A Niner Watches Babylon 5 (NO spoilers, please)

[RoJoHen]

sojourner wrote:

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You can skip season 5, it's the definition of "tacked on".

The first half, maybe. But the second half is some of my favorite stuff from the whole show!

That said, Season 1 is pretty standard Season 1 stuff. Lots of random aliens-of-the-week, standalone stories, but it does help to set up a lot of stuff for future years. Just don't let its mediocrity discourage you from continuing.

[TheGodBen]

Kegg wrote:

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You mean there are Irish fans of the show?

Apparently there's a small number of them in hiding. My sister was one of the original fans from when it aired on Channel 4, and if anybody even walked into the room while she was watching a new episode she got pissed off, much like I do if anybody walks in on me while I watch those videos I have on my hard drive. She was one of the people that went out and spread the gospel of Babylon 5 back before it was considered nerdy to do so.

I've lived in the shadow of this show for over 15 years, I've been told for almost two thirds of my life that it is the greatest thing ever to air. So there's no pressure on it.

Great Mambo Chicken wrote:

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There are two versions of "The Gathering". The original version (1993) had the Stewart Copeland score. the "zoo tour", and the gorilla bartender. JMS' later re-edit (1998) had a new score by Christopher Franke and included the prophetic foreshadowing by Kosh. The original version is available on iTunes but not on DVD.

Which one are you reviewing?

I'm watching the DVD version, but now I'm upset that there's not going to be a gorilla bartender.

[Neroon]

RoJoHen wrote:

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The first half, maybe. But the second half is some of my favorite stuff from the whole show!

Definitely, although I think "Day of the Dead" is another one I like. It has its problems, however, it's written by Neil Gaiman, which imho makes it worth checking out.

"The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" and "A View From the Gallery" are two other episodes which merit watching. Some good character moments, though nothing all that arc-related.

[Sykonee]

TheGodBen wrote:

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I'm watching the DVD version, but now I'm upset that there's not going to be a gorilla bartender.

If it's the same one as from the Movie DVD Package, then the gorilla bartender is present. At least on my version it is.

This should prove to be an entertaining thread...

[Pemmer Harge]

TheGodBen wrote:

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Eventually I decided to give the show a chance and I watched the first four episodes of season 1 (I didn't know about The Gathering) and I found it to be so dull that I tried watching Firefly and Rome instead.

Although I've rarely found B5 dull even at its worst, those first four episodes contain what I consider two of the worst episodes the show ever did (Soul Hunter and Infection) and though I personally enjoyed the other two, I know that many fans aren't crazy about them. So, I think there's a pretty good chance you'll come to like the show once you've seen the better stuff that comes along later. Season 1 as a whole is patchy, but it contains some good background on some of the characters and plants some important seeds for later storylines and by the later stages the show begins to approach the form it'll show in Seasons 2, 3 and 4.

Babylon 5 has its fair share of flaws, but there's a real energy and excitement to it and its use of long-running plotlines is very satisfying. It took me a while to get into the show, but the last third or so of Season 1 pretty much won me over and after seeing the season finale, Chrysalis, I was definitively sold on the show. Anyway, I'm sure this thread will be interesting

[Reverend]

Neroon wrote:

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Definitely, although I think "Day of the Dead" is another one I like. It has its problems, however, it's written by Neil Gaiman, which imho makes it worth checking out.

"The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" and "A View From the Gallery" are two other episodes which merit watching. Some good character moments, though nothing all that arc-related.

Let's not have the "season 5 discussion" before he's even watched 'The Gathering', yes?

[apenpaap]

It's a shame you're reviewing Babylon 5 instead of DS9. I don't like B5, but I'll probably stick around this thread to see your opinion of it.

TheGodBen wrote:

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...people are constantly calling it the greatest sci-fi show of all time...

They are wrong.

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Sykonee wrote:

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If it's the same one as from the Movie DVD Package, then the gorilla bartender is present. At least on my version it is.

Great maker, you may be correct. Perhaps I automatically close my eyes when the gorilla makes an appearance, or maybe he was onscreen for longer in the original version. Otherwise, I'll just pretend he was in transit from David Brin's uplift universe.

[sidious618]

I look forward to seeing these reviews. I enjoy season one quite a bit even though there are some stinkers in it. "Midnight on the Firing Line," "Mind's Eye," "And the Sky Full of Stars," "By Any Means Necessary," "Signs and Portents," "A Voice in the Wilderness I and II," and, of course, "Chrysalis" are just some of my favorites from the season. Granted, some of them are better in hindsight.

[Praetor]

*tents fingers*

Excellent.

[RoJoHen]

apenpaap wrote:

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They are wrong.

It's always so silly to me how people proclaim these sorts of things so matter-of-factly.

[Neroon]

Reverend wrote:

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Let's not have the "season 5 discussion" before he's even watched 'The Gathering', yes?

Oh I'm sure that won't happen.

[scnj]

I've always meant to check this show out, but never got around to it. I'll be interested to see what you think of it.

[RoJoHen]

Neroon wrote:

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Oh I'm sure that won't happen.

So, how 'bout them Lost Tales...?

[Seven of Five]

Hee, can't wait! As many are foreshadowing, season one is hit and miss. Where it hits though, it hits well. I'm sure with being starved for character and story arcs on VOY and ENT your curiosity will be peaked.

I saw The Gathering for the first time this year, both the original and edited versions. Edited is quite an improvement on original. Before that though I just jumped in at Midnight on the Firing Line as I had no access to the pilot, and it works just fine either way.

I'd not noticed before but we seem to have a similar taste in TV.