floyd_dylan(Elite) posted this on Monday, 16th January 2006, 23:43
I`m tempted to get the complete universe of Babylon 5, but I`ve never seen an episode whilst it`s been on TV, is it worth getting or is it a poor mans version of Deep Space Nine?
girders(Competent) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 00:15
As far as I`m concerned it`s everything DS9 wanted to be but never managed, but you have to go with it for the long haul. The individual episodes of the first series are quite mixed with a couple of bad ones and you can see the start of the arc that is central to the whole 5 series. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th series are where it really shows it`s class and there is IMHO no finer show for developing characters and really showing how relationships evolve/change over time. Threads are dropped and picked up many epsiodes (even series) later but there was a 5 year story from the beginning and you are never left feeling they don`t really know where things are going a la "The X Files", "Twin Peaks" or how "Lost " may be going, and they were just making it up as they went along.
The 5th series struggles a bit due to the way the network nearly cancelled it after series 4 but it`s still worthwhile.
Invest in this show and it`s characters emotionally and it will repay you tenfold - but it will hurt you too. It challenges beliefs and politics and rarely are things black and white as they are in the Star Trek universe - in B5 everything is shades of grey.
The fact that JM Strasynski wrote so many of the episodes ensures that the arc is always central - even when it isn`t. And there are always a surprise or two up his sleeve.
One of the best written shows ever - and not just sci-fi shows. I`ve seen some of the actors in other roles and some of them aren`t great, but they just absolutely ARE these characters, and you will believe their thoughts, motivations and actions.
I just can`t justify buying the DVDs at their current prices - unless you`ve found a great deal????
RE: Babylon 5
Matthew Smart(Reviewer) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 00:16
floyd_dylan(Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 02:48
Quote: Heh - great minds...
8)
Apparently this is the order they are meant to be seen.
1. In the beginning [prequel] 2. The Gathering [pilot] 3. Seasons 1-3, season 4 episodes 1-8 [episode 8 is "The Illusion Of Truth] 4. Thirdspace 5. Season 4 episodes 9-21 [episode 9 is "Atonement"] 6. Season 5 episodes 1-21 7. River Of Souls 8. Legend of the Rangers 9. Call To Arms 10. Crusade 11. "Sleeping In Light" [episode 22 of season 5] 12. "The Deconstruction Of Falling Stars" [episode 22 of season 4]
Do not watch "In the beginning" until after you have seen series 1-4 at least!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, that`s where it fit`s chronologically but it would spoil far far too much of the series as it flashes back and forward in time. DONT DO IT!
I`d go with watching them in the order they were aired - B5 The Gathering, then S1-5, In the Beginning, and I don`t think it really matters a great deal after that where the other movies and Crusade fit in.
(posted by Girders who logged on as the wife by mistake!)
This item was edited on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 09:17
RE: Babylon 5
jeffthegun(Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 10:22
I agree with the above transgendered post!
Although i would be tempted to say just watch the series in order. To be quite honest, the films are, generally, s*** (especially Legend of the Rangers) and add virtually nothing to the ongoing arc.
I would get the series and see how you like it from there.
IMHO, B5 and DS9 stand pretty much shoulder to shoulder. They are both terriffic examples of arc led story telling. B5 is probably my favourite by a nose, but theres not much in it, imho.
Do not watch "In the beginning" until after you have seen series 1-4 at least!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would definately agree with this. In The Beginning contains massive spoilers of events hinted at in Series 1-4, so whilst it may make things clearer from the start, it`s preferable imho to go into the complete series slightly confused. It just adds to the general enjoyment if you`re trying to figure out where it`s going rather than knowing the answers to some quite big questions that are at the heart of the series.
The films are a bit of a mixed bag, but they`re not bad. I`ve done a review on this site of the B5 Movie Collection, and OK it`s R1 but it should tell you what you want to know.
The latest release Legend of the Rangers is also quite good, but not up to the standards set by the main series. It was clearly a pilot for a potential series that never got the green light and contains quite possibly the most annoying weapons display ever shown in sci-fi. Again, I did a review of this on here.
As for DS9, I quite liked it but never really got into it as much as I did with B5. With B5 I really bought into the characters and there are towering performances from the likes of Peter Jurasik, Andreas Katsulas, Bruce Boxleitner and Claudia Christian to name but a few.
Trust me, you won`t regret buying into this fantastic series...
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News Editor and Reviewer www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk
Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn...
And those who dance will spin and turn, And those who wait will wait no more, And those who talk will hear the words, And those who see will fade and die, And those who laugh will surely fall, And those who know will always feel their backs against the thin wall...
RE: Babylon 5
Hulk Smash!(Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 15:00
Well I always preferred DS9 myself - I liked their characters/relationships better and the show as a whole was consistently excellent.
I thought B5 was very good, but only seasons 2, 3, and 4 really matched the quality of DS9 - and as someone stated, the spin-off movies (and "Crusade") were very average at best.
I`d definitely go with the complete DS9 series given the choice.... :)
RE: Babylon 5
floyd_dylan(Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 17th January 2006, 15:00
Ok so watching the prequel is bad but is it okay to watch the other TV movies in between the seasons as suggested or do they contain major spoilers for the on coming season?
