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Sci-Fi baws: How is Babylon 5?
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:36 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:36 pm
Is it basically just deep space 9 all over again?
Worth a watch?
Worth a watch?
13
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:43 pm to CBandits82
Halfway between Deep Space 9 and Saturn 3
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:52 pm to CBandits82
quote:
Is it basically just deep space 9 all over again?
No. It was pitched as a Star Trek series, originally. There are hard feelings (good chance Paramount ripped B5's creator off).
It is its own thing. It is excellent science fiction.
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 8:53 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 8:52 pm to CBandits82
Aside from being centered on a big Space Station it's very different. It's very political in a Sci-fi way and you're dealing with a lot of different alien races that are factions and they don't all get along with each other.. Once you understand the story plots and the different races it's a damn fine show.
I still prefer DS9 over all because I'm a lifelong fan of the Star Trek Universe.
I still prefer DS9 over all because I'm a lifelong fan of the Star Trek Universe.
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 9:12 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:04 pm to CU_Tigers4life
I read that the whole thing was already pre written which makes me all in.
They already knew how to start in and end it.
They already knew how to start in and end it.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:27 pm to CBandits82
I personally enjoy Babylon 5 more than Deep Space 9. It's one of my favorite shows of all time. The long term story arc was better than other sci-fi, especially considering the series didn't have an existing "universe" to pull from and had to build the story from scratch. And although issues with various actors and studios created some issues, they did a decent job of fixing things without losing the entire story.
The episodes in the first season that feel more like episodic television are planting seeds that come back into play later on. Very few things don't ultimately pay off later. And the big reveal episodes have bigger payoffs. It's worth a watch, but you might not think so if you only watch the first season. You might not feel like it really gets moving until the second season, but commit to it and you'll hopefully enjoy it.
The CG effects won't look as good now, 30 years later (and some effects only have the 4:3 format remaining and can't truly be upscaled), but they were pretty impressive in the mid 90s. They filmed the show in 16:9 widescreen before that was a thing for normal broadcasts.
Some people don't like some of the acting, which comes in part from using lots of stage actors as guest characters. For the most part, it gets better. The pilot does carry over into the main series, although there are a few changes and inconsistencies. And some people also don't like the acting of one of the main characters from the first season, but without spoiling anything, there was a real life reason for it. I wouldn't look it up until after watching at least the first three seasons to avoid spoiling anything about that character, though.
The episodes in the first season that feel more like episodic television are planting seeds that come back into play later on. Very few things don't ultimately pay off later. And the big reveal episodes have bigger payoffs. It's worth a watch, but you might not think so if you only watch the first season. You might not feel like it really gets moving until the second season, but commit to it and you'll hopefully enjoy it.
The CG effects won't look as good now, 30 years later (and some effects only have the 4:3 format remaining and can't truly be upscaled), but they were pretty impressive in the mid 90s. They filmed the show in 16:9 widescreen before that was a thing for normal broadcasts.
Some people don't like some of the acting, which comes in part from using lots of stage actors as guest characters. For the most part, it gets better. The pilot does carry over into the main series, although there are a few changes and inconsistencies. And some people also don't like the acting of one of the main characters from the first season, but without spoiling anything, there was a real life reason for it. I wouldn't look it up until after watching at least the first three seasons to avoid spoiling anything about that character, though.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:28 pm to CBandits82
Lookit's really cheesy. I mean really cheesy.
But it's old school sci fi. I love it. It's up there with BSG, DS9 and the Expanse. It just isn't as dark as those.
I'd say it's a notch below TNG, but I liked it more overall, that's why it's in my Top 5 space sci fis.
But it is of its own time. The tone in B5 is NOT like anything you see today. It's 1960s through and through.
But it's old school sci fi. I love it. It's up there with BSG, DS9 and the Expanse. It just isn't as dark as those.
I'd say it's a notch below TNG, but I liked it more overall, that's why it's in my Top 5 space sci fis.
But it is of its own time. The tone in B5 is NOT like anything you see today. It's 1960s through and through.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:31 pm to CBandits82
Definitely worth the watch and not at all like DS9 other than it being a Sci-Fi show set on a space station. Basically starts out with 5 main alien races and a bunch of "lesser" races interacting on a United Nations type space station. 2 of the main races (one of which is earth) have just got out of a war with each other with the other superior race suddenly surrendering for an unknown reason just as they were about to wipe out earth, and 2 other main races that hate each other because one enslaved the other for centuries. Babylon 5 space station is basically a last ditch attempt at a peace effort for those 4 races while the 5th race is a race shrouded in mystery that the others seemly know very little about other than they are vastly superior to everyone even to the race that just about wiped out earth.
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 9:36 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:32 pm to Freauxzen
If Freauxzen is in……I’m in.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:32 pm to Bamatab
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:33 pm to CrazyTigerFan
Great post
Thank you sir
Thank you sir
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:35 pm to CBandits82
quote:
If Freauxzen is in……I’m in.
It's a super fun show. You just have to go with it.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:39 pm to Freauxzen
It may be worth noting just how low of a budget they had to work with, too. They didn't have sound stages or a lot of money for costumes or props, and they were working in an old hot tub factory and warehouse. It makes what they came up with that much more impressive.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 9:44 pm to CBandits82
quote:Not at all
Is it basically just deep space 9 all over again?
quote:If you like sci fi, then absolutely.
Worth a watch?
Fwiw, I greatly prefer Babylon 5 over DS9. The stories are WAY different, as are the in-universe physics and technology.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:01 pm to CrazyTigerFan
quote:
It may be worth noting just how low of a budget they had to work with, too. They didn't have sound stages or a lot of money for costumes or props, and they were working in an old hot tub factory and warehouse. It makes what they came up with that much more impressive.
Did not know this. Nuts.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:10 pm to CrazyTigerFan
quote:
I personally enjoy Babylon 5 more than Deep Space 9. It's one of my favorite shows of all time.
I think I watched a few episodes years ago and I don’t remember much of anything but it would be a tall order to even be in the same discussion as Deep Space 9.
All seasons are free on Tubi.
This post was edited on 5/20/24 at 10:18 pm
Posted on 5/20/24 at 10:31 pm to CBandits82
quote:
If Freauxzen is in……I’m in.
Freau's comments are pretty good.
I've know people who loved it and got obsessed with it, including one pretty serious academic who thought it was like this profound work of morality and ethics.
I personally didn't get that much, and liked Deep Space 9 more. Probably because of the cast. But I'd definitely give Babylon 5 a shot if you've got a way to stream it. I might watch it again at this age if I can find it.
Posted on 5/20/24 at 11:49 pm to CrazyTigerFan
quote:It's an extraordinarily well-crafted story. The internet legend was that it was written in completion prior to episode one being shot, although I think that has been somewhat discounted. But the concept was definitely in place for a 5 season arc, and they knew where they were going from the opening episode. As such, there's world building and development that you don't usually see in a TV series.
The long term story arc was better than other sci-fi, especially considering the series didn't have an existing "universe" to pull from and had to build the story from scratch. And although issues with various actors and studios created some issues, they did a decent job of fixing things without losing the entire story.
The episodes in the first season that feel more like episodic television are planting seeds that come back into play later on. Very few things don't ultimately pay off later. And the big reveal episodes have bigger payoffs. It's worth a watch, but you might not think so if you only watch the first season. You might not feel like it really gets moving until the second season, but commit to it and you'll hopefully enjoy it.
The effects are Lightwave 3D, which are now dated, but they knew it would become that way and put a ton of effort into getting the little things right (camera angles, physics, etc). You see remasters done, basically sharpening the rendering and improving details... but the actual motion and cameras are still the same, and look great.
Posted on 5/21/24 at 12:05 am to PowerTool
quote:
serious academic who thought it was like this profound work of morality and ethics.
It actually handles overall political and social morality REALLY well despite it's tone, and I think that's why it often works. There's this weird feeling that it's sort of a long form Fable to a degree.
Like it feels architected to tell this cohesive story about how people of different perspectives interact around a few core ideas - but it feels weirdly organic all at the same time.
It really is a unique show and keeps its identity throughout. But you have to let it get going.
Posted on 5/21/24 at 8:02 am to CBandits82
quote:
I read that the whole thing was already pre written which makes me all in.
The story I heard is that it was planned for 5 seasons but somewhere in the middle of season 4 the creators were told that they were being cancelled and there would only be 4 seasons so they better wrap it up fast. Then after the 4th season was finished they were told that the powers that be had changed their minds and there was going to be a fifth season after all.
I have not watched it for the above reason. I feel like it will just annoy me when I think about how it could have been so I have decided to stay away.
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