Babylon 5

[Agamon]

Now, Babylon 5 is not perfect. It definitely has its weak points, and Season One is the weakest of the lot. Episodes like "Infection" will probably have you wondering why you're wasting your time with the show and wondering what we were all smoking when we told you it was so great. But Season One lays a lot of crucial groundwork. There are plot threads that begin in the very first episode that play out through the end of the show. There are things that happen later in the show that, if you watch from the beginning, will absolutely floor you; if you start with Season Two, they'll still be interesting, but they won't have nearly the same impact.

A lot of TV shows are like this, with weak first seasons that set the tone of the series and get you familiar with the characters and then follow up with very strong additional seasons. All the more reason networks need to give shows more than a season before axing it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

All the more reason networks need to give shows more than a season before axing it.

*coughcoughFIREFLYcough*

 

[Blackrat]

...But Season One lays a lot of crucial groundwork. There are plot threads that begin in the very first episode that play out through the end of the show. There are things that happen later in the show that, if you watch from the beginning, will absolutely floor you; if you start with Season Two, they'll still be interesting, but they won't have nearly the same impact.

Now, that said, there is one small exception to that. In my opinion, "The Gathering" isn't very good, and should NOT be a newbie's first impression of B5. If you've committed to watching the whole show, or at least giving it a while before making a judgment, then absolutely, start with "The Gathering." But if not, I'd say start with the first episode of Season One and go back and watch "The Gathering" about 1/2-3/4 of the way through Season One. It's not ideal, but it'll work...

I have to comment this a bit. I agree that The Gathering is one of the poorest parts of B5 but it should be watched. And I think you should really start with it before Season 1. Reason to this is that they lay down few plot-arcs there that are referenced during Season 1, and one arc that actually resolves at the very end of the series. I don't remember exactly but it is the one of the last three episodes that resolves this. Also there is one character that gets introduced in The Gathering, and if you didn't see it, later seasons will be a bit baffling.

 

[jonesy]

And while I loved B5, I thought Crusade sucked. There were only two or three episodes I'd even rate as halfway decent, and the rest ranged from poor to utterly abysmal (I don't understand how "Visitors from Down the Street" ever even got made. Why did no one stage an intervention for JMS?)

Visitors bad? I thought that was the best episode of Crusade. Nice twist. Just seemed like it should have been an episode of Outer Limits or something. Not B5.

Gathering I really don't know what to think about. I didn't think it was necessary. At all.

I liked In The Beginning, but "And the Sky Full of Stars" and "Atonement" handled the subject better (and Sky even looked better). The Sheridan parts were the only interesting ones.

Don't even think about skipping season 1 by the way. "...Sky..." and "Chrysalis" alone are worth it.

A Call to Arms was pretty good, but it was plagued by odd sound choises. Like the entire final confrontation. It was either cheesy, lame or artsy-fartsy. Maybe all three.

Thirdspace was a level from a videogame, not a movie.

River of Souls? I fell asleep watching it. Twice.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

While I am willing to agree that Season 1 isn't the best of B5, I still liked it when I watched it again on DVD a few years ago. I am somehow a fan of Captain Sinclair - and no, I am not trying to justify this, in case anyone is suprised or appaled.

 

[Blackrat]

Captain Sinclair

[nitpicking]Commander[/nitpicking]
Anyways, I agree. One of my favourite characters.

 

[Grog]

I have to comment this a bit. I agree that The Gathering is one of the poorest parts of B5 but it should be watched. And I think you should really start with it before Season 1. Reason to this is that they lay down few plot-arcs there that are referenced during Season 1, and one arc that actually resolves at the very end of the series. I don't remember exactly but it is the one of the last three episodes that resolves this. Also there is one character that gets introduced in The Gathering, and if you didn't see it, later seasons will be a bit baffling.

Oh, I agree that "The Gathering" is best watched first. I'm just saying that I don't want people to watch it and decide that the rest of the show must suck and not watch any more. If someone has decided to give the show a serious chance, they should start with "The Gathering," but if not, or if you're trying to get a skeptical friend into the show or something, it's probably best to start with the first ep of Season One. At least IMO.

 

[Grog]

Visitors bad? I thought that was the best episode of Crusade. Nice twist. Just seemed like it should have been an episode of Outer Limits or something. Not B5.

Well, your mileage obviously varies, but I thought most of the episode was a clunky, poorly-written lead up to a joke that wasn't even very good. Anything more would be getting into spoiler territory, so I'll stop there.

A Call to Arms was pretty good, but it was plagued by odd sound choises. Like the entire final confrontation. It was either cheesy, lame or artsy-fartsy. Maybe all three.

Oh god, the music for Call to Arms was awful. The same composer did the music for Crusade, btw - another point against it.

By contrast, Cristopher Franke's score for B5 was awesome.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Oh god, the music for Call to Arms was awful. The same composer did the music for Crusade, btw - another point against it.

By contrast, Cristopher Franke's score for B5 was awesome.

I didn't think the music was bad. It wasn't great, but at least they tried something new rather than going to the old orchestral well.

 

[TwinBahamut]

Basically, word to what everyone else here has said. Watch the show. Watch it from the beginning. Do not skip Season One.

There is a very important reason for this. Babylon 5, more than almost any other show ever made, is structured as a novel for television. You wouldn't pick up a novel and start reading at Chapter 7, would you? Of course not. You start at the beginning.

Heh, I wish I had the chance.

The problem with being exposed to a series simply be just stumbling across it while channel surfing is that you have no control where in the story that you start. I ended up starting somewhere in the middle of season three, watched through to the end of season four or so, lost track of the series, started again with a totally random selection of episodes from season 1, and then followed the entire series from the start of season two through the end of the series. Somewhere along the line I miraculously saw the original pilot. I still have not seen the majority of season one...

Of course, I still think the series is the greatest live action sci fi series I have ever seen. It rocks.