# Babylon 5 viewing question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050 "2006-02-05T00:06:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/1 "2006-02-05T00:06:17Z")
I’ve just started watching Babylon 5 on DVD through Netflix, and I note that there are a lot of stand alone movies. For instance, the pilot is rented as a seperate movie by Netflix, so I’m gonna have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday to really start watching. So my question is when should I watch the movies and the spin-off series? Wich movies go with which seasons and where in the seasons are they? Anyone know, or know of a website that tells you this info? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/2 "2006-02-05T00:22:57Z")
The Gathering (the pilot) should probably be watched before the series. In the Beginning has spoilers for season 1-4. Master episode list (with movies) [http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html](http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/3 "2006-02-05T00:41:10Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > The Gathering (the pilot) should probably be watched before the series. > In the Beginning has spoilers for season 1-4. > > Master episode list (with movies) > [Lurker's Guide: Master Episode List](http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html) > Brian Thanks, man! I came across that list googling, but somehow failed to notice that the movies were included in the seasons. Are their any movies besides the Pilot, _In the beginning_, _Thirdspace_, _River of Souls_, and _A call to Arms_? Those are the only ones available through Netflix. Also, just to be clear, you’re advising not to watch In the Beginning 'till after season 4? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/4 "2006-02-05T00:52:47Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > Are their any movies besides the Pilot, _In the beginning_, _Thirdspace_, _River of Souls_, and _A call to Arms_? The only other thing was a pilot for a second spinoff series, which I believe was called Legend of the Rangers. > [@](#): > > Also, just to be clear, you’re advising not to watch In the Beginning 'till after season 4? Definitely don’t watch it before you see the first episode of season 2. There are spoilers for later seasons, but nothing major. Thirdspace belongs after season 4 episode 7, and the last two movies take place after the end of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/5 "2006-02-05T02:00:42Z")
Thanks a lot guys! I think that answers all my questions. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/6 "2006-02-05T02:10:37Z")
Late here, but Hubby made me watch B5 last year. All of it. Over the course of a few weeks. We didn’t watch any of the movies, because he really doesn’t like them all that much, and I don’t think I missed much if anything at all. I’d like to see the movies one day, but the series themselves seemed pretty complete, so the movies seem like they’d be little more than gravy. Except Legend of the Rangers. Never, ever watch that. Ever. It’s terrible. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/7 "2006-02-05T09:33:42Z")
Ignore the Rangers stuff. The gathering is effectively episode 0. Watch’em in order. I’d stay away from the movies untill after you’ve watched Season 5. Then watch the movies. Ignore the Rangers stuff. Excalibur is mixed: I for one liked it, but not everyone did. If you watch Excalibur, do so after the B5 movies. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/8 "2006-02-05T10:18:36Z")
Watch “In the Beginning” after the season 4 ep “atonement” (I think that’s the name) Do not watch thirdspace. I don’t know how that whole thing came to fruition but it’s a huge black scar on the babylon 5 franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/9 "2006-02-05T17:09:43Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Watch “In the Beginning” after the season 4 ep “atonement” (I think that’s the name) > > Do not watch thirdspace. I don’t know how that whole thing came to fruition but it’s a huge black scar on the babylon 5 franchise. Can’t be any worse than “Rangers”… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/10 "2006-02-05T17:18:33Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > Can’t be any worse than “Rangers”… In the same ballpark. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/11 "2006-02-05T17:49:33Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > Can’t be any worse than “Rangers”… Indeed it can. It was like a stupid sci-fi channel produced movie with Babylon 5 characters. Just ugh. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/12 "2006-02-05T17:50:41Z")
And I know it wasn’t produced _by_ sci-fi - I feel that correction coming, just that it compares in stupid plot to all the B movies they’re coming out with every month. Which reminds me - I hate those. Not necesarily because they’re so dumb, but because sci-fi could be using that budget to produce movie versions of great short stories instead of the B movie garbage. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/13 "2006-02-05T18:03:07Z")
Thirdspace was about as well-received as the average season 1 episode. It’s not great, but it’s hardly a giant stinkbomb. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/14 "2006-02-05T19:16:39Z")
Would it be jerkish of me to post that my “Babylon 5 viewing” tip would be to not bother viewing any of it, because I think the whole thing sucked ass? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/15 "2006-02-05T19:42:37Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Would it be jerkish of me to post that my “Babylon 5 viewing” tip would be to not bother viewing any of it, because I think the whole thing sucked ass? Yes. Yes it would. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/16 "2006-02-05T22:30:07Z")
Thirdspace had Tracy Scoggins in lingerie, and that was the only redeeming quality og the show, save for the voluminous shots of starfuries exhibiting their lesser-known towing capability. I was sorely tempted to get a starfury model and do her up in AAA drag. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/17 "2006-02-05T22:41:26Z")
A starfury effects extravaganza would’ve been welcome with the people who did seasons 1-3. They switched effects houses in 4 and 5 and the new one didn’t pay anywhere near the level of attention to proper thrusters firing, etc. as the first one did. It was a real shame, because seeing a realistically moving space fighter was a huge breath of fresh air after the “airplanes in space” battles of star trek and star wars. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/18 "2006-02-06T02:47:10Z")
All I can think about is the “combat system” in the ship in Rangers… Ship Designers: Hey, you know what’d be great for fighting? Have your gunnery officer get into a massive VR suite, and when s/he needs to fire, have them fling out their arms and feet as if they were having a massive seizure! Hours of fun for the whole family! The acting was tragic (except for Andreas Katsulas. The man can do no wrong), but bearable until the first ship fight. Then I think it gave me cancer. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-viewing-question/343050/19 "2006-02-06T03:28:15Z")
> [@Sierra Indigo](#): > > All I can think about is the “combat system” in the ship in Rangers… > > Ship Designers: Hey, you know what’d be great for fighting? Have your gunnery officer get into a massive VR suite, and when s/he needs to fire, have them fling out their arms and feet as if they were having a massive seizure! Hours of fun for the whole family! It wouldn’t be a terrible idea if it was subtle hand gestures and pointing, because it’d be easier to represent 3d space rather than simply on a screen, but the way it was done was way over the top and cheesy.