# I thought Babylon 5 was supposed to be serious sci-fi... \[spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491 "2009-01-09T04:50:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/101 "2009-01-12T23:27:44Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Oh yes - to hell with this whole diplomacy shit: my gun is bigger than yours, now fuck off. Especially after such a buildup of the Minbari’s noninterference stance, and the rift of the grey council - you know that’s gotta have a big impact on Delenn, who’s so big on unity and community. At that moment, that is NOT a religious caste Minbari you want to be fucking with. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/102 "2009-01-13T00:28:56Z")
> [@runcible\_spoon](#): > > Especially after such a buildup of the Minbari’s noninterference stance, and the rift of the grey council - you know that’s gotta have a big impact on Delenn, who’s so big on unity and community. At that moment, that is NOT a religious caste Minbari you want to be fucking with. BTW have you seen the alien sex scene yet with Ivanova ? Declan ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/103 "2009-01-13T00:32:35Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > BTW have you seen the alien sex scene yet with Ivanova ? > > Declan Well, I saw her having ‘human style’ sex… I’m not sure I want to know what that little ring-thingy is for… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/104 "2009-01-13T00:57:15Z")
Heh…this thread just inspired me to watch “Sleeping In Light” on YouTube again. ---
**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:** [January 13, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/105 "2009-01-13T15:29:14Z")
**runcible** , when you get to “Grey 17 Is Missing,” just fast-forward through all the scenes with Garibaldi. It’s not his fault, but the “A” plot to this episode just reeks. But the “B” plot kinda rocks, especially Marcus. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/106 "2009-01-13T15:37:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **runcible** , when you get to “Grey 17 Is Missing,” just fast-forward through all the scenes with Garibaldi. It’s not his fault, but the “A” plot to this episode just reeks. But the “B” plot kinda rocks, especially Marcus. The episode after it, though (“And The Rock Cried Out - No Hiding Place”), should not be ff’ed at any point. One of the best of a very good season. And sooo satisfying! ---
**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:** [January 13, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/107 "2009-01-13T15:40:20Z")
And the two after that are just mind-blowing. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/108 "2009-01-13T16:57:49Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **runcible** , when you get to “Grey 17 Is Missing,” just fast-forward through all the scenes with Garibaldi. It’s not his fault, but the “A” plot to this episode just reeks. But the “B” plot kinda rocks, especially Marcus. Agreed. Although there are _a lot_ of great Marcus quotes, this episode has my favorite. I don’t think I need to spoiler it, since it doesn’t give away any plot points: “I am a Ranger. We walk in the dark places no others will enter. We stand on the bridge and no one may pass. We live for the One. We die for the One!" Just the way he says it, the conviction in his voice. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/109 "2009-01-13T18:05:18Z")
Robert Englund’s first line in _Grey 17 is Missing_ is rather funny, considering his claim to fame. The rest of that plotline - bleah. As for “hard” sci-fi, what about the short-lived _Space: Above and Beyond_ (based heavily on _Forever War_ IIRC)? I thought that was pretty solid stuff - and it was grunt-based (rather than command-based) storytelling. I was sorry that it only lasted a season, as it was supposed to be a five-year show. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491/110 "2009-01-13T21:38:18Z")
Yeah, _Grey 17_ was pretty out of place. Almost made me think the show had lost it’s momentum, just in time for _The Rock Cried Out_ to blow me away. And after that, I couldn’t go to sleep until I saw the next two… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-babylon-5-was-supposed-to-be-serious-sci-fi-spoilers/480491.md?page=5)