So, this 'Babylon 5' thing better be good...

[Harvey]

For a first time viewer, start with The Gathering, and then watch the series in the Lurker's Guide order (slightly different at times than the order on the DVDs). Watch the movies and Crusade, if you get it, afterwards.

And keep in mind that, at times, production values and acting aren't up to the standards you might be used to. Season one stumbles around trying to define its voice. It improves over time. Be careful to steer clear of spoilers. And enjoy!

 

[crouteru]

Thirdspace (fast forward when you get to the elevator scene, seriously)

I've never seen Thirdspace, but I keep hearing about this scene. What happens? Does anybody have a clip online?

 

[Harvey]

Why would you fast forward during the elevator scene? It's one of only a few moments those two characters get together before Straczynski commits character assassination on one of them in season five.

 

[Neroon]

I know the basics of what Babylon 5 is and what it's about, but I've never properly seen a single episode. So hey, why not buy the complete boxset? Makes sense to me

And sensibly you have acted. Quite logical.

And no doubt this has been asked a million times and more, but what order should I watch in it?
I'd prefer to go by the airdates please

The link that Jan supplied is a good one to go with. You will find that The Lurker's Guide is an invaluable resource, filled with good questions and reference data. It contains no reviews, though each episode's guide page does have a rating of fans from their initial airing.

Other lists to use from that same site:

Complete list with "WHAM" episodes highlighted. A "WHAM" episode is one that significantly advances the overall arc story. This list highlights for each episode:
- a brief plot description
- the director and writer
- the original air date
- link to the episode's individual guide page

The master episode list. This is a slightly different list from the one we've each listed so far. It sequences the episodes in absolute chronological order, based upon the aired content of the episodes. It also inserts where the movies would take place, and also emphasizes differences from the original US airing order.

Now, these two lists add in the movies, but neither include Crusade or The Lost Tales

 

[RandyS]

You're in for a good time my friend. Babylon 5 is the third greatest thing that ever happened to Sci-fi.

As for what order you should watch, since this show has a clearly defined begining, middle, and end, I disagree that should watch in aired order first, but follow that suggestion anyway. Who knows, maybe you WILL get more out of it.

 

[Neroon]

You're in for a good time my friend. Babylon 5 is the third greatest thing that ever happened to Sci-fi.

The first two being Christina Hendricks.

 

[Mutai Sho-Rin]

Be very wary of other folks opinions of what is "crap". I took my username from the season 1 episode TKO because I thought it told two fantastic stories with a wonderful interweaving. TKO finished somewhere in the bottom 10 of most othyer people's lists. Just ignore everybody (including me) and come to your own conclusions. B5 is my all time favorite TV series, and at 62, I've seen a LOT!

 

[Candlelight]

Thirdspace (fast forward when you get to the elevator scene, seriously)

What happens?

Nothing. It's like a Seinfeld episode. Half way through you realise you want to kill yourself.

 

[RoJoHen]

You're in for a good time my friend. Babylon 5 is the third greatest thing that ever happened to Sci-fi.

The first two being Christina Hendricks.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Watch The Gathering (pilot) than the show. Don't worry about anything else YET.

By the time you get to the points in the series where the movies become relevant and applicable, (basically late season 4 and onwards), you'll either be a fan of the series at that point or you won't. No point in worrying about what order to watch the movies with until you know if you love the show or not.

 

[Forbin]

I love the elevator scene. I get to stare at Pat Tallman for, like, 5 straight minutes.

 

[Technobuilder]

Why isn't the Complete Series available in the US? (Region 1)

I'm always wondering why they do that.


It doesn't really matter as this just seems to be a grouping of all the various Boxed Sets, but still...

Only things I'm currently missing are "Crusade" & "Legend of the Rangers" and honestly (Other than G'Kar's scenes in LotR & Galen's Scenes in Crusade) I really don't miss them.

Unlike most people, I actually liked "Lost Tales" though. Smaller stories are fine to me.

 

[sidious618]

I liked Lost Tales, too. It was really cool.

 

[Neroon]

I love the elevator scene. I get to stare at Pat Tallman for, like, 5 straight minutes.

You know, if the two of us were to ever show up at a con where Pat was a guest.... she might be a tad concerned.

 

[FalTorPan]

It really doesn't matter too much what order you watch the movies but I would suggest the following:

The Gathering
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four
In The Beginning
Thirdspace (fast forward when you get to the elevator scene, seriously)
Season Five
A River of Souls (or avoid if possible, it really makes Spock's Brain look like Shakespeare)
A Call to Arms
Crusade (the episode order is all over the place due to production problems, which in itself is another TrekBBS thread; best to just watch it in the order that the box set presents itself)
Legend of the Rangers (skip the weapon's pod battle scene, you'll know it when you see it)
The Lost Tales

I've still not watched Crusade or Legend of the Rangers. One of these days...

And I enjoyed The Lost Tales, and would definitely buy more B5 short films.

 

[ATimson]

Why isn't the Complete Series available in the US? (Region 1)

Because they actually have a modicum of sense and realize that most of the people who would want it bought the individual releases? And that gimmicky packaging like WB used in the only R1 complete release I've seen (The West Wing) is just a pain in the behind?

 

[Technobuilder]

^I didn't think it was a good idea, I was just wondering why they bother to do something in one country over another. I keep thinking that "Worldwide-Everything" is just around the corner, and the Corporations still can't seem to get that right.

 

[ATimson]

I keep thinking that "Worldwide-Everything" is just around the corner, and the Corporations still can't seem to get that right.

It's actually happening with Blu-ray, with most studios besides Fox. There's still the occasional trouble title where different companies have different rights in different places in the world (Terminator 2), but a good many movies are the same disc whether you get in it Australia, North America, or the UK. (Or even elsewhere, depending on how many languages they squeezed onto the disc.)

 

[Aquehonga]

Yo Ethros dude, if TV didn't suck dead bunnies through a broken & busted straw, you wouldn't have to buy BABYLON 5

Its horsehockey bull maneure that NO TV CHANNEL(s) air B5 reruns.

I'm that you're forced to shell out dough for B5 due to TV channels being ran by professional assclowns.

TV?

 

[ATimson]

And here I'd been thinking that, at least in the US, it was because of the niche material and the not-terribly-stellar ratings the first time around, much less on the most recent sets of reruns on Sci-Fi.