Should I Blind Buy Babylon 5?

[bigdaddy]

WBshop.com is having a sale where the 5 seasons and the 5 movie DVD collection are $12 each, Crusade is $7.50.

I have never seen the show. I have seen a part here or there because my sister was a fan, but I haven't really ever sat down and watched the whole thing (or most of the thing because I heard season 5 is horrible because everyone thought season 4 would be the end).

Last year I blindly bought Farscape and it's one of my favorite TV shows ever. I'm wondering if it would be worth spending $80+ on, if the DVDs are decently done, if the DVD order is correct or way off (like Sliders), or if it aged well, or feels dated (I mean the stories feel old, not the CGI).

 

[backstept]

Do it.

 

[Methos]

yes...

yes, yes and yes...

trust me, it's worth it...

if you love good sci-fi, good characters, amazing storyline and aliens along with kick ass space battles, then B5 is a must lol

Crusade is hit and miss really, i enjoyed it but i know others won't... it's sort of like B5's answer to Voyager lol

Season 5 is pretty bad, it really did trail off with season 4... there are a few good episodes, but most of it is the telepath war storyline building up, and unless you're reading the books as well it's not really worth it

as a whole its a set i prize in my DVD collection and one i still watch regularly

M

 

[RoJoHen]

B5 was a blind buy for me, and it was one of the best shows I've ever watched.

Like many other shows, the first season can be a bit slow, but it gets real good real quick after that.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

At that price...go for it.

 

[Mr Light]

Babylon 5 is the greatest tv series ever.

That said, the first season isn't so hot. And the pilot's pretty bad. So do try to get through to season two that's where it gets much better!

 

[Sindatur]

S1 does alot of universe, mythology and Arc building, so it's hard for some to get into, but, I personally think even lesser episodes are better than alot of other TV.

S2-S4 is one hell of a ride, and I think few who make it past season 1 don't agree it's some of the best SciFi ever

S5 appeared as if it was going to not be renewed for, and there was some other dramas surrounding the show, such as an unexpected cast change, and S4 tied up plots that were meant originally to tie up in early S5, and S5 plots were meant to be started at the end of S4, to give a more smooth transition to the arc elements. Since S5 looked like it wouldn't happen, those S5 elements weren't introduced at the end of S4.

TNT came in saved the day at the 11th hour and paid for S5, which caused S5 to have to be a restart, so the first half of S5 is not what it should be, but, I think the second half of S5 is every bit as good as the best of B5.

Try watching "In The Beginning", which is a prequel movie, it gives away some plot elements, but, if you decide you like the Series from that movie, you probably won't remember most of those elements anyways. If you like In The Beginning, you should enjoy the Series for the most part. If you don't like it, then the Series probably isn't for you. Normally, I wouldn't suggest watching In The Beginning, until after S4 when it originally aired, but, since you want to buy the whole series blind, I'd make an exception reccomending it to make your judgement by. The Creator sees no problem with it being seen first, it just makes watching the show a different first time experience.

B5 is my all time favorite Series, with DS9 right behind it (They were direct competitors, and so naturally their are still sore feelings from some members of each fandom, but, I love both shows)

And those of us who've had the DVDs for years, actually spent $80 a season (Just as Farscape and Trek Fans with their intial DVD releases)

 

[GalaxyClass1701]

I blind bought season 1 and couldn't make it past three episodes.

 

[Lindley]

The show as a whole is definitely worth it. There is a bit of slog at the beginning, though.

 

[Harvey]

It's definitely worth watching, and for that price, why not buy it?

I have to agree with Lindley, though. A lot of season one (and two) are hard to get through. But I think it's worth it.

It's not as adventurous as Farscape, though.

 

[Saga]

Great Valen. yes, you should buy it. and if you don't enjoy it we will make disparaging remarks about your intelligence.

 

[bigdaddy]

Wow... people replied quickly, don't you people have jobs? :-p

Well the only reason I didn't jump on the show is because I might be moving, and I won't be bringing anything with me, so it would be a waste of money in the long run. Plus the show might be on Netflix, which could travel with me.

Maybe I'll only buy seasons 1-4 now.

 

[MacLeod]

If you do remember to treat B5 as a novel, S1 and into S2 is a lot of building working for later events. Late S2-S4 is where it really kicks off. S5 is generally agreed to be week. Due to a last minute reprieve.

 

[bigdaddy]

Great Valen. yes, you should buy it. and if you don't enjoy it we will make disparaging remarks about your intelligence.

So it will be like EVERY Firefly and Arrested Development topic?

 

[The Doctor]

Yikes. Don't do it. I tried to get through B5 again a few years ago and was aghast at just how bad it was. I'll never understand the slavish devotion to it or JMS's other works.

 

[MacLeod]

Wow... people replied quickly, don't you people have jobs? :-p

Well the only reason I didn't jump on the show is because I might be moving, and I won't be bringing anything with me, so it would be a waste of money in the long run. Plus the show might be on Netflix, which could travel with me.

Maybe I'll only buy seasons 1-4 now.

You have to get S5 if only for the last episode.

As for a job. Yes I do, off this week but I'm also what 5hrs ahead of you.

 

[Methos]

yeah, the final episode of season 5 really does kick ass

M

 

[Lindley]

Maybe I'll only buy seasons 1-4 now.

Season 5 isn't that bad. It's a step down from season 4, but only in comparison. Still better than a lot of TV, especially the second half.

 

[RoJoHen]

Season 5 is only bad (and even "bad" is a huge stretch, I think) in the first half. The second half contains some of the best stuff in the entire series.

 

[JD]

I say get it. I watched it for the first time a couple years ago and I really enjoyed it. I didn't really have that much of a problem with season 5, while it might not be the show's best season, I still enjoyed it. But then again I'm very easy to please so I might not be the best judge.
Sure some of the episodes aren't that great, but very few shows are 100% good from beginning to end. I haven't seen Crusade so I can't say anything about it.