Want to watch Babylon 5, but not all of it

[Cutter John]

The thing about B5 is that you start to appreciate season 1 a lot more by about midway through season 3.

You could probably get by without watching 'By Any Means Necessary' if you were really determined. That ones pretty useless.

I hear 'TKO' isn't terribly well regarded either.

 

[bigdaddy]

Seasons 2-4 are best.

 

[Neroon]

Well, I hope you're all happy. All I want to do now is go home, sit on the couch and watch B5 on Hulu.


God, I'm sad.

Oh no not at all..... you've simply become a part of that world where no shadows fall......

 

[Jan]

Yeah apparently, given recent revelations, there was a) the series before the pilot was made, b) the series during Season One, c) the series during Season Two-Three, d) the series during Season Four (with the crunch), e) the series during Season Five... and all were very very different!

Now with all the revelations on the variations of the arc, I wonder when exactly did JMS compose his notebook of 3x5 cards. Did he do it after "The Gathering?" Or after season one and the departure of O'Hare? Or did he revise the cards after season one to fit in Sheridan and tighten up the Shadow War? When did he decide, as CGI guru Mojo stated on his blog, to give the fans a happy ending, thus altering how he originally was going to end the series?

All these questions and many more will be answered on our next episode of Soap or if Jan happens to know them.

I doubt if there ever was an exactly when it came to the 3x5 cards. The cards were ideas for episodes and JMS never made any secret of the fact that, while parts of the arc couldn't be displaced, the individual episodes were generally left fluid. We saw in the script books several examples of concepts that were moved not only from episode to episode, sometimes from character to character.

As for Mojo's assertion...I don't buy it. If you read the last few script books, you saw how JMS was possitioning the story and the characters for the potential sequel series all the way back to the early 4th season. My opinion is that that, added to the chemistry between John and Delenn is what caused the change between the outline written between the time the pilot was filmed and the first season began.

Jan

 

[Crusher Disciple]

TKO is pretty bad, but the Ivanova story is really touching.

 

[Neroon]

CD... can you tell me what is the significance of Garibaldi's friend's name: "Walker Smith" ?

 

[Mr Light]

While "By Any Means" has pretty much zero arc importance I think it's a very enjoyable standalone episode (both plots) AND it's notable for being the only episode written by JMS' wife. She also wrote the B5 novel "City of Sorrows". Actually doesn't "Any Means" introduce G'Quan?

 

[rramarr]

Even when you avoid non arc episodes you miss a lot of great entertainment and character building. These characters are stories within themselves.

 

[Tulin]

I'd say there are maybe a few random episodes from Season 1 that could be skipped, but otherwise I think you really need to watch the whole thing.

The most recent viewing of the entire series for me was with my partner.

We only skipped ONE episode and that was chosen for two reasons. As the B5 EXPERT I am, I KNEW it bascially had ZERO carry on effect, in terms of foreboding or arc. Also, it is one of THE worst episodes of the series. The episode was "TKO".

You DO NOT need to see that episode. Everything else ranges from"worth your time" to "absolutely non-expendable".

 

[Tulin]

Hmm, not the answers I was hoping for, but you guys have me convinced! I'm going to take the time to watch the first season and then decide whether it's worth the other 80 or so episodes too.
Thanks for all the responses!

Back in the day, when B5 had started, I had this bet going with friends. I would show them S1 and, if at the end they wanted no more of it, I would give them $100. For each group of people I gave the show to and who declined the cash and wanted to carry on with the show, the money went up $100 more for the next bunch. It got up to $1200 and I stopped after that for fear of somebody taking me up on it!

Suffice to say, the ending of season 1 is pretty damned good and SHOULD have you hooked. Unless you are dead from the neck up, the ending of season 2 should have you SCREAMING for S3.


As for S3.......I once watched it with a friend who actually got heart palpitations.

You HAVE been warned.

 

[Jan]

Ah...if only one could repeat the first time. I'm so jealous.

Jan

 

[Crusher Disciple]

CD... can you tell me what is the significance of Garibaldi's friend's name: "Walker Smith" ?

No, after Garibaldi took his shirt off a couple of episodes ago I pretty much lost my concentration.

ETA: I hit rewind on that scene like 2 times. I'm so ashamed.

 

[Neroon]

CD... can you tell me what is the significance of Garibaldi's friend's name: "Walker Smith" ?

No, after Garibaldi took his shirt off a couple of episodes ago I pretty much lost my concentration.

ETA: I hit rewind on that scene like 2 times. I'm so ashamed.

Oh I can identify with you on that... whenever Lyta Alexander is on screen, especially later in the series.

Anyway, Garibaldi's friend is named "Walker Smith" ... the same as the man who most consider to be the pound-for-pound greatest boxer of all time - Sugar Ray Robinson. It's a pity that this actor - Greg McKinney - died so young of a complete surprise by a brain aneurysm. Link to profile.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

You know- as a "support group," you guys really aren't helping me get over my "problem."

 

[Neroon]

You know- as a "support group," you guys really aren't helping me get over my "problem."

I take great offense at being called a "support group". We're co-dependents.

 

[Starbreaker]

If you're not going to watch the whole thing, the don't bother. You'll be doing yourself a disservice.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

If you're not going to watch the whole thing, the don't bother. You'll be doing yourself a disservice.

Too late. I've already watched every dammed episode and liked them all.

 

[Smiley]

I would not recommend skipping any episodes for a first-timer. There's something of value in all of them, and one person's junk is another person's treasure. For example, I put "TKO" as one of the 25 best of the series, but many on this board heap disdain onto it. Conversely, I do not like "Grey 17 is Missing," but others find much merit in it.

 

[Neroon]

I do not like "Grey 17 is Missing," but others find much merit in it.

I don't like the A-plotabout the cult at all. But the B-plot...... is outstanding. I mean after all we get ...

Spoiler: Grey 17 Is Missing

Neroon and Marcus battling in a one-on-one that Ricky & Appollo would love.... all whil Delenn is blissfully unaware

 

[chrisspringob]

If you're not going to watch the whole thing, the don't bother. You'll be doing yourself a disservice.

See, that I disagree with. Sure, watching them all is better, but I know several people who missed some episodes along the way, but never bothered to go back and watch the ones they missed. I don't think their entire B5 experience was ruined. Not in the slightest.