Babylon 5’sRim is one of the most important and mysteriious elements of the sci-fi show’s lore. InBabylon 5, humanity has found itself as one of many alien species' vying for influence and power in the greater galaxy. However, these civilizations are referred to as the “Young Races” by the Vorlons, an ancient and influential force that largely operates on the sidelines. While audiences slowly learn some details about the Vorlons and their race, one of the biggest aspects of their cosmology that’s never fully divulged is the importance of the Rim, which is the edge of known space.
Going beyond the Rim comes to have a veryspecific meaning inBabylon 5, one that has transcended the show and been used to reflect on real life loss. The Rim serves as the final frontier for the oldest races in the show, with only a handful of established characters venturing beyond the Rim (and even fewer actually returning). As such, it remains a genuine mystery to fans of the show, even decades after it first aired. Here is how the Rim plays intothe overarching narrative ofBabylon 5, who goes beyond it, and the true meaning the Rim.
What Is Beyond The Rim In Babylon 5?
The Rim Is Unknowable And Unexplored Space
The Rim is one ofBabylon 5’s most enigmatic elements, serving as a stand-in for the mysteries of the universe and the inevitability of death. Although the scope ofBabylon 5extends across the cosmos with dozens of different alien races, there are limits to the full range of the universe. This includes the Rim, which is considered the end of civilized space by various races. No one is completely sure what is beyond the rim, as people who explore that area of space rarely return. The full meaning of the Rim remains a mystery for all ofBabylon 5.
A Supporting Babylon 5 Character Would Have Become Way More Important If The Actor Hadn’t Left
This character was set to have a major role in Babylon 5, but her actress departed the show in season 2 and changed the trajectory of the arc.
The show never goes beyond the Rim, although worlds like Z’ha’dum are confirmed to be near the edge of known space. Even the Vorlons and the Shadows, two of the oldest races in existence, refer to the Rim as something vast and unknowable. The Rim is revealed to be where the First Ones, the oldest races in the galaxy, eventually went after feeling the universe had outgrown them. There are many mysteries baked into the story ofBabylon 5, butthe Rim remains one that the franchise has never fully explained— and never seemed all that driven to do so.
Why The Vorlons Go Beyond The Rim
The Vorlons And The Shadows Only Go Beyond The Rim After Sheridan Calls Them Out
The Rim is largely connected to theVorlon and Shadows storyline inBabylon 5, only really coming to prominence in the latter half of that conflict. Eons ago, the First Ones ventured into this distant space and never returned, leaving the galaxy to develop in its own way. Initially, the Vorlons oppose going beyond the Rim because they believe they’re necessary to guide the young races and prevent forces like the Shadows from influencing the universe. However, this prolonged conflict that uses the rest of the galaxy as pawns becomes too much for the younger races to put up with.
This cements the idea that going beyond the Rim is effectively an ending.
This prompts Sheridan to call out both races for their actions. Realizing that their time as the leaders of the galaxy was coming to a close,the ancient Lorien convinced the Vorlons and the Shadows to join the rest of the First Ones beyond the Rim. After this storyline in season 4, the Shadows and Vorlons are more or less removed from the plot while Sheridan and the rest of theBabylon 5heroes face off with the dictatorship that’s festered on Earth during the Shadow War. This cements the idea that going beyond the Rim is effectively an ending.
Which Characters Go To The Rim In Babylon 5?
Only A Few Characters Ever Go Beyond The Rim, And Only Two Technically Return
While audiences never really get a good chance to see beyond the Rim,Babylon 5does have a handful of characters who go beyond that place in space. In theBabylon 5series finale, a dying John Sheridan is greeted by Lorien, who leads him to beyond the Rim.Sheridan is never seen again, although it’s left ambiguous what exactly happened to him once he left.Babylon 5: The Lost Talesincludes a storyline that takes place after the conclusion ofBabylon 5’s main plot, where Captain Lochley reveals that Franklin and G’Kar have been exploring beyond the Rim together.
In-universe, the pair inevitably had to return — both characters appeared in storylines set in the future. It’s possible that they explored beyond the Rim but didn’t find any of the legendary First Ones. It’s also notable that it was those two characters who made that trip beyond the Rim, as it was used to give an in-universe explanation for why they didn’t appear for sequels due to the deaths of their actors.Even if characters in-universe come back from the Rim, the true meaning of the Rim is to serve as a metaphor for the great unknowns that follow death.
The True Meaning Of The Rim Explained
Going Beyond The Rim Is A Metaphor For Death In Babylon 5
The Rim is a stand-in for the mysteries after death in the world ofBabylon 5.The Vorlons come to accept their time has ended and pass beyond the Rim, removing themselves from the world. A dying Sheridan is taken beyond the Rim, a somewhat peaceful ending for the character. Even Franklin and G’Kar exploring beyond the Rim takes on extra meaning because Richard Biggs and Andreas Katsulas had passed away by the time of that revelation. Similar to Valinor in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien,the Rim comes to serve as a universal metaphor for death and the afterlife.
It is implied in theBabylon 5season 4 finale, “The Deconstruction of Falling Stars,” that humanity will eventually grow to become similar to the Vorlons, suggesting humanity will some day follow the First Ones in traveling beyond the Riim.
This was even further codified by series creator J. Michael Straczynski,who has referred to stars from the show who have passed away as having “gone beyond the Rim.“It gives extra meaning to the decision of the Vorlons and Shadows to step away from the universe and accept that it has moved on without them. Just as in real life, the truth behind the Rim and the afterlife will likely always remain a mystery. It’s a clever and moving way to explore questions about life an death, and remains one of the most memorable elements ofBabylon 5’s lore.
