Years beforeBattlestar Galacticasubverted the standardStar Trekapproach to sci-fi by embracing military-centric themes and characters,Babylon 5blendedStar Trek’s diplomatic approach to the universe through the lens of military characters. In all three sci-fi shows (as well as plenty of otherwar-themed sci-fi propertieslikeStarship Troopersor theAlienfranchise), space exploration is a well-organized system of checks and balances that relies on the kind of structure most commonly seen in modern militaries. This gives them a realistic baseline to ground the characters of their otherwise cosmic stories.
The thematic purpose of many sci-fi can be seen in how they apply these elements. In some sci-fi (likeStar Wars), the focus is on the importance of staving off totalitarian control through might. In others, likeStar Trek, there’s a deep adherence to the importance of diplomacy and a rebuttal to military action being the primary line of defense.Babylon 5andBattlestar Galacticaexplore the concept from a more nuanced perspective, highlighting the strengths and flaws in any military tied to a civilian government while making a case for their importance and necessity.
Battlestar Galactica & Babylon 5 Both Explore The Military Chain Of Command
Babylon 5&Battlestar GalacticaAre Just As Much About Military Responsibility As They Are About Space
Babylon 5andBattlestar Galacticaare military fiction just as much as they are sci-fi shows. In both shows, the chain of command within their respective central organizations is represented by a standard military ranking system. WhileBattlestar Galacticahad the Colonial Forces serving at the behest of the remaining humans,Babylon 5had EarthForce, which served under the discretion of the larger Earth Alliance. In both shows, the main characters are from those military organizations with plenty of experience, allowing them to reasonably take charge in emergency situations.
Babylon 5 Had One Of Sci-Fi’s First LGBTQ+ Relationships, But Never Made It Proper Canon
Babylon 5 quietly had an early LGBTQ+ relationship in the mid-90s, but could never make that entirely clear given the era of television.
Both shows explored the tensions that existed between the military and the government that it nominally serves.Battlestar Galacticaused the divide between the military and the government to explore the moral failings and resolute strength of both.Babylon 5was more focused on the military, especially after the revelations about corruption in the Earth Alliance spurred the heroes to announce Babylon 5 would become an independent and sovereign entity.Babylon 5spends a lot of time exploring the moral responsibility of the military to follow their oaths and do what’s right, even when given opposing direct orders from superiors.
Star Trek’s Condemnation Of War Doesn’t Fit With Babylon 5 Or Battlestar Galactica
The Kind Of Peaceful Morals That Win Out InStar TrekWouldn’t Work In Other Sci-Fi Properties
One of the things that always separated the inherently optimisticStar Trekfrom other sci-fi properties was the way the franchise has always been rooted in pacifism.Star Trekmay have military ranks, but the Federation is treated as a humanitarian organization first and foremost, with violence treated as a regrettable last resort. InBattlestar GalacticiaandBabylon 5, that isn’t an option.Both shows highlight that some threats cannot be reasoned with. Forces like the Cylons in the former and the Shadows in the latter aren’t content with peaceful terms, and use their full might to destroy their enemies.
InStar Trek, peace can always be found. In other shows, that’s not always an option.
Star Trekis a condemnation of war, which neitherBattlestar GalacticanorBabylon 5fully commit to.Both shows highlight how militaries are necessary safeguards that can be corrupted by flawed people and ambitious leaders. However, they are needed as defenders of the citizenry and a bulwark against external aggression. Notably, both shows end with their armed services repurposed as deliberate peacekeepers, willing to destroy their weapons rather than let the temptation to use them potentially shade their future decisions. InStar Trek, peace can always be found. In other shows, that’s not always an option.
Babylon 5 Set The Stage For Battlestar Galactica
Babylon 5’s Complex Approach To Military In Sci-Fi Laid The Groundwork ForBattlestar Galactica
Battlestar GalacticaandBabylon 5weren’t the first sci-fi stories to apply militaristic ideals to the genre, but they helped codify them for modern audiences. In many ways,Battlestar Galactica’s willingness to explore the moral complications that come from being a military that has to make hard decisions can be seen as a direct descendant ofBabylon 5’s approach to the same concept. Beyond the military conflicts and moral quandaries though,Babylon 5also highlighted the importance of diplomacy and the dangers of lingering resentment between former enemies in their world.
Babylon 5debuted in 1994 and ran for five seasons before ending in 1998. The modernBattlestar Galactica, which was based on an established sci-fi franchise, debuted in 2003 and ran for four seasons before concluding in 2009.
The crew of Babylon 5 often had to settle conflicts with other worlds through the use of clever loopholes or stringent bargaining, highlighting the importance of seeking peace in these sorts of intergovernmental conflicts. In this sense,Babylon 5feels like the happy middle betweenStar Trek’soptimistic approach to sci-fi andBattlestar Galactica’s harsher perspectiveon the same genre.Babylon 5venerated heroes in uniform while also being willing to call out the kind of authoritarians who wanted to use the military as their personal weapon, allowing it to explore an inherent dichotomy of any military service.
