Babylon 5 first time watching - specific viewing order?

[Riverside2233]

I just noticed Babylon 5 is streaming on Amazon Prime. I've never watched it - not one episode. As per usual with all things science fiction and space opera I am LATE to the party, but I'm embracing it all now.

Two big questions moving forward:
1. Should I watch the TV pilot movie "The Gathering" first? I've read that characters change going into S1, and I can't find it streaming anywhere. Unless I buy the used DVD it seems tough to track down.

2. Other than production order, does anyone have specific viewing orders that blend the shows and movies?

 

[Sophie74656]

I am in the same boat. I want to start watching. Looking forward to someone answering this

 

[RandyS]

Yes, watch The Gathering first.

 

[BillJ]

I'm midway through season four, and still haven't seen The Gathering.

 

[BillJ]

So I'm looking on Amazon. They only have the streaming rights to season 1, 2, 4 and 5. Somehow they left out season three.

 

[dahj]

The Gathering is a pilot that sets up the whole thing obviously, but you won't be lost without it, everything important gets brought up again, so if it's difficult to track feel free to give it a miss.

As for viewing order, keeping it simple is the best way to go: the pilot, the show and then the movies.

One of the movies(In the Beginning) is a prequel that basically spoils a lot of revelations made during the show, so definitely avoid that. Another one(Thirdspace) is set during Season 4, but has no impact on what's happening on the show at the time so might as well leave that for later too, the other movies take place after the show anyway.

 

[Riverside2233]

So I'm looking on Amazon. They only have the streaming rights to season 1, 2, 4 and 5. Somehow they left out season three.

Lol. Naturally. I wonder why.

 

[Riverside2233]

The Gathering is a pilot that sets up the whole thing obviously, but you won't be lost without it, everything important gets brought up again, so if it's difficult to track feel free to give it a miss.

As for viewing order, keeping it simple is the best way to go: the pilot, the show and then the movies.

One of the movies(In the Beginning) is a prequel that basically spoils a lot of revelations made during the show, so definitely avoid that. Another one(Thirdspace) is set during Season 4, but has no impact on what's happening on the show at the time so might as well leave that for later too, the other movies take place after the show anyway.

Good to know! Thanks.

 

[DigificWriter]

The best viewing order in which to watch the series is sadly not available any longer, but, yes, The Gathering should be watched first if access to it is available.

 

[DrCorby]

My wife and I watched it as it originally aired and liked it a lot, so that order obviously worked. I agree with those saying to watch The Gathering first, if at all possible, and save In the Beginning for much later, due to spoilers.

We're in the middle of a rewatch with our late-teen kids now, and we're following the order recommended by the show's creator (affectionately known as JMS). An easy place to find it is at http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=11675. That order incorporates all the movies and later series. It's working well for us, and the kids are enjoying it very much. (They had already seen The Legends of the Rangers TV movie / failed pilot, and thus were already huge fans of G'kar, so they've been interested in watching the character's journey from The Gathering through the rest of the series.)

 

[tomalak301]

I've been doing a rewatch and I've actually been going by the Lurkers Guide Master episode list. There's been some discrepincies to that order and DVD order, but I've found a much more rewarding experience going by the Lurkers guide.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html

 

[Butters]

I watched it on tinter hooks in production order, and I’d recommend watching it that way.

Watch the series, starting with the pilot, then the TV movies, then the spin offs.

In the Beginning is a prequel story, but it’s narrative is after the B5 story ends. Thirdspace takes place during season 4, but it’s not connected. A call to arms leads in to Crusade. Legend of the Rangers was an abortive pilot, and the lost tales is the after meal chocolate you find in your jacket a year later.

Track down the novels though.

 

[Marc]

the lost tales is the after meal chocolate you find in your jacket a year later.

did give an idea of what the show could have looked like if B5 was made a decade later.

 

[DigificWriter]

I've been doing a rewatch and I've actually been going by the Lurkers Guide Master episode list. There's been some discrepincies to that order and DVD order, but I've found a much more rewarding experience going by the Lurkers guide.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html

That's the order I was trying to find (but I couldn't get the link to work), and I agree; it really is the best order in which to watch the series, and has been fully endorsed by JMS himself.

One warning, though, to the OP: In the Beginning contains spoilers for Seasons 4 and 5 of the series, so if you're "spoiler-wary", I'd hold off watching it until after you've finished Season 5.

Also, I would personally omit Sleeping in Light and instead save The Deconstruction of Falling Stars to watch as the series finale.

 

[Riverside2233]

My wife and I watched it as it originally aired and liked it a lot, so that order obviously worked. I agree with those saying to watch The Gathering first, if at all possible, and save In the Beginning for much later, due to spoilers.

We're in the middle of a rewatch with our late-teen kids now, and we're following the order recommended by the show's creator (affectionately known as JMS). An easy place to find it is at http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=11675. That order incorporates all the movies and later series. It's working well for us, and the kids are enjoying it very much. (They had already seen The Legends of the Rangers TV movie / failed pilot, and thus were already huge fans of G'kar, so they've been interested in watching the character's journey from The Gathering through the rest of the series.)

Thanks!

 

[Riverside2233]

I watched it on tinter hooks in production order, and I’d recommend watching it that way.

Watch the series, starting with the pilot, then the TV movies, then the spin offs.

In the Beginning is a prequel story, but it’s narrative is after the B5 story ends. Thirdspace takes place during season 4, but it’s not connected. A call to arms leads in to Crusade. Legend of the Rangers was an abortive pilot, and the lost tales is the after meal chocolate you find in your jacket a year later.

Track down the novels though.

Thanks

 

[Riverside2233]

So I'm looking on Amazon. They only have the streaming rights to season 1, 2, 4 and 5. Somehow they left out season three.

Season 3 is now PRIME. I legit sent in a comment on it and they e-mailed me this afternoon saying it was an IT issue that is now resolved.

 

[DigificWriter]

Season 3 is now PRIME. I legit sent in a comment on it and they e-mailed me this afternoon saying it was an IT issue that is now resolved.

Cool.

 

[tomalak301]

Also, I would personally omit Sleeping in Light and instead save The Deconstruction of Falling Stars to watch as the series finale.

I'm actually considering saving DOFS and watching it after I see Sleeping in Light. DOFS is such a weird season finale. It almost feels more like an epilogue to the entire show rather than an episode that ends season 4. Yeah I get that they weren't sure if they would get a season 5, (If they hadn't would Sleeping in Light have aired after?) but it still feels like a weird episode.

 

[DigificWriter]

Sleeping in Light does absolutely nothing for me narratively, and actually works AGAINST Season 5, IMO, because of when it was shot. The Deconstruction of Falling Stars works much better as a series finale because it contains subtle references to things that we actually see happen in Season 5, and reveals the ultimate fate of far more characters than just Sheridan.