Yea, finally back, and rewatching Babylon 5

[shivkala]

Just have to add, Holy crap the end of season 1 is some great episodes back to back to back.

"Legacies"-> "Chrysalis" is some great stuff. Will be watching tomorrow.

With the exception of "The Quality of Mercy," I'd agree. While clunkers such as "Infection" and "TKO" all had their moments that endeared them to me, "The Quality of Mercy" (and "Believers") are just not my cup of tea. They're not horrible, but, to me, they are the weakest. "The Quality of Mercy" even moreso shoehorned between "Babylon Squared" and "Chrysalis."

 

[Distorted Humor]

Just have to add, Holy crap the end of season 1 is some great episodes back to back to back.

"Legacies"-> "Chrysalis" is some great stuff. Will be watching tomorrow.

With the exception of "The Quality of Mercy," I'd agree. While clunkers such as "Infection" and "TKO" all had their moments that endeared them to me, "The Quality of Mercy" (and "Believers") are just not my cup of tea. They're not horrible, but, to me, they are the weakest. "The Quality of Mercy" even moreso shoehorned between "Babylon Squared" and "Chrysalis."

Well, "The Quality of Mercy" is more of a stand-alone episode (even if some of its plot carries on later.) It does not have the "Wham" effect of say, Voice in the Wilderness or Chrysalis, but I would put Quality of Mercy above say, "Eyes" or "By any means necessary" but below "Deathwalker"

(I put Deathwalker as about the line of REALLY good to just good in season 1, even if Deathwalker would not get that ranking in seasons 2-4.) or as one of my friends who watched season 1 but is not a Science fiction fan...

"The watchable to the utter crap that you happen to enjoy"

I would put these episodes as noteworthy good.

"Chrysalis", "Babylon Squared", "A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 1)", "Signs and Portents", "Deathwalker", "And the Sky Full of Stars", "Mind War" and perhaps "The Parliament of Dreams".

the episodes that are unwatchable are "Soul Hunter", "Infection", "The War Prayer", and "TKO" for me.

The rest I might like, but I LIKE space station shows...

 

[DeepSpaceWine]

"Legacies"-> "Chrysalis" is some great stuff. Will be watching tomorrow

Ironically, many episodes from this block were never rerunned. "Legacies", "Babylon Squared", "The Quality of Mercy", "Chrysalis", past their original broadcasts weren't seen again til 1998!

 

[Jan]

Ironically, many episodes from this block were never rerunned. "Legacies", "Babylon Squared", "The Quality of Mercy", "Chrysalis", past their original broadcasts weren't seen again til 1998!

That probably depends on what your local PTEN station wanted to do. In my market I always had the main showing on Wednesday and an encore showing on either Saturday or Sunday. I seem to have had one of the few stable schedules for the show.

Jan

 

[Sindatur]

Ironically, many episodes from this block were never rerunned. "Legacies", "Babylon Squared", "The Quality of Mercy", "Chrysalis", past their original broadcasts weren't seen again til 1998!

That probably depends on what your local PTEN station wanted to do. In my market I always had the main showing on Wednesday and an encore showing on either Saturday or Sunday. I seem to have had one of the few stable schedules for the show.

Jan

I'm not aware of the weekend Repeat, but, Mine was stable as Wednesday Prime Time coupled with Trek

 

[shivkala]

Well, "The Quality of Mercy" is more of a stand-alone episode (even if some of its plot carries on later.)

True, and in a show like Babylon 5, the stand-alone episodes must have been tough to write. If I were in charge, I'd want these episodes to be either really damned good or, at least really relevant. I don't find "The Quality of Mercy" to be either. Yes, it does introduce the alien healing device, but in my opinion, the parts with Steven and Laura/Janice should have been more of a B-plot. I also think that it would have been better without Janice. Then we could have gotten more of Stephen vs. Laura, without the Stephen/Janice bits (I never really liked the two of them, especially since it's never mentioned again. Character arc wise, if you take out the Stephen/Janice relationship, where it was clear that they liked each other, but had the issue of Laura in the way, it works better for Stephen.

That leaves the Stephen/Mariah ("The Long Dark") relationship, which was kind of creepy, seeing as how, from her perspective, she was newly widowed and Cailyn ("Walkabout"), who used Stephen and, ultimately, just wanted a fling before she died.

Which brings us to Stephen/Number One, which worked because it was just a physical thing. Without Janice, the relationships we see Stephen in add to his ineptitude. With Janice, he's actually seen as somewhat charming, once he no longer has to prove he's right. To me, this goes to show that Stephen could have had a healthy relationship. I prefer to view him as more of Geordi, inept in relationships, which, again, is why Stephen/Number One worked so well, as he didn't have to try at the relationship, he just needed to be good in the sack.

Which adds to his friendship with Ivanova, as she, like him, is just not cut out for relationships. It also adds to his friendship with Marcus, his opposite, romantically, as he probably would have been great in a relationship, if he'd actually had the opportunity (and pursued it). Marcus sees Stephen as having the means to have what he wants, but just not the ability to handle it. This also goes to Marcus', "Touch passion" speech to Franklin.

For the TL;DR crowd: The alien healing device should have been a B-plot, Stephen is inept at relationships, and hitting it off with Janice (especially at the end) kind of ruins that a bit.

In discussing this, I've come to a realization: As much as I like Stephen Franklin as a character, I never truly warmed to episodes that center around him. I think pairing him with Marcus in season 3 and 4 really did wonders for his character, as I liked that portrayal of him better than I like the ones in Franklin-centric episodes like "The Quality of Mercy" and "Believers."

 

[DonIago]

I liked Franklin's story in "Walkabout"...but depending on how you look at it that may not indicate a genuine affection for the character.

 

[JoeD80]

I personally appreciate the Franklin relationship stories. But regardless, Quality of Mercy is awesome because of Londo & Lennier.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I personally appreciate the Franklin relationship stories. But regardless, Quality of Mercy is awesome because of Londo & Lennier.

... and who can forget Londo's special attribute?

 

[Sindatur]

Wasn't he severely sick with a Flu and under a tight deadline (after a problem with his notes or some other inconvenience) when he wrote Quality of Mercy?

 

[Jan]

Wasn't he severely sick with a Flu and under a tight deadline (after a problem with his notes or some other inconvenience) when he wrote Quality of Mercy?

I don't recall JMS saying anything about an issue with his notes but yes, he was sick when he wrote the script:

Of all the scripts I've written, the only one that I'm less than absolutely 100% thrilled with is "The Quality of Mercy," because I wrote it while absolutely sick with the flu, and have NO memory even of writing it. As it is, though, I'm about 90% happy with it, particularly the B-story with Londo and Lennier, which came out great.

Jan

 

[Distorted Humor]

Franklin really creeped me out when he was going so hard for the new widow.

 

[shivkala]

^^^
Which adds to my comment that Franklin is the Geordi of B5.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Babylon Squared

Ok, it still a doozy of a episode, and time travel episodes are always a little hairy (Thankfully, Babylon 5 tries to limit its time travel to suitably epic situations.) But it provides a lot of wonderful "WHAT??" moments, and the ending is still a Wooah moment. Or I think they call it a "Wham" episode.

The Gray Council bits counterbalance the the other parts well, and in case you where wondering. Button and zip.

B+

Quality of Mercy

The opening sequence caught me off guard, first, it is a throwaway guy on the screen that turns out to be a important character and when londo goes "Touch this" and touches the side of his chest, when you know about there anatomy, with the statue in the background. CLASSIC!!!

Supposedly this episode is about Stephen kinda finding a girl, a Alien Healing Tech, and the very disturbing idea of "death of personality". It not, that is the B-plot to the wonderful adventures of Londo and Lennier exploring the strip club and poker and it is almost a buddy show. And when Londo gets his tenttesticle (I Just made up that word) trapped by a ice pitcher, my my my my. He could make a fortune in Japan Animated films.

His face when he goes "Brrrr" is priceless!

Also, I really like Susan hairstyle, not as harsh as the normal "peanut head" look. Also I notced this time around that they might six slight additions to the statue of the god of Passion. Also as a final note: No wonder the girl liked Stephen, he reminded her of Dear old mom.

B

"Chrysalis"

Opens up with the most worn out plot ever, dying man tries to give last words, and fails. Catherine Sakai is stunning as always, missed her greatly in the future episodes. And we make another seemly minor character in down below that turns out to be important in a later episode. Also Susan in a blue dress... yippy!!

Nothing will be the same, it is still shocking that they kill the president. Not even 24 was able to pull that off. A lot of little touches work well in this episode, Including a hand that reaches out and snuffs out the base. been catching all the hand symbolism this time around. Poor Londo, going from a funny guy to a tragic figure, and the process has begun. Also, must add that the episode is a great way to end a mixed season 3.

And I miss Sinclair. I know he was "Wooden" but I actually like him better then "Nuke them" Sheridan.

In conclusion




Freaking Amazing Episodes of Season 1

Signs and Portents

Excellent Episodes

Chrysalis
Babylon Squared
Voice in the Wilderness Part 1 and II
Mind War
In the beginning

Time Well Spent

Quality of Mercy
Survivors
And the Sky Full of Stars
Deathwalker

Not a waste of time

Midnight on the firing line
The Gathering

Ok if you like Babylon 5

Legacies
Born To the Purple
Parliament of dreams
Believers
By Any Means Necessary
Eyes

You die and go to hell, and turn on the TV and it playing these episodes

Soul Hunter
Infection
The War Prayer
TKO
Grail

 

[Distorted Humor]

^^^
Which adds to my comment that Franklin is the Geordi of B5.

I am not sure that fair to Geordi, I mean, Geordi wouldn't of hit on the widow, just since he wouldn't know how....

 

[shivkala]

^
True, unless he created a holodeck version of her. Man those Enterprise engineers and their holodeck women!

I really liked Sinclair, as well. And even though I'm sure you're aware, I do feel the need to point out that Sinclair is "wooden," so it makes sense that Michael O'Hare played him that way. I don't take it as O'Hare is a bad actor, as some assumed, rather the opposite.

Looking back, is it me, or does the part of "A Day in the Strife" when Sheridan confronts the worker who complained that they had all the weapons and he just had what he had seems more like Sinclair than Sheridan. Granted, Sinclair would not have palmed the energy cap, since, as Season 1 kept bringing up, Sinclair had a death wish, but getting into the middle of that and swapping "weapons" with the worker is textbook Sinclair, in my opinion.

 

[Distorted Humor]

^
True, unless he created a holodeck version of her. Man those Enterprise engineers and their holodeck women!

I really liked Sinclair, as well. And even though I'm sure you're aware, I do feel the need to point out that Sinclair is "wooden," so it makes sense that Michael O'Hare played him that way. I don't take it as O'Hare is a bad actor, as some assumed, rather the opposite.

Looking back, is it me, or does the part of "A Day in the Strife" when Sheridan confronts the worker who complained that they had all the weapons and he just had what he had seems more like Sinclair than Sheridan. Granted, Sinclair would not have palmed the energy cap, since, as Season 1 kept bringing up, Sinclair had a death wish, but getting into the middle of that and swapping "weapons" with the worker is textbook Sinclair, in my opinion.

Good points - then again, if I had a Holodeck, I do think the first thing I would program is a hot date program, so when I am single and had a bad day, I could load it up and have fun for a bit to blow off some steam.

And yes, Sinclair was wooden, but still a badass in his own way. And perhaps his death wish would of been mitigated by Catherine. I don't think I really truly warmed up to Sheridan till Severed Dreams, till then he was more of a method of telling the shadow story.

 

[DeepSpaceWine]

That probably depends on what your local PTEN station wanted to do. In my market I always had the main showing on Wednesday and an encore showing on either Saturday or Sunday. I seem to have had one of the few stable schedules for the show.

That gets into the definition of "original broadcast". Syndicated shows in the '90s usually had 2 airings a week unless they got some kind of waiver or outright violated the contract. Usually 1 would air at a reasonable time, the other airing varied depending on your market. Sometimes it was Sat or Sun at a reasonable time, kinda late, or sometimes it was in some obscene overnight hour. Later on, channels scrapped one of the timeslots and sometimes that 2nd timeslot became the only timeslot.

Regardless, for those episodes, past their original week of broadcast, they weren't shown til TNT started airing the episodes in weekday syndication.

 

[JoeD80]

And yes, Sinclair was wooden, but still a badass in his own way. And perhaps his death wish would of been mitigated by Catherine.

Well I think Garibaldi's talk in "Infection" already affected his death-wish a little bit. But even if Sinclair had been around for the full five years, Catherine was a doomed character, set to have her mind erased around season three.

I don't think I really truly warmed up to Sheridan till Severed Dreams, till then he was more of a method of telling the shadow story.

Well he was also already connected to the civil war story in his first appearance - when General Hague gives him his assignment. We just don't get the full picture of that until Hague's second appearance in "All Alone in the Night."