Babylon 5?

[Misfit Toy]

This thread is better suited to the Science Fiction and Fantasy forum, so I'm moving it over there, where an actual Minbari moderator can handle it...

 

[Pseudo]

The ending is highly underwhelming. The relationships among the aliens were far better written than the those between the humans, which sounded like a by the numbers cop show from the 80s. The sets looked like shit and the CG was lower budget than a Tom Baker Dr. Who episode.

The CGI was ground-breaking, literally. It doesn't stand up too well now, but it was the first time that a show used CGI to entirely replace model work in TV and the first major use of CGI sets. It doesn't look great now, but at the time it was revolutionary.

 

[RoJoHen]

I watched it for the first time about 2 years ago and have already rewatched the entire series 3 times since then. The first season is a bit rough (it's definitely watchable, just not that amazing), but after that it turns into one of the most exciting shows I've ever seen.

 

[Brent]

I have never watched this series because it looked extremly cheesy, is it any good, should I watch it?

The CGI looks cheesy compared to today's technology and ability, but the story is AMAZING. Look past the bad CGI, which for its time was awesome for a TV series, and watch the show. The first season takes a bit of building up, if you can get past it, you'll see how lots of things connect from it, and then it just keeps getting better and better till the end!

 

[Lindley]

Here's the opinion of someone who watched the pilot episode a while back and nothing else:

It's not great, but it's not bad. It's enjoyable, the characters play off one another very well (although some are better acted than others), and the universe it is set in has fascinating larger stories, which can be seen even from the pilot. I'm planning to watch more every once in a while, but not all at once. So if you want to be entertained for a little while without it being too serious, go ahead and watch it. I enjoyed it.
However, I didn't enjoy it as 'sci-fi' so much as an old detective show...that happened to be in space. A large portion of the dialog seemed to be made up of one liners, the villain (of the episode) was easily identifiable (especially for someone who's Genre Savvy), and it concludes with the main characters laughing off the events of the day with a rather lame joke. Now, now, Babylon 5 fans, don't crucify me, I really did enjoy it. Besides, my perspective is probably skewed because I only watched one episode.

Heh. And the pilot really isn't all that well-regarded, either. You'll probably like the rest of it given that reaction.

 

[RoJoHen]

^Agreed. I didn't even bother watching the pilot until I had seen the rest of the show. Hell, I didn't even know it existed until I had finished watching the show. The pilot really isn't all that important.

 

[Mal]

Here's an easy test to decide whether or not you should watch B5 (score each answer a 1 or 2, then add up your score):

Which was better, (1) DS9 or (2) TNG?
Which was better, (1) nBSG or (2) VOY?
Which was better, (1) Foundation Series or (2) Dune?
Which was better, (1) Angel or (2) Buffy
Which was better, (1) Star Wars (the original 3) or (2) X-men (the movies)
​

If you scored:
5 or 6 - then HELLS YEAH, watch B5
9 or 10 - then HELLS NO, DO NOT WATCH

If you scored 7 or 8, then you are borderline, but fear not, I have one last question which will help you decide whether or not to watch B5.

Bonus Round

Which was better, (a) Star Trek (The Original Series), or (b) Stargate-SG1.
​

If you picked (a) TOS, then watch B5 and enjoy!
If you picked (b) Stargate, then try something different.

I hope that helps!

Edit: I score a 6, and I love B5.

 

[TheGodBen]

I'm a recent convert (although I still have to watch season 5) and if you're interested in trying out the show then you should definitely give it a whirl. Just be warned that season 1 can be a struggle at the beginning, I tried watching it three years ago and only reached episode 4 before giving up, but once you get past the weak beginning the rest of the season isn't too bad. Season 2 is a substantial improvement and seasons 3 and 4 are fantastic. I do have some issues with the show, at times it tries too hard to be funny (although most of the time the humour works) and the show doesn't even bother to humanise some of the antagonists, but on the whole it is a very enjoyable watch.

Here's the opinion of someone who watched the pilot episode a while back and nothing else:

The pilot isn't representative of the series as a whole. For example, there's no gorilla bartender in the series.

the villain (of the episode) was easily identifiable (especially for someone who's Genre Savvy)

When I started watching the show someone told me something very important that I'm now going to relish relaying onto you: On this show, nothing is as it appears to be. And the person who told me that was... the villain from The Gathering.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Re: Concerning the JJ-verse novels

In "The Gathering", I loved how even then, in it's prototype stages, there are elements of the epic story. Watching it again after finishing the series I loved it when Kosh (who, for one night only, has arms) calls Sinclair "Valen". I also love how Delenn version 1 is totally unhinged and tortures G'Kar briefly when he mentions the Grey Counsel .

 

[OmahaStar]

When I started watching the show someone told me something very important that I'm now going to relish relaying onto you: On this show, nothing is as it appears to be. And the person who told me that was... the villain from The Gathering.

That's something I tell each person I start on the show. Every time I loan the dvds out, I give them that same warning. This isn't your standard "go nowhere" show. Every character, whether it's the lead or a background little guy, grows and changes. No one ends in the same place they started. And you get to experience it for the first time. What a treat.

 

[miraclefan]

Best Sci-Fi series EVAH!
In all seriousness, I loved it (had the Micro Machines, Action Figures, Comics, Models, Pewter gaming ships) The CG is dated & the sets are painfully dated (but then again isn't Star Treks? ) But if you can overlook all that it's a AWESOME series.

 

[T J]

I just ordered the Revell Babylon 5 space station model, can't wait to get my hands on it!

 

[miraclefan]

I just ordered the Revell Babylon 5 space station model, can't wait to get my hands on it!

I think you will enjoy it.
It was ahead of it's time in regards to including AZTEC decals so you could duplicate the CG look of the stations hull from the series.

 

[T J]

Very cool! It will be a challenge.

On another note... for years I tried to get my wife into B5 to no avail, she wanted nothing to do with it. Then recently I rewatched the series and she tagged along, guess she trusted me more at that point. She loved it. By the end she was crying her eyes out. I was so proud I was finally able to convert her.

 

[Harvey]

It's a series that can be truly great, but you have to be able to embrace it flaws and all. And, make no mistake, there are a lot of flaws. The acting is at times embarrassing (thankfully, this mostly comes from guest actors and not the regulars), the production values are low throughout (though there is significant improvement over the years), and the CGI was literally developed as the show was produced (it improves by leaps and bounds...but it can be off-putting for the first season or two).

Give the first season (and the pilot movie) a shot. It can be a slog, but there are important details throughout, and if "Babylon Squared" and "Chrysalis" don't make you a convert, then the show probably isn't for you.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

B5 is a strong show. But it is hampered by hammy and mediocre acting and bad dialogue, not to mention bouts of painfully unfunny "humor". However, the overall plot arc is so well plotted, even with various production changes, that it's hard not to admire it. There are some genuinely magnificent dramatic moments and fairly epic scope. Not perfect, but for a lower budgeted scifi show of the 90s, it aint bad.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Excellent Series. Great balance of science fiction, fantasy, politics, religion, action, adventure, romance, war, intrigue.... Let's just say there's something there for everybody.

 

[timelord1010]

Wait till you get to the end of season four and Ivanova's big speech before the battle, the hairs on my arms still stand up when I hear her say those lines. The writing is on the same level as the show Angel.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

B5 is the closest thing to a series of epic action sci-fi books turned into a t.v. series. I'm hard pressed to think of any other series that comes as close. NuBSG was too moody and alienless to qualify. All the Treks were too episodic, even DS9.

I could bash it for its shortcomings (I did recently say it was 60% crap and I stand by that). But, at least it wasn't reality t.v.

 

[Vonstadt]

An excellent show with an AMAZING story arc. Yes now the graphics look dated but some of the performances are simply moving at times. G'Kar speech about 'teaching' the Centuri a lesson as they had once before left everyone in my living room silent afterwards.

Actually G'Kar has a few such moments in the series

I would check it out, just stay through and it will snag ya!

Vons