Babylon 5 had a realistic universe with trade, oppression (Psy-corp, Narns), religion, plus character arcs that spanned the entire season. Londo going from throw-away ambassador to emperor, G’Kar from struggling to his people to literal savior who walks away from the kingship, Talia/Lyta from loyal member of the core to the one who leads the revolution.
I thought it was interesting that Ivonova was a Russian Jew, struggling at several points with her faith, like telling a visiting rabbi the alien food was allowed because the Torah didn’t forbid it. In contrast, everything Roddenberry did was atheist or anti-theist; that is even true of the “Planet Earth” pilots.
I should buy that series. I think I have seen an episode, but it didn’t seem interesting to me.
Yes, it’s interesting that B5 came mostly from the mind of Joe Straczynski, who’s atheist, or at least agnostic, but both good and bad sides of religion are portrayed pretty well and fairly in B5. There is certainly no lack of positive spirituality from characters like G’Kar and Delenn, who are portrayed as quite strong believers of their religions (tho’ it takes G’Kar a while, and great pain, to get there.)
On the other hand, the Drazi are comical (for the most part) and the Markabs’ are decent enough beings whose beliefs doom them...