Babylon 5

How sad to read about, that person was always a favorite of mine in B5. Had no idea he was going through such challenges, but then... nobody did I guess.

 

Wow, I had no idea that had happened to that person, that's really sad.
I always thought Gary Busey was a little off, but I didn't learn until recently that he also had a brain injury a while back. Now knowing that, I always feel a little bad when people laugh at him or make jokes about him.

 

I liked him right up until I saw all the girls in my social group swoon for him.

All the girls.

 

A couple of pix from Pat's Facebook page - Pat and Claudia are still hangin' out and havin' a ball together.

 

He used to do a good deal of conventions with another co-star, who had his own issues. I wonder what it was like between the two of them.

 

It sounds like this person wasn't that open with what was going on, and the other person wasn't either, so I doubt they knew about what the other was dealing with.

 

Regarding Babylon 5, skip the first season.

If I hear another person talk about workers rights or unionization or whatever I'll scream.

It's pretty insufferable.

 

While I agree some episodes are eminently skippable, others are generally considered essential for understanding the long-term arc as events are back-referenced.

What 1st Season Episodes in Babylon 5 are "Required" to Follow the Main Arc? - Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange

 

That's terrible advice and is akin to telling somebody to start a movie in the middle of its runtime.

 

Nope

 

If you want really insufferable, you have to wait for the fifth season.

 

I have to disagree with this for three big reasons.

First, while there are a few episodes that are not good, it's not a terrible season overall.

Second, a number of first season episodes are essential to the entire series, particularly as it relates to some character arcs.

Third, you can more fully appreciate the increase in quality year after year when you start with the lower one. You can't truly appreciate the good until you see the bad, as the saying goes.

 

...and yet, in media res is not an infrequent occurrence in media, and can work quite well if properly executed.

I missed S1 when I got into the show. There were things I didn't understand, but the not understanding made me curious to find out what I missed, so I eventually went back and got caught up, though S1 feels somewhat like a different beast from the later seasons.

S1's production values and more episodic storytelling can be a let-down to people depending on their expectations for the series, and I think there's a valid argument to be made that skipping it and catching up subsequently is a valid option. When I did a viewing with someone who's new to the show, we did start with S1 but I made it clear that she should watch at least the first handful of episodes of S2 before deciding on whether to pass on any further viewing.

I'd be interested to try a viewing with someone new to the franchise starting with S2 and offering them the option to watch S1 episodes if and when they were interested. To borrow a phrase from Starship Troopers, would you like to know more?

 

Skipping over The Gathering when watching B5 for the first time is one thing. Telling someone to skip over Signs & Portents, Babylon Squared or Chrysalis is simply stupid.

 

I would also count the "A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS" two parter as essential, as it relates directly to the planet.

"AND THE SKY FULL OF STARS" and "MIND WAR" are also big establishers for Sinclair and Bester.

 

I'm certainly not -advocating- for skipping S1, just saying it's not a make-or-break decision.

Knowing who Sinclair is is largely immaterial for a good chunk of S2 and S3, and I don't think you learn a lot about Bester in S1 that you can't figure out from his subsequent appearances.

I just feel that it's a valid option to start the series later and then go back and catch the bits you missed.

 

Starting a story in media res only really works if that was the intent of the narrative as structured.

Telling someone to start Babylon 5 by skipping Season 1 is like telling a new Doctor Who watcher to start with Blink; it's a terrible and nonsensical suggestion.

 

Perhaps, but the events of "AND THE SKY FULL OF STARS" is relevant to the Battle of the Line, which in turn was key to multiple things.

Regarding Bester in "MIND WAR", Koenig was so great as Bester that I can't justify skipping any of his episodes. Besides, it was his only season 1 appearance and we get a look at what the Psi Corps is all about. Plus, it was a pivotal turn for Talia.

 

Poster joined yesterday and claims to be from Britain, where we are going through multiple public sector strikes over years of underfunding or neglect from the government.

Likely just simping for the Tories.