Babylon 5, J. Michael Straczynski's 110-episode space opera, is highlighted as a series that fused hard science fiction with the kind of sprawling worldbuilding associated with J.R.R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert. Set aboard a space station established in the aftermath of a war between humans and the alien Minbari, the show is credited with pioneering the serialised, novel-like storytelling structure that later became a hallmark of "Peak TV", making it significant beyond its cult-classic status for its lasting influence on television.

The series was mapped out by Straczynski to run five seasons, each functioning as a "chapter" so that early plot threads paid off years later, such as Commander Jeffrey Sinclair's (Michael O'Hare) destiny among the Minbari resolving in Season 3. His successor, John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner), evolves from diplomat to revolutionary, while standout instalments like the Season 5 episode "The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father" show the show's willingness to experiment with perspective. Babylon 5 also had to compete with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and survived a network change late in Season 4, yet still completed its intended run.