Into the Fire

[Brian G Turner]

Last night I watched "Into the Fire" - episode 6 in Season 4.

And I don't feel inclined to watch any further.

The Babylon 5 series was, to me, all about the big Vorlons vs Shadows story arc. And it finishes in this episode.

Not only that, but we also see Londo finish business on Centauri Prime in a most satisfying manner.

So the story has ended - albeit with a couple of loose ends.

But - from what I remember of the episodes after, it wasn't very fulfilling - the general loss of quality until we end up in the scripting joke that is Season 5.

I'm looking at Into the Fire and thinking this would be a good place to stop watching. I don't feel a need to watch Sheridan sort out business on earth, and the "servants of the Shadows" that follows into the story is just a lame excuse to continue a story already ended.

Just thought I'd ask, does anyone else feel this way?

 

[greenman]

I remember feeling the same way just after I'd watched Into the Fire both times I'v gone thought my DVD's but I generally get into the earth story pretty quickly. It makes a nice change to scale down events a little IMHO and allow the more personal stories to be focused on.

The point I stopped at second time round was actually the end of season 4 followed by the finale of season 5(which was originally filmed to be shown then). Due to the uncertainly over season 5 they tried to make that as good a sendoff as possible which is IMHO part of the reason why what followed was more than a little anticlimatic.

 

[manephelien]

I see what you mean, but to me B5 was always far more than the Vorlon/Shadow war.

 

[greenman]

I see what you mean, but to me B5 was always far more than the Vorlon/Shadow war.

What follows is I'd say also closely linked to the Shadow war since you see the new level of responsibility the younger races now have in action.

As I said if there was a dropoff for me it was at the beginning of season 5 and I think alot of that can be attirbuted to season 4 wrapping everything up(both the plot and the characters arcs). While certain parts were very watchible I got the sense that the focus had shifted from finishing off the main story onto starting up new stories to be carried on in Cursade and a possible film. Since we didnt get to see those stories concluded(although that may change with the Lost Tales I spose) that renders them much less watchible for me.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I agree there's more to Babylon 5 than the Shadow War - I think what grates is the effective continuation of it with "the Servants of the Shadows" after.

For example, in Epiphanies, we see the Servants of the Shadows leaving Z'ha Dum. Can someone please clarify if we ever had mention of these before this episode? Because all I see is padding-out. Especially in sending them to Centauri Prime.

Londo ends Into the Fire on a great note, and all that follows after involving him and the "Servants of the Shadows" I see as padding, nothing else - gratuitous content that fails to serve the story.

Namely, because the main story finished with Into the Fire, so all that was required was for a few loose ends to be wrapped up. Or did I misunderstand it?

I just don't feel like I can sit through the rest of Season 4 because I no longer feel like I'm watching a story. Maybe a few excerpts, such as the assault on Earth Alliance forces - but the whole Londo, and Marcus, sub-plots I just don;t want to watch.

I remember Season 5 as something of an abomination, and never planned to buy that, but I'm surprised at how quickly Season 4 seems to have dropped off. I mean, the next big episode is ISN making a propaganda film about B5. It all just feels like padding.

Just my 2c, though - everyone is free to disagree with me.

 

[Whitestar]

Last night I watched "Into the Fire" - episode 6 in Season 4.

And I don't feel inclined to watch any further.

The Babylon 5 series was, to me, all about the big Vorlons vs Shadows story arc. And it finishes in this episode.

Not only that, but we also see Londo finish business on Centauri Prime in a most satisfying manner.

So the story has ended - albeit with a couple of loose ends.

But - from what I remember of the episodes after, it wasn't very fulfilling - the general loss of quality until we end up in the scripting joke that is Season 5.

It's funny, that's how I saw the first two seasons of TNG, which were absolutely awful. They are definitely not worth getting and I would tell this to someone who has never saw the show too. Thankfully, TNG was designed as standalone episodes, so in my view, TNG actually begins in season three and ends at season seven. If I decided to get TNG on DVD, I'd start with season three till season seven. But that's a big IF.

 

[greenman]

I agree there's more to Babylon 5 than the Shadow War - I think what grates is the effective continuation of it with "the Servants of the Shadows" after.

For example, in Epiphanies, we see the Servants of the Shadows leaving Z'ha Dum. Can someone please clarify if we ever had mention of these before this episode? Because all I see is padding-out. Especially in sending them to Centauri Prime.

Londo ends Into the Fire on a great note, and all that follows after involving him and the "Servants of the Shadows" I see as padding, nothing else - gratuitous content that fails to serve the story.

Namely, because the main story finished with Into the Fire, so all that was required was for a few loose ends to be wrapped up. Or did I misunderstand it?

I just don't feel like I can sit through the rest of Season 4 because I no longer feel like I'm watching a story. Maybe a few excerpts, such as the assault on Earth Alliance forces - but the whole Londo, and Marcus, sub-plots I just don;t want to watch.

I remember Season 5 as something of an abomination, and never planned to buy that, but I'm surprised at how quickly Season 4 seems to have dropped off. I mean, the next big episode is ISN making a propaganda film about B5. It all just feels like padding.

Just my 2c, though - everyone is free to disagree with me.

The intensity does obviously drop off for a little after Into the Fire but pretty much everything that is covered helps to setup the earth conflict. Its not as if that comes out of nowhere either as a good part of the first three seasons went into setting it up aswell. I wouldnt say Londo's stuff is padding either as him making peace with G'Kar is important in setting up the future we saw in War Without End.

Personally I like the way they concluded the two stories separately, compair that to sat DS9 which while one of my favourite series suffered a little from leaving too much for the finale episode to wrap up IMHO.