Ageing of B5

[Brian G Turner]

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.

I always recommend anyone new to Babylon 5 to start with Season 2. Season 3 reached the peak for the show.

I'm a big B5 fan, but even still have little patience for the first season - it is a long, slow, ponderous back story to what happens later. IMO there are about 3 episodes worth revisiting, but the rest can be ignored.

Seriously, consider looking at Season 2 - the pace is much faster, and it's only then that the looming story arc that defines the series makes itself properly visible.

However, I am prepared to accept that different people have different tastes - just making a suggestion, as I always struggled to get interested in season 1.

Season 5 doesn't exist for me.

 

[Rodders]

Make sure you watch Babylon Squared from Season 1. It is a must see and will highlight just how well planned and executed the series was.

 

[Laeraneth]

Absolutely agree with Brian and Rodders. There are... perhaps half a dozen episodes from the first season that are genuinely important to the full story arc, and are excellent episodes. There's probably another half dozen with minor events that will get referenced and built on later on that are worth watching. The rest are almost entirely standalone (though, it's worth noting, still help to build up the characters, despite the often ropey stories themselves )

Season 2 is where the good stuff really started to kick in (especially in the back half as tension mounts properly)

Season 3 is absolutely amazing TV throughout (with a couple of poor episodes in between, though even the poor ones have subplots that are still good) with some of the best stuff in the history of the show. The 3 part story in the middle regarding the civil war being a particular high point.

Season 4 is, again, amazing stuff throughout. Some people feel it sags a little after the resolution of some big events, but it soon develops other plot points that have been undercurrents for some time and is generally excellent.

Season 5 suffers from the fact that they had to pull forward plot points into Season 4, as they weren't certain they would get a fifth season, thus when they did, they had to pad it out slightly (they also had to replace a main character whose contract wasn't renewed in time for the same reason). it still has good continuation of the overarching story, but doesn't quite reach the sustained highs of the previous two seasons. It does have some excellent individual moments though.

Most of the movies aren't critical, though the first "In the beginning" is absolutely worth watching. If memory serves me it's best to watch after the 3rd season to not spoil plot details for yourself.

And for completeness, as I'm always keen to help promote B5 if I had to compile a 'should watch' list of first season episodes... I'd go something like this: (though this is largely from memory and a list of brief episode details right now... so apologies if I name a stinker)
0: The Gathering, the pilot movie-length whatsit.
1: Midnight on the Firing Line
6: Mind War
8: And the sky full of stars
13: Signs and portents
17: Legacies
18: A Voice in the Wilderness (part 1)
19: (part 2)
20: Babylon Squared
22: Chrysalis

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Just buy the Universe DVD box set which has EVERYTHING, inc Crusade.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Oh, thanks so much, Laeraneth! My wife and I are thinking about purchasing the series, and this really helps! I watched every episode when it was first out (yikes, 20 years ago for season 1!), and remember the first season was not nearly as impressive as seasons 2-4 (and Brian is taking the right approach toward season 5, I think! ). Thanks for the list! CC

 

[Laeraneth]

My pleasure I hope that turns out accurate! It's roughly what I did when I introduced it to my wife, skipped some of the totally standalone ones unless they were big character builders, though from about 8 episodes into Season 2, I think we watched every last one.

...

I may need to start rewatching it again it seem

As for Season 5, they did a great job of wrapping up everything in short notice by the end of Season 4, but still leave enough to play with. As such, it makes for a good story, but it doesn't feel like a conclusion to the rest of the series, more of an extension of it. The best bits being the Centauri-centric part of the story (again, giving no details, in case there are people that don't know what goes on )

In short, S5 feels more like a long epilogue than the actual conclusion. it's still worth watching, but it's not as good as what went before.

 

[Rodders]

I lent my box sets to someone at work who was the made redundant. I never got them back. Perhaps I need to reinvest and re watch.

 

[psikeyhackr]

I lent my box sets to someone at work who was the made redundant. I never got them back. Perhaps I need to reinvest and re watch.

Hunt them down and kill them. Then they won't need a job.

psik

 

[Rodders]

Harsh, but fair.

 

[Ed Ryder]

Hello everyone, I'm Ed - a new forums member.

Babylon 5 is my favourite TV show of all time, and I often wish that instead of spending billions buying football teams some rich tycoon would instead throw a few million B5's way and pay for a complete re-do of all of the special effects. As much as I love them they are starting to show their age a bit.