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Without a doubt the mystery of the Vorlons and the Shadows as the main story arc that threaded its way throughout the entire series had to be the single most influential element that kept viewers coming back for more.Viewers got a taste early on in the series of two races called the Vorlons and the Shadows. They were among the first sentient beings to come into being in our galaxy, billions of years older than the younger races. In fact, evolved to the point where they no longer had material bodies. They were beings of light whose essence had to be housed in encounter suits in order to interact with us primitive life forms who still had material bodies.
So here was the big mystery. If the Vorlons and the Shadows were evolved to such a point what interest did they have in us? The other "first ones" had outgrown our little galaxy and had moved on beyond the rim of our galaxy, to what lies between galaxies. All of the first ones except the Vorlons and the Shadows. They remained here in the Milkyway Galaxy to keep and eye on the "younger" races, but why? What could they possibly want or need from the younger races. Races who were nothing more to them than ants were to us.
Order vs Chaos
One thing unique to Babylon 5 was most certainly the writing. Most of the episode were written by one man - J. Michael Straczynski (JMS). This meant the show had direction, a destination right from the outset. You've got to hand it to JMS, he sure knows how to hook and reel us in. It turns out the Vorlons and the Shadows were beings that had evolved to the same point, to the same pinnacle of evolution but they had each arrived there by different evolutionary paths. The Vorlons were creatures of order and discipline, as glibly described in one episode they are like your parents, "they want you to play nice, clean your room, do it by the rules", to be the perfect child. They believed life should evolve by finding and embracing the order among the chaos of the universe. The Shadows on the other hand preferred chaos and disorder. They believed strength and perfection were honed from the embers of conflict and war. By "knocking over an ant hill" every now and then, every new generation gets stronger and better. The Vorlons and the Shadows were therefore completely evolved opposites.
Which will reign supreme
So this was the hook. But why would the Vorlons and the Shadows care how the younger races evolved? Turns out it was a matter of validation. If the younger races evolved by embracing order and discipline this would mean the Shadows would be alone, no other life forms would reach the pinnacle of evolution and be like the Shadows. Same was true with the Vorlons. If the remaining races of the galaxy reached the pinnacle of their evolution through chaos and conflict then the Vorlons would be alone, no other race would be like them. A matter of ideology. They each wanted the younger races to follow their path (follow order or follow chaos) and by doing so prove which way was "right". Which path did the younger races finally choose? You have to watch the entire series to appreciate and enjoy the answer to that.