Should I watch B5?

[Timewalker]

I couldn't go further than Season 1, with Sinclair. I never cared/had the opportunity to watch the other 4 seasons....

I found Sinclair a big snooze. But Sheridan is terrific!

In my opinion, Babylon5 is clearly inferior to BSG and DS9

There are not enough smileys in the known universe to express my disagreement with this opinion.

The strengths of Babylon 5 are its writing and the characters. The writing is epic and, in places, positively Shakespearean in scope. The characters, likewise. And Babylon 5 can boast several coups that DS9 and fake-Battlestar Galactica can't: guest appearances by Michael York, Melissa Gilbert, Harlan Ellison, June Lockhart (?)...

And one of the strongest female SF characters ever: Susan Ivanova!

 

[Lindley]

BSG has its problems, but I'm not sure calling it names is really helping anyone's credibility here.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

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 was wondering about that. Just started watching the DVDs myself (up to episode 8 atm) and was slightly confused when the show just got into the storyline so abruptly without really setting the universe up, but I just figured that was how B5 did things. Should I go back and try to find the pilot before going any further, or just ignore it and continue as is?

guest appearances by Michael York, Melissa Gilbert, Harlan Ellison, June Lockhart

Who?

 

[Timewalker]

BSG has its problems, but I'm not sure calling it names is really helping anyone's credibility here.

To me, it's fake. So I called it fake. It's the politest word I could think of, and I'm not directing it at any forum member. So where does credibility enter into the argument?

There are people here who say unflattering things about some of my favorite shows, actors, authors, etc. I'm not slagging them about "credibility"...

 

[OmahaStar]

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 was wondering about that. Just started watching the DVDs myself (up to episode 8 atm) and was slightly confused when the show just got into the storyline so abruptly without really setting the universe up, but I just figured that was how B5 did things. Should I go back and try to find the pilot before going any further, or just ignore it and continue as is?

I'd say go for it. Netflix it, then you won't have to pay for the movie set this early. It sets up things for the first season (and things beyond) ... The makeup is wildly different, costumes vary, but the characters are there. Mostly. Some differences there too. But worth a watch at some time. Maybe when you're missing Sinclair later on.

 

[Lindley]

BSG has its problems, but I'm not sure calling it names is really helping anyone's credibility here.

To me, it's fake. So I called it fake. It's the politest word I could think of, and I'm not directing it at any forum member. So where does credibility enter into the argument?

There are people here who say unflattering things about some of my favorite shows, actors, authors, etc. I'm not slagging them about "credibility"...

Of course it's fake, it's a TV show. Don't mind me too much, I just don't want anyone thinking there's a significant crossover between B5 fans and the 70s-BSG-only crowd, because that latter includes some real nuts. I'm not saying you're one of those, it's just a "don't associate us with them" type deal.

I'm not a huge fan of the new show or anything....I just watch it, it's usually okay. Thought pretty much the same of the old series when I saw that a few years back. But some of the anti-BSG2004 crowd can just get weird sometimes.

 

[Neroon]

BSG has its problems, but I'm not sure calling it names is really helping anyone's credibility here.

To me, it's fake. So I called it fake. It's the politest word I could think of, and I'm not directing it at any forum member. So where does credibility enter into the argument?

There are people here who say unflattering things about some of my favorite shows, actors, authors, etc. I'm not slagging them about "credibility"...

Of course it's fake, it's a TV show. Don't mind me too much, I just don't want anyone thinking there's a significant crossover between B5 fans and the 70s-BSG-only crowd, because that latter includes some real nuts. I'm not saying you're one of those, it's just a "don't associate us with them" type deal.

I'm not a huge fan of the new show or anything....I just watch it, it's usually okay. But some of the anti-BSG crowd can just get weird sometimes.

Besides... this is a thread concerning Babylon 5. The forum for discussing BSG - of whichever generation - is up the dial a few steps.

 

[Timewalker]

From what I've noticed, there seem to be some folks around here who have a real feud going on over which is better: B5 or DS9. I'm not involved in that, because I don't see the point. They're different shows, set in different universes, have different characters, and tell very different stories.

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

So that's where I'm coming from.

And both B5 and DS9 have their strengths and weaknesses, and both are good shows. But it's like comparing apples and maple syrup. Each to its own adherents, and may everybody be happy.

Darnitall, now I wish I could see B5 again... and not one out of the 100 or so channels I get now carries it.

 

[Neroon]

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

So that's where I'm coming from.

Then please leave it at that or else take the discussion about your opposition to nuBSG to the BSG forum, please.

 

[Lindley]

From what I've noticed, there seem to be some folks around here who have a real feud going on over which is better: B5 or DS9.

Not really. That old battle is pretty much history. But because of that history, comparisons are still invited between the two, and I suppose on occasion those comparisons may rise to the level of a light skirmish.

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

So that's where I'm coming from.

Taking Neroon's request to heart, I will say only this and then drop it: The new series is a completely different show. Not an imitation, not "updated", just completely different. It's somewhat unfortunate that it had to keep the same names, but I think we both know it would have been called a rip-off of BSG if it had presented itself as unrelated.

My view, for what it's worth. End of that, back to B5.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

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 was wondering about that. Just started watching the DVDs myself (up to episode 8 atm) and was slightly confused when the show just got into the storyline so abruptly without really setting the universe up, but I just figured that was how B5 did things. Should I go back and try to find the pilot before going any further, or just ignore it and continue as is?

I'd say go for it. Netflix it, then you won't have to pay for the movie set this early. It sets up things for the first season (and things beyond) ... The makeup is wildly different, costumes vary, but the characters are there. Mostly. Some differences there too. But worth a watch at some time. Maybe when you're missing Sinclair later on.

Thanks, added it to my LoveFilm (UK Netflix equivalent) rental list now, alongside the rest of season 1.

 

[MarianLH]

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 was wondering about that. Just started watching the DVDs myself (up to episode 8 atm) and was slightly confused when the show just got into the storyline so abruptly without really setting the universe up, but I just figured that was how B5 did things. Should I go back and try to find the pilot before going any further, or just ignore it and continue as is?

It's not essential, but I would recommend it. It has a character who returns to the show toward the end of Season Two and becomes a regular for the rest of the series.

In addition to the movie box set, it's also available for less money on a single disc with In The Beginning, which, in my opinion, is the only B5 movie worth having anyway.


Marian

 

[Smiley]

I watched the entire five seasons without seeing The Gathering. I didn't feel like I was missing anything until one of the characters from that pilot became a regular midway through the series. Even then, it wasn't a big deal because the relevant backstory was reiterated as needed.

 

[crouteru]

While I like B5, it's a definate third place when compared with DS9 and NuBSG. Seasons 2-4 are the strongest years, with season 1 suffering the same problems as DS9's first season (lack of focus, teething problems, etc.) and the fifth season having nothing particualrly relevant to add to the series after the main plotlines concluded at the end of season 4. I never really liked Sheridan or Garabaldi, and it was mostly the alien characters that gave the best performances. The CGI effects haven't aged very well, especially on the DVD releases.

 

[Lindley]

The CGI effects haven't aged very well, especially on the DVD releases.

Yeah, the CGI files were lost, and for the most part weren't rendered in widescreen anyway. So any CG shot is actually being cropped, and is most likely taken from an NTSC source. Frankly I'm surprised it looks as good as it does.

 

[ATimson]

The CGI effects haven't aged very well, especially on the DVD releases.

Yeah, the CGI files were lost, and for the most part weren't rendered in widescreen anyway. So any CG shot is actually being cropped, and is most likely taken from an NTSC source. Frankly I'm surprised it looks as good as it does.

Even with the cropping, it should look significantly better than it does; WB screwed up when making the widescreen masters.

 

[Harvey]

Considering that WB let the original film elements to the Gathering be partially eaten by rats, I'm not surprised. Hell, the bean counters at their home video division took so long to make a decision about the Lost Tales (while that DVD was making a nice profit, according to JMS) that they missed the deadline of the writer's strike and frustrated JMS to the point that the series has been essentially canceled after one successful volume. They clearly don't know what to do with the property at all.

I'm glad to have Babylon 5 on DVD, but the poor quality of those box sets is almost inexcusable. At least they're selling for under 20 dollars now.

 

[Danoz]

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

Never seen old BSG, and I'm a huge fan of the new show. To be honest, from what I've read the old show seems quite different.

 

[Timewalker]

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

Never seen old BSG, and I'm a huge fan of the new show. To be honest, from what I've read the old show seems quite different.

I've been told not to discuss this here, so perhaps we could either PM or find a BSG thread...

 

[Harvey]

But nuBSG took the name of an old show and tried to say it was basically the same, just "updated a little." Sorry, it's not. It's fake. It's like taking imitation vanilla extract and trying to pass it off as real vanilla extract, and then wondering why those who can tell the difference are offended.

Never seen old BSG, and I'm a huge fan of the new show. To be honest, from what I've read the old show seems quite different.

In short, the building blocks are all the same. 12 colonies, Starbuck, Apollo, Adama, Baltar, Tigh, Boomer, Vipers, the holocaust perpetrated by the Cylons, Baltar's betrayal of humanity, Baltar ends up on base ship, Baltar is re-captured and jailed, Baltar is released from jail.

But in execution, philosophy, and tone, the original Battlestar Galactica and the new Battlestar Galactica are diametrically opposed.