Here's my ratings out of 4 stars (no spoilers) for the first three seasons: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/7280/b5r123.html
Babylon 5 - I'm finally going to do it
- Thread starter tomalak301
- Start date
I too am pro "...Word."
I like it when shows try something different.
I like it when shows try something different.
Well, it will be interesting when I watch it. I try not to be swayed to if I like an episode or not. Actually, I'm looking more forward to the episode after this one than this one itself. Hell, if I finish the season by the end of the week I'll be happy.
I find "And now for a Word" to be meh. I neither get the love of this episode, nor do I understand why many don't like it. I like what they were trying to do, but B5 was really hit or miss with its off format episodes. There is another episode similar to this one down the road that I might actually like better though.
As for the next episode, it's a good one! A whole lot more pieces for the puzzle.
As for the next episode, it's a good one! A whole lot more pieces for the puzzle.
"beauty in the dark" - you gotta love Kosh
As for Neroon - I loved the gravitas of the character. I was always happy to see him.
As for Neroon - I loved the gravitas of the character. I was always happy to see him.
And Now for a Word
I was really hoping people would talk about the episodes I had reviewed, but this one was talked about more. I didn't know there was such polarization around it and I think that made me a bit more anxious to see it and not just pass it off because the next episode seems to be really important. Well, my verdict is I love it. I think it's one of B5's best episodes but for different reasons. This isn't going to be a top three episode once the season is all over, but I liked it because of what it said and what it was trying to do, not just as a station but also maybe as a TV show. I really liked what Sheridan said about the goal of B5 to create a positive future. That entire last scene was a great way to discribe the show to someone who might be watching the first time. Yeah there will be dark patches here and there, but if that's what it takes to achieve the goal of peace, it's all worth it. What a great messege that is.
Going in, I thought this episode would remind me of BSG's Final Cut. It actually more closely resembles Farscape's "A Constellation of Doubt." Both great episodes in thier own right. I like that format too. It's nice to see the life we see on a weekly basis through the eyes of the outsider. It really does put a whole new spin on things.
I think the only part I thought was corny was the whole Psi-Corps commercial. Not really sure the point that served and it would have been better left out.
I was really hoping people would talk about the episodes I had reviewed, but this one was talked about more. I didn't know there was such polarization around it and I think that made me a bit more anxious to see it and not just pass it off because the next episode seems to be really important. Well, my verdict is I love it. I think it's one of B5's best episodes but for different reasons. This isn't going to be a top three episode once the season is all over, but I liked it because of what it said and what it was trying to do, not just as a station but also maybe as a TV show. I really liked what Sheridan said about the goal of B5 to create a positive future. That entire last scene was a great way to discribe the show to someone who might be watching the first time. Yeah there will be dark patches here and there, but if that's what it takes to achieve the goal of peace, it's all worth it. What a great messege that is.
Going in, I thought this episode would remind me of BSG's Final Cut. It actually more closely resembles Farscape's "A Constellation of Doubt." Both great episodes in thier own right. I like that format too. It's nice to see the life we see on a weekly basis through the eyes of the outsider. It really does put a whole new spin on things.
I think the only part I thought was corny was the whole Psi-Corps commercial. Not really sure the point that served and it would have been better left out.
The commercial makes more sense if you remember that it originally would have occurred on the tail end of an actual commercial break, and might at first seem like an actual commercial.
There's another bit in season 4 that plays off the fact that the series has commercial breaks, and falls a bit flat on DVD as a result...
There's another bit in season 4 that plays off the fact that the series has commercial breaks, and falls a bit flat on DVD as a result...
I realize that. I mean South Park did that kind of thing to (I remember the first Mr. Hanky episode) and yeah, watching it commercial free (Which on Hulu, this was one of those episodes they allowed me to watch commercial free) it just falls flat.
Sorry... While those episodes were decent and solid enough, I honestly did not remember much about them, even after perusing the Lurkers guide to refresh my memory. Not like ANFAW, which really stands out in my mind, even after all these years.
I think one of ANFAW's strengths is how effortlessly the documentary format allows us to get background info in several characters, notable G'Kar, Franklin, and Sheridan. I mean how else could the story about G'Kars life as a child be told except in some corny speech/dialog artificially inserted into some scene? Yet here it fits perfectly, and it exactly the thing you expect a journalist to ask about. And while most of Franklin monologue to the camera sounds dull, the whole end with "so I just don't think talking about 'spacing someone' is fun - and I never will" - that part is just gold. And the whole thing is a great primer on the B5 universe for new viewers.
I think the battle is excellent too - and really neatly constructed to allow us to see glimpses of it through gun-cameras and maintenance bots. Plus you can never go wrong with a nice slugfest between two capital ships.
So while I would not place the episode in the top 5 of season 2 (it is at #6 or #7), it is one of those episodes that I have enjoyed seeing several times over the years. It is perhaps the episode I have seen the most times overall - It's just such a memorable and neat episode.
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One thing I did like about this episode (Which I think I inferred but forgot to mention) was that this episode provided a way to give a lot of backstory that the series could not give before. I mean you have the Centauri/Narn conflict. The series kind of jumps right into it, but this episode gives viewers that crash course in why things are the way they are. It was interesting hearing the different opinions from both Londo and G'Kar too and how perspective can really tangle the truth. As for the battle, yeah that was good and getting it from the camera was great shooting.
I always loved the part in Sheridan's interview where he's ranting about how Earth would get its ass kicked by the Centauri, Minbari, and especially the Vorlons and that all the chickenhawk bastards back home are just making his life difficult, and inadvertently steps on the party line when he referred to us losing the Minbari War.
"But we won. The Minbari surrendered."
*Most forced smile ever* "Of course."
"But we won. The Minbari surrendered."
*Most forced smile ever* "Of course."
And their appearance is modeled after his "Sandman" character.
In the Shadow of Z'ha'Dum
Well, there was a lot in that episode wasn't there. The first ones, the Shadows, and what Morden is up to. I'm really intregued by what this episode showed that I had to watch the scene with Delenn again just to get most of it. Also, the comparison to World War II was chilling, and good foreshadowing. There was a lot here to digest and another instance of really digging deep into this series. This is the type of intregue that I like so it will be interesting to see where they go from here.
As for ranking this episode overall, I think I've seen better episodes this season. This one is great, but for some reason I think I expected a bit more. Still, learning the mystery of Morden and the First Ones and how the Vorlons were involved was a lot. As for the Nightwatch group, not sure about that plot yet but we'll see.
Well, there was a lot in that episode wasn't there. The first ones, the Shadows, and what Morden is up to. I'm really intregued by what this episode showed that I had to watch the scene with Delenn again just to get most of it. Also, the comparison to World War II was chilling, and good foreshadowing. There was a lot here to digest and another instance of really digging deep into this series. This is the type of intregue that I like so it will be interesting to see where they go from here.
As for ranking this episode overall, I think I've seen better episodes this season. This one is great, but for some reason I think I expected a bit more. Still, learning the mystery of Morden and the First Ones and how the Vorlons were involved was a lot. As for the Nightwatch group, not sure about that plot yet but we'll see.
"There are beings in the universe billions of years older than either of our races. Once, long ago, they walked among the stars like giants, vast and timeless. They taught the younger races, explored beyond the rim, created great empires. But to all things there is an end. Slowly, over a million years, the First Ones went away. Some passed beyond the stars, never to return. Some simply disappeared."
and
"We have no other name for them. The Shadows were old when even the Ancients were young. They battled one another over and over across a million years. The last great war against the Shadows was ten thousand years ago. It was the last time the Ancients walked openly among us. The Shadows were only defeated, not destroyed. A thousand years ago, the Shadows returned to their places of power, rebuilt them, and began to stretch forth their hand. Before they could strike, they were defeated by an alliance of worlds, including the Minbari... and the few remaining First Ones who had not yet passed beyond the Veil. When they had finished, the First Ones went away... all but one."
Knives
There was a piece of Dialog in this episode that made the whole thing worth while:
Sheridan: I prefer to be slightly insane
Garibaldi (raising the glass): Don't we all.
It was a decent episode. Nice learning more about the Centauri and how deep Mollari has gotten. As for the visions, nice connection to Babylon Squared but not much else to say about it. Actually, this episode was really just there. I did like the touch of the Babylon Baseball hat though. Nice to see there were some things from the Gift shop that Sheridan kept.
There was a piece of Dialog in this episode that made the whole thing worth while:
Sheridan: I prefer to be slightly insane
Garibaldi (raising the glass): Don't we all.
It was a decent episode. Nice learning more about the Centauri and how deep Mollari has gotten. As for the visions, nice connection to Babylon Squared but not much else to say about it. Actually, this episode was really just there. I did like the touch of the Babylon Baseball hat though. Nice to see there were some things from the Gift shop that Sheridan kept.
Confessions and Lementations
That episode was sad. The look from Delenn pretty much said it all and I was quite bummed that Franklin was too late. Still, a pretty good episode, but I want to address a few things:
1) I'm getting a little tired of how the human population is being treated on this show. Granted the main cast are compassionate, but over and over again it's like the humans are the center of the racial hatred towards the other races. I mean you have the home guard, bartenders making jokes, and frankly it's getting a little tiring. It happened in this one and while it was done to prove a point I think, It's starting to really rub me the wrong way. Remember when I said that Ivanova in Season 1 got repetitive? Well, this whole racial hatred is getting repetitive too. Now I know it's supposed to be realistic, but I'm wondering if it's being taken too far.
2) I haven't really talked about Franklin ever since "Believers." On that episode I said that his actions left a bad taste in my mouth. Well, since then I've come around to kind of like the guy. He's always stuck to his morals, he's very consistent, and Biggs is playing him well. I've liked him this season when he wasn't the Doctor but just a friend. Like when he's having Garibaldi's birthday dinner, or sharing a laugh with Ivanova. He's not my favorite character on the show, but he's nowhere near the hate list either.
That episode was sad. The look from Delenn pretty much said it all and I was quite bummed that Franklin was too late. Still, a pretty good episode, but I want to address a few things:
1) I'm getting a little tired of how the human population is being treated on this show. Granted the main cast are compassionate, but over and over again it's like the humans are the center of the racial hatred towards the other races. I mean you have the home guard, bartenders making jokes, and frankly it's getting a little tiring. It happened in this one and while it was done to prove a point I think, It's starting to really rub me the wrong way. Remember when I said that Ivanova in Season 1 got repetitive? Well, this whole racial hatred is getting repetitive too. Now I know it's supposed to be realistic, but I'm wondering if it's being taken too far.
2) I haven't really talked about Franklin ever since "Believers." On that episode I said that his actions left a bad taste in my mouth. Well, since then I've come around to kind of like the guy. He's always stuck to his morals, he's very consistent, and Biggs is playing him well. I've liked him this season when he wasn't the Doctor but just a friend. Like when he's having Garibaldi's birthday dinner, or sharing a laugh with Ivanova. He's not my favorite character on the show, but he's nowhere near the hate list either.
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"Shadow of Z'ha'dum" is a completely hollow experience for me. I started watching in S4 so by the time I finally saw this episode I already knew everything, so the "mystery" of Morden and the Shadows just falls completely flat for me. I really wish I could have watched the series in order unspoiled. Sigh. I hate "Knives", but good news! I believe that is the last horrible episode for... well... ever! Not-so-coincidentally I believe it is also the final non-JMS-written episode until a single episode in Season Five. "Confessions" was alright.
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