Martin-Pierre Frenette

Babylon5 was an epic sci-fi series from the nineties which developped a cult following which sadly, didn't resonate throughout the entire sci-fi community.

In "the Big Bang Theory", Sheldon often jokes that no one watched Babylon 5 but not a lot more is given. Perhaps you've seen one or two episodes but lack an understanding as to what it is exactly.

In short, it's a 5 year TV show spanning 110 episodes (and 5 television movies), followed by a failed spin-off (Crusade) and 18 books.

Babylon 5 is a space station built by Earth 10 years after humans were nearly wiped out during a war with the mysterious Minbari race. When they were about to destroy the Earth, they mysteriously surrended and became our allies. Together with the three other major races (The Centauri, the Narns and the Vorlons), they created Babylon 5 as a kind of United Nations, a democratic station to prevent further wars, our last best hope for peace.

Over the course of it's 5 years series, Babylon 5 fails in it's mission and becomes something bigger: Our last best hope for victory. Babylon 5 is a epic sci-fi series which was unique in that it's 5 year story was planned years before the first episode was made, allowing a wide series of arcs and storylines, many present since the first season.

As a hard-core fan of the show (I own all of the DVDs, all of the books but 2 and all of the scripts), I've decided to write a list of 7 reasons you should today, watch Babylon5.

1. It's profound and tought provoking. There are multiple episodes discussing philosophical issues like religion and parenting (Believers), propaganda(The illusion of truth), polygamy(Soul Mates), etc.. However, in most cases, the episode doesn't impose a point of view on the viewer but rather provokes discussion. Most issues are presented with arguments from both sides, a rare commodity in today's world. The telepath revolt in the beginning of the 5th season for example, is extremely complex and none of the factions are clearly right or wrong.
2. It relatively portrays a war in a realistic fashion: Sheridan has to make tough choices and pretty much decides most of the war away from the battle line. He doesn't step in every fight and when he has to make a sacrifice, we feel the weight on his shoulders. The war he has to fight isn't strictly fought with firepower, but he has to use strategies, rally his allies, adapt to the situation on the spot. It could have been done better, but in my opinion, it's still the best display of a war in a sci-fi show. Certainly better than in Battlestar Galactica and Deep Space Nine.
3. The nightwatch arc: During the second season, the Earth government becomes more and more obsessed with loyalty from its citizens and began invading privacy in an ever increasing scale. When Babylon 5 was initially airing, that segment was seen as pure fiction as it could never occur in a democracy. However, today, in a post 9/11 world, the patriot act, the DCMA, SOPA, Carrier IQ and other such measures such as the upcoming US law allowing the army to detain indefinitely enemy combatants show that Babylon 5 was prophetic and serves as a brilliant morality lesson.
4. It is quotable: many characters have amazing quotes like "Understanding is a three edged sword", or "The universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements. Energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest.", or even this great speech by Captain Sheridan: "If more of our so-called leaders would walk the same streets as the people who voted them in, live in the same buildings, eat the same food instead of hiding behind glass and steel and bodyguards, maybe we'd get better leadership and a little more concern for the future". I have on my wall this amazing quote by Marcus: "I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us come because we deserve them? So now, I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe".
5. It pioneered arc television: When Lost later came to television, people were excited that it was a story they could follow with intricate plots and long term story goals. Now that Lost is over, its writers pretty much admitted they were inventing it as they went along. Babylon 5 on the other hand, had 90% of its story planned in advance, years before the show began filming. Sure, there were changes along the way such as a changes of characters but the overall story follows a clear path. After watching the show's last episode, you get the feeling that it is complete in itself and that ever since the first season, the ending was planned. For example, we see the deaths of two of the main characters, in the far future of the series, in the very first episode of the show...
6. G'Kar: In Babylon 5, there are 5 main races with ambassadors on the station. G'Kar is the Narn ambassador. He begins Babylon 5 as a war hungry military leader bent on revenge on the Centauri for having enslaved Narns for close to a century. He is absorbed by his hatred and anger and slowly, in the course of the show, he loses everything only to be reborn a philosopher in one of the most powerful character arcs ever written for television. We learn to love G'Kar in gradual doses, initially our of pity and eventually out of admiration. G'Kar shows us what being human can be. 
7. But more important, it's fun for the whole family. Sure, the first season has quite a few boring episodes when the show was trying to find itself, but overall, most of the episodes find a great combination of humor, action, drama and even, occasionally, love. You get to like each of the characters for their own virtues and flaws and get to see them react to this great galaxy shaping event each in their own way. You cry with them, laugh with them and get to miss them once the show is over.