Believers (Babylon 5)

"Believers" is the tenth episode of the first season of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. It first aired on April 27, 1994. It follows Dr. Franklin's ethical dilemma after he encounters a dying boy whose parents refuse to allow him to receive treatment that will save him, and Commander Susan Ivanova's mission to rescue a stranded transport ship in Raider territory.

As Babylon 5 was conceived with an overall five year story arc, the episode was written as both an individual story and with another level, where the hints of the larger story arc were given. The series' creator, J. Michael Straczynski indicates that the episodes can be watched for the individual stories, the character stories, or the story arc. This episode develops the idea of different races' beliefs about the soul. Rowan Kaiser writes, "The concept of the 'soul,' introduced in 'Soul Hunter' and continued here, is an important aspect of Babylon 5’s metaphysics. Although there are some quotes from (atheist) J. Michael Straczynski indicating that he thinks the series is ambiguous about the reality of the soul, there’s a great deal of textual support for Delenn and the Minbari beliefs in the soul, referred to here."

Rowan Kaiser, writing in The A. V. Club, points out that this episode did a good job of not favoring one belief worldview over another, letting the viewer make the decision. Kaiser writes that this episode showcases the character of Dr Franklin, and the ethical beliefs which drive him: "We see that he is a man with strong ethical beliefs, and a willingness to get into trouble over them. But those beliefs are tied into a certain arrogance, demonstrated when he demands an apology in apparent victory over a pissed off Sinclair. It’s a real sucker punch of an ending for him." Kaiser also comments on the unusual ending for a pre 2000 episode: "Hell, 'the kid dies' is a shocking ending It’s an indication of the rising moral ambiguity of television, and another piece of evidence for calling Babylon 5 a crucial transitional television series."

Elias Rosner, writing in the entertainment magazine website Multiversity Comics, observes that the episode is the character of Dr. Franklin’s first failure on the show. Rosner points out that in this episode, the viewer shares his worldview. But by episode’s end, we are asked, rather than to share in Dr. Franklin’s horror at the outcome, to ask questions our own belief system, and to question the ways people put their beliefs above another person’s. Rosner notes that the episode refrains from passing judgement on Franklin or the parents exclusively, but rather, points out the problems with both. "For Franklin, it’s his arrogance in believing that he knows best, knows all, no matter what[ ] For the family, it is their utter unwillingness to bend to save their child’s life and their pride "

He concludes, "It’s easy to villainize those who have a system that contradiction your own. It’s harder to see those beliefs and say they are valid. It’s even harder to know when something is truly villainous and when it’s merely based on a different set of definitions. And it’s even harder to admit when one is wrong."

Jules Pierre Malartre, writing in the science fiction review site, Den of Geek, describes Richard Biggs' performance as Dr Stephen Franklin as "brilliant" and "emotionally charged", in a powerful episode which deals with a timeless issue: scientific advancement vs religion. Malartre notes that it is not a matter of right versus wrong, but rather the pros and cons of "a religion that has survived faster than light travel clashing against the social values of a multicultural, advanced community[ ] and the personal beliefs of a medical doctor with the power of life over death." He concludes, "As much as some people have been saying that the first season was a mess, early first season episodes [like] 'Believers', 'Deathwalker' and 'Mind War' were already setting the tone for a very mature, thought provoking sci fi show."