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The episodic score albums were definitely products that required an appreciation of the individual episode represented, and thus appealed to a more narrow audience than the two compilations that had existed at the time. One entry in a later batch of episodic releases from March of 1999 was "Sleeping in Light," the episode that was held back a year and serving as the final identity of the dying space station and lead character. Franke's music for this episode does not run as long as many of the others, and is devoid of the usual title theme sequence (on screen and on album), a disappointment given the strength of the fifth season's theme (if it would even be applicable here). Unfortunately, while Franke's style matured through the years of "Babylon 5," the more romantic and sensitive nature of "Sleeping in Light" makes for a comparatively dull listening experience. It's the type of episodic score that would have been much better suited for suite format on a compilation of important music from "Babylon 5." The assembly of characters in the story allows Franke the opportunity to briefly explore individual stylistic motifs that he used for each one, though nothing can compete with the overwhelming sense of melancholy that prevails in the understated approach that Franke took with this whole episode. The tragedy of the first four tracks, making up the vast majority of the music in this entry, is so subtle and subdued compared to the vibrant personality of the rest of the show's music that it seems like something of a disservice to the characters and the larger concept. Franke does offer up a recapitulation of the station's death theme from the episode "Objects at Rest," and it is this noble and melodramatic farewell that accompanies the extended "End Title" sequence that delighted fans of the show with a prolonged goodbye to the characters and crew of "Babylon 5." Otherwise, "Sleeping in Light" is surprisingly dull. The lead character's choral death cue, "The White Light," is underwhelming, and the remainder of the score is anchored by strings and acoustic guitar that never attain convincing depth. The score works in the episode simply because of the inherent sadness at the end of the show, and the lack of any attempt by Franke to work in the earlier title themes of the show into this last entry is a missed opportunity. Overall, stick with the compilations for "Babylon 5," or at least a few of the accomplished and longer episodic releases.  **   @Amazon.com: CD or Download

Total Time: 24:40