Babylon 5 viewing order

[Jan]

I liked Lochley a lot as soon as she (pretty quickly) dropped the New Commander bit. But then, I never cared that much for Ivanova. The only part I missed Ivanova over was a bit that won't be coming up for a while that would have been hear wrenching if Susan had done it. Anyway, I'll be interested to hear how DH continues to feel about Lochley.

Jan

 

[Distorted Humor]

I liked Lochley a lot as soon as she (pretty quickly) dropped the New Commander bit. But then, I never cared that much for Ivanova. The only part I missed Ivanova over was a bit that won't be coming up for a while that would have been hear wrenching if Susan had done it. Anyway, I'll be interested to hear how DH continues to feel about Lochley.

Jan

The whole "If its not in the reports, the reports are not right" and any emergency is due to poor planning (note: my profession IS planning, so I think highly of planning) wanted me to space Lochley. It was one bit, but when it is your first impression, it leaves a trace, though she was much better later on even in the episode, plenty of time to recover. I don't think she a great actress, but to be honest, C. Christian is not a great actress, even if I started to like Susan I.

Though I am peeved that they finally have a telepath that is interesting in the mute boy, and they go kill him off when he had the most potential since Bester.

 

[Jan]

The whole "If its not in the reports, the reports are not right" and any emergency is due to poor planning (note: my profession IS planning, so I think highly of planning) wanted me to space Lochley. It was one bit, but when it is your first impression, it leaves a trace, though she was much better later on even in the episode, plenty of time to recover.

Well, if I were a new commanding officer (ha!) expecting to be met by the command staff but only met by a junior officer making excuses, I'd probably hand him his head, too. Granted, Corwin's bit was to introduce a bunch of unseen people to possible new TNT viewers but if it were real, what he was saying was, 'yeah, but they all decided you don't matter.'

Jan

 

[Distorted Humor]

But isn't Corwin now the 2nd in command (XO) of Babylon 5? (Sheridan is now a president and Susan took command of a warship) which would boost Corwin up to 2nd in command (unless there is a new XO that we have not met yet) I wouldn't be upset if I was met my my 2nd in command to be brought to the meeting room where I would meet my staff...

 

[Jan]

But isn't Corwin now the 2nd in command (XO) of Babylon 5? (Sheridan is now a president and Susan took command of a warship) which would boost Corwin up to 2nd in command (unless there is a new XO that we have not met yet) I wouldn't be upset if I was met my my 2nd in command to be brought to the meeting room where I would meet my staff...

I think Corwin's status was one of those things left unclear, sort of the way the lack of an actual Earth Ambassador was early in the series. I'd be happy for somebody to correct me, though.

Jan

 

[OmahaStar]

I liked Lochley a lot as soon as she (pretty quickly) dropped the New Commander bit.

I didn't like Lochley at first. It wasn't until a later 5th season episode titled "Day of the Dead" that, I felt, she finally came into her own.

For me, Day of the Dead did for Lochley what TKO did for Ivanova. Sure, it was nothing similar story-wise or in the acting, but each story changes the character, and we finally get to be introduced to the character, instead of "generic military officer" as each was before then.

And that's all I can say without going into spoiler territory.

 

[Reverend]

But isn't Corwin now the 2nd in command (XO) of Babylon 5? (Sheridan is now a president and Susan took command of a warship) which would boost Corwin up to 2nd in command (unless there is a new XO that we have not met yet) I wouldn't be upset if I was met my my 2nd in command to be brought to the meeting room where I would meet my staff...

I think Corwin's status was one of those things left unclear, sort of the way the lack of an actual Earth Ambassador was early in the series. I'd be happy for somebody to correct me, though.

Jan

Well if we go by the costume I don't think he's even Earthforce anymore. I think all through season 5 he's just wearing the plain shirt so one assumes he's still working for B5 (which is still an independent state it seems) so technically he's not an EF officer at all anymore (though he does introduce himself with an Lt rank.) If I had to guess I'd say at this point Corwin is acting as Lochley's adjacent, which seems about right for a Lieutenant. Perhaps there's some unseen Lt Cmdr as Lochley's XO who just happens to always stand out of frame and rarely speaks up...

Mind you the command structure of B5 was always a little hazy when you get past the main characters. The closest we ever got to a second officer was the unseen Major Atumbe who was mentioned all of once in early season 1 and never again. Indeed we've only ever seen the likes of Corwin, Garibaldi and even Delenn of all people take charge of C'n'C in the absence for Sinclair, Sheridan, Ivanova or Lochley.

We know there are more senior officers on the station as we've seen them as extras. The memorial service in 'Ceremonies of Light and Dark' and I think there were some in a meeting with Franklin's medical staff in 'Exogenesis'.

We also saw a Commander Galus in 'A Distant Star' leading Zeta squadron (equal rank with Ivanova at the time I think.)

 

[Snatcher42]

The closest we ever got to a second officer was the unseen Major Atumbe who was mentioned all of once in early season 1 and never again.

Ah yes, the mysterious Major Atumbe... always wondered what happened to him! Heh heh. This post from JMS suggests that it was either Atumbe or Corwin next in line:

http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-6574

Anyway, I don't mind Lochley. She's obviously a replacement, but by Crusade and The Lost Tales she'd actually become a familiar face I was glad to see.

 

[RoJoHen]

I liked Lochley a lot as soon as she (pretty quickly) dropped the New Commander bit.

I didn't like Lochley at first. It wasn't until a later 5th season episode titled "Day of the Dead" that, I felt, she finally came into her own.

For me, Day of the Dead did for Lochley what TKO did for Ivanova. Sure, it was nothing similar story-wise or in the acting, but each story changes the character, and we finally get to be introduced to the character, instead of "generic military officer" as each was before then.

And that's all I can say without going into spoiler territory.

What I will say about Lochley is that, at the end of the day, they didn't try to make her too much of a main character. She needed to be there because the station needed a new military commander, and her presence makes sense, but she was more of a prop than anything, and I like that about her. It kept us from being too distracted from the characters that we had grown to care about the previous four years.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Well another day, another two episodes

A Paragon of Animals - Well I don't like Byron, but I get the sense your not supposed to like him. This will not end well. But so far this season is not bad, even if it misses Susan and Marcus badly. (No fault of the producers and writers) This I suspect is setting up Lyta to join up with the colony.

A view from the Gallery - aha, lets look at the station from two working stiffs point of view. I really liked the moment where the doctor tells about how he became a doctor and not a military man. The Guest actors did a good job of playing folks who have worked together for years and have there own rhythm.

 

[RoJoHen]

A view from the Gallery - aha, lets look at the station from two working stiffs point of view. I really liked the moment where the doctor tells about how he became a doctor and not a military man. The Guest actors did a good job of playing folks who have worked together for years and have there own rhythm.

This is an episode I always skip on re-watches. It's one of those that makes me go, "Why are we wasting our time with this in the final season?!"

 

[Jan]

This is an episode I always skip on re-watches. It's one of those that makes me go, "Why are we wasting our time with this in the final season?!"

Simple - because there was no time in seasons three and four. And because it was something Harlan kept bugging about. For five whole years. What would you do?

Jan

 

[RoJoHen]

This is an episode I always skip on re-watches. It's one of those that makes me go, "Why are we wasting our time with this in the final season?!"

Simple - because there was no time in seasons three and four. And because it was something Harlan kept bugging about. For five whole years. What would you do?

Jan

Put it in Season 2.

 

[Distorted Humor]

This is an episode I always skip on re-watches. It's one of those that makes me go, "Why are we wasting our time with this in the final season?!"

Simple - because there was no time in seasons three and four. And because it was something Harlan kept bugging about. For five whole years. What would you do?

Jan

Put it in Season 2.

wouldn't that be too close to "And now for a word"?

 

[RoJoHen]

I would get rid of all those episodes, honestly.

 

[Reverend]

I always rather enjoyed 'A View From The Gallery' myself, but then I often have a bit of soft spot for the off-format episodes. Not sure why exactly. Perhaps they help expand the fictional universe by showing things from a different perspective, that other stuff happens outside the main plot and that the universe doesn't cease to be the second the main characters are out of frame.

As for placing something like this in season 5, I think it's a completely valid decision to pause a little to tell other side stories that expand the characters and/or the universe before ramping up to the next big crisis. I mean let's bear in mind that at this point the show has been almost 100% arc related since 'Messages From Earth' all the way through to 'Endgame'.

 

[David cgc]

This is an episode I always skip on re-watches. It's one of those that makes me go, "Why are we wasting our time with this in the final season?!"

Of all the things you can say about season five, I don't think "Didn't have the time to spare" is one of them.

 

[Mr Light]

The only good thing about "Gallery" is that it's the only episode in the first 2/3 of Season Five to have any

Spoiler

space action whatsoever in it.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Quick question on the food, the spoo or whatever the one guy ate...is 10 credits a ounce expensive or dirt cheep?

 

[OmahaStar]

Quick question on the food, the spoo or whatever the one guy ate...is 10 credits a ounce expensive or dirt cheep?

Cheap.

Remember spoo is sort of meat jell-o, which means it's extremely lightweight. Think of the difference between leaves of lettuce vs. meat. You get a whole lot more product with lettuce than with meat, as it doesn't weigh as much. That 10 credits could buy you a whole week's worth of food, if you could stomach it.

And I believe it was an early second season episode that had somebody renting a room, and it was 500 credits for a one-week rental.