Ageing of B5

[Envera Comics]

I agree!!!

 

[Shadow Trooper]

If we are talking strictly about B5 the series (and I'd even push with the accompanying TV movies), I think it was the best entertwining, several storylined sci-fi series out there. I have long given up trying to explain to anyone who hasn't seen the series how superb it is

I am afraid I thought Crusade was pants and the Legend of the Rangers was worse(?). I still cringe and the 'flailing arms' weapon system

Still hoping to capture what was B5, I bought the Lost Tales, and wished they had remained lost!

I'm not trying to wind anyone up as there were good parts to all of the above, but the overall experience was never as good as the original B5.

As stated, just my personal opinion.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Indeed, agreed here - JMS never really got B5 working in the spin-offs. And while the effects in any media may start to look outdated with time, it's the story and characters and that drive the entertainment. After all, Star Trek the original series is fin regardless of the effects. Giving it a massive CGI workover now would not add - in fact, perhaps detract - and I think can be said for B5. Heard a nasty rumour JMS was looking to redo all of the B5 eposides with new CGI, but I'm sincerely hoping he just leaves a classic as is.

 

[Shadow Trooper]

Hi I, Brian.

I too hope that JMS doesn't mess with the original B5.
I agree with your STOS reference as well; strange as it seems it actually brings a smile to my face when I think of how scared I was at the Horta (pizza) monster from Devil in the Dark at age 6 (and the terrible sfx in the ending scene of Catspaw). It brings back that 'Good ol' days' feeling.

Although if they want to do something with the Plato's stepchildren episode, that's alright with me (Spock dancing the flamenco around Kirk's head still gives me nightmares).

 

[Rodders]

I don't think it woul attract a new audience without an update of the special effects. But for me, this was the greatest Sci-Fi story ever told and i get dismayed that it could not be told properly due to an undetermined future.

I really hope that something happens whyby JMS can tell a new story in the B5 universe.

 

[Tangerines]

I saw a youtube clip featuring a jumpgate from B5. But it wasn't the ordinary orange spiral/blue spiral thingy. It was flashing and clearly done a lot more recently than the old series jumpgates.

Was that from a game or from one of the films? I'm curious.

As for the graphics as whole; I just watched an episode from the 2nd season featuring some alien ships. They certainly don't look real, but it doesn't hinder the storytelling at all.

I really like the thought of a better-looking 3D-universe in Babylon 5, especially since I saw those whirling jumpgates... but at the same time a part of me knows it wouldn't be the same thing then. As the one who took Star Wars as an example stated ^^

I'm looking forward to a DVD-version with re-made graphics though. But I'm still glad I own the old one xD

 

[glenwo2]

*Lith dives down to the depths of Za'ha'Dum and resurrects the thread...*

Kosh : "...If you go....to Za'ha'Dum...you will die..."

 

[Rodders]

I was thinking about the Lost Tales. While the look of the series is the same, there was some improvement on the details. Infact, B5 itself looked pretty damned good.

After watchin the series again from start to finish, i really didn't notice. When i did look, they looked really good. OK, mayne not life like, but passable and very very beautiful.

 

[VALEN]

Have finished re-watching S1 and are now half way through S2. I can defiantly see a vast improvement in graphics, which are still pretty good. The jump gate and inner space sequences are pretty good. But the these are small issues, we all watch B5 for the amazing story arc, so a few iffy cgi effects I can put up with...

 

[psikeyhackr]

It's not like watching the Original Star Trek from the 60s.

I don't doubt the effects could be improved but I can't imagine it being so much that I would really care. The story is so much better than anything else since then I still rate it THE BEST SF SHOW to date.

Why such a big deal is made of Firefly is beyond me. LOL

psik

 

[BAYLOR]

B5 is still one of the best science fiction series of all time.

 

[Laeraneth]

If only they hadn't had to compress Season 4 and then bulk out Season 5... it would have been even better. Imagine that! (and yet, still right up there with the best Sci-fi series ever to my mind)

 

[Rodders]

They worked with what they had at the time. I still think that season 5 is underrated. There are some excellent episodes.

 

[BAYLOR]

If only they hadn't had to compress Season 4 and then bulk out Season 5... it would have been even better. Imagine that! (and yet, still right up there with the best Sci-fi series ever to my mind)

Season 5 was bit weak but overall, It was quite good.

 

[Michael Colton]

Having never seen the show before, I tried to watch it with a friend since it is considered a classic. I just couldn't do it. I think I made it six or so episodes before I could not go on. It is difficult to describe why. Some of it is the dated aspect. For some reason the cheesiness of Star Trek TOS does not bother me all that much because it is still Trek - a part of something that went on for so long. There is a timeless aspect to it for me. The questions considered, the topics discussed - they are still relevant and Roddenberry's focus was continued beyond them. I didn't get hooked by anything when I tried to start watching B5 that could get me past the horrible effects, poorly thought out creatures, and everything else that comes with all classic science fiction. It just felt very exaggerated, and that style rarely stands the test of time unless you have nostalgia pushing you along. For something like Trek, the uniforms are boring, the ships are fairly boring, the enemies are often simplistic - none of that was the focus of the series. So it felt easier to go back and watch for the first time when it was already extremely dated. It has that Roddenberry stamp to it that interests me - which is also why I do not enjoy the new Trek films. It is just action, adventure, and drama - which are not things I typically watch films for and it is certainly never what any Trek has ever been about.

So that was a very round about way of me trying to explain why I disliked B5 when I tried to watch it last year for the first time.

 

[BAYLOR]

Of the 79 episodes of Classic trek a out 1/3 third of them stand out as being very good , the rest go from being mediocre to godawful.

Star Trek the next Generation first 4 seasons were decent , But the problem, everybody got along freaking hunky dory , no character conflict or development . pretty boring stuff. The good guys saved the day , stopped the war, saved the Galaxy. Hit the damed resent button.


DS9 Was the the one bright Spot in the trek Franchise. It tried to be different.

Babylon 5 didn't do that, The good guys didn't always win and when they did there was cost , there were actual believable consequences to their actions. The good guy were very flawed and very fallible and sometimes had moments of despicableness. Even the villains had nuances. And best of all there was no reset button. B5 even at it's worst had bette writing then alot of shows including trek.

 

[Michael Colton]

Of the 79 episodes of Classic trek a out 1/3 third of them stand out as being very good , the rest go from being mediocre to godawful.

Star trek the next Generation first 4 seasons were decent , But the problem everybody got along hunky freaking dory , no character conflict or development . pretty boring stuff. The good guys saved the day , stopped the war, saved the Galaxy. Hit the damed resent button.

DS9 was the one real bright spot in the Star Trek Franchise , It did things a bit differently.

Babylon 5 didn't do that, The good guys didn't always win and when they did there was cost , there were actual believable consequences to their actions. The good guy were very flawed and very fallible and sometimes had moments of despicableness. Even the villains had nuances. And best of all there was no reset button. B5 even at it's worst had bette writing then alot of shows including trek.

Pretty much everything you just described about Trek was intentional by Roddenberry. Little conflict between characters? This was an intentional choice by Roddenberry that only went away after he died (hence DS9 being the big shift, as well as the end of Next Gen). His goal was always to explore ideas and concepts before anything else. It is why there is relatively little character drama and little action compared to most other scifi shows. It was intentionally science fiction and avoided being a space opera. It is also why myself and many other fans like it so much.

 

[BAYLOR]

Pretty much everything you just described about Trek was intentional by Roddenberry. Little conflict between characters? This was an intentional choice by Roddenberry that only went away after he died (hence DS9 being the big shift, as well as the end of Next Gen). His goal was always to explore ideas and concepts before anything else. It is why there is relatively little character drama and little action compared to most other scifi shows. It was intentionally science fiction and avoided being a space opera. It is also why myself and many other fans like it so much.

There was time when I would watch science fiction and not give character development much though. But over time that's changed. The problem is that without things like character development and conflict, you end up with a very shallow tv show. Yes science fiction explores idea and concepts but it needs to do alot more then that.

 

[Michael Colton]

There was time when I would watch science fiction and not give character development much though. But over time that's changed. The problem is that without things like character development and conflict, you end up with a very shallow tv show. Yes science fiction explores idea and concepts but it needs to do alot more then that.

It's just a matter of perspective, I suppose. Shows that focus primarily on characters only interest me if the characters interest me - when that does not happen, I lost interest in a show. If there is another focus of the show, it has depth and can keep me watching even if I do not have a particular connection to characters. So I would reverse the shallow/depth aspect you mentioned. But again, it is a to each their own thing. If someone enjoys certain characters and I do not, they will obviously enjoy a show I might not.

 

[BAYLOR]

It's just a matter of perspective, I suppose. Shows that focus primarily on characters only interest me if the characters interest me - when that does not happen, I lost interest in a show. If there is another focus of the show, it has depth and can keep me watching even if I do not have a particular connection to characters. So I would reverse the shallow/depth aspect you mentioned. But again, it is a to each their own thing. If someone enjoys certain characters and I do not, they will obviously enjoy a show I might not.

Fair enough .

Roddenberry was a Utopian, Optimist and Idealist who believed in the perfectibility of humanity. I can respect that . Trek represent the kind of world he wanted. Im not so sure we'll achieve utopia.

Babylon 5 upended the the Utopian notion of the future a bit. Yes things will be better but people will still be unpleasant, until we all become enlighten and wise like the vorlons After we've gone millions of years misrery and conflict to get to that stage.