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Babylon 5. Worth a punt?

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Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 7:03:23 PM   
HIM


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From: Star Trekkin', across the universe
 I'm a massive Star Trek fan and Deep Space Nine is my best favourite Trek show, and I've heard talk of Babylon 5 being quite similar (some even saying DS9 is a B5 rip off). You can get each season of Babylon 5 from off of Play.com for only £12.99 (including free delivery). So is season 1 worth a blind buy or will I be better buying my girlfriend something else for Christmas?
Post #: 1
RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 7:13:06 PM   
Scruffybobby


Posts: 4023
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: My House
 Baybylon 5's a big pile of shit!*














*Actually I've never seen more than a couple of eps but I hear it's pretty good.












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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:03:03 PM   
sanchia


Posts: 16715
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From: Norwich
 It is a quality Sci-Fi programme. If you do decide to watch it be prepared for the long hall and the first season isn't that brilliant. It is when Bruce Boxleitner turns up that it really starts to get going although there are the odd generic episode thrown in . The effects, which were glorious in their day, are probably rather dated now. You may also suddenly get an urge to look up Claudia Christian's Playboy shoot

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:10:03 PM   
Rgirvan44


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From: Punishment Park
 Yeah season one can be a bit of a slog but it is vital you watch it. the pay offs that come down the line are more than worth it.

While it is far from perfect at times the overall story is brilliant. If you like DS9 and Battlestar you will love this.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:23:28 PM   
sanchia


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 I think the fact that it is all one cohesive story which really makes it stand out.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:28:48 PM   
elab49


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If you like ST generally you may find it different - rather than completely episodic B5 introduced story arcs in a way that has influenced many shows since. DS9 is mentioned in the same way as it was the only one that really aspired to an arc, even if it was a ridiculous messianic one.

For my money B5 is much better than anything ST produced or aspired to - and it is the best thing Walter Koenig's been in too.

Unlike many I do like the 1st season - Boxleitner was always to goody goody and it would have been nice to have a better more complex 'lead' - but I guess the point was he wasn't really. And the entire show belies the accusation - made specifically about B5 by a numpty - of the way SF treats alien races as in B5 they are characters that really grow and credibly develop over the 5 seasons - Londo and G'kar as a joy.

So try it out - and find out why one little hand wave can be one of the most memorable scenes you'll see.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:36:47 PM   
Rgirvan44


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 I would argue it has a lot more in common with Lord of the Rings than it does with Star Trek.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 8:47:46 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
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From: Springfield
 I love it. Having said that, I've still never watched the whole of Season 5. Michael J Straczynski (I'm going to be my own cliché by questioning the spelling of that when I suspect it is correct) had the whole story from the start but, due to viewing figures was pressured to complete the show after 4 seasons. When they decided to renew, it meant that the fifth season was extra, and it feels that way. Personally, I'd say watch seasons 1 - 4 and leave it there. It's a natural conclusion for me.

And I enjoyed the first season - it really does inform the rest of the show.


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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:10:48 PM   
Rgirvan44


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 Did you watch the final episode of season 5?

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:24:35 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
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From: Springfield
 Nope. Got about 5 or 6 episodes in. First time I watched the show I got that far. I determined to finish the lot a few years ago now, watched the lot from the start again, got to around the same point and just ran out of steam. Never bothered carrying on.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:31:41 PM   
Rgirvan44


Posts: 18902
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From: Punishment Park
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Nope. Got about 5 or 6 episodes in. First time I watched the show I got that far. I determined to finish the lot a few years ago now, watched the lot from the start again, got to around the same point and just ran out of steam. Never bothered carrying on.


You have to watch the final episode.

"Sleeping in Light" was actully filmed for the season 4 finale when it looked like the show wasn't going to return, so techincally isn't really part of the season 5 show.

Its rather excellent and doesn't require knowledge of season 5.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:44:07 PM   
homersimpson_esq


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From: Springfield
 Is it the one where: Spoilers---> the timeline jumps significantly into the future and we see the (much) bigger picture of things? If so, I've seen that one. If not, then the one I describe is a perfect show close, but I may be tempted to search out this other one, just out of curiosity. Spoilers end.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:53:53 PM   
Dirty Hartigan


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From: Manchester
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Is it the one where: Spoilers--->

Spoilers end.



It's sounds like you've seen both finales, as it were, from your invisotext. Oh, and you got the showrunner's name spelled correctly but in the wrong order: it's J Michael Straczynski! I can't believe he's got a movie made by Clint Eastwood (not that I even like Eastwood, but still). 

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 9:55:44 PM   
sanchia


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 And he used to write for Murder she Wrote

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 10:06:03 PM   
Rgirvan44


Posts: 18902
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Punishment Park
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Is it the one where: Spoilers---> the timeline jumps significantly into the future and we see the (much) bigger picture of things? If so, I've seen that one. If not, then the one I describe is a perfect show close, but I may be tempted to search out this other one, just out of curiosity. Spoilers end.


That sounds like the season 4 ending that was created once season 5 was announced.

Sleeping in Light is kinda, sorta like that but much more focused on the characters themselves.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 11:00:34 PM   
Funkyrae


Posts: 20306
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From: Just stick a pin in a map
 Oh yes.  Buy it.  Get them all and then get the films.  Babylon 5 was simply one of THE best sci fi shows ever and you're not far wrong when you state that DS9 was a rip off.  It certainly seemed as though they took some of the better parts of B5 and used it for DS9.

What they missed though was the complete nastiness that pervaded it.  Season one is good in that it sets the scene, you really don't get much from it other than "this group hates that group, they hate them even more."  Season two is where it all kicks off and dear lord it's relentless.

I have all the B5 seasons and films and wouldn't trade them for all the Star Trek you could fling at me.  I haven't got round to getting Crusade yet, but I'm sure I will at some point. 

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 7/12/2008 11:14:01 PM   
Rgirvan44


Posts: 18902
Joined: 10/3/2006
From: Punishment Park
 Oh I certainly think DS9 went to some pretty nasty places during the course of the series. Sisko did some morally ambigious stuff during the Dominion War.

I suppose what sets B5 apart is the sense of scale of the whole thing. While the war in DS9 was massive for Trek standards it didn;t have quite the sweep and complexity of B5. They both work and I can't honestly choose between them.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 12:01:56 AM   
Dirty Hartigan


Posts: 5890
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Manchester
quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

And he used to write for Murder she Wrote


Also He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - ol' JMS has come a looong way...

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 10:54:44 AM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
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From: Springfield
quote:

ORIGINAL: Dirty Hartigan

quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

And he used to write for Murder she Wrote


Also He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - ol' JMS has come a looong way...


Wait. You're saying that like those three series were bad! Sacrilege!


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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 11:13:49 AM   
Caster


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Dear God NO!

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 12:41:58 PM   
Dirty Hartigan


Posts: 5890
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Manchester
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dirty Hartigan

quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

And he used to write for Murder she Wrote


Also He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - ol' JMS has come a looong way...



Wait. You're saying that like those three series were bad! Sacrilege!



I don't know where you get these ridiculous ideas from - I'm just saying that most people who worked on '80s kids cartoons don't become A-list screenwriters for Oscar winning directors. I liked those shows as a kid too.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 12:43:00 PM   
paulyboy


Posts: 2149
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If you can stick with it through the first season (which to be honest, Mind War, Babylon Squared and Chrysalis aside isn't all that good) and into the second when the story arcs really start to develop then it's arguably one of the most satisfying pieces of Sci-Fi out there. Thoroughly recommended.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 1:25:05 PM   
Dirty Hartigan


Posts: 5890
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Manchester
quote:

ORIGINAL: Dirty Hartigan

quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dirty Hartigan

quote:

ORIGINAL: sanchia

And he used to write for Murder she Wrote


Also He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - ol' JMS has come a looong way...



Wait. You're saying that like those three series were bad! Sacrilege!



I don't know where you get these ridiculous ideas from.  I'm just saying that most people who worked on '80s kids cartoons don't become A-list screenwriters for Oscar winning directors. I liked those shows as a kid too.


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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 2:36:49 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
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From: Springfield
 Pesky edit button, eh? Added in some doubt-erasing italics and a smiley, I see!

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 6:06:59 PM   
Dirty Hartigan


Posts: 5890
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Manchester
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Pesky edit button, eh? Added in some doubt-erasing italics and a smiley, I see!


Yes, reread and thought "Hmm, this looks snippy when it shouldn't - a smiley fixes all". Stupid broken forum.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 6:45:25 PM   
Ghidorah

 

Posts: 2627
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quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

I love it. Having said that, I've still never watched the whole of Season 5. Michael J Straczynski (I'm going to be my own cliché by questioning the spelling of that when I suspect it is correct) had the whole story from the start but, due to viewing figures was pressured to complete the show after 4 seasons. When they decided to renew, it meant that the fifth season was extra, and it feels that way. Personally, I'd say watch seasons 1 - 4 and leave it there. It's a natural conclusion for me.

And I enjoyed the first season - it really does inform the rest of the show.



I agree with your opinion on season 5 but some of the movies were pretty good like In The Beginning, Third Space and The Gathering is a vital to the overall Babylon 5 plot. However Crusade, Rangers movies and Call to Arms were sloppy and should be missed especially the Rangers.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 8:14:36 PM   
darth silas


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From: My living room
 Babylon 5 is the greatest sci-fi series ever made.I highly HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who hasnt seen it.

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 8:19:02 PM   
HIM


Posts: 9685
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From: Star Trekkin', across the universe
 OK I've just ordered Season's 1 and 2 from off of Play.com, so bearing in mind that Season 1 is a bit of a slow burner (as was DS9) I'll power through that regardless and if I'm not impressed after Season 2 I won't bother with the rest and will curse those who've made me waste £26! 

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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 8/12/2008 10:09:20 PM   
indysgill


Posts: 5041
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: relic hunting
 I love this show, have all 5 seasons.
As people say season 1 is a slog, but i feel season 3 is where it is at its peak, that final episode is still my fave.

Stick with it HIM.


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RE: Babylon 5. Worth a punt? - 9/12/2008 12:34:38 PM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5789
Joined: 18/11/2006

B5 season 5 underrated-the fall of centuarui and londo makes the eps.

< Message edited by Captain Black -- 9/12/2008 10:24:17 PM >

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