Season 1 is hammy stereotypical action sci-fi like most other contemporary shows, but with quite important world building that is used for all plot points in the rest of the seasons.

So much questionable acting, awkwardly cheap shots, laughable cgi (even with the remaster), and distinctly 90s costume. No two ways around it, you have to accept those parts as a product of it’s time. The writing is good from the start, and the acting gets better, as you get hooked on the characters everything takes off.

It fundamentally is a political soap opera with make up, but in a more fantastical way than Suits or House of cards, it’s kind of a different thing when the political scheming gets derailed by a planet turning out to be a forgotten superweapon or that the current powers-that-be turn out to be ousted by unknown space magic. It’s also a lot more dramatic seeing civilisation crumbling after a series of particularly poor developments.

What I love about Bab5 is that there’s always at least three plot arcs, you have the Problem-of-the-day that requires running around and punching someone, you have the factional current issue where someone is building up forces in a way that’s noticed in the day, and you have the overarching galactic issue brewing slowly, where planets or governments disappear and unknowable things move in the corner of your eye.

Also, superb story hooking, where a couple of planted background happenings are the pivotal main arc a few seasons later.

It’s why I rewatch all episodes every couple of years, so much great weaving, world building, character, faction and universe development that you just don’t get to see the first or even fifth time.

Also, Andreas Katsulas turns out to be marvellous actor and his character one of the most interesting in almost any epic story I’ve seen, heard or read since.