Babylon 5: Should I invest my money and time? ANSWER IN POST #500 - Page 4

Ron let me just save you some time and tell you how it all ends......................................Just Kidding !

Boy are you in for the ride of your life. If you thought 24 was great you ain't seen nothing yet. When you get to the end of Season 2 you'll be heading out to get season 3. I introduce this to my Brother in Law who's not a big sci fi fan and he was hooked an we ende up watching like 4 episodes a night. Like the sopranos B5 is better done in batches of a disk a night. That way you'll pick up on the little things dropped into the shows. When B5 was originally aired with its erratic schedule they show a few eps and then weeks of repeats, a reason why I think it never gathered a following like it has now. DVD was made for this series.

Glad you took the suggestions to heart. We all will be waiting with baited breath to hear what you think.

Jason

Oh, OK, that makes sense. I watched it on the PAL r4 release, where that one specific image in the season 2 set was inserted only after the appropriate revelation. I never realised that was a difference in the NTSC release.

In that case, Ron, you should definitely skip the credits until the third episode.

Enjoy it. Looking forward to hearing your views.

Oh, OK, that makes sense. I watched it on the PAL r4 release, where that one specific image in the season 2 set was inserted only after the appropriate revelation. I never realised that was a difference in the NTSC release.

In that case, Ron, you should definitely skip the credits until the third episode.

Enjoy it. Looking forward to hearing your views.

For those intereste in more recent B5 related news, JMS has confirmed that the still-un(officially)-announced major new B5 project is called Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows - which will be a big hint to those of you who have watched the entire series.

Because deals are still being finalized, and Warner Bros. hasn't been able to make a public announcement, JMS has had to mostly hold his tongue, as well, and limit himself to cryptic hints. In fact, he said if he spoke too soon the powers that be would beat his head against a wall until it made a 2.35:1 hole there.

So Ron, you're not only about to watch the entirety of a five year novel for television that told the central story of our galaxy from the years 2258 to 2262, you're getting in on the ground floor of what could be a major new SF franchise as various other stories of the B5 universe from other times or involving other characters and locales are told. And you're hardly alone in first discovering the show on DVD. It is the unexpectedly strong sales of the DVDs that have Warner Bros. suddenly thinking feature film, and Del Rey books prepping another series of authorized novels - presumably based on outlines by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, like the existing Del Rey paperbacks. Heck according to JMS the first three and a half season releases ("half season" because of the different release schedules in differnt countries) netted Warner Bros. about $70 million world wide.

This is truly the little show that could, and JMS's latest post hints at at least one and possibly a couple of more projects related to the series in the offing. Of course, he can still be as obscure as a Vorlon - or, as an episode of Unsolved History reminded me recently - as obscure as certain human "prophets". So in that spirit I present...



"Trumpets will sound from the wrong side of the river,
The three brothers, Harry, Jack and Albert go forth.
Into a hole seven wide by three high his head fits,
When the ides of May pass slowly."

-- Quatrain 1, 25, The Prophecies of Nostraczynski




Regards,

Joe

For those intereste in more recent B5 related news, JMS has confirmed that the still-un(officially)-announced major new B5 project is called Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows - which will be a big hint to those of you who have watched the entire series.

Because deals are still being finalized, and Warner Bros. hasn't been able to make a public announcement, JMS has had to mostly hold his tongue, as well, and limit himself to cryptic hints. In fact, he said if he spoke too soon the powers that be would beat his head against a wall until it made a 2.35:1 hole there.

So Ron, you're not only about to watch the entirety of a five year novel for television that told the central story of our galaxy from the years 2258 to 2262, you're getting in on the ground floor of what could be a major new SF franchise as various other stories of the B5 universe from other times or involving other characters and locales are told. And you're hardly alone in first discovering the show on DVD. It is the unexpectedly strong sales of the DVDs that have Warner Bros. suddenly thinking feature film, and Del Rey books prepping another series of authorized novels - presumably based on outlines by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, like the existing Del Rey paperbacks. Heck according to JMS the first three and a half season releases ("half season" because of the different release schedules in differnt countries) netted Warner Bros. about $70 million world wide.

This is truly the little show that could, and JMS's latest post hints at at least one and possibly a couple of more projects related to the series in the offing. Of course, he can still be as obscure as a Vorlon - or, as an episode of Unsolved History reminded me recently - as obscure as certain human "prophets". So in that spirit I present...



"Trumpets will sound from the wrong side of the river,
The three brothers, Harry, Jack and Albert go forth.
Into a hole seven wide by three high his head fits,
When the ides of May pass slowly."

-- Quatrain 1, 25, The Prophecies of Nostraczynski




Regards,

Joe

Well this is a question that is very simple to answer for myself. I started to watch B5 at around season 2 1/2. I regret not starting to watch it erlier. The character development from season 1 through to season 5 is just amazing. J'Kar has to be one of my favorite characters in the show.

To get back to your point, YES YES YES just buy them.... You will not regret it not one bit, especially if you can get season 1 and 2 from Columbia for $9.95. Kinda makes me wish I had not spent $79.99 CDN per season. But I have them all now and it is one of the best series on DVD to get in IMO.

Tiamat

Well this is a question that is very simple to answer for myself. I started to watch B5 at around season 2 1/2. I regret not starting to watch it erlier. The character development from season 1 through to season 5 is just amazing. J'Kar has to be one of my favorite characters in the show.

To get back to your point, YES YES YES just buy them.... You will not regret it not one bit, especially if you can get season 1 and 2 from Columbia for $9.95. Kinda makes me wish I had not spent $79.99 CDN per season. But I have them all now and it is one of the best series on DVD to get in IMO.

Tiamat

Babylon 5 benefits greatly from the DVD format. During it's broadcast run B5's ratings were savagely curtailed by the difficulty of jumping into the middle of the show. People would hear the buzz, tune in, and be totally confused. Even if they stuck with it they'd never get as much out of the show as those who watched all of the previous episodes. There was always something significant popping out of the past episodes. The timeslot shuffles, out of order re-runs, etc. only made matters worse. On DVD we can now easily watch B5 in order, the way it was meant to be viewed. It should be no surprise that B5 is now a hot item. The show was probably made ahead of it's time. TV just wasn't the right distributing medium for the show. DVD is.

Babylon 5 benefits greatly from the DVD format. During it's broadcast run B5's ratings were savagely curtailed by the difficulty of jumping into the middle of the show. People would hear the buzz, tune in, and be totally confused. Even if they stuck with it they'd never get as much out of the show as those who watched all of the previous episodes. There was always something significant popping out of the past episodes. The timeslot shuffles, out of order re-runs, etc. only made matters worse. On DVD we can now easily watch B5 in order, the way it was meant to be viewed. It should be no surprise that B5 is now a hot item. The show was probably made ahead of it's time. TV just wasn't the right distributing medium for the show. DVD is.

Ron,

I've been a huge B5 fan since the show first aired, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. I've gotten so many people hooked on this show, both sci-fi fans and not. Please report back and let us know how you're enjoying the show.

Ron,

I've been a huge B5 fan since the show first aired, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. I've gotten so many people hooked on this show, both sci-fi fans and not. Please report back and let us know how you're enjoying the show.

I've just recently watched Season 1-5. I didn't like the actor playing the captain in S1, pratically Richard Gere in acting quality. Season 2-4 very good, and worth buying. Season 5 was a bit of a let down (several characters leave the show) :-( but it got better in the last 4 episodes.

I've just recently watched Season 1-5. I didn't like the actor playing the captain in S1, pratically Richard Gere in acting quality. Season 2-4 very good, and worth buying. Season 5 was a bit of a let down (several characters leave the show) :-( but it got better in the last 4 episodes.

I didn't like Michael O'Hare either at first, but as the season progressed I found his character increasingly intriguing, and concluded that he was exactly right for the part. When he was written out, I think the show lost some of its soul. It's still one of my favorite series ever, and it had some great episodes. But the reworking of the 5-year storyline necessitated by Sinclair's removal made the whole thing a bit less than it would have been otherwise.

I didn't like Michael O'Hare either at first, but as the season progressed I found his character increasingly intriguing, and concluded that he was exactly right for the part. When he was written out, I think the show lost some of its soul. It's still one of my favorite series ever, and it had some great episodes. But the reworking of the 5-year storyline necessitated by Sinclair's removal made the whole thing a bit less than it would have been otherwise.

Well I have asked the same questions that Ron has and decided What the heck and dove right in.

I'm glad I did! Yeah the effects weren't as good as some other shows but the story was as good as some of the best shows.

Well I have asked the same questions that Ron has and decided What the heck and dove right in.

I'm glad I did! Yeah the effects weren't as good as some other shows but the story was as good as some of the best shows.

I think that was always the plan with Sinclair, tho I think he left earlier than expected, especially considering the plot of "Babylon Squared" and its companion later on.

Personally, I thought Sinclair was perfect for the role. He's a guy who has no business running B5, and acts like it at times.

Jason

I think that was always the plan with Sinclair, tho I think he left earlier than expected, especially considering the plot of "Babylon Squared" and its companion later on.

Personally, I thought Sinclair was perfect for the role. He's a guy who has no business running B5, and acts like it at times.

Jason

My brain almost exploded when I first saw "War Without End" and realized it's relationship to "Babylon Squared." That JMS could write a three-part episode and have it air two years apart and still make complete sense and tell an incredibly cool story was almost too much for me to take!

Best SF show ever!

My brain almost exploded when I first saw "War Without End" and realized it's relationship to "Babylon Squared." That JMS could write a three-part episode and have it air two years apart and still make complete sense and tell an incredibly cool story was almost too much for me to take!

Best SF show ever!

JMS deserves a lot of kudos for his achievement in completing the five(+) years of B5. However I do think he's an absolutely dreadful dialogue writer (to the point where I can't think of anyone worse), but that's part of the appeal of the show for me. JMS paints with very broad brushstrokes, and little-or-no subtlety. Yet that's not what the show is about. B5 is sci-fi comic book TV at its finest.


A lot of people have said this. A lot of people obviously need to see Farscape, which has all the strengths of B5, and none of the weaknesses.

JMS deserves a lot of kudos for his achievement in completing the five(+) years of B5. However I do think he's an absolutely dreadful dialogue writer (to the point where I can't think of anyone worse), but that's part of the appeal of the show for me. JMS paints with very broad brushstrokes, and little-or-no subtlety. Yet that's not what the show is about. B5 is sci-fi comic book TV at its finest.


A lot of people have said this. A lot of people obviously need to see Farscape, which has all the strengths of B5, and none of the weaknesses.

Boy, I'm glad there's not a dissenting voice -- I just used that DDD 20% discount to order the S1,2,3,4 megabox.

I find myself spending more time watching TV on DVD -- it is an infinitely more rewarding experience without commercials and with the ability to watch episodes one after the other.

And with most big screen SciFi reduced to "blow it up good" TV on DVD SciFi is the only way to go.

Ted

Boy, I'm glad there's not a dissenting voice -- I just used that DDD 20% discount to order the S1,2,3,4 megabox.

I find myself spending more time watching TV on DVD -- it is an infinitely more rewarding experience without commercials and with the ability to watch episodes one after the other.

And with most big screen SciFi reduced to "blow it up good" TV on DVD SciFi is the only way to go.

Ted

I diagree completely about JMS's dialogue writing. While some is relatively awkward (and I would argue that's probably because of time constraints on him with writing nearly every episode of the show), the people who complain about it don't really get the style of dialogue he created. It is not intedned in many circumstances to be "naturalistic," which is apparently what some expect and are diappointed when it is not. JMS has said that he was writing almost more of a "stage play" kind of dialogue, something that at times edges toward operatic, and I think is wholly appropriate to the story at hand. There is an incredible amount of memorable dialogue in this show (a great deal spoken by G'Kar and Londo), but by others as well. Last night I was watching "Falling Toward Apotheosis," and

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

I diagree completely about JMS's dialogue writing. While some is relatively awkward (and I would argue that's probably because of time constraints on him with writing nearly every episode of the show), the people who complain about it don't really get the style of dialogue he created. It is not intedned in many circumstances to be "naturalistic," which is apparently what some expect and are diappointed when it is not. JMS has said that he was writing almost more of a "stage play" kind of dialogue, something that at times edges toward operatic, and I think is wholly appropriate to the story at hand. There is an incredible amount of memorable dialogue in this show (a great deal spoken by G'Kar and Londo), but by others as well. Last night I was watching "Falling Toward Apotheosis," and

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

I didn't get the complaints about the dialogue either. There's a few clunky moments here and there, but they are normally delivered by sub-par acting performances on secondary characters.

There's some really good dialogue, and stuff so excellent it makes good quotes. I would say the dialogue was a strength of the show?? The acting here and there, or the special effects, I could see valid criticism for, but the dialogue?

PS - I always liked Sinclair. I liked his attitudes in running the place.

I didn't get the complaints about the dialogue either. There's a few clunky moments here and there, but they are normally delivered by sub-par acting performances on secondary characters.

There's some really good dialogue, and stuff so excellent it makes good quotes. I would say the dialogue was a strength of the show?? The acting here and there, or the special effects, I could see valid criticism for, but the dialogue?

PS - I always liked Sinclair. I liked his attitudes in running the place.