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A Babylon 5 hater finally decides to actually watch the show...

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  • #1

    A Babylon 5 hater finally decides to actually watch the show...

    As anyone who read my Bullet Points post in the Comics section will have seen, I've been chuffed to bits lately, as after 12 years of harassment I have finally convinced a particular someone to watch Babylon 5.

    Not only will he now get to experience one of the greatest things ever made, this also means I can now discuss the show with him AND best of all, I can experience that "first-time" feeling again, albeit vicariously as I accompany him doing my first rewatch in a number of years, recording and publishing our thoughts and feelings as we go, here.

    This is a guy who has spent the last 20 or so years thinking the show is awful, refusing to believe me and others when we've said he's wrong. He even watched Season 1 once before and despised it.

    Now, love or hate, he has agreed to watch everything: the series, the movies, Rangers, Crusade, Lost Tales...everything. Which is a great encouragement to me as despite my love for the core series I've never quite managed to get through everything myself (gave up a few episodes into Crusade, never watched Rangers or a couple of the movies, watched Lost Tales but don't remember it).

    We have decided to use JMS' viewing order (not for Season 1 though as my co-host surprised me and barreled through it before I'd even had a chance to think about that) although I'd be interested to know if anyone here disputes that for a first time viewer? The one I'm not sure about personally is watching The Deconstruction of Falling Stars last...if memory serves it foreshadows some Season 5 stuff and I consider Sleeping in Light a better "ending" I think...

    So yeah, thoughts and feedback welcome, and you can check out our discussion on Season 1 right here.

    Soon as I published it yesterday I saw the news about the possibility of a new movie...how's that for a Sign or perhaps a Portent?
    Last edited by Boosebaster; 07-28-2014, 03:22 PM.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    If your friend would like to come over here, we'd love to have him.

    As for the order, for the first time, I just recommend they watch in the order they were released without all the wear and tear of figuring out all of the nuances of changing the order. Because, face it, they're gonna miss so much that all that can wait until they know what they're watching.

    Just my two cents.

    Jan
    "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

    Comment

    • #3
      "We didn't say it was rubbish, just hard work". Yes, season one can be a bit of a hurdle! It's great to hear a new viewer commenting on the show, especially one with strong pre-conceptions that the show is bad.

      What is especially interseting is how people react when they re-watch season one after seeing the series as a whole. It's a lot more fun because you can see all the little hints, foreshadowing and connections.

      If your friend still has the energy by the time he's done with the series, he should re-visit some of the better S1 episodes. It really does make all the difference. There are a few stinkers though!
      Captain John Sheridan: I really *hate* it when you do that.

      Kosh: Good!

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      • #4
        Are you only posting there or here too?
        "And what kind of head of Security would I be if I let people like me know things that I'm not supposed to know? I mean, I know what I know because I have to know it. And if I don't have to know it, I don't tell me, and I don't let anyone else tell me either. " And I can give you reasonable assurances that the head of Security will not report you for doing so."
        "Because you won't tell yourself about it?"
        "I try never to get involved in my own life, too much trouble."

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Marsden View Post
          Are you only posting there or here too?
          Sorry...not really sure what you mean?

          Comment

          • #6
            Originally posted by Boosebaster View Post
            The one I'm not sure about personally is watching The Deconstruction of Falling Stars last...
            Well it was written to be the season 4 finale, so that seems the logical place to watch it. Yes it goes into future events, but the meat of season five is barely touched on.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by JoeD80 View Post
              Well it was written to be the season 4 finale, so that seems the logical place to watch it. Yes it goes into future events, but the meat of season five is barely touched on.
              I was just wondering about this list really.

              http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=11675

              The reason I looked it up is because I don't know where the movies go, not having watched all of them - and while I love In the Beginning, I've never known where to place that one either - too early and it spoils too much.

              Maybe we just use that list for the movies and Crusade (which sounds like it has it's own nightmare with ordering...probably why I never got through more than a couple of episodes before) and keep the episode order within the seasons themselves as it is.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Boosebaster View Post
                I was just wondering about this list really.

                http://www.b5tv.com/showthread.php?t=11675
                Yeah, don't do that. With the exception of Crusade, it makes the most sense to just watch it in the order it came out. If you want to slip Thirdspace into Season 4 before Atonement (where it chronologically falls), that's cool. And you could watch In the Beginning after Season 5 like that list suggests, but I'd just put it after Season 4 when it was broadcast. It works really well there.

                Don't for a second consider monkeying with the order Deconstruction and Sleeping in Light, or worse, watching 20+ hours of sub-par (and often unrelated) content before getting to them like that list recommends. Deconstruction at the end of Season 4, Sleeping in Light at the end of Season 5. That's where they belong tonally. Because Deconstruction is so stand-alone, you could put it elsewhere, but I wouldn't. Just make sure the run from Wheel of Fire to Sleeping in Light is uninterrupted. Then do what you want from there. River of Souls, Call to Arms, Crusade, maybe play Rangers while you're asleep ...

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                • #9
                  Fully agree with the above. Just watch the series in order. Do the TNT films afterwards. Besides 'In the Beginning' they're really not that great. Although 'River of Souls' may be my favourite (unintentional) comedy ever. I laughed so hard at Martin Sheen hamming it up.

                  Other spin offs - it's deminishing returns. Rangers just depressed me.
                  Captain John Sheridan: I really *hate* it when you do that.

                  Kosh: Good!

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    As others have said, I'd recommend watching the episodes in the order they're also on the DVDs. They may have been shifted slightly, but that doesn't really matter IMHO. Also, I'd definitely watch "Deconstruction" at the end of S4, because it's a good finale for the season that also sets up S5 a little. Also, while it's a good season finale it's a terrible series finale IMVHO. That just has to be "Sleeping in Light".

                    As for the movies: One thing that I considered recently is watching "In the beginning" after S1. It ruins "Matters of Honor" a little, but is a more dramatic finish of the "battle of the line"-plot, and a better introduction to Sheridan. However, it spoils a couple of things, obviously, like Dleenns new look. Could be a great "WTF"-moment, though. HOwever, just a suggestion.

                    Otherwise, my recommendation would be to not disrupt S4 for Thirdspace. I'd watch it before "deconstruction", however, since that one, as said before, already offers a little setup of S5. "In the Beginning", if you think it would spoil to much after S1, I'd put it either between S4 and S5, or would watch it last, even after "the lost tales", because it's without a doubt the strongest TV movie, it takes you right back to the beginning, thus bringing the story full circle. And if he likes what he sees, it's a perfect way to get right back into the series and start anew .

                    So, to summarize, here's my final recommendation:

                    The Gathering
                    Season 1
                    Season 2
                    Season 3
                    Season 4 up to Rising Star
                    Thirdspace
                    The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
                    Season 5*
                    River of Souls
                    A Call To Arms
                    Crusade
                    Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight
                    The Lost Tales
                    In the Beginning

                    * = you could skip "Sleeping in Light" and watch it last, but somehow I believe that the episodes before it lead right into it, mood-wise. However, it's definitely a possibility, since it's supposed to be the end, and is one of the emotional high points of the show.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      My suggestion is if the person is actually really commited to seeing the whole story, don't show them In the Begining until the end.

                      It's a great little feature all by itself, but it really blows the whole "mystery out at the rim" part of season 2 and early 3 away. Just because Shadow ships and Shadows show up in season 1 means we really know the first thing about them, but In The Begining kind of just shows them as granted and there's no build up. It also blows the mystery of the Rangers, who they are and what they do. One of B5s strengths, I think, is how it all weaves together slowly. It just doesn't dump and go, like a lot of things do when they introduce something.

                      Of course, in a situation where it's possible you're trying to convince someone, then it's a good self contained vehicle for getting their interest.
                      "And what kind of head of Security would I be if I let people like me know things that I'm not supposed to know? I mean, I know what I know because I have to know it. And if I don't have to know it, I don't tell me, and I don't let anyone else tell me either. " And I can give you reasonable assurances that the head of Security will not report you for doing so."
                      "Because you won't tell yourself about it?"
                      "I try never to get involved in my own life, too much trouble."

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Thanks for the suggestions all.

                        We're in the middle of Season 3 now Just watched Severed Dreams but we're taking a break as we have two Season 2 podcasts to put out yet - way too much to talk about for one show.

                        Not sure when they'll be going up but I'll let you know, it might even be today, I'll have to talk to my producer (well...Simon).

                        If anyone's got any feedback or questions or whatever then please send it in to us at [email protected] and we'll cover it on the show.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Part 2 is finally up:

                          http://thwippingboys.wordpress.com/2...ng-of-shadows/

                          Plus, if anyone is interested we have some funky Londo "Shadow Hair" Wallpapers going

                          You can find them here.

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                          • #14
                            Aaaand the second half of Season 2:

                            http://thwippingboys.wordpress.com/2...hadows-part-2/

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                            • #15
                              Hurrah, onto Season 3!

                              http://thwippingboys.wordpress.com/2...return-part-1/

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