Babylon 5, Season 1, condensed

[alpha128]

Sherlock episodes run about 90mins, that is 2 Babylon 5 episodes. So say "Give me 24 episodes of B5." LOL

Ha Ha!

Yes, if there's any pushback to my proposed 12 B5 episodes, I'll be sure to mention that it's the equivalent of 6 "Sherlock" episodes.

And if they're not interested in seeing what happens after "Chrysalis", B5 is not a show for them.

[Looney]

• Assuming we finish all of those "Sherlock" episodes, I would then propose B5 again. And I would say, "We've watched 13 episodes of 'Sherlock', give me 12 episodes of B5. If, after those 12 episodes, you're not interested in finding out what happens next, we'll find something else to watch."

Sherlock episodes run about 90mins, that is 2 Babylon 5 episodes. So say "Give me 24 episodes of B5." LOL

[alpha128]

So alpha128 are you going to give us an updated list of episodes you'll be showing once you actually start? Will you be watching one a day, one a week, multiple a day? Is there one person or are you showing it to a group? And have you been talking the show up to this person or these people you plan to show it to?

Looney, my future plans may change, but this is what I'm thinking at present:

• I would be watching with two other people, at roughly weekly intervals.

• We went from "Person of Interest" (2011) to "Sherlock" (2010), which currently has 13 episodes. We have already watched the first "Sherlock" episode, so that means there are 12 more to go.

• Assuming we finish all of those "Sherlock" episodes, I would then propose B5 again. And I would say, "We've watched 13 episodes of 'Sherlock', give me 12 episodes of B5. If, after those 12 episodes, you're not interested in finding out what happens next, we'll find something else to watch."

• Assuming they agree to watch 12 "Babylon 5" episodes (my revised list), I would start a new thread recapping their reactions. This thread is already getting long.

So the bottom line is, there won't be any progress on this front for thirteen weeks, minimum. I recommend you go back to watching Katie's videos, because I won't have anything to report for a while.

[Looney]

We've got one more POI episode to go, and then I hope to start Season 1 of B5.

So alpha128 are you going to give us an updated list of episodes you'll be showing once you actually start? Will you be watching one a day, one a week, multiple a day? Is there one person or are you showing it to a group? And have you been talking the show up to this person or these people you plan to show it to?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I find it is helpful to find out how other people do these things in order to better help myself attempt it. I find that it is always best to not talk something up too much, a point that has always been difficult for me when it comes to B5 because everyone I know knows I love Babylon 5. I also find that honesty helps too. I've already told the next person I plan to show it to that he probably won't love The Gathering, but he will come to appreciate it once he sees how things from it fall into place in the overall arc. Again I am also dealing with someone who watches A LOT of shows and likes Science Fiction so when I tell him "he probably won't love The Gathering" I know that his expectations won't be high and then he'll actually enjoy it more. Are you doing anything like this or are you just telling them they need to watch this show?

[Looney]

But the Babylon 5 series was always concerned with larger stories. That's not to say they couldn't have done a spinoff:

Law & Order: Babylon 5
"In the Babylon Project, a quarter of a million humans and aliens are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups. Station Security who investigate crime, and the Ombudsmen who pass sentence on the offenders." Dun Dun

Exactly.

[alpha128]

I meant on a station as large as B5 with a large population living in tight quarters we know there is crime that has nothing to do with governments or anyone in the main cast. I think it would have been interesting to see a mystery that has Allen or Garibaldi stumped that is just based on Random Person A committed a crime against Random Person B and now we're solving a mystery that doesn't have dire consequences for any of the main characters, governments, or races on the station.

There were minor crimes involving guest actors in "Passing Through Gethsemane" and "A Late Delivery from Avalon". In the former Brother Edward's bag was stolen, and in the latter a picture frame was stolen from a lurker.

But the Babylon 5 series was always concerned with larger stories. That's not to say they couldn't have done a spinoff:

Law & Order: Babylon 5
"In the Babylon Project, a quarter of a million humans and aliens are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups. Station Security who investigate crime, and the Ombudsmen who pass sentence on the offenders." Dun Dun

[Looney]

You're welcome!



Actually, B5 does have a number of mystery stories. "The Gathering" is essentially a "Who Done It" about the attempted murder of Kosh. "Legacies" is a "Who Done It" about the theft of Branmer's body. "Legacies" even has a near "Scooby Doo" resolution. I half-expected Delenn to say, "I was going to explain Bramner's disappearance as a true religious mystery, and I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling humans!"

Furthermore, other mystery stories like "Survivors" and "There All the Honor Lies" have Garibaldi and Sheridan, respectively, framed for crimes they didn't commit.

Yes I know B5 is full of mysteries, but I meant mysteries where someone in the main cast isn't being framed for the crime or a missing body isn't going to lead to the start of another war. I meant on a station as large as B5 with a large population living in tight quarters we know there is crime that has nothing to do with governments or anyone in the main cast. I think it would have been interesting to see a mystery that has Allen or Garibaldi stumped that is just based on Random Person A committed a crime against Random Person B and now we're solving a mystery that doesn't have dire consequences for any of the main characters, governments, or races on the station. Something that is complex, but doesn't involve Changeling Nets. I guess I am just itching for it because I have been watching a lot of Agatha Christie's Poirot lately.

[alpha128]

Wasn't (Katie) the one who kept repeating "This show...this fucking show..." so often?

Could be. At this writing I've watched as far as Katie watches Babylon 5, part 8, which includes these quotes about the following episodes:

Confessions and Lamentations - "What the fuck is wrong with you Babylon 5? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Divided Loyalties - "What the fuck did I just watch?"

[alpha128]

We got a dose of Katie a few years back after, I believe, JMS pointed her out. She is very entertaining. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATED LINK ! ! ! !

You're welcome!

I was just thinking that I really wish there were more straight up B5 mysteries. What I mean is Garibaldi or Allen having to solve a real Agatha Christie style 'Who Done It?' that doesn't necessarily involve any or all of the main cast. And it wouldn't have to be a murder. It could be theft or smuggling or any crime. I know there are plots that touch on this idea, but I wish there were more that were maybe just more self-contained.

Actually, B5 does have a number of mystery stories. "The Gathering" is essentially a "Who Done It" about the attempted murder of Kosh. "Legacies" is a "Who Done It" about the theft of Branmer's body. "Legacies" even has a near "Scooby Doo" resolution. I half-expected Delenn to say, "I was going to explain Bramner's disappearance as a true religious mystery, and I would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for you meddling humans!"

Furthermore, other mystery stories like "Survivors" and "There All the Honor Lies" have Garibaldi and Sheridan, respectively, framed for crimes they didn't commit.

[Melanie]

I remember watching stuff in black and white when I was a kid. A few years later when I was recording in color the colors would sometimes be in the wrong places. I don't know how many inches it was, but I remember when my parents got a new TV. It was in color and looked huge. B5 would probably have looked fantastic on it.

[Jan]

OH WOW DO I REMEMBER THAT ! ! ! ! 4 Channels and the TV had to warm up for a quality picture. . . scratch that, a picture you could actually tell what was happening. It was never a quality picture.

Yeah, I snicker when I hear people complain about anything less than 'count-the-pores-on-their-nose' clarity. "When I was a youngster" it looked like somebody had smeared Vaseline on the camera lens!

Jan

[Looney]

And the set had to "warm up" in order to get the best picture!?

OH WOW DO I REMEMBER THAT ! ! ! ! 4 Channels and the TV had to warm up for a quality picture. . . scratch that, a picture you could actually tell what was happening. It was never a quality picture.

[Household Gods]

My first TV was B/W, a small 17" screen in a Huuuuge box that weighed a ton or so

And the set had to "warm up" in order to get the best picture!?

[Jan]

It was *great* seeing Katie reacting to every episode. I loved it.

It was a lot of fun. Wasn't she the one who kept repeating "This show...this fucking show..." so often?

It was JMS who pointed it out the first time, I think.

[babylonlurker]

It was *great* seeing Katie reacting to every episode. I loved it.