J Michael Straczynski on Why Michael O'Hare left

[Snaploud]

Oh wow good on J. Michael Straczynski to offer him help with expenses and to seek treatment for his mental illness. That was very noble of him.

I never thought about purchasing the B5 DVD series, but now I'm thinking about it.

Think not. Buy.... There is no think!

Seriously, treat yourself. Stay with it thru the First Season (there are a few stinkers), and enjoy the story arc, and especially the characters. Back when it was first showing, the buzz of wondering where the story was going was intense here in the UK, kind of like "X-Files" was in the first few seasons.

Just bought the set on Amazon. $113.99 seems like a good deal for the entire 5 seasons

FYI: the pilot is not in that set. You can purchase it as part of the movies box set ($21.69 on amazon currently) or separately along with In the Beginning for $9.99.

The pilot is a bit different from the show itself, so some people recommend you skip it (at least, until you're hooked on the show). It's up to you.

Also, the movie In the Beginning is really great, but you may want to hold off on watching that for a few seasons (given the spoilers in it). The movie originally aired just before season five.

 

[Christopher]

There are two versions of the pilot, the original version with Stewart Copeland music and a later, revised version with Christopher Franke music and some new edits and effects. Personally I like the original cut better, particularly the music. So I'm wondering if they're both available on home video, or just the recut version.

 

[Snaploud]

^I've only ever seen the recut version on DVD.

FYI: there are sometimes issues with loose discs being scratched. You might want to take a look through the sets as soon as you receive them (just to check for any issues). I remember (when they first came out) flipping the sets back and forth in the store to make sure the set didn't contain a loose disc before making a purchase. Though, it's possible they fixed that problem.

Edit:

The special edition is included in the Warner Home Video DVD releases Babylon 5: The Gathering/In the Beginning and Babylon 5: The Movie Collection. The original version was previously available on AOL's now-defunct In2TV service, and Hulu, but is no longer available on either as of April 2014. The iTunes Store appears to carry the special edition as part of its Season 1 bundle, but not the original. The date listed is the original air date, but it opens with "TNT Presents a Special Edition of..." , and the run time is 1h35m.

The original version was released on DVD by Warner Home Video in Region 2 only.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5:_The_Gathering

 

[Christopher]

As it happens, I still have a copy of the original pilot version on VHS, though I don't know what condition it's in. I haven't been interested in rewatching it for a long time.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

There are two versions of the pilot, the original version with Stewart Copeland music and a later, revised version with Christopher Franke music and some new edits and effects. Personally I like the original cut better, particularly the music. So I'm wondering if they're both available on home video, or just the recut version.

^I've only ever seen the recut version on DVD.

FYI: there are sometimes issues with loose discs being scratched. You might want to take a look through the sets as soon as you receive them (just to check for any issues). I remember (when they first came out) flipping the sets back and forth in the store to make sure the set didn't contain a loose disc before making a purchase. Though, it's possible they fixed that problem.

Edit:

The special edition is included in the Warner Home Video DVD releases Babylon 5: The Gathering/In the Beginning and Babylon 5: The Movie Collection. The original version was previously available on AOL's now-defunct In2TV service, and Hulu, but is no longer available on either as of April 2014. The iTunes Store appears to carry the special edition as part of its Season 1 bundle, but not the original. The date listed is the original air date, but it opens with "TNT Presents a Special Edition of..." , and the run time is 1h35m.

The original version was released on DVD by Warner Home Video in Region 2 only.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5:_The_Gathering

The original 1993 release of "The Gathering" is available on Amazon Instant Video. I just purchased it recently. I was upset when iTunes upgraded "The Gathering" to the TNT edition without much warning. It actually updated the version I had bought.

While I like some of the character bits that got added to the TNT cut, I prefer the original, especially for Copeland's soundtrack.

 

[Bisz]

Also, the movie In the Beginning is really great, but you may want to hold off on watching that for a few seasons (given the spoilers in it). The movie originally aired just before season five.

On the other hand, if what you see of B5's 1st season isn't really grabbing you, watch In The Beginning. It has spoilers, but it is fantastic and shows you the awesome things the show will do. Seeing it and The Gathering is what got me to blind buy the B5 DVDs in the first place.

 

[label]

Also, the movie In the Beginning is really great, but you may want to hold off on watching that for a few seasons (given the spoilers in it). The movie originally aired just before season five.

On the other hand, if what you see of B5's 1st season isn't really grabbing you, watch In The Beginning. It has spoilers, but it is fantastic and shows you the awesome things the show will do. Seeing it and The Gathering is what got me to blind buy the B5 DVDs in the first place.

I would only jump to the movie (which is brilliant) if you feel like Season 1 is so bad that you're about to give up on the series because it really is best to save it till after Season 4 if at all possible.

 

[MacLeod]

Like others have said ff you don't want to be spoiled then Don't watch "In The Beginning" until around S4.

 

[Marsden]

I find In the Begining interesting because it shows the Minbari perspective on some issues, things they knew all along that we learned over the first 3 seasons. So, while it doesn't "ruin" the series, a lot of the suspensful tension building up from the end of season 1 and all through season 2 and part of 3 is already revealed. It also provides a good amount of the world building backgroun that slowly revealed as well, it's like a cliff notes of the series.