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Originally Posted by chess
Holy thread resurrection!
I had some good times watching this show. It had a lot of mediocre writiing and a lot of bad acting, but when the writing and acting were good, they were absolutely brilliant. The end of S2 through the end of S4 remain some of the best television I've ever seen. I still think S5 was a huge let down, and I disagree with the idea that it would have been better if it had been mixed in with S4. If anything, it all would have dragged S4 down. BSG has certainly faded some of my love for B5, being a similar but generally superior show. If nothing else, it's certainly more consistent. BSG has also paid homage to (ripped off?) B5 at least a couple of times, particularly in "Exodus" during the first half of this season. I also FINALLY finished Farscape last month with the last starburst set coming out. It's brilliant in it's own right as well...and is probably my favorite of the three...with BSG coming on strong. I think I prefer the acting in Farscape to all of the above, and though it lacked the feel of a strong overriding story arc, the story was certainly well done. I also thought the dialogue was much more interesting and wittier. I think I just like the lighter more adventurous tone of the show. Edit to add...I forgot Firefly/Serenity! It's hard to include it since it was so short lived, but damn did I love that show...and in a way, it's good that it was so short lived in that it never had a chance to get stale. It's a great ride that you can knock out in a weekend. All 4 are superior to any Star Trek. I watched all 4 seasons of B5 with my partner, never having seen it during it's original airing, and fell in love with the show. One day while he was at work, I decided to watch the ending they had filmed for season 4 but put at the end of season 5 since I wasn't enjoying Season 5 that much. He 's never forgiven me for that! |
After watching the first season and a half of Babylon 5, I got the entire series. I started it at the beginning of the year and haven't watching a non-rental movie since I started season 2. I'm done with the first disc of season 4. At this rate, I'll be done by April. Its too good.
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I got the first four seasons on faith and just watched The Gathering and the first eight episodes of season 1. Hoping to stick with it and finish as much as possible before the DTV comes out.
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Originally Posted by das Monkey
I cannot say it more clearly than this: the 3rd Season of <i>Babylon 5</i> is probably the best complete 20+ episode season of any television series ever. I do not make that statement lightly either. I'm fully aware of how bold that sounds, but it's true. With that in mind, yeah ... it gets better. :) The first season has a lot of stinkers, but it's not terrible, and there is a wealth of information in those early episodes that you will really want to have, so trudging through them is a must.
Do not give up. I've put my neck on the line with this show countless times, and not once has someone who made it to the second season regretted it. This is an amazing television series, and you'll probably curse our recommendation many times during the early episodes, but I assure you we know what we're talking about. I envy the jouney on which you are about to embark. Keep us posted. das |
I'm 5 episodes into S3 myself, and must say that things improved quite a bit in the 2nd half of S2. Most of S1 was pretty poor, but I didn't mind knowing that I was in store for bigger and better. :) I remember my roommates watching the show when S1 aired and I tried watching it with them, but could never seem to get into it. Now I can kind of see why.
Question - why did they change the episode intro in S3? It seems to refer to events that haven't occurred yet at the start of S3? Was this just a teaser of what the season would bring? |
Originally Posted by taa455
I have watched through episode 4 of season 2 and have to say that das Monkey's post is spot on. I absolutely was cursing the recommendations of dvdtalk after watching some of the early season 1 episodes. But now the show is really picking up steam. I can't wait to see what season 3 holds!
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Originally Posted by taa455
Finished up Season 4 today. The last ep of S4 is pretty darn cool! Quirky, but cool.
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What should I watch now? Season 5 or the movies? Not sure which order everything was released in.
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Originally Posted by taa455
What should I watch now? Season 5 or the movies? Not sure which order everything was released in.
I have a list of the order in which to watch everything, but it's at home. I can post it later. Or you could search older B5 threads and find it. Edit: For where the movies fit in, check out this thread: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=445472 of this: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showpost.ph...87&postcount=5 |
Originally Posted by taa455
What should I watch now? Season 5 or the movies? Not sure which order everything was released in.
I guess the ideal thing is to watch in production order. But the main thing (at least for me) is to avoid spoilers, and you're past that part now. So it's kind of up to you. |
Thank you Bandoman and brainee. I already watched "The Gathering" before watching S1. Now having finished S4, I'll watch "In the Beginning" now, then S5.
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Originally Posted by Bandoman
They weren't sure they were going to be renewed for the fifth season, so they had to provide some sort of closure. Season 5 seems like a bit of a letdown after the breakneck-paced season 4, but it's still pretty good.
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I really want to rewatch Babylon 5 again but somehow in my move from Arizona to Colorado my Season 5 set seems to have lost its first disc. I've been holding out on rebuying the set but the itch is getting stronger. :(
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Originally Posted by MEJHarrison
That's true. Except that the final episode of season 4 was produced in season 5. The episode that would have aired as the final episode of season 4 had they not been renewed was moved to the end of season 5.
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Question - why did they change the episode intro in S3? It seems to refer to events that haven't occurred yet at the start of S3? Was this just a teaser of what the season would bring? I remember watching the first season as it aired and being surprised when the raider storyline actually had a conclusion. In any other show of the time, it would've been a recurring problem that popped up every few episodes without ever being resolved. |
I'm just about to wrap up season 2 of the show. As a total noob to the show, I am surprised at how much more "serious" the second season felt compared to the first.
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Originally Posted by BlackCapTen
I'm just about to wrap up season 2 of the show. As a total noob to the show, I am surprised at how much more "serious" the second season felt compared to the first.
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I'll let <b>Bandoman</b> do the honors ...
das |
Originally Posted by Anubis2005X
Mwahaha. Just you wait, Season 3 and 4 will own your life!
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Originally Posted by das Monkey
I'll let <b>Bandoman</b> do the honors ...
das heh-heh-heh Thanks, that felt great! |
Originally Posted by BlackCapTen
I'm just about to wrap up season 2 of the show. As a total noob to the show, I am surprised at how much more "serious" the second season felt compared to the first.
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Originally Posted by GreenMonkey
When you rewatch S1 someday after finishing the show you'll be surprised how many hints and foreshadowing type things were dropped during S1. The show is a bit uneven in S1 like a lot of shows (Buffy's S1 is awful IMO for example). S1 contains I'd say 70% of the bad / weak episodes of the entire show ;)
There's one thing I can't seem to forget from the first season, perhaps some seasoned vets can expand upon the significance: At the end of a season 1 episode, G'Kar was explaining something to one of the other members of the crew (can't remember who). They had been investigating a planet that had some alien race protecting it and attacking those who came close to it (if it remember correctly). He was saying how there's some advanced races "out there" that look at other races as mere ants or insects (he said something like that). Now that this whole thing with the Shadows is starting, my mind keeps going back to that scene in the Season 1 episode. Any experts feel free to clarify that scene (and which episode it was) in case I'm not remembering it right. |
Just keep watching.
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Originally Posted by BlackCapTen
That's good to know. Some of the dialog was just hilarious in the first season (compared to the second). I didn't mind it, just made me laugh. I'm now officially into the third season.
There's one thing I can't seem to forget from the first season, perhaps some seasoned vets can expand upon the significance: At the end of a season 1 episode, G'Kar was explaining something to one of the other members of the crew (can't remember who). They had been investigating a planet that had some alien race protecting it and attacking those who came close to it (if it remember correctly). He was saying how there's some advanced races "out there" that look at other races as mere ants or insects (he said something like that). Now that this whole thing with the Shadows is starting, my mind keeps going back to that scene in the Season 1 episode. Any experts feel free to clarify that scene (and which episode it was) in case I'm not remembering it right. heh heh heh |
Originally Posted by BlackCapTen
That's good to know. Some of the dialog was just hilarious in the first season (compared to the second). I didn't mind it, just made me laugh. I'm now officially into the third season.
There's one thing I can't seem to forget from the first season, perhaps some seasoned vets can expand upon the significance: At the end of a season 1 episode, G'Kar was explaining something to one of the other members of the crew (can't remember who). They had been investigating a planet that had some alien race protecting it and attacking those who came close to it (if it remember correctly). He was saying how there's some advanced races "out there" that look at other races as mere ants or insects (he said something like that). Now that this whole thing with the Shadows is starting, my mind keeps going back to that scene in the Season 1 episode. Any experts feel free to clarify that scene (and which episode it was) in case I'm not remembering it right. |
As another B5 newb, I'm thrilled to find discussion of the series. The Lurker's Guide is great, but I also enjoy reading other viewers' reactions and thoughts. Thanks for the discussion and the tips here!
I just finished season 4 (I've been on a commando viewing schedule!) and I was unsure about season 5, but from your comments, it sounds like I should watch it. Luckily Best Buy has the season episode sets on sale now for $19.99 so I went ahead and ordered the last season. Until it gets here, I'll just have to make do with the movies; I need to watch 'In the Beginning' now. I'm very glad I decided to go ahead and finally catch this show I've heard so much about. It's so marvelous to enjoy a story that actually feels that it is progressing towards some denoument, as opposed to endless filler episodes and reset buttons. I love all the themes and images that bring to mind mythology and literature, Tolkien's works especially. And there are a few pretty men to enjoy, also. I'm just sad that I'm nearly done. Next up: Farscape. |
OK so based on everyone's comments in this thread and das' strong recommendation, we decided to start Babylon 5 this weekend. We watched The Gathering and while it wasn't the worst thing I've ever seen, the acting was very stiff and the writing was unbearable in parts, especially the exposition to supply history for the characters. That said, we'll be sticking with it a bit longer because you all said it wasn't a great pilot. I'll chime in to let you know what I think along the way.
P.S. Is Season 1 similar to The Gathering in acting and writing? I can't imagine sitting through 22 hours just to get to season 2... |
Originally Posted by JuryDuty
P.S. Is Season 1 similar to The Gathering in acting and writing? I can't imagine sitting through 22 hours just to get to season 2...
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I think Season 1 improved on the pilot, but not by too much. There are still some absolute gems in the first season though. Unfortunately the season is pretty front loaded with the worst ones.
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I think that the pilot is just that, a pilot - an outline sketch idea of what they ultimately wanted to do. They took what worked from it and changed what didn't so that it would be better. Some of the characters come off very differently in the pilot, and even look different, compared to the way they do on the show - and of course, they also replaced some of them, too.
This 'finding of their way/getting the kinks out' is something that they continued to do with the First season, too - which is why it's very uneven compared to later seasons. That and the fact that they used more outside writers during this season. When JMS took over the writing for pretty much the rest of the entire show's run, everything was much more on an even keel. And in regards to the acting/writing - it's no worse than I've seen on other shows (i.e. Star Trek or the like). Don't let it stop you from watching the show, though, (I think all 5 seasons are on sale at Best Buy this week for $19.99 each,too, btw) as it's one of the best sci-fi shows ever to air. The journey these characters will take you on, and the story told is not to be missed. |
I'll be starting the Babylon 5 journey this weekend. I have seen so much praise for it here over the years so I took the $150 cash I got for christmas and bought all 5 seasons and the movie set. Can't wait to get started.
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I've finished The Gathering and the first two episodes of the series.
The series definitely improved from The Gathering. Most noticeably the cheap sets, 80s hair styles, cheap costumes and worst actors were all dispensed of. While it's still not on par with a Star Trek: TNG to me, it's got that feel and if it just gets better, I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come. It's already imaginative and intriguing, and even within the second episode, they're setting up an overall mystery, I can tell. Anyway, Maxflier and anyone else starting out with The Gathering, it does get slightly better once Season 1 starts. Here's hoping you guys are right and it gets even better yet! |
Originally Posted by JuryDuty
I've finished The Gathering and the first two episodes of the series.
Ivanova is very nice to look at! For those that have seen the entire series, is it ever explained why she replaced the asian woman who was in The Gathering? |
Originally Posted by Maxflier
Ivanova is very nice to look at! For those that have seen the entire series, is it ever explained why she replaced the asian woman who was in The Gathering?
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Originally Posted by JuryDuty
While it's still not on par with a Star Trek: TNG to me...
Seriously, I like TNG as much as the next guy, but I can think of a number of sci-fi shows that blow it out of the water. If TNG is your high water mark, I think you're soon going to have a new record holder on your hands. |
Originally Posted by Maxflier
I'll be starting the Babylon 5 journey this weekend. I have seen so much praise for it here over the years so I took the $150 cash I got for christmas and bought all 5 seasons and the movie set. Can't wait to get started.
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Sorry man, didn't mean to rub that in :o
I'm 8 episodes in and i'm already hooked, I find myself really looking forward to watching the next episode, I just don't like blowing through series too fast. I'm usually a 1 episode per day guy, but I can't help watching more than 1 for this show. If this is the worst of it then I certainly can't wait to see the best this show has to offer! The only bad thing I could say about it is that the exterior special effects scenes look like cutscenes from a 3DO game, it's ashame they couldn't redo those, but hopefully they'll get better as the show progresses. |
Originally Posted by Tracer Bullet
I willingly and knowingly spent $80 per season, fully realizing it would be discounted in a few years, and this still hurts. :lol:
Originally Posted by Maxflier
I'm 8 episodes in and i'm already hooked, I find myself really looking forward to watching the next episode, I just don't like blowing through series too fast. I'm usually a 1 episode per day guy, but I can't help watching more than 1 for this show. If this is the worst of it then I certainly can't wait to see the best this show has to offer!
The only bad thing I could say about it is that the exterior special effects scenes look like cutscenes from a 3DO game, it's ashame they couldn't redo those, but hopefully they'll get better as the show progresses. |
Originally Posted by Rocketdog2000
One of the unfortunate downsides of the digital transfer to DVD - which is odd because you wouldn't think that would happen - but you never noticed it during the original broadcasts. Back when they were first making the show, it was cutting edge technology, and nobody else was doing all digital effects like they were.
Still, though, they do look a lot better from the second season onward. I'm 8 episodes in and i'm already hooked, I find myself really looking forward to watching the next episode, I just don't like blowing through series too fast. I'm usually a 1 episode per day guy, but I can't help watching more than 1 for this show. If this is the worst of it then I certainly can't wait to see the best this show has to offer! The only bad thing I could say about it is that the exterior special effects scenes look like cutscenes from a 3DO game, it's ashame they couldn't redo those, but hopefully they'll get better as the show progresses. |
Ok, I'm through with season 3 and starting 4. Needless to say... wow. Great stuff.
Quick question- is the viewing order posted at the link below (by das and others) still generally accurate/accepted? Just want to make sure no one else has any opinions on that as I get closer to watching the movies. http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=299855 |
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