Niners Unite...around Babylon 5!

[Orac Zen]

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

Neroon may be able to tell you exactly how effusive I can be about "Sleeping in Light."

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

Hey, if you want to scare people out of your forum...you go for it.

 

[FoxyTallChick]

Hi - I'm new to the Trek BBS forums but it's great that you've got a B5 thread here as I for one see the similarities between the two shows as a positive and not a negative to be argued repeatedly over.

My fave Trek has always been DS9 but to me it always came a close second to B5. I remember watching B5 in its first run over here in England on Channel 4. To say it left me utterly breathless and on the edge of my seat (season 2 onwards - we'll forget season 1 ) would be an understatement.

I'd just never watched a science fiction program like it before with such great characterisation and story arcs. Millari and G'kar's arcs for me are probably the best televised science fiction writing I've ever watched whilst Sleeping In Light just left me crying buckets.

I only started watching DS9 after a friend introduced me to the show about half way through its 4th season so I had to quickly rewatch the previous episodes to get up to speed. But after starting to watch B5 first - DS9 always felt like the impostor.

However it's weird that over the years I've only watched the complete B5 once through but just finished watching the entire DS9 for third time now. I'm about to start watching B5 again and I’m wondering if my hazy recollection of its greatness is due to my sentimental memory - I guess there's only one way to find out.

Hopefully soon I'll be in a better position to contribute to this thread.

 

[Neroon]

Orac Zen said:
Neroon may be able to tell you exactly how effusive I can be about "Sleeping in Light."

Effusive? I'm still cleaning up the drool off the floor.

It is an episode that has similarities to WYLB, but I tend to think it has a bit more emotional punch to it. Perhaps it's because I saw it first. Who knows? I do recall that I unintentionally got up to watch the sun rise the next morning.

 

[Orac Zen]

^
Drool? Moi??? I resemble that remark.

Are you getting the idea yet, PKTG?

FoxyTallChick said:
Hi - I'm new to the Trek BBS forums but it's great that you've got a B5 thread here as I for one see the similarities between the two shows as a positive and not a negative to be argued repeatedly over.

Welcome to TBBS and this thread, FoxyTallChick. I hope you enjoy it here.

The inter-series rivalry is pretty stupid, really. Most people just enjoy one, or the other, or both shows and realise that's what really matters. Bickering about them is just silly.

 

[Neroon]

Orac Zen said:
^
Drool? Moi??? I resemble that remark.

Why else do you think I wanted oyu on staff?

FoxyTallChick said:
Hi - I'm new to the Trek BBS forums but it's great that you've got a B5 thread here as I for one see the similarities between the two shows as a positive and not a negative to be argued repeatedly over.

Welcome to TBBS and this thread, FoxyTallChick. I hope you enjoy it here.

The inter-series rivalry is pretty stupid, really. Most people just enjoy one, or the other, or both shows and realise that's what really matters. Bickering about them is just silly.

Speaking as an avowed Babyloniac but an at least part-time Niner, I do see where folks who feel one series "took" from the other get their suspicions. My response is, live and let live. Of all the Trek series for B5 fans to like, I'd say that the classic Trek and Deep Space Nine are the ones to rally around. The first because it is one of the three seminal series in sci-fi TV history, and the second because it is quite similar to B5. It's to the benefit of each fanbase to investigate the other. You may not end up likeing them, but there's at least a good chance you will.

 

[FoxyTallChick]

Neroon, Orac Zen - thanks for the warm welcome. I hope that I can contribute something positive to the forum!

 

[Neroon]

That fact that you're here already speaks volumes.

How much of B5 and DS9 have you seen?

 

[FoxyTallChick]

Watched the entire Babylon 5 series on its first uk showing and all of DS9 three times. Just starting to watch B5 again next week.

 

[Neroon]

SWEET! Have you seen any of the B5 movies?

 

[PKTrekGirl]

Hi FoxyTallChick!

Welcome to the DS9 forum.

I'm glad you are one of the growing number of fans who have given both shows a chance, and enjoy them both! There used to be so much fighting between these two fandoms - it's nice to see so many people are giving it up and coming together in support of both shows.

I hope you have a nice time here. Welcome to the board!

 

[Orac Zen]

Neroon said:
Why else do you think I wanted oyu on staff?

Great - so you're one of the people I have to blame for this???

*** takes notes ***


All inter-series bickering is pointless. People like what they like. It's just that simple. :thumbsup:

 

[BigFoot]

Welcome to the board FoxyTallChick.

And yeah, I never understood why people can't like both DS9 and B5. I love both shows dearly (though I do prefer DS9).

 

[FoxyTallChick]

Neroon said:
SWEET! Have you seen any of the B5 movies?

I've watched all the movies and eagerly await the Lost Tales DVDs! Even though B5 is my fave the gap between my allegiance to it and DS9 has been shrinking although to be fair when you've watched the whole of DS9 three times since watching B5 that's bound to happen. Hence my need to rewatch B5 for the second time again. Eventually though both series will probably end up just as one huge DS5B9 mashup in my head.

If I’m to be honest I was a fangirl back in the old days of the vitriolic online flame wars defending B5 to the hilt against the DS9 lovers but over time I've now mellowed. I've just accepted that they've both great shows each with their own strengths and weaknesses and we'll never really know the whole truth behind the Paramount/JMS who ripped off who argument.

I'm just hoping that when I sit down and watch B5 back to back (thanks to Lovefilm.com) it's going to generate the same kind of emotions in me that it did when I first saw it. Even now I still cry when watching the Sleeping in Light YouTube clips. My boyfriend just laughs at me. He tolerates my B5 / DS9 obsessions – bless him!

So role on the Lost Tales DVDs and more DS9 Re-launch novels...

 

[Neroon]

One of the great things about being a Dad is passing things on to my children. My 12 yr old daughter is a big B5 fan, so we frequently watch random episodes together just because we feel like it. However, "Sleeping In Light" affects her so deeply, that I cannot let her watch it after about 9:00 in the evening, because it will keep her up until all hours.

 

[FoxyTallChick]

Neroon said:
However, "Sleeping In Light" affects her so deeply, that I cannot let her watch it after about 9:00 in the evening, because it will keep her up until all hours.

I always cry at "What You Leave Behind" but that is more to do with the fact that it's the last episode (when Odo slips into the Great Link has me inconsolable for Kira) but like most fans "Visitor" is the one that has me blubbering the whole way through.

It's great that you can watch Sci-fi with your daughter Neroon. My parents would just shout at me to "turn that rubbish off"...

 

[The Habs Fan]

Exogenesis
A standalone episode that is easily my least favourite of the season. However, despite it's non-arc storyline, I liked a lot of the ideas in this episode. The fact that all the "victims" turned out to be willing volunteers was a nice twist on a worn sci fi premise. On the minus side, the parasitic aliens themselves seemed like a ripoff of the Trill. I'm sure the fanboys on the DS9 side of the fence had a field day with this episode.

Messages From Earth
Amazing. Lots of stuff comes to a head in this episode, while at the same time more plot threads being built for future episodes. The flashback story that the scientist tells is very suspenseful and creepy. The White Star/Shadow Vessel battle is very cool. Sheridan took another step away from Earth Force. Is this going to lead to something bigger? Regarding the Nightwatch plot, Zack is going to have to make a choice as to what side he's on. And then there's the end with President Clark declaring martial law. This is my favourite episode of season 3, up to this point. However, the next two episodes look like they might be even better.

 

[Neroon]

On the subject of the Vendrizi, you're right in that they only seem like a "ripoff" ( a vastly overused term in sci-fi imho) of anything, let alone the Trill. It's simply a staple of the genre. They are similar to Trill in that they are symbiotic as opposed to parasitic.

And yes "messages From Earth" is a top flight episode, but each of the next two raises the game even higher.

 

[Can]

Tom Riker said:
Exogenesis
A standalone episode that is easily my least favourite of the season. However, despite it's non-arc storyline, I liked a lot of the ideas in this episode. The fact that all the "victims" turned out to be willing volunteers was a nice twist on a worn sci fi premise. On the minus side, the parasitic aliens themselves seemed like a ripoff of the Trill. I'm sure the fanboys on the DS9 side of the fence had a field day with this episode.

Messages From Earth
Amazing. Lots of stuff comes to a head in this episode, while at the same time more plot threads being built for future episodes. The flashback story that the scientist tells is very suspenseful and creepy. The White Star/Shadow Vessel battle is very cool. Sheridan took another step away from Earth Force. Is this going to lead to something bigger? Regarding the Nightwatch plot, Zack is going to have to make a choice as to what side he's on. And then there's the end with President Clark declaring martial law. This is my favourite episode of season 3, up to this point. However, the next two episodes look like they might be even better.

Yeah while Exogenesis is a little bit disapointment , "Messages from Earth" is increadeble , I agree. You should see next episodes immediately

 

[The Habs Fan]

Point Of No Return
The central episode of the season. This episode is all about the characters. Londo trying to save his destiny, Sheridan seeing Earth go against everything he stands for, Zack having to make a choice of what side to be on, Garibaldi betrayed by the security officers under him, and G'Kar choosing to ally the Narns with Babylon 5. Lady Morealla's prophecy served to throw a wrench in the Londo/Vir relationship. I wonder how this will play out. Will Londo kill Vir to acquire the throne? I don't see Vir killing Londo, so it must be Londo killing Vir. Very interesting...

Severed Dreams
Sheridan makes the choice that everything has been building to: independence from the Earth Alliance. For a career and honourable officer like Sheridan, this must be one of the hardest decisions he's ever made. I have to say that I'm very glad Corwin went along with Sheridan's decision. I really like the character of Corwin, and after Exogenesis, I was getting a little worried about his loyalty in future episodes. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about (maybe). The battle was the best done on B5 yet. I was kind of hoping for a huge Shadow battle, but instead I got Earth ships. It was still amazing, but I was a little disappointed. I'm guessing the Shadow battles will be coming in the near future. The Nightwatch got what they deserved and were kicked off the station. I doubt this is the last we'll see of them, but they won't have the power on the station they once had (or will they?).

Overall, the last 3 episodes have all been excellent. One question I have to ask in all this though is: Where is Kosh? I'm sure he's been absent for a reason, but I wonder what that reason is. I guess it'll be dealt with in future episodes...

 

[Can]

Yes , "Battle of Epsilon Eridani" is one of best fights Babylon 5 has offered. I am still mesmerized the prep scene , battle and background musics... Nex episodes are interesting because of these incident