Listen to Episode 25

The Best A Season Can Offer

I feel like a heel during most of this season. The point of the show is to introduce people to things we like. And boy has Dre been eating good on crow this season. Both of us have been mercilessly shitting on poor B5 and JMS for this atrocious season of television.

Thankfully, last week and this week are the two diamonds in the rough for S5. And today’s episode blows last week out of the water. As good as it was to see Londo finish his character arc, it was all completely preordained and had no surprise value to the story.

This week, we get the two most memorable scenes of S5 for me. Lyta controlling everyone in the cantina, and Lochley going full afterschool special on Garibaldi’s drinking. Complete with Garibaldi unsuccessfully attempting to throw a chair and walk away as Lochley is yelling at him “Because I’m An Alcoholic Too!”. Priceless.

This Week’s Guest

Pete Johnston is a director and film professor at MSU. You can read all about him and his film projects at the cleverly named pizzageni.us. Pete was a quarter-finalist on the 2025 Jeopardy second chance tournament and can be seen there whenever the Jeopardy gods decide to put that one on streaming.

Pete Johnston Pete, the genius director.

Pete had the pleasure of viewing my favorite episode of Season 5. Rat’s off to you, good sir!

Pete recommends the movie “Joy Bubbles” set in the workld of the phone phreaks.

Dre recommends “Bring It On!”. Yeah, the cheer-dance movie.

Mike’s Image Picks

G’Kar finds life as a holy figure to be completely untenable

Gkar got groupies G'Kar is about to say "Rats off" to this lot for good

Garibaldi is wasted for a meeting… again

Hair of the... bald? Shoulda said Rats Off to those bottles, amirite?

Franklin in the corner just thinking deep thoughts

Franklin is messed up Rats off to the hope of a sane God

Garibaldi getting lectured about his drinking was an unexpected delight.

Garibaldi & Lochley are messed up I said "Rats Off To You" Lochley and I meant it!

Lyta realizes she’s the last telepath on the show, which means it’s time for an extremely unexpected heel-turn. This is the scene where Scarlet Witch controls everyone in the cafeteria.

Garibaldi & Lochley are messed up This isn't a sun flare on my head... It's a POWER MOVE! One more word out of any and its Permanent "Rats Off" to all of ya!

Lyta also realizes she’s not the only one to be touched by a Vorlon. Sheridan isn’t afraid to put a gun to the head of a god-level telepath.

Is there anyone in this room who hasn't been touched by a Vorlon? No, one more word from YOU and it's "Rat's Off"

No worries, Lyta gets out of it to star in a spinoff show with G’Kar and Garibaldi that - in season 5 tradition - never happens.

I am become Vorlon Seems like the start of a great spinoff. Too bad it was just Lyta's version of "Rats off to ya!"

What Did We Learn?

rats off to ya is real

Next Episode

For the next full episode, we cover the Babylon 5 final episode “Sleeping In Light” with Jeff May and Adam Tod Brown. Coming to you Sunday, June 28th.

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Cheers, all!