Babylon 5 S2

BruntFCA · October 1 2012, 09:34 PM

I'm interested in getting into Babylon 5 but I don't want to buy a show I have never seen so I checked my local library and all they have available for some reason is season 2. So my question is can I watch S2 without seeing S1 first? Thanks.

Harvey · October 1 2012, 09:59 PM

The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements.

Reverend · October 1 2012, 10:20 PM

Though I wouldn't recommend it, you should probably be OK going straight into season 2. The way it starts is something of a soft reboot anyway, so you should get caught up fairly quickly.

Unfortunately one of the major mysteries of the first season ("why did the Minbari surrender at the battle of the line?") gets pretty much laid out within the first two or three episodes. That may somewhat hinder your enjoyment of season one if/when you get around to watching it later. It might also dampen the resonance of some future revelations as you won't have experienced all the groundwork from S1.

Honestly, I'd advise tracking down a way to view the first season by some other means if at all possible. I know it used to be on Hulu, so you might still find it there or some other streaming or rental service like Netflix, LoveFilm etc.

Harvey · October 1 2012, 10:23 PM

Didn't AOL have the series on some sort of streaming service?

TemporalFlux · October 1 2012, 10:23 PM

During its original first run on syndicated tv, I started with season two. I did not have the opportunity to watch season one for the first time until after the season three finale.

Still turned out to be a big fan of Babylon 5.

zakkrusz · October 1 2012, 11:16 PM

TemporalFlux wrote:

During its original first run on syndicated tv, I started with season two. I did not have the opportunity to watch season one for the first time until after the season three finale.

Still turned out to be a big fan of Babylon 5.

Same here, and It worked out fine. I got hooked on the show starting with the first episode of season 2, which when I went to buy the show, I thought was season 1 and was surprised to learn there was whole season I had missed.

Although, as mentioned season 2 starts with what's essentially a reboot so there will be no trouble starting with season 2. Season 1 was also the weakest season in my opinion, not bad by any means but the rest were better, so starting at season 2 might also be advantageous.

Professor Zoom · October 2 2012, 12:20 AM

Hulu.com is your friend. Looks like most of Season 1 is there.

Drago-Kazov · October 6 2012, 09:35 AM

Harvey wrote:

The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements.

Season 5 is worst.

MPH · October 6 2012, 12:17 PM

No you don't infact I have never even seen S1.

Distorted Humor · October 6 2012, 03:27 PM

Professor Zoom wrote:

Hulu.com is your friend. Looks like most of Season 1 is there.

Beat me to it, Season 1 can be rough in spots though, looks real rough compared to seasons 2-4

Harvey · October 6 2012, 10:01 PM

Drago-Kazov wrote:

Harvey wrote:

The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements.

Season 5 is worst.

Nah. It's flawed, but it's never as consistently rough as the first season, which doesn't have an episode that approaches the satisfaction of "Sleeping in Light."

Elemental · October 6 2012, 10:35 PM

I personally think a person would be doing themselves a disservice by skipping season 1.

Reverend · October 6 2012, 11:29 PM

Harvey wrote:

Drago-Kazov wrote:

Harvey wrote:

The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements.

Season 5 is worst.

Nah. It's flawed, but it's never as consistently rough as the first season, which doesn't have an episode that approaches the satisfaction of "Sleeping in Light."

Bloody hell, what is it about Babylon 5 threads that they always end up becoming a discussion of the flaws and merits of season 5? It's like the Godwin's law of science fiction television!

Drago-Kazov · October 6 2012, 11:52 PM

Harvey wrote:

Drago-Kazov wrote:

Harvey wrote:

The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements.

Season 5 is worst.

Nah. It's flawed, but it's never as consistently rough as the first season, which doesn't have an episode that approaches the satisfaction of "Sleeping in Light."

Yeah but overall S1 was moving into a direction and Sleeping in Light is something that has little to do with S5 of B5.

Professor Zoom · October 7 2012, 01:09 AM

I think the first half of Season 5 is rough, but the second half...heartbreaking... a must watch.

October 1 2012, 09:34 PM	#1
BruntFCA Lieutenant Commander Location: The Divine Treasury	Babylon 5 S2 I'm interested in getting into Babylon 5 but I don't want to buy a show I have never seen so I checked my local library and all they have available for some reason is season 2. So my question is can I watch S2 without seeing S1 first? Thanks. __________________ Fallen leaves realize they are no friend of autumn The view from Hell is blue sky So ominously blue. I daydream until all the blue is gone

October 1 2012, 09:59 PM	#2
Harvey Admiral	Re: Babylon 5 S2 The show is very good at bringing viewers up to speed with relevant plot information in dialogue, so you should be able to jump in without any problem. Season one does have its moments, however, but it is by far the weakest year of the series and the least essential when it comes to the program's serialized elements. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

October 1 2012, 10:20 PM	#3
Reverend Rear Admiral Location: UK	Re: Babylon 5 S2 Though I wouldn't recommend it, you should probably be OK going straight into season 2. The way it starts is something of a soft reboot anyway, so you should get caught up fairly quickly. Unfortunately one of the major mysteries of the first season ("why did the Minbari surrender at the battle of the line?") gets pretty much laid out within the first two or three episodes. That may somewhat hinder your enjoyment of season one if/when you get around to watching it later. It might also dampen the resonance of some future revelations as you won't have experienced all the groundwork from S1. Honestly, I'd advise tracking down a way to view the first season by some other means if at all possible. I know it used to be on Hulu, so you might still find it there or some other streaming or rental service like Netflix, LoveFilm etc. __________________ Star Trek Logos - Dark Knight Adventures - DeviantArt

October 1 2012, 10:23 PM	#4
Harvey Admiral	Re: Babylon 5 S2 Didn't AOL have the series on some sort of streaming service? __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

October 1 2012, 10:23 PM	#5
TemporalFlux Quantum Mechanic Location: The End of Time	Re: Babylon 5 S2 During its original first run on syndicated tv, I started with season two. I did not have the opportunity to watch season one for the first time until after the season three finale. Still turned out to be a big fan of Babylon 5. __________________ Sliders - The Dimension of Continuity

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October 2 2012, 12:20 AM	#7
Professor Zoom Vice Admiral Location: Idealistic	Re: Babylon 5 S2 Hulu.com is your friend. Looks like most of Season 1 is there. __________________ Batman does not eat nachos.

October 6 2012, 12:17 PM	#9
MPH Rear Admiral Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain	Re: Babylon 5 S2 No you don't infact I have never even seen S1.

October 6 2012, 10:35 PM	#12
Elemental Rear Admiral Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada	Re: Babylon 5 S2 I personally think a person would be doing themselves a disservice by skipping season 1.

October 7 2012, 01:09 AM	#15
Professor Zoom Vice Admiral Location: Idealistic	Re: Babylon 5 S2 I think the first half of Season 5 is rough, but the second half...heartbreaking... a must watch. __________________ Batman does not eat nachos.