Just for fun! Your Top Three!

[Sinclair's Fan]

Just a bit of fun for anyone who wants to join in

-What are your fave three stories from Babylon 5 or Crusade?

-Which three episodes would you recommend to someone who'd never seen Babylon 5 or Crusade?

-What's your fave B5 TV Movie?

Mine would be; 'Babylon Squared', 'The Coming of Shadows', and 'War Without End'..., (okay, I'm cheating ever so slightly by merging 'War Without End' into one )

Then to 'hook' a friend; 'Messages From Earth', 'Point of No Return', and 'Severed Dreams'.

The hardest one to chose is the TV Movie, because I love 'Thirdspace'..., but I'm gonna go with the one that hooked me in the first place; 'The Gathering', starring Michael O'Hare.

Anyone else care to join in?

[Sinclair's Fan]

...anyone want to play...?

[Ninja_Squirrel]

Mine would be; 'Babylon Squared', 'The Coming of Shadows', and 'War Without End'..., (okay, I'm cheating ever so slightly by merging 'War Without End' into one )

Well, I don't know if you're really cheating that much, because you asked for the favorite three *stories*, not favorite three episodes, and some stories take up more than one episode.

So, going by that logic, my favorite three stories are:

• The Narn-Centauri War, which I guess would primarily include "The Coming of Shadows" (since hope of peace dies with Emperor Turhan), "And Now For a Word" (since it documents increasing Narn-Centauri skirmishes, "The Long, Twilight Struggle" (the fall of Narn), and "The Fall of Night" (Shadow influence tips Earth over to supporting the wrong side of the conflict).
• The season 3 "trilogy": "Messages From Earth," "Point of No Return," and "Severed Dreams." "Point" and "Dreams" are two of the very best episodes of the whole series, and "Messages" isn't bad either. Together, they fulfill B5's destiny to be the primary resistance against President Clark, setup the purpose for the Narns aboard Babylon 5, and firmly establish Londo & Vir's destinies on Centauri Prime.
• The Shadow War. I can't remember in which episode open fighting begins, but "Interludes and Examinations" seems like a good official start to the war because of the Vorlon involvement. But, the Shadow War is such a big long gradually ramping-up story with lingering consequences, I'm mostly talking about the first six episodes of season 4 involving Sheridan's experience on Z'Ha'Dum, Delenn creating a gigantic fleet, and Londo resisting Emperor Cartagia.

For three episodes to hook a friend, I wouldn't want to jump too far ahead because it would be too spoilery. I think I might try...

• "Parliament of Dreams" - It gives us insight into the Minbari and Centauri, and that final scene is something no other show would think to try.
• "Deathwalker" - This episode is great at showing the political motivations of the various races, including the dark side of the Minbari. It also has a great twist at the end. It's my 2nd-favorite episode of season 1 but is not very spoilery since it's stand-alone.
• This would be a toss-up between "Signs and Portents" because of Morden's question to the various races or "Points of Departure" so that a newbie could get a glimpse into the character of Sheridan.

It's been too long since I've seen any of the TV movies, but it would be a close competition between "In the Beginning" and "A Call to Arms." They're great anyway, but they'd win by default with the other TV movies not being very good. "Beginning," however, covers a lot of old ground, and "Call" is more of a Crusade pilot than a B5 movie, so it's still hard to decide.

[Jan]

...anyone want to play...?

Been thinking. Like Ninja Squirrel, I've been trying to decide between choosing 'stories' or 'episodes'. I think I'm going with a mixture.

What are your fave three stories from Babylon 5 or Crusade?

Londo's ascension to the throne. "A Late Delivery from Avalon" and "Sleeping in Light". For right now. Ask again tomorrow and I'll probably have a different three.

Which three episodes would you recommend to someone who'd never seen Babylon 5 or Crusade?

"The Parliament of Dreams", "And the Sky, Full of Stars" and "The Coming of Shadows"

What's your fave B5 TV Movie?

"In the Beginning"

Jan

[DaveNarn]

Favorite three...
- Deathwalker
- The Long Dark
- The Fall of Night

Recommended Three...
-Matters of Honor
-No Surrender, No Retreat
-The Coming of Shadows

TV Movie
- In the Beginning

[Sinclair's Fan]

Cool, thanks for joining in! A nice mixture of answers..., and some reoccurring ones, too!


I must admit, when I finally started using the interweb, (a buhjillion years after every one else!), I was surprised to discover the general consensus that the TV Movies were bad, because I love 'em! A matter of subjective opinion, I'm sure.

Nice answers, all! Anyone else?

[Looney]

- Deathwalker

Dave, I must know why? I am not saying I dislike this episode. If you don't mind, I would just like to know why it is one of your favorites, other than the wonderful Sarah Douglas.

And I can't play this game. I could only tell you episodes I wouldn't recommend.

[DaveNarn]

Dave, I must know why? I am not saying I dislike this episode. If you don't mind, I would just like to know why it is one of your favorites, other than the wonderful Sarah Douglas.

And I can't play this game. I could only tell you episodes I wouldn't recommend.

The history inferred by the Deathwalker episode is fascinating, (I liked 'The Long Dark" for the same reason).

And so was this last villain from a dead race.
I loved her creepy cat-like appearance, aloofness and arrogance.

G'kar's cunning, Londo's sly remarks and the high anxiety of the story could have become camp if not for the reveal of Jha'dur's true intentions... for her gift to become a monument to her people.

So I guess it's the point made by this story that really grabbed me because the ugly truth is when she is proven right. This turns the plot over on it's head as we never seen the command staff so completely pwned.

The " Oh-Yeah, one last thing" solution may have been a blatant example of deus ex machina since nothing short of a miracle was going to stop her but I did a fist pump and let out a hearty Whoo-Hoo!

The only thing I didn't like about it was Jerry Doyle's acting, he was stiff as a board.
Must have been all those heart-to-heart scenes with Michael O'Hare driving him to distraction.

[Looney]

Wow! You nailed everything I like about that episode on the head. I love the episodes that give you exposition like that. I think it is great when we're told big and little details about the B5 Universe, even when they don't have a lot to do with the main plot

[pascalahad]

I've been pondering the question for days. It's so hard to pick three favorites when you love so many of the episodes! I would pick

- The Coming of Shadows: for me it's when Babylon 5 goes from great to my favorite show ever
- Z'ha'dum: perhaps the peak of Babylon 5's awesomeness to me, the suspense of this cliffhanger could have killed me with anticipation
- A View from the Gallery: I love this other viewpoint on the show: let's face it, if I was on the station I would probably be with Bo and Mack than in the command dome...

The three episodes I would recommend to the new viewers:
- The Coming of Shadows: pretty much for the same reason as above. I think it's pretty good as a stand-alone introduction to the series also.
- And Now for a Word: it was made to be a new introduction to the show at a time the series was really hitting its stride.
- The Long Twilight Struggle: it ends the Centauri/Narn conflict in the best manner possible, by having two awesome actors stealing the show, and having the vainquished verbally overtaking the winner of the war.

Yo me this mini-arc contains everything jms is strong at, namely characterization and shaking things up, telling a big epic story within the confines of a tv show and the walls of a space station.

For the tv movie, I would choose In the Beginning, but I wouldn't recommend it to a newcomer at all, it's good but contains too many spoilers I'd better see this new viewer discover gradually in the series. Close second would be Thirdspace.

[Sinclair's Fan]

I've been pondering the question for days. .

Sorry, I guess I've had my own top three for so long, I just kind of assumed everyone did! But I'm very glad to see all of your answers, now that you've each had time to think about it.

[Sinclair's Fan]

...I'm pleased to see that "The Coming of Shadows" is so popular...,



...do YOU have a comment?

[Ubik]

What are your fave three stories from Babylon 5 or Crusade?

I'm going to have to group some episodes together to do this...

Signs and Portents - Every time I see this it just exemplifies how well thought out the show is. / The Coming of Shadows - The conclusion of this episode is just so powerful, and it plays out what began in Signs and Portents. For me Londo and G'Kar are the emotional core of B5.

Babylon Squared / War Without End 1 & 2 - I love how JMS ties up Sinclair's arc so neatly and completes the 'trap door' of his departure.

Sleeping in Light - It's such a powerful, considered conclusion to the saga as a whole. It has me on the verge of tears every time. Even though Season 5 is a bit of a bumpy ride, this makes it all worth it and bookends the series perfectly.

Which three episodes would you recommend to someone who'd never seen Babylon 5 or Crusade?

With B5, it's so hard to just show a random episode to hook someone in. It's all about the slow build BUT, I'll try:

For B5:

-And the Sky is Full of Stars - Intrigue all the way.
-Signs and Portent - The Shadows make their presence know... ever so quietly...
-Chrysalis - All the tables get kicked over, nothing is the same.

Crusade:

The Path of Sorrows - It's the only episode I REALLY liked. I love the air of mystery, the stately pace, and the depth it reveals. TNT hated this one, so it's no surprise it was one of the best.

What's your fave B5 TV Movie?

In The Beginning by a very long shot. The rest I'm not too fond of. Although I do like River of Souls if I fancy laughing a lot. Martin Sheen just cracks me up, his performance is 100% ham.

[DeMonk]

Babylon squared / Sleeping in Light / Convictions (where Londo and G'Kar took refuge in an elevator after a bomb attack)

Movie: In the Beginning

[Sinclair's Fan]

Two great answers; one, short and sweet..., and the other, long and savoury(?).

I'm pleased to see Babylon Squared getting some kudos from you both. And DeMonk, you're right about Londo and G'Kar, what a truly great scene.

Thanks for joining in, guys. In fact, thanks to everyone who had a go! Hope you had fun!