excuse to do it...
This Finale is one of the one's that make me ball like a baby. In a good way
Every time I watch this episode I ugly cry. It is one of the best ways to get a good cry. It is an excellent episode.
This episode is so emotional that even J Michael Straczynski chokes up on the DVD commentary for it when he watches it again. John and Delenn's goodbye is heartrending - and that's real emotion pouring out from Bruce and Mira there.
In the scene where Sheridan is looking at himself in the mirror, an accident of lighting created a shadow of a cross on the wall behind him. JMS yelled out, 'DON'T MOVE ANYTHING!'
I believe he said his actual direction was "NOBODY TOUCHES THAT F---ING MIRROR!"
Some of the sweetest sadness ever put on film. A perfect moment of beauty. It's a tough one to get through.
John Sheridan died on January 14, 2281.
For historical reference, Vir has been emperor for about three years following the death of Londo and G'Kar in 2278.
Although never canonically shown, it was understood that Lennier's death was to occur near or at the end of the Telepath Conflict in 2264 in the company of Lyta Alexander. Of course, this could have all changed....
Fun facts: the first episode written for the show, back in the late 80s or early 90s, was this one. Everything else was built to bring us here.
The statue you see on Ivanova's desk (very briefly) is the Hugo Award Trophy they won for "The Coming Of Shadows" (the one where the Centauri emperor dies). The show was nominated for 4 Hugos, winning two (the other was "Severed Dreams", the one where they break away from Earth)
When it came time to score the destruction of Babylon 5 the composer Christopher Franke asked for direction. JMS basically told him to make us cry (or words to that effect)
The technician who throws the switch that shuts down the station is, in fact, show creator J. Michael Straczynski. It is his first of two acting credits, the other being for the movie Thor in which he had a minor role
What's your source for that first fact? Because the original plan for the show was apparently quite different (besides, of course, involving a different lead character).
@@rukbat3 I didn't mean to imply that changes weren't made along the way. Many had to be made, including replacing Sinclair and Talia and introducing Koenig as Bester in an episode he wasn't intended to be in (and then doing 11 more unplanned episodes). I was speaking in GENERAL terms. My source is both JMSNEWS and the Lurker's Guide To Babylon 5, which JMS regularly participated in.
@@rukbat3 The Lurker's Guide is always a good source for these sort of questions. JMS would appear on the B5 USENET group after each episode aired and answer questions. I found the following quote there.
On GEnie, 11 April 1992:
A few days ago, I sat down with our line producer, John Copeland, and production designer John Iacovelli, and we were talking about the need to move quickly on some stuff, and how painful the process is to have the whole story in your head, already told, really, and then have to make it all over again so we can put it on film. "You think you've got it bad," I noted, "I've already worked out the last scene in the last episode of the last season (#5)...and I've still got to make Movie #1." They called me on it and asked what that scene was. Just to see their reaction, I told them. They looked at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted three heads and feathers. It was worth it. (Happily, they're sworn to secrecy.) It was also good because I think that, even without filling in the beats in between, it gave them a good sense of where the series was going to go.
Well here was me thinking I hadn't spent enough time crying at my computer today /s
To clarify because you seem to have misunderstood: Delenn is still the President of the Interstellar Alliance. The position Ivanova took over was the head of the Rangers.
And Kosh's message was "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." So as I interpret it, the long night refers to death; and the beginning refers to the whole age of the galaxy in which the younger races were manipulated by their elders, specifically the Shadows and Vorlons, which ended with the end of the Shadow war at Coriana 6.
RIP Andreas, Michael, Stephen, Paul, Richard, Tim, Jeff, Jerry, and my dear beautiful Mira.
To G'kar, Cmdr Sinclair, Emperor Vir "Flounder" Cotto first of his name, Dr Franklin, General Franklin, Zathras, Zack, Girabaldi, and my dear beautiful Delenn of Mir. All life is transitory. A dream. We all come together in the same place at the end of time. If I do not see you again here, I will see you in a little while in the place where no shadows fall.
Not many shows get a send off like this.
Most especially when we're talking about from the stand point of the better part of the back half of season 5 being a send off. We got to say goodbye to each of these characters.
What I love is that not every ending for every character was a fairy tale. Many of them were bittersweet, others downright tragic, but they all feel incredibly real and organically drawn from the years this show was around.
There's a reason that, as much as I love the original Star Trek, Babylon 5 is probably my favorite science fiction show.
What's next, Shelley?
Thanks for all the great reactions! Londo & G’Kar’s final fate is explained in a trilogy of Novels called “The Legion of Fire.” Also JMS has said that Crusade was supposed to run 5 seasons. They would have resolved the Drakh plague around season 3 and transitioned into a different overall arc for the rest of the series.
Londo is one of the most Shakespearean characters in Sci fi ever. McBeth, Othello and Hamlet all filled into one.
And combined with Michael Corleone
Earlier, Sheridan and Delenn swapped positions. After Sheridan's death (or whatever that was), Delenn remained president of the Alliance. Ivanova became the head of the Anla'Shok.
It always hits hard, that one
I think a good part of the reason that Babylon 5 fans have stayed loyal is that they stuck the landing, which is so, so rare in TV, especially sci-fi.
Regarding the music for this episode: Chris Franke had one instruction from JMS: “Break our hearts.” He succeeded so, so, well.
God I hate that saying. I think because I associate it so much with Jar Jar Abrams and the fact that so many times he doesn't s***c t*e l*****g.
I still openly weep whenever I watch this episode. Literal waterworks every time since seeing the original airing. 😢
Our life is a journey, its just the beginning we come and we go but its not the end. 🙏❤️🇬🇧 Nov twenty four
To this day, decades later, I still totally lose it when the station goes. This is a freakin masterpiece.
I've seen this finale countless times...I've never made it through without several tissues mysteriously dampening. Such a worthy finale -- a very satisfying denouement for an exceptional if underappreciated-by-the-masses series.
I can make it through without tissues. Might just be a bit messy....
I'm not bawlin' right now.... not at all. :) Since this episode aired in 1998, I have seen it many times, and I cry EVERY single time I watch it. When Sheridan and Delenn hug for the last time... when he has to walk away and she reaches for him... when she's in bed alone and hugs the pillow... when Sheridan passes away... and damn it all when the station blows up it breaks my heart... just like JMS wanted (his only instruction to the music composer for that scene was to break his heart). This series was very special and unique when it first aired, and it warms my heart to see new fans still watching it and seeing what we saw and feeling what we felt long ago... when the internet was a new thing for most people :) Thank-you for sharing your journey and tears with us. It means a lot.
This is one of those vanishingly rare stories that I just can't experience too often or it will absolutely break me. Damn.
The quote was: "When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning." The long night being death, of course, and the end of the beginning being the moment that the younger races first stood on their own (which happened at Coriana 6).
Ivanova didn't come back. They filmed this at the end of season 4 and held on to it for a year.
So many series have tried a distinct story arc and fail to stick the landing, but B5 was the first and had one of the bests endings, even if it does tear your heart out.
My favorite aspect of the Last Dinner was how the ruler of the mighty Centauri Empire was just .. Vir to the other diners.
Yeah, I think you're missing the context of G'Kar and Londo's mutual deaths. G'Kar strangled Londo out of love, to free him from his Keeper. The Keeper fought back causing G'Kar's death. The context was revealed after the deaths scene.
"Sleeping In Light" is up there with M*A*S*H's "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" as one of the greatest series' finale ever. I saw it first run, have seen it countless times since and then cried again, just then, watching it with you.
The best finale fit for the best Sci-fi show and one of the best TV shows in general.
Lennier and Lyta both died in the War against the Psi Corps, but their sacrifice was not in vain. JMS wanted to make a whole movie about the Telepath War, that's why he didn't include it in season 5, sadly it never happened...
JMS was the guy who shut off the big switch (the light of B5) and he really did play the heartstrings at every opportunity and exactly perfectly! I had the same pounding of emotion during this that all of us weekly TV watchers were fearing and wanting!
The G'Kar that strangles Londo _is_ the enlightened one, but he had a deal with Londo to try to end the shadow influence, and a regular handoff of power would not suffice. They had almost certainly helped Vir avoid the same fate and unroot the shadow influence in the Centauri civilization!
THIS is how you do an ending! - warned you to keep tissues close to hand!
Not a single space battle or punch-up in sight- cos they just weren't needed, especially with such a beautiful script just full of emotion - apparently JMS said something along the lines of whatever the fate of B5 (this was recorded at the end of S4 when S5 was in doubt), he wanted to make sure this particular story was told!
I know this episode by heart, & it still chokes me up every time I see it- and hats off to the amazing Christopher Franke - the score is just emotional perfection.
I challenge anyone to name a more perfectly beautiful & emotional ending to a Sci-fi tv series.....
I'll wait.. ❤🥹
Shelley: "I want it to end on a happy note. PLEASE don't be devastating!"
All B5 fans: UH OH!!!
This episode is one of the best episodes. It's an epic conclusion.
"When the long night comes, return to the end of the beginning."
It’s ok… I’ve seen this ending a couple dozen times and every time the lines “Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations” and “got up before dawn to watch the sun rise” just wreck me… every time
Little moment you may have forgotten about: back in season one we got a prophecy about the destruction of Babylon 5. One last shuttle left right before it blew. And there it was.
Shelley, welcome to the club of "Crying at Sleeping in Light". It's a very big club.
To me it's the greatest series finale I have seen.
G'Kar killed Londo because Londo asked him to do it, and it shows the great friendship they developed.
Ivanova didn't become president of the Alliance, but took Sheridan's role as Ranger One,
and Christopher Franke's music underscores it all.
"every morning, for the rest of her life, Delenn got up before dawn and watched the sun come up"
"It taught us that we have to create the world we want to live in, or others will do it for us"
4:29 my head canon is that Londo and Vir are hearing the choir that Kosh showed to Sheridan in Downbelow
Remember when Sheridan was taught about beauty in the dark by poor old Kosh? And then the story about Londo being struck by the music...I think they both experienced the same music.
This finale gets me emotional EVERY time. 💔💜
Here we Go!
I don't know anyone who hasn't cried by the end of this episode. The music made even JMS himself cry. Btw that technician who was shutting down the station, that was JMS. A little symbolism. But I'm glad you were able to finish this amazing journey, only a few more movies and Crusade left.
17:20 Ivanova is not president. She's now the leader of the Rangers, Ranger One.
Made all the more poignant by how many of the cast have now left us, particularly around the table for that farewell meal.
This was originally meant to be placed after Season 4, but then Season 5 got approved at the last moment. (Which is why Ivonnava - Claudia Christian, is present.)
So, it got moved to the end of Season 5 & they put together "Deconstruction of Falling Stars" and had it take this episode's place at the end of Season 4.
I've said it many times but my ONLY complaint about this episode I have is that Garabaldi didn't says "Jeff" during the "toast scene"! (it's just a nit-pick but I would have been a nice callback to Sinclair. Thus tying the beginning and the ending together a little more.) They WERE "best friends" after all.
G'Kar and Londo killing each other still happens, but the context is different than we thought when we saw it. Londo asks for his death as an act of self-sacrifice. G'Kar has to kill Londo before the Keeper wakes up in order to give Sheridan and Delenn time to escape. The grim expression on G'Kar's face is one of deep pain and regret, not implacable hatred. It isn't until the Keeper wakes up that Londo is forced to strangle G'Kar. The two were friends right to the end.
So glad you finally made it to the end! What an emotional episode it was. You will have to read the Centauri Prime Trilogy to find out what happened to Vir, G'kar, Londo and the Drakh storyline. The Psi Corps trilogy explains how Psi Corps started, how Bester became what he was, and what happens to him after. Unfortunately there is STILL no proper coverage anywhere for the Telepath Crisis, just a few hints here and there. Do you want to know what happened to Lennier? See my comment below for spoilers
Lennier ... eventually got involved in the telepath crisis and was there in the last major battle against Psi Corps leaders who were putting rogue telepaths in concentration camps and trying to take over EarthGov. Lyta Alexander led a group of rogue teeps against Psi Corps HQ and died destroying the base, as did Lennier. Psi Corps was then essentially finished and the Crisis ended. We know this only from a few comments by JMS.
Best finale ever!
On a second watch through, you'll understand why G'Kar and Londo had to end the way it did. Friends do what they need to in order to help their friends.
Wonderful reaction.
As I sci-fi nerd, this was my favorite tv show. I've recently been trying to convert my Trekkie brother. Don't know how to deal with my Star Wars friend in conversion. B5 was the best. Ok, Cleopatra 2525, but that's a different story...
Babylon 5 was heavily influenced by the Lord of The Rings, so in that universe there really is a beyond in "beyond the rim". Sheridan's death was basically him sailing to the undying lands with the old races.
(I know, not that great a consolation, but I tried)
It's definitely a tough episode to watch. I've rewatched the whole series a few times, but somehow I never get around to re-watching this one.
Even to watch this reaction-video I waited until everyone else had left work for the day. Tough episode. But a great ending for a great series.
So, what is your favorite documentary?
There's no getting through this episode with dry eyes.
😢👍