Actually, TKO and Grey 17 both have fantastic B Stories, and are very important to character development. The Ultimate Fighting part of TKO isn't anything special (other than the foreshadowing comment from Walker), and yea, the Grey 17 part of Grey 17 isn't anything special either, but, I sure wouldn't want to miss the B Stories, especially the B Story to Grey 17 which plays a crucial part in late S4
I think the point remains that S1 -can- be missed without seriously impacting one's ability to understand later events in the series, though it could be more enjoyable to watch it first. Or one can swing around and watch it later. Unfortunately there's no way someone can objectively answer the question of whether they would have rather watched S1 first. I just remember the brief exposures I had to S1 episodes before becoming a fan of the series (and maybe they were bad exposures, I honestly couldn't say) failed to elicit my interest beyond "this looks alarmingly low-budget, and the commander's performance is...an interesting choice, but not a choice that interests me". My understanding is that I'm not by any means alone in my opinion. I remember the B-plot of "Grey 17", or think I do, but I don't recall it having a "crucial" impact on later events. I'm sure I've read the synopsis of "TKO", but I don't remember the discussion of the B-plot well enough to comment.
DonIago, see the IM I sent you on Grey 17 TKO doesn't have a major impact on the arc like that, but, it does tell us alot about a character
Based on the PM I think we may have different ideas of what constitutes crucial plot points and such. No harm, no foul.
Season 1 does have it gems, and I would recommend to most folks to watch at least 10 selected episodes of season 1. I know for a fact if I was given the option of watching season 1 of TNG, Season 1 of Voyager, or season 1 of B5, I would Pick b5 as while the bad episodes are very bad, the top ten episodes of Season 1 of Babylon 5 are of good quality. For example Season 1 of TNG 1 Very good episode ("Conspiracy") 5 episodes that are ok ("The Last Outpost", "The Battle", "The Battle", "Home Soil", and "Symbiosis") The rest of the episodes are bad. Season 1 of Voyager you have five ok episodes IMO (though to be fair, it had only a 16 episode season, and it been a while since I watched any voyager) (Caretaker. "Phage", "Eye of the Needle", "Ex Post Facto", "Heroes and Demons") Babylon 5 has in season 1 2 - excellent episodes ("And the Sky Full of Stars" and "Signs and Portents") 4 - very good epsiodes ("Mind War", "A Voice in the Wilderness", "Babylon Squared", "Chrysalis") 4 - ok episodes ("Midnight on the Firing Line", "Deathwalker", "Believers", "The Quality of Mercy") DS9 had 1 - Amazing/epic episode ("Duet") 3 excellent episodes ("Emissary", "Captive Pursuit", "In the Hands of the Prophets") 3 ok episodes - "Past Prologue", "Progress", and "The Nagus") Of course, the worse of Babylon 5 is so bad that it drags down the core of decent episodes down with it. I would say DS9 had the best first season out of the 4, if only due to the fact that Duet is one of the best Science fiction hours in TV.
I think you're being rather harsh on S1 of TNG there. While it's by no means a classic, I think most folks think the episode with the Bynars is pretty good at least, but you don't even list it there. Also, if "Believers" is the episode I think it is, I'd consider it a bad episode. Eh...I don't know why I'm getting this invested in it...it's just tv, and everyone's perspective is going to be different anyway. One person's "crucial" is another's "I understood what was going on just fine without that"; one person's good is another's bad, etc. I think I've spoken my peace.
I do not think "11001001" is that good of a episode, I wasn't aware it had that many fans, but its been about 3 years since I seen that episode, and perhaps I would be less harsh with it, and perhaps I should be kinder, but the next highest episode i left out was "Arsenal of freedom" As for "Believers" you already said you thought it was "Just like a TNG episode" - now mind you, most TNG episodes are not bad after the first two seasons, and out of the five people I know personally who have watched that episode, 4 of them where shocked by the ending, and the other one was like "Wouldn't it be awesome if they did X" with the X being the ending of the episode. If a episode can have a impact almost 20 years after it was made, I would call it a good episode. But I am not angry or anything that you disagree - those ratings are totally my own, and I would be curious if you what episodes you would think where good and so on. For example, I think most would agree "Signs and Portents" is a good episode, but I am shocked no one is bashing my addition of "Deathwalker" as i know some think it a bad episode. Feel free to make a counter point, heck, I most likely will watch a first season TNG episode to see if I will raise it up to a "good" episode or not.
If you'd care to list off the S1 episodes of TNG and B5 (and I'd certainly understand if you didn't) I'd be happy to list off the ones I find worthwhile. Love "Signs and Portents", not least because it introduces my favorite character of the series. Not really a fan of "Deathwalker", but I don't think it sucks either...I do like how it ends. I think Franklin should have lost his license for his behavior in "Believers", though. Or at least received a formal reprimand. I'm not aware of any repercussions though. I should qualify that any opinions I provide are based off long-term memory. I quite simply can't recall the last time I watched any S1 B5 or TNG.
TNG "Encounter at Farpoint" "The Naked Now" "Code of Honor" "The Last Outpost" "Where No One Has Gone Before" "Lonely Among Us" "Justice" "The Battle" "Hide and Q" "Haven" "The Big Goodbye" "Datalore" "Angel One" "11001001" "Too Short a Season" "When the Bough Breaks" "Home Soil" "Coming of Age" "Heart of Glory" "The Arsenal of Freedom" "Symbiosis" "Skin of Evil" "Conspiracy" "The Neutral Zone" Babylon 5 "Midnight on the Firing Line" "Soul Hunter" "Born to the Purple" "Infection" "The Parliament of Dreams" "Mind War" "The War Prayer" "And the Sky Full of Stars" "Deathwalker" "Believers" "Survivors" "By Any Means Necessary" "Signs and Portents" "TKO" "Grail" "Eyes" "Legacies" "A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 1)" "A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 2)" "Babylon Squared" "The Quality of Mercy" "Chrysalis"
Oy. Disclaimer - I'm trying to err on the side of being overly-generous, but not necessarily succeeding. "Not Bad" means Not Bad...it doesn't mean Awesome. It definitely doesn't mean Arc-Critical. Going from very old memory and just expressing opinion. Not Bad TNG - WNOHGB, The Battle, Haven, TBG, Datalore, 11001001, Coming of Age, Heart of Glory, AoF, Conspiracy, TNZ. Not Bad B5 - MotFL, Soul Hunter, PoD, And the Sky, Signs and Portents, B Squared, Chrysalis
You would miss out a few episodes that are important to the story arc of B5. Like for instance Babylon Squared, which will pop up later in the storyline.
I kind of see that as a matter of getting one or the other side of the story first, provided you eventually see B Squared, though admittedly you'll miss out on some surprises.
Datalore, 11001001, Coming of age, Heart of Glory, AoF where not on my lists, but I can see why you would think they are not bad episodes. Can't say I agree with WNOHGB, and Haven, and leaving out the battle. But thats the fun thing about opinions. As for b5, Including Soul Hunter and leaving out "Wilderness" seems to be odd, as I think your the first person I know to like soul hunter. and most like Wilderness for its explore and fun space battle. But as i said, opinions are unique...and thanks for posting
Given how old my memories are, it's entirely possible that I'd refine my list if I had the opportunity and inclination to do a rewatch. So, Chanukkah's coming up pretty soon...
I like 11001001, but having just watched it again last week, much of my love for it may in reality be lust for Carolyn McCormick in that red dress. YOWZA!!
That is understandable, I love one of the worse TNG episodes ever ("The Dauphin") for Jaime Hubbard... Yowza