Crusade is an American spin-off TV show from J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5. Its plot is set in AD 2267, five years after the events of Babylon 5, and just after the movie A Call to Arms. The Drakh have released a nanovirus plague on Earth, which will destroy all life on Earth within five years if it is not stopped. To that end, the Victory class destroyer Excalibur has been sent out to look for anything that could help the search for a cure.
The best episode of "Crusade" season 1 is "War Zone", rated 6.8/10 from 224 user votes. It was directed by Janet Greek and written by J. Michael Straczynski. "War Zone" aired on 6/9/1999 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Long Road".
Capt. Matthew Gideon assembles the crew that will be with him on the experimental starship Excalibur. Their mission: explore the reaches of space to find a cure for the deadly Drakh virus that will overrun Earth in five years.
Director: Janet Greek
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Gideon mediates between Earth miners and the residents of a planet containing a virus-fighting mineral--and a fire-breathing dragon.
Director: Michael Vejar
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Galen persuades Gideon to seek a mystical crossroads. An investigator probes Matheson's mind.
Director: Janet Greek
Writer: Fiona Avery
A mysterious sphere prompts Gideon and the others to relive traumatic moments from their past.
Director: Michael Vejar
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Gideon must deport a colony of renegade humans. Dureena finds a lost tribe of her people.
Director: Tony Dow
Writer: Fiona Avery
Gideon and Lochley must prevent a doomsday cult from killing everyone at a virus conference on Mars.
Director: John Copeland
Writer: Peter David
The Excalibur goes to Babylon 5 so that Gideon can meet with an ambassador for permission to go to a planet that might have technology that can help Earth. But the ambassador refuses and Gideon is not going to accept it. And Ellerson runs into his ex-wife, who is in trouble with a loan shark. When he pays him off, he feels she owes him more. Anf goes to great lengths to collect.
Director: Jesus Travino, Jesús Salvador Treviño
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Gideon must outwit an alien consciousness that takes over the Excalibur's crew.
Director: Stephen Furst
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Gideon and crew find themselves trapped by an alien civilization using sinister methods to seek a cure for the same Drakh virus that attacked Earth.
Director: Michael Vejar
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Galen warns Gideon not to explore a planet where the inhabitants were suddenly eradicated.
Director: Tony Dow
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Gideon conducts an illegal raid to free a fugitive with information that could save Earth.
Director: Michael Vejar
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Two persecuted alien investigators (based on FBI agents Mulder and Scully from X-Files) believe that Earth is covertly invading them.
Director: Jerry Apoian
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
In an attempt to understand the nature of the Drakh virus better, the Excalibur is sent back to Earth's orbit for a top-secret special pick up. Familiar face returns. The show ends on an open ending.
Director: Stephen Furst
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski