Should I watch Babylon 5?

[TheGoose]

I have been going seriously into the depths of Netflix. Watched all of Battle Star Galactica and recently caught up with Lost. Then I saw the B5 stuff. 5 seasons of this stuff and some Hugo awards, and oh ah, the Amiga connection.

At the time I just thought "oh, ghetto star trek series, click." I love TV series this way, I'm 5-10 years behind but no commercials; which is why I can't watch television - can't take it.

[odin]

I bought the first season on DVD a while ago. The story is quite good, but the effects are so incredibly dated; it's cringing to watch in parts. Apparently it gets better in later seasons.

Nevertheless I enjoyed it.

[Amiduffer]

No. You should turn that crap off and go read some classic literature. Don Quixote will keep you entertained for a long time.

[cecilia]

I love B5. I really enjoyed the story and while some may think the effects are "dated", I think they    worked just fine. And the fact that an Amiga Farm rendered the 1st year's effects and won an Emmy is nothing to insult.

[TheGoose]

Interestingly, they knew about the specs for HD and 16:9, and so the the whole thing was shot for 16:9, before it ever exsisted.? Kinda ironic a TV show could see the future but a computer company could not...

[LoadWB]

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES.

JMS is brilliant.  The first season is a little difficult to get through, as the screen writing, acting, effects, and character development matures.  Make it through that and I promise the second season and beyond will have you.

BTW, you can watch all five seasons on The WB http://thewb.com.  I think there are normally short, 15 second commercials, but last night I watched most of season five with no commercials at all.

[mingle]

Nah, life is too short...

As Tim from "Spaced" once said: "Babylon 5's a big pile of shit!" :-)

Mike.

[XDelusion]

I'm with AmiDuffer, pick up a book and read.
TV makes people stupid, in fact there is scientific evidence to back this up in more ways than you can possibly imagine, such as the methods exploited in the book: Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television.

Though, if you are going to watch at the expense of your intellect, then may I suggest Lost in Space the movie?
 I believe it was done with Amiga as well and has a lot better quality to it than your garden variety TV Sci-Fi program.

[TheGoose]

Ok, it's in the instant que. I pay for this stuff every month, I gotta use it on something.

Oh, and life is full of crap anyways - I'm trying to escape it...
I graduated an English major. I read and read and wrote papers and came to this conclusion.

[Cammy]

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES.

JMS is brilliant.  The first season is a little difficult to get through, as the screen writing, acting, effects, and character development matures.  Make it through that and I promise the second season and beyond will have you.

Yes! I couldn't agree more. I've seen all of Babylon 5 and its spinoffs and read Don Quixote. There are a few really good TV series that have been made throughout the years, and Babylon 5 is one of them. Get through that first season and you'll be rewarded with one of the most epic stories ever written. Who cares if it's on paper or on screen.

[Argo]

Yes! My reply would only have been a clone of this.

+1

[Tension]

no it's shit.

[whiteb]

Interestingly, they knew about the specs for HD and 16:9, and so the the whole thing was shot for 16:9, before it ever exsisted.? Kinda ironic a TV show could see the future but a computer company could not...

Indeed, that was the forethought of JMS (The producer), who had the choice to film in 16:9 even though all the TV stations at that point were 4:3.

He filmed it, then CONVERTED the footage to 4:3 for broadcast but kept the 16:9 footage, thats why when the DVD's were released, it was 16:9.  First TV show at the time to be 16:9

For the OP, the FIRST season is slow, its a character builder, scene setter for the later seasons.  There are one or TWO episodes though that are CRUCIAL to the later seasons.

I have lost count of the times I have watched B5, but even now I find myself saying "How the F... did I miss that" ?

Has anyone noticed, that in the TV pilot (1x00) "The gathering) 2 hour, the bridge crew member that goes on to play a pivotal role in the main series ?  Keep an eye out for him.

[Calen]

Should you watch the best sci-fi tv show ever?  yes of course

Don't let Season one's look or story put you of, its laying the foundations on what's to come. You will understand this if you can see it threw to around s2/s3  which by then you should be well hooked.

Alot of people have been put of by B5 because of the look and not understanding what the hell is going on half the time. It would be quite hard to folllow if you jumped in first time anywhere before Season 2 as this epic story is spread over the entire 5 Seasons. No weekly reset button here
Seeing it threw from start to finish with just a few bumps along the road, and you will be rewarded with an amazing story.

Season 3 and 4 are my favourite and i think some of the battle scenes still look ok today given the age & budget. Everything ages, but the storyline sees it threw

alittle OT

JMS Seems to be a big player these days, good on him perhaps he now can command more freedom and get B5 on the big screen,  fingers & toes crossed

[Tripitaka]

Babylon 5 is by far one of the best sci-fi's to grace our TV's. Watch it, watch it all. If you like sci-fi at all, you'll love it.

Comments like "no, it's shit" are just trolling so just ignore them. Cammy has told you all you need to know so get on with it and when you've finished come back and tell us if you think it was worth it. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

As for the "read a book" comments, c'mon folks, this is a computer forum. If you can't use a screen for entertainment sometimes then why are you even reading this forum? That's like watching porn all day then saying it should be banned, hypocrisy!