B5 The Memory of Shadows

[Chimera]

Crusade: The ultimate example of why network morons should never be allowed to interfere in the work of a proven master.

"We want a ship shaped like a giant penis. And it has to shoot it's big load at least once in every episode."

That being said, it could have been a very good show if JMS had been given free reign.

As for B5, I love pretty much every bit of seasons 2-4 with only a few exceptions. Heck, there are even some good episodes in season 5 - like one of my favorite concepts, "A View From The Gallery".

But as with many others, I hated Lockley and was extremely disappointed with the departure of Claudia Christian. She was quoted as saying that she was only asking for as much money as the male leads, and they fired her for it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She was worth every penny.

 

[Staffan]

She was quoted as saying that she was only asking for as much money as the male leads, and they fired her for it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She was worth every penny.

From what I heard, it was more a matter of her wanting some time off to pursue movie stuff or something like that, but still wanting to get paid for the full 22 episodes.

 

[thatdarncat]

err understanding is a three-edged sword: your side, their side .. and the truth?

 

[LightPhoenix]

From what I heard, it was more a matter of her wanting some time off to pursue movie stuff or something like that, but still wanting to get paid for the full 22 episodes.

That's what I've heard as well. I'm sure that both sides decided to play a little hardball, and eventually the show had to start filming again, so JMS wrote her out.

As for season five, I'm a big fan of the latter half of the season. The first half stunk though. Especially the teeps... there's exactly one scene with them that I like. Two if you count a scantily clad Lyta.

I pretty much feel the same about Crusade... first half stunk, second half rocked. I'm pretty convinced that TMoS will cover a lot of the ground Crusade would have if had gone on. The scripts for the end of season one of Crusade make this abundantly clear in my mind.

On the other hand, LotR sucked hardcore, especially the ship combat. It was just terrible. Not even Marcus (who was supposed to be on the show as per JMS, I don't know how) would have made it better.

 

[qstor]

I havne't seen Crusade and 2 of the B5 movies. I'm picking it up as a Christmas present to myself and waiting to get the B5 movie boxed set too.

As for Claudia Christian leaving, I heard she was unhappy with the role and wanted something different. I think thats what happened.

Mike

 

[Knightfall]

The latest rumors!

A snippet from Dark Horizons.

Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows: More on the movie spin-off is up at Cinescape, whilst controversy is brewing over potential cast replacement - see SFCrusade for details.

How they can even think of replacing the cast with actors with more "Star Potential" I'll never know. That's just the dumbest idea, ever!

Cheers!

KF72

 

[Duncan Haldane]

OK, just to clear up the discussion about B5 seasons 4 & 5, here is my understanding.

I went to several conventions that had b5 cast members attending, and so I've heard this from several members of the cast.

B5 was designed with a 5 year arc. The shadow war was meant to conclude at the end of year 4, and year 5 was supposed to be focused on ridding earth of the shadow influence, especially President Clarke. (The telepath war would have started in s4 and finished in s5)

Unfortuantely, WB got iffy about producing the 5th season during the 4th. The contract was supposed to be renewed or cancelled at about the time they filmed 4-11 - ie, mid-season. Rather than saying yes or no, WB kept saying "we aren't sure". JMS then had to modify the arcs as time went by, so that he could wrap up the main story in season 4. The telepath war was removed from the main story arc, the shadow war concluded in season 4, and the "rescue" of earth was achieved very quickly. They still didn't have an answer from WB when it was time to film the final episode of the entire story, so they shot it at the end of year four. This episode is set 20 years later, when Sheridan's life is ending (after he was saved at Z'ha'dum).

Then they went into production of the TV movies. Finally after the'd finished the movies, but before the end of season 4 aired they were told by WB that the Sci Fi channel would produce season 5. So they went back in and made a new episode to screen as the last of season 4. This episode is set in a distant future, and is really much of a filler. The episode made as the final B5 was screened at the end of season 5.

Claudia did not return for season 5, but is in the final episode because it had been filmed the year before.

I think that Claudia's failure to return was probably the hardest for Jason Carter, the actor who played Marcus (the Ranger), because his character was killed off to save the life of Ivanova, and then she wasn't even in the next series.

Anyway, I wish that B5 had been done as it's initial 5 year arc, and I wish that Crusade had aired in the ordered it was intended, and that the Sci Fi network hadn't tried to "sex it up".

And I look forward to TMOS.

Duncan

 

[qstor]

I'm looking forward to Memory the Shadows too. I'm going to order Crusade on DVD for myself for Christmas No Frostburn for now...


Mike