Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse are easily two of the best space opera shows of all time, but their endings were less satisfying than that of a five-season sci-fi masterpiece. Both The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica have rightfully earned their place in the sci-fi hall of fame. However, in hindsight, it is hard not to deny that both shows had their own set of flaws.
For instance, Battlestar Galactica used way too many convenient plot devices the more it progressed and even relied more on mysticism and supernatural story developments to progress its story. The Expanse, too, is well-known for having a high barrier to entry because of how slowly its season 1 progresses before it finds its true narrative momentum.
Like Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse, Babylon 5 is also not perfect from start to finish. However, unlike most space operas and sci-fi shows in general, Babylon 5 delivers a well-rounded ending that perfectly wraps its story. Its “full circle” ending was only possible because its creator had meticulously planned a long-term story even before it premiered.
Babylon 5 Planned & Executed A Full Five-Season Arc
Most sci-fi shows before the 1990s largely followed an episodic format where writers developed their stories as they progressed. However, showrunner J. Michael Straczynski hoped to change this by writing more of a “novel” for television. Instead of following the episodic structure of most TV shows, he hoped to deliver something that had a pre-planned long-term story arc.
As a result, even before Babylon 5‘s filming began, Straczyniski mapped out a comprehensive master blueprint. Owing to this approach, Babylon 5 almost left no stones unturned in terms of storytelling and perfectly wrapped up every story beat before ending its run. Since television shows can be volatile and actors can often depart from series midway through their runtimes, Straczyniski also built “trap doors.“
Every time a major cast member drifted away from the show, Straczyniski brilliantly transferred their story arc to another actor to ensure there was never a radical shift in the pre-planned narrative. For instance, when lead actor Michael O’Hare (Commander Jeffrey Sinclair), Bruce Boxleitner’s Captain John Sheridan took over the established leadership arc.
Babylon 5‘s approach not only allowed it to have an incredibly memorable ending but also ensured all of its foreshadowing and flash-forward sequences eventually paid off. Even scenes that initially seem to have little significance in the show’s opening arc eventually prove to be crucial developments in the series.
The consequence-driven narrative in Babylon 5 would not have been half as compelling if it had been written on a whim. Only a few other sci-fi shows, like Netflix’s Dark, have taken a similar approach in the past and delivered stories that end exactly where they should before going completely off the rails.
The Expanse Ended Early & BSG Never Had A Long-Term Plan
The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica seem to have far stronger legacies and bigger fan followings than Babylon 5. However, they struggled to be as compelling as Babylon 5 in their final arcs. The Expanse ended its run before it could reach the end of its source material’s story. This made the series seem incomplete, leaving viewers asking for more.
Considering how The Expanse‘s creators are now working on an adaptation of The Captive’s War for Prime Video, it seems unlikely The Expanse will return and complete its story anytime soon. Battlestar Galactica seemed to have even bigger narrative issues as it progressed into its latter seasons. The show’s writers never had a long-term plan like Straczyniski, which gradually increased its storytelling problems.
Owing to its lack of foresight, Battlestar Galactica also struggled to resolve many of its own underlying mysteries and kept sweeping many plot points under the rug to progress.
While Battlestar Galactica and The Expanse are still considered incredible additions to the sci-fi genre, it is hard not to hope that more shows will take Babylon 5‘s approach and deliver a carefully planned story with a definitive ending instead of relying on open-ended mysteries and last-minute course corrections.
