Apple TV’s 3-Part Epic Space Opera Is The Babylon 5 Replacement You’ve Been Searching For

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Apple TV+’s Foundation is a fantastic science fiction series and a worthy successor to the classic Babylon 5, though that show still holds up well. Foundation spans multiple time periods and centers on a brilliant mathematician who foresees the collapse of a vast galactic empire and tries to save humanity’s knowledge. While Apple TV+ has delivered strong sci-fi content before, Foundation represents their most expansive and ambitious science fiction project to date.

The series draws inspiration from Isaac Asimov’s stories, but Foundation demonstrates that adapting books for the screen works best when it focuses on the overall feeling and themes, rather than trying to replicate every detail. Like Babylon 5, which was originally planned as “a novel for television,” Foundation shares a similar approach to storytelling.

Apple TV’s Foundation Is The Perfect Babylon 5 Replacement

Both Foundation and Babylon 5 depict the gradual decline of powerful empires, with characters striving to influence the future. Both stories heavily explore themes of fate, effective leadership, and the importance of strong alliances. They also share a similar type of villain – someone seemingly unassuming but ultimately dangerous, like The Mule in Foundation and Mr. Morden in Babylon 5.

As a huge sci-fi fan, I always thought Babylon 5 was a masterpiece – brilliantly plotted and ahead of its time. But let’s be honest, the special effects haven’t aged well. That’s where Foundation really steps in. It’s another massive, sprawling space opera, covering generations and tons of different planets, and it explores a lot of the same big ideas as Babylon 5, but with visuals that are truly stunning and modern.

Foundation Continues To Be One Of The Most Ambitious Sci-Fi Shows On TV

The TV series Foundation is remarkable for its bold vision. Many believed the original novels were too complex to translate to the screen, but the show successfully captures the heart of the story, focusing on compelling characters and maintaining the books’ overall feel. Its massive scope and ambition likely cement its place as a landmark science fiction series.

Foundation isn’t afraid to experiment with storytelling, and it uses a clever visual trick to show the long history of the Empire – it portrays rulers as genetically identical clones. Despite its grand scope, the show, much like Babylon 5, often focuses on smaller, personal conflicts.

Why Fans Of Babylon 5 Should Watch Foundation

Courtesy of Apple TV

Though Babylon 5 tells a grand, sweeping story, it always comes back to its characters and their intense, dramatic conflicts – like the complex and ultimately tragic rivalry between Londo Mollari and G’Kar. This slow, character-driven storytelling is a hallmark of Babylon 5, and fans who appreciate that pace might also enjoy Foundation, which shares a similar approach.

Babylon 5 and Foundation’s Rotten Tomatoes Ratings
Title Rotten Tomatoes Critics Rating Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating
Babylon 5 – 70%
Foundation 87% 73%

Both Babylon 5 and Foundation are set in the future and examine the theme of control. Babylon 5 uses a classic “chosen one” narrative driven by prophecy, while Foundation relies on mathematical predictions to avoid disaster. Though Foundation’s original story was written before Babylon 5, it feels like a spiritual successor, and significantly impacted the science fiction genre.

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2026-02-21 00:31