Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[PKTrekGirl]

Yeah...me thinks also.

But fear not...I believe they are on the way to Davie Jones' Locker or whatever the hell.

 

[MyCylon]

PKTrekGirl said:
I have one question to ask you though: is this your first time through B5 (that you really remember)? Because if it is, after you finish, watch season 1 again. I think you will decide it is much improved on second viewing...because there is alot of foreshadowing in there that you don't see the first time through.

I'll be interested to see how you rank season 1 after doing this.

I'm watching practically all of B5 for the second time now - including season one. I'll say this, however: First time I saw it was when it originally aired in Germany - so it's quite some time ago.
I've already considered rewatching. Alternatively, I might also let some time pass. I've yet to see the films, so I'll be looking into them first.
Essentially, what I said above depends a lot on whether one considers what I'm doing now rewatching or more like watching it first time. It's somewhere in between. I remember the larger outcome of a lot of things, if you will, as well as specific scenes or some episodes in more detail. But then there's also a lot I'd forgotten.
Right now, I do feel that S1 falls short compared to most of the other seasons (bar 5, possibly) and/or has a slightly different feel to it.
I did enjoy a certain amount of foreshadowing as I did remember e.g. where people ended up in the end or things such as what happened to B4 etc. But naturally, rewatching it again pretty soon I'd probably remember more details.

As for season 5, I've also got the impression it really picks up noticeably. Interestingly, it's almost right after Byron becomes bygone. Especially the material leading up to the 'rise' of Molari to Emperor is almost as engaging and dense as some of that in S3 and 4. I've got four more to go in the season, so I'm curious.
Actually, I'm especially curious about "Sleeping in Light" as I remember not liking it very much first time around. However, I'm really looking forward to it and hope to enjoy it more this time.

 

[Can]

Tom Riker said:
I'll do my rankings after I finish the entire series.

Can, I did notice that G'Kar was still there when I watched my last two episodes. I must have missed something in A Day In The Strife. I guess it was because Na'Far wasn't accepted by the Narn as their representative that G'Kar was able to remain?



I watched 2 episodes last night.

Passing Through Gethsemane was an excellent episode. I love religious episodes with lots of symbolism along with high-concept sci-fi (mind wiping) and this episode had them both. Interesting that Brad Dourif played two very similar characters on B5 and Voyager. He does play the psychopath pretty good though. The ending had some great twists with the new monk being Brother Edward's murderer and Lyta transfering something to Kosh. Or was she possessed by Kosh all along? Or is she Kosh? Lots of questions came out of that ending. I like that they have a rogue telepath now that doesn't mind doing forced mind reading on someone.

Voices Of Authority is currently my favourite episode of season 3. The whole Nightwatch thing is frighteningly real. I remember back in season 2 when they were first introduced, I thought they were good guys. Now it's obvious they're a parallel to Nazis and the Soviets. I feel really sorry for Zack, who I liked a lot in the 2nd season, but now I feel a little annoyed with him. He should grow a backbone and speak his mind! And then there's Ivanova trying to get some more First Ones on their side. I knew the Sigma 957 aliens had to return, and I like that they're good guys (I think.) I also liked how they appeared as a Native American totem kind of thing. So the Vorlons weren't the only First Ones to visit and influence Earth? I wonder if the Minbari on the White Star saw anything different?

That's right. Na'Far became an outcast among his people because he was considered as a collaborator and traitor by them.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Justtoyourleft said:

Right now, I do feel that S1 falls short compared to most of the other seasons (bar 5, possibly) and/or has a slightly different feel to it.
I did enjoy a certain amount of foreshadowing as I did remember e.g. where people ended up in the end or things such as what happened to B4 etc. But naturally, rewatching it again pretty soon I'd probably remember more details.

Well, yeah...I agree with you. Season 1 is definitely the weakest of the bunch, outside of season 5. IMO, seasons 2, 3, and 4 are some *fantastic* scifi! Whereas season one is only 'meh' by comparison.

But I do think season 1 deserves some credit - it's not many seasons of a show that are actually better on SECOND viewing. And I have to give JMS kudos for planting all of the foreshadowing into season 1.

*AND* give him kudos for resolving Sinclair's character in such a cool way after he left at the end of season 1. Its so refreshing to see characters who leave actually have some cool resolution!

As for season 5, I've also got the impression it really picks up noticeably. Interestingly, it's almost right after Byron becomes bygone. Especially the material leading up to the 'rise' of Molari to Emperor is almost as engaging and dense as some of that in S3 and 4. I've got four more to go in the season, so I'm curious.

Yes, it definitly picks up at the end of the season and ends on a high note. The first half of season 5 is definitely the low point of the show, thanks to "WAH!! I Want My Own Planet Byron" ...but the ending is right up there on quality with seasons 2, 3 and 4.

And since Londo is my favorite character - not only in B5, but in all of scifi - I agree with you about the bits relating to his rise to power. It's interesting...and all of his stuff ties right back to the prophecy that he got during season 3.

Actually, I'm especially curious about "Sleeping in Light" as I remember not liking it very much first time around. However, I'm really looking forward to it and hope to enjoy it more this time.

I love Sleeping in the Light. I wonder why you hated it so much the first time? I think it's wonderful! I cry every time I watch it, in fact.

Of course, I cry during the montage at the end of WYLB too...so I'm a big baby anyway. But still....Sleeping in the Light, I think, is very moving.

I'll be interested to read your reaction this time 'round.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Last night I watched Dust To Dust.

Interestingly, I liked the subplot with G'Kar better than the A plot with Bester (unless G'Kar was the A plot and Bester was the B plot).

Anyway, on the Bester plot. I liked how they didn't trust him, especially Garibaldi, and how they suppressed his telepathy. I also like how Bester was right this time and how he seemed to be a nice guy. Well, as nice as he could be really. And the revelation of the dust being manufactured by Psi Corps was surprising, but I'm not sure what exactly this means in the grand scheme of things.

The G'Kar plot was the most important part of the episode. Using the dust to read Londo was exactly the sort of thing G'Kar at this point would do. It opens up a lot of questions: How much about Londo's affiliation with the Shadows does G'Kar now know? Does Londo know G'Kar knows? What is Kosh doing to G'Kar throughout the whole thing? Related to that, why is Kosh there at all? Can G'Kar now forgive Londo now/if he knows the whole story? G'Kar will probably be in jail for the next number of episodes, so it'll be interesting to see how all this plays out.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ I like that episode alot for G'Kar's bit too. Although I do like the Bester charcter in B5.

Much better than I like Chekov!

 

[Neroon]

I am treading very lightly in here, because I've seen the entirety of B5 so many times. In this thread we hjave folks who are watching it for the first time, and I'm afraid I'll forget myself and spoil them... which would be a crime.

As an aside, and I feel ashamed pimping here, but I am coordinating a "Family Feud" game basedup on B5 at an upcomign convention in May. We're calling it "Drazi Wars II", since I've done it before. If you're familiar with the format of the game, I need people to complete a survey to provide answers for the game. Anyone who'd like to fill one out, contact me privately, so we don't skew this thread off course.

 

[Can]

Good going Tom ! I always found Bester as one of the best developed characters of B5. Althrough his screentime is short his presence contributes so much. Dust to Dust is a certain proof of that. As for the G'kar subplot... Let's say , that is an important episode....

Keep your reviews Tom.....Reading them is like watching series again.

 

[MyCylon]

PKTrekGirl said:

Justtoyourleft said:
Actually, I'm especially curious about "Sleeping in Light" as I remember not liking it very much first time around. However, I'm really looking forward to it and hope to enjoy it more this time.

I love Sleeping in the Light. I wonder why you hated it so much the first time? I think it's wonderful! I cry every time I watch it, in fact.

Of course, I cry during the montage at the end of WYLB too...so I'm a big baby anyway. But still....Sleeping in the Light, I think, is very moving.

I'll be interested to read your reaction this time 'round.

I'll definitely post as soon as I've seen it. I do know that part of my displeasure came from the fact that I was somewhat tide up in the whole B5 vs. DS9 feud back when both were originally airing (yeah, that's stupid, I know).

I'm sure there were other reasons as well but I really don't remember the episode enough to pick out any individual details. As is sometimes the case, I just remember not liking it. *shrugs*

Right now, honestly, I'm simply looking forward to seeing it. It's been very pleasing watching B5 from start to finish and it's made me curious to see how it ends (again).

As for WYLB, the final scenes always crack me up as well. It's actually the only scene alongside, well, probably just about all of The Visitor that does that on DS9 or any other tv show for that matter.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ Yeah, me too. The only two times I cry in Trek anymore are The Visitor and the DS9 WYLB montage.

I used to cry at Spock's death in TWOK, but I don't anymore for some reason.

I do cry in Sleeping in the Light. So I'm curious as to how you fare this time 'round.

And I'm really glad you got over the DS9/B5 feud thing. It's a shame to me that so many fans really missed out by not giving BOTH shows a chance. After all, there is plenty of love to go around for both!

IMO, the two best scifi shows ever. Pity that some folks (even STILL) feel it has to be one or the other.

 

[Neroon]

"Sleeping In Light" is one of those shows that will not have much impact if you're not already emotionally involved in the story. I'd hazard to say the same thing about WYLB as well. That may all sound terribly obvious, but it is true.

I don't quite regard "Sleeping In Light" as a great "science fiction" episode ...... but rather it was exactly what the fans - and by extension jms himself - needed. It was a way to say goodbye in an intimate, personal and sensitive way. You can make the argument that the "goodbye" really lasted over three episodes, along with "Objects in Motion" and "Objects At Rest", even if they were made a year later .

But if you "get into Babylon 5", then the epilogue to "Sleeping In Light" has more punch than virtually anything else you see and hear in the series:

“Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future... and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future... or others will do it for us. It showed us that we have to care for one another, because if we don't, who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Mostly, though, I think it gave us hope... that there can always be new beginnings... even for people like us.”

- Entil’zha Ivanova’s epilogue
“Sleeping In Light”

 

[MyCylon]

PKTrekGirl said:
And I'm really glad you got over the DS9/B5 feud thing.

I returned from the 'Dark Side'

 

[Orac Zen]

Yeah, "Sleeping in Light" is pretty good.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ THAT'S all you have to say???? 'Pretty good'?????

One of your main functions in this forum as an honorary Niner is to pimp Babylon 5, and all you can come up with is 'pretty good'????

Okay. That's it! I'm making a David Beckham avatar!

 

[Neroon]

PKTrekGirl said:
^ THAT'S all you have to say???? 'Pretty good'?????

It's called complimenting by understatement.

Incidentally, for those of you who are interested in seeing more B5 beyond the show and movies, there is a set of direct-to-DVD features slated for coming out in July: link

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ Neroon, is this what I've been reading about on OmahaStar's LiveJournal?

I read about it and asked him a couple of questions over on LJ, but I'm not completely up-to-speed on it, I must admit.

Are they already working on it? Has production begun?

 

[BigFoot]

^ I think they already completed the filming.

 

[Neroon]

Yes, that is exactly the thing. And for some interesting updates and pictures form the set: click here

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Wow, this is just great! More B5 is a great thing!

Hopefully it will be a huge success, cus then maybe we'll get even more! (yes, I'm greedy - especially when it comes to my favorite shows )

 

[Neroon]

There is another thread that goes into more detail about the initial disc - stories & such. I'll see if I can find it to link in here.