(00:00:00) Zocalo (01:16:07) The Grey Council A mysterious planet with a deadly defense system, a rebellion on Mars, and a strange alien asking for help—just another day on Babylon 5! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, Ali, and Gus break down the epic two-parter, "A Voice in the Wilderness Part 1." Our screenwriters, Jenn and Ali, kick things off with a deep dive on TV writing, explaining the crucial difference between a hook and a cliffhanger. Ali and Gus have some wild theories, comparing the alien in the machine to Game of Thrones' Three-Eyed Raven. The whole crew unites for the "Peter Jurasik Love Hour," gushing over his masterful and hilarious performance as Londo Mollari. 🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here:✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and full-length reactions: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpodThanks for joining us on the station—we're just as eager as you are to see what the hell just came through that jumpgate.
(00:00:00) Grey Council (00:46:17) Grey Council Telepath breeding programs, Minbari funeral drama, and… Star Trek dolphins?! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, Ali, and Gus dive into the Babylon 5 classic “Legacies.” We untangle the politics of a missing Minbari war hero, debate whether Delenn’s miracle plan actually made sense, and explore how the episode sets up one of the show’s most important arcs. Gus questions whether Babylon 5 needs a “no punching at the funeral” rule, Jenn gives us the inside scoop on legendary sci-fi writer D.C. Fontana’s fingerprints on this story, and Ali wonders if Alissa’s choices make her the “Oliver Twist of Babylon 5.” Jenny draws connections between the telepath plotline and the larger Psi Corps arc - plus, the whole crew gets sidetracked imagining dolphins running Starfleet. 🐬 🔗 Watch the reaction to this episode here✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and full-length reactions: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod Thanks for joining us on the station—whether you’re Psi Corps, Grey Council, or just here for the dolphins.
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:45:47) Grey Council A motorcycle joyride through the station, Jeffrey Combs showing up as a surprisingly wholesome telepath, and Ivanova smashing up a bar like she’s in a Yakuza game?! 🏍️🧠🍷 Jenny, Jenn, Gus, and Ali take on “Eyes” — and to everyone’s shock, Larry DiTillio redeems himself after TKO. This week’s spirited discussion includes:Gus cheering for “Jeff punching a Nazi” and dubbing this the true Ivana-sode.Jenn breaking down how JMS weaves fascism and civil liberties into serialized storytelling.Jenny sharing behind-the-scenes trivia about the not-so-subtle motorcycle “product placement” and Bill Mumy’s sneaky band reference.Ali gushing over telepaths and making wild theories about the Shadows, Vorlons, and missing Babylon stations.The crew bonding over Ivanova’s latent telepath foreshadowing, her dream sequence, and her absolute dominance in a bar fight.🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode here✨ Support us on Patreon for unedited reactions and bonus content!👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:38:28) Grey Council 🕊️ Holy puns, a snail monster, and a very unlucky ghost ship -Jenny, Jenn, and first-timers Ali and Gus tackle “Grail,” one of Babylon 5’s quirkiest season one episodes. This week’s banter includes:Ali unleashing “holy snail” and other pun-ishment.Jenn on how the script hides info and lands its reveals.Gus proposing a new hobby: chatting with weird prospectors.Jenny with trivia on JMS’s last-minute additions and Aldous’s name.Sinclair’s seeker vibes, Jesuit jokes, and Minbari caste confusion.Plus: the Mary Celeste, Centauri budgets, Babylon 4 theories, and the eternal TKO debate.🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode here✨ Support us on Patreon for unedited reactions and bonus content!👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod 📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:40:23) Grey Council A boxing match so boring it was BANNED in the UK, Ivanova sits shiva for a complicated father, and the shocking revelation that this episode is just Top Gun in a blender? 🥊🕯️✈️ Jenny, Jenn, and first-timer Gus (with Ali away on assignment) team up to tackle "TKO." This week’s brutally honest discussion includes:Gus delivers a truly epic rant on why he "didn't give a flying f**k" about the alien boxing A-plot.Jenn gives a showrunner’s masterclass on "May Sweeps" and why "TKO" is a classic network "throwaway episode".Jenny reveals the dark and deeply personal history of JMS’s father that fueled his commitment to creating Ivanova's Jewish heritage.The team tries to make sense of the baffling "no humans allowed" rule and why a minor character is inexplicably named Caliban.We learn about the Warner Bros. scheduling mistake that aired this episode out of order, potentially weakening Ivanova's character arc for the season.🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode here ✨ Support us on Patreon for unedited reactions and bonus content! 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod 📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social 🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (01:04:54) Grey Council A space genie with bad vibes, the Shadows finally emerge, and a debate over the future’s worst invention: the open-concept bathroom? 👽😈🚽 Jenny, Jenn, and first-timers Ali and Gus are joined by guest Ean to unpack "Signs and Portents," a massive turning point for Babylon 5. This week’s jam-packed discussion includes:Gus introduces the archaic verb "ensorcelled" to a baffled room.Jenn breaks down why "What do you want?" is both a screenwriting sin and a stroke of genius.Ali drops a bombshell prediction about Sinclair, Delenn, and a conveniently timed marriage reveal.We get a deep dive into JMS's surprising history with Christian communes and cults.Plus: The team discusses expensive CGI, the pains of 90s TV production, and Centauri hairline politics.🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode here✨ Support us on Patreon for unedited reactions and bonus content! 👉http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social 🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:47:58) Grey Council llegal strikes, a slimy negotiator, and a sacred flower holding up the entire station—oh my! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, and Gus break down the incredibly relevant Babylon 5 episode “By Any Means Necessary.” We tackle the thorny politics of a full-blown labor strike and why this 90s sci-fi story hits differently for our Hollywood strike veteran hosts. Gus questions Commander Sinclair’s increasingly rebellious habit of “flouting the Senate” and theorizes when it will all come back to bite him. Jenn gives us the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the episode's writer had to fight her own husband (JMS!) to get the job , and Jenny reveals how the petty conflict between Londo and G’Kar serves as a perfect microcosm of their entire arc. And of course, we all unite in our shared hatred for the galaxy's slimiest negotiator.🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here: ✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and full-length reactions: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpodThanks for joining us on the station—whether you're management or union. And remember: if you need a creative solution, Jeff Sinclair will always find a loophole.
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:39:13) Grey Council Garibaldi's tragic past, a presidential conspiracy, and a whole lot of "laying pipe" - oh my! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, Gus, and Ali break down the Garibaldi-centric Babylon 5 episode, “Survivors.” We explore Garibaldi being framed for an assassination attempt, forcing him to confront his past and his struggle with addiction🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here.✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and bonus content: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpodThanks for joining us on the station - whether you’re a first-time viewer or an old Narn soul. And remember: some episodes are just busy laying groundwork.
(00:00:00) Zocalo (01:04:07) Grey Council Faith, medical ethics, and one very questionable egg - oh my! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, Gus, and Ali wrestle with the moral and emotional gut punch that is Babylon 5’s “Believers.” We break down Dr. Franklin’s desperate attempt to save a child, the alien parents’ unshakable religious beliefs, and the devastating consequences when cultural relativism collides with life-or-death stakes. 🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here: ✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and full-length reactions: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod Thanks for joining us on the station—whether you’re a first-time viewer or an old Narn soul. And remember: sometimes the hardest decisions leave no one feeling like they won.
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:47:03) Grey Council War criminals, immortality serums, and some classic Vorlon nonsense—oh my! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, and Gus delve into the ethically tangled Babylon 5 episode “Deathwalker.” We tackle the political chaos sparked by Jha’dur’s arrival, the uneasy alliance of former enemies, and that big philosophical question: would you take the serum? Gus is still recovering from Hat Man™, Jenn dissects the episode’s bold narrative risks and allegorical layering, and Jenny wonders just how many people on this station are ready to sell their soul for eternal youth. And of course, we all have thoughts about Kosh’s cryptic final move. 🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here: ✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and full-length reactions: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpodThanks for joining us on the station—whether you’re a first-time viewer or an old Narn soul. And remember: if Kosh says “you are not ready,” you probably aren’t.
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:40:58) Grey Council Sinclair’s missing memories, shady interrogators, and trauma lighting—oh my! In this episode of Babble On, Jenny, Jenn, and Gus unpack the mind-bending Babylon 5 episode “And the Sky Full of Stars.” We explore the layers of Sinclair’s PTSD, the weird dream interrogation chair (complete with overly dramatic lighting); and Gus is on high alert, theorizing about government conspiracies and psychic manipulation, while Jenn points out noir influences and symbolic lighting. Jenny, meanwhile, wonders if these are noble cheekbones... or villainous ones. 🔗 Watch the video reaction to this episode here✨ Support us on Patreon for early access and bonus content: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/babbleonpod Thanks for joining us on the station—whether you’re a first-time viewer or an old Narn soul. And remember: if you're out of frame, do you even exist?
(00:00:00) S1E7: "War Prayer" (00:39:05) Grey Council Radical youth, space xenophobia, and the most dramatic rose drop in sci-fi history? 🌹🚀Re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, unpack “The War Prayer”, a Babylon 5 episode that hits a little too close to home with its themes of extremism, fear, and very bad poetry. This week’s highlights: 💔 Ivanova’s heartbreak moment leaves no survivors🌌 The gang explores the politics of fear and otherness in space🥀 Roses are red, rebellion is messy, space cults are real🎷 Jenny makes her case for the now-iconic Sky Cthulhu Music Cue™ Plus: shoutout to the prosthetics department for going hard on the foreheads. 🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode here (spoiler-free):📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:47:35) Grey Council A rogue telepath, jellyfish gods, and Chekhov with serious menace? 🧠👁️Re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, dive into “Mind War”, an episode bursting with psychic power plays, metaphysical mystery, and hot telepath lore. This week’s highlights:“He has become… space baby.” Catherine explores Cthulhu’s vacation home The gang goes deep on psychic ethics, AI parallels, and JMS’s philosophical flexesG’Kar’s final speech stuns us all Plus: the incredible Walter Koenig joins the cast and does not disappointWe shout out Londo’s hair as the true widescreen MVP🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode (spoiler-free!)📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
Religious ceremonies, exes with mining money, and... accidental marriages?? 💍🛐Re-watchers Jenny and Jenn and first-time viewer Gus (with Ali out this week!) dive into Babylon 5’s spiritual showcase episode: “The Parliament of Dreams.” Highlights from this week’s discussion:Sinclair’s romantic past resurfaces...and might be competing with his Minbari future?A closer look at the cultural pageantry and worldbuilding JMS weaves into the station“Taste it.” Did Sinclair just get married??Na'Toth throws a punch and wins our hearts 💥The assassination plot that everyone kind of forgot was happeningThat emotional final scene… and why it meant so much to 90s religious nerds🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode (spoiler-free!) 📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:28:44) Grey Council A mysterious bio-weapon, a suspicious archaeology corp, and… Cockroach Vader with an arm cannon?! 🪲💥Join re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, as they tackle Babylon 5’s campy, creature-heavy episode "Infection." Highlights from this week’s discussion:Is this the weakest episode in Season 1? (JMS thought so, but Ali might fight him on that.)Cockroach Vader with an arm cannon: the people’s monsterBig themes: xenophobia, Earth-first politics, and humanity’s legacyThat Garibaldi/Sinclair scene and its very 90s TV resolution🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode (spoiler-free!) here!🔊Unedited reactions available on Patreon!!📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:31:11) Grey Council Welcome to BABBLE ON – a Babylon 5 podcast! Join re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, as they embark on a voyage through J. Michael Straczynski's epic science fiction series! This week, we discuss Season 1, Episode 3 – “Born to the Purple.” There’s romance in the air as Londo falls for a mysterious dancer named Adira — a subplot that wins over our crew, thanks in no small part to that dress. Meanwhile, Ivonova faces a deeply personal loss, and Garibaldi hovers awkwardly on the fringes. 📺 To watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode on YouTube, click here:Follow us on Bluesky
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:47:07) Grey Council The station’s newest guest has… distinctive cranial design, and the medbay finally has a doctor worth swooning over! Join re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, as they unpack Babylon 5’s eerie second episode, "Soul Hunter"—where death gets a collector’s edition, and prosthetics get creative.👁️ This episode’s highlights:"What is that on his forehead?!" Gus and Ali attempt to unsee the Soul Hunter’s… distinctive cranial design. (Is it a third eye? A pocket? We have questions.)Hello, Dr. Franklin! The station’s new doctor arrives, and let’s just say… Ali and Gus approve🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode (spoiler-free!) here!🔊Unedited reactions available on Patreon!!📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (00:43:58) Grey Council The station is officially open for business! Join re-watchers Jenny and Jenn, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, as they dive into Babylon 5’s explosive first episode, "Midnight on the Firing Line"—where the politics get messy, the cast gets shuffled, and Londo’s sleeves get even bigger.🔥 This episode’s chaos includes:"Wait, where’d everybody go?!" Gus and Ali react to the massive cast changes (RIP Takashima, hello Ivanova! Lyta who? Talia’s here! And… where is the doctor?!).Londo vs. G’Kar: The greatest frenemy rivalry in sci-fi kicks off—who won your sympathy?That Narn/Centauri action: Space battles! Moral dilemmas! And a very ’90s CGI explosion.🎬 Watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode (spoiler-free!): YouTube🔊 Unedited reactions coming soon to Patreon!📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @babbleonpod.bsky.social🎶 Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
(00:00:00) Zocalo (No Spoilers) (01:04:00) Grey Council (Full Spoilers) Welcome to BABBLE ON - a "Babylon 5" podcast! Join re-watchers Jenny and Jen, and first-time viewers Ali and Gus, as they embark on a voyage through J. Michael Straczynski's epic science fiction series!This week, we discuss Babylon 5's pilot -- "THE GATHERING". To watch our LIVE REACTION to the episode on YouTube, click here! ~~~AD-FREE episodes will be available on our PATREON - launching soon!Follow us on BLUESKY!Music: "Discovery" by Alexander Nakarada
Andrew Lawson
Hype!