is babylon 5 season 5 worth watching

[DigificWriter]

I figured I ought to clarify why I don't like TDoFS as the Season 4 finale: it literally has NOTHING to do with the season, and it doesn't even do much in terms of setting up Season 5; yes, there's some 'flash-forward' stuff from S5 in the episode, but I didn't find it to be that critically important as retroactive foreshadowing.

The story worked much better, for me, as the series finale because you have the context of the S5 'flash-forwarding', you've seen what Delenn is talking about when she talks about Sheridan, and you've seen a pattern established of episodes being told from the POV of characters other than the main cast.

To each their own, though.

 

[Sindatur]

I figured I ought to clarify why I don't like TDoFS as the Season 4 finale: it literally has NOTHING to do with the season, and it doesn't even do much in terms of setting up Season 5; yes, there's some 'flash-forward' stuff from S5 in the episode, but I didn't find it to be that critically important as retroactive foreshadowing.

The story worked much better, for me, as the series finale because you have the context of the S5 'flash-forwarding', you've seen what Delenn is talking about when she talks about Sheridan, and you've seen a pattern established of episodes being told from the POV of characters other than the main cast.

To each their own, though.

There's also that little niggle about John and Delenn getting married. If you cut out DoFS, then they're living together out of nowhere

 

[DonIago]

Eh, I still prefer the tease of S5 that DoFS has to offer. That falls apart if you don't watch it in sequence.

Also I much prefer SiL as the final episode to DoFS, given that I find a lot of the longer-term stuff in DoFS fairly depressing. Sure SiL makes me cry, but overall it's a pretty good sendoff.

 

[DigificWriter]

There's also that little niggle about John and Delenn getting married. If you cut out DoFS, then they're living together out of nowhere

The end of Rising Star shows their marriage, so moving TDoFS doesn't affect that.

Eh, I still prefer the tease of S5 that DoFS has to offer. That falls apart if you don't watch it in sequence.

Also I much prefer SiL as the final episode to DoFS, given that I find a lot of the longer-term stuff in DoFS fairly depressing. Sure SiL makes me cry, but overall it's a pretty good sendoff.

Like I said, 'to each their own'.

 

[Sindatur]

There's also that little niggle about John and Delenn getting married. If you cut out DoFS, then they're living together out of nowhere

The end of Rising Star shows their marriage, so moving TDoFS doesn't affect that.

Ooops , yea, sorry, thought that was the first scene of DoFS

 

[DigificWriter]

^ There really is nothing in TDoFS that prevents it from being viewed as the series finale; even the 'retroactive foreshadowing' stuff that it tells us about Season 5 isn't really that critical when it comes to actually watching Season 5.

Another benefit of watching TDoFS as the series finale is that it gives you a reference to Lochley, which, IMO, helps to offset her being completely absent from Sleeping in Light (yes, I know that episode was filmed before Scoggins had joined the cast, but, honestly, it doesn't sound like it would've been that hard to film some stuff with her and splice it into the episode in the editing room, since it didn't actually air until an entire season after it was filmed).

 

[tomalak301]

Whenever Season 5 is brought up, the whole Byron storyline takes center stage. The thing is though was that storyline was only, what, the first 8 episodes of the season. The rest of the season was about the whole Centauri republic and the consequences of what happened on that planet in Season 4. That was really strong stuff, and definately makes Season 5 worth watching. If it was just about the Centauri, I would probably rank it as my third favorite season behind Seasons 3 and 4.

 

[DigificWriter]

I happen to like the Telepath story arc, and don't find Byron to be a bad character in the least.

Again, though, 'to each their own'.

 

[tomalak301]

I happen to like the Telepath story arc, and don't find Byron to be a bad character in the least.

Again, though, 'to each their own'.

I actually didn't mind it either (I remember the first time watching B5 and people warning me about Byron and by the end of the Arc I was like, "That's it?") but it was a downgrade from what came before. Like I said, once the Centauri plot took over, things were back up to Season 4 levels, maybe slightly lower.

 

[DigificWriter]

^ Hmm. I've never really understood this idea that the Telepath arc - or any of S5, for that matter - is somehow 'a step down' in quality from what had come before, but, then again, I've also never understood the similar sentiment regarding Season 1, which I personally enjoyed just as much as the other seasons, at least overall.

 

[Aeon]

I just finished watching Season 5 and I'm not sure. There are some strong moments, but something is definitely "off" and what bugs me the most is that I can't really point my finger where the problem is. Byron isn't as annoying as I remembered, so he's not really the big issue. Lochley is alright as a new addition. But something is most definitely missing.

Purely on a visual and also amusing level, I found it very odd that Sheridan's hair is orangey in the beginning of the season and after a while it changes back to the usual with more gray streaks on it. That's just... weird.

 

[DonIago]

I didn't mind Byron himself, but it kind of bothered me that his telepaths were such a flock of sheep. Aside from Lyta we don't get significant characterization for any of them that I recall. Given the events that transpire it would have been nice to actually care about some of them.

 

[Aeon]

That's true. Good point.

 

[tomalak301]

^ Hmm. I've never really understood this idea that the Telepath arc - or any of S5, for that matter - is somehow 'a step down' in quality from what had come before, but, then again, I've also never understood the similar sentiment regarding Season 1, which I personally enjoyed just as much as the other seasons, at least overall.

I guess I looked at it as you had two epic storylines coming to an end in Season 4 with the Shadow War and the removal of Clark, so anything that came after that would run the risk of being disappointing.

As for Season 1, the more I've watched season 1, the more I like it, but maybe it's because I really did like Sinclair. His character arc was one of the most fascinating in the entire series.

 

[3chordboy]

^ Hmm. I've never really understood this idea that the Telepath arc - or any of S5, for that matter - is somehow 'a step down' in quality from what had come before, but, then again, I've also never understood the similar sentiment regarding Season 1, which I personally enjoyed just as much as the other seasons, at least overall.

I guess I looked at it as you had two epic storylines coming to an end in Season 4 with the Shadow War and the removal of Clark, so anything that came after that would run the risk of being disappointing.

As for Season 1, the more I've watched season 1, the more I like it, but maybe it's because I really did like Sinclair. His character arc was one of the most fascinating in the entire series.

I'm re-watching Babylon 5 for the first time in a decade. Just finished "A Distant Star" (2x04) and I have to say, I really loved the first season. Much preferred dark and broody Sinclair over cheery chappy Sheridan (although I obviously know he won't stay as cheery choppy ) it really is a wonderful show. some cheesey moments that date it here and there but the plots are generally strong and the characters just draw me in even when the plots are weak.

right... back to it....

 

[DonIago]

It should be noted that Mr. Boxleitner was specifically told to be cheery and chappy when he started on the series. You can blame JMS for that one if you'd like, but it's not an actor issue.

 

[DigificWriter]

My cousin and his wife - whom I introduced to the show via DVD - preferred Sheridan to Sinclair. I don't personally have a preference either way, as both bring different things to the table story-wise.

Back on the subject of Season 5 specifically, another reason I like the season as much as I do is because of how it deals with two of my favorite characters in the series, Londo and Lyta. The telepath arc puts Lyta front-and-center - which is probably why I like it as much as I do - and Peter Jurasik is given some of the best stories in all 5 seasons of the show.

 

[3chordboy]

It should be noted that Mr. Boxleitner was specifically told to be cheery and chappy when he started on the series. You can blame JMS for that one if you'd like, but it's not an actor issue.

don't worry, i was aware and did indeed blame jms

since my last post i've watched i think 19 episodes... finished off this evening with the season 3 opener "Matters of Honor" I'd forgotten how easily this show just draws you in

 

[DigificWriter]

Inspired by this thread and Dream's Babylon 5 thread, I went back and looked at the rewatch thread I started last year, and realized that, since then, I've changed my mind on a couple of things:
1) Lyta has supplanted Talia as my favorite of the series' two full-time telepath characters
2) The Deconstruction of Falling Stars would've made a better series finale than either Objects in Motion or Sleeping in Light (I'd previously thought that OiM ought to have been the series finale)