February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! - Page 2

Sindatur · February 20 2013, 10:23 PM

Candlelight wrote:

Brolan wrote:

What I liked most about the series was how well planned it was. The first episode is almost entirely foreshadowing of events that happened later. Contrast that with something like the newer Battlestar Galactica.

To be fair the fifth season wasn't as good as the first four. Whether you chalk that up to JMS holding stuff back for Crusade, TNT interference, JMS getting tired after five years or simply a poor story. I was expecting something amazing to finish the show but it was just lackluster.

Galactica, while obviously making it up as they went along, had a great ending.

Expecting the Series to be cancelled, he moved stuff into the end of S4, that was meant to continue playing out in the first few episodes of S5, and S5 stuff should have begun starting in motin before S4 ended. This would have made a smoother end to S4 and S5 beginning, rather than S4 ending being too crammed (Though it did make it awesome) and S5 starting up cold again from a beginning.

Having said all that, it's only the first 8 episodes +/- of S5 that most people are unhappy with alot of it. The second half of S5 is every bit as good as the best of what the show had to offer IMHO. Did you watch all the way through, or stop watching in the first half of S5?

Candlelight · February 20 2013, 10:50 PM

Sindatur wrote:

Candlelight wrote:

Brolan wrote:

What I liked most about the series was how well planned it was. The first episode is almost entirely foreshadowing of events that happened later. Contrast that with something like the newer Battlestar Galactica.

To be fair the fifth season wasn't as good as the first four. Whether you chalk that up to JMS holding stuff back for Crusade, TNT interference, JMS getting tired after five years or simply a poor story. I was expecting something amazing to finish the show but it was just lackluster.

Galactica, while obviously making it up as they went along, had a great ending.

Expecting the Series to be cancelled, he moved stuff into the end of S4, that was meant to continue playing out in the first few episodes of S5, and S5 stuff should have begun starting in motin before S4 ended. This would have made a smoother end to S4 and S5 beginning, rather than S4 ending being too crammed (Though it did make it awesome) and S5 starting up cold again from a beginning.

Having said all that, it's only the first 8 episodes +/- of S5 that most people are unhappy with alot of it. The second half of S5 is every bit as good as the best of what the show had to offer IMHO. Did you watch all the way through, or stop watching in the first half of S5?

I watched all of it right the way through.

I think my main issue was I was never a fan of Telepath or Centauri stories, so season five was never going to be my cup of tea.

Candlelight · February 22 2013, 01:26 AM

It's February 22nd today! Well ok, I'm a few hours ahead of the rest of the world, but nonetheless!

Happy birthday!

jclark14 · February 22 2013, 02:00 AM

Indeed - HFB to everyone associated with the project!

I'm running two friends through B5 at ( of course! ) two different locations... it's wonderful....

Klaus · February 22 2013, 06:09 AM

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Jan · February 22 2013, 01:04 PM

Sadly, I missed the airing of 'The Gathering' and only came on board for the series after reading an article in TV Guide where JMS described the show being set up like a novel. Watched every episode and in '96, I got my first computer and discovered JMS posting and answering questions online.

To say that Babylon 5 has had an impact on my life is an understatement. Happy 20th anniversary to all fans, old and new!

Jan

Sindatur · February 22 2013, 02:04 PM

Happy Anniversary Babylon 5

Reverend · February 22 2013, 06:05 PM

I have no idea when exactly I started watching B5, but my earliest memories involve a little 'behind the scenes' bit of fluff on some breakfast show or other (GMTV? Big Breakfast?) I distinctly remember Claudia Christian giving a tour of the C'n'C set and warning the cameraman not to get too close to the window as it'd spoil the illusion (that the "stars" were really just X-mas lights on a black cloth.)

The thing was, I was in school at the time and the show was on very late night Channel 4. I think I managed to catch a bit of 'TKO' one time (though as I recall at the time I thought it was the tail end of a movie.) I think the first episodes I saw properly were the 'Voice in the Wilderness' two parters, 'Quality of Mercy' & 'Chrysalis'. Saw the first few episodes of the second season, though the rest was fairly patchy. By the end of the second season however I was hooked and made a concerted effort to see or record every episode...not an easy feat with three older brothers in the house and only one telly. I do remember renting a copy of 'The Gathering' when the show was in it's 3rd or 4th season and being thoroughly confused but it all. Mostly I remember it being boring and damn near unwatchable.

...And I think I'll stop right there as I suddenly feel very, very old...Bugger.

Brolan · February 22 2013, 06:27 PM

Reverend wrote:

...And I think I'll stop right there as I suddenly feel very, very old...Bugger.

Lol! Join the club my friend, join the club.

Snatcher42 · February 22 2013, 07:38 PM

My cable provider never carried PTEN, so I came onboard when Babylon 5 was picked up by TNT. Actually, I remember attending a con a few months before where Claudia Christian spoke about the show being renewed by TNT (I guess this was before her whole debacle), and the woman next to us in the audience was absolutely distraught because she didn't get the channel!

The first show I watched was Za'Ha'Dum, in the daily re-runs leading up to Season 5. An odd place to start, yet being thrown into the epic-ness of Season 4 without fully understanding everything really hooked me. I was glad to catch those daily re-runs because I don't think I could stand waiting a week or more between episodes!

Season 5 was a bit of a let-down on first airing, but I've come to appreciate it more in subsequent re-views. Overall B5 is easily my favorite tv show of all time. New BSG came close for awhile, but in the end felt a bit too improvised. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of B5's 5-year planned arc.

A flawed but true masterpiece of television.

Jan · February 23 2013, 02:26 AM

John Hudgens, who did quite a few really great music videos for B5 back in the day (JMS commissioned most of them to take to conventions) just posted this link to one of my faves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNshIwUnaXk

Jan

Neroon · February 23 2013, 02:33 AM

Brolan wrote:

Reverend wrote:

...And I think I'll stop right there as I suddenly feel very, very old...Bugger.

Lol! Join the club my friend, join the club.

Yeah, tell me about it. I may not have been one of the First Ones.... but it wasn't long after for me.

shivkala · February 23 2013, 03:12 AM

If my memory serves me and a website I visited confirmed it, WWOR in New York was supposed to show it Friday, February 26, 1993. Sadly, that was the day of the World Trade Center bombing, so I didn't get to see it. It was on too late on Sunday for me to watch the whole thing (my parents were strict about TV on school nights). I did catch it later on, though.

Candlelight · February 23 2013, 10:26 AM

My first episode I saw was Born to the Purple, while in Australia in 1994, and once returned home rented the pilot on VHS.

New Zealand didn't start screening until 1995, and I began watching the series from The Gathering right through to Z'Ha'Dum non stop. I recorded Babylon Squared, and then about five episodes from season two, before recording the entire series from there on, only junking my VHS copies once they began releasing them on DVD (I was collecting Voyager on VHS and couldn't afford to do that with two shows).

One memory I vividly have is I had to travel on the day Endgame was to screen, and when I arrived at the airport I saw a group of people huddled around a TV. I thought something had happened on the news but they were all watching the final battle!

I ended up watching the episode that night on VHS. Was blown away.

Aeon · February 23 2013, 03:50 PM

I was just a kid back then, but I started watching it somewhere around the first season when it began to air around here. Maybe 1996 if my memory is not too off. By the end of the second season I was hooked and tried to catch every episode. The third season finale is still one of the major television cliffhanger experiences I've had - no question about it.

February 22 2013, 01:26 AM	#18
Candlelight Admiral Location: New Zealand	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! It's February 22nd today! Well ok, I'm a few hours ahead of the rest of the world, but nonetheless! Happy birthday! __________________ "I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six."

February 22 2013, 02:00 AM	#19
jclark14 Ensign	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! Indeed - HFB to everyone associated with the project! I'm running two friends through B5 at ( of course! ) two different locations... it's wonderful....

February 22 2013, 06:09 AM	#20
Klaus Rear Admiral Location: Klaus - Beach condo, Bay of Eldamar	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! __________________ "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain http://tlbklaus.deviantart.com

February 22 2013, 01:04 PM	#21
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! Sadly, I missed the airing of 'The Gathering' and only came on board for the series after reading an article in TV Guide where JMS described the show being set up like a novel. Watched every episode and in '96, I got my first computer and discovered JMS posting and answering questions online. To say that Babylon 5 has had an impact on my life is an understatement. Happy 20th anniversary to all fans, old and new! Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

February 22 2013, 02:04 PM	#22
Sindatur Rear Admiral Location: Sacramento, CA	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! Happy Anniversary Babylon 5 __________________ One Day I hope to be the Man my Cat thinks I am Where are we going? And why are we in this Handbasket?

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

February 22 2013, 06:05 PM	#23
Reverend Rear Admiral Location: UK	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! I have no idea when exactly I started watching B5, but my earliest memories involve a little 'behind the scenes' bit of fluff on some breakfast show or other (GMTV? Big Breakfast?) I distinctly remember Claudia Christian giving a tour of the C'n'C set and warning the cameraman not to get too close to the window as it'd spoil the illusion (that the "stars" were really just X-mas lights on a black cloth.) The thing was, I was in school at the time and the show was on very late night Channel 4. I think I managed to catch a bit of 'TKO' one time (though as I recall at the time I thought it was the tail end of a movie.) I think the first episodes I saw properly were the 'Voice in the Wilderness' two parters, 'Quality of Mercy' & 'Chrysalis'. Saw the first few episodes of the second season, though the rest was fairly patchy. By the end of the second season however I was hooked and made a concerted effort to see or record every episode...not an easy feat with three older brothers in the house and only one telly. I do remember renting a copy of 'The Gathering' when the show was in it's 3rd or 4th season and being thoroughly confused but it all. Mostly I remember it being boring and damn near unwatchable. ...And I think I'll stop right there as I suddenly feel very, very old...Bugger. __________________ Star Trek Logos - Dark Knight Adventures - DeviantArt

February 22 2013, 07:38 PM	#25
Snatcher42 Lieutenant Commander	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! My cable provider never carried PTEN, so I came onboard when Babylon 5 was picked up by TNT. Actually, I remember attending a con a few months before where Claudia Christian spoke about the show being renewed by TNT (I guess this was before her whole debacle), and the woman next to us in the audience was absolutely distraught because she didn't get the channel! The first show I watched was Za'Ha'Dum, in the daily re-runs leading up to Season 5. An odd place to start, yet being thrown into the epic-ness of Season 4 without fully understanding everything really hooked me. I was glad to catch those daily re-runs because I don't think I could stand waiting a week or more between episodes! Season 5 was a bit of a let-down on first airing, but I've come to appreciate it more in subsequent re-views. Overall B5 is easily my favorite tv show of all time. New BSG came close for awhile, but in the end felt a bit too improvised. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of B5's 5-year planned arc. A flawed but true masterpiece of television.

February 23 2013, 02:26 AM	#26
Jan Commodore Location: ...is insane. --JMS	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! John Hudgens, who did quite a few really great music videos for B5 back in the day (JMS commissioned most of them to take to conventions) just posted this link to one of my faves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNshIwUnaXk Jan __________________ "[We have] no religion save for the sanctity of life; no law but one: be kind to one another." -Twilight Zone "The Wall" J. Michael Straczynski

February 23 2013, 03:12 AM	#28
shivkala Rear Admiral Location: Patrolling Sector 2814	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! If my memory serves me and a website I visited confirmed it, WWOR in New York was supposed to show it Friday, February 26, 1993. Sadly, that was the day of the World Trade Center bombing, so I didn't get to see it. It was on too late on Sunday for me to watch the whole thing (my parents were strict about TV on school nights). I did catch it later on, though. __________________ "When I reach for the edge of the universe, I do it knowing that along some paths of cosmic discovery, there are times when, at least for now, one must be content to love the questions themselves." --Neil deGrasse Tyson

February 23 2013, 10:26 AM	#29
Candlelight Admiral Location: New Zealand	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! My first episode I saw was Born to the Purple, while in Australia in 1994, and once returned home rented the pilot on VHS. New Zealand didn't start screening until 1995, and I began watching the series from The Gathering right through to Z'Ha'Dum non stop. I recorded Babylon Squared, and then about five episodes from season two, before recording the entire series from there on, only junking my VHS copies once they began releasing them on DVD (I was collecting Voyager on VHS and couldn't afford to do that with two shows). One memory I vividly have is I had to travel on the day Endgame was to screen, and when I arrived at the airport I saw a group of people huddled around a TV. I thought something had happened on the news but they were all watching the final battle! I ended up watching the episode that night on VHS. Was blown away. __________________ "I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six."

February 23 2013, 03:50 PM	#30
Aeon Commander	Re: February 22, 1993 - Happy 20th Anniversary Babylon 5! I was just a kid back then, but I started watching it somewhere around the first season when it began to air around here. Maybe 1996 if my memory is not too off. By the end of the second season I was hooked and tried to catch every episode. The third season finale is still one of the major television cliffhanger experiences I've had - no question about it.