I’ve been watching B5 all the way through for the first time and have some questions. I reallllly want NO spoilers except for things I ask about directly. I am a pure B5 virgin who truly doesn’t know where this story is going. I’d like to stay that way.
I have seen the first 9 episodes, up to Deathwalker. I have also seen the pilot movie, The Gathering. Here are my questions. Thanks, by the way(I’m just being strict 'cause I don’t want to here too much).
I know Michael O’Hare is replaced by Bruce Boxleiter. This was just too huge to avoid knowing. Here is my question. I really like Sinclair. Did you guys come to like John Sheridan as much as Sinclair? They are building such a good backstory for Sinclair that I think I’m never going to much like Sheridan. Was the general concensus that Sheridan was as good?
Does Sheridan have a good backstory like Sinclair? This is yes or no, don’t tell me anything about it.
Around what episode do you think this show hits its stride? It has started slow, but “Mind War” and “And the Sky Full of Stars” have been really good. Just for reference, I would say Farscape hit its stride in episode 19, “Nerve”.
Does JMS eventualy write all the episodes? I’ve noticed the best one’s have been written by him so far, which makes sense since it’s really his series.
Should I wait to see all the movies? I don’t want to be spoiled. When is the best time to see each movie? Thanks.
Yes, I think Sheridan becomes as good as Sinclair. This is my opinion only, and I did NOT think he would be good initially.
Yes he does.
The show got me from the pilot. The acting and writing captured me right away.
No, but he was in control of the story arc. He wrote many episodes, but not all. Neil Gaiman of Sandman fame wrote an episode in Season 5 that was excellent.
Nope. Go to http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/lurker.html to see where the movies fit into the viewing sequence. Each movie goes within the context of the viewing sequence.
Ah, watching Babylon 5 from the beginning. You’re in for quite a treat.
Most of the answers to your questions are really matters of opinion, but I’ll be happy to give you mine.
I happen to like Sheridan as well, or better, than Sinclair. Like Hastur, this is my opinion only. I don’t know if there is a consensus one way or the other. I know people who dislike Sheridan intensely.
Yes.
This one is hard for me to answer, because I watched the show in an unusual way. I watched the first few episodes of the first season, found it pretty draggy, and gave up on it. Early in the second season, I was convinced to give it another try. Thank heaven for that! I have seen every episode now, having caught those first season shows I missed in reruns. For me personally, it was the second or third episode of season 2. But that’s only because my personal veiwing experience was odd.
JMS wrote most of the episodes, but not all. In the early seasons particularly, there were some other writers. In addition to Neil Gaiman, Peter David also wrote a couple of episodes.
The movies do assume that you’ve seen the episodes. Unfortunately, I can’t recall where each one fits off the top of my head. I think you’ll have to rely on B5 websites for that information. Be careful, though, because many of them do contain spoilers.
I think Hastur’s pretty much covered it the fact portion.
I agree with the previous posters. I liked Sheridan as much as Sinclair and I thought his story was just as thorough as Sinclair’s.
I’ve liked the show from the beginning, but I think by Season 2 when everyone had settled in the crew hit their strides and that shows in the finished product.
I liked Sheridan a bit more. I think Boxleitner is a slightly better actor.
I think Sheridan’s backstory is not as interesting as Sinclair’s.
It begins to pick up at episode 16, “A Voice in the Wilderness, part 1”.
Yes. He wrote season 3 (and possibly one other season) all by himself.
Definitely, wait. The first movie you should see is “Babylon 5: In the Beginning.” It contains major spoilers. It was originally broadcast after the fourth season, so you should wait till then. You can check the site Hastur mentioned, but be aware there are many spoilers.
You got the answers to most of the questions from others already, but I have something to add.
Don’t see ANY movie until you have completed the series. To be honest, of all the movies one is pretty good and the rest are sub-par. The show is a work of art, imo and the movies generally fall way short.
The show captured my attention from the beginning, but I did have to work a little to get over the super low budget of the first season (especially with regards to costuming).
I like Sheridan a lot more than Sinclair. This could be as much of an actor problem as anything else – and I’ve got a bit of a thing for Bruce, so I’m not exactly objective. All things considered, I’m glad they switched. I don’t think I could have taken the equivalent of five years of slightly wooden Sinclair.
I started watching about 2/3 of the way through the first season, my first time, and was immediately hooked. (This was during the first round of reruns, so it took about a week to irrevocably hook me.) I think it really starts taking off about a third of the way into the second season, but gets unbelievably great later on.
And avoid the movies! “In the Beginning” is excellent, but it is also one giant spoiler for the rest of the series. It’s the best of the movies, IMHO.
I agree with the previous posters on Sheridan/Boxleiter, and I don’t recall exactly when the show hooked me, but sometime in the second season I thought it was the best thing since… hmmm, well, just the best thing on TV.
Never seen any of the movies: what, were these made for TV things?
MGibson, you’re forgetting the introduction/lead-in to “In the Beginning.” The meat of the movie is safe to watch, but the introduction to the movie reveals later events.
Just a random note, my username is based on B5. If you watched “Mind War,” already, you’ll recognize the name of Alfred Bester, a Psi Cop. I don’t think that it’s giving anything away major to tell you that he appears several more times in the show, playing a fairly important role eventually. Best villain in the series!
“Parliament of Dreams”, “Believers”(latter is #10)
No
Yes
I envy you. I have three copies of each episode. One for me, one for the nephews(someday), and one for lending. And I have “The Gathering” in two versions. One is when it was first on. Soundtrack is different, edgier music and scenes are cut differently from pilot as you must have seen it. For example, the scene with Leeta and G’kar talking about “transferring” genetic material is a little longer and slightly more explicit in the original. For me, experiencing B5 was like converting to a different religion. I grew up in the Star Trek “denomination” and converted to Babylon 5. Still have affection for the former, think the new is the best television show ever. Keep us posted on how YOU feel about it!!!
It has been a while but so far as I know those are later events which are alluded to in many parts of the series. I don’t think any serious spoilage will occur from watching **In the Beginning. **
Yeah he was pretty damn good. I remember snickering when I saw Checkov on B5 but now I think of him as Bester first. His best role on television not counting that guest appearance on Gidget.
By the way do you play the Babylon 5 Wars game from Agents of Gaming?
Yes. I liked Sinclair, but Sheridan was a perfect replacement.
Yes, like every major B5 character, Sheridan has a good backstory. It works in very well with his role in the show.
I liked the show starting with the pilot, but “Parliament of Dreams” was the episode that really hooked me. It was by turns dramatic and funny, and the closing was really beautiful.
Already answered thoroughly.
Honestly, you can skip the movies if you want. I wasn’t overly impressed with any of them. I would have rather watched another regular episode of the show.
I’m enjoying the shows just as much now, watching the series in sequence for the second time, as I did the first time. I can find little subtle things that didn’t strike me as significant before, and I can skip the few episodes that I didn’t really care for in Season 1. I’ll probably collect episodes when they start coming out on DVD.