Babylon 5

Ships explode during space battles and some characters get shot with lasers. Characters fight with fists but occasionally the violence is stronger -- one character is stabbed in the stomach, for example. No blood is shown. There is regular personal threat, as well as the threat of war. Past conflicts are discussed with details of suffering. Character affected by suicide.

Occasional mild innuendo and kissing. Episodes occasionally feature a sexual storyline. In one plot, an alien race demands a deal is sealed with sex and another features a character tricked by seduction. Sex is implied but nothing explicit is shown. Onboard nightclub has exotic dancers and costumes that occasionally emphasize cleavage. Some characters have romantic involvements.

Infrequent language includes "bastard," "dammit," and "hell."

Characters drink at a bar and at home. Character smokes a cigar. Storylines include alcohol and drug addiction.

Parents need to know that Babylon 5 is an Emmy award-winning sci-fi series set on a space station dedicated to keeping the peace through diplomacy, with some violence and themes of a sexual nature. It has honorable, dedicated characters, and each episode introduces a usually one-off villain or problem that needs to be resolved. There is a strong emphasis on working out problems with words. Violence is bloodless and usually involves space battles or laser guns. But occasionally it is stronger, with some fist fights and even stabbings. There is personal threat as well as the wider threat of war, with sometimes dark descriptions of former conflicts. Characters have tragic back stories, including being affected by suicide. There is occasional mild innuendo but some episodes have a sexual storyline -- an alien race demands a deal is sealed with sex and another features a character tricked by seduction. Sex is implied but not shown; some characters kiss. Exotic dancers work at a nightclub onboard the Babylon 5 space station, where characters drink and a character smokes cigars. Some characters' storylines include alcohol and drug addiction. Very infrequent language includes "bastard" and "dammit." Themes such as conflict, religion, and freewill are explored.