Should I watch B5?

[Mr Light]

BABYLON 5 is the greatest television show ever made, and I can't see anything supplanting it any time soon. I used to think DS9 was my favorite show, but that was before I found B5; rewatching it today DS9 feels slow and antiquated.

That said, the first season is a bit of a clunker. Stick with it. It gets better.

 

[Jan]

I imagine low ratings were the reason for cancelation, right ? How come TNT decided to buy it ?

No, ratings really had nothing to do with it. B5 was one of a few shows comprising the original programming for the then-new PTEN (Prime Time Entertainment Network). At the end of season 3, that network ceased to exist but there were enough stations willing to sign on to carry it to make it possible for there to be a fourth season, no more. TNT wanted to buy the reruns and wanted to commission some movies to go with them end ended up picking up the fifth season.

And to answer the original question, if you like television that rewards paying close attention and that is good for many repeat viewings, you should enjoy B5.

Jan

 

[Mistral]

B5 had no such luck----it struggled for renewal every year.

As i'm not aware of what was going on when the show first aired, were they under the impression that they may not return for a 5th season ?

Because that last episode of season 4,The Deconstruction of Falling Stars, had a real "end of the show" feel to it.

As stated, they were canceled.But JMS saw the writing on the wall and chiseled money off of each episode in S4 so he could make Sleeping In Light just in case that was it. Deconstruction... was meant to be in Season 5 but got pushed to its role in S4 because they thought they were through-they even had a series wrap party-then the daring folk at TNT swooped in and saved them at the last moment. TNT reran the series in order(BLESS YOU, TNT!) so fools like me who didn't pay attention to S1 could see it like JMS meant it to be seen and then funded S5 so JMS could finish right.
One of the weirdest stories in TV history(the behind the scenes story) but it all worked out in the end. Enjoy-its still a wonderful way to spend a week or so. Faith Manages.

 

[exodus]

In my opinion, Babylon5 is clearly inferior to BSG and DS9, but it's still an interesting show and worth watching.

I agree.

While not a huge fan, I'm still glad in watched the whole thing thru. Londo and G'Kar are worth every moment and give Emmy worth performances. Very little in Trek comes thru as strong or as heart felt as G'Kar speech on the need to be free.

 

[Harvey]

I would recommend it, but not without hesitation. Most people have problems with the pilot (The Gathering--which isn't on the season one box set, but in the movies box set) and season one. I've come to like those early episodes more, after finishing the series, but it'll be slow going the first time through.

Season two starts of shaky, but quickly picks up. The last four or five episodes are some of the series' best.

Season three is great from beginning to end. It's the high water mark of the series for me.

Season four is pretty good, but certain points feel rushed (because they are rushed, do to impending cancellation that was later reversed in the eleventh hour).

Season five is a mixed bag. The opening arc is mediocre, but after that it picks up. The final episode (filmed during season four) is a perfect finale.

 

[Danoz]

My only reservation is the commitment of starting another universe. But, if it's worth it, then I enjoy embarking on a new story like this... I'll get season one on Netflix.

 

[JD]

I just watched it earlier this year, and I loved it. Personally, I would say it's about equal to nBSG, and DS9 in terms of quality. In fact, it's one of my all time favorite Sci-Fi shows, along with (in no particular order) Torchwood, Doctor Who, Farscape, the Star Treks, Stargates, Firefly, and nBSG.

 

[Mistral]

In my opinion, Babylon5 is clearly inferior to BSG and DS9, but it's still an interesting show and worth watching.

I agree.

While not a huge fan, I'm still glad in watched the whole thing thru. Londo and G'Kar are worth every moment and give Emmy worth performances. Very little in Trek comes thru as strong or as heart felt as G'Kar speech on the need to be free.

I am actually fond of Sinclair's speech in S1 about the end of the Earth-it felt kind of real to me. But you are right-Londo and G'Kar are unforgettable characters. And Vir. That "Moon-faced assasin of joy" is great.

 

[SalvorHardin]

And I've got to say that Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasik are a big part of what makes this show great. Great performances and great characters. Every moment they are on the screen is enjoyable. One of the biggest problems of Season 4 I think was that they had very few appearances.

 

[Smiley]

B5 is absolutely worth your time. If you like Trek, especially DS9, then you will probably enjoy this series as well.

 

[JNG]

Looks like mostly fans of the show responded, as we would expect. Certainly it had enough fans to run for a while, so maybe you will be one of the people who likes it too if you decide to give it a shot.

But for the sake of honesty, I'll share my experience with watching the show, which was not positive. Addressing specifics wouldn't work since you haven't seen it, but I'll sum it up this way: I sat through a lot of clunky episodes waiting for the Big Revelations, and then each Big Revelation made me more than the last, making me wish I'd never bothered. I sometimes felt embarrassed for the actors, some of whom were doing a good job and deserved better.

Good luck either way!

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Yeah, give it a shot. It's got that same sort of 'story arc sci-fi' vibe of DS9 and BSG. Inferior production values and acting but superior story plotting.

 

[LitmusDragon]

I liked it, and would recommend it to anyone interested in sci-fi. It's a different take on the "military in space" theme that Trek also explored. It has some great, memorable characters and performances.

 

[DWF]

Yes it's a series that all sci-fi fans should watch.

 

[OmahaStar]

I'm debating starting a new series, but obviously B5 is a big commitment.

I'm a big fan of DS9/BSG, but most of my frame of reference is Trek, and some science fiction novels.

Worth it?

Danoz, please allow me to give you a little bit of advice before you start watching, without spoiling the series for you.

The entire five years was mapped out before the first episode aired. Changes happened here and there, but the overall story is there starting with the first few frames of the first episode. Many people complain about the first season being "weak". The season is setting up the rest of the series. Things that happen are referenced in later episodes, sometimes years later.

People change. Please remember the era this was in. Look at Star Trek TNG. At the end of any given episode, nothing has changed. The characters are exactly the same at the end as they are at the beginning. Two or three characters may get a promotion sometime in the 7 years, but for the most part, nothing actually changes. Babylon 5 changed things. The characters change, they grow, they evolve. Comparing how characters are in the beginning of the series with their counterparts at the end is a huge contrast.

No one on Babylon 5 is who they seem, or who you think at first.

The first episode is a pretty darn strong one. It's followed by a few that are weaker. By the time you get to the second disc, well ... all four episodes are brilliant. And even their brilliance doesn't hold a candle to what we get later in the first season, and even that pales next to seasons 3-4.

In other words, it stumbles a bit at the beginning, and then gets better and better and better. It rewards you for paying attention.

Hell, I'll even give a non-spoiler example ... In the second season, one character utters a single word. It's a word we learn late in the first season. If you weren't paying attention, well it doesn't mean anything to you (at that point). If you were, and remember what that word means, shivers will go down your spine.

 

[exodus]

In my opinion, Babylon5 is clearly inferior to BSG and DS9, but it's still an interesting show and worth watching.

I agree.

While not a huge fan, I'm still glad in watched the whole thing thru. Londo and G'Kar are worth every moment and give Emmy worth performances. Very little in Trek comes thru as strong or as heart felt as G'Kar speech on the need to be free.

I am actually fond of Sinclair's speech in S1 about the end of the Earth-it felt kind of real to me. But you are right-Londo and G'Kar are unforgettable characters. And Vir. That "Moon-faced assasin of joy" is great.

Best Vir scene is him waving at the head on a pike.


Vir knows karma.................NIKE.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I'm debating starting a new series, but obviously B5 is a big commitment.

I'm a big fan of DS9/BSG, but most of my frame of reference is Trek, and some science fiction novels.

Worth it?

Danoz, please allow me to give you a little bit of advice before you start watching, without spoiling the series for you.

The entire five years was mapped out before the first episode aired. Changes happened here and there, but the overall story is there starting with the first few frames of the first episode. Many people complain about the first season being "weak". The season is setting up the rest of the series. Things that happen are referenced in later episodes, sometimes years later.

People change. Please remember the era this was in. Look at Star Trek TNG. At the end of any given episode, nothing has changed. The characters are exactly the same at the end as they are at the beginning. Two or three characters may get a promotion sometime in the 7 years, but for the most part, nothing actually changes. Babylon 5 changed things. The characters change, they grow, they evolve. Comparing how characters are in the beginning of the series with their counterparts at the end is a huge contrast.

No one on Babylon 5 is who they seem, or who you think at first.

The first episode is a pretty darn strong one. It's followed by a few that are weaker. By the time you get to the second disc, well ... all four episodes are brilliant. And even their brilliance doesn't hold a candle to what we get later in the first season, and even that pales next to seasons 3-4.

In other words, it stumbles a bit at the beginning, and then gets better and better and better. It rewards you for paying attention.

Hell, I'll even give a non-spoiler example ... In the second season, one character utters a single word. It's a word we learn late in the first season. If you weren't paying attention, well it doesn't mean anything to you (at that point). If you were, and remember what that word means, shivers will go down your spine.

It's been awhile.... which word was that. use spoiler code or PM me. I wanna know without sitting through the show (More because of lack of time than laziness)

 

[Lindley]

Spoiler: word

Zathras

 

[Mr Light]

That's funny I thought they were talking about the Kosh "yes" thing. I guess that does make more sense

 

[OmahaStar]

That's funny I thought they were talking about the Kosh "yes" thing. I guess that does make more sense

Lindley isn't always wrong. He has the correct word. The word "yes" is hardly something people would have to remember. It's a commonly used word in English. The word Lindley points out ... not so much. Which is why it's fun to remember it ... and get the payoff for it. In a "holy shit, wtf just happened?" sort of way. And yet for those who aren't paying attention, it doesn't mean a thing. I love that.