Babylon 5 viewing order
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Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
I've gone with what I think is unanimous advice from everyone here, and started with 'The Gathering' and moved on to 'Midnight on the Firing Line.' I'll go through seasons 1, 2 and 3, before I figure out the movies, since it looks like things are pretty straightforward until season 4.
After that, I guess I'll play it by ear, but I do get how some of the films can be viewed at various times--like the example provided with BSG's 'Razor' which could be viewed either close to the end of season 2 or between seasons 3 and 4.
I noticed some casting changes between 'The Gathering' and 'Midnight on the Firing Line'--the original doctor and Tamlyn Tomita seem to have both disappeared. I see a lot of potential, character-wise, from Londo and G'Kar, but Sinclair thus far has all the charisma and acting ability of a block of wood. I notice from accidentally seeing a cast list that he leaves as a regular after season 1 anyway, so I guess he wasn't exactly B5's breakout character.
Thanks again to everyone for the advice and recomendations, I plan to take them all seriously--this series apparently starts out rough but then gets amazing and epic, and I figure if I'm going to devote 100+ hours to watching it, I should do it properly. Props to David cgc for the very detailed post and link to the lurker's guide.
I've gone with what I think is unanimous advice from everyone here, and started with 'The Gathering' and moved on to 'Midnight on the Firing Line.' I'll go through seasons 1, 2 and 3, before I figure out the movies, since it looks like things are pretty straightforward until season 4.
After that, I guess I'll play it by ear, but I do get how some of the films can be viewed at various times--like the example provided with BSG's 'Razor' which could be viewed either close to the end of season 2 or between seasons 3 and 4.
I noticed some casting changes between 'The Gathering' and 'Midnight on the Firing Line'--the original doctor and Tamlyn Tomita seem to have both disappeared. I see a lot of potential, character-wise, from Londo and G'Kar, but Sinclair thus far has all the charisma and acting ability of a block of wood. I notice from accidentally seeing a cast list that he leaves as a regular after season 1 anyway, so I guess he wasn't exactly B5's breakout character.
Thanks again to everyone for the advice and recomendations, I plan to take them all seriously--this series apparently starts out rough but then gets amazing and epic, and I figure if I'm going to devote 100+ hours to watching it, I should do it properly. Props to David cgc for the very detailed post and link to the lurker's guide.
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
Many folks discover that Michael O'Hare's acting was far more subtle than they noticed at first when they view the show a second time. When you discover what a tightrope the character is walking, you may come to appreciate why he seems so tense all the time.
The first season is setting up the universe of B5 and so you see many details about it that aren't spotlighted in subsequent seasons.
Jan
Many folks discover that Michael O'Hare's acting was far more subtle than they noticed at first when they view the show a second time. When you discover what a tightrope the character is walking, you may come to appreciate why he seems so tense all the time.
The first season is setting up the universe of B5 and so you see many details about it that aren't spotlighted in subsequent seasons.
Jan
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
Apparently the man who played the doctor (Johnny Sekka) was in declining health at the time and they didn't think he would be able to make it through an entire season of television production (as it is The Gathering was the last thing he ever did for TV). I really enjoyed his performance too, but the new doctor (Richard Biggs) was really good. Tamlyn Tomita apparently didn't think she could play a military officer convincingly, although I have heard multiple stories on her reasons for leaving.
Good, because they are in for the entire series, and they go through some interesting journeys.
Sinclair does return for a couple of guest spots after season 1, and his character's story weaves in to the whole arc nicely.
The way Joe describes it is a good way to think about it: Season 1: Introduction. Season 2: Rising Action. Season 3: Complication. Season 4: Climax. Season 5: Denouement
Apparently the man who played the doctor (Johnny Sekka) was in declining health at the time and they didn't think he would be able to make it through an entire season of television production (as it is The Gathering was the last thing he ever did for TV). I really enjoyed his performance too, but the new doctor (Richard Biggs) was really good. Tamlyn Tomita apparently didn't think she could play a military officer convincingly, although I have heard multiple stories on her reasons for leaving.
Good, because they are in for the entire series, and they go through some interesting journeys.
Sinclair does return for a couple of guest spots after season 1, and his character's story weaves in to the whole arc nicely.
The way Joe describes it is a good way to think about it: Season 1: Introduction. Season 2: Rising Action. Season 3: Complication. Season 4: Climax. Season 5: Denouement
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
Johnny Sekka was quite wonderful as Doctor Kyle. I would've liked to have seen him in the series, but I am also quite fond of Richard Biggs and Dr. Franklin.
I find it interesting that she'd later go on to play a USN Lieutenant as a recurring character on JAG, a show that was far more military than Babylon 5.
Johnny Sekka was quite wonderful as Doctor Kyle. I would've liked to have seen him in the series, but I am also quite fond of Richard Biggs and Dr. Franklin.
I find it interesting that she'd later go on to play a USN Lieutenant as a recurring character on JAG, a show that was far more military than Babylon 5.
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
The producers felt the same way, as I recall. I think JMS mentioned on-line or in an interview that part of the reason they mentioned that Dr. Kyle was still working back on Earth a couple times throughout the show was because they were hoping he might be able to come back for a guest spot at some point and wanted to keep that door open.
The producers felt the same way, as I recall. I think JMS mentioned on-line or in an interview that part of the reason they mentioned that Dr. Kyle was still working back on Earth a couple times throughout the show was because they were hoping he might be able to come back for a guest spot at some point and wanted to keep that door open.
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
I always liked how Franklin seemed to always replace Kyle. When Franklin goes back to Earth, he's taking Kyle's place again!
I always liked how Franklin seemed to always replace Kyle. When Franklin goes back to Earth, he's taking Kyle's place again!
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
Watch every odd numbered episode first, then go back and watch the even numbers.
Watch every odd numbered episode first, then go back and watch the even numbers.
Re: Proper Babylon 5 Viewing Order?
Bear in mind that as of this writing, all I've seen of O'Hare is from The Gathering and the first 3 episodes of season 1, so perhaps my assesment of his acting as 'wooden' is premature. It's nice to see the late Richard Biggs as the 'new' doctor, though.
Bear in mind that as of this writing, all I've seen of O'Hare is from The Gathering and the first 3 episodes of season 1, so perhaps my assesment of his acting as 'wooden' is premature. It's nice to see the late Richard Biggs as the 'new' doctor, though.
Just curious, I might start watching some Babylon 5 to take a break from my Star Trek watching. I know it a well respected series, but was wondering if there was a preferred watching order with the additional movies, or should I just start with Season 1 episode 1 and perhaps enjoy?
The movie "The Gathering" is the pilot, so you could watch that first. However, I didn't know that when I first watched the series, so I saved it until the end. I actually think it works better than way. It has a lot of foreshadowing, but because you don't know it's foreshadowing, it's kind of boring.
You'll get a lot of differing opinions around here about the movies, but I honestly think you can save them all for the end.
You'll get a lot of differing opinions around here about the movies, but I honestly think you can save them all for the end.
I posted this on another forum and I think it's probably the best viewing order all things considered...
The order I'd suggest is:
The Gathering (Pilot)
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four - up to Atonement (Episode 9)
Thirdspace - This actually takes place during the events of Atonement, so bear that in mind. Although as memory serves the narration at the beginning of the episode could suggest that it was being told as a story so you could get away with finishing Season Four and watching this at the end.
Season Four - from Racing Mars (Episode 10) - You might want to miss out The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (Episode 22) and view it at the very end, or immediately prior to Sleeping in Light (Season Five - Episode 22) personally I'd just leave it where it is.
Season Five - up to Objects at Rest (Episode 21)
The River of Souls
The Legend of the Rangers - But only if you're really desperate to see everything, it's pretty dire. Wait 'til you see how they fire the weapons.
A Call to Arms
Crusade - I'm not even going to get in to the thorny issue of Crusade episode orders, I don't want to start a fight. Suffice to say I can't think of a single order that doesn't have any continuity problems so you might as well just pick one and deal with the consequences.
The Lost Tales
In the Beginning - Much of the episode is set prior to the pilot episode, but the framing device is set here and if it were viewed at the beginning it would contain serious spoilerage.
Season Five - Sleeping in Light (Episode 22)
"The Gathering" is the pilot and should be watched first, but you're not missing much if you just start with season 1.
"In the Beginning": after the series (or after season 4 if you want to watch it earlier)
The other movies are crap, do yourself a favour and forget they exist. B5 doesn't offer much that's worth watching outside of the main series.
"In the Beginning": after the series (or after season 4 if you want to watch it earlier)
The other movies are crap, do yourself a favour and forget they exist. B5 doesn't offer much that's worth watching outside of the main series.
I don't mind "Thirdspace" too much; it just doesn't have much of a point. For being a movie, it should have been more important.
It doesn't matter with the movies, but if you want a proper in-universe order:
2245-2248 +2278) In The Beginning *
2257) The Gathering
2258) Season 1
2259) Season 2
2260) Season 3
2261) Season 4 (up to and including Atonement)
2261) Thirdspace
2261) Season 4 (Racing Mars onwards)
2262) Season 5 **
2263) A River of Souls
2265) Legend of the Rangers
2266) A Call to Arms
2267?) Crusade Season 1
2271) The Lost Tales
* In The Beginning is an enigma. Best placed after Atonement at the very least. It does ruin plot points for War Without End and Atonement if watched sooner.
** Sleeping in Light (2281) , the finale, takes place at the very end of all filmed Babylon 5 episodes and movies, yet (obviously) is part of Season 5.
2245-2248 +2278) In The Beginning *
2257) The Gathering
2258) Season 1
2259) Season 2
2260) Season 3
2261) Season 4 (up to and including Atonement)
2261) Thirdspace
2261) Season 4 (Racing Mars onwards)
2262) Season 5 **
2263) A River of Souls
2265) Legend of the Rangers
2266) A Call to Arms
2267?) Crusade Season 1
2271) The Lost Tales
* In The Beginning is an enigma. Best placed after Atonement at the very least. It does ruin plot points for War Without End and Atonement if watched sooner.
** Sleeping in Light (2281) , the finale, takes place at the very end of all filmed Babylon 5 episodes and movies, yet (obviously) is part of Season 5.
^I don't know, that's almost exactly why I rather liked it. An interesting little "adventure" not inexorably tied (though still peripherally related) to the show's central plots.
As to the viewing order: I strongly advise the OP to ignore all the complicated chronological lists people come up with and just view the series in order then do the movies afterwards. None of them are required viewing in order to follow the show's plot. By that I mean you won't miss anything by waiting, even though some of them take place before, after or (in some cases) in between certain episodes. Remember that the show was intended to stand on it's own as a sci-fi novel for TV in five volumes (seasons.) Stopping midway through a boxset to view one of the films will just break your stride the first time out. That kind of thing is best saved for second or third viewings.
I agree with RoJoHen, 'The Gathering' may be better viewed in retrospect, but it was the pilot and does establish a lot (more than you realise first time out) that is later revisited down the line, but it is by no means essential to see it first. So it's up to you. Either way works fine.
Thanks, Netflix has it on Instant play, so I will start out with the Gathering and work my way though as I get around to it.
I posted this on another forum and I think it's probably the best viewing order all things considered...
The order I'd suggest is:
The Gathering (Pilot)
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four - up to Atonement (Episode 9)
Thirdspace - This actually takes place during the events of Atonement, so bear that in mind. Although as memory serves the narration at the beginning of the episode could suggest that it was being told as a story so you could get away with finishing Season Four and watching this at the end.
Season Four - from Racing Mars (Episode 10) - You might want to miss out The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (Episode 22) and view it at the very end, or immediately prior to Sleeping in Light (Season Five - Episode 22) personally I'd just leave it where it is.
Season Five - up to Objects at Rest (Episode 21)
The River of Souls
The Legend of the Rangers - But only if you're really desperate to see everything, it's pretty dire. Wait 'til you see how they fire the weapons.
A Call to Arms
Crusade - I'm not even going to get in to the thorny issue of Crusade episode orders, I don't want to start a fight. Suffice to say I can't think of a single order that doesn't have any continuity problems so you might as well just pick one and deal with the consequences.
The Lost Tales
In the Beginning - Much of the episode is set prior to the pilot episode, but the framing device is set here and if it were viewed at the beginning it would contain serious spoilerage.
Season Five - Sleeping in Light (Episode 22)
I would disagree with this order. It's good from a strictly chronological perspective, certainly. But thematically, you don't want to move Sleeping in Light away from the rest of season 5.
Even if it does end on a bit of an anticlimax, my recommended order would be:
The Gathering
Seasons 1-5
In The Beginning
Thirdspace
The River of Souls
Legend of the Rangers
A Call To Arms
Crusade --- the episode ordering is an entirely different discussion
The Lost Tales
I suppose if you wanted to end on a stronger note, you could move In The Beginning to the very end.
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