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Question on Babylon 5 from a newbie
- Thread starter Tsyr
- Start date
The first season establishes who the people and factions are. It has a few so-so episodes, but is overall better than 95% of the dreck that's on TV.
If you're buying the DVD boxes, I wouldn't skip it. If you're getting single episodes some other way, you could probably skip a few of the episodes (like Infection) but not the entire season.
If you're buying the DVD boxes, I wouldn't skip it. If you're getting single episodes some other way, you could probably skip a few of the episodes (like Infection) but not the entire season.
Darth Shoju
First Post
Staffan said:
Agreed. It is kind of a boring season, but it does lay some important groundwork. I wish I could point out what episodes are the most important but I can't separate them in my brain atm. If you get it on DVD, watch all the episodes once and then you'll know the important bits. You could probably pretty much ignore it after that except for some key episodes. Overall it is by far my favourite sci-fi series of all time.
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Don't skip! There are little things in season one that are built on in the later seasons.
WayneLigon
Adventurer
You can always consult the Lurker's Guide and it's associated Episode Guide to check out things. It explains a lot, points out several things you may miss, make notes and annotations, comments from JMS, and has links back and forth when episodes reference each other.
LightPhoenix
First Post
You could go to the Lurker's Guide as suggested above if you really want to skip the first season.
But as it was said above too, the first season lays a lot of the groundwork for characterization. B5's characters grow and evolve a lot, so you're losing a big part of that if you skip the first season. Also, a fair amount of season one is pertinent to the latter seasons, so there's a few that really shouldn't be missed. And besides, there's a huge difference between watching it happen and reading about it. And really, with the exception of a couple of episodes, the first season really is better than a lot of scifi on TV today.
But as it was said above too, the first season lays a lot of the groundwork for characterization. B5's characters grow and evolve a lot, so you're losing a big part of that if you skip the first season. Also, a fair amount of season one is pertinent to the latter seasons, so there's a few that really shouldn't be missed. And besides, there's a huge difference between watching it happen and reading about it. And really, with the exception of a couple of episodes, the first season really is better than a lot of scifi on TV today.
If you do like B5 then you will eventually wind up watching the first season in any case. There were also some truly some great moments in the first season. Most particularly G'Kar's conversation with Ivanova at the end of the second episode. I won't spoil it for you, but it discusses some issues and puts forth a point of view that has haunted me till this day.
Besides, the better they sell, the more clout JMS will likely have in the future and the more likely that we'll see more stuff out of him.
Finally, unlike any other TV series that I know of, B5 was designed with a 5 year run in mind. If you skip it, you will be missing out on part of the experience that B5 was meant to be.
Besides, the better they sell, the more clout JMS will likely have in the future and the more likely that we'll see more stuff out of him.
Finally, unlike any other TV series that I know of, B5 was designed with a 5 year run in mind. If you skip it, you will be missing out on part of the experience that B5 was meant to be.
danzig138
Explorer
I hadn't seen the first season in a while when I acquired the dvd set a couple of months ago. Not only have my SO (who had never seen B5) and I been watching an episode every Saturday night at 9, I've watched the entire thing an additional two times, and, taken as a whole, it is quite good and really shouldn't be missed as part of the experience. Now I need enough cash to get the second season, since we've only got 5 eps left. . .
Kesh
First Post
Like any show, the first season's pretty mediocre. It does have some shining moments, though, as well as some real stinkers.
Overall, you should watch the pilot movie and season 1, though, just to get a feel for who everyone is and what they stand for in the beginning. There's a lot going on between the Narn and Centauri in this season that you don't want to miss, plus a couple episodes dealing with the planet B5 orbits that are critical to the plot later on.
But, to me, there are two episodes midway through the season that are subtly vital to the series: one (Mind War) is primarily about telepaths (and introduces a recurring antagonist), but also involves an ex of the Commander's ignoring warnings about a planet she wants to explore. And another (Signs and Portents)involves a recovered Centauri heirloom, and attempts by various parties to 'acquire' it from Londo.
The important bits have nothing to do with the main plot of those episodes, though. Rather, it's one brief scene at the end of each that sets you up for some major plot points later in the series. They almost seem like throwaways at first, but they really are important. Those would be G'kar's scene with the plant in the first, and what happens to the Raiders in the second.
On a personal note, the latter left me thinking "WTF was that?!?" for a good five minutes afterwards. That was the point I knew I'd be addicted to this show.
Overall, you should watch the pilot movie and season 1, though, just to get a feel for who everyone is and what they stand for in the beginning. There's a lot going on between the Narn and Centauri in this season that you don't want to miss, plus a couple episodes dealing with the planet B5 orbits that are critical to the plot later on.
But, to me, there are two episodes midway through the season that are subtly vital to the series: one (Mind War) is primarily about telepaths (and introduces a recurring antagonist), but also involves an ex of the Commander's ignoring warnings about a planet she wants to explore. And another (Signs and Portents)involves a recovered Centauri heirloom, and attempts by various parties to 'acquire' it from Londo.
The important bits have nothing to do with the main plot of those episodes, though. Rather, it's one brief scene at the end of each that sets you up for some major plot points later in the series. They almost seem like throwaways at first, but they really are important. Those would be G'kar's scene with the plant in the first, and what happens to the Raiders in the second.
On a personal note, the latter left me thinking "WTF was that?!?" for a good five minutes afterwards. That was the point I knew I'd be addicted to this show.
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