Babylon 5
- Thread starter Kail
- Start date
So you insist on being the First One To Share?? Whatever. I guess every group attracts a few of your type. You won't be there for long, I'm sure.
Thanks to everyone who made suggestions. I am slowly working my way through them... feel free to add more or elaborate what you love about them!
As i now think about it...interetsing contrast to Londo, who had his position on Babylon 5 as a "punishment", and was mad ebyhis people to feel belittled for having it.
Now, i didn't think an outside story was necessary. It would have been cool to me if they had "re-done" an episode where it was not from their perspective (i.e. a "normal" episode).
I feel like i never saw this episode when it came out, and missed it along the way. Glad i saw it, though. Thanks for this
These are definitely on my "to watch" list... SO for example, Michael ANsara is such an awesome actor...i look forward to seeing it.
Yeah, it was really the B part that was good, especially Marcus making Neroon laugh (in this case, it was an actual sign of respect).
The A story... all kinds of plot holes (how did Grey 17 get skipped all this time... how did these guys survive with the alien), but serviceable (at least to keep Garibaldi out of the picture)
If you have never seen the show before -- you are absolutely right. But if you have limited time like me... it wouldnt hurt to see some favorites...but yeah, also easy to just want to watch the whole thing, since it is all connected, and some parts might stick out better than others
But isn't HBO owned by WB-Discovery? Who si doing all the cost cutting (andpushing of things Zaslav thinks wil make big bucks).
Yes...this one was huge, where we really see the effects of allying with Morden and hs associates"...and Londo sees it too. We also see how G'Kar, and his position on Bbaylon 5, is respected by his people (including his uncle). He also gets some emotional fortitude added, as his uncle reminds him that G;Kar's father would be proud. And even though his uncle didn't listen, we know he did his best for his people.
As i now think about it...interetsing contrast to Londo, who had his position on Babylon 5 as a "punishment", and was mad ebyhis people to feel belittled for having it.
Because of your suggestion, i "had" to watch the next couple of episodes.
There was also the interaction of Londo & G'Kar in a frenemy situation, where in the end the y worked together and showed a level of mutual respect. Very interesting,especially as you see it with the other parts of their journey (such as Long Twilight Stuggle and i think episode 2 or 3 of season 4)
This was a good one too... and really, a creative choice that other shows like this should consider. I small part addressed what would now be considered a talking point on social media (Claudia Christian leaving)... a show could definitely use a spece where these comments were made. Also the mocking of the futuristic vacuum cleaner that didn't actually serve a purpose.
Now, i didn't think an outside story was necessary. It would have been cool to me if they had "re-done" an episode where it was not from their perspective (i.e. a "normal" episode).
I feel like i never saw this episode when it came out, and missed it along the way. Glad i saw it, though. Thanks for this
"Chrysalis" because it sets up everything that comes after.
"The Geometry of Shadows" because Michael Ansara and Ivanova's solution to the Drazi mess.
"Messages from Earth" because of Marcus and Ivanova.
"Sic Transit Vir" because Vir.
"War Without End" Parts I and II because it blew my mind. Also, Zathras.
"The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" because it's bloody brilliant.
"Day of the Dead" because this episode just effects me strongly.
Now I just want to watch the whole show again.
These are definitely on my "to watch" list... SO for example, Michael ANsara is such an awesome actor...i look forward to seeing it.
As i mentioned, saw some, but definitely will see these too.
Yeah, it was really the B part that was good, especially Marcus making Neroon laugh (in this case, it was an actual sign of respect).
The A story... all kinds of plot holes (how did Grey 17 get skipped all this time... how did these guys survive with the alien), but serviceable (at least to keep Garibaldi out of the picture)
If you have never seen the show before -- you are absolutely right. But if you have limited time like me... it wouldnt hurt to see some favorites...but yeah, also easy to just want to watch the whole thing, since it is all connected, and some parts might stick out better than others
But isn't HBO owned by WB-Discovery? Who si doing all the cost cutting (andpushing of things Zaslav thinks wil make big bucks).
"Gist" or not, it is not good form to flout the spirit of the law. Please do NOT do this again.
B5 is no longer on HBOMax, but that same remastered version is currently shown on TUbi (albeit with commercials). It is also supposed to be shown on the Roku Channel under the same conditions. You can rent/buy it on Prime and iTunes and Vudu perhaps?
Sorry, this was about House of the Dragon, since @Morpheus 02 doubted HBO Max (or a successor, actually) would want to pay to produce the B5 reboot ontop of HotD:
And I pointed out that HBO Max wasn't making HotD, but HBO proper did, meaning HBO Max is only paying for streaming rights, not the bulk of the show's budget.
The Crusade 'What the Hell Happened' v2 and v3 script books are now available to order! https://b5books.com/
Just placed an order for volume 1. When I get it, I'll decide whether to go for 2 and 3. I was able to order Crusade: Behind the Scenes and Other Voices 1 and 2 from Amazon not too long ago. I should get around to reading them, but first I'll need to do a Crusade rewatch. I haven't seen any episodes since the first time they aired.
Meanwhile, I've finally started reading JMS's autobiography Becoming Superman, and boy, that's intense.
Meanwhile, I've finally started reading JMS's autobiography Becoming Superman, and boy, that's intense.
Volumes 2 and 3 are a bit of a different beast - they don't have new behind-the-scenes sections from JMS, but rather reprinted newsgroup posts that you have probably already read on the Lurker's Guide.
Volume 3 has the two unproduced JMS scripts, so it's (IMO) worth it just to have a copy of those.
Volume 2 has less in the way of new material - first draft scripts for "The Needs of Earth" and the main titles - so it'd be easier to skip.
News I can use. Thanks.
Soon their won't be a HBO. From what I understand they are going to call the site just MAX. Zaslav sucks worst than RIck Berman, Bonnie Hammer, Kathleen Kennedy, Vince McMahon, Chris Chibnall and Rob Manfred combined.
Uh, ... HBO will remain?! Unless they announced they'll dismantle the Pay-TV channel. Which, you know, is HBO proper. And I don't think they'll abandon that one any time soon, what with both House of the Dragon and even more so The Last of Us being huge hits. As far as I know, though, the streaming service going just by "Max" in the future is just a bit of corporate rebranding.
But, I mean, this has to be a huge deal, what with you replying to a month-old post and all.
But, I mean, this has to be a huge deal, what with you replying to a month-old post and all.
Practically every streaming service goes ape when subscription rates fluctuate, and they start to look at ANYTHING to explain it. Zaslav's latest explanation - "HBO in the name is the problem..."
And hell, I was expecting this in that - the REASON Streaming took of was:
- Initial Sub costs were low to consumers. (Hell, at the start, subbing cost less then subscribing to HBO and others on cable.)
- You could effectively sub to the channel of your choice, watch everything at your leisure whenever you wanted. (IE - no daily/weekly schedule except for no content 'drop' dates - but after a drop it was there for you anytime.)
- If you wanted local channels you could get an antenna or do another low cost sub to a stream service that offered them.
- You could cancel anytime; and the cost of doing all the above (even adding in the cost for you own Internet) initially was 1/2 to 1/3rd the cost of a similar cable/satellite subscription (Or more if you held a lot of Movie channels.)
Cut to 4+ years on (except for Netflix which was the 'prototype' and had this model years prior):
Suddenly, the Studios are seeing that the cost of running their own internet distribution - constantly pumping out new enticing content; and actually doing things to maintain subscriber interest so that they stay month to month; and don't just unsub for a few months until a critical mass of expensive new content has been added - then someone subscribes for a month, binge watches, then unsubs again until another swathe of expensive to produce new content comes in... is not as profitable as the cable/satellite model and requires a CONSTANT 'stream' (pun intended) of high quality new content...
So, suddenly, Streamers are now becoming as expensive as Cable was; and if you want a price break, you need to do longer commitments up front, etc. (sound familiar?)
And unlike the cable deals where Cable companies paid a huge fee upfront (allowing studios to more easily budget because they knew what they were getting cash flow wise) - now if they have a month where sub numbers fall drastically; they can't really know what they'll take in. AND they loose if they start selling their content of Cable or other smaller stream services as EXCLUSIVITY is what drives many a subscriber to a Streaming service.
It's probably why Paramount has started PlutoTV (which is a s 100% free streaming service that acts like a old style Cable system in that it has a lot of different channels all showing stuff paramount owns, but there are ads <--- Thus it gets it's revenue via a method Paramount knows from its first run syndication days; and as its gone forward, there are more advertisers buying time.)
But yeah, at this point, all the Studio streamers are trying to find a workable formula/sweet spot as to what and how much to produce vs. How much is needed to maximize subscription revenue and also trying to find the price point for subscriptions that generates profit and that the general public won't balk at a too expensive.
But right now (again except for Netflix which has a formula for canceling that most subscribers still don't understand; but yeah, once 'hours watched' fall below some threshold even if said content was top of the chart for months/critically acclaimed; Netflix will unceremoniously give said content the axe); all the Streamers are hearing their shareholders complain that there's too much red in the ledger and after 4+ years, they want to see more Black (actual profit) - all the Streamers are struggling to satisfy that shareholder demand.
And as far as what is happening with Star Trek Discovery; remember that last year Paramount+ BOUGHT OUT whatever coproduction agreement it had with Netflix so they could stream it themselves exclusively world wide - although they themselves still didn't have capability in every part of the globe - but I'll bet that cost (along with the fact that after 5 seasons they'd be paying all the actors more) did enter into the equation as to cancel Discovery when they did, but because they still have a HUGE investment in the Star Trek franchise overall; they're allotting some funds to reshoot, and give the show a more proper finale.
But yeah, while they're not going to shut down streaming Trek, going forward they'll count the production pennies and be a bit tighter, and have ditched the 'some kind of new Star Trek episode very week' model as too costly for their ROI.
When will we know new Star Trek's end on Paramount+ is upon us?
The year they do nothing LIVE for Star Trek Day; or just stop doing Star Trek Day all together.
ETA: And yeah, I just realized I put all that in a B5 thread...sorry for the derail.
Only a year since I last watched, I'm sure I'll be able to seamlessly jump straight back into a serialized drama with no problems, fully aware of everything that happened before and all the various character and story nuances...
Coming soon: Exogenesis
"Exogenesis"
While this episode didn't do much to remind me of the wider story (not its fault; JMS certainly didn't make the show knowing that I'd take a year-long break in between season 3 episodes 6 and 7) but what it did do is work to endear me to a character that, as I recall, I was having some trouble warming up to. That is, Marcus. I thought he was a delight in this one from start to finish. Great interplay with Franklin (another character I like more than I did when the show began) and a hilarious ending to boot. "Keep them!" "Thank you, I will!"
Those Blade Runner-esque (I saw flame birds dying on Orion 7...) parasites had a point, did they not? The people of Downbelow are essentially the station's Untouchables - even Garibaldi dismisses the populace with "if they were normal, they wouldn't be in Downbelow." Why not give the hopeless the feeling of a better existence if they'd volunteered for it? This episode at least served to represent the downtrodden as people.
My gut feeling is that weird little body-horror detours like this one might be perceived among fans as a little unwelcome, given the show's overarching storyline is really starting to get into full swing by this point. And maybe I too would find this episode a distraction if I were tearing through the season eager for big developments. For someone who took a long break from watching (for reasons of life, by the way, not because of any dislike towards the show), it was a nice chance to get reacquainted with the station and these characters - save the missing few.
Rating: ***
- Corwin - he's been around for a while, no? Yet this seems to be his first big hour (and it's not that big).
- I'm usually wary of episodes with no Londo/G'Kar; this one passed that test.
While this episode didn't do much to remind me of the wider story (not its fault; JMS certainly didn't make the show knowing that I'd take a year-long break in between season 3 episodes 6 and 7) but what it did do is work to endear me to a character that, as I recall, I was having some trouble warming up to. That is, Marcus. I thought he was a delight in this one from start to finish. Great interplay with Franklin (another character I like more than I did when the show began) and a hilarious ending to boot. "Keep them!" "Thank you, I will!"
Those Blade Runner-esque (I saw flame birds dying on Orion 7...) parasites had a point, did they not? The people of Downbelow are essentially the station's Untouchables - even Garibaldi dismisses the populace with "if they were normal, they wouldn't be in Downbelow." Why not give the hopeless the feeling of a better existence if they'd volunteered for it? This episode at least served to represent the downtrodden as people.
My gut feeling is that weird little body-horror detours like this one might be perceived among fans as a little unwelcome, given the show's overarching storyline is really starting to get into full swing by this point. And maybe I too would find this episode a distraction if I were tearing through the season eager for big developments. For someone who took a long break from watching (for reasons of life, by the way, not because of any dislike towards the show), it was a nice chance to get reacquainted with the station and these characters - save the missing few.
Rating: ***
- Corwin - he's been around for a while, no? Yet this seems to be his first big hour (and it's not that big).
- I'm usually wary of episodes with no Londo/G'Kar; this one passed that test.
There is wider story discussion in the episode. It is a conversation between Marcus and one of his contacts in a bar about a message from Ranger1 on Minbar about Shadow vessels, and to pull back from Earth space, and a package Marcus was asking about just left Mars and should be at B5 in about a week.
The package is delivered in next weeks episode Messages from Earth.
It's an alright episode, but it kind of bothers me that these aliens are ultimately a one-and-done. The episode ultimately feels a bit like filler.
I always liked the character of Corwin (plus he was nice to look at
), so I've kind of regretted that he didn't really get more to do.
Why is that a problem? IIRC they specifically say they're going into hiding, so why would they come up again?
Because at this point in the show's run I wasn't really interested in seeing a new alien race that would have no further relevance. The show had already sort of done this with the Technomages, which I found far more interesting conceptually.
Similar threads
