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Babylon 5

Keep in mind also that if we are deconstructed, it's the same thing on the opposite end of the spectrum, and still just as cliché. Don't go making us the pits of the universe just because I complained about hubris. Balance is good.

There is a prophecy about the one who will restore balance to the portrayal of the human race in SF media.

Or murder a bunch of younglings, it's a bit vague that prophecy.
 
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B5 shows humans at their best and their worst, as it does with with most of the other races. For the Vorlons it was exemplified in the form of Kosh & Ulkesh, personifying the extreme ends of what their race was about. For the Minbari it was Delenn & (to a point) Neroon (also "no mercy!" Delenn again.) Finally of course for the Narn & Centauri it was G'Kar & Londo switching roles at various points, both embodying their races' & civilizations' best and worst traits.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HumansAreFlawed

Indeed. And the best people can do is try to do the right thing despite their flaws.

Which actually brings us back to Star Trek. With the above in mind, there is some grounds for optimism in the Trek universe with this theme-we aren't perfect, doing what is right is harder than doing what is expedient, but we will nevertheless try to do the right thing despite ourselves. Which, in terms of drama, is actually more interesting than the smuggness of supposedly evolved humans in TNG.
 
Babylon 5 was a daytime soap for sci-fi geeks. You have to just appreciate it for what it is. There's nothing compelling or innovative about it.
Please back up your word salad with analysis, especially regarding CGI and investment into a completely planned story arc from beginning to end on a weekly TV series. As a preemptive note, the arc was planned regardless of how cancellation fears and a network transition affected the outcome.
 
There is a prophecy about the one who will restore balance to the portrayal of the human race in SF media.

Or murder a bunch of younglings, it's a bit vague that prophecy.
Yeah, let's go ahead and equate the word 'balance' in a genuine thoughtful post with a joke post about a confusing plot point in a disregarded trilogy because that makes so much sense.
 
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HumansAreFlawed

Indeed. And the best people can do is try to do the right thing despite their flaws.

Which actually brings us back to Star Trek. With the above in mind, there is some grounds for optimism in the Trek universe with this theme-we aren't perfect, doing what is right is harder than doing what is expedient, but we will nevertheless try to do the right thing despite ourselves. Which, in terms of drama, is actually more interesting than the smuggness of supposedly evolved humans in TNG.

Yeah, it always bothered me in Trek that when the story started, humanity had seemingly already figured it all out and solved most of the problems that have dogged us for all of recorded history. I understand that Roddenberry wanted to show a hopeful, optimistic future where these things were attainable...he just skipped over the part in-between, which I feel was the more interesting story. Probably most notably, he never explained how the whole "no money" thing worked.

It's why I was so hopeful for Enterprise back when it came out and (though it had it's moments in this regard) also, so ultimately disappointed. The premise was a sound one, it's just a shame it immediately fell back into the rut left by Voyager.
 
Please back up your word salad with analysis, especially regarding CGI and investment into a completely planned story arc from beginning to end on a weekly TV series. As a preemptive note, the arc was planned regardless of how cancellation fears and a network transition affected the outcome.

I'm sorry that you're offended. But there's nothing unique about the narrative. It's a rehash of what we've seen in history, and in stories; not only in the 20th century, but in mythology as well. I don't need to "back it up" because this is irrefutable. It's straight from the horses mouth.

Beyond that, the acting is horrible, and the dialogue is, as I said, like a daytime soap for sci-fi geeks. Even the musical cues are straight from daytime television. It's hilarious. Now, if you want to refute my comments on the acting/writing/sound design, well I guess tv/film is subjective, but I do have to question whether we have the same standards.

Now I think your issue is that you're unable to distinguish between objective observation, and emotional bias. There is no negative connotation associated with any of what I said. I quite enjoy that specific IP, but It is what it is. And when I watch B5, I become the Peg Bundy of sci-fi geekdom. Glorifying B5 more than that is like claiming that Jersey shore promoted a life of fitness to the youth of America.
 
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No, it's just giving it the credit that it's due. You're entitled to your opinion, but you're quite wrong.
 
Well, this all turned into another bitchfest quite fast. :( Can't we all just have a NICE discussion for once, respecting other people's points of view and shit like that?
 
In a place where there are mature, level headed people, sure. This is not that place.
Unforetunately, a place of mature, level headed people seems to be very rare (certainly in online venues).

I believe I now understand the old saying about polite people not discussing religion or politics. Because the discussion doesn't remain polite for long.
 
Gov Kodos, Tim Walker, you bought hit the nail on the head. I try and keep out of stuff like this, but I've been in these kind of discussions, and they never end well. I've regretted things I said because I typed them in the heat of the moment. I've typed out comments that I then not post, simply because after re-reading I realized what I was about to say.

The thing is, most people simply cannot tolerate that others have different opinions. And that's a shame.
 
I try to stay out of arguments too, Mage. Actually, I have reached the point where I will not even look at threads that are intended to be political.
 
You can still tell Space Opera stories where humans win without resorting to the tired cliche of "humans are the special race with a destiny." Having humans triumph is vastly different than an alien race declaring how much of a special snowflake we are. THE OLD MAN WAR book series is a perfect example. SAGA is another Space Opera that doesn't even mention once how special humans are.

And a writer shouldn't worry about pissing of the reader because he/she isn't going to please everyone. A writer's job is to write the best story they can. Some will like it, others will hate it. It's just the nature of fiction.
Does Saga really even get into this kind of political stuff, or even deal with humans as a group? The only human character I remember from the first collection is The Will, and there was really no mention of humanity as a race. I've only read the first collection, so maybe it deals with more of that kind of stuff later.
Humans in general aren't really treated as that special in Mass Effect. Cmdr. Shepard is a big deal, but that was pretty much because of his/her experience with the Reapers, not because he/she is human. Pretty much any special stuff that happens to humanity is brought about by Shepard, not because of any special traits all humans have.
 
One theme I have been wondering about...realistically, do Earthlings have a chance at reverse engineering alien technology?

I know that during World War II there were efforts to reverse engineer captured equipment. But the opponents were fairly close to each other in their level of technology.
 
1. The Shadowtech Earthforce Advanced Model Destroyer fleet working for Clark.

2. White Star Destroyers = Human + Vorlon + Minbari.
 
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