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Babylon 5: Thirdspace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Babylon 5: Thirdspace | |
|---|---|
 TNT Promotional Poster for Babylon 5:Thirdspace |
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| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Running time | 94 minutes |
| Creator(s) | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Director(s) | Jesus Salvador Trevino |
| Producer(s) | John Copeland |
| Writer(s) | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Starring | Bruce Boxleitner Claudia Christian Shari Belafonte Jeff Conaway Patricia Tallman |
| Music by | Christopher Franke |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Original channel | TNT |
| Release date(s) | July 19, 1998 |
| IMDb profile | |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998) is a made-for-television movie that is part of the Babylon 5 science fiction franchise. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Jesús Salvador Treviño.
The movie was originally shown on July 19, 1998 on the TNT cable network, during the run of season 5 (originally being shown between Movements of Fire and Shadow and The Fall of Centauri Prime). In addition to members of the regular cast of the Babylon 5 TV series, it has the notable guest-stars Shari Belafonte (playing Dr. Elizabeth Trent) and William Sanderson (as the returning character "Deuce").
According to Straczynski, the film is based on the writings of H. P. Lovecraft (most noticeably, "The Call of Cthulhu,") although Lovecraft's creatures (the Old Ones) are not actually referred to by name in the movie.
This film seems to have divided fan opinion more than any other episode. Some praise it as a well-executed, and often effective, homage to Lovecraft, accordingly rating it as one of the finest TV-movies, with great action spectacles, intense plot and many references to the Shadow War. Other people criticise it for being a clichéd horror story, lacking in plot, and rate it as one of B5's worst episodes.
The plot and action managed to tie quite well into the Shadow/Vorlon plot and include an action based story where an ancient and overwhelming alien force attempted to destroy the races of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Contents |
The movie deals with an enormous artifact that is discovered in hyperspace and towed to the Babylon 5 station for investigation, at which point the xenoarchaeology organisation Interplanetary Expeditions sends a representative, Dr. Elizabeth Trent (Shari Belafonte), to take control of the examination.
After being placed near the station the artifact begins to influence the dreams of many inhabitants of Babylon 5, eventually controlling many of them during their waking hours as well. These thralls, led by Deuce, first demand that the excavation be accelerated and then become increasingly violent towards the rest of the Babylon 5 population.
Eventually it is revealed by Lyta Alexander that the artifact is a Jumpgate that takes one neither to normal space nor to hyperspace but to a "third" space (hence the movie's title), built by the Vorlons a million years ago with a purpose that cannot be expressed in human language except as an attempt to make contact with the gods. In reality, thirdspace is inhabited by a violent race that posed a threat even to the Vorlons, and the ensuing battle ended with a group of Vorlons controlled by the thirdspace entities capturing the artifact and jettisoning it into hyperspace.
When the device is finally activated, the thirdspace aliens stream out and begin an assault on Babylon 5; the violent behaviour of the individuals under the artifact's control is intended to disrupt the station's attempt to defend itself. The struggle is ended when John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner) enters the artifact and detonates a nuclear bomb.
The central theme of Thirdspace is hubris. The artifact was created because of the Vorlons' belief that they were equal in power to the gods, doubtless a reference to the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, and it is as a result of Sheridan and Trent's shared pride and refusal to co-operate that it is activated.
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Babylon 5 TV seasons and movies |
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In order of series chronology: † The framing story is set in 2278. |
The Thirdspace Aliens were one of the most powerful species encountered in the Babylon 5 universe and they believed they were the only race that had the right to exist. Their motives beyond that and their true nature is shadowed in mystery.
- The artifact was designed by Wayne Douglas Barlowe after the script was written. In the novelization, the description of the artifact does not match what appears on screen. Most notably the artifact formed into a jump gate that was larger than the station when it became operational. In the movie, however, the artifact rearranged itself and actually decreased in size.
- In the episode The Fall of Centauri Prime, while talking to Lennier about themselves drifting in hyperspace, Delenn refers to the events of this movie by saying "who knows what's out there, maybe we'll find a million year old jumpgate left over by the First Ones."
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