Babylon 5 (TV Series) A Distant Star (1994) User Reviews

Hyperspace 101

[benkidlington · 8/10 · 23 January 2011]

This episode gives us a good idea of what the concept of "Hyperspace" looks like in the Babylon 5 universe and it's fair to say that it's a pretty dangerous place.

We learn that ships inside hyperspace must maintain a navigational lock on a jump-gate as there are no fixed points of reference. If the lock is somehow lost due to a malfunction then a ship will naturally drift away due to a "gravitational incline" and will be lost for eternity.

It's good also to see an "Explorer" class ship, with the potential for great unknown adventures that this might bring. Although, like Captain Sheridan for a moment we also wish we are on that ship, exploring the galactic frontier (the rim) rather than stuck within the confines of B5.

There's some good character development as Captain Sheridan is forced to re-evaluate his career and think "just what am I doing here?". Just as in real life, when friends who have gone away for a better career come back and tell us what a great time they are having and we wonder if we shouldn't be doing completely different something too. I'm sure these scenes in the show would ring true for many viewers.

Captain Maynard of the explorer class ship is a very compelling character too with his cowboy boots and his seniority and friendship to Sheridan which give him the freedom to talk frankly to Sheridan about his position, in that he is effectively "tied to a desk".

We learn of great, mysterious alien forces which have been encountered on the explorers' travels and also see them causing a few problems within hyperspace too, although at this point us viewers (assuming watching the show in the correct order of episodes) have no idea what these forces actually are. Although they certainly compel us to continue watching through season two with increasing anticipation.

Sheridan's solution to rescue a lost ship from hyperspace is very bold and gripping if incredibly risky, but it really makes this a memorable episode.

Then there is also the subplot involving Doctor Franklin enforcing strict dietary habits on the B5 senior officers and this does lend itself to some lighthearted humorous moments with Garibaldi, Ivanova and Sheridan.

Overall an enjoyable, interesting episode, which serves to further build up a sense of foreboding in the future direction of the B5 story.

Bablyon 5 - A Distant Star

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 17 August 2013]

Captain Sheridan's first commanding officer (and a dear friend) docks at Babylon 5 after five years "on the rim", out in space helping to "build jump gates" in his "explorer-class" space vessel, the Cortez. After some friendly banter and re-acquaintance between old friends, Capt. Jack Maynard (good ole Russ Tamblyn; wonderful to see him in such a role) and Sheridan talk about life in space and in one location at B5…this conversation has Sheridan re-evaluating his place in the universe. Does Sheridan want to "be a bureaucrat", some political "functionary" stuck at a space station serving as a voice of reason between races who have petty squabbles over living near each other? Wouldn't he prefer to lead an explorer ship out in the universe somewhere? Sheridan has deep conversations with Ivanova and Ambassador Delenn about his place in B5, with the former questioning if he believes he should be there and the latter telling him that perhaps he's meant to be where he is at. For a while, this felt like Straczynski and company were taking the day off, particularly when the subplot involving Dr. Franklin scolding his top officers (Sheridan, Ivanova, Garibaldi, even Delenn) about needing to eat right (not a diet, mind you, but a "health plan") keeps popping up occasionally, but "A Distant Star" does throw the diehards of the show a bone with the re-appearance of the Shadows, hanging around in hyperspace to disrupt the rescue squadron trying to find the Cortez when its navigational controls have been damaged due a malfunction. At this point, I don't think I had even mentioned Robert Rusler despite the fact that he had joined the B5 cast at the start of the second season. He has a pivotal part to play in this episode, at least, part of the squadron sent after the Cortez. As Warren Keffer, he is to "sheepdog" the Cortez into the proper coordinates to return to B5 station for repairs but sees his command flight squadron officer, Galus (Art Kimbro) killed by the Shadows (it haunts him). Keffer will take Galus' place, as Ivanova tells him he's got the command, after he luckily sees the Shadows jump, fixing his ship on their coordinates prior to said jump (it would appear he was lost in hyperspace forever, his navigational controls temporarily offline). "A Distant Star" is still second-tier B5, though, functioning as a buffer amongst the more intense/importance episodes furthering the plot of the Shadows and their impact on the B5 station. This does comment on the Minbari unease with Delenn because of her more human features (she basically looks human with Minbari features); basically, they want to seek another Ambassador from the homeworld to represent them on the station. She holds her resolve, and it's clear she has an important part (as the prophesy seems to indicate) not yet come to fruition. Sinclair's self-doubt is purposely naked before us, yet there's no doubt he has a reason for being on this particular station at such a crucial time in B5's history.

worst of the season

[wilvis-93963 · 11 September 2017]

Except for the first view by someone from B5 of the Shadows which i think is why they wrote this episode about as interesting as seeing grass grow.It almost became soap-opera and that is not a complement.Especially the actor playing Maynard did not make me feel like he was what he acted just an actor doing his lines.