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Babylon 5 - I'm finally going to do it

Convictions

This was an OK episode but the only reason why was because of the Londo and G'Kar so I'll just go ahead and ignore the rest. They were great in this episode. Everything from blaming each other for the bombings and then the stuff in the lift. Ah, they hate each other so much, but it makes for some funny TV. :guffaw:
 
A Day in the Strife

Much better than Convictions. Kind of starting to wonder though because we've got two episodes in a row in which they could have easily been standalone. After the premiere episode, which introduced the White Star, Marcus, and some interesting other things, we've had two self contained stories, one which wasn't all that great and this one which was pretty good. I guess this was what was meant by the first 6 episodes being filler but still, it's interesting to consider.

As for this one, loved the stuff with Ivanova on C&C. She had two scenes which were hilarious. One was with Sheridan in which he's commenting on her pessimism and the other one was where she said if she survived without going insane it would be miracle and then Corwin was like "There goes my faith in the almighty." :guffaw: Actually, all the scenes with her and Sheridan in this one was great.

As for the other storylines, kinda surprised Londo changed his mind about Vir. One episode he wants him there and in the next season Vir's on his way to Minbar. The War must really be taking a toll. As for G'Kar, of course he's going to stay. It was nice seeing the Narn prisoner from the Strieb (All Alone in the Night) ship again.
 
Passing Through Gethsemane

Pretty good episode dealing with the Catholic Church and forgiveness. It was interesting getting a study on the mindwipes (From Quality of Mercy if Memory serves) and what happens when one does go through with it. However, I kinda wished they were more figurative in this story than they were. Maybe with religion, a lot of it can easily be told through symbols, but this one felt like the writers were trying to spell everything out. In fact, one of my questions would have been what if the Mindwipe didn't work. What if there was just a flaw in the system instead of having someone in on the whole thing to make the person remember. I think if the Centauri had not been there, it might have been a more interesting story. I know it needed to be there to tell the point of Edward being at Gethsemane waiting for the Gaurds to come, but like I said, it just felt too leteral. Despite that though, it was a fine show. Also liked Sheridan and Theo in the Garden and Sheridan's reaction when Malcom came out.

Nice to see Lyta again. What is her story with Kosh. It seems she gets to look inside him and now she and him have a special bond.
 
Voices of Authority

Best episode of the season so far. Things are moving forward, Nightwatch might be the most creepiest thing I've ever seen, the political advisor was a scary bitch, and yeah stuff like that. Loved the Ivanova side of the story more. Her going down and getting attached to the great machine (Loved the effects during that experience) and then going to Sigma 957 (Mind War, Right? ). Again, things that seemed like a one shot are coming back and being integrated into the story. Good stuff. Also loved the chemistry between Marcus and Invanova. The negociations with the Sigma 957 First ones were great. :lol:

As for the proof Clark was in on the assassination attempt, was that Morden he was talking to? Sure sounded like it, and given what we found about in the premiere episode of the season, just putting two and two together.

Now we're getting to what Hyperspace05 was saying about the season ratcheting things up and not stopping until the end of season 4. Should be fun.
 
Dust to Dust

Another great episode, but of course any episode with Bester is great. Really liked seeing him without the telepathy in this one. It still made him look sinister. As for G'Kar, interesting vision, and Kosh coming in to stop him from knowing the full truth does add some more interesting questions. Also did catch lines like "I have always been here" and other lines that have been repeated in various episodes which is starting to get interesting. One good thing about watching it so quickly like I've been doing is it doesn't take a few years to see this whole thing develop. Having it be 3 weeks (or there abouts) has really added a lot to the overall scope I think.

And that's it for episodes tonight. I'll stop spamming my own thread for now. ;)
 
I bought the complete collection from Amazon a couple of months ago. I think I paid around about £65 for it (HMV sells individul seasons £22). I've just started to watch Season 4. It's a purchase that I don't regret!
 
I think the scene in "Dust to Dust" where Kosh intervenes in a vision to G'Kar as one of the most intimate and/or beautiful scenes of the series.

Part of it is manipulation by Kosh - but the other part seems to be genuine advice for G'Kar (and the Narn) for moving forward from the whole Centauri issue. Great dialogue with who I assume is supposed to be the prophet G'Quan or his father (or a mixture of the two) - then the revelation of the G'Lan angelic figure and the words which gives us a clue about who is behind the vision. (which is verified by the presence of Kosh immediately later) ;) We'll just have to see how much G'Kar takes the advice to heart.

That scene alone elevates "Dust to Dust" to a great episode in my view.


The next episode, "Exogenesis" is the last filler episode for a while...
 
I love "Voices of Authority". What a wonderful blend of comedy and major arc revelations. That Minipax woman was practically a cartoon character (in a good way). "Dust to Dust" is also excellent. After "Exogenesis" you're entering the prolonged high point of the series! Congratulations!
kinda surprised Londo changed his mind about Vir. One episode he wants him there and in the next season Vir's on his way to Minbar.
Real life reason: the actor got a sit-com deal and asked to be let out of the series for a bit.
 
About S3... It probably has my favorite opening sequence... The jump point faces might be cheesy but I love it. ;)

Well, the opening sequence is just as important as the show itself so of the three, I think I like Season 2 better. It still had that familiar theme, and it was ratcheted up as there was more of the tone of tension. Then you go through the jump gate and it was just impressively done. As for the season 3 theme, It's alright. Will take some time to get used to.
I'm surprised with this. The S3 sequence: the monologue, music, everything, is just so epic. It really fits the tone of the entire season which I don't think there ever been anything else quite like it in TV history.

Only a few episodes to go 'til Severed Dreams. Can't wait to read your reaction to that.

Not just Severed Dreams, but the whole thing.

IMO it's the single best three-parter in all of science fiction, and certainly one of the best in all of television.

But Dreams does top it off nicely and I think it's not only best episode of season but of the entire show. Other than the few missed marks in the teaser, it's almost perfect.

It's also the one episode above all that really makes you say, "My God, what could they've done with a budget?!"
 
I'm surprised with this. The S3 sequence: the monologue, music, everything, is just so epic. It really fits the tone of the entire season which I don't think there ever been anything else quite like it in TV history.

I'm not big on the S3 sequence either. I mean, I like what it was trying to do, but I just find the "heroic" feel of seasons 2+4 to be more to my taste.
 
Once you've seen WWE, watch it again. I don't know about anyone else, but there was so much going on in that episode that I couldn't keep it all straight!

The first time I saw War Without End, it made me go back and rewatch Babylon Squared. Then rewatched War Without End a second time.

and then you realized: temporal mechanics makes your head hurt :lol:

Close. Stomach ache.
 
I'm surprised with this. The S3 sequence: the monologue, music, everything, is just so epic. It really fits the tone of the entire season which I don't think there ever been anything else quite like it in TV history.

I'm not big on the S3 sequence either. I mean, I like what it was trying to do, but I just find the "heroic" feel of seasons 2+4 to be more to my taste.

I'm actually coming around on the S3 sequence, but I think I still like the feel of Season 2. Actually for some reason today, I have the Season 5 theme stuck in my head. I guess it goes to show all of these themes were just really well done.
 
I find I like the season 3 theme better as the season goes on...The show still kinda "feels" like season 2 for awhile up until the big 3-parter starting with Messages From Earth, but during the 2nd half of season 3, the theme fits perfectly.
 
The Evil Dead is right. The season three theme is great, and fits perfectly--once you get to a certain point. And you're almost there. The three episode arc between Messages from Earth, Point of No Return, and Severed Dreams is the best stretch of the series, and once of the reasons season three is my favorite year.

I'd also reccomend reading To Dream in a City of Sorrows, though you might want to wait until after Grey 17 is Missing. The framing sequence is set after that episode, and spoils a couple of things. Really, all 11 of the canon (or semi-canon) books are excellent and add to the overall arc of the series.
 
Season 3's is very nice, but I still like season 4's the best. It feels grand and heroic, and has the whole cast doing the monologue instead of just one. It adds to the scope hearing everyone.
 
Passing Through Gethsemane

My favorite "stand-alone" episode.

Thinking about this episode reinvigorates my feeling that should Babylon 5 come back to television that it would work as an anthology show focused more on the hundreds of stories of people drifting through the station or living on the station, but not necessarily about those who run the station or are involved in the larger political landscape.

B5 is known for it's arc-based storytelling and the whole five-year novel, but it also worked well when it told smaller stories about people, like this episode and "A Late Delivery From Avalon." Say set the stories on the station sometime after "Objects at Rest," exploring those who continued to inhabit and come to the station long after Sheridan and the rest went off.

Problem is that anthology shows aren't in vogue, unless they are like CSI where there's a group of regulars trying to unlock the mysteries and secrets of the guest stars. Then again, "Passing Through Gethsemane" is like that type and could be the model for a future Babylon 5 series, in which the regular characters are only there in service of the anthology story, much like what JMS tried to do with The Lost Tales.
 
I'm surprised with this. The S3 sequence: the monologue, music, everything, is just so epic. It really fits the tone of the entire season which I don't think there ever been anything else quite like it in TV history.

I'm not big on the S3 sequence either. I mean, I like what it was trying to do, but I just find the "heroic" feel of seasons 2+4 to be more to my taste.

Weird. I've always liked season 3's intro quite a bit. By contrast, two felt boring and a little forced.
 
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