A Fresh Look

[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.

[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]

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.

[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]

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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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 . . .

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.