"Crusade" (1999) TV series

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Who Do You Serve, And Who Do You Trust?

Plot:

A team of soldiers and scientists has five years to find a cure for a plague decimating Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Plague | Space | Alien | Dragon | Telepathy

Cast

Gary Cole	...	Capt. Matthew Gideon (13 episodes, 1999)
Tracy Scoggins	...	Capt. Elizabeth Lochley (13 episodes, 1999)
Daniel Dae Kim	...	Lt. John Matheson (13 episodes, 1999)
David Allen Brooks	...	Max Eilerson (13 episodes, 1999)
Peter Woodward	...	Galen (13 episodes, 1999)
Marjean Holden	...	Dr. Sarah Chambers / ... (13 episodes, 1999)
Carrie Dobro	...	Dureena Nafeel (13 episodes, 1999)

Also Known As:

Babylon 5: Crusade (USA) (working title)
Crusade: The Babylon Project (USA) (working title)
The Babylon Project: Crusade (USA) (working title)
2267, ultime croisade (France) [fr]
Babylon 5: Crusade (Germany) (video title) [de]
Crusade (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

44 min (13 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

Babylonian Productions

Trivia:

Fiona Avery had completed the script for episode 16 before the series was cancelled. The episode, titled "Value Judgements", would have seen the Excalibur crew encounter fugitive telepath Alfred Bester (Walter Koenig, reprising his role from "Babylon 5" (1994)). Koenig had already signed on to appear - and was reportedly very enthusiastic about the script - when the series was cancelled.

Quotes:

Dureena Nafeel: Look, I don't like having to trust anyone because I'm always disappointed. But just once I'd like to know that I could actually trust someone, that for at least one person everything wasn't about money or power.
Captain Matthew Gideon: That's a benefit?
Dureena Nafeel: For me it could be.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning (2005) (V)

It fills my heart with sadness that it is over so soon.

Alright, ready for this? I've watched B5 since before it was a series, watching the movie every time it came on th'tube. I hooked everyone I could who likes sci-fi on it and in it. When I caught a whiff of the coming of Crusade I was beside myself with joy. The Rangers concept excites me. :) Didn't hurt that I had an emotional attachment to the Rangers I had already encountered in the B5 universe. I didn't know quite what to think about the Technomage thing, having had limited and unpleasant exposure to them on B5. Lordy, was I in for a pleasant surprise on that note! Then came the news that TNT were being pig-head and flighty again. This always tends to bite them in the backside, otherwise their network would be on my tv constantly (sporting events aside; I find those just irksome, especially when they disturb my weekly viewing pleasures - that's hearlded the death of many good shows on th'tube). So we were only going to get teased with a single season of this show. Major Bummer! It's been wonderful to have a show so in depth and versitile NOT set in the blasted Star Trek universe. (Don't take that wrong, I'm a trekkie, too - but to me, B5 and Crusade hold a spot closer to my heart; Star Trek has never made me cry.) Despite the continued depressing news (no future home for a second season <or more> for Cursade) I, along with countless others, tuned in to the show. Someone else in these comments compared it to Space: Above and Beyond. To me, that's like comparing it to Earth2. It just doesn't. You could only compare it to ST & B5... and maybe Starship Troopers. Though it had a rough start (ala B5 finding it's footing), it quickly captured diehards like myself - and newbies. Yeah, I got some MORE people hooked on it. :) I would say the most popular characters in my lil'world would be Galen, Dureena and Gideon. Previously, Technomages seems to be just pompous evil lil'men with dreams of grandeur. Now I know some of them have souls, and hearts. Dureena didn't interest me at all at first, but I've come to trust and even admire th'lil'thief. :) She's uber-kewL, as the saying goes. Then there's Gideon. I've never really watched Gary Cole do anything before, at least I've not paid attention to him in particular. I will from here on out. He's the really quirky one in the cast, in my opinion. But I believe that's why his character is singled out for this mission. His unconventional manner tends to save his own hide, why not the rest of humanity along with it?! When your options are few, why not consider the seemingly impossible. The chemistry between the three of the characters and actors makes the show. I would personally like to shoot Eilerson off into space myself, though. Lt. Matheson has a lotta potential, too, being a telepath on such an unconventional crew. Possibilies are/were endless, truely, once you actually sit and consider the show. So much space in the universe, so little time. Well, now the show is over. No big fanfare saying "last chance to catch the magic that is..." ...no warning... I knew it was coming, but it was such a crushing disappointment (exclusively in TNT). If, by some chance, you get the opportunity to see taped episodes (or some network DOES pick it up, tho don't hold your breath), see if I'm not right in the things that I've said. It is a MISTAKE and crime against the sci-fi/fantasy community to kill off such a wonderful creation.