A Fresh Look

[Jan]

Here's the site you're looking for, CR: http://www.themadgoner.com/B5/B5Scrolls/B5Scrolls.htm

Like the rest have said, welcome, CF! Glad to see you came out of Lurkdom to play.

Jan

[lotjx]

I also re-watched B5 and just finished on Friday. I think the problem with the CGI is that its very very early testing for computer graphics. Any new technology is going to have kinks or not look right. Yet, re-watching Season 3 and 4 there is so many good FX shots that they look better then the new Trek film or even Avatar. The White Star turning on a dime is still one of my favorite scenes in all of TV. I also felt some of the sets were a little too cheap, yet when you look at the budget and how they re-arranged the sets to different parts of the station, its pretty cool.

Unfortunately, my Season 1 Box set has a double copy of disc 4 where disc 2 should be. So, I miss a few episodes. Still, I think season 1 is probably the weakest of all. Even re-watching it, I still find O'Hare a little flat and some of the stories like TKO are fairly meaningless. Having said that, I do think Midnight on the Firing Line, Signs and Portents and Chrysalis are some of the stronger episodes of the show. It just seems when Sheridan gets to the station, it seems brighter and more focused. Sheridan just seemed the right fit for the station which may or may not been the plan considering Sinclair's fate with B4.

What I found interesting about re-watching the show is how certain characters just disappear through out the story. I think Vir is in three episodes before the fall of Centauri Prime arc in season 5. Lyta is in maybe 5 to 7 episodes in season 2 and 3. I also think Delenn is in 10 episodes for season 2. Londo and G'Kar are barely around for middle of season 4 after the Shadow War ends. Its just weird when you watch ensembles now a days they try to have everyone in every episode or every other with all of the characters in it. I guess that speaks for how strong the ensemble and how well written the characters were that when a few of them were gone the rest easily replaced them.

[babylonlurker]

lotjx :

Funny enough I found O'Hare's acting precisely what you would expect from someone in his situation - he clearly has not worked through the "Battle of the Line" issues, and he has strong doubts about why he is where he is, etc. He simply does not know who he is and what he wants (to put it in the terms of the show.

About characters not seen much : Two of the best examples of that are Bester, seen only in two handfuls of episodes, and Morden, similarly.
Yet, the impact of those characters is felt throughout the story. Well written characters , indeed, I agree.

[Compound Fracture]

Well, we watched four episodes yesterday! Finished season I wth Chrysalis, and then watched the first three of season II.

Initial impressions: somebody high up with the power to spend money liked what they saw in B5. The season II sets are bigger and bolder, and the CGI is even better. For example, Sheridan's office is more complex with views outside, and it looks great.

lotjx, I can't agree with your take on Sinclair. I thought that last little bit he did with proposing to Ms. Sakai was awesome acting (for example), and he closed the season out with, "Nothing is the same anymore" with a haunted, far-off look in his eyes. It punched me in the gut. I'm going to really miss him.

Now, that's not to say your take is wrong. It's your take - and you're entitled to it. Different views and opinions make things more interesting - so thanks for stating yours. I have to go with b-lurks view on it.

I can tell you that the first go round of watching the series as it played out, I really liked Boxleitner, and that still holds true. He makes a great Captain. My own view is that rather than pick a favorite, I just prefer to like them both for what they brought to the show. It's like getting a nice juicy steak cooked rare one day, and then medium rare the next day. It's still juicy steak, and I like them rare or medium rare!

I love the way Michael Ansara plays the Technomage, Elric! I loved it back in 1994, and I love it just as much today! He rocked that part! OK, forward we go!

[babylonlurker]

Well, we watched four episodes yesterday! Finished season I wth Chrysalis, and then watched the first three of season II.

. . .

I love the way Michael Ansara plays the Technomage, Elric! I loved it back in 1994, and I love it just as much today! He rocked that part! OK, forward we go!

He did very well indeed, being powerful, mysterious, kind, and much more . . .

I have been planning a re-watch some time, this time taking the time - no Marathons - and write my impressions of every single episode. It may take a year or two, but for my own entertainment at least, I think I should do it. Will probably take a year or two, but who cares when I have a quality story to enjoy ?

BTW I took a week watching Crusade a few weeks ago, ant I found it better than I remembered I see some good character stuf in there.

BTW CF, are you aware of the Babylon Podcast ? They have been running through all the B5 and have arrived at Crusade, some good and fun interviews - and "deep geeking" on every single B5 episode.

https://www.babylonpodcast.com

I started some time ago and did catch up when they arrived at episode 42 (nice number), and have followed them since then. They are just to begin the 6th year of the podcast. About twice as many episodes of the podcast as of the show itself, well done . . .

[Compound Fracture]

I have been planning a re-watch some time, this time taking the time - no Marathons - and write my impressions of every single episode. It may take a year or two, but for my own entertainment at least, I think I should do it. Will probably take a year or two, but who cares when I have a quality story to enjoy ?

BTW CF, are you aware of the Babylon Podcast ? They have been running through all the B5 and have arrived at Crusade, some good and fun interviews - and "deep geeking" on every single B5 episode.

https://www.babylonpodcast.com

I started some time ago and did catch up when they arrived at episode 42 (nice number), and have followed them since then. They are just to begin the 6th year of the podcast. About twice as many episodes of the podcast as of the show itself, well done . . .

You should do that, b-lurk. That would be awesome! I'd read it and interact with you on it. We could "deep geek" it!

I had not heard of that podcast. I'll have a look. Thank you.

[Compound Fracture]

OK, just finished The Coming of Shadows. What a great episode! Wow! I had forgot just how good that ep is. The CGI, the acting, the mystery!

*The emperor's chat with Sheridan. What wonderful words. So JMS. So true. Soaring words that make me just stop and say, "Why can't we live in a world where politicians function like that? If Sci-Fi is anything, it is a medium in which to make us hope and dream. That little speech is the perfect embodiment of that idea.

*The CGI! It just kicks in this ep. Take that B5 CGI haters! So many great shots to pick from.

*The acting. Everyone just kicks butt and takes names.

While watching, I told my wife, "This is the episode that completely hooked me. Particularly the scene coming up." Guess what scene I'm talking about. It's the scene where the emperor gets to see Kosh. Kosh has one line, "In fire." I knew I was completely, totally, hopelessly in-love with B5 from that point forward. The mystery, and that Vorlon, just grabbed me.

OK, so I'm a total B5 geek. Sue me.

[Commander Raiden]

I gotta say the scene when Sheridan confronts, Kosh, to help him with the fight against the shadows, ie to get out of their dam suits and do something about it, was awesome, and very powerful..

[Compound Fracture]

I went to the B5 quote page and looked up that dialogue between Sheridan and the Centauri emperor. Here it is.

"So much pain, so much blood. And for what, I wonder. The past tempts us, the present confuses us, and the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast terrible inbetween. But there is still time to seize that one last fragile moment. To choose something better, to make a difference, as you say. And I intend to do just that."

I just love that. That is JMS through and through.

[Compound Fracture]

Just watched GROPOS. This is a good non-JMS episode. At least to me. Upon seeing Marie Marshall's character, Dodger, I was instantly reminded of how they bring her back for one of my all-time favorite episodes of any B5 season, season V's Day of the Dead. (Edited that last sentence for clarity.)

*I thought the guy that played the screaming drill-sergeant was a bit over the top, and I did not feel he was cast well.

*I liked the interaction between Franklin and his father. It was scripted well, and acted to a "T" by both Paul Winfield and Richard Biggs.

*I realized while watching that I had grown as a person over the many years since I last saw this episode. What do I mean? When Doctor Franklin was ripping General Franklin for pretty much being a lousy father, I remember thinking way back when that Doctor Franklin was right. This time around, I wasn't so sure of myself. None of us are perfect, and this time around, that was the overwhelming feeling I had while watching General Franklin's reaction to what his son was saying.

*I liked Dodger's speech to Garibaldi. You know, the one where they were about to have sex and Michael asked her to slow down. I thought her response was realistic and believable, and it tugged at my heart with the thought of all the hardships and agonizing losses our soldiers and their families have experienced over the past decade here in our own non-fictional, very real, and often very sad, present reality.

[I, Zathras]

It's interesting you're picking up on the dialogue as that's one of the key components to me. I've read in a couple places where people say JMS used too much cheesy dialogue. I disagree with that. Yes, there was a bit of cheese at times, but more often than not he had something to say and got it across very eloquently. I think the vast variety of characters helped because it showed a selection of view points, all valid, and all meaningful. He had a way of finding the soul of a character and then had them speak with their heart which really struck a chord with me. G'Kar's speech in Season 5 which is reused at the beginning of The Lost Tales has me in bits every time I hear it!

CF, I don't know if you know, or even if they're still available, but there's a website, http://www.cafepress.co.uk/b5books, which offers B5 books from JMS and a very dedicated bunch of peeps. One of those books is a quotes book which I dip into every now and then. Check out the quotes post which has been going on for ages too, some cracking stuff in there.

[Compound Fracture]

IZ, I'm all about JMS and his speechifying! :-) Is that a word?

I read an interview with JMS once where he said something like he realizes that he often goes off on speeches with his characters, and he probably gets carried away from time to time. Personally, I have to disagree. That is the strength of the B5 universe. Not everyone is going to like it - such as the critics your wrote about in your post - but JMS' writing is the very soul of B5. Yes, other writers like Ditillio (he wrote GROPOS) also deserve some credit, but we all know who gets the credit for the bulk of B5.

Thanks for the recommendation and link.

[babylonlurker]

You should do that, b-lurk. That would be awesome! I'd read it and interact with you on it. We could "deep geek" it!

I had not heard of that podcast. I'll have a look. Thank you.

I think I will, even if it should take a few years . . . and it would br somewhat on and off.

BTW, CF, there have been threads of common watching of B5 in this forum as far as I remember, but not a systematic one for quite a while.

Since I expect that my entries could be quite long, I will put it on my blog and not here, it could be too much . . . and just make a thread for "announcing" the discussions. I would, of course, welcome discussions, especially if we should disagree on something.

[Compound Fracture]

Sounds good, B-Lurk.

We watched Acts of Sacrifice yesterday. It was fun watching Susan have "sex" with the Lumati called Correlilmerzon.

One other note of interest, if, like me, you're a Seinfeld fan, Correlilmerzon's voice sounded familiar. I said something to my wife as we watched, and she agreed with the familiarity of the guy's voice. Shortly thereafter, she blurted out, "That sounds like Mr. Pitt, the guy that Elaine worked for!"

She was correct. Ian Abercrombie played Mr. Pitt on Seinfeld, and he played Correlilmerzon on B5 - and around the same time too.

[Compound Fracture]

Today's episode was Hunter, Prey I liked this episode. There were some major revelations regarding the Vorlons and their "living" ships.

My favorite part though was really quite simple. It was just Franklin and Garibaldi. They were out searching for the vice president's on-the-run doctor, when Garibaldi decided that he and Stephen should take a break. Their talk, shared while munching some kind of bar that looked like a Nutrigrain breakfast bar, was just the sort of JMS writing that always keeps me coming back for more. Sadly, I have only been able to find a bit of it quoted on line.

Here is one slice of a quote from the doctor,

...the future was like waiting for that special toy for Christmas, and when you get it you find that the reality doesn't measure up to your expectations.

And just the little bit I could find from Garibaldi,

Maybe somebody should've labeled the future: some assembly required.

When they started talking, they talked about how when they were 22 and full of optimism. They spoke of how bright the future seemed.

It was a great moment, and so full of everything that made B5, B5. I loved it. Deep, yet accessible - and words of wisdom for any willing to hear. I wish I had it all to quote, but that is all I could find.