Hey all; & how to get my girlfriend addicted to Babylon 5?

[foxmulder710]

Hey all,

I'm new here...well, technically I'm not (I was collaborating on rather not unawesome future Trek fan fics in the fan fic forum around 2001), but I've a new handle and etc. etc.


So, I'm curious, for all of you who've seen B-5 (especially the first season), what would be the best way to go about getting my girl addicted to the show? I mean, really, from about the middle of the second season onwards up until Sleeping in Light, I was hooked when I first watched the show. I remember running through a DVD set per week, back in the day.

But, as you may know, the first season's a bit slower. So, would you recommend I skip the non-mythos eps (or most of them) and return later? Personally, I loved most of the first season and was sad to see Sinclair go, but Sheridan more than made up for that...

See, my goal, to clarify once more, is to get my girl as addicted as possible as quickly as possible (it was a chore enough to get her into 24 season 5, lol).

Thanks for any and all help.

Jolan True,
Fox

 

[Mistral]

Pick a random, fun episode like the one after Chrysalis where Delenn has to go to Susan about her hair and how to deal with it-just make sure that whatever episode you show her appeals to things she can relate to.

 

[misskim86]

I don't think it's possible.

If you skip episodes you will miss the whole aspect of getting to know the characters, which is a huge part in actually getting "addicted" to B5, not to mention important plot points that she will miss.

Just force her to watch it from the start till the end, and just keep repeating that the first season will suck but it will get really good and she will like it, that's how my "guy"-friend got me to watch DS9 and B5 and essentially turned me into a trekkie.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Is it that important to you?

I'd suggest starting from the beginning. Either she likes it or she doesn't. Don't force her to watch it if she doesn't like it. Just find another show to watch together that you both like.

I was fortunate enough to have a girlfriend (now wife) that liked it.

 

[Jan]

See, my goal, to clarify once more, is to get my girl as addicted as possible as quickly as possible (it was a chore enough to get her into 24 season 5, lol).

If you've only got one shot at it, I'd bite the bullet and show her "In the Beginning". Yes, it spoils some things but it's a great introduction to the series and the characters and the backstory all in one shot.

My next choice woul be to show her "Signs and Portents" which is the episode that really got me hooked. Up till then I'd enjoyed the show but wouldn't have minded if I'd missed an episode. After that one, no way would I miss.

Good luck. And once you do hook her, bring her here to post her impressions.

Jan

 

[Neroon]

This question comes up often, and in truth ... there really is no hard and fast answer to it that will work for everyone. What type of viewer is your girlfriend? Does she have a short attention span, or is she one to enjoy extended arcs? Can you tell us some of her other favorite shows?

The reason I ask is because B5 tends to appeal to certain types of viewers and not to others. It obviously hit the right mark with you, but is your girlfriend of similar mind when it comes to entertaining shows?

 

[foxmulder710]

Ah, I should've mentioned this: my girl catches Trek reasonably often on Spike etc. and has been an avid fan of Doctor Who forever. She saved up all the eps of the most recent season to watch it in one long weekend marathon...Also she's into Star Wars...

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Lobotomy, I'd think.

 

[Mistral]

As an alternate answer, you could strap her to a chair, put a glucose drip in her arm and get some of those cool eye-openers from A Clockwork Orange. Then just be around when the discs end so you can change them.

Oh, and don't forget the eyedrops-wouldn't want her peepers to dry out!

 

[The Evil Dead]

See, my goal, to clarify once more, is to get my girl as addicted as possible as quickly as possible (it was a chore enough to get her into 24 season 5, lol).

If you've only got one shot at it, I'd bite the bullet and show her "In the Beginning". Yes, it spoils some things but it's a great introduction to the series and the characters and the backstory all in one shot.

I'd seen a little of the show between 1994 and 1997 but it never grabbed me. When I saw the ads on TNT though promoting In the Beginning, I was intrigued and decided to give it a shot... Been loyal fan ever since Janurary 4, 1998.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Lobotomy, I'd think.

Mean!

Okay, so it's no DS9, but B5 has a lot going for it. The way I did it was to ask around here for advice what specifically to watch, by episode title - there's a lot of nonessential viewing in S1 that is best to skip if you want to give a good impression and the movies should be slotted into the TV episode schedule in a certain order. I forget the details but I bet others here remember.

 

[Neroon]

Okay, so it's no DS9,

... which is one of B5's strengths, as well as DS9's. Difference can be good.

 

[CmdrAJD]

If she is a classic Doctor Who fan, that means B5's so-so FX won't bother her, and if she likes Star Wars, B5's dialogue and acting won't phase her either. As long as she appreciates the story and the characters, areas in which B5 was very strong, I think you may actually have a shot here. Start from "The Gathering" and go from there. Save "In The Beginning" until later on, so you don't spoil all of the Sinclair material.

 

[ByrdMan]

Two words; "Sinclair's d*ck"

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated/msg/ee4eeae1ecf97723

 

[roguephoenix]

i think that might involve some illegal drugs

 

[Trubinator]

Don't bother skipping episodes. B5 is the kind of show that you either have to force down somebody's throat or accept they'll never make it to the end. If she doesn't like it, just chalk it up to poor taste and move on to a more mainstream program.

 

[Tulin]

If she doesn't like it, just chalk it up to poor taste and move on to a more mainstream program.

Indeed.

I've come to realize the show and its subtext are just too far above some people's heads. There are subtleties in the writing I have only just discovered even on my most recent and probably about sixth time through the series.

Actually, here's a test. Does your g/f say Smallville, Charmed or the new 90210 are "AWESOME!!!1!"?

If so, don't even bother. In fact, dump her. Less pain in the long run.

 

[JoeD80]

When I got my girlfriend to watch it I just started her with The Gathering. She was hooked from there. She loved the entire show. She's not much of a sci-fi fan either. But she does love good character dramas.

jms once posted a list of episodes for getting someone into the show:

Pilot Movie (tell them it gets better) Midnight on the Firing Line
Sky Full of Stars A Race Through Dark Places Believers Babylon Squared
A Voice in the Wilderness 1 and 2 Signs and Portents Chrysalis
Points of Departure Revelations All Alone in the Night The Coming of
Shadows Hunter, Prey The Long Twilight Struggle Comes the Inquisitor
Divided Loyalties Confessions and Lamentations The Fall of Night
Matters of Honor Convictions Dust to Dust Ship of Tears Interludes and
Examinations War Without End 1 and 2

 

[broberfett]

Only have sex with her when you are watching Babylon 5. Eventually she'll associate sex with B5. Of course you can't get mad if she shouts Bruce Boxleitner's name during orgasm instead of yours.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Only have sex with her when you are watching Babylon 5. Eventually she'll associate sex with B5. Of course you can't get mad if she shouts Bruce Boxleitner's name during orgasm instead of yours.

My girlfriend was obssessed with Data, and this isn't too far from the truth