Podcast # 172

[Rico]

New show is up folks.  Babylon 5!  Enjoy!

http://www.treksinscifi.com/podcasts/TreksInSciFi_172_Babylon_5.mp3

[davekill]

Sounds like a good series.
I was working nights at a newspaper when it aired and never got around to seeing it.
After discovering Farscape last year on TISF I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
Amazon third party vender's sell a new complete five season DVD set for 154.49, Cheaper than iTunes downloads.

[davekill]

For the first time viewer, Amazon reviews recommends watching the series in this order:
1. Watch the B5 movie "The Gathering"
The Babylon 5 pilot movie The Gathering was originally broadcast in 1993 a full year ahead of the regular show.
2. Season 1
3. Season 2
4. Season 3
5. Watch Season 4 up to episode "The illusion of truth"
6. Watch the B5 movie "Thirdspace"
7. Season 4: continue with episodes 9-22
8. Watch Season 5 up to episode "Objects at Rest"
9. Watch the B5 movie "River of Souls"
10. Watch the B5 movie "In the Beginning"
This is a prelude set 10 years before Babylon 5. Against the logic of the title, I would strongly recommend seeing it at this stage. Should one see it before Season 1, much of the suspense in the main series would be ruined.
11. Watch the B5 movie "A Call to Arms"
This movie lays the groundwork for the spin-off TV series "Crusade".
12. Season 5: watch final episode "Sleeping in light"
13. Watch Crusade Series

All originally filmed in widescreen format
Can't wait to get started

[X]

I'm sort of surprised that no one has mentioned the new movie that came out last year. I think it was a pretty good addition to the B5 universe and I love what they did with some of the characters.

[wraith1701]

Great podcast!  Technical difficulties prevented me from sending in an audio clip, so I'll just jot down my thoughts here-

I loved the series, even though it started off kind of weak.  The first year, I caught an episode or two here and there, and if i missed one, no big deal.  But by season 2, once the groundwork and characters were established, I was hooked, and found myself eagerly looking forward to each new episode.   In a lot of ways,  Babylon Five reminds me of my favorite trek series, DS9.  Both shows share a similar structure-- rather than consisting of a bunch of stand alone episodes, each episode of the series is like a part of one gigantic epic story.  In fact, I heard somewhere that Strazinski had the entire plot worked out before he began filming the series, and after seeing how well each episode fits together, I can believe it.

I loved the drama, the tech, and the sci fi action of the series, but what really spoke to me was the message.

In my opinion, the show was sort of a morality tale about us, disguised as a sci fi show.  It was about unity, and about how we are all essentially the same despite our different cultures, backgrounds, and religions. 

Despite our superficial differences, we are one.

I think the message of the show is best summed up by the following quote, which is the Declaration Of Principles from season  5 -


    The Universe speaks in many languages, but only one voice.
    The language is not Narn or Human or Centauri or Gaim or Minbari.

    It speaks in the language of hope. It speaks in the language of trust.
    It speaks in the language of strength, and the language of compassion.
    It is the language of the heart and the language of the soul.
    But always it is the same voice.

    It is the voice of our ancestors speaking through us.
    And the voice of our inheritors waiting to be born.
    It is the small, still voice that says we are One.

    No matter the blood, no matter the skin,
    No matter the world, no matter the star,
    We are One.
    No matter the pain, no matter the darkness,
    No matter the loss, no matter the fear.
    We are One.

    Here, gathered together in common cause
    We agree to recognize this singular truth and this singular rule:
    That we must be kind to one another.

    Because each voice enriches us and ennobles us,
    And each voice lost diminishes us.
    We are the voice of the universe, the soul of creation,
    The fire that will light the way to a better future.

    We are One.

    –G'Kar, Babylon 5, "The Paragon of Animals"

To me, the speech has a greater effect if you hear it, instead of read it.  This clip is a reading of the speech, accompanied by some footage from the show-

[Rico]

I'm sort of surprised that no one has mentioned the new movie that came out last year. I think it was a pretty good addition to the B5 universe and I love what they did with some of the characters.

I mentioned it briefly when it came out and on the podcast yesterday.  It was ok, but very limited in budget and scope of what they could do.  I was hoping for something more along the lines of what they did with the Peacekeeper Wars for "Farscape."  Maybe one day we will get a kick ass B5 movie.  I'd love that!

[psikeyhackr]

Nice podcast,

As an olde sci-fi fan I think B5 is the best Sf done for television so far.  I wasn't too impressed with The Gathering or the first episode but once I saw Soul Hunter I was hooked.

The issues of the similarities between B5 and DS9 are a bit more complicated.

#: 695257 S3/Star Trek: DS9
    24-Aug-97  02:03:01
Sb: #695232-DS9 = Babylon 5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

...
      1) B5 was *never* at any time submitted to anyone at Star Trek.

      2) B5 was *never* considered by me, as taking place in the ST universe. ...

      3) B5 was *never* turned down by the ST folks for reasons 1 and 2 above.

      4) B5 *was* submitted (treatment, artwork, series bible, pilot screenplay) to Paramount Television, which did review the material for some time before deciding to try other avenues.

      Just to clarify....           jms

http://www.am-utils.org/pipermail/b5jms/1997-August/002136.html

I just noticed another similarity while watching a DS9 episode a couple of months ago.  Quark was branded on the forehead by Bajoran extremists in the Homecoming triple episode.  A Minbari poet got branded on the forehead by xenophobic human extremists in The War Prayer.    I get the impression Paramount "borrowed" a lot from JMS.  But since I consider DS9 to be the best of the Treks I am not complaining.  But B5 still beats it.  LOL

psik

[billybob476]

Great show! I enjoyed it a lot. Very convenient timing for me as my wife and I just started watching season 2 of B5 yesterday. I think it's a great show. I had a bit of a problem with the effects in season 1, they were a *little* bit cheesy and considering with Star Trek was doing at the same time I think it could have been better. Season 2 is looking a lot better in that department.

My opnly other issue was Commander Sinclair, whenever he has a longer speech to give he gets very preachy-sounding and overly rehearsed. I haven't had time to form an opinion of Sheridan yet.

[jedijeff]

I had only watched B5 sparingly over the years, mostly due the the reason you gave Rico in that it was an ongoing story arc, and really needed to be there from the start. I am interested in going back and watching it in the future, and the cast was great from the few episodes I watched. I did not realize that Rousseau from Lost was on B5, and a few other things you mentioned were really interesting. Great show and great contributions by everyone as well.

[wraith1701]

B-5 does take a little bit of investment to really enjoy; you have to sit through the so-so first season to really appreciate everything that comes after.  I think the payoff is worth it though.  This series had one of the most satisfying conclusions of any sci-fi series that I've seen.

[moyer777]

Great podcast Rico.  Amy and I went on a walk and I used a headphone splitter so she could enjoy the show with me.  She really enjoyed it and laughed at her voice!  You covered all the parts that we enjoyed and I learned a lot about the show and the actors.  Thanks so much for such a great show.

Nice stuff.

[Meds]

Great podcast again Rico. I enjoyed Rick and Amy they always make me laugh. I was never really a big B5 fan but my mate Simon is and he's got all the DVD's so will definaltley borrow them off him to have a good viewing session.

[Feathers]

An excellent show on an excellent show!

I completely ignored B5 when it aired but caught up on DVD at the same time as Farscape aired.

Season 5 was a little bit of a let down, but over all it was a really brilliant series.

Thanks for covering it.