is babylonian 5 any good

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by tmosler, May 23, 2013.

  1. tmosler

    tmosler Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    I am trying to decide whether to buy the dvd sets of babylonian 5. I have watched star trek original series, ds9, and next generation and loved them but I also watched the new battlestar galactia and doctor who which I didnt like that much. I was wondering if Babylonian 5 is any good. Also I have heard the first season is bad but how to the rest of the show?
     
  2. tmosler

    tmosler Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    sorry thats babylon 5 I spelled it wrong
     
  3. T J

    T J Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2004
    Location:
    milky way... there abouts
    It depends on your tastes and tolerances.

    In general, yes, it's very very good and I highly recommend it to any self respecting sci-fi fan. Some parts are a bit dated, it has a long run up to the main plat but it the journey that's rewarding... if you stick to it by the end you'll be weaping for joy. Some if not much of the acting is the best you will find in sci-fi.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2013
  4. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Location:
    Ireland.
    If you enjoyed DS9 you may like B5 (both political shows with aliens and wars and dense arcs and set on a space station and so on), but you'll have to stick with it as the first season is slow going.
     
  5. Sephiroth

    Sephiroth Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2004
    Location:
    Sephiroth
    short answer, yes, long answer

    [yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJmuHNDcXLQ[/yt]
     
  6. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2007
    Location:
    inside teacake
    Absolutely wonderful stuff. You will not regret it.

    It's a lot less slick than BSG or Doctor Who, actually it's not slick at all. But it's wonderful, great stories, characters and arcs.

    I'm watching the vid sephiroth posted and Sheridan is making me happy.
     
  7. Lt. Uhura-Brown

    Lt. Uhura-Brown Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    May 14, 2013
    Location:
    New Zealand
    I think it's a brilliant series and well worth the time.
     
  8. EmoBorg

    EmoBorg Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2012
    Location:
    in the 10 dimensions of reality
    Babylon 5 is like DS9. Babylon 5 can be described as a space opera.

    Babylon 5 - This is how the world ends.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2013
  9. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2000
    Location:
    In the lap of squalor I assure you.
    The first season did not age well.

    It's best to start with the prequel they made between season 3 and 4, so you can add up if it's worth sticking around through some of the worst episodes.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2013
  10. teacake

    teacake Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2007
    Location:
    inside teacake
    Soul Hunter, Infection and Believers are the only bad episodes in the first season with the latter being some kind of Star Trek wank. Everything else is perfect.
     
  11. Gov Kodos

    Gov Kodos Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2004
    Location:
    Gov Kodos on Mohammed's Radio, WZVN Boston
    There is a lot of complaint about the first season, maybe well earned. It spends its time defining the B5 universe and the issues that will play out throughout the series as plots and underlying themes. It's my favorite season of the show, but that came after seeing the whole series and coming back to it. The first time through had a lot of 'why are they telling me all this' vibe to it. A lot of good episodes are there, too, but it can feel slow in the first year.
     
  12. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2000
    Location:
    In the lap of squalor I assure you.
    TKO felt like swallowing a gym sock.

    Grail was a criminal waste of David Warner.

    Quality of Mercy. Did they book June Lockhart and then discover there's been some ongoing bloodsoaked feud between she and Bill Mummy for the past 30 years? Just try to imagine if those two actors had been paired for a love story or a fight to the death with fighting pikes? Again. CRIMINAL!
     
  13. Gov Kodos

    Gov Kodos Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2004
    Location:
    Gov Kodos on Mohammed's Radio, WZVN Boston
    Wow, I love those episodes. Still Lockhart and Mummy in the Mutai would have been great.
     
  14. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2000
    Location:
    In the lap of squalor I assure you.
    And when she snaps his ulna over her knee, we all know what June's really saying is "This is for loving that stupid robot more than me!"
     
  15. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Location:
    Ireland.
    I'd agree with that. In the Beginning is as good as B5 gets, and if you enjoy it, then the series is worth it.
     
  16. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Location:
    Rishi's Sad Madhouse
    B5 never descended to the cringe-worthy depths that some DS9 episodes did, but perhaps it never quite achieved the memorable heights either. I would suggest renting or streaming rather than buying if you're uncertain. In the Beginning does contain spoilers, but B5 is more about the journey.
     
  17. Guy Gardener

    Guy Gardener Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2000
    Location:
    In the lap of squalor I assure you.
    Spoilers?

    It must be wonderful to work backwards.
     
  18. Admiral Buzzkill

    Admiral Buzzkill Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2001
    It's interesting into the second season, then just becomes increasingly narrow and repetitious. Nor has time been kind to the low budget production, other than perhaps with respect to the elaborate alien makeups.
     
  19. Booji

    Booji Commodore Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2004
    Location:
    Illadelph
    Easily the best US sci-fi show ever. definitely watch it.
     
  20. RandyS

    RandyS Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2007
    Location:
    Randyland
    In my opinion, Babylon 5 is, right behind Star Trek (yes, all of them), the second best thing that ever happened to both science fiction and television.