Babylon 5 vs Star Trek

I remember watching the pilot of Babylon 5 but not thinking much of it (perhaps because I saw it soon after DS9 started?).
Then years later when they ran the first four seasons five days a week I watched it and was hooked. The Babylon Squared story was really clever-linking to the first season episode like that and the mysterious spacesuited fellow. Plus that subplot about their son in the future and that parasite. And what happened to that regular character who had a sudden personality shift. I dont know how it would all fair in second viewing but it was riveting at the time.
And that the final episode was shot before they even had a fifth season-and yet still worked. Probably the best ending to a sci fi series --unlike the Star Treks where it seemed like they just slapped it together.


Star Trek never was able to sustain that kind of extended plot.
I had to stop watching Voyager after Babylon 5 because I just couldnt stand its inferiority.
Though I still have high praise for the 60s show and did like DS9 the best of the newer ones (mainly because most of the characters werent human or Federation rejects they could behave more normally).
Notice how in the movies the NG crew changed-especially Picard.
Became very aggressive even nasty.
 
I watched B5 when it originally aired in my country and I'm now doing a re-watch (am halfway through season 4). I'm enjoying the re-watch immensely. B5 is such a complex tale but always interesting (even season 1!) and is sprinkled with just enough humour to take some of the edge off when you need it.

What I like most about B5 is that it doesn't condescend to its viewers. There is a long story arc and the expectation is that we'll keep up and be able to track all the intersecting characters and storylines. I like that.

I've been watching DS9 too but I put that on hold while I finish B5 (the series and the accompanying movies).
 
Just finished the first episode... Oh... Soooo Americanized!
There are a few moments when I needed a bucket because I thought I was gonna throw up, but I did not, good for me.
The commander is acting like cowboy with that John Wayne macho face, and everything he said was so pathetic, oh...

But, I will watch further, I hope this will get better.
This suppose to look like future, with more global approach, if I wanted to watch American propaganda, I will watch the news, or some Disney cartoon where all the animals lives American way of life. Sooo bad...
 
I'm afraid his acting doesn't improve much and the dialogue - well, you just have to let it trundle along in between flashes of inspiration.

I didn't notice any particular U.S. jingoism when I watched it, though American icons are all over the place. When it gets going, it becomes quite spiritual and some home-spun philosophies are shared that rang true to me, though perhaps others may find it leaden and plodding.

I admired the blend of action, politics, pathos, true tragedy and philosophy in this series. At times heavy-handed, at other times truly sublime.


Just as an after thought, we are talking about B5, aren't we? :D
 
Hehe... Yes, about B5.

I do not know... It can be placed anywhere with that plot, I do not understand why they put everything in the space with that story line, characters, and plot.
Space SF is all about exploration, new interesting (imaginary I agree) thongs, travel to some strange places, exploring strange phenomena, it is not a soap opera placed on the Space Station.

Thank you all, I will write more after first season, so we will see... ;)
 
Yeah, you need to persevere with the first series. That said, that are some pivotal episodes that are really worth watching. Once you get into the second series i think it comes into it's own.

I think that it's important to realise that Babylon 5 cost less than half as much to make as an equivalent Star Trek Episode. For that reason alone i think it deserves a little slack SFX wise.
 
alfaholic said:
Hehe... Yes, about B5.

I do not know... It can be placed anywhere with that plot, I do not understand why they put everything in the space with that story line, characters, and plot.
Space SF is all about exploration, new interesting (imaginary I agree) thongs, travel to some strange places, exploring strange phenomena, it is not a soap opera placed on the Space Station.

Thank you all, I will write more after first season, so we will see... ;)
Click to expand...
Before you do anything else, can you give us the titles for works that include imaginary thongs...? ;):eek::)
 
We have native English speakers around here who'd struggle to get your level of clarity.

And that wasn't actually as patronising as you might think :)

B5 doesn't have transporters and tricorders, but there's plenty of plausible science and the exploration of alien cultures. I think it may stand alone (in TV entertainment) as a programme that explores our ability to accept alienness, rather than trying to get it to conform to our ways.

But here am I trying to get you to like it just cos I like it. All I should really be saying is that I hope you will watch as much as you can and come back and tell us what you think of it.

And how much better you think it is than Trek :)
 
alfaholic said:
not a soap opera placed on the Space Station.
Click to expand...

That's why I've never been particularly keen on the Star Trek franchise.

However, B5 is full on character driven exploration of a possible future. And done more intelligently than any other show of any genre I've seen - if you can allow for it being a little old, now. :)
 
Interference said:
We have native English speakers around here who'd struggle to get your level of clarity.

And that wasn't actually as patronising as you might think :)

B5 doesn't have transporters and tricorders, but there's plenty of plausible science and the exploration of alien cultures. I think it may stand alone (in TV entertainment) as a programme that explores our ability to accept alienness, rather than trying to get it to conform to our ways.

But here am I trying to get you to like it just cos I like it. All I should really be saying is that I hope you will watch as much as you can and come back and tell us what you think of it.

And how much better you think it is than Trek :)
Click to expand...

I need a lot of time to change some things in my life, no matter how stupid they are, for example the curtains in my room, or maybe my favorite SF show. :)
That's why I can not wait to write something here right after just one episode, not so mature, but that is me. :D
But then again, I am really sensitive about that Americanization of the (American, hehe) show, but please do not get me wrong, it is not about Americans, or anyone else, just I am tired because 98% of American movies has that fake national crappiness, just the same as any other nation, blablabla... :eek:
I like space, we are all from Earth, and that is it...
 
The big difference is that B5 was a story that developed over 5 seasons while Star Trek was mostly episodal, with no over-arching storyline. Although some background story elements were introduced here and there, they were never that prominent or important on Star Trek (however, I haven't seen all the episodes of the spin-offs).

So B5 had much more depth and character while Star Trek was perhaps better for the casual viewer.
 
Just finished third episode, it looks like episode from Tropical Heat and Nick Slaughter in space. :)
Sorry dear friends, but this is not for me. It is boring, to much Americanized, with no science in this fiction.
I caught my self waiting to finish all five seasons to see all the things you are talking about, while on the same time I am not enjoying any of the episodes I watch, to be honest it is the opposite feeling.

I do not want to offend anyone, but for my taste Star Trek is another galaxy. ;)
Thank you all, and sorry for OFF.
 
None will be taken.

You shouldn't have to apologise for your personal tastes (unless they're extremely dubious and/or illegal, neither of which applies here).

And there is no point in forcing yourself into liking something - you either do or you don't - and none in us goading you into doing that.

:)
 
alfaholic said:
....I caught my self waiting to finish all five seasons to see all the things you are talking about, while on the same time I am not enjoying any of the episodes I watch....
Click to expand...

Much the same thing happened with me and Battlestar Galactica. I ended up skipping over episodes and not feeling like I'd missed anything at all. :D
 
alfaholic said:
Just finished third episode, it looks like episode from Tropical Heat and Nick Slaughter in space. :)
Sorry dear friends, but this is not for me. It is boring, to much Americanized, with no science in this fiction.
I caught my self waiting to finish all five seasons to see all the things you are talking about, while on the same time I am not enjoying any of the episodes I watch, to be honest it is the opposite feeling.

I do not want to offend anyone, but for my taste Star Trek is another galaxy. ;)
Thank you all, and sorry for OFF.
Click to expand...

Season one was more than a little shaky with more than one 'Monster of the Week' episode. Watching them again now I find them a little thin but am spotting things I had missed previously - a few 'how did I miss THAT? first time round' moments. But it does get better, once the foundations have been layered and once SPOILER:
There is a change of commander
at the start of season two.

If it's any help I hated the first few episodes of Firefly (boy, was I wrong!) and it took me about half a season to 'get' the new Battlestar Galactica.

Conversely, I loved the New Who from the start and have become more and more annoyed, and frustrated, and bored with it and now wouldn't bother if the kids weren't hooked.
 
I think the producers of Star Trek have finally cottoned on to what this thread is saying. I never liked B5, but I never really gave it a chance after those first few clunky episodes. But, the idea of an over-arching plot from episode to episode has been part of the evolution of TV.

The last Star Trek movie has set up such a plot line between movies (I thought the alternate history mechanism to retell the origin of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest was brilliantly done), but now they have to fix the alternate history, because they know its wrong. If you haven't seen it, what follows is a spoiler. Hopefully, there will be a strong plot link between the movies, much stronger than that between Star Trek II, III and IV.

Star Trek still has infinite possibilities, but the writing has to grow up, and there needs to be both overarching plot lines between movies/episodes (if they do another TV series), and some decent in-depth character development (like, why did Riker never grow up and captain his own ship?).
 
Clansman said:
but now they have to fix the alternate history, because they know its wrong.
Click to expand...

That's typical Trek - rewrite the history, events, move on and forget. They won't fix it. They'll just keep changing it.

At least Babylon 5 could keep a clear and accurate continuity and development throughout. :)
 
My wife & I are currently watching both Babylon 5 and the Star Trek movies right now (+ a few select episodes, on opposite evenings). While Star Trek is entertaining to watch, IMO it can't hold a candle to B5. -kd5-
 
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