The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
- Episode aired Oct 27, 1997
- TV-PG
- 44m
In the distant future, a man examines key moments in the history of Earth, starting with the formation of the Interstellar Alliance on Babylon 5.In the distant future, a man examines key moments in the history of Earth, starting with the formation of the Interstellar Alliance on Babylon 5.In the distant future, a man examines key moments in the history of Earth, starting with the formation of the Interstellar Alliance on Babylon 5.
- Marcus Cole
- (credit only)
- Vir Cotto
- (credit only)
- Zack Allan
- (credit only)
- Lyta Alexander
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe similarity of the unknown man to a Vorlon was deliberate. Executive producer J. Michael Straczynski wanted it to be known that a million years in the future, humans became the new Vorlons, which left unsaid a number of possible implications: first, that Vorlons might have once looked like humans; second, that history was repeating itself.
- GoofsIn the final scene, the Sun is shown going nova 1 million years in the future. In reality, the Sun would need to be 8 times more massive to be capable of going nova. It will instead expand into a red giant star in several billion years and eventually become a white dwarf star in about 5 billion years.
- Quotes
[last lines]
President John Sheridan: ...and I was wondering if they will remember us in hundred years from now or a thousand. And I figure probably not.
Delenn: But it does not matter. We did what we did because it was right and not to be remembered. And history will attend to itself; it always does.
Title Card: [closing title] DEDICATED TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PREDICTED THAT THE BABYLON PROJECT WOULD FAIL IN ITS MISSION. - FAITH MANAGES.
- Crazy creditsBefore the proper credits run, and in light of the near-cancellation, there is a closing card that reads:
"Dedicated to all the people who predicted that the Babylon Project would fail in its mission. Faith manages."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Babylon 5: Phoenix Rising (1998)
There is one extremely funny story here consisting of a future hologram Garibaldi, being Garibaldi despite attempts at re-programming him.
But the best story in this little compilation of short stories, is the one that involves the Anla'Shok, with Roy Brocksmith and Neil Roberts. This little episode, despite the fact that the earth was recovering from "the burn" (where we got to see the Garibaldi-gram having fun), is actually a little shining spot of hope: I have never heard an exposition of how faith and reason can work together, to provide hope. In fact, Brother Alwyn's little speech to Brother Michael does more than just encourage brother Michael: he encourages us.
I have always felt that faith and reason are two sides of the same coin, they are intrinsically bound. I have always believed this and I was surprised to hear something come out in a television show which mirrored my beliefs so exactly.
And at the very end we get to see a possible result of this kind of hope, where humans get to rebuild their planet in a much better way. Hopefully it is not too late to save this planet as well. JMS seeded images of the "future man" into this episode in such a way where we have to ask ourselves what it is even though we already know.
I would just think 1 million years in the future, the futureman would not have to rely on 20th Century computer graphics, unless he was just having fun and he had a bent for nostalgia. But of course the imagery is not for the character, but for us.
- XweAponX
- May 27, 2021