# Babylon 5 was great television science fiction.... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030 "2001-07-03T00:59:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2001, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/61 "2001-07-08T07:54:44Z")
FWIW, the Narns are the only race able to digest the Spoo raw. All other races get cramps, NVD, or death. I forget which one. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2001, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/62 "2001-07-08T08:19:42Z")
On Spoo, the [Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5](http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html) has the following things to say: > [@](#): > > Centauri don’t like fresh spoo, but Narns do; Centauri consider it an insult to be offered fresh spoo. > [@](#): > > The price of spoo is highly volatile: near the beginning of [“A ViewFrom The Gallery”], as Mack and Bo ate lunch, Mack claimed it cost 10 credits an ounce. At the end of the episode, he said it cost 15. > [@](#): > > What does spoo taste like? > Meat Jello. > Served chilled. And this, the ultimate spoo information yet released from JMS himself: > [@](#): > > Spoo is/are (the plural of spoo is spoo) small, white, pasty, mealy critters, rather worm-like, and generally regarded as the ugliest animals in the known galaxy by just about every sentient species capable of starflight, with the possible exception of the pak’ma’ra, who would simply recommend a more rigorous program of exercise. They are also generally considered the most delicious food in all of known space, regardless of the individual’s biology, almost regardless of species, except for the pak’ma’ra, who like the flavor but generally won’t say so simply to be contrary. > > Spoo are raised on ranches on worlds with a damp, moist, somewhat chilly climate so that their skin can acquire just the right shade of paleness. Spoo travel in herds, if moving a total of six inches in any given direction in the course of a given year can actually be considered moving. They stay in herds ostensibly for mutual protection, but the reality is that if they weren’t propped up against one another, most of them would simply fall down. They do not howl, bark, moo, purr, yap, squeak or speak. Mainly, they sigh. Herds of sighing spoo can reportedly induce unparalleled bouts of depression, which is why most spoo ranchers wear earmuffs even when it’s only mildly cold, damp, wet and dreary outside. If there is any life-or-death struggle for dominance within the spoo herd, it has not yet been detected by modern science. > > Spoo ranching is one of the least regarded professions known. Little or no skill is required, once you’ve got a planet with the right climate. You bring in two hundred spoo, plop them down in the middle of your ranch, and go back to the nearby house. Soon you’ve got more. When it comes time to cull out the ones ready for market (the softest, mealiest, palest, most forlorn-looking spoo of the pack), little physical effort is required since they’re incapable of rapid movement without falling over (see above). They do not resist, fight, or whine; they only sigh more loudly. When spoo harvest time comes, the air is full of the sound of whacking and sighing, whacking and sighing. Even an experienced spoo rancher can only harvest for brief periods of a time, due to the increased volume of sighing, which even the sound of whacking cannot altogether erase. (also see above) Some have simply gone mad. > > Spoo are the only creatures of which the Interstellar Animal Rights Protection League says, simply, “Kill 'em.” > > Fresh spoo (served at an optimum temperature of 62-degrees) is served in cubed sections, so that they bear as little resemblence as possible to the animal from which they have just been sliced. Spoo is usually served alongside a chablis, or a white zinfandel. > > Further information on the care, feeding, eating and whacking of spoo can be found in the second edition of the Interstellar Guide to Fine Dining. So now you know… and that’s a good thing. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/63 "2001-07-08T14:49:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slortar \* > \*\*I absolutely loved how JMS tried to build a universe. You can actually see how people live–you get a real feel for daily life. In Star Trek it never really felt like there was anything happening outside of the ship’s walls. \*\* Got it in one there. I too am a devoted Trekker but the obvious efforts to make a complete universe paid off. I loved the attention for detail at times so obviously lacking from Trek. Knowing so much about the races, their religions, politics etc added so much to the flavour of the series. My only gripe is that it seemed to follow the Lord of the Rings. After a big anticlimax battle we get the last season where nothing much of any consequence seems to happen relative to the rest of the series. I suppose its better than leaving everything lying wide open and to be honest I can remember where the last season started exactly but if you’ve read the Lord of the Rings and felt how odd the very end of the book feels you’ll know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/64 "2001-07-08T15:47:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pushkin \* > \*\* > Got it in one there. I too am a devoted Trekker but the obvious efforts to make a complete universe paid off. I loved the attention for detail at times so obviously lacking from Trek. Knowing so much about the races, their religions, politics etc added so much to the flavour of the series. \*\* And they watched news broadcast!! Some of my favorite episodes involved the ISN. > [@](#): > > \*\* > My only gripe is that it seemed to follow the Lord of the Rings. After a big anticlimax battle we get the last season where nothing much of any consequence seems to happen relative to the rest of the series. \*\* Well in the fourth season we saw an end to the Earth Alliance civil war. Personally I wouldn’t say that was anti-climatic quite the opposite actually. I thought it was one of the most exciting seaons on television. The 5th season I can’t blame on JMS. The poor guy wasn’t sure whether or not his show would be picked up for a 5th season so he crammed as much as possible into the 4th. I agree that the 5th season was the weakest. > [@](#): > > \*\* > I suppose its better than leaving everything lying wide open and to be honest I can remember where the last season started exactly but if you’ve read the Lord of the Rings and felt how odd the very end of the book feels you’ll know what I mean. \*\* Well the 5th season saw the start of the Interstellar Alliance and the fall of Centari Prime. There were also a lot of unanswered questions such as how will the Centari be saved from the Shadow’s allies, what happened to G’Kar and Lyta on their two year voyage, what ever happened to Lennier, and how will Garibaldi get his revenge of Bester (I’m ignoring the damn book)? Of course in the final episode we learn that Lyta and Lennier are both dead. But I’d like to know how. Hopefully any future movies will let us know. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/65 "2001-07-09T08:12:25Z")
We do not know that Lyta and Lennier are dead - only that they are “absent” (IIRC). As always with JMS, you must carefully listen to the exact wording used… Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/66 "2001-07-09T14:38:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*We do not know that Lyta and Lennier are dead - only that they are “absent” (IIRC). As always with JMS, you must carefully listen to the exact wording used… > > Esprix \*\* I suppose that’s possible. But I’d certainly feel cheated if they weren’t dead. They were toasting all the people who were absent and they mention G’Kar and Londo. Since they are dead I don’t think it is a great leap to think that Lyta and Lennier are dead. Especially since Lyta is dead by the time Garibaldi catches Bester in that horrible book. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/67 "2001-07-09T15:02:19Z")
Kind of a hijack, but I have a question about getting B5 tapes. Is there a place where you can buy the tapes season by season, instead of one by one? I wish I had taped the episodes back when I had the chance ☹ ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/68 "2001-07-09T16:48:55Z")
Pucette, Last I looked, you couldn’t get **all** the eps on tape, but I do happen to have a source… 😉 If you ask really nicely, maybe you could borrow them. And if you plan on watching _Sleeping in Light_, which I seem to remember you haven’t seen, I’ll watch with you. And I promise to not hog the tissues. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/69 "2001-07-09T17:02:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*We do not know that Lyta and Lennier are dead - only that they are “absent” (IIRC). As always with JMS, you must carefully listen to the exact wording used… > > Esprix \*\* One more thing. Did they toast Zack who was invited but also absent? Marc ---
**Author:** ![Pucette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@Pucette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucette)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/70 "2001-07-09T20:37:24Z")
\ Vix, could I please borrow some of your B5 tapes? Please? Pretty please? With a wasabi pea on top? \ [sub]P.S. I’ll bring my own box of tissues. That sounds fantastic. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/71 "2001-07-09T23:22:40Z")
Peons - I’ve already got all the tapes through Columbia House through season 3. 😉 They did not toast Zack, but we did see him in the episode. Yes, since they mention three people who did die (Marcus, Londo and G’Kar), it seems one could assume that Lyta and Lennier are dead (and, yes, Lyta was dead in the Psi Corps book), but, again, unless I hear the word “dead” I don’t believe it, especially if it’s written by JMS. Side note - Marcus isn’t technically dead. According to one of the Babylon 5 CD-ROMs (I don’t recall which), he’s in cryogenic stasis (much like Bester’s wife was) and the information listed on the front panel isn’t “dead” but something along the lines of “awaiting proper medical treatment for possible recussitation” or somesuch. The implication was that he was put into the freezer in the hopes that someday they’d find a way to reverse the machine’s effect (again, much like Bester was hoping for his wife’s revival). I love this series. 😃 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/72 "2001-07-10T00:58:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*Peons - I’ve already got all the tapes through Columbia House through season 3. 😉 \*\* Knave, I have all 5 seasons on VCD. Mwa ha ha ha ha ha. It pays to have an obsessive friend who likes making VCDS. > [@](#): > > \*\* > They did not toast Zack, but we did see him in the episode. Yes, since they mention three people who did die (Marcus, Londo and G’Kar), it seems one could assume that Lyta and Lennier are dead (and, yes, Lyta was dead in the Psi Corps book), but, again, unless I hear the word “dead” I don’t believe it, especially if it’s written by JMS. \*\* I suppose. But I think JMS is a better writer then to use a cheap gimmick to cheat his audience. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Side note - Marcus isn’t technically dead. According to one of the Babylon 5 CD-ROMs (I don’t recall which), he’s in cryogenic stasis (much like Bester’s wife was) and the information listed on the front panel isn’t “dead” but something along the lines of “awaiting proper medical treatment for possible recussitation” or somesuch. \*\* Again, I was under impression that he was dead as a door nail. And again I don’t think he’d use a cheap gimmick to bring Marcus back. > [@](#): > > \*\* > The implication was that he was put into the freezer in the hopes that someday they’d find a way to reverse the machine’s effect (again, much like Bester was hoping for his wife’s revival). > > I love this series. 😃 > > Esprix \*\* Heh heh…if that ends up being the case then the series will turn into Star Trek instead of Babylon 5. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/73 "2001-07-10T01:17:42Z")
Well there’s not much chance of them resurrecting the series itself, so I don’t see it happening. But I wouldn’t put it past JMS at all to do stuff like this. The difference is, he’d find a way to do it _well_. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/74 "2001-07-10T01:35:45Z")
According to Sci-Fi’s online schedule they’ll be starting the reruns over again, so I’ll be able to get them all taped properly. Finally! (Less than a year, and I’m already dying to have them ALL so I can watch them whenever I want. This is scary.) I can’t afford to buy the tapes, but I can make my own, yay! I would be very very happy if Marcus weren’t dead, regardless of how he is brought back. _drool_ I’m going to a huge con next month, and Jason Carter’s one of the guests…_drool __faint__ sigh_ I just hope I don’t act like a completely LOON in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/75 "2001-07-10T03:40:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*Well there’s not much chance of them resurrecting the series itself, so I don’t see it happening. But I wouldn’t put it past JMS at all to do stuff like this. The difference is, he’d find a way to do it _well_. > > Esprix \*\* From what I remember JMS said that somebody had to die. He couldn’t just have Ivanova dying like that and pull out some magical cure that had no consequences. Last time that alien device was used June Lockhart killed the guy on the other end. While they won’t resurrect the series, nor should they, I think they could squeeze a few more TV movies. Of course I really hope that they have something to do with the plot. I was happy with In the Beginning and The Gathering. But I thought that third space one, or whatever it was called, really blew chunks. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/76 "2001-07-10T03:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\* > > I would be very very happy if Marcus weren’t dead, regardless of how he is brought back. _drool_ I’m going to a huge con next month, and Jason Carter’s one of the guests…_drool __faint__ sigh_ I just hope I don’t act like a completely LOON in front of him. > \*\* I understand. I kinda wish Claudia Christian was included in the 5th season. But I think it made more sense for her character to move on and do other things. On the other hand at least I have Claudia’s appearance in Playboy to tide me over. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/77 "2001-07-10T04:32:08Z")
[bragging hijack] I have a copy of the Playboy autographed by Claudia to me 😃 She also has a new video and CD coming out, which I have preordered. 😃 [/bh] ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/78 "2001-07-10T07:19:48Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **MGibson** _ > > … I think they could squeeze a few more TV movies. They are. IIRC, there’s one coming up on Sci-Fi at the end of the summer. > [@](#): > > I kinda wish Claudia Christian was included in the 5th season. But I think it made more sense for her character to move on and do other things. Not to mention the huge contract negotiation sanfu that happened which was the real-life reason she didn’t stay on. Personally, I think she would have made the fifth season more watchable. I got to meet the actor who played Byron at Philcon last year. He was there with his… um… “male companion.” Do the math, kiddies… 😉 (He was kind of a bitch, though.) Esprix ---
**Author:** ![BobSchroeck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@BobSchroeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobSchroeck)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/79 "2001-07-10T12:16:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > **Again, I was under impression that he was dead as a door nail. And again I don’t think he’d use a cheap gimmick to bring Marcus back.** Check the “then and now” shots at the end of _Sleeping In The Light_ – unlike the others who get two headshots, Marcus gets one headshot and one view of the status display for his cryotube – and with a sufficiently good TV/tape, you can easily read a message to the effect that he is in suspension awaiting medical treatment. – Bob ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2001, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030/80 "2001-07-10T12:24:42Z")
Marcus _isn’t_ dead. JMS wrote a short story in a science magazine about a group of Minbari reviving him a couple of hundred years later. The title was “Space, Time and the Incurable Romantic,” published in Amazing Stories. Here’s a link to the opening paragraphs: [http://www.wizards.com/amazing/article.asp?cat=602&file=b5](http://www.wizards.com/amazing/article.asp?cat=602&file=b5) And here’s a review: [http://babylon5.about.com/library/weekly/aa062500a.htm](http://babylon5.about.com/library/weekly/aa062500a.htm) “It’s getting so a man can’t even die heroically without someone spoiling all the fun.” 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/babylon-5-was-great-television-science-fiction/71030.md?page=5)