LAST BEST HOPE: A Babylon 5 Podcast for Our Uncertain Age

Read transcript The Earth Civil War is over, but the harder question is what comes next. Josh and John revisit season 4's "Endgame" and "Rising Star" to talk about how democracies recover from authoritarianism, why good people obey bad leaders, what makes Sheridan such an extraordinary leader, and why Babylon 5's vision of power, media, and moral courage feels uncomfortably rel...

Read transcript It's our long-discussed episode on the media in Babylon 5 in which we take on two of the show's most important episodes about journalism, propaganda, and the construction of political reality: “And Now for a Word” and “The Illusion of Truth.” The conversation looks at how deeply news media was baked into JMS’s original conception of Babylon 5 , from ISN as a central narrative devic...

For April Fool's Day, we show you what we'd be like as a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine podcast... lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com Read transcript

What a year it's already been. And we're bringing you our first offering of 2026 with what, according to IMDb, is the highest rated episode of the Babylon 5 . That's right folks, we're finally doing it. Of course I'm talking about the Hugo Award-winning, status quo-smashing episode, season 3's "SEVERED DREAMS." In some ways, our entire podcast has been leading up to this. But have we rea...

As we say goodbye to 2025 and welcome 2026, Josh and John pause. Consider. Selah. It's season 4/5's "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars." <*> lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com @lastbesthopeb5 on social Read transcript

We revisit one of B5's most reviled episodes and discover what it looks like through a 2025 lens. Also: will New York become our own universe's last, best hope? lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com @lastbesthopeb5 on Instagram

Trump and Hegseth stomp their feet in front of the grown-ups; Bob wants a promotion. <*> lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com

We're still here! Join us for this discussion on the season 1 episode "By Any Means Necessary," which, despite being recorded in July, is still resonant today. We're about to record again, so please let us know if you have any suggestions re: the episode we should watch for our discussion. email: lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com < > _sometimes peace is just another word for surrender <...

We're back after an unplanned hiatus—with the last episode we recorded before said hiatus. It's season 3's POINT OF NO RETURN. email: lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com

00:27 Messages from Earth: Overview 00:53 Dramatic Arrival and Ominous Message 01:36 Earth Government's Dark Alliance 03:38 Clark's Ambitions and Modern Parallels 14:39 Sheridan's Leadership and Personal Reflections 27:33 JMS's Writing and Personal Influences 37:23 Leadership and Parental Influence 38:23 Conservative Parents and Trump Support 39:00 Generational Trauma and Leadership 41:50 Authorit...

Josh and John continue hurtling toward authoritarianism in the first half of BABYLON 5, Season 3...

John and Josh discuss how sex and humor are both weapons in the fight against authoritarianism in their discussion of Babylon 5 Season 3, Episode 5: Voices of Authority .

Josh and John jump back an episode to season 2's penultimate "Comes the Inquisitor," and ask if someone can be a good leader if they do the right thing--for the wrong reasons.

John and Josh discuss the parallels between Earth/Centauri/Narn and U.S./Russia/Ukraine. Let us know what you think: lastbesthopeb5@gmail.com

Josh and John discuss the season finale of Babylon 5's first season, after which everything changed.