Synopsis:

Sherlock, if you're not familiar, has an unconventional episode structure. Each season has only three episodes, and each episode is 90 minutes long. Which means each season of Sherlock is, essentially, a trilogy of movies. My goal with this fan-edit is to make a version of Babylon 5 that fits that same episode structure, where each season is a trilogy of 90-minute movies.

Intentions:

Though, I still have a backdoor to bring those Sinclair stories back. Sherlock did one special extra episode, in addition to the regular three per season. (The Abominable Bride, if anyone is curious.) I'm thinking I'll also make a special extra episode that would tell Sinclair's entire mythology story, from the battle of the line, to B4, to Valen. A second consequence of this structure is thinking of each installment as a standalone movie, more-so than as an episode. It's commonplace today for TV episodes to be in a continuous state of to-be-continued, but a movie is still expected to tell a self-contained story with a resolved ending. At the end of a TV episode, we're often left feeling, "I need to watch the next one!", whereas at the end of a movie, we hope to be left feeling, "That was a good story." With each 90-minute installment of this fan-edit, my goal is to avoid cliffhangers and to-be-continued's and instead leave you with a feeling of, "That was a good story."

Change List:

Enough jibber jabber; on with the show Newly released and ready today for your entertainment is the double feature Season 4 Episodes 1 & 2. Enjoy! •???????°???°???????• Season 1 S1E1 Midnight on the Firing Line (1:29:58) ((DM for links)) Welcome to Babylon 5! (The Gathering) When the Narn attack a Centauri colony, Londo and G'Kar nearly come to blows (Midnight on the Firing Line, Chrysalis), but Londo receives help from a mysterious stranger (Signs and Portents). Meanwhile, Garibaldi investigates an unauthorized use of a communications channel (Born to the Purple), and a rabbi helps Ivanova come to terms with her father's death (TKO). Also, ambassador Kosh hires telepath Talia Winters to oversee a very unusual negotiation (Deathwalker). — Editor's note: The story of the Narn attack at Raghesh III (Midnight on the Firing Line) and the story of the Narn attack at Quadrant 37 (Chrysalis) are so similar that I merged them into a single narrative. S1E2 By Any Means Necessary (1:30:57) ((DM for links)) An accident in the docking area threatens to spark an illegal strike (By Any Means Necessary), and Sinclair is forced to protect a notorious war criminal who has invented an immortality serum (Deathwalker). Meanwhile, the station hosts a week-long festival where humans and aliens demonstrate their religious beliefs (The Parliament of Dreams), Londo interferes in an important Narn religious observation (By Any Means Necessary), and Dr. Franklin intercedes with a family who refuses life-saving surgery because of their religious beliefs (Believers). Also, Catherine Sakai wants to survey a promising planet for possible mining, but G'Kar warns her to stay away (Mind War). S1E3 The War Prayer (1:31:14) ((DM for links)) Garibaldi is blamed for an act of sabotage ahead of the President's visit, which leads to hitting the bottle after a prolonged abstinence (Survivors). A violent attack on a Minbari poet leaves Sinclair scrambling to flush out a vicious pro-Earth group (The War Prayer). And Garibaldi makes a discovery that could cost him his life (Chrysalis, Revelations). Meanwhile, Talia's old Psi Corps instructor is the target of a manhunt by the Psi-Cops (Mind War), and Londo takes Lennier for a look at the less savory sections of the station (The Quality of Mercy). — Editor's note: To tell a self-contained story and avoid cliffhangers, I pushed out Delenn's transformation and pulled in Garbaldi's recovery. •???????°???°???????• Season 2 S2E1 Divided Loyalties (1:29:31) ((DM for links)) A fugitive with sensitive information about the Earth government flees to Babylon 5 (Hunter, Prey), Bester investigates an underground railroad of rogue telepaths (A Race Through Dark Places), and Lyta Alexander returns with a warning (Divided Loyalties). Meanwhile, a new commander assumes control of the station (Points of Departure), and Delenn undergoes a mysterious change before the Grey Council decides her fate (Babylon Squared, Chrysalis, Revelations, All Alone in the Night). Also, a new Earth Alliance agency tries to recruit station personnel (In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum), and General Hague makes an unofficial visit (All Alone in the Night). S2E2 Acts of Sacrifice (1:30:34) ((DM for links)) The Centauri Emperor visits the station, while Londo and Refa plot (The Coming of Shadows). Babylon 5 is embroiled in a deadly conflict between the Narn and Centauri and the station is inundated by Narn refugees, while an ISN reporter covers the story (And Now For a Word, In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum). Meanwhile, G'Kar asks Sheridan and Delenn to intervene militarily on behalf of the Narns (Acts of Sacrifice), and the Narn/Centauri War reaches a turning point (The Long Twilight Struggle). S2E3 The Long Twilight Struggle (1:30:04) ((DM for links)) A Narn warcruiser seeks help from Babylon 5, Earth takes a position on the Centauri, and Kosh takes a drastic step to save a life (The Fall of Night). Meanwhile, Ivanova is given a diplomatic assignment when the Drazi divide by random selection (The Geometry of Shadows), a fatal disease spreads among the Markab population (Confessions and Lamentations), and Sheridan discovers a connection between Morden and the death of his wife (In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum). Also, Delenn asks Sheridan to dinner and they share a growing trust and respect (Divided Loyalties, A Race Through Dark Places, Soul Mates, Confessions and Lamentations, The Long Twilight Struggle). •???????°???°???????• Season 3 S3E1 Point of No Return (1:29:25) ((DM for links)) As the Earth Alliance plunges toward civil war, the Senate investigates President Clark, the Nightwatch tightens its grip, and Zack's loyalties are put to the test (Voices of Authority, Messages from Earth, Point of No Return). When President Clark tries to seize control of Babylon 5 by force, Sheridan is faced with the prospect of severing the station's ties with Earth (Severed Dreams). Meanwhile, Delenn receives disturbing news from a Ranger (Severed Dreams), and Londo and G'Kar are trapped in an elevator (Convictions). S3E2 Ship of Tears (1:31:26) ((DM for links)) Sheridan and Ivanova try to gain recognition of the station's new status among the alien governments (A Late Delivery from Avalon), and to rally support as direct confrontation with the Shadows begins (Interludes and Examinations). Sheridan receives a new tool in the fight against the Shadows (Matters of Honor), and Bester seeks Sheridan's help and offers information about the Shadows in return (Ship of Tears). Meanwhile, Sheridan engages Kosh's interest and Kosh takes Sheridan for a lesson (Hunter Prey, There All the Honor Lies), Lyta Alexander returns to the station at Kosh's behest (Passing Through Gethsemane), and G'Kar uses a drug with telepathic effects (Dust to Dust). Also, Delenn plans a rebirth and renewal ceremony (Ceremonies of Light and Dark), and G'Kar presses for admission to the conspiracy of light (Ship of Tears). S3E3 And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place (1:29:07) ((DM for links)) Sheridan is consumed by his analysis of the Shadows' strategies (And the Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place), and he launches a pre-emptive strike against the Shadows (Shadow Dancing). Meanwhile, Londo severs his ties with Morden (Matters of Honor, Interludes and Examinations), presents Refa with an ultimatum (Ceremonies of Light and Dark), and uses G'Kar and Vir to gain power in the Centauri Royal Court (And the Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place). Also, a face from Sheridan's past takes him on a dangerous mission to meet his Shadow counterpart, as the Shadows mass a fleet against Babylon 5 (Z'ha'dum). •???????°???°???????• Season 4 S4E1 Falling Toward Apotheosis (1:31:04) ((DM for links)) When Londo discovers that Emperor Cartagia has struck a disturbing deal endangering Centauri Prime (The Hour of the Wolf), Londo and Vir scheme to kill Cartagia (The Long Night). Meanwhile, G'Kar has been captured by the Centauri (Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi), and Londo makes G'Kar a promise in exchange for help overthrowing the Emperor (Falling Toward Apotheosis). — Editor's note: To tell a self-contained story and avoid cliffhangers, I un-interleaved Londo's and Sheridan's story. This episode follows Londo on Centauri Prime and we see the climax of the Shadow War from Londo's perspective, then the next episode follows Sheridan on Babylon 5 and we see the climax of the Shadow War from Sheridan's perspective. S4E2 Into the Fire (1:30:26) ((DM for links)) Sheridan has returned to Babylon 5, seemingly back from the dead and accompanied by a mysterious stranger (Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi, The Summoning). The new Ambassador Kosh arrives (Walkabout), but the Vorlons step up their battle against the Shadows, and Garibaldi must remove Kosh from the station (Falling Toward Apotheosis). As the Army of Light prepares to strike, the Shadows unleash a terrible new weapon (The Long Night), and the Army of Light mounts its final assault (Into the Fire).

Additional Notes:

Editor's note: B5 S4 packs a lot of story in the first six episodes, so this one time only I'm breaking the rules of my own episode structure. Sherlocked season 4 will have 4 episodes instead of 3.