Tolkien's Influence on Babylon 5

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Thanks for that link, davem! That certainly sums up not only the Tolkien references, but also a good many of the others. It also shows that though there are parallels, there is no direct copying of characters or plot elements. In that respect JMS is like Tolkien, who spoke of the cauldron of story, with the various ingredients bringing their flavour to the soup.

I can understand your apprehension of going back to something and being disappointed. It can happen, but I am finding that rewatching B5 is quite the opposite - I can now appreciate the depths of the story and dialogues even more than at first viewing. Also, for me, living in a country in which virtually every TV show and movie is dubbed before it reaches us, I am tremendously enjoying hearing the original voices and dialogues on DVD.

As to the CGI effects, they may be 15 years old and no longer state-of-the-art, but I think they look good enough not to disturb the flow of the story, and the latter is what matters to me.

I hope the Wikipedia list will not discourage others from posting their personal impressions of Tolkien influences on B5 - please continue!