The name was very well chosen, and the actors lean into it to give more texture to the dialogue.
Spoilers Deep Space Nine vs. Babylon 5: The Midpoint
- Thread starter Lord Garth
- Start date
I'm so glad that they went with the name Defiant instead of the Valiant. Thank you, Voyager, and thank you to TPTB for not wanting two new ships with a V-name.
I'll pick up with the rest of the comparisons this weekend.
I'll pick up with the rest of the comparisons this weekend.
I’ve always suspected that the real or perceived competition between the two shows at the time almost certainly made both of them strive even harder and be even better than they otherwise would have.
Themes (Continued)
Picking up where I left off with the list of themes to go over. I covered politics a little bit in the previous categories, but I'll focus on it front-line-and-center here. Then everything else I didn't get to before.
Politics
It's interesting look at both of these shows, considering they were made Post-Cold War & Pre-9/11. Without a direct parallel to then-present-day, which would've made things a lot less interesting, DS9 and B5 both created their own political landscapes.
There's only a surface level look at Federation politics on Deep Space Nine, with Bajoran politics taking a greater focus until emphasis was taken off of them. We know who was running for Kai, we know who we're rooting for or why we're rooting against them. The sacrifice Vedek Bariel made is clear, leading to Winn becoming Kai. And I'm grateful First Minister Shakaar is a check on Winn's power. We can also directly compare Winn to her predecessor, Opaka.
All I know about Jaresh-Inyo is that he was the wrong President for the Federation as the times were changing. Federation Negotiations and Alliances receive greater focus. We don't see the actual negotiations between the Federation and the Cardassians that led to the Demilitarized Zone, but we do see the fall-out and how it affects those in the Demilitarized Zone. Beyond that, there's the falling apart of the alliance with the Klingons. Negotiating with the Romulans to be able to use the cloaking device on the Defiant. Anything that makes a big splash, we find out about. The more nuts-and-bolts mechanics, getting into the weeds, we really don't.
Like the Bajorans, the Cardassians are another power that I have a better sense of the politics of than the Federation. The Detapa Council, Central Command, and the Obsidian Order. Three different branches with tensions and power shifts between them. Then there's the Cardassian legal system, where no trial is about proving innocence or guilt, but getting the accused to accept why they're guilty. The series also looks at Dukat's standing within the Cardassian government and how such standing descends until he's pushed into fighting the Klingons on his own.
Babylon 5 takes a slow-burn approach when looking at Earth politics. We get information revealed bit by bit until it adds up to something more. President Santiago wanted to keep the peace, and build strong relations with Mars, but also wanted to prevent further alien influences on Earth. Santiago sounded like the type of politician who wanted to keep his coalition happy, serve different special interest groups, and preserve Earth culture. From this description, Santiago strikes me as being center-right. Clark, on the other hand, is far more extreme. He has Santiago assassinated so he can rise to power, declares Martial Law, attacks Mars, I'm going to assume he wants to preserve Earth culture to an even greater extreme, and he's working with Morden. So, Earth went from a relatively moderate government to a fascist one in less than two years. This sounds far more realistic than I would like. It also serves to show that we get to see far more about Earth politics in B5 than on DS9. Right down to the news service. B5 has ICN. I have no idea what any of the news sources are on DS9.
Next are the powershifts within the Minbari. The Gray Council, as established by Valen 1,000 years ago, is their ruling body. Nine members: three from the Religious Caste, three from the Warrior Caste, and three from the Worker Caste. When the power balance shifted to four from the Warrior Caste and only two from the Religious Caste, it made me worried about how the Minbari would side on different galactic issues going forward, because I know how bullish Neroon can be. If the Warrior-Minbari didn't hate Earth so much, I could see Neroon and Clark becoming fast friends. But that would never happen. This hasn't been depicted in B5 up to this point but, in general, I imagine the Worker Caste being the swing votes in the Gray Council. Much like how the Rust Belt has now become a swing vote in the United States.
Power within the Centauri government is something I'm still trying to keep straight but there's an Emperor with several deferring nobilities underneath with differing levels of power and influence. Lord Refa is in a high position. Londo is in an even higher position, beyond just Ambassador to Babylon 5, thanks to Morden. My guess is that JMS was influenced by Ancient Rome. The Centauri want to be friends to anyone they like or see as beneficial and want to subjugate anyone they don't. One thing the Centauri have in common with the Cardassians, besides occupying planets, is that they want to totally and completely break the will of their enemies. Defeating them isn't enough.
The Narn show one way the Bajorans could've gone after the Occuption but didn't. The Narn were a militaristic and authoritarian body ruled by the Kha'Ri, who are then overthrown by the Cenaturi. Now Ta'Lon, who was appointed by the Centauri, is a Narn Ambassador who across to me like a puppet. It'll be interesting to see what type of Narn government forms if they/when they regain their independence.
Things are still in a state-of-flux within the larger universe of Babylon 5 but, in the middle of the series, it looks like an independent coalition is starting to form against the Shadows versus anyone who's in their pocket.
The level of politics on Babylon 5 seems to be growing, while the politics on Deep Space Nine are moving more into the background and are brought to the forefront more when there are power shifts in the Quadrant.
Leaving it here for now. Still not done with the politics, the more I think about it. To be continued.
Picking up where I left off with the list of themes to go over. I covered politics a little bit in the previous categories, but I'll focus on it front-line-and-center here. Then everything else I didn't get to before.
Politics
It's interesting look at both of these shows, considering they were made Post-Cold War & Pre-9/11. Without a direct parallel to then-present-day, which would've made things a lot less interesting, DS9 and B5 both created their own political landscapes.
There's only a surface level look at Federation politics on Deep Space Nine, with Bajoran politics taking a greater focus until emphasis was taken off of them. We know who was running for Kai, we know who we're rooting for or why we're rooting against them. The sacrifice Vedek Bariel made is clear, leading to Winn becoming Kai. And I'm grateful First Minister Shakaar is a check on Winn's power. We can also directly compare Winn to her predecessor, Opaka.
All I know about Jaresh-Inyo is that he was the wrong President for the Federation as the times were changing. Federation Negotiations and Alliances receive greater focus. We don't see the actual negotiations between the Federation and the Cardassians that led to the Demilitarized Zone, but we do see the fall-out and how it affects those in the Demilitarized Zone. Beyond that, there's the falling apart of the alliance with the Klingons. Negotiating with the Romulans to be able to use the cloaking device on the Defiant. Anything that makes a big splash, we find out about. The more nuts-and-bolts mechanics, getting into the weeds, we really don't.
Like the Bajorans, the Cardassians are another power that I have a better sense of the politics of than the Federation. The Detapa Council, Central Command, and the Obsidian Order. Three different branches with tensions and power shifts between them. Then there's the Cardassian legal system, where no trial is about proving innocence or guilt, but getting the accused to accept why they're guilty. The series also looks at Dukat's standing within the Cardassian government and how such standing descends until he's pushed into fighting the Klingons on his own.
Babylon 5 takes a slow-burn approach when looking at Earth politics. We get information revealed bit by bit until it adds up to something more. President Santiago wanted to keep the peace, and build strong relations with Mars, but also wanted to prevent further alien influences on Earth. Santiago sounded like the type of politician who wanted to keep his coalition happy, serve different special interest groups, and preserve Earth culture. From this description, Santiago strikes me as being center-right. Clark, on the other hand, is far more extreme. He has Santiago assassinated so he can rise to power, declares Martial Law, attacks Mars, I'm going to assume he wants to preserve Earth culture to an even greater extreme, and he's working with Morden. So, Earth went from a relatively moderate government to a fascist one in less than two years. This sounds far more realistic than I would like. It also serves to show that we get to see far more about Earth politics in B5 than on DS9. Right down to the news service. B5 has ICN. I have no idea what any of the news sources are on DS9.
Next are the powershifts within the Minbari. The Gray Council, as established by Valen 1,000 years ago, is their ruling body. Nine members: three from the Religious Caste, three from the Warrior Caste, and three from the Worker Caste. When the power balance shifted to four from the Warrior Caste and only two from the Religious Caste, it made me worried about how the Minbari would side on different galactic issues going forward, because I know how bullish Neroon can be. If the Warrior-Minbari didn't hate Earth so much, I could see Neroon and Clark becoming fast friends. But that would never happen. This hasn't been depicted in B5 up to this point but, in general, I imagine the Worker Caste being the swing votes in the Gray Council. Much like how the Rust Belt has now become a swing vote in the United States.
Power within the Centauri government is something I'm still trying to keep straight but there's an Emperor with several deferring nobilities underneath with differing levels of power and influence. Lord Refa is in a high position. Londo is in an even higher position, beyond just Ambassador to Babylon 5, thanks to Morden. My guess is that JMS was influenced by Ancient Rome. The Centauri want to be friends to anyone they like or see as beneficial and want to subjugate anyone they don't. One thing the Centauri have in common with the Cardassians, besides occupying planets, is that they want to totally and completely break the will of their enemies. Defeating them isn't enough.
The Narn show one way the Bajorans could've gone after the Occuption but didn't. The Narn were a militaristic and authoritarian body ruled by the Kha'Ri, who are then overthrown by the Cenaturi. Now Ta'Lon, who was appointed by the Centauri, is a Narn Ambassador who across to me like a puppet. It'll be interesting to see what type of Narn government forms if they/when they regain their independence.
Things are still in a state-of-flux within the larger universe of Babylon 5 but, in the middle of the series, it looks like an independent coalition is starting to form against the Shadows versus anyone who's in their pocket.
The level of politics on Babylon 5 seems to be growing, while the politics on Deep Space Nine are moving more into the background and are brought to the forefront more when there are power shifts in the Quadrant.
Leaving it here for now. Still not done with the politics, the more I think about it. To be continued.
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That's always been a problem with Babylon 5 ships for me.
If they're not the human designed ships, or Centauri ships, they're difficult to recognize.
Star Trek's ship designs are on point.
But, let's make this interesting.
The Shadows from B5 vs. GigaShadow.
If they're not the human designed ships, or Centauri ships, they're difficult to recognize.
Star Trek's ship designs are on point.
But, let's make this interesting.
The Shadows from B5 vs. GigaShadow.
That's yo way yo outside of the experiences of most people in this forum.
...Mack? Is that you? Where's Bo at, you got maintenance to do...
- Bo: "Sure looks pretty."
- Mack: "You think? Eh, I always thought they looked like plucked chickens."
- Bo: "What?"
- Mack: "Hey look, it's not my fault they were designed that way."
While LEXX was a very unique show, comparing any aspect of that series to B5 is just... wrong.
BABYLON 5 is most certainly the far superior show.
Spealing of alien ships from B5, I really like how they are all very different from each other. Even the secondary races have ships that are unique. There are many instances where races from one off appearances in STAR TREK look just like others, only with a slightly different fin and color.
I haven't seen Lexx. It strikes me as something to watch if someone's in a silly mood. That's the sense I get.
Picking up where I left off with the politics. There was one thing I left out.
Even though the Maquis were created for VOY, DS9 (and TNG) took the concept of developing the Maquis and ran with it. The Maquis are members of the Federation (although Dorvan V renouncing Federation membership makes this murky) fighting to protect their homelands from the Cardassians in the Demilitarized Zone. Starfleet has been tasked with stopping the Maqus from taking matters into their own hands against the Cardassians. Sisko isn't on the side of the Maquis.
On B5, the Rangers are made up of citizens of various worlds, including Earth, who are training to fight the Shadows. They're acting independently. Earth would be against what the Rangers are doing. Sheridan is on the side of the Raiders.
Not really any similarities between the Rangers and the Maquis other than taking matters into their own hands and being on the opposite side of Earth or the Federation.
That wraps up the politics. Onto...
Humanity
Star Trek has an ongoing back-and-forth argument within itself over whether or not Humanity has changed or evolved. Deep Space Nine takes the stance that Humanity believes that it's evolved, and often looks like it's evolved, but Human Nature hasn't really changed and will always come to the surface under the right (or should I say wrong?) circumstances. Babylon 5 doesn't bother with any of that. Humanity in B5's time is the same as Humanity during Present Day. All that's changed is the technology and they're dealing with alien races now. But Humans are just as flawed as ever, and no one tries to pretend otherwise.
That was actually a quick one.
Social Issues
Deep Space Nine has addressed the subjects of war criminals, gambling, terrorism, teaching faith vs. science in school, sexism, child custody, justice, drug addiction, poverty, medical ethics, unions, and other things I'm probably leaving out. Babylon 5 has covered several of these as well except for anything involving schools or child custody. On the flip side, what Babylon 5 has covered that DS9 hasn't is the death penalty.
DS9 and B5 both dangle same-sex relationships in front of us, but DS9 has a same-sex kiss while B5 doesn't. Although on B5 it would've been Ivanova and Delenn being attracted to each other without qualification, while Dax and Kahn are same-sex now but used to be opposite genders when they were first in love.
B5 makes a main character a drug addict (Franklin) and it's a storyline that's not going away, while DS9 has a recurring character who's a drug addict (Garak) and that problem is dealt with in the same episode it's introduced. I'm not going to include the Jem'Hadar because there were no regular or recurring Jem'Hadar on DS9, nor have we been made to care about any of them.
Unless something jumps out to me later on, that's it for Themes.
Next up, the final part (besides the numbers): comparing the stations themselves to each other.
.
.
.
BTW, this is a good spot for me to mention I've ordered Babylon 5 on DVD. Not a typo. DVD, not Blu-Ray. No, it's not the way I normally do things when I have a choice, but I'm making an exception in this case because I want the wide-screen version, along with all the extras that didn't make it to the Blu-Rays. Including the Episode Commentaries, when it's safe for me to watch them. But anyway, at least one more similarity between DS9 and B5 is that now I'll have both of them on DVD!
I'd go for LaserDisc but, unfortunately, I'm not that hipster.
Picking up where I left off with the politics. There was one thing I left out.
Even though the Maquis were created for VOY, DS9 (and TNG) took the concept of developing the Maquis and ran with it. The Maquis are members of the Federation (although Dorvan V renouncing Federation membership makes this murky) fighting to protect their homelands from the Cardassians in the Demilitarized Zone. Starfleet has been tasked with stopping the Maqus from taking matters into their own hands against the Cardassians. Sisko isn't on the side of the Maquis.
On B5, the Rangers are made up of citizens of various worlds, including Earth, who are training to fight the Shadows. They're acting independently. Earth would be against what the Rangers are doing. Sheridan is on the side of the Raiders.
Not really any similarities between the Rangers and the Maquis other than taking matters into their own hands and being on the opposite side of Earth or the Federation.
That wraps up the politics. Onto...
Humanity
Star Trek has an ongoing back-and-forth argument within itself over whether or not Humanity has changed or evolved. Deep Space Nine takes the stance that Humanity believes that it's evolved, and often looks like it's evolved, but Human Nature hasn't really changed and will always come to the surface under the right (or should I say wrong?) circumstances. Babylon 5 doesn't bother with any of that. Humanity in B5's time is the same as Humanity during Present Day. All that's changed is the technology and they're dealing with alien races now. But Humans are just as flawed as ever, and no one tries to pretend otherwise.
That was actually a quick one.
Social Issues
Deep Space Nine has addressed the subjects of war criminals, gambling, terrorism, teaching faith vs. science in school, sexism, child custody, justice, drug addiction, poverty, medical ethics, unions, and other things I'm probably leaving out. Babylon 5 has covered several of these as well except for anything involving schools or child custody. On the flip side, what Babylon 5 has covered that DS9 hasn't is the death penalty.
DS9 and B5 both dangle same-sex relationships in front of us, but DS9 has a same-sex kiss while B5 doesn't. Although on B5 it would've been Ivanova and Delenn being attracted to each other without qualification, while Dax and Kahn are same-sex now but used to be opposite genders when they were first in love.
B5 makes a main character a drug addict (Franklin) and it's a storyline that's not going away, while DS9 has a recurring character who's a drug addict (Garak) and that problem is dealt with in the same episode it's introduced. I'm not going to include the Jem'Hadar because there were no regular or recurring Jem'Hadar on DS9, nor have we been made to care about any of them.
Unless something jumps out to me later on, that's it for Themes.
Next up, the final part (besides the numbers): comparing the stations themselves to each other.
.
.
.
BTW, this is a good spot for me to mention I've ordered Babylon 5 on DVD. Not a typo. DVD, not Blu-Ray. No, it's not the way I normally do things when I have a choice, but I'm making an exception in this case because I want the wide-screen version, along with all the extras that didn't make it to the Blu-Rays. Including the Episode Commentaries, when it's safe for me to watch them. But anyway, at least one more similarity between DS9 and B5 is that now I'll have both of them on DVD!
I'd go for LaserDisc but, unfortunately, I'm not that hipster.
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I assume few people would claim otherwise. However, Lexx was a unique show, whose universe(s) featured a strange logic vastly different from both Star Trek and Babylon 5. The sexuality was over the top, and the recurrences of similar characters border on the absurd. At times, they could hit upon clever devices, like the Heaven and Hell planets. Indeed, showing a universe that is suffused with life, whereas as our own is dark and relatively lifeless, is compelling. The comparison shows just how much more similar Star Trek and B5 were (and to the point I often make, that JMS took Star Trek as his starting point).
Time for me to wrap most of this up. On my end, anyway.
The Defiant vs. The White Star
I was beaten to the punch with my Defiant vs. White Star comparisons, but I already said a lot of what I wanted to say. The biggest difference between the White Star and the Defiant, to my eyes, is how much more spacious the White Star is than the Defiant. Because of it seeming like a much larger and more advanced ship, I always get the sense that the White Star has less to prove. I'm not worried when the White Star goes into battle. The Defiant, on the other hand, is this dinky little ship. "Tough little ship." "Little?" And it can barely contain its own firepower. Beyond that, I haven't really seen the White Star in too much action yet. The Defiant can really move around. It's very maneuverable. Unless my memory's playing tricks on me, I don't remember the White Star moving around nearly that much. It just shows up, goes into battle, does its impressive thing, and that's it.
That's it for ships for me. I'm not much of a ship person. I have my favorite Enterprise (the A), my least favorite (the F), and where does the Defiant fit in all of this? I like the Defiant. It's not my absolute favorite, but I've always liked it. It's in my top quarter of favorite Starfleet ships, I'd say. What about the White Star? I don't really have any favorite or least favorite Babylon 5 ships, but I do like the White Star.
Onto the space stations...
Deep Space Nine vs. Babylon 5: The Space Stations Themselves
One thing I really appreciated about Deep Space Nine was that it wasn't a brand-new space station. It had some history behind it as Terok Nor. It was a Cardassian station that was appropriated by Bajor and administrated by Starfleet. Quite an interesting combination right there already. With several merchants and residents that aren't Bajoran, aren't in Starfleet, and aren't even Federaton citizens. All Sisko has to do is step outside his quarters, and he's dealing with people not in Starfleet on a regular basis. There's a whole community.
Babylon 5 has the idea that it's a whole community and takes it a step further. It seems like a Big City in space. So big there's even transit within the station itself. One thing that always caught my eye, that we don't see on Deep Space Nine, is that Babylon 5 has entire areas within its city in space where there are residents who don't breathe oxygen. Star Trek has stuck to aliens who can breathe oxygen the vast majority of the time, and it's nice to see Babylon 5 do something different from that, even though it's not feasible to do this too much. The Minbari, Centauri, and Narn all breath oxygen, just like Humans do.
While a lot of the Bajoran Politics happen off of Deep Space Nine itself, Ambassadors come together all the time on Babylon 5 and there are municipal "city" meetings (for lack of a better term) that take place on Babylon 5 on a regular basis. Those types of meetings allow us to see the political mechanizations unfold rather than just hearing about them. It allows for more opportunities for commoners to speak to Sheridan. Not that there haven't been commoner Bajorans who've approached Sisko as well, just not necessarily in official meetings.
Deep Space Nine may have a lot of crime, but Babylon 5 has an entire ghetto Downbelow that would make Odo's blood boil if he had any. Odo likes order, he wants the station safe and efficient. He'd probably be horrified that Garibaldi doesn't have a tighter grip over station security. A crossover between the two of them would be comic gold.
That's all that's really coming to mind when comparing the stations.
Model Work vs. CGI
I've always preferred Model Work, so DS9 gets my vote here, but I have to say that B5 pulls off its CGI models and CGI in general really well for a show that came out in the '90s and had a more limited budget than Star Trek.
Now we're at the end. That means running through the numbers. I'll save that for another post.
The Defiant vs. The White Star
I was beaten to the punch with my Defiant vs. White Star comparisons, but I already said a lot of what I wanted to say. The biggest difference between the White Star and the Defiant, to my eyes, is how much more spacious the White Star is than the Defiant. Because of it seeming like a much larger and more advanced ship, I always get the sense that the White Star has less to prove. I'm not worried when the White Star goes into battle. The Defiant, on the other hand, is this dinky little ship. "Tough little ship." "Little?" And it can barely contain its own firepower. Beyond that, I haven't really seen the White Star in too much action yet. The Defiant can really move around. It's very maneuverable. Unless my memory's playing tricks on me, I don't remember the White Star moving around nearly that much. It just shows up, goes into battle, does its impressive thing, and that's it.
That's it for ships for me. I'm not much of a ship person. I have my favorite Enterprise (the A), my least favorite (the F), and where does the Defiant fit in all of this? I like the Defiant. It's not my absolute favorite, but I've always liked it. It's in my top quarter of favorite Starfleet ships, I'd say. What about the White Star? I don't really have any favorite or least favorite Babylon 5 ships, but I do like the White Star.
Onto the space stations...
Deep Space Nine vs. Babylon 5: The Space Stations Themselves
One thing I really appreciated about Deep Space Nine was that it wasn't a brand-new space station. It had some history behind it as Terok Nor. It was a Cardassian station that was appropriated by Bajor and administrated by Starfleet. Quite an interesting combination right there already. With several merchants and residents that aren't Bajoran, aren't in Starfleet, and aren't even Federaton citizens. All Sisko has to do is step outside his quarters, and he's dealing with people not in Starfleet on a regular basis. There's a whole community.
Babylon 5 has the idea that it's a whole community and takes it a step further. It seems like a Big City in space. So big there's even transit within the station itself. One thing that always caught my eye, that we don't see on Deep Space Nine, is that Babylon 5 has entire areas within its city in space where there are residents who don't breathe oxygen. Star Trek has stuck to aliens who can breathe oxygen the vast majority of the time, and it's nice to see Babylon 5 do something different from that, even though it's not feasible to do this too much. The Minbari, Centauri, and Narn all breath oxygen, just like Humans do.
While a lot of the Bajoran Politics happen off of Deep Space Nine itself, Ambassadors come together all the time on Babylon 5 and there are municipal "city" meetings (for lack of a better term) that take place on Babylon 5 on a regular basis. Those types of meetings allow us to see the political mechanizations unfold rather than just hearing about them. It allows for more opportunities for commoners to speak to Sheridan. Not that there haven't been commoner Bajorans who've approached Sisko as well, just not necessarily in official meetings.
Deep Space Nine may have a lot of crime, but Babylon 5 has an entire ghetto Downbelow that would make Odo's blood boil if he had any. Odo likes order, he wants the station safe and efficient. He'd probably be horrified that Garibaldi doesn't have a tighter grip over station security. A crossover between the two of them would be comic gold.
That's all that's really coming to mind when comparing the stations.
Model Work vs. CGI
I've always preferred Model Work, so DS9 gets my vote here, but I have to say that B5 pulls off its CGI models and CGI in general really well for a show that came out in the '90s and had a more limited budget than Star Trek.
Now we're at the end. That means running through the numbers. I'll save that for another post.
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Uh-oh. I just ran through the numbers. For the entire first halves of each series, I give...
Deep Space Nine an 8.34
and
Babylon 5 an 8.37
... which means an ever-so-slight edge to B5!
Playing that up for dramatic effect. But let's get serious. The difference is within the margin of error, especially since I've already said I'd knock down some of the ratings I gave to some Babylon 5 Season 1 episodes now that I know the series better. So, when it's that close, it's essentially a tie.
My Deep Space Nine Ratings:
My Babylon 5 Ratings:
So, now it's official. I've finished my first serious Deep Space Nine versus Babylon 5 comparison. In a different reality, as a teenager in the late-'90s, I would've been telling people on Internet boards how I like both series. And in Lord Garth style. Which I'm sure would've made me some friends but also some enemies on both sides because I'd take it from both ends. Such as it is with the Internet, both then and now. But I'm glad I was finally able to do this for real.
Now it's back to regular episode reviews of DS9 and B5 here and VOY over in the VOY Forum. It's been a while, but I really wanted to be able do a DS9 vs. B5 Comparison. I'm dead certain I would've posted my thoughts comparing the two series in the '90s had I been watching both of them.
Deep Space Nine an 8.34
and
Babylon 5 an 8.37
... which means an ever-so-slight edge to B5!
Playing that up for dramatic effect. But let's get serious. The difference is within the margin of error, especially since I've already said I'd knock down some of the ratings I gave to some Babylon 5 Season 1 episodes now that I know the series better. So, when it's that close, it's essentially a tie.
My Deep Space Nine Ratings:
"Emissary" --> 10 (counts twice)
"A Man Alone" --> 7
"Past Prologue" --> 8
"Babel" --> 6
"Captive Pursuit" --> 7
"Q-Less" --> 5
"Dax" --> 10
"The Passenger" --> 7
"Move Along Home" --> 7
"The Nagus" --> 9
"Vortex" --> 6
"Battle Lines" --> 8
"The Storyteller" --> 7
"Progress" --> 7
"If Wishes Were Horses" --> 7
"The Forsaken" --> 8
"Dramatis Personae" --> 8
"Duet" --> 10
"In the Hands of the Prophets" --> 10
"The Homecoming" --> 9
"The Circle" --> 9
"The Siege" --> 8
"Invasive Procedures" --> 7
"Cardassians" --> 8
"Melora" --> 8
"Rules of Acquisition" --> 8
"Necessary Evil" --> 10
"Second Sight" --> 6.5
"Sanctuary" --> 7
"Rivals" --> 6
"The Alternate" --> 7
"Armageddon Game" --> 7.5
"Whispers" --> 10
"Paradise" --> 8
"Shadowplay" --> 7.5
"Playing God" --> 7
"Profit and Loss" --> 8
"Blood Oath" --> 10
"The Maquis, Part I" --> 10
"The Maquis, Part II" --> 10
"The Wire" --> 10
"Crossover" --> 8
"The Collaborator" --> 10
"Tribunal" --> 9
"The Jem'Hadar" --> 10
"The Search, Part I" --> 9
"The Search, Part II" --> 9
"The House of Quark" --> 10
"Equilibrium" --> 7
"Second Skin" --> 9
"The Abandoned" --> 7
"Civil Defense" --> 10
"Meridian" --> 8
"Defiant" --> 9
"Fascination" --> 3
"Past Tense, Part I" --> 10
"Past Tense, Part II" --> 10
"Life Support" --> 7
"Heart of Stone" --> 8
"Destiny" --> 8
"Prophet Motive" --> 8
"Visionary" --> 8
"Distant Voices" --> 6
"Through the Looking Glass" --> 9
"Improbable Cause" --> 9
"The Die is Cast" --> 10
"Explorers" --> 9
"Family Business" --> 7
"Shakaar" --> 8.5
"Facets" --> 8
"The Adversary" --> 10
"The Way of the Warrior" --> 10 (counts twice)
"The Visitor" -> 10
"Hippocratic Oath" --> 7
"Indiscretion" --> 9
"Rejoined" --> 10
"Starship Down" --> 8
"Little Green Men" --> 9
"The Sword of Kahless" --> 10
"Our Man Bashir" --> 9
"Homefront" --> 9
"Paradise Lost" --> 10
"Crossfire" --> 6
"Return to Grace" --> 9
"Sons of Mogh" --> 9
"Bar Association" --> 8
734/88 = 8.340 --> 8.34
"A Man Alone" --> 7
"Past Prologue" --> 8
"Babel" --> 6
"Captive Pursuit" --> 7
"Q-Less" --> 5
"Dax" --> 10
"The Passenger" --> 7
"Move Along Home" --> 7
"The Nagus" --> 9
"Vortex" --> 6
"Battle Lines" --> 8
"The Storyteller" --> 7
"Progress" --> 7
"If Wishes Were Horses" --> 7
"The Forsaken" --> 8
"Dramatis Personae" --> 8
"Duet" --> 10
"In the Hands of the Prophets" --> 10
"The Homecoming" --> 9
"The Circle" --> 9
"The Siege" --> 8
"Invasive Procedures" --> 7
"Cardassians" --> 8
"Melora" --> 8
"Rules of Acquisition" --> 8
"Necessary Evil" --> 10
"Second Sight" --> 6.5
"Sanctuary" --> 7
"Rivals" --> 6
"The Alternate" --> 7
"Armageddon Game" --> 7.5
"Whispers" --> 10
"Paradise" --> 8
"Shadowplay" --> 7.5
"Playing God" --> 7
"Profit and Loss" --> 8
"Blood Oath" --> 10
"The Maquis, Part I" --> 10
"The Maquis, Part II" --> 10
"The Wire" --> 10
"Crossover" --> 8
"The Collaborator" --> 10
"Tribunal" --> 9
"The Jem'Hadar" --> 10
"The Search, Part I" --> 9
"The Search, Part II" --> 9
"The House of Quark" --> 10
"Equilibrium" --> 7
"Second Skin" --> 9
"The Abandoned" --> 7
"Civil Defense" --> 10
"Meridian" --> 8
"Defiant" --> 9
"Fascination" --> 3
"Past Tense, Part I" --> 10
"Past Tense, Part II" --> 10
"Life Support" --> 7
"Heart of Stone" --> 8
"Destiny" --> 8
"Prophet Motive" --> 8
"Visionary" --> 8
"Distant Voices" --> 6
"Through the Looking Glass" --> 9
"Improbable Cause" --> 9
"The Die is Cast" --> 10
"Explorers" --> 9
"Family Business" --> 7
"Shakaar" --> 8.5
"Facets" --> 8
"The Adversary" --> 10
"The Way of the Warrior" --> 10 (counts twice)
"The Visitor" -> 10
"Hippocratic Oath" --> 7
"Indiscretion" --> 9
"Rejoined" --> 10
"Starship Down" --> 8
"Little Green Men" --> 9
"The Sword of Kahless" --> 10
"Our Man Bashir" --> 9
"Homefront" --> 9
"Paradise Lost" --> 10
"Crossfire" --> 6
"Return to Grace" --> 9
"Sons of Mogh" --> 9
"Bar Association" --> 8
734/88 = 8.340 --> 8.34
My Babylon 5 Ratings:
"The Gathering" (counts twice) --> 7
"Midnight on the Firing Line" --> 7
"Soul Hunter" --> 6
"Born to the Purple" --> 8
"Infection" --> 4
"The Parliament of Dreams" --> 8
"Mind War" --> 9
"The War Prayer" --> 8
"And the Sky Full of Stars" --> 10
"Deathwalker" --> 8
"Believers" --> 10
"Survivors" --> 9
"By Any Means Necessary" --> 8
"Signs and Portents" --> 8
"TKO" --> 7
"Grail" --> 8
"Eyes" --> 10
"Legacies" --> 8
"A Voice in the Wilderness, Part I" --> 7
"A Voice in the Wilderness, Part II" --> 8
"Babylon Squared" --> 7
"The Quality of Mercy" --> 8
"Chrysalis" --> 10
"Points of Departure" --> 7
"Revelations" --> 8
"Geometry of Shadows" --> 10
"A Distant Star" --> 7
"The Long Dark" --> 6
"Spider in the Web" --> 7
"A Race Through Dark Places" --> 7
"Soul Mates" --> 6
"The Coming of Shadows" --> 10
"GROPOS" --> 8
"All Alone in the Night" --> 9
"Acts of Sacrifice" --> 8
"Hunter, Prey" --> 8
"And Now for a Word" --> 10
"There All the Honor Lies" --> 7
"Knives" --> 7
"In the Shadow of Z'ha'Dum" --> 10
"Confessions and Lamentations" --> 8
"The Long, Twilight Struggle" --> 10
"Divided Loyalties" --> 8
"Comes the Inquisitor" --> 7.5
"The Fall of Night" --> 9
"Matters of Honor" --> 8
"Convictions" --> 7
"A Day in the Strife" --> 10
"Passing Through Gethamane" --> 8
"Voices of Authority" --> 8
"Dust to Dust" --> 10
"Exogenesis" --> 2
"Messages from Earth" --> 9
"Point of No Return" --> 10
"Severed Dreams" --> 10
"Ceremonies of Light and Dark" --> 7.5
477/57 = 8.368 --> 8.37
"Midnight on the Firing Line" --> 7
"Soul Hunter" --> 6
"Born to the Purple" --> 8
"Infection" --> 4
"The Parliament of Dreams" --> 8
"Mind War" --> 9
"The War Prayer" --> 8
"And the Sky Full of Stars" --> 10
"Deathwalker" --> 8
"Believers" --> 10
"Survivors" --> 9
"By Any Means Necessary" --> 8
"Signs and Portents" --> 8
"TKO" --> 7
"Grail" --> 8
"Eyes" --> 10
"Legacies" --> 8
"A Voice in the Wilderness, Part I" --> 7
"A Voice in the Wilderness, Part II" --> 8
"Babylon Squared" --> 7
"The Quality of Mercy" --> 8
"Chrysalis" --> 10
"Points of Departure" --> 7
"Revelations" --> 8
"Geometry of Shadows" --> 10
"A Distant Star" --> 7
"The Long Dark" --> 6
"Spider in the Web" --> 7
"A Race Through Dark Places" --> 7
"Soul Mates" --> 6
"The Coming of Shadows" --> 10
"GROPOS" --> 8
"All Alone in the Night" --> 9
"Acts of Sacrifice" --> 8
"Hunter, Prey" --> 8
"And Now for a Word" --> 10
"There All the Honor Lies" --> 7
"Knives" --> 7
"In the Shadow of Z'ha'Dum" --> 10
"Confessions and Lamentations" --> 8
"The Long, Twilight Struggle" --> 10
"Divided Loyalties" --> 8
"Comes the Inquisitor" --> 7.5
"The Fall of Night" --> 9
"Matters of Honor" --> 8
"Convictions" --> 7
"A Day in the Strife" --> 10
"Passing Through Gethamane" --> 8
"Voices of Authority" --> 8
"Dust to Dust" --> 10
"Exogenesis" --> 2
"Messages from Earth" --> 9
"Point of No Return" --> 10
"Severed Dreams" --> 10
"Ceremonies of Light and Dark" --> 7.5
477/57 = 8.368 --> 8.37
So, now it's official. I've finished my first serious Deep Space Nine versus Babylon 5 comparison. In a different reality, as a teenager in the late-'90s, I would've been telling people on Internet boards how I like both series. And in Lord Garth style. Which I'm sure would've made me some friends but also some enemies on both sides because I'd take it from both ends. Such as it is with the Internet, both then and now. But I'm glad I was finally able to do this for real.
Now it's back to regular episode reviews of DS9 and B5 here and VOY over in the VOY Forum. It's been a while, but I really wanted to be able do a DS9 vs. B5 Comparison. I'm dead certain I would've posted my thoughts comparing the two series in the '90s had I been watching both of them.
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Yes. Now is as good of a time to bring this up as any since I'm about to watch the first episode after "War Without End" tonight, and addressing this is unfinished business.
Sisko has a destiny to be with the Prophets and Sinclair has a destiny to become Valen. Sisko is revered by the Bajorans and Valen is revered by the Minbari. "In Valen's name!"
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