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Babylon 5 For the First Time - Not a Star Trek Podcast

Babylon 5 For the First Time - Not a Star Trek Podcast

By: Jeff Akin and Brent Allen
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Join two, veteran Star Trek podcasters, Brent Allen and Jeff Akin, on a spoiler-free, first-time journey through Babylon 5. Fresh eyes meet analytical insights as they explore meanings and messages in each episode. Relive your first-time experience with unfiltered reactions and thoughtful analysis.

© 2025 Babylon 5 For the First Time - Not a Star Trek Podcast Art Science Fiction
Episodes
  • Chrysalis | For the Second Time

    Chrysalis | For the Second Time
    Jun 16 2025

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    Join veteran Star Trek, and now Babylon 5 podcasters, Brent Allen and Jeff Akin as they dive into Babylon 5 for a second time! They revisit each episode with fresh insights and deeper analysis, reflecting on their first-time reactions. Perfect for First Ones and people new to the series, this journey offers a deeper connection to the world of Babylon 5!

    Nothing's the same anymore. Plus, we finalize the objectively correct, definitive ranking of all of the episodes of Season 1.

    This show is produced in association with the Akin Collective, Mulberry Entertainment, and Framed Games. Find out how you can support the show and get great bonus content like access to notes, a Discord server, unedited reaction videos, and more: https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first

    Special Thanks to all who support our show through Patreon, including:
    Executive Producers:
    Andrew
    Becky Sparks
    Calinicus
    ClubPro70
    Colin 3of5
    Colin Blair
    Demi-DW
    Fabio Kasecker
    Frankie
    Gregory Christ
    Jack Kitchen
    jal'Zha
    James Okeefe
    Jeffrey Hayes
    Joel Townsend
    Joey Pomeroy
    kat
    Katerina Kalinevich
    Kenny A Karyadi
    Martin Svendsen
    Matt Ion
    Mattie Garcia
    Mr Krosis
    Neil Moore
    Nia is framed
    Peter Schuller
    Rob Bent
    Ron H
    Sarah L
    Slartibartfast
    Snatcher42
    Starfury 5470
    Stuart98
    Suzanne Egg
    Texas Anla'Shok
    TrekkieTreyTheTrekker

    Producers:
    David Blau
    Guy Kovel
    John Koniges

    Follow us:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badnerdsftft/
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/badnerds.bsky.social
    https://www.babylon5first.com/

    All rights belong to the Prime Time Entertainment Network, WBTV, and TNT. No copyright infringement intended.Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

    Visit https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first to join the Babylon 5 For the First Time Patreon.

    Support the show
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • The Quality of Mercy | For the Second Time

    The Quality of Mercy | For the Second Time
    Jun 9 2025

    Send us a text

    Join veteran Star Trek, and now Babylon 5 podcasters, Brent Allen and Jeff Akin as they dive into Babylon 5 for a second time! They revisit each episode with fresh insights and deeper analysis, reflecting on their first-time reactions. Perfect for First Ones and people new to the series, this journey offers a deeper connection to the world of Babylon 5!

    Spoiler alert - we still totally crack up at full frontal Londo!

    This show is produced in association with the Akin Collective, Mulberry Entertainment, and Framed Games. Find out how you can support the show and get great bonus content like access to notes, a Discord server, unedited reaction videos, and more: https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first

    Special Thanks to all who support our show through Patreon, including:
    Executive Producers:
    Andrew
    Becky Sparks
    Calinicus
    ClubPro70
    Colin 3of5
    Colin Blair
    Demi-DW
    Fabio Kasecker
    Frankie
    Gregory Christ
    Jack Kitchen
    jal'Zha
    James Okeefe
    Jeffrey Hayes
    Joel Townsend
    Joey Pomeroy
    kat
    Katerina Kalinevich
    Kenny A Karyadi
    Martin Svendsen
    Matt Ion
    Mattie Garcia
    Mr Krosis
    Neil Moore
    Nia is framed
    Peter Schuller
    Rob Bent
    Ron H
    Sarah L
    Slartibartfast
    Snatcher42
    Starfury 5470
    Stuart98
    Suzanne Egg
    Texas Anla'Shok
    TrekkieTreyTheTrekker

    Producers:
    David Blau
    Guy Kovel
    John Koniges

    Follow us:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badnerdsftft/
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/badnerds.bsky.social
    https://www.babylon5first.com/

    All rights belong to the Prime Time Entertainment Network, WBTV, and TNT. No copyright infringement intended.Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

    Visit https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first to join the Babylon 5 For the First Time Patreon.

    Support the show
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Babylon Squared | For the Second Time

    Babylon Squared | For the Second Time
    Jun 2 2025

    Send us a text

    Join veteran Star Trek, and now Babylon 5 podcasters, Brent Allen and Jeff Akin as they dive into Babylon 5 for a second time! They revisit each episode with fresh insights and deeper analysis, reflecting on their first-time reactions. Perfect for First Ones and people new to the series, this journey offers a deeper connection to the world of Babylon 5!

    Be there or B Squared..........

    This show is produced in association with the Akin Collective, Mulberry Entertainment, and Framed Games. Find out how you can support the show and get great bonus content like access to notes, a Discord server, unedited reaction videos, and more: https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first

    Special Thanks to all who support our show through Patreon, including:
    Executive Producers:
    Andrew
    Becky Sparks
    Calinicus
    ClubPro70
    Colin 3of5
    Colin Blair
    Demi-DW
    Fabio Kasecker
    Frankie
    Gregory Christ
    Jack Kitchen
    jal'Zha
    James Okeefe
    Jeffrey Hayes
    Joel Townsend
    Joey Pomeroy
    kat
    Katerina Kalinevich
    Kenny A Karyadi
    Martin Svendsen
    Matt Ion
    Mattie Garcia
    Mr Krosis
    Neil Moore
    Nia is framed
    Peter Schuller
    Rob Bent
    Ron H
    Sarah L
    Slartibartfast
    Snatcher42
    Starfury 5470
    Stuart98
    Suzanne Egg
    Texas Anla'Shok
    TrekkieTreyTheTrekker

    Producers:
    David Blau
    Guy Kovel
    John Koniges

    Follow us:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badnerdsftft/
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/badnerds.bsky.social
    https://www.babylon5first.com/

    All rights belong to the Prime Time Entertainment Network, WBTV, and TNT. No copyright infringement intended.Copyright Disclaimer, Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for 'fair use' for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

    Visit https://www.patreon.com/babylon5first to join the Babylon 5 For the First Time Patreon.

    Support the show
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
All stars
Most relevant  
I have been a fan of Babylon 5 since it first aired on Channel 4 in the UK.

I have watched it several times since, read the books and the comics. I listened to Tim, Summer and Jeffrey discussing everything B5 back in the dawn of podcasting almost 20 years ago.

There seems to have recently been a re-surge in interest in the show, multiple YouTubers reacting to episodes, numerous podcasts all with a slightly different take,

Babylon 5 for the first time is one of the better podcasts, hosted by two people, neither of whom have seen the show before and so far have been lucky to avoid most spoilers. Hearing their views reminds me of what it was like to see the show for the first time.

They are often wrong in their predictions but sometimes hit quite close to the mark. I don't always agree with their opinion of certain episodes but it is an honest opinion, (we won't talk about the recent joke episode), and possibly opinions I would share if I was watching B5 for the first time now instead of 30 years ago. What was new then has become far more common place, multi season story arcs, characters developing over time no sign of the reset button that plagued Star Trek. 30 years ago we had a lot less Sci-fi on our screens so we were possibly a bit more accepting of dodgy CGI and some slightly ropey storylines than we would be today.

However the podcast is rapidly approaching the third season and I can't wait to see how they react to some of the episodes to come over the coming months.

all in all a great podcast.

A fresh perspective on a 30 year old show

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And what a treat they have in store ahead of them.

Two Startrek podcasters boldly going where they have never gone before. Taking a tour of the Bab5 universe for the first time.

I’ve been watching along on YouTube, getting a behind the scenes look at their unedited interactions. But the show is a stand out treat, not just for the rediscover of Bab5’s charms through new eyes, but for their approach. Any fan will get a blast seeing new fans grow to love this sci-fi favourite. But Jeff and Brett bring their own filter to this enterprise.

Because they are long time Trek podcasters they seek out new stories that might contain some nuggets of Trek’s own strengths. And while us old fans of Bab5 know it for the strengths it holds in its own right, this isn’t a simple defiant act on their part. They are clearly falling in love with the story as they work through season 1.

Get on board now, while they are still working towards the… oh no I won’t say. NO SPOILERS.

What a treat for long time fans

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Sci-fi is best whenever it asks me questions about now, back then, further on. By (expertly) analyzing that nearly forgotten star Babylon 5 these two dudes are providing me a torch to shine on my daily choises. Learning by being fed protocols is always a useless lesson. The only efficient teacher is the honest question mark. This is exactly what this show brings me. Respectful questions if things really can't be seen the opposite way.
I encourage everyone - not only the space-happy - to hear this show. It will be good food for thought. Probiotics for your soul. And very good entertainment, too.
(The unedited version can be found on youtube.)

Exactly what I didn't know I needed right now

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I have watched Babylon 5 for many times, so much that without watching I know what happens just with a few words on the episode, since I always forget the episode names. For someone who also lives Star Trek (and lots of other sci-Fi) I love the theories and the links you are making!

I just want to sometimes shout to you what the results will be! But I will, should I message more, always want to be spoiler free. Keep going and I love listening to these, and probably will re listen to these again.

Babylon 5 for the x time

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Truth be told, Babylon 5 is still my favourite show of all time, and I have rewatched it more times than I care to think about. However, nothing has ever matched up to that first run through, waiting a week at a time for a new episode, hitting the newsgroups (yup, I'm that old) to discuss the latest happenings and seeing the whole saga take shape over five years.

Hearing Jeff and Brent go through that process for themselves and hearing how they react to each new revelation has brought back some very pleasing memories of my own first reactions, and hearing their predictions for where the show might go next, ranging from eerily prescient to outrageously off target, is a blast.

Their interactions and insights as hosts are terrific, and the little asides about their lives and history as Star Trek podcasters brings the whole thing to life.

I only discovered the show early in season three, and still have some early shows to catch up on, but look forward to each one arriving to listen to on my way home from school on Monday evening. Keep up the good work, guys, and thank you for reminding me of all the reasons I have loved this show from the 90s to 20s.

Awesome way to revisit an old favourite ...

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I’m a long time B5 fan (still have the 5 series on VHS). I love their enthusiasm through viewing especially the 3 edged predictions (their guess, my guess at the time & then the truth). Their show makes me want to go & watch Star Trek as I’ve realised I’ve missed out on this as much as they missed out on B6. Keep it up.

Great Pod Cast

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I'm a massive B5 fan and love the way they come at watching B5 through a ST fan lens. The best bit is when they dive down the conspiracy rabbit holes and either get it totally right or totally wrong. The only reason they've lost a star is that I switched to watching on YouTube as there's more content.

Brilliant analysis from non B5 lads.

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Excellent,I've never seen Babylon 5 spin-off crusade I'd like to watch that with what you do for b5 podcast but you can't start that unfortunately as it would be spoiler for plotlines ,I guess I'll have to wait

B5 universe

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fantastic fun reliving a great 90s show through the eyes of someone who has never experienced it. like seeing the show myself for the first time.

Enjoy

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When looking for a great podcast, I want it to be welcoming, informative and challenging. I've been a Babylon 5 fan since it was first aired, and 30 years on I was intrigued by how many podcasts are giving the show a first look, desperately hoping that they'd give "the little show that could" a fair shake.

I needn't have worried in this case. Jeff and Brent's style is akin to those buddies that come round on a Friday night to hang out and shoot the breeze with you. Their obvious chemistry and easy delivery style means that you can listen and understand without having to concentrate too hard - great during a busy day! The games they play during the show lift it far above a "react and recap" show, and their strict "no spoiler" policy means that I've had the rare opportunity to re-evaluate something I have loved for decades through someone else's eyes. It also means that the show is entirely safe for listeners who haven't experienced the show before, safe in the knowledge that no secrets will be revealed before their time.

Is it challenging too? Assuredly! I have been forced to re-evaluate my opinion of some episodes - Jeff's love of the episode "TKO" for example, which is certainly not the "waste of time" that I wrote off 30 years ago. Art changes as perspectives do, and I think too often we forget that. Jeff & Brent have done an excellent job of building a space that appreciates this show for what it is (and is not); and their experience in both their own lives, and the sci-fi genre puts everything in context in a really engaging way.

For First Ones, or First Timers, this is the show you need in your rotation. Peace, Victory and Long Life!

This is the Babylon 5 recap show you want.

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