My Babylon 5 Episode Guide

[drtiehead]

To Whom in May Concern:

I just finished episode 54 and I was thrill and sickened that the guys might review Babylon 5. I am a huge B5 fan and I have been since late in season one. The guys talked about the The Wire being like a novel, and that was what J. Michael Straczynski stated that from the beginning Babylon 5 was a five year novel.

My concern and the sickening feeling that I have is that the guys are going to start watching season one and turn it off. Let's face it B5 Lurkers, the show did not hit it's stride until about half way through season two. There was some bad acting, to many reused CGI shots, and a few too many "Star Trek" like episodes. (Not a knock on Trek...)

That being said season one still has some great episodes and are key to the overall arc of the show.

So below I have complied a list of the season 1 shows that you need to watch to get into B5.

The Gathering
Midnight on the Firing Line
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Signs and Portents
A Voice in the Wilderness part 1
A Voice in the Wilderness part 2
Babylon Squared
Chrysalis

If you watch the other episodes, great, but I don't feel they are critical to the overall story.

Season 2 has it's weak moments, but after "The Coming of Shadows" and on, the show is brilliant.

I hope the guys give this a fair shake, it is still to this day my favorite TV show, even ahead of Buffy.

Buffy I think is more accessible, and was a more consistent show over it's seven year run, but when B5 was it is best, season 3 and 4, for me there is not a better example of storytelling, in any medium.

Hope the guys like the show, and I hope more people give this show a chance, or in some cases a second chance.

Mark

[silentsignals]

Yeah, I really loved Babylon 5 but season one was a pretty weak start to the show. I also agree that season 3 and especially s4 being the high point of the series. Aaaaaand great job with that list of episodes for s1 those are pretty much the only season 1 episodes I see when I rewatch the show.

[decepticon]

I just...acquired all the B5 episodes and was thinking of running through them after I get caught up with Stargate Atlantis. JMS is hit and miss with me...From my exposure to his comic book work he can start out pretty strong, but has trouble ending something. Overall I'm very "meh" on his work.

I've heard B5 is great though, once you get past the first season or so. I'll report back when/if I start watching this with initial thoughts :)

[darthender]

B5 is still the best Science fiction show ever as far as I'm concerned.

But yes, I too wasn't much into it during season one. There was very little to differentiate it from Star Trek in the first season. Before the show got into metaplot and got freaking awesome.

[justin316a]

I'm so ecstatic you guys are reviewing B5, the show is so freaking powerful. As much as I love the show, I do have to give a forewarning, I so view the 1st 2 seasons as build-up, so if it doesnt grab you as much at first, just get to the later half of season 2 and you'll start to see what makes the show great.

[stones2125]

I was going to make the exact same points.

Dear TRS dudes...DON'T be turned off by season one. It is a little weak and campy, BUT it sets alot of basis for what happens in the later seasons.

One thing to really watch is character development. Especially G'Kar and Londo. It's incredible what JMS did with these two characters over the length of the show.

This is BY FAR my favorite sci-fi show. I was a fan from the pilot and struggled with the time changes and stations changes it went through. Now I am buying up the DVDs and starting to watch them ALL over again.

I even got hooked on the Babylon Podcast which stars the guy who played Kosh.

In hommage to B5

TRS...Our Last Best Hope for RADness

[justin316a]

I so view the 1st 2 seasons as build-up,

"i viewthe first 2 seasons as build-up"

*stupid forum bugs no edit option grumble* ok done bitching.


So below I have complied a list of the season 1 shows that you need to watch to get into B5.

The Gathering
Midnight on the Firing Line
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Signs and Portents
A Voice in the Wilderness part 1
A Voice in the Wilderness part 2
Babylon Squared
Chrysalis

If you watch the other episodes, great, but I don't feel they are critical to the overall story.


I dunno, i think all the little things and hints in the story is what makes the shows bigger events stand out. Also I think "The Quality Of Mercy" in season 1 is very important, concerning the fate of a very important character.

[paxromana]

It's cool to see Babylon 5 getting some love from TRS. In a world that has BSG I wonder how it would hold up. To me you can start a few episodes from the end of season 2 and not miss very much going through the end of Season 4. The last episode of Season 3 is pretty freakin' awesome. Definitely a great moment. "JUMP! JUMP NOW!" Eat it Shadows!

[tlazaroff]

paxromana, don't spoil anything now..

But as I said in the episode 54 thread, I agree with all stated above, though, don't skip any episodes. The listed season 1 episodes are the ones that are "on plot", but really, a lot goes on in season 1 that you don't realize will come to light until the end of season 3.

The way I like to describe B5 is like a rollercoaster. Season 1 through the first few episodes of season 2 starts you up the initial hill. Season 2 episode 9 starts down the first hill to get momentum. Season 3-4 is the middle of the ride with all the loops, hangs, etc.. Season 5 is where the coaster comes to a nice slow stop.. with a series finale that bests all other finales to date.

[republicofpepsi]

It's amazing how JMS kept his vision going even with having to replace actors on the fly.

[darthender]

Yeah, even though some of season 1 isn't great I wouldn't recommend skipping any of it.

So much of the show is about dropping little things around that turn into huge shit later.

[silentsignals]

So below I have complied a list of the season 1 shows that you need to watch to get into B5.

The Gathering
Midnight on the Firing Line
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Signs and Portents
A Voice in the Wilderness part 1
A Voice in the Wilderness part 2
Babylon Squared
Chrysalis


Mark

Mind War is also a pretty important episode from season 1 as it introduces Bester and really begins the problems with telepaths that becomes pretty important to the overall storyline.

[republicofpepsi]

I've always thought Bester was the most diabolical of all sci-fi villans.

[wyopistachio]

I've always thought Bester was the most diabolical of all sci-fi villans.Agreed. Right up there with "Q" and "Ben".

[republicofpepsi]

Agreed. Right up there with "Q" and "Ben".

Oh your right, I never really thought about how similar Bester and Ben are...wow...


Especially that scene in the train...where he's deprogramming....wow...

[tlazaroff]

Agreed. Right up there with "Q" and "Ben".

1) Who is Ben?

2) Q wasn't very diabolic, he was just an omnipotent troublemaker who always went back on what he did by the end of the episode.

3) Bester is easily one of the best Sci-Fi villains that I've known, and for being a villain, he really isn't on screen too much at all.

4) I always found it interesting how Walter Koning is known for his work as Checkov on Star Trek TOS, but his best work (ever) was Bester on Babylon 5. He doesn't get enough recognition as playing one of the best villains ever.

[tlazaroff]

Hmm, I just noticed a funny problem. In anticipation of the TRS review of B5, I started watching the series again. I found what seems to be a strange audio glitch on Disc 1 of Season 2. Episode 3 "The Geometry of Shadows" around the 7 minute mark where Londo is walking Refa to the shuttle bay. It seems that there is an annoying echo. This also occurs for a moment at the 10 minute mark where Londo are Vir are talking about fate. ("the currents that we need to fight look exactly like the currents we have to embrace, the currents that are going to make us stronger are actually going to make us weaker.." Love that conversation).

Anyone else have this problem with their DVDs?

[zoomtechtv]

B5 has to be one of the best SCI-FI TV shows ever made.

[wyopistachio]

A quick heads up. The first season of b5 is up on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/babylon-5) now.

Hopefully the "good" seasons will follow :)

[satori]

I so view the 1st 2 seasons as build-up

agreed... also the subsequet seasons could be summed up in and episode guide as:
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. The Two Towers
3. The Return of the King

[md2389]

Yeah, even though some of season 1 isn't great I wouldn't recommend skipping any of it.

So much of the show is about dropping little things around that turn into huge shit later.

Agreed. There is so much that is setup in the first two seasons. Theres the Narn-Centari arc, the telepath war, shadow war, etc. Then theres the little things with character setup/growth that you'd miss. (Like Sheridan and Delenn)

[md2389]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0y0BUyqPTw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sarZ4ZuOX80

For those that absolutely need a B5 fix. :)

[synne]

The only thing i never liked in B5 was later on with the whole Bryon telepath thing. I might of cared if he wasn't a lanky bad actor.

[arylkin]

To Whom in May Concern:

I just finished episode 54 and I was thrill and sickened that the guys might review Babylon 5. I am a huge B5 fan and I have been since late in season one. The guys talked about the The Wire being like a novel, and that was what J. Michael Straczynski stated that from the beginning Babylon 5 was a five year novel.

My concern and the sickening feeling that I have is that the guys are going to start watching season one and turn it off. Let's face it B5 Lurkers, the show did not hit it's stride until about half way through season two. There was some bad acting, to many reused CGI shots, and a few too many "Star Trek" like episodes. (Not a knock on Trek...)

That being said season one still has some great episodes and are key to the overall arc of the show.

So below I have complied a list of the season 1 shows that you need to watch to get into B5.

The Gathering
Midnight on the Firing Line
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Signs and Portents
A Voice in the Wilderness part 1
A Voice in the Wilderness part 2
Babylon Squared
Chrysalis

If you watch the other episodes, great, but I don't feel they are critical to the overall story.

Season 2 has it's weak moments, but after "The Coming of Shadows" and on, the show is brilliant.

I hope the guys give this a fair shake, it is still to this day my favorite TV show, even ahead of Buffy.

Buffy I think is more accessible, and was a more consistent show over it's seven year run, but when B5 was it is best, season 3 and 4, for me there is not a better example of storytelling, in any medium.

Hope the guys like the show, and I hope more people give this show a chance, or in some cases a second chance.

Mark

I agree, since season 1 is so ridiculously bad. My husband and I actually made a similar "must see B5 list" for a girl we were trying to get hooked on the show.... Even season 2 is kind of weak, but 3 and 4 really are fantastic.

I guess a lot of sci-fi shows are like that though- season 1 of Star Trek: TNG is almost hilariously bad (but at least there's Picard). I think part of what makes season 1 of B5 so terrible is Sinclair and his horrible attempts at acting.

Anyway- if any of the TRS guys read this- stick with it! Babylon 5 is fantastic (once you get through the crap at the beginning).