I loved DS9, will I like...

[EEE]

Babylon 5? (I don't think this is off topic, as I'm specifically targeting the question to DS9 fans)

I've never seen more than a few minutes of Babylon 5 (it was aired when I couldn't even keep up with then-current Star Treks). I know it has a serious fan base, as I knew DS9 did.

Is it similar enough that a new DS9 fan would like it? Is it different enough that a new DS9 fan will like it?

 

[shapeshifter]

I think you'll like it too.

 

[Kegek]

Very likely. The strengths of the shows, and their formats, are very similar. Deep Space Nine is probably more akin to Babylon 5 then it is to any of the other Star Trek shows.

 

[Harvey]

I think you'd enjoy it, but you'd probably be much better asking this question in the thread pinned at the top of the page here.

About a year or so ago, I hadn't seen the series, but the group in that thread convinced me otherwise. Now I'm happy to own every piece of Babylon 5 on DVD--yes, that includes Legend of the Rangers.

 

[eastman23]

I did (of course, that doesn't mean anything ). The folks around here convinced me to give it a try, so I rented and watched the first season. The general agreement is that the first season is the weakest, but I still enjoyed it.

Now I have all five seasons and the movies sitting on my shelf.

If you're unsure about it, rent the first season if you can and give it a shot. A lot of the episodes are stand-alone (at least compared to later in the series), but after about halfway through, they start laying the foundations for what's coming.

 

[NKemp3]

EEE said:
Babylon 5? (I don't think this is off topic, as I'm specifically targeting the question to DS9 fans)

I've never seen more than a few minutes of Babylon 5 (it was aired when I couldn't even keep up with then-current Star Treks). I know it has a serious fan base, as I knew DS9 did.

Is it similar enough that a new DS9 fan would like it? Is it different enough that a new DS9 fan will like it?

You should love B5 just as much. Or nearly as much.

 

[Sisu]

The first season is the start of the avalanche....by then it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

 

[EEE]

This is far too weird. Went to my brothers for Thanksgiving this afternoon. Out of the complete blue, my brother gave me Babylon 5 Seasons 3-5 on DVD!

 

[Kegek]

Probably want to watch the first two seasons first. The first one is fairly weak, but has its moments (and the better commander), the second one is stronger and has an epic plot arc.

Plus jumping right into it at "A Matter of Honor" might be bewildering for the novitate. That's certainly when the series cranks things up, but the build-up is just as important as the bang.

 

[EEE]

In the other forum, I'm told to start with The Gathering, then the series, then the other movies. I had planned on at least getting the entire series and much prefer watching any series in order (which is also why I never took a second run at DS9 until I had all the DVD's *grin*). But I thought it almost a bit too coincidental that I was given 3 seasons in the afternoon after posting in the morning! Guess I'm committed? *grin*

 

[DonIago]

There may be minor spoilers here-

I had friends who were into B5 long before I was...every once in a while they'd put on an episode at their place and I'd just tune out completely...

...until I saw a Shadow ship when they were watching early Season 3.

Me (fully alert and drooling a bit)- WTF is that???!!!???

Them- That's a Shadow ship.

Me- That's cool. Show me more of those.


Sort of worked my way backwards and forwards from there. Sinclair never really caught on with me, and I still don't own S1 but have seen the pivotal episodes from that season. 2-5 and the movies I own, though I haven't rewatched most of...well, any of them except for In the Beginning thus far, though I'll rewatch Call to Arms at some point. Don't get me started on the butchering of Crusade (or the score) or Legend of the Rangers. If I want a tactile weapons system I'll watch Voy's Year of Hell again.

 

[Tralis]

I LOVE DS9.
I hate B5. I thought the characters were weak and the plot contrived and without dramatic payoff.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Well, EEE, glad you got the first three seasons! Please participate in the thread pinned to the top of the forum.

I'm a huge B5 fan, but I have brought in Neroon, who is one of the more knowledgeable people on B5 at TrekBBS to run that thread. I think alot of Niners have found B5 through that thread and this forum....and are happy they did!

Just remember - don't give up if you don't care for it at first. The first season is the worst...and it is really only good AFTER you see the entire show, because there is alot of foreshadowing of things to come in season 1.

Just be patient and give it some time. Season 3 is, IMO, the best season of any scifi show ever...and since you already have that season in your hands, I would recommend watching until the end of season 3. If you don't like it by then, you'll never like it.

But I doubt that'll happen.

 

[Kegek]

PKTrekGirl said:
Just be patient and give it some time. Season 3 is, IMO, the best season of any scifi show ever...

And if you only think that S3 is merely okay, don't worry. You're not alone.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I didn't like B5 as much as DS9 but it's definitely worth watching.

You should also check out the new BSG if you haven't already. It's like DS9, pushed further, although I don't think it ever lived up to the promise of its first season and overall DS9 is still better.

Farscape is also interesting - a wild, creative ride with fascinating characters but a great deal of variability in the quality of episodes.

If you want to expand your horizons into non-space-opera sf/f, try Lost, Heroes and Pushing Daisies.

 

[EEE]

Actually I received seasons 3-5, and so I'm on the hunt for used 1 & 2 + at least the Gathering, per recommendations in the proper forum.

New BSG? Absolutely love it. I guess I tend to like the stuff that is further removed from TOS, so as to stop comparisons that ruin a show for me.

Farscape? Never could get into that one (I think I may have a deepseated fear of muppets or something *grin*).

Lost/Heroes? Maybe after the series are done and on used DVD's. (I only watch one hour of "real" TV a week, and even that's hard to do after watching several series on DVD... continuity, commercial breaks when I want them that last just the right amount of time, cliff hangars aren't as irritating when you have the resolution on the same DVD, etc, etc).

 

[Sisu]

My advice is to watch Seasons 1-5 first, then watch the Gathering. Or at least watch 1-3 first. It will be so much better that way!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Yeah wait for Lost and Heroes on DVD. The only reason to watch em live is if the lure of participating in threads overrides the greater fun of seeing them as continuous stories.

Plus you can wait for the rest of us to tell you whether or not Lost was a big fat cheat all along, or made sense.