Babylon 5, Season 1, condensed

[babylonlurker]

Hey! My first TV was in B&W. All the shows lacked color.

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

[Looney]

Apparently all millennials aren't all like that. I was searching for B5 videos on Youtube, and came upon a series of videos entitled: Katie Watches Babylon 5. It's interesting, and often amusing, to see the series again through a newbie's eyes.

We got a dose of Katie a few years back after, I believe, JMS pointed her out. If not then it was Jan. I don't recall exactly how it went, but I am 98% certain JMS pointed her out. She is very entertaining. I wonder why I stopped watching. Maybe she took a long break and I didn't stick with it. I don't recall. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATED LINK ! ! ! !

I'll play up the mystery angle, and tell them that JMS previously worked on "Murder She Wrote".

It's funny you mention it. I was just thinking that I really wish there were more straight up B5 mysteries. What I mean is something that has nothing to do with grander schemes and is just 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. It could involve some of the main cast and of course others involved with running the station would take notice, but I wouldn't want it to be a matter of who is guilty, Londo, G'Kar, Delenn, Lennier, Vir, Na'Toth, Lyta, Ivanova, and so on. 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.

[alpha128]

We have a Millennial in the house, and you can watch him struggle to pay attention within a few minutes of watching anything not shot in Hi Def.

Apparently all millennials aren't all like that. I was searching for B5 videos on Youtube, and came upon a series of videos entitled: Katie Watches Babylon 5. It's interesting, and often amusing, to see the series again through a newbie's eyes.

As for my own prospects, we have finished "Person of Interest" (my selection) and have started watching "Sherlock" (their selection). I've never seen it before and it's good so far.

"Sherlock" has only 13 episodes, so after that's done, I'm going pitch B5 to them again. I'll play up the mystery angle, and tell them that JMS previously worked on "Murder She Wrote".

[WorkerCaste]

Hey! My first TV was in B&W. All the shows lacked color.

[babylonlurker]

We have a Millennial in the house, and you can watch him struggle to pay attention within a few minutes of watching anything not shot in Hi Def.

This reminds me of my niece who was about 10 at the time, when she first saw a TV programme in B/W. Her reaction : "Where did all the colours go ?!?"

This was before HD became common.

[Household Gods]

Sadly, you're also facing a challenge due to the standards in production values today. People expect a lot more, especially lacking a hi-res version.

This is sooo true - I already "de-tune" the family TV so as to minimize the dreaded "soap opera effect." Even so, Seasons 1 and 2 DVD transfers can be a little rough on the eyes sometimes, resolution-wise. In any one scene camera focus seems to go from sharp and crisp to no so crisp with a soft focus.

We have a Millennial in the house, and you can watch him struggle to pay attention within a few minutes of watching anything not shot in Hi Def.

[alpha128]

I was only able to see a few scattered episodes of Season One back in 1994, due to various reason, and couldn't really sit down and get into the show until Season Two.

I was in the same boat. I saw only a handful of Season 1 repeats right before Season 2 started. Thankfully they included the absolutely essential "Signs and Portents" and "Chrysalis".

Having said this I guess it seems okay to skip some First Season episodes initially... I definitely understand trying to sell SciFi to people who aren't already into it is a TOUGH sell.

Exactly. I like the idea of showing "Parliament of Dreams" as the second episode because we'd be coming to B5 from "Person of Interest". The plot of a person of interest (even if they are a lizard ) threatened with death by an unknown perpetrator is very similar to what they're used to from POI.

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

[ombuds wellington]

Alpha,

I did a similar thing for one or two of my friends who were sceptical

ubik... you consider people sceptical of B5 as friends!!!

ha , i also have a few who dont even like sci fi, although as time goes on those become fewer and fewer.

[Looney]

So I have been thinking about this from the perspective of my own experience of coming to love Babylon 5. I was only able to see a few scattered episodes of Season One back in 1994, due to various reason, and couldn't really sit down and get into the show until Season Two. This did not cause any problems with my love for the show in the slightest. It did make me DESPERATELY want to see every Season One episode about 4 episodes into Season Two, but that wasn't possible back then and I had to wait until VHS copies became available a couple of years later. While not ideal, it did make getting to catch up with Season One before the Series was over a fun experience. Having said this I guess it seems okay to skip some First Season episodes initially because hopefully the newbies will want to go back and watch them before you are even through Season Two. I mean I would never do it as long as I was with the person watching the shows, but I definitely understand trying to sell SciFi to people who aren't already into it is a TOUGH sell. I mean really, I am into SciFi and I will tell you right now you are usually wasting your time if you want me to watch anything involving time travel.

[alpha128]

Would love to know how it goes... so do report back in this thread or elsewhere!

You're welcome to invite your newbie to join us here to share his/her thoughts and impressions.

I don't think they would be interested in posting here. However, I will be happy to relay their impressions and post them in this thread as Ubik requested.

[Jan]

We'll see how things shake out. Thanks.

You're welcome to invite your newbie to join us here to share his/her thoughts and impressions. We'll gladly start a spoiler-free thread for them.

Jan

[Ubik]

Would love to know how it goes... so do report back in this thread or elsewhere!

I am always intrigued to hear what others make of the show on a first viewing.

[alpha128]

Okay, maybe go with the revised list then? As I said, see how they react.

Yes, what I plan to do. I felt good about the initial list, but I feel just as good about the revised list. But they are both mystery fans, so having "And the Sky Full of Stars" as the fourth episode (instead of seventh) has a certain appeal.

We'll see how things shake out. Thanks.

[Ubik]

Okay, maybe go with the revised list then? As I said, see how they react.

[alpha128]

I think it's perhaps best to just go with your gut and their initial reaction to each episode. If they are digging it, include those for sure... They're all fairly solid episodes.

OK. Fair enough.

Interestingly, I was searching this board and discovered an old thread on essentially the same topic: Guide for those who dislike Season 1...

Even more interesting is post #4 in that thread, which bears a startling resemblance to my REVISED LIST:

But I guess what your recommending is....

Midnight On The Firing Line
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Signs And Portents
Babylon Squared
Chrysalis

Then at least six more episodes like

"The Parliament of Dreams"
"Mind War"
"Deathwalker"
"Legacies"
"The Quality of Mercy"

http://jmsnews.com/forums/showpost.p...07&postcount=4