| Babylon 5: Thirdspace | |
 TNT Promotional Poster for Babylon 5:Thirdspace |
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| Approx. run time | 94 minutes |
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| Genre | Science Fiction |
| Creator | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Written by | J. Michael Straczynski |
| Directed by | Jesús Salvador Trevino |
| Produced by | John Copeland |
| Starring | Bruce Boxleitner Claudia Christian Jeff Conaway Patricia Tallman Shari Belafonte (guest) Joshua Cox (guest) William Sanderson (guest) Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter (guest) |
| Music by | Christopher Franke |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Original channel | TNT |
| Release date | July 19, 1998 |
Babylon 5: Thirdspace (1998) is a made-for-television film 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 featured the notable guest-stars Shari Belafonte (playing Dr. Elizabeth Trent) and William Sanderson (reprising the role of "Deuce" that he played in the episode "Grail").
According to Straczynski,[citation needed] 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 film.
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.[citations needed]
The action-based story, which ties into the Shadow/Vorlon plotline, centers on the return of an ancient and overwhelming alien force which had once attempted to destroy life in the Milky Way Galaxy.
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Plot and theme
The film deals with an enormous artifact that is discovered in hyperspace and towed to the Babylon 5 station for investigation, at which point the xenoarchaeology corporation Interplanetary Expeditions sends a representative, Dr. Elizabeth Trent, to take control of the artifact's 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 terms except as an attempt to make contact with the gods. In reality, Thirdspace is inhabited by a violent species that posed a threat even to the Vorlons and other First Ones. The ensuing battle ended with a group of Vorlons controlled by the Thirdspace Aliens capturing the artifact and jettisoning it into hyperspace, in hopes that it might one day be reawakened.
When the device is finally reactivated, 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 defenses. The struggle is ended when John Sheridan enters the artifact to plant and later detonate 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, perhaps a reference to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, and it is as a result of Sheridan's and Trent's shared pride and refusal to cooperate that it is activated.
Story arc significance and continuity
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Babylon 5 TV seasons and films |
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In order of series chronology: * The framing story is set in 2278, and includes spoilers relating to seasons 1–4. |
Essentially a stand-alone episode, the film is set after the Shadow War (episode 406 "Into the Fire") and before war was declared with Earth (episode 414 "Moments of Transition"). The presence of both Dr. Franklin and Delenn, along with changes to Zack Allan's uniform further place the events just before or[dubious ] during episode 409 "Atonement", to the extent that its continuity problems can actually be resolved.[1]
In particular, there does not appear to have been enough time between the scenes of "Atonement" to account for Thirdspace's span,[1] and its events are never explicitly referred to in other "Babylon 5" franchise media. However, in the season 5 episode "The Fall of Centauri Prime", Delenn (while talking to Lennier about themselves drifting in hyperspace) appears to refer obliquely to the events of this film by pondering, "Who knows what's out there; maybe we'll find a million-year-old jumpgate left over by the First Ones."
The fictional artifact was designed by science fiction and fantasy artist Wayne Barlowe after the script was written. In the novelization, the description of the artifact does not match what appears in the film. Most notably, the artifact in the novel formed into a jump gate that was larger than the station when it became operational. In the film, however, it rearranged itself and actually decreased in size.
Thirdspace Aliens
The Thirdspace Aliens were one of the most powerful species encountered in the Babylon 5 universe, and they believed they were the only lifeform that had the right to exist. Their motives beyond that and their true nature are shadowed in mystery.
References
- ^ a b Grimm, Steven (February 12, 2005). "Guide Page: 'Thirdspace'". The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5. Sunnyvale, CA: Midwinter Software. "Episode List" section. http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/112.html. Retrieved on 2008-11-06.
External links
- Babylon 5: Thirdspace on The Babylon Project, an external wiki
- Babylon 5: Thirdspace at the Internet Movie Database
- Babylon 5: Thirdspace at Allmovie
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