Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[Orac Zen]

I wonder what would happen if I changed my av? Would anyone notice?


So I just watched "Midnight on the Firing Line."

One of the (many) great things about watching this series over and over again is seeing the puzzle pieces scattered about right from the start. It's fascinating to see them put together over time, and how they fit together almost flawlessly. There are quite a few pieces in this episode...but since we have newcomers to the series in this thread I'll be good and leave them unsaid.

The raider subplot doesn't seem like much more than filler, but then it becomes interesting. It also gives Ivanova and Garibaldi some screen time. In the case of Ivanova, that is never a bad thing. We also meet Vir – yet another character who takes a...fascinating journey – and Talia Winters.

The main plot draws some battle lines and establishes some long-running themes. The Narn and the Centauri are at each others' throats. Earth's government wants to stay out of it. Telepaths are highly regulated. Mollari feels powerless. G'Kar feels perfectly justified in seeing the Centauri wiped out of existence. The Earth Alliance president is re-elected.

And Duck Dodgers rules.

It's difficult to talk about G'Kar without revealing too much – I'm mindful of the fact that there will be people who've never seen the show before in here and it really is a series where spoilers are best avoided. The impact of certain events is so much greater that way. But it's safe to say he's proud, arrogant, deceitful and very, very angry...and not without reason.

All told, an episode that achieves a great deal in a short space of time.

Now I want to keep watching.

 

[Angry Angel]

Okay .. I watched The Gathering earlier today, and it was the newer version

Some of my remarks, insights (some more useful than the other) that I typed down while watching:

One of the first things I noticed of course were the differences with the actual series wrt props:
-buttonery (TOS revisited!!)
-guns
-communicators

Minbari (Delenn) portrayed more as an androgenous species.

Funny how the guy wearing narcotics only got marked for drugs and not the gun when going through the security scan ... nice little intro of the strong and bold Sinclair though. He's already portrayed as a stiff! I think that's something that's always been something I'd remember about him as a distinctive character trait ... his calmness.
Spoilers for rest of series: <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>which seeing the bigger plan is not so strange and definitely not bad, since it would have been totally weird, awkward and unbelievable to put a character like Sheridan in the position of Entil'zha ... and going further it makes it even more brilliant that Sheridan always remained rather Earth minded, with Delenn being Minbari minded and Sinclair/Valen the connection between the two cultures and mindsets.</span><hr /></span>

Sinclair giving the whole introduction to Babylon 5 .. like Lyta really doesn't know what happened to 1-4. Big Earth stations blowing up all the time .. ahuh someone would really miss that news event. Would have been better to let the Londo voice-over in the intro take care of that.

Delenn talking about the Japanese Stone garden .. how it describes the power of one mind to change the universe better than the thousands of pages and books on her world ... geez ... a compliment from a Minbari? Or something even more important ...
That combined with giving Sinclair a copy of the files about Vorlons.
Set-up for what is to come (bigger picture) Especially when combining it with the talk Delenn has with Carolyn. When Delenn almost spills the beans about her role on B5 (strictly here to observe Sinclair).

Hmmm ... interesting ... the person who meets Del Varner in his room enters with this on the security screen ...: "Laurel Takashima Cleared"

Delenn using some ring to cause G'kar pain <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>we never see that again</span><hr /></span>

When Lyta scans Kosh ... the meeting with the fake Sinclair ... Kosh greets him with: <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>"Entil'zha Valen"</span><hr /></span>

And one of the best and most widely spread lines out there: "There is a hole in your mind ..."


Now to see the first epi

 

[Blade Runner]

^ I've just finished The Gathering (Special Edition) and must say that I think it still holds up pretty well. Yes, the effects aren't up to the quality of later seasons, and some of the makeup has yet to be perfected, but the story was a decent introduction to the B5 universe and is suitably gripping throughout.

As usual the standout performances come from Katsulas and Jurasik. Both were excellent in their respective roles.

Of course, there is the matter of the whole cast not yet having being finalised. <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>I miss Zack, Vir, Ivanova, Franklin and Lennier. It seems odd not having them around. </span><hr /></span>

A lot less cheesy dialogue than I remembered and some great lines too.

 

[Johi36]

I finally finished watching The Gathering

Posted by SB:
I like Sinclair.

Me too, very much so! I don't know whether it's his smile or his voice or whatever - he has this amazing calming effect on me. <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>I definitely prefer him to Sheridan!</span><hr /></span>

Posted by SB:
And "Would you prefer to be conscious or unconscious during the mating?" followed by Lyta's expression of complete amazement cracks me up every time.

Oh yes, that scene was great! I absolutely love G'Kar, he and Londo are my favourite characters

Posted by Angry Angel:
Delenn using some ring to cause G'kar pain <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>we never see that again</span><hr /></span>

That has always been bugging me

Posted by Angry Angel:
When Lyta scans Kosh ... the meeting with the fake Sinclair ... Kosh greets him with: <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>"Entil'zha Valen"</span><hr /></span>

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't notice it when I watched it for the first time!!!

Looking forward to Midnight on the Firing Line :thumbsup:


BTW, what are the chances for this thread to get pinned?

 

[Orac Zen]

Posted by Johi36:

Posted by SB:
I like Sinclair.

Me too, very much so! I don't know whether it's his smile or his voice or whatever - he has this amazing calming effect on me. <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>I definitely prefer him to Sheridan!</span><hr /></span>

Fair enough. <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>I like them both...but I have to say I like Sheridan more. I like the way his character changes over the course of the series...and Sheridan/Delenn is one of the very few 'ships I like in SF.</span><hr /></span>

Posted by Steven:
Except for the first half of season 5. That didn't seem as long.

<span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>Oh, I don't know - the minutes seem to pass like hours in some of those episodes. I'll be good and not mention why.</span><hr /></span>

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Posted by Blade Runner:
Inspired by AA's new av, how about we all have B5 inspired av's for a while? Just a thought.

Actually, I plan to run B5 avatars for a while, on and off. The one I have now is a B5 avatar...but you new folks are just gonna have to wait to see how.

I do need to run an avatar for Atlantis a bit, cus I'm figuring out a new one.

But I want to use this marathon as an excuse to use some B5 ones too. Before last night, I think the only B5 avatar I'd ever had on this BBS was one of Richard Biggs, which I used for about a month after he passed away.

So you'll no doubt be seeing some B5 avatars from me - that's for sure!

As for avatars that are spoilers, I think most folks - even the newbies - know that Sheridan exists, so I wouldn't worry about that one. Now, I can think of certain avatars that I *wouldn't* put up - namely one having to do with events that happen during the last ep of season 1 and the beginning of season two. Any avatar of a certain character AFTER the beginning of season 2 might not be a good idea for the time being - the vets know who I mean.

I suppose one of G'Kar after season 4 might not be a good idea either.....

But those are the only ones I can think of, right off the bat.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Posted by SB:
<span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>and Sheridan/Delenn is one of the very few 'ships I like in SF.</span><hr /></span>

ME TOO!!!! JMS did a really good job with that one! I was totally into it.

Those guys and John and Aeryn from Farscape. That's pretty much it for me and the 'ships.

 

[Jan]

Midnight on the Firing Line

Via Diplomatic Courier Pouch
Babylon 5 to Minbar

January 2258

My dear friend,

Thank you for allowing me to continue to practice the written form of the Earth Trade Language in these letters. I speak the language many times a day but do not often have the chance to write it except for official diplomatic documents.

It has been a difficult week here. The Narns have opened hostilities against their old enemy, the Centauri. Will either race ever learn that somehow the blookshed must stop? It is a hard lesson, granted, but necessary.

The Narn ambassador, G'Kar is possibly the angriest person of any species I've ever met. His anger gives him strength and purpose. I cannot imagine him any other way.

In the end, the Narns are withdrawing from the colony they invaded. I've been unable to discover exactly why, but Commander Sinclair is very pleased that the Babylon 5 Station fulfilled it's purpose.

With all of the tensions here, I so long for the soothing nature of your work. I remain convinced that my presence here is the best way that I can serve our people but I long for the sight of my dear friends. It is my dearest hope that you will be able to visit here soon.

Pardon the brevity of this note but I have one more appointment tonight. Security Chief Michael Garibaldi has offered to show me one of the Earth people's treasured cultural icons. I look forward to greater understanding between our people.

Your friend always,
Delenn
Ambassador

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Posted by Johi36:

Posted by Angry Angel:
When Lyta scans Kosh ... the meeting with the fake Sinclair ... Kosh greets him with: <span class="spoiler"><font class="small">Spoiler:</font><hr /><span>"Entil'zha Valen"</span><hr /></span>

Thanks for pointing that out, I didn't notice it when I watched it for the first time!!!

I never noticed this either! Thanks for pointing that out, AA! It's amazing that JMS put that in there! Although I guess most newbie viewers wouldn't remember this later on, when it would start to matter.

BTW, what are the chances for this thread to get pinned?

I've been thinking about that. Might be a good idea. Lemme think on it.

Tonight I watched The Gathering. I'd not seen it in a couple of years, so it was good to see it again. Of course, some of the different characters are a bit odd to get used to...and Delenn....wow! She sure does go through some changes, doesn't she? You'd never know it was Mira Furlan if it wasn't for the voice!

Interesting that G'Kar was able to sorta blackmail Londo into voting his way. Those two guys....scoundrals from the beginning when it came to each other.

Londo line of the episode: "Beep beep? Beep beep????"


So now I'm done with the assignment. The rest of you guys need to get done so we can move on. Cus now I don't wanna stop.

 

[BigFoot]

Posted by Vash:
Any avatar of a certain character AFTER the beginning of season 2 might not be a good idea for the time being - the vets know who I mean.

You're talking about Garibaldi's dreadlocks aren't you?

Ooops... I think I said too much.

 

[Orac Zen]

Posted by Vash:
Those guys and John and Aeryn from Farscape. That's pretty much it for me and the 'ships.

Posted by Vash:
The rest of you guys need to get done so we can move on. Cus now I don't wanna stop.

Agreed - on both counts. I was good and managed not to watch anything else today, but it was a struggle.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ I know. Once you start watching and get on a roll, it's hard to stop. I wonder if we should do three next week?

And BigFoot, better not say too much about those dreads!!! You know my weakness for men with dreads! I won't be able to hold myself back from skipping ahead!

 

[Johi36]

Posted by Vash:
I wonder if we should do three next week?

Or one entire season/week?

Well, errr, ummm, I watched up to 4 episodes/day last summer, so I'm only half kidding

3 episodes is fine with me!

 

[Lindley]

Posted by Vash:
^ I know. Once you start watching and get on a roll, it's hard to stop. I wonder if we should do three next week?

*Raises hand* Seconded.

Call the vote.

 

[Blade Runner]

^ How about a disk per week?

 

[Angry Angel]

I'll raise ya with a disk a day!

 

[Blade Runner]

^ I could easily do a disk a day (I did on my first viewing), but I think for discussion this would be too fast.

 

[Jan]

Posted by Blade Runner:
^ How about a disk per week?

While it would surprise many people I know, I think 3 is about my limit as I do occassionally do things unconnected to B5. Not often, mind, but sometimes.

Jan

 

[Blade Runner]

^ It's only three hours out of 168!

 

[Angry Angel]

Posted by Blade Runner:
^ I could easily do a disk a day (I did on my first viewing), but I think for discussion this would be too fast.

Most likely

I once did do it like that when watching SG1 seasons 3-7 ... every available minute went to watching it. So a whole day at home meant a whole day SG1 ... Now those were the days