When the season started to get really exciting, but I'll save that thought for a few days from now.
Babylon 5
- Thread starter Kail
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He always reminded me of a Jedi.
Marcus > Zathras. But only just.
Another thing that stuck out for me as different on B5 compared to most other sci-fi dramas of the day is their use of practical sound and very little reliance on background sound effects. I'm sure it's another reflection on their lower budget, but given the crowds in some of the scenes it's no surprise. All too often in the Zocalo, C&C and so on, some character will enter the scene and walk by any number of extras looking like their talking, partying, or otherwise making noise... And yet you can clearly hear the main character talk, hear his shoes shuffle on the floor, and hear everyone ELSE make noises as they move their bodies - but nothing from their mouths despite looking like it. It's little things like that, that destroy the reality of the scene - on most other shows, you'd have the constant thrum of engines or air or people milling and talking in the background. Here, little.
Mark
Another thing that stuck out for me as different on B5 compared to most other sci-fi dramas of the day is their use of practical sound and very little reliance on background sound effects. I'm sure it's another reflection on their lower budget, but given the crowds in some of the scenes it's no surprise. All too often in the Zocalo, C&C and so on, some character will enter the scene and walk by any number of extras looking like their talking, partying, or otherwise making noise... And yet you can clearly hear the main character talk, hear his shoes shuffle on the floor, and hear everyone ELSE make noises as they move their bodies - but nothing from their mouths despite looking like it. It's little things like that, that destroy the reality of the scene - on most other shows, you'd have the constant thrum of engines or air or people milling and talking in the background. Here, little.
Mark
Marcus playing I Spy with Franklin is one of my favorite moments.
There's a lot of BABYLON 5 that feels like it escaped from LORD of THE RINGS.
Marcus > Zathras. But only just.
Another thing that stuck out for me as different on B5 compared to most other sci-fi dramas of the day is their use of practical sound and very little reliance on background sound effects. I'm sure it's another reflection on their lower budget, but given the crowds in some of the scenes it's no surprise. All too often in the Zocalo, C&C and so on, some character will enter the scene and walk by any number of extras looking like their talking, partying, or otherwise making noise... And yet you can clearly hear the main character talk, hear his shoes shuffle on the floor, and hear everyone ELSE make noises as they move their bodies - but nothing from their mouths despite looking like it. It's little things like that, that destroy the reality of the scene - on most other shows, you'd have the constant thrum of engines or air or people milling and talking in the background. Here, little.
Mark
Mark, don't misunderstand, I'm not being mean, but that is a seriously weak thing to destroy the "reality" of a quarter of a million Humans and Aliens living in a spinning tin can in space. If that came off nasty, I apologize.
You ain't seen nothing yet!
Indeed, where are you now?
There's an episode to make you late back to work!
Or quit.
Severed Dreams is without a doubt my favorite episode of Babylon 5.
Just a bit of trivia about "Messages From Earth": Garibaldi's perspective of that little incident on Mars was actually depicted in comic book form. He didn't elaborate in this episode but the "other person" he mentioned who had to walk out of the desert with him was Sinclair. That little adventure being pretty much how they first met.
The event in question was actually referenced before *way* back in the fourth episode of season one ("Infection"). The scene opens with Garibaldi finishing up relating the tale (presumably sans intrigue) with an ISN reporter, though you'd absolutely be forgiven for having missed it's significance: -
"...and after walking 50 miles, we finally made it out of the desert. Later when he was put in charge of Babylon 5, Commander Sinclair asked if I'd come work security. I said yes - it's been a great time."
I won't go into detail in case you ever want to seek out the old comics and novels, but that incident on Syria Planum is sort of a little plot nexus as various other sources reveal that two other very well known characters were present to witness what happened while a third went scratching around after the fact, having been intentionally kept away by certain parties...during which another somewhat significant incident happened with yet *another* well known character (which will be mentioned, though you won't recognise it when it happens) which sets them on a path that you've only begun to see at this stage.
It also had some pretty major consequences, some you've already seen, others will show up later while still more would have rippled all the way into 'Crusade' had it not been cut short.
The event in question was actually referenced before *way* back in the fourth episode of season one ("Infection"). The scene opens with Garibaldi finishing up relating the tale (presumably sans intrigue) with an ISN reporter, though you'd absolutely be forgiven for having missed it's significance: -
"...and after walking 50 miles, we finally made it out of the desert. Later when he was put in charge of Babylon 5, Commander Sinclair asked if I'd come work security. I said yes - it's been a great time."
I won't go into detail in case you ever want to seek out the old comics and novels, but that incident on Syria Planum is sort of a little plot nexus as various other sources reveal that two other very well known characters were present to witness what happened while a third went scratching around after the fact, having been intentionally kept away by certain parties...during which another somewhat significant incident happened with yet *another* well known character (which will be mentioned, though you won't recognise it when it happens) which sets them on a path that you've only begun to see at this stage.
It also had some pretty major consequences, some you've already seen, others will show up later while still more would have rippled all the way into 'Crusade' had it not been cut short.
"Well, we're in it now..."
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I never really believed that was entirely true. Season four seems like he made it up as he went along.
He did indeed have a binder with cards roughing out the plot for the full five years. Some fans however do tend to overstate the detail of those plans and often fail to mention that they were somewhat fluid because he also planned for the possibility that in the intervening five years he'd occasionally come up with a better idea. That means some of the plots were modular and could be switched out or rearranged if need be. Even the characters had so-called "trap doors" written in to prepare for the very real possibility that not all the actors would be willing or able to stick out the full five years.
We've already seen Talia's trap-door used; originally the was supposed to be "cured" of the control personality, thanks to Kosh's shenanigans back in 'Deathwalker'. Somewhat ironically, as I've mentioned before that part of her character arc was inherited when Takashima went down a somewhat more discrete "trap door" and now what's left of her arc is going to pass to another character.
Sinclair's is a bit more complicated since as one might imagine, being the lead character he was supposed to be around for the full five years. Bits of his plot have naturally been moved over to Sheridan, while other elements got significantly moved up. Again, I won't go into detail but there's a full account of Sinclair's actions after leaving to station in both comic and book form. The former depicts he recall to Earth by Clark and intrigue filled journey to Minbar (the warrior caste try to frame him for something IIRC) while the latter covers the entirety of his time as Ranger One. Including Sakai also joining the Rangers and indeed, Marcus's backstory.
The Garibaldi/Syria Planum story doesn't directly figure into all that as that's more to do with background he sketched out for each character during the extended early development period. I imagine had something better come up he could have quietly dropped the thread and have some other character tie-in if need be. For example: Franklin's note burning incident during the war would have served had this event been what convinced him Earthforce New Technologies were up-to no good.
P.S. I forgot to mention, there were both the A and B plots for ("'Infection") were foreshadowing this event (very sneaky.) The ISN interview I've already mentioned.
The other being the company that sponsored the dig that uncovered the Ikarran war-machine (Interplanetary Expeditions) also sponsored Dr. Kirkish's initial expedition on Syria Planum (more ties to deep plot there as those "rumours" she mentioned, had a very definite source.) You also haven't heard the last of IPX, or Earthforce Bio-Weapons Division.
We've already seen Talia's trap-door used; originally the was supposed to be "cured" of the control personality, thanks to Kosh's shenanigans back in 'Deathwalker'. Somewhat ironically, as I've mentioned before that part of her character arc was inherited when Takashima went down a somewhat more discrete "trap door" and now what's left of her arc is going to pass to another character.
Sinclair's is a bit more complicated since as one might imagine, being the lead character he was supposed to be around for the full five years. Bits of his plot have naturally been moved over to Sheridan, while other elements got significantly moved up. Again, I won't go into detail but there's a full account of Sinclair's actions after leaving to station in both comic and book form. The former depicts he recall to Earth by Clark and intrigue filled journey to Minbar (the warrior caste try to frame him for something IIRC) while the latter covers the entirety of his time as Ranger One. Including Sakai also joining the Rangers and indeed, Marcus's backstory.
The Garibaldi/Syria Planum story doesn't directly figure into all that as that's more to do with background he sketched out for each character during the extended early development period. I imagine had something better come up he could have quietly dropped the thread and have some other character tie-in if need be. For example: Franklin's note burning incident during the war would have served had this event been what convinced him Earthforce New Technologies were up-to no good.
P.S. I forgot to mention, there were both the A and B plots for ("'Infection") were foreshadowing this event (very sneaky.) The ISN interview I've already mentioned.
The other being the company that sponsored the dig that uncovered the Ikarran war-machine (Interplanetary Expeditions) also sponsored Dr. Kirkish's initial expedition on Syria Planum (more ties to deep plot there as those "rumours" she mentioned, had a very definite source.) You also haven't heard the last of IPX, or Earthforce Bio-Weapons Division.
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