Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5: Remarkably Similar—Or Similarly Remarkable?
by Rich Handley
During the past two decades, fans of Babylon 5 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine have noted many similarities between the popular science fiction franchises. Such comparisons were inevitable, given the controversy involving the two series' genesis. It has been suggested by J. Michael Straczynski that Paramount, after considering his proposal for B5, passed on the project but then rushed to get a Star Trek-based version of its plot to television first. Paramount, meanwhile, denies this was the case.
B5 and DS9: Where species can settle their differences peacefully.
(Image courtesy sweetpaul.com)
It really doesn't matter which series was created first, however, or which production company may have swiped concepts from the other, as each was brilliant in its own right—plus, each borrowed elements of other tales predating both shows. Since this month marks the 20th anniversary of Deep Space Nine's premiere, "The Emissary," with B5's pilot, "The Gathering," celebrating its 20th anniversary in February, both shows deserve their proper place in sci-fi history.
The
following list illustrates how closely the two shows mirrored one another in
terms of concept and characterization. Although Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett
and other actors appeared on both series, this list pertains only to
story-related similarities, as it's quite common for actors to work on a number
of different TV series.
• Both
shows were set on massive space stations with single-digit names (Deep Space 9
vs. Babylon 5) located near transit points of immense power that were not of
Terran design (the Bajoran Wormhole vs. the Centauri-made jumpgate).
• Both stations
were used to foster peace between former enemies following a terrible war (the
Bajoran-Cardassian conflict vs. the Earth-Minbari War), and were intended as a
stopping-off point for diplomats, merchants, smugglers and other travelers.
• Both stations
were administered by an Earth-based government (the Federation vs. the Earth
Alliance), but were located outside Earth's solar system (Bajor vs. Epsilon III).
• Both stations contained a marketplace for commercial activity that included bars, restaurants and casinos (the Promenade vs. the Zócalo), as well as holographic sex joints (holosuites vs. a holobrothel).
• Both
stations received massive weapons upgrades approximately mid-series, and later formed
alliances with several formerly competing races in order to win a galactic
conflict (the Dominion War vs. the Shadow War).
• Both
stations had a security force composed of fighters from two formerly
non-aligned governments (Starfleet and Bajor vs. Earth and Narn).
• Both
stations included sections deemed dangerous that were no longer used by their
owners (the damaged levels of DS9 vs. Down Below).
This is where the adventure is. This is where heroes are made.
Right here, in the wilderness.
THE CONCEPT
• Both
shows focused on an enslaved, deeply religious race fighting to assert itself
against its oppressors (the Bajorans from the Cardassians vs. the Narns from
the Centauri).
• Both
oppressive races eventually saw their homeworlds devastated by the resultant
war, due to an outside manipulative race (the Dominion vs. the Shadows).
• Both
shows featured enigmatic god-like entities revered as deities by less advanced
beings (the Wormhole aliens vs. the Vorlons).
• Both
enigmatic god-like races had "evil" counterparts they'd battled for
eons, culminating in an ultimate face-off toward the end of the series (the Pah-wraiths
vs. the Shadows).
• Both
shows featured a grand story arc with aliens infiltrating Earth's government to
conquer it from within (the Dominion vs. the Shadows).
• Both
shows involved a planetary civil war (on Bajor vs. on Earth).
• Both
shows featured a shadow department within Earth's government (Section 31 vs.
Bureau 13—the same number in reverse—as well as Night Watch and Psi Corps).
• Both
shows, during the first episode of the third season, added small,
special-armored spaceships built using alien technology (the Defiant with Romulan tech vs. the White Stars with Minbari tech), and both
ships were destroyed and later replaced.
• Both
shows had pilot episodes featuring an alien shape-changer (Odo vs. the Minbari
assassin).
THE COMMANDER
• Both
stations' commanders (Benjamin Sisko vs. Jeffrey Sinclair and John Sheridan) were
traumatized by a recent war with a devastating enemy (the Borg at the Battle of
Wolf 359 vs. the Minbari at the Battle of the Line).
• Both
stations' commanders recently lost a wife (Jennifer Sisko vs. Anna Sheridan),
leaving them depressed and angry—and both eventually lost that same wife a
second time (Jennifer in the Mirror Universe vs. Anna in her Shadow-altered
state).
• Both
stations' commanders had independent ship captains for girlfriends (Kasidy Yates
vs. Carolyn Sykes and Catherine Sakai).
• Both stations'
commanders remarried during the series (Kasidy vs. Delenn) and both, upon
dying, left behind that second wife and a son (Jake Sisko vs. David Sheridan).
• Both
stations' commanders eventually became a spiritual leader, fulfilling a prophecy
(Sisko for the Bajorans vs. Sinclair for the Minbari and Vorlons, with Sheridan
being worshipped, centuries in the future, as part of a divine trinity).
• Both
stations' commanders vanished, their fate a mystery to the masses (Sisko
becoming a Prophet vs. Sinclair becoming Valen and Sheridan joining the First
One beyond the Rim).
• Both
stations had a hotheaded female second-in-command who had lost loved ones
during a war (Kira Nerys vs. Susan Ivanova), and both found it difficult to
trust their new commander (Sisko vs. Sheridan).
• Both
shows had an "everyman"-type character (Miles O'Brien vs. Michael Garibaldi)
whose assistant betrayed him during the season-one finale (Neela vs. Jack).
• Both
shows had a chief of security constantly under scrutiny by Earth (Odo vs.
Garibaldi), and plagued by personal issues (Odo facing loneliness, homesickness
and unrequited love for Kyra vs. Garibaldi battling alcoholism, paranoia and
unrequited lust for Talia Winters). Both security chiefs were eventually
manipulated by others, compromising their ability to perform their job (Odo by
the Founders vs. Garibaldi by Alfred Bester).
• Both
shows featured an idealistic doctor hiding a secret (Julian Bashir's genetic
engineering vs. Stephen Franklin's drug use and telepath underground activities),
and both doctors had strained relationships with their fathers.
• Both
series featured a side character who, despite being from a selfish, egocentric
species, displayed uncharacteristic morals and personality traits (Rom vs. Vir
Cotto). Both were initially viewed by their world as a loser, but ended up revered
by series' end as their people's new leader.
• Both
shows had a major female character replaced by another during the final season
after the actor playing the first character decided to leave (Jadzia Dax and
Ezri Tigan vs. Ivanova and Elizabeth Lockley), and in both cases, the
in-universe explanation stemmed from the death of a jovial character with great
wit, intelligence and fighting skills (Jadzia vs. Marcus Cole).
• Both
series had characters whose loyalties and attitudes changed over time,
transforming them from villainous to heroic, or vice versa, and sometimes back
again (Quark, Garak and Dukat vs. Londo Mollari, G'Kar and Lyta Alexander).
• Both
series featured characters who carried on illegal activities at the stations,
much to the security chief's frustration (Quark vs. N'Grath, Deuce and others).
• Both
series featured recurring characters who ultimately turned traitor and were
later killed (Michael Eddington vs. Lennier and Talia Winters).
• Both
shows featured a member of the top brass staging an attempted coup d'état of Earth's
government (Admiral Leyton vs. General Hague—both portrayed by actor Robert
Foxworth).
BONUS SIMILARITY
• This
one is admittedly a stretch, but both shows had characters with names
pronounced "Dukat" and "Lyta," though with different
spellings in each case.
Despite
the above list, Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 were not merely clones of each
other. In fact, there were just as many differences as similarities, and the
two shows became increasingly divergent as time passed. Nonetheless, the
evidence is pretty conclusive: B5 and
DS9 were remarkably similar—or maybe
they were just similarly remarkable.
(Thanks to reader "Klingon Bonehead" for suggesting several similarities I overlooked.)
Labels: Babylon 5, Deep Space Nine, Star Trek
2 Comments:
Nonetheless, the evidence is pretty conclusive: B5 and DS9 were remarkably similar—or maybe they were just similarly remarkable.
I don't know if I can agree that both shows were similarly remarkable. Mind you, I am a fan of "STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE". I simply believe that "BABYLON 5" was superior.
Wow, what an interesting list. I've watched both, and even I didn't catch all of these.
To be honest, DS9 would have the edge... if it weren't for a few crippling issues. Like all Trek shows, it had some horrendous filler (the Mirror Universe), and some very bland aliens (the Bajorans). It's too bad, because we have 7 seasons to explore the planet Bajor and learn what made it so attractive to Sisko. It's a pretty dull place, to be honest! If the Pah-Wraiths want to incinerate it, I won't lose any sleep!
As it stands, both shows are about equal in quality.
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