Babylon 5 first time watching - specific viewing order?
- Thread starter Riverside2233
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There's always the nostalgia factor - we moved on from clay tablets only to use silicon ones...
Oh, I agree on both counts. The broadsheet format is a pain in the ass, but it also really fits in with Babylon 5's whole post-WWII aesthetic (and it's much easier to drop in backstory hints for the VCR-crowd printed on a giant sheet of paper rather than on a book-sized tablet you can't read over an extra's shoulder), never mind the whole "We're not Star Trek, we're keeping it real" chip the series had on its shoulder. Personally, for my CG fan-art, I'm actually planning to show that the wingart on Starfuries is actually e-ink and changes whenever a new pilot logs in to the ship.
Well, we're already led to believe that in the B5 universe, EVERYONE speaks in long, dramatic, eloquent, wistful, uninterrupted speeches ALL THE TIME, so I'm perfectly happy thinking that tablets will ultimately be an anachronism in their future and people go back to a (nigh-perfectly recyclable) printed material.
Or, that the newspapers are ALSO e-ink and when they return it, it's simply reloaded with a current customized version for the user while a giant iron behind the door steams out all the wrinkles.
Mark
Or, that the newspapers are ALSO e-ink and when they return it, it's simply reloaded with a current customized version for the user while a giant iron behind the door steams out all the wrinkles.
Mark
If you don't mind me saying, that's much more clear and I understand, and even agree with that somewhat. It does seem like an oversight to never mention the captain that ran the place longer then all of the others put together, but, you knew that was coming, she was captain in a much more "routine" time. Her most important year was when the IA was still using the place, when they moved to Minbar property values plummeted and the place ended up worthless. The pivotal events that justified the whole story mostly happened before her tenure and she was never a main player in the IA or one of the main circle of characters even in the season she was in.
On the B5 Audio Guide, it became a running joke that, despite being listed in the main credits and on the DVD covers, "the telepath" was barely actually on the show. That carried forward to the other telepath and, now, calling out every time Lochley doesn't show up (which is startlingly often).
I'm listening to that podcast now, which is why I've been going by the lurkers guide. It's a pretty good podcast so far. I like the format of talking about just the episode and then doing a spoiler section.
I'm learning a lot about Mike Vejar listening to the podcast too.
I recall numerous times seeing orders and private text messages being printed out on plastic transparencies.
Yes. In Trek, you can replicate paper infinitely at no cost. In Trek the concern is purely an aesthetic choice.
That's not the same as e-paper though. E-paper prints itself.
The implication was probably for something that was appropriately, though vaguely, futuristic. E-Ink, flexible display, something (though I remember Sheridan crumpling one up and throwing it away in disgust, so it can't be that expensive. I can't imagine throwing an iPad into a burning fireplace no matter how angry something I read on it made me).
It's plausible cost-wise, but still more expensive. The cost of recycling the paper might be relatively low but you'd gradually have less and less and still need to import paper eventually. Maybe people who are into anachronisms pay more to get it printed on real paper for the authentic newspaper experience? I suppose newspapers could eventually become a hipster thing, like the vinyl records of news.
Well, we know "shrinkage" exists in the Universe Today supply. Aside from the logic of people buying one to read on their flight out from the station, there's that one "Santiago Elected!" UT that floats around Down Below that probably dates back to before B5 was even built (so, conversely, B5's massive transient population would also constantly be bringing in UT copies from off-station, like that resort planet from "Hitchhiker's" where they weigh you to make sure you aren't taking more mass from the planet than you brought with you). But the station isn't a closed system. And shipping cost is a complex interplay of mass, volume, and price. Maybe it's just not that expensive to bring a block of compressed freeze-dried pulp compared to refrigerated food or glass bottles of olive oil. Or, one of B5's agricultural products could be some sort of fast-growing tree optimized for paper production, like bamboo or something. In terms of bang for the buck, it'd probably out-perform some of the food crops (after all, you use the entire tree to make paper, which can be recycled back into mulch, while fruits, vegetables, and grains all have comparatively useless leaves, stems, and trunks supporting the edibles).
I'm surprised Sheridan didn't nuke it to make sure.
I don't think it's that expensive to import the gradual loss of paper.
Just I think that the newspaper business that imports paper will lose business to the newspaper business that doesn't because they can charge a few credits less for the same product. Small competitive advantages make huge differences.
I think of Vir being one of the major characters of the series, I forgot how little he actually appeared in season 1. By far the least of the diplomatic attaches. Of course he doesn't vanish for two seasons then get his absence explained by having been captured and secretly tortured.
Just I think that the newspaper business that imports paper will lose business to the newspaper business that doesn't because they can charge a few credits less for the same product. Small competitive advantages make huge differences.
I think of Vir being one of the major characters of the series, I forgot how little he actually appeared in season 1. By far the least of the diplomatic attaches. Of course he doesn't vanish for two seasons then get his absence explained by having been captured and secretly tortured.
A lot of the acting direction is this show is suspect.
"So you'll be leading a witch hunt against Sinclair. For this character, we'd like you to basically act like a Nazi extra in a World War 2 film."
"So you'll be leading a witch hunt against Sinclair. For this character, we'd like you to basically act like a Nazi extra in a World War 2 film."
What goes around, comes around.
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