Would I like Babylon 5?

5710 Views 72 Replies 30 Participants Last post by VinceA, Jan 26, 2006

mitchb2

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2006

I've never seen it. But now, after 6 months of watching all of SG-1 and Atlantis from the beginning, I want another scifi show to watch with my kids.

I'd rewatch Farscape, but there was too much sexual stuff to watch with my boys (7 and 8).

If I like Stargate, Enterprise, Battlestar, Space: Above and Beyond, Invasion, Surface, Lost...would I like Babylon?

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dylking

· #2 · Jan 19, 2006

I would think you would...if you can muddle through the first season. Like any show, 'tis a bit (or, in some cases more than a bit) uneven.

I just finished re-watching it, and watching it back to back like that helped showcase how seeds that were sown in Season One came to fruition in season 5.

So, if you like stories that take a long time to tell, definately! The effects may seem a bit dated now, with the upgrades that exist, but it's more about the story for me anyway

WinBear

· #3 · Jan 19, 2006

It's a very good story arc with some interesting characters. There are some heavy concepts, but it shouldn't be too 'adult' for that age.

darthrsg

· #4 · Jan 19, 2006

no

busyba

· #5 · Jan 19, 2006

yes

mportuesi

· #6 · Jan 19, 2006

B5 is probably closest to Battlestar Galactica in terms of format and structure, if not story. If you like BSG, chances are you will like B5 as well. The story is long, continuous and is told through all five seasons of the show. There aren't any explicit sex scenes, nor anything overtly sexual.

Keep in mind the effects will look dated by today's standards. However, B5 was the first television series to do its effects 100% digital.

Also, it takes a while for the series to hit its stride. Don't judge it by the first few episodes. But by the end of season 1, enough of the story is established that you should be hooked.

Don't watch any of the B5 made-for-TV movies before seeing the series. The movies contain major spoilers. Watch the series first, then the movies.

kiljoy

· #7 · Jan 19, 2006

I didn't.

Loved, loved, LOVED Deep Space Nine though.

Tony

windracer

· #8 · Jan 19, 2006

:up: :up:

I've got the complete first season on DVD. I still love watching "Babylon Squared."

alyssa

· #9 · Jan 19, 2006

I'd even suggest picking up the second season & skiping the 1st until you're hooked.

I'd watch it with my 6 year old *if* I thought he'd sit still for it. I will introduce him to it when I think he'll be able to follow the long plot lines. But actually it's a great show to talk about the choices people make & the fact those decisions don't always make for a happy ending but it was still the right choice.

yeah, perhaps I've had a bit to much wine to be posting but in a word:
Yes, to my mind B5 is the yard stick I mesure all other sci-fi shows against.

murgatroyd

· #10 · Jan 19, 2006

Depends entirely upon how patient you are for things to develop (as people above have said).

I was quickly hooked by the performances the cast members were giving, so I was watching despite some not-so-wonderful episodes in Season One. However, you do need those episodes for setup eventually, so even if you decide to plunge in at Season Two as alyssa suggests, you'll need to watch Season One sometime to get the background.

My take on the pilot was that it was fine if you already knew all the characters and the background of the show, not so hot for introducing everyone. Be prepared to absorb a lot of information on the fly.

Jan

busyba

· #11 · Jan 19, 2006

If you do decide to watch it, you almost certainly should read the Lurkers Guide as well.

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html

Particularly the "episodes" section. There's fantastic insight and analysis in there, as well as commentary from "The Great Maker" JMS.

vikingguy

· #12 · Jan 19, 2006

If you can make it to the first season finale you should be hooked. I was iffy on the show till that episode and that was the begining of the greatness. B5 in its 5 years produced some mind blowing episodes that took years to develop.

gchance

· #13 · Jan 19, 2006

Some of you guys's suggestions are amazing.

Skip S1 until you're hooked? That's like telling someone not to read the first few chapters of a book until they read later ones.

Yes, you will like Babylon 5. You will hear people say it doesn't pick up until the middle of the 2nd season but they are dead wrong. There are seemingly throwaway tidbits in the first season that you only realize how important they are later.

Two words: character development.

At any rate, after 10 years, Babylon 5 is still my favorite TV show of all time.

Greg

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busyba

· #14 · Jan 19, 2006

I don't think anyone suggested skipping S1. I think they suggested that one should defer judgement until one has at least gotten through S1, since a lot of the S1 episodes, while very important story-wise, are a little on the weak side.

It would be a shame to give up on the series halfway through S1 because it really does get significantly better.

edit: okay... one person did suggest that. I can't say that I agree.

vikingguy

· #15 · Jan 19, 2006

gchance said:
Some of you guys's suggestions are amazing.

Skip S1 until you're hooked? That's like telling someone not to read the first few chapters of a book until they read later ones.

Yes, you will like Babylon 5. You will hear people say it doesn't pick up until the middle of the 2nd season but they are dead wrong. There are seemingly throwaway tidbits in the first season that you only realize how important they are later.

Two words: character development.

At any rate, after 10 years, Babylon 5 is still my favorite TV show of all time.

Greg

Could not agree B5 had the best character development of any TV I have ever seen. By the end of the series you will be amazed just how much the characters have grown and changed.

mportuesi

· #16 · Jan 19, 2006

gchance said:
Some of you guys's suggestions are amazing.

Skip S1 until you're hooked? That's like telling someone not to read the first few chapters of a book until they read later ones.

Yes, you will like Babylon 5. You will hear people say it doesn't pick up until the middle of the 2nd season but they are dead wrong. There are seemingly throwaway tidbits in the first season that you only realize how important they are later.

I do agree with you. I watched this show as it originally aired, and after the first two or three episodes I almost gave up on the series - slow pacing, iffy acting.

By the latter half of the first season, the problems with pacing and acting had been fixed. The characters were fleshed out more, pieces of the larger story were being set in place, and the "hooks" were there that left me wondering what was going to happen next.

By the end of the first season, I was definitely looking forward to the second. And from then on, the episodes couldn't air fast enough.

So I still recommend starting from season 1, episode 1, knowing that you might sit through a clunker here and there. There are developments in season 1 that are important to the overall story - especially "Babyon Squared" (which doesn't get its proper conclusion until two seasons later, if I recall correctly).

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busyba

· #17 · Jan 19, 2006

mportuesi said:
There are developments in season 1 that are important to the overall story - especially "Babyon Squared" (which doesn't get its proper conclusion until two seasons later, if I recall correctly).

"B-Squared" is S1E20 (or 22 if you count the pilot).

The "flip side" of that episode is S3E16... 40 episodes later

.

murgatroyd

· #18 · Jan 19, 2006

Time to toss the bomb.

I watched B5 on broadcast and loved it. Another friend watched it in daily syndication and hated it.

(The same friend reports that of the people she knows, all of us who watched Buffy Season 6 via broadcast hated it, but her friends who are watching Buffy on DVD loved it and say it's the best season of all. Go figure.)

Be aware that how you watch the show can greatly affect the way you like it. In my case I remember the tremendous suspense, waiting week to week to find out what was going to happen next. I'm not necessarily saying that everyone watching on DVD do the same, but for a first viewing, it might be better to restrict yourself to one episode a day vs. sucking down several episodes at once.

On the other hand, if you are impatient for the story to get going, it might be better to watch episodes in clumps. It's up to the individual viewer, so give some thought as to what kind of viewer you are and view accordingly.

Jan

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Skippy18

· #19 · Jan 19, 2006

Yes you would enjoy B5. I thought it was a great sci-fi show and like everyone else is saying, you have to give the first season a chance. DH said after watching the series 2nd time through, he said the first season made a lot more sense and there was a lot of foreshadowing done. Now if the end of the series leaves you thirsty for more, there's a few good trilogies out there to read.

alyssa

· #20 · Jan 19, 2006

busyba said:
I don't think anyone suggested skipping S1. I think they suggested that one should defer judgement until one has at least gotten through S1, since a lot of the S1 episodes, while very important story-wise, are a little on the weak side.

It would be a shame to give up on the series halfway through S1 because it really does get significantly better.
....

Thank you

Just for the record I was not suggesting the OP skip S1-just watch a few (half doz or so) eps of S2 to see if they'd like the show. It'd be a shame to buy the DVD's of S1 & not buy S2 because the S1 was a bit slow.

I finally got into B5 when it was playing on TNT, started in season 2, then I watched 3,4,5, and then 1,2,3,4,5. I have to say the second time round was a lot more interesting.

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