I liken it to anime "OVA" because really, it's all-new material available direct-to-video and is a testament to the power of fan outcry and the success of the franchise. B5 has been off the air for a decade, and for the awesome support shown through sales of the DVDs, it's a rare case of a show which was always on the verge of cancellation making such a return.
Now I've purposefully stayed away from other reviews because I want to avoid two things: spoilers (because I knew I'd be watching it myself soon) and colouring my own review of the matter. So let's get started.
The far future of the B5 universe is mapped out. We've seen hints of it before during the series. We know that Sheridan eventually dies. We know the station eventually is destroyed. What we don't know are the moments in between. Those moments are ripe for harvesting stories out of. "Voices in the Dark" is a collection of two stories set simultaneously roughly a decade after the conclusion of the TV series.
In first segment the DVD tackles what might have happened to religion in the far-flung future. Colonel Elizabeth Lochley has sent for an Earth priest (a Christian variety from his appearance) because she's encountered a phenomenon she cannot explain but to accept at face value that this is a case of demonic possession. It's a fairly straight forward ghost-story and essentially sets the tone for the project. The camera is close-in on Lochley and less is more.
In second segment we have President John Sheridan dealing with a moral dilemma. Galen the Technomage appears to him and tells him that trouble is brewing and he can stop it all if he'd only murder an innocent young Centari prince. Things all fall into place right up to the perfect opportunity for assassination. Again, there is a lot of teasing with quick shots of the President's cruiser but the camera keeps following Sheridan around. We're given a small 30-second clip of an epic space battle but not much else.
Overall, it's one of those oddities in the universe. This DVD certainly stands on its own merits: it's two stories that do not over-reach themselves and give the audience a taste of what else the B5 universe had to offer us. But on the other hand, it'd be shame if this becomes a failure because it works on the proof-of-concept level. A whole bunch of short 35-minute episodes would be a fantastic addition to the B5 world.
As for the DVD presentation, this is why I call it a love letter to the fans. The disc is full of behind-the-scenes goodies, interviews with the stars, tours of the set, and the best part - memorial presentions for the late (great) Richard Biggs and Andreas Katsulas. In fact, that further reminds me - my absolute favourite "nice touch" - a voiceover from G'kar for the openning introduction to this film. Like I was saying, a love letter for all of us.
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