A Fresh Look

[Compound Fracture]

Yesterday we watched And Now For a Word, and today we watched In The Shadow of Z'ha'dum. Two incredible episodes! I had forgotten how much I enjoyed And Now For a Word. The acting there in council chambers when Londo, G'kar, Sheridan, et-al, go at it, is just amazing to watch. I really love that episode, and had forgotten just how much. It's so well done! Right down to the commercial for Psi-Corps.

As for In The Shadow of Z'ha'dum, well, what can I say? Huge arc episode. I really liked Franklin's talk with Ivanova. "Do you believe in God, Susan?" The discussion that followed was written so well. I looked at my wife and said, "You just don't get that kind of writing anywhere."

[babylonlurker]

Yesterday we watched And Now For a Word.

As for In The Shadow of Z'ha'dum, well, what can I say? Huge arc episode. I really liked Franklin's talk with Ivanova. "Do you believe in God, Susan?" The discussion that followed was written so well. I looked at my wife and said, "You just don't get that kind of writing anywhere."

Oh, yes, you do ! Right then and there

but not very often, I will grant you that . . .

[Marsden]

I really like the second season so much. The building mystery of the coming Shadow war and the Psi Corp and Clark conspiracies/conterconspiracies are pervasive throughout.

I would never want to pick one single favorite season, but 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 are at the top of my list, and sometimes 5, too.

[Compound Fracture]

Sure 'nuff, B-Lurk!

And Marsden, I agree. I couldn't pick one either. They are all good. I can't wait to watch season V again, because to me, it was weakest. Now, I know instinctively that it was weakest only because we'd just come through such an amazing journey with the first four seasons. But season V will prove itself this time. My mind is open. Besides, Day of the Dead is one of my all-time fave eps!

Tonight we watched Comes the Inquisitor. What a great episode. Wayne Alexander is sooooo good as Sebastian. My wife did not remember the little twist at the end, so she was suprised to learn who Sebastian actually was.

[babylonlurker]

Sure 'nuff, B-Lurk!

<SNIP>

Tonight we watched Comes the Inquisitor. What a great episode. Wayne Alexander is sooooo good as Sebastian. My wife did not remember the little twist at the end, so she was suprised to learn who Sebastian actually was.

Comes The Inquisitor is one of my all time favourite episodes, and yes, partly for the performance of Wayne Alexander. Yes, I love that little twist at the end, too.

Tells you something about The Vorlons, does it not ?

[Compound Fracture]

Well, I surely dropped the ball on this. I just got busy and distracted with the stuff of life. At times, that is the way it goes.

We all know how the series turns out, and we all love it or we wouldn't be here on this forum - 13 years after the series finished its run.

That said, we have continued our watching, and last evening watched episode I of season V.

Let me just say that the CGI in season IV, at times, was stunning. The battles with the EA ships stood out to me as especially intense. How anyone could watch that on TV in 1997 and complain about the show's CGI is beyond me.

So, there you have it. When I finish out with season V, I'll try and post a few final thoughts.

[Marsden]

I agree, but I'll go further and say and of the CGI, even from the pilot which was clearly less well done but sure good enough to enjoy a good story. CGI really is low on my importance scale as long as the story is good and well done. If you're lucky enough to have The Gathering on tape just look at the station and compare to something else, you'll see the difference.

[Compound Fracture]

You know, Marsden, the CGI never bothered me. I never even gave it a thought until it was shoved in my face as a reason NOT to watch B5.

Anyhow, just wrapped up episode 13 of season V. I like season V more now than when I saw it aired back in the day. It is, however, easy to see how some of us felt let down a bit after what we'd witnessed in previous seasons. Much of the mystery of past seasons with the big story arcs is now a thing of the past. I've mellowed with age, and now, to me, season V seems fresh and inspired. And of course, had B5 been allowed to continue with Crusade or Legend of the Rangers, some of the new arcs that were being built in season V would have come along and filled our TV watching hours with the same enjoyment we got out of seasons I through IV.

[Jonas]

You know, Marsden, the CGI never bothered me. I never even gave it a thought until it was shoved in my face as a reason NOT to watch B5.

Anyhow, just wrapped up episode 13 of season V. I like season V more now than when I saw it aired back in the day. It is, however, easy to see how some of us felt let down a bit after what we'd witnessed in previous seasons. Much of the mystery of past seasons with the big story arcs is now a thing of the past. I've mellowed with age, and now, to me, season V seems fresh and inspired. And of course, had B5 been allowed to continue with Crusade or Legend of the Rangers, some of the new arcs that were being built in season V would have come along and filled our TV watching hours with the same enjoyment we got out of seasons I through IV.

If they hadn't forced JMS to wrap up the show at the end of season 4, the story arcs would've been distributed in such a way that season 5 would feel less disconnected. And if JMS hadn't been so exhausted and confused, he probably would've managed to make some of the episodes just a bit better.

Nevertheless, season 5 is full of inspired and brilliant episodes. It may have some weaknesses by B5 standards, but compared to most other shows...

[Compound Fracture]

All true, Jonas.

Well, we wrapped up season V. It was hard to watch it all end again. It's like, "No! I'm not done yet! I want more!" My wife and I looked at each other when it was all over and said, "Now what?" For, you see, we've been eating our evening meals since January while watching B5.

Highlights of season V? For me, I really liked the interaction between G'Kar and Londo. I liked the new music written for parts of the season such as the soundtrack for Sleeping in Light.

We're into Crusade now. You know what's really lacking? The music. I'm just not a fan of Evan Chen's score. I guess I'm just spoiled rotten for Chris Franke.