Sixth (?) time through

[joebarnin]

Every few years I dust off my DVDs and watch Babylon 5 again. Well, the first couple of times it was VHS taps that I dusted off (recorded off of cable TV). I recently started doing what I think is my sixth viewing of the series. I'm halfway through season three.

I have to admit, the past 2 or 3 "watch-throughs" before this one I didn't watch every episode. I skipped some of the lessor or non-arc episodes, especially from seasons one and five. This time, I'm watching them all, and I'm glad I made this decision. Because even the mediocre shows have some goodness - a great scene, or a reference that pays off later on. Examples: "Infection" mentions Interplanetary Expeditions in passing. "TKO" provides some character background for Ivanova.

Every time I watch it through, I think, "this may be the last time". Then, 3-4 years later, I'm doing it again. How often do other long-time fans go through the entire series?

Jeff

[Jan]

Hi Jeff!

I know I've seen it at least 9-10 times but really I lost count a long time ago because I so often pull out a DVD to check something in an episode and then end up watching (at least) that whole disk.

When I have watched straight through I never skip episodes, though I'll sometimes fast-forward through something I don't care for. But B5 is truly a series that rewards attentive viewing regardless of how often you see it.

Happy that you joined us.

Jan

[Looney]

I've said this before, I think that episodes like Infection suffer from the fact that they try to cram too much into one episode. The overall plot of that episode is epic and might have worked better had it been spread into a multi-episode arc. I mean you have the mystery behind what Drake does to smuggle the artifacts on to the station. There is the mystery of not knowing what Hendricks knows. Then there is the mystery of what the artifacts are and will Franklin be a part of it. Then there is the stuff that happens with Drake and the artifacts. And in the end the episode is about an entire civilization being destroyed by its own self-righteousness. I just feel like that is a REALLY great story that could have been told better in a longer form format.

As far as TKO is concerned the one thing I really like about that episode is the fact that it shows the diversity of the station. I think it shows a great example of how Sinclair has to be a diplomat and accept aspects of things that happen on Babylon 5 that he might not necessarily like, but he has to put up with in the interest of maintaining B5's overall goals. It isn't quite as in your face as say Believers, but it is still there. I think the episode might be better had that aspect been focused on more instead of the fighting, but it is what it is.

My point is that though every episode of Babylon 5 may not be perfect there is likely something you can find in every episode that is really great. A viewer might not catch it at first, but it is there and if people watch it again they'll find it eventually. lol

[Nastastu]

I probably watch the series as a whole every 2-3 years. Then there is a scattering of me deciding I want to watch the episodes with just the commentary. I started out the same way with watching on VHS and then only a couple years ago moved to the DVD's.

[ordzo]

Every year from year 2005

[Dan Dassow]

Every year from year 2005

This is a noble and worth while effort.

22	Episodes per year
5	Years
110	Episodes
2	The Gathering
2	In the Beginning
2	The River of Souls
2	A Call to Arms
2	The Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight 
120	Hours with commercials
45	45 Minutes per Hour Program Material
5400	Minutes of Program Material
90	Hours of Program Material
11	Number of Times Watched
990	Hours Viewing

[Nastastu]

One thing I will miss about going to the DVD's is the commercials from taping the broadcasts. ahh nostalgia.

[Dan Dassow]

One thing I will miss about going to the DVD's is the commercials from taping the broadcasts. ahh nostalgia.

Zo Therez alwayz YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUcq9_IsnXM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_uxyXekDjo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSfBaVMViz8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-1X18t0dAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HcEYxpAx8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke53XYQj8o0

[Ubik]

My last proper re-watch was when I broke my collar bone mountain biking, which is incidentally when I joined the forums here to talk about the experience. That snowballed into buying ALL the original black script books!

I think I've only really done four complete run throughs. One watching on Channel 4 in the UK at University, one on VHS with my ex Girlfriend, the aforementioned DVD re-watch, then shortly thereafter watching most of it with a friend who I got hooked on the show.

I mostly just use my digital copies now as opposed to the DVDs. I could probably happily do another re-watch when the winter comes.

Like Jan and Looney, I think pretty much all the episodes have merit / relevant details, especially in Season 1. That's such a goldmine when you see it the second time around!

[Ubik]

I've said this before, I think that episodes like Infection suffer from the fact that they try to cram too much into one episode. The overall plot of that episode is epic and might have worked better had it been spread into a multi-episode arc. I mean you have the mystery behind what Drake does to smuggle the artifacts on to the station. There is the mystery of not knowing what Hendricks knows. Then there is the mystery of what the artifacts are and will Franklin be a part of it. Then there is the stuff that happens with Drake and the artifacts. And in the end the episode is about an entire civilization being destroyed by its own self-righteousness. I just feel like that is a REALLY great story that could have been told better in a longer form format.

You know. I definitely agree. It must be stated that 'Infection' ranks as my least favourite B5 episode. I don't really like the monster of the week thing, and the whole affair feels a bit clunky. But the idea, and the script are fairly solid.

As far as TKO is concerned the one thing I really like about that episode is the fact that it shows the diversity of the station. I think it shows a great example of how Sinclair has to be a diplomat and accept aspects of things that happen on Babylon 5 that he might not necessarily like, but he has to put up with in the interest of maintaining B5's overall goals. It isn't quite as in your face as say Believers, but it is still there. I think the episode might be better had that aspect been focused on more instead of the fighting, but it is what it is.

I really like TKO for it's corny 80s b-movie throwback vibe. It's like a buddy cop story, with Walker and Garibaldi. However, the B-plot with Ivanova is absolutely great and it adds a lot of depth to her character.

My point is that though every episode of Babylon 5 may not be perfect there is likely something you can find in every episode that is really great. A viewer might not catch it at first, but it is there and if people watch it again they'll find it eventually. lol

Yep!

[Nastastu]

Zo Therez alwayz YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSfBaVMViz8

Hey it's Mack!

And what is it with Zima? Do you miss it Dan?

[Nastastu]

Like Jan and Looney, I think pretty much all the episodes have merit / relevant details, especially in Season 1. That's such a goldmine when you see it the second time around!

The second time I watched Season 1 and saw so much foreshadowing and revelationary (why isn't that a word?) things, my mind was blown. "Entil'zha Valen" Holy $%!^ they told us right from the beginning!

[Jan]

The second time I watched Season 1 and saw so much foreshadowing and revelationary (why isn't that a word?) things, my mind was blown. "Entil'zha Valen" Holy $%!^ they told us right from the beginning!

Well...sorta...not everybody. That was actually added when the re-edit was done for TNT. It wasn't in the original version. But I thought it was a great change. The re-edit was SO much better.

Jan

[Dan Dassow]

Hey it's Mack!

And what is it with Zima? Do you miss it Dan?

No, I only miss the Zima commercials. I cannot stand gin. When I tried Zima, it tasted like cheep gin.

[Ubik]

Well...sorta...not everybody. That was actually added when the re-edit was done for TNT. It wasn't in the original version. But I thought it was a great change. The re-edit was SO much better.

Jan

Yeah, this is a cool little bit of information. I love tracing how the arc changed with O'Hare's departure from the show.