So... B5 has absolutely no relation to the Star Trek series?

Well, they do both take place in space.

Hmm... guess my friend was wrong. Disregard my comments then... here's something though. I looked it up in IMDB and discovered that the creator of B5 and writer of most of the episodes has an impressive resume writing for tv.

Murder, She Wrote
Walker, Texas Ranger
Captain Power
Jake and the Fatman
He Man and the Masters of the Universe
She-Ra, Princess of Power
The Real Ghostbusters

Or, as Joe calls it, "Jake and the Fatman (I'm Sorry.)"

Actually, Captain Power was a lot better than anyone had a right to think it would be. I wish they'd release it on DVD.

Babylon 5 is for everybody.

Except my wife, who refuses to watch any of "those space shows". *sigh* That's gotta be grounds for divorce, right?

I'm a big B5 pusher and find that a lot of people are resistant to science fiction. They think it's all pulp. But, if I can get them to watch several episodes, then they are hooked. It is the best story ever told on tv, imho.

I'd say yes, watch B5 all the way through. In season 1, you'll be thinking to yourself, "Where the hell is all this going?"

By the end of season 4 you'll be kicking yourself for not watching it sooner. Babylon 5 is like a 120 hour long movie. Things that happen in season 1 directly (and indirectly) have consequences in Season 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Watch it, trust us, you'll love it. If not, I'll give you all of my bling.

cfg

Another DS9 fan who also loves B5, and gives both shows an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Agreed, the first season of B5 can be slow, but has its share of very good episodes ("Infection", "Deathwalker", "Babylon Squared"). The most important part of this season is to pay attention to certain events and realize that posed mysteries (e.g., what do Vorlons look like?) will be answered. Season one is also what helps establish what's going on in each government and how it affects the people on the station and sets up the much larger picture later.

If you want some help in what to keep in mind, go to <a href="http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/eplist.html">The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5</a> for a breakdown on each episode's important points. You might want to watch the episode first, then go read the analysis. Be warned, though - sometimes spoilers will be revealed, but you'll be warned. This is a really helpful sight that added to my enjoyment of the show due to the small things I missed when I first watched it on the tube (like in "The Parliament of Dreams", when G'kar swaps a piece of fruit with Ivanova, who doesn't realize).

Also realize that you will get space battles - and some really big ones, too - but it will take a while. The SFX of the first season can be hit or miss, but it gets much, much better.

To put it in DS9 terms: think "In The Pale Moonlight" for politics, and "The Way of the Warrior" for battles.

In a word, yes...

Well, I just finished disc one of season one. It's okay so far I guess, but parts of it are hard to sit through. Do any of the following things get better?:

1. Londo - So far I HATE this character. I hate the way he sounds (I seriously cringe whenever he comes onscreen with that weird Russian-esque accent), I hate the way he looks. Please tell me this character gets more tolerable.

2. Insect Man - I don't hate the animatronic insect guy, but I bust into laughter every time he comes onscreen. Whenever he shows up I feel like I'm momentarily transported to the Satellite of Love.

3. The CGI - I know it's early era CGI, and I can mostly deal with it, but does this improve?

I had similar feelings after getting through season 1 along with really having no attachment to any of the characters, though I did like Kosh from the start. Very soon into season 2 this all changed for me and by season 3 I just couldn't stop watching.

In the history of television, I cannot recall a single character that has gone through more of a change over the course of a series. If you hate him now, wait. (Although how he looks isn't going to change).

Isn't his hair bad all through season 1, or is it just The Gathering where his hair was awful?

N'Grath isn't a major character. You'll see little of him

CGI definitely got better as the tech progressed.

I'd probably give up now. It's not going to get much better.

das

:lol:

rotfl @ das

Okay, okay fine. If it's as bad as you say... ;)

For the record, I hated the first episode of Buffy I saw (Go Fish) but luckily the next few I saw were part of the Angelus storyline, and I was instantlyhooked. It's now my all-time favorite show. I have to admit if I had watched from the beginning I may not have stuck with it, but having seen the good stuff early, it made those early episodes easier to watch when I finally got around to them.

This just makes me wonder if I'm the type that would actually be better served by jumping ahead to the good stuff, then going back to the early eps for background info once I was hooked. I know everyone has their method, and I really do want to like the show, honest. But I've historically been a quick bailer on shows that didn't instantly grab me, only to give them a second chance later on and love them. Sopranos, Sex and the City, and 24 are a few examples.

I know this show gets better, from what everyone says. I'm just afraid if I have to sit through 5 more discs of stuff like "Soul Hunter" or "Born to the Purple" to get there I may not make it to the promised land.

I started watching in season 2 (IIRC) and had to go back and watch the older ones later. While it made it easier for me to get hooked, I definitly would have prefered seeing them all in order from the beginning. Otherwise you are pre-spoiled.

Don't skip ahead, it'll be worth it in the long run. Disc 2 of the first season has some much better episodes. "The Parliament of Dreams" relates a little more to the main plot, and has some good character stuff in there, "Mind War" introduces an awesome reoccuring character, as well as introduces some more plot points that get picked up much later on, and "And The Sky Full Of Stars" really starts building up several threads of the main arc.

Disc 3's episodes are, for the most part, standalone ones, but have some good character background bits, as well as a few twists here and there. Not to mention the general quality of the episodes noticably improves, with one exception later in the season (I'll tell you right now, "TKO" is generally regarded as one of the series' weaker episodes).

As far as your other concerns:

Londo: His accent gets a tiny bit less harsh later on, but it's still the same general thing. However, his storyline is one of the best things about the series, so just stick with him. The groundwork for his character arc gets laid a little after the halfway point of the first season.

N'Grath pretty much disappears completely by the time the second season rolls around.

The CGI gradually improves during the first season, but takes a more dramatic jump in quality in the second one.

That said, please keep us posted on your progress through the series. I know that I always love reading the reactions from somebody who's just discovering the show for the first time, especially when they get to the "holy crap" moments.

Signs and Portents was the turning point for me on season 1.

I don't think there's a single actor on television who can get into character in less words than Peter Jurasik: two.

"Mister Garibaldi!"

I was at Optic Nerve one day during season five, and N'Grath was sitting in the corner of the warehouse. I took a picture with me holding his head. :)

Re: Is Babylon 5 for me?
 

I am a big fan of B5. I know season 1 can be a bit difficult to sit through (grab a six pack and you'll be fine) but the payoff does come early in season 2. The movies are all pretty good (well, most of them anyway) and the story line stays true. If they tell you about something in season 1, they stick with it through the entire series.

I also love DS9 and am just finishing up with season 4. I can't say that I love DS9 more than B5 or the other way around. They both have their good and bad points.

I think you'll love B5 once you get past a few of the stinkers in season 1. Shoot, DS9 didn't get really interesting until season 3, imho. ;)

Ah, the memories. Reminds me of the days when I was trying to get laid for the first time.

I'm a great lover of Sci-Fi and have many of the series in DVD. As far as being beautiful to watch and fun my vote goes to 'Farscape' (4 seasons). Not as beautiful or fun but great charactors 'B5' is my second love. I also have STNG, DS9, Stargate-SG1, Buffy/Angel, X-files, Lexx, Highlander, and a few others I can't think of. They are an aquired taste but once you get into them you will find you watch them over and over again if only to see special scenes you come to love. I've seen the entire series of B5 at lease 6 times, with commericals on Sci-Fi channel, before it ever came out on DVD.