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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WizarDru" data-source="post: 1167888" data-attributes="member: 151">Everyone's said it, but I'll repeat it...don't skip season one. Skip certain episodes, if need be. For example, "Infection" is the worst B5 episode evar. I mean, it's truly terrible. The episode "Believers" is, to me, a horrible episode...but some folks think that it's a critical "They'd never do this on Trek" story. Which is true, but it was written by D.C. Fontana, so make your own judgements. "TKO" is an episode that should have had it's A and B stories reversed, IMHO, and the 'Garibaldi falls down and then gets backup in 5 minutes' episode is weak, as well. B5 Season one is easily the weakest of the seasons...but some episodes are very good, too. Episodes like "Signs and Portents" and "Babylon Squared" are great. Also, I can say from experience that watching them closer together in rapid sucession (as opposed to a 3 month gap between some runs of episodes) and then going straight into season 2 and beyond makes the series hold together much more cohesively. Some things that are introduced in Season one aren't seen again until season four, in some cases...obviously I'm avoiding specifics for spoiler protection purposes. JMS often describes B5 as a 'Novel for television', and he really means it. There is a clear beginning, middle and end to the series. Characters change and develop over the course of the series...and if you don't understand them from the beginning, you'll be confused later on. Many of the characters start off in one direction, and completely change by the end of the series.  I remember when the series was new, I looked at it with what I call 'Star Trek' eyes. I intereperted the show through a filter of assumptions, and that influenced my opinion of it negatively (as in "Oh look, the belligerent 'Klingon-like' agressive alien and the Ferengi-like blustering comic-relief alien are arguing again".) When I realized how I'd mis-read the series, I was pretty disappointed that I'd done so, and worked fast to cover lost ground.  And anyone who's watched the series knows how off-base the above description would soon prove drastically wrong, even by the second episode, in some cases. The show is bouyed by several very talented actors, namely Peter Jurassik and Andreas Katsulas among others, whose deliveries raise some scenes to among the best TV has to offer.  Following their characters development is almost reason enough alone to follow season one, if for nothing else. (Note to Self: Go get boxed sets next week).</blockquote>

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