Some people have trouble with season 1. Personally, I say---enjoy it for what it is. It's trying to set up an entirely new universe and put all the pieces on the board, so that you have a frame of reference to fully appreciate it when everything starts falling apart.
Babylon 5 viewing order
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Some people have trouble with season 1. Personally, I say---enjoy it for what it is. It's trying to set up an entirely new universe and put all the pieces on the board, so that you have a frame of reference to fully appreciate it when everything starts falling apart.
Despite fan complaints, I've always preferred the TNT order.
The only issues you contend with are the Lockley-Gideon relationship changes and the virus shield. I think. Haven't seen it in a while.
I don't have much of an opinion as to strict viewing order - I agree with Reverend that for a first viewing, just relax and don't get too complicated.
I can't stress this enough, though - DO NOT watch the final three episodes of season five with any breaks for other things in between. If you do, you'll be cheating yourself out of the full emotional impact. Really, don't do it.
Jan
I can't stress this enough, though - DO NOT watch the final three episodes of season five with any breaks for other things in between. If you do, you'll be cheating yourself out of the full emotional impact. Really, don't do it.
Jan
I did work out my own order that ignores the uniform changes for the most part as I thought they were the least important parts of the continuity. The virus shield, Lockley-Gideon relationship changes, and other stuff can then be put in a more sensible order. Unfortunately, I've lost my notes - the dog probably ate them - if I had a dog, that is. I'm thinking "does it cosmically speaking matter?" Crusade would have finished seven years ago, had it run for five years.
There are a variety of viewing orders you can use, *after* you've seen the series once. And trust everyone in this thread ... Once you've seen it, you will watch it again.
As Jan and Neroon have pointed out, don't let it be complicated the first time through. After you've seen it, then come back and change up the viewing order. Keep it simple.
Movie - The Gathering (it's the pilot, it started the whole thing)
Seasons one through five, in order.
Movie - ThirdSpace
Movie - River of Souls
Movie - Legend of the Rangers
Movie - A Call to Arms
Series - Crusade (13 episodes)
Movie - The Lost Tales
Movie - In the Beginning
Other than A Call to Arms/Crusade, and The Gathering, the movies can be watched in whatever order you want after the five seasons, but I've placed them chronological within the storyline. ACtA serves as a pilot for Crusade, bridging Babylon 5 with its intended spin-off.
In the Beginning was aired between the fourth and fifth seasons, and works in flash forward and flash back ways. It has a much older version of one of the characters telling a prequel story through flashback. It's a damn good story and told very well. It was designed to bring new viewers in, but at the same time, it spoils the hell out of the first two seasons.
Also, it works to leave it til the end, because it really does go out on a high note.
I like the Crusade order which has only one unexplained uniform change (you can just imagine the "laundry accident" scene if you like), and ignores the on-screen dates, but is otherwise fine with respect to all character development and continuity.
War Zone
Ruling from the Tomb
Appearances and Other Deceits
All grey uniform episodes
Remaining black uniform episodes
War Zone
Ruling from the Tomb
Appearances and Other Deceits
All grey uniform episodes
Remaining black uniform episodes
The pilot is a little wonky. If you don't like it, continue onto the first episode anyway because it's a much higher quality. My girlfriend was given a DVD set of the series as a gift and tried to watch the pilot and hated it. I'd said I'd always wanted to see it and we watched the first episode and she loved that one -- and then called up the friend who had given it to her to tell her she loved B5 now. 
I still haven't seen the pilot. I suppose I should netflix that sometime.
I still haven't seen the pilot. I suppose I should netflix that sometime.
There are two versions of the pilot -- the re-edited one with Chris Franke's music and the original one with Stewart Copeland's score. Both have their problems, and there are inconsistencies with the series proper, but that's the nature of pilots.
I actually prefer putting ItB right after "Atonement" as a means of continuing the Earth-Minbari War thread that's the focus of that episode.
Personally, I don't think "The Gathering" is actually that important/critical/relevant to the storyline of B5 as a whole as was originally intended, given the amount of changes and evolution said story went through over the course of its 5-season run. IIRC, there are only a handful of ideas/story concepts introduced in "The Gathering" that later remained relevant to the story and are referred to, and said references are explained adequately enough and clearly enough within the context in which they appear that actually watching "The Gathering" is, ultimately, unnecessary.
Indeed. I made it halfway through the series before I even realized "The Gathering" existed. I never had any problems understand anything.
It's like TOS's "The Menagerie." You can watch it and understand it just fine without having ever seen "The Cage."
It's important to not put off "Sleeping in Light" for too long, but I think "In the Beginning" actually makes for a nice bridge between the rest of season five and the finale, in addition to giving a little bit more of a send-off to characters who aren't in "Sleeping in Light."
As for the viewing order, the episodes are a little re-arranged on DVD. The Master episode list at the Lurker's Guide is a good one to follow -- I just would hold off on the movies (with the exception of "The Gathering," which is the pilot and first episode, and "In the Beginning," which I like watching right before "Sleeping in Light").
It is fun to see all the passion about this show 
I totally agree. I think it adds some depth to that episode and explains some other things that had been previously left vague. I also think the framing sequence, when viewed before season 5 add more depth to a certain character's sacrifice and the after effects of that choice.
In trying to get a colleague to watch the show, I gave her my 1st season set and briefly summarized The Gathering in an e-mail. While I saw parts of The Gathering when it first aired, but didn't see the full pilot until I got it on tape a few years into the show, and I didn't feel I missed much. I definitely think some plot points of it should be known going in, but that doesn't necessarily mean one has to watch it.
In the Beginning spoils events from as late as "Rising Star", so you really shouldn't watch it until at least after Season 4.
Good man. Really there's no need to worry about missing anything plotwise if you just stick with the episodes first. As you can plainly see by all these posts, there isn't a definitive order anyway; everyone has their own little ideas and by the time they're done debating their relative merits, you'll be half way through season five anyway.
It is fun to see all the passion about this show
It never ceases to amaze me just how much. Considering the show has been off the air in the states for so long (though it still gets passed around by various channels over here from time to time) and never gets any kind of publicity the fanbase is surprisingly strong...and oh so opinionated.
Did anyone mention the Lurker's Guide's Master List? I'm actually going to accept and follow it as the 'official/recommended' viewing order for the series, but it might be a good template for the OP to follow as well.
Also, has anyone ever considered creating their own Episode Guide for the series and re-numbering things so that The Gathering and Thirdspace are considered to be part of the seasons to which they're most relevant chronologically? I might do it for myself, but was wondering if I was alone in this thought.
Also, has anyone ever considered creating their own Episode Guide for the series and re-numbering things so that The Gathering and Thirdspace are considered to be part of the seasons to which they're most relevant chronologically? I might do it for myself, but was wondering if I was alone in this thought.
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