The Best Babylon 5 Episodes of All Time

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Updated May 15, 2024 118 items
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1.1K votes
140 voters
2 reranks
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Best Babylon 5 episodes, no matter how popular they are. of All Time

List of the best Babylon 5 episodes, as determined by voters like you. With CGI effects that were way ahead of it's time, Babylon 5 was one of the most critically acclaimed space operas of all time. With all the amazing episodes of the show that exist, it's hard to trust just one person's opinion of what the top Babylon 5 episodes of all time are. Fans of Babylon 5 are very passionate about the show, and there are often debates over which episodes are the greatest. That's why this list exists- so you can vote for your favorites and we can find out once and for all what everyone thinks the best episode is.

List below includes Infection, The Wheel of Fire and more. What is the best Babylon 5 episode of all time? Look below and find out.
Most divisive: Intersections in Real Time
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Babylon 5 Episodes of All Time
  • Revelations
    1

    Revelations

    8 votes
    Season 2 Episode 2: Londo becomes more indebted to the sinister Morden.
  • Z'Ha'Dum
    2

    Z'Ha'Dum

    30 votes
    Season 3 Episode 22: Londo's political status changes. The history and motives of the Shadows are revealed.
  • Severed Dreams
    3
    April 01, 1996
    46 votes
    The renegade destroyer ""Alexander"" arrives at Babylon 5 and Sheridan is forced to announce the station's secession from the Earth Alliance, and prepare for an attack by Clark's forces. Meanwhile Delenn is forced to go to Minbar when the Grey Council refuses to act upon increased Shadow activity.
  • War Without End, Part 2
    4
    34 votes
    While Sheridan is unstuck in time, seeing a glimpse of a future Centauri Prime in ruins, the others continue with their plan to take Babylon 4 back in time.
  • Point of No Return
    5

    Point of No Return

    February 26, 1996
    25 votes
    Clark has just declared marshal law, and while Nightwatch prepare to take control of the station, Zack has to decide whose side he's on. In an exercise of bad timing, the prophetic widow of emperor Turhan finally comes to the station, granting Londo the visit he's been begging her for for a long time.
  • In the Shadow of Z'Ha'Dum
    6

    In the Shadow of Z'Ha'Dum

    24 votes
    Season 2 Episode 16: Sheridan discovers the amazing truth about his wife's death--and Kosh reveals an ancient secret that threatens the universe.
  • The Coming of Shadows
    7
    February 01, 1995
    31 votes
    "The Coming of Shadows" is a key episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. It won the 1996 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
  • No Surrender, No Retreat
    8
    24 votes
    "No Surrender, No Retreat" is a key episode from the fourth season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. The episode also gives its name to the entire fourth season of the series, thus emphasizing its importance.
  • Shadow Dancing
    9

    Shadow Dancing

    September 15, 1996
    19 votes
    With the Shadows next target known, a massive counterattack is prepared. Ivanova and Marcus scout ahead in the White Star, while the fleet stands by in hyperspace. At the same time, Franklin finally has to face his problems as he lies fatally wounded in Downbelow.
  • Sleeping in Light
    10
    November 25, 1998
    28 votes
    Twenty years after his death and resurrection at Z'ha'dum, Sheridan feels his life force ebbing away, and invites some old friends for a final gathering.
  • Z'ha'dum
    11
    September 22, 1996
    35 votes
    Z'ha'dum is the final episode of the third season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
  • Interludes and Examinations
    12
    14 votes
    Morden returns to secure Londo's cooperation again, Garibaldi confronts Franklin about the stims and Kosh gives Sheridan a victory against the Shadows - but at a price.
  • Passing Through Gethsemane
    13
    13 votes
    One of the monks starts having disturbing visions and realizes that his past may not be how he remembers it. Meanwhile Lyta causes a bit of commotion when she returns from the Vorlon homeworld.
  • The Fall of Centauri Prime
    14

    The Fall of Centauri Prime

    October 28, 1998
    13 votes
    As Centauri Prime is being bombarded, the Drakh, the real masters behind the war, reveal themselves to Londo. They force him to go along with their plan to alienate the Centauri from the Alliance, and use what's left as their new home.
  • Babylon Squared
    15
    August 10, 1994
    23 votes
    Babylon 4 reappears at the same place it disappeared four years before, and Sinclair and Garibaldi lead an expedition to evacuate its crew. Meanwhile Delenn is summoned by the Grey council. They inform her that they have selected a new leader - her.
  • War Without End (1)
    16

    War Without End (1)

    May 16, 1996
    21 votes
    Ivanova gets a distress call from herself pleading for help as the Shadows destroy Babylon 5. It is dated eight days into the future. At the same time, on Minbar, Sinclair is given a nine-hundred-year-old letter from Valen, telling him that a drastic action must be taken to prevent that future.
  • Chrysalis
    17
    October 03, 1994
    13 votes
    "Chrysalis" is the final episode of the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
  • And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place
    18
    21 votes
    Londo forces Vir to participate in a plan to kill G'Kar. Sheridan struggles with figuring out the Shadows' tactics.
  • In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum
    19
    13 votes
    Sheridan is shocked to learn that one of the crew of the Icarus, a science ship that exploded with his wife aboard, is alive - namely Mr. Morden. A representative of the Ministry of Peace comes to the station to recruit personnel to the Nightwatch.
  • In the Beginning
    20

    In the Beginning

    January 04, 1998
    17 votes
    The Earth military encounters an alien race called the Minbari. Through a series of accidents and misunderstandings, a war breaks out that nearly results in the death of every human on Earth. The war and its aftermath provide the background for the TV series ""Babylon 5.""
  • Messages from Earth
    21
    February 19, 1996
    8 votes
    An archeologist is brought Babylon 5 with a grave massage - a dormant Shadow ship has been found on Ganymede. It must be destroyed before it falls into the hands of President Clark.
  • Falling Toward Apotheosis
    22
    November 25, 1996
    8 votes
    With the Vorlons destroying whole worlds, Babylon 5 is struggling to cope with the refugees. And with one Vorlon aboard, they cannot make a move without them knowing about it. So Sheridan decides to kill him. On Centauri Prime, Cartagia explains to Londo how he will become a god when the Vorlons destroy the planet.
  • Into the Fire
    23

    Into the Fire

    February 03, 1997
    11 votes
    In the hours before the Shadows and the Vorlons meet Sheridan's alliance at Corriana 6, Ivanova and Lorien search the last of the First Ones, and Londo races back to Centauri Prime in hope of removing all Shadow influence before the Vorlon planetkiller arrives.
  • The Long Night
    24

    The Long Night

    January 27, 1997
    9 votes
    As reports that the Shadows are destroying planets too start to come in, Sheridan prepares for one final showdown with the Shadows and the Vorlons. Meanwhile on Narn, Londo makes everything ready - G'Kar's chains have been weakened... an undetectable weapon has been acquired... Tonight Cartagia must die.
  • The Fall of Night
    25
    August 15, 1995
    8 votes
    Two officials from the Ministry of Peace come to Babylon 5; one to deal with the Centauri's continued expansion, and the other to check on the local Nightwatch. Meanwhile a Narn heavy cruiser seeks sanctuary while they make repairs, and Keffer continues his search for proof that Shadow ships exist.
  • The Long, Twilight Struggle
    26
    10 votes
    Draal reveals himself for Sheridan, while Refa and Londo set a plan in motion that will lead to the final defeat of the Narns.
  • Endgame
    27

    Endgame

    October 12, 1997
    18 votes
    "Endgame" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
  • The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
    28

    The Deconstruction of Falling Stars

    16 votes
    Season 4 Episode 22: In the season finale, the story of the InterStellar Alliance is projected eons into the future.
  • Movements of Fire and Shadow
    29
    8 votes
    Sheridan finally authorizes the White Star fleet to participate in the war. Delenn travels to Minbar to start a Minbari/Earth joint project to build a prototype White Star destroyer class ship. And Vir hires Franklin and Lyta to investigate why the Drazi don't return the bodies from destroyed Centauri ships.
  • Midnight on the Firing Line
    30

    Midnight on the Firing Line

    8 votes
    Season 1 Episode 1: Sinclair tries to calm things down after a Narn attack on a peaceful Centauri agricultural colony rekindles old hatreds.