Is B5 Kiddable?

A young gentleman writes:

Jimmy,
   

Hi!  I was thinking of trying out the TV series Babylon 5, and I was just wondering if there’s any objectionable content that I might want to be aware of.  I’m 16 right now, and I have a sister who’s eleven who would probably end up watching whatever was being viewed in the house.  Is the show appropriate for children, or should I wait a few years?  Thanks!

Though most episodes of B5 are quite kid friendly, there are some scenes in some episodes that are not kiddable, particularly for someone as young as eleven. If your parents were interested in watching the series and skipping over these bits, it would be possible to watch them, but this would require a good bit of effort on their part and they likely wouldn’t have the time to devote to such a sustained effort. Therefore, I would just wait a few years.

Hope this helps and that you enjoy the series when you do see it!

NOTE: B5 fans, do not spoil what the unkiddable parts are in the comments box.

 

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

5 thoughts on “Is B5 Kiddable?”

  1. And, frankly, many of the concepts the show addresses are just not going to be appreciated, & perhaps even understood, by an 11 year old, unless he or she is particularly astute. (And even then, there is some content that should be avoided by that age group anyway.) There’s quite a bit of political & religious content that’s so integral to the show that I think older viewers who can understand the concepts & their ramifications would enjoy the show so much more. Depending on the individual, I think 16’s probabaly a great age to start watching B5. Especially if he or she can watch & discuss the concepts of the show with parents!
    I hope I was sufficiently vague. I’m only at the end of season 2 myself! I didn’t care for season 1 so much until I saw season 2. Now I can’t wait for 3! Thank God for Netflix!

  2. I think there are a few scenes, particularly in season 5, that have material in them that many parents might object to even for a 16 year old.

  3. I’m am impressed a 16 year old is wise enough to even ask the question. I would not have even thought to ask it when I was that age!

  4. I don’t think B5 is for children — besides some of the sexual innuendo, too many of the episodes are shot through with New Age crap. “We are the universe trying to understand itself.” Yeah, well, all I can say is that the universe must be a really stupid thing. Anyhow, B5 is such an excellent science fiction show that I would worry that a child would suck up the relativism and pantheism without noticing it. For a youngster, I’d recommend some episodes from Star Trek TOS and the Thunderbirds.

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