Tommy Snöberg Söderberg 
The River of Souls is a standalone movie in the Babylon 5 universe. You don’t really need to know anything of the story in the series or the previous movies to understand it, but if you do, it’s not to your disadvantage. Because, even if the story itself doesn’t require any knowledge, there are a few details that would be beneficial for the experience for sure. For instance, if you know what a Soul Hunter is prior to watching this film you have an advantage.
But River of Souls is standalone in way that there’s no storyline connected to the prior series or films. It is recommended to see it just before the last episode in the fifth and final season – Sleeping in Light as it places it in the correct spot on the chronological timeline.
There are a few major characters missing from the cast too. But we do have Jerry Doyle as Michael Garibaldi and Traci Scoggins as Captain Elizabeth Lochley reprising their roles, and Jeff Conaway as Security Chief Zack Allen too. Apart from that Ian McShane plays a major part as the archaeologist obsessed with searching for the secret of eternal life. I find it quite odd to see Martin Sheen as the Soul Hunter though. Not that he feels off in the role, but I wouldn’t expect him to participate in a film like this. My prejudices talking of course.
But even though the acting is good, from Martin Sheen in particular and that Jerry Doyle’s presence is needed for it to feel connected to the Babylon 5 universe, it never really takes off. There are a few comedic side stories that could have been developed further, but on the other hand, it would have taken too much focus from the main story, which in essence is a very important and interesting one. There are a few existential questions told and a few attempts to answer them too.
But somewhere along the way something is missing. There’s no nerve to it and not even when the Babylon 5 space station is threatened by destruction is it really serious enough to engage yourself in it. It’s not believable that there is a real threat. And, before you object by saying that nothing about life portrayed like this on a space station is believable, there is a difference between where the story is set and the actual dramaturgy of the situation.
This was weak, but entertaining enough if you want to see everything Babylon 5 related.
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