fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2321 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2321 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So, I've decided to start watching Babylon 5. I'm really excited for it because I've heard a lot of praise for it, but also nervous because I know basically nothing about the show, not from an in-universe perspective, and not from an out-of-universe perspective.

So, I'd really greatly appreciate non-spoilery encouragement or warnings about weird tone changes or dangling plot threads or cast reshuffling or what problems the show had with getting its footing early on or how this season sucked or how this other season sucked or how this arc got so much better/worse later on, if that's the case. Just so I know a bit more about what I'm getting into ;)

Make sure you stay hydrated.

Get up every hour or so and stretch.

I'm not sure how to be non-spoilery with this, but... don't get too attached to the first season station commander and maybe try not to ship him with Delenn. You'll like the new guy better, anyway.

The CGI is terrible, and a lot of the visuals look kind of dated. Just roll with it; the CGI looks terrible because they were pioneers in using CGI on TV, and it's a great show even if it sometimes looks goofy. The show takes a while to find its footing, the whole first season is kind of uneven, but it gets really good.

I think the only other important thing to point out here is that Ivanova is the best character ever, all shall love her and despair, etc etc etc

It's been a long while since I watched it, but from what I can remember: the first season was a bit slow and didn't quite find the right style yet, but after you get through that, the seasons 2-4 are great. The fifth season seemed more like an afterthought, 'whoops, we didn't get canceled, better come up with something', and for me it wasn't as essential as the previous seasons, since the major plotlines were already finished.

This comment exactly. First season slow, after that it picks up steam. When watching seasons 2 through 4, I was always left wondering what would happen next and hurrying on to the next episodes. Season 5 feels like an afterthought, and doesn't have the same urgency as the earlier seasons. Some interesting stuff in 5, but just not at the same level as prior seasons. Loved the series finale (which I think was filmed at the end of season 4).

Prepare yourself for terrible 90s computer animation and cheesy, occasionally heavy-handed liberal politics. As a big leftie, I really liked the latter in the show, but if you're a bit more conservative I can see it becoming annoying. Also, my equally liberal friend thought it was too OTT and couldn't get into it. But yeah, if you can hang on until the end of the first season you should know whether you'll want to watch more or not. The 5th season is a bit funky because IIRC they had to wrap up a few plots in the 4th season early because they thought they'd were cancelled so they had to invent a new arc for the 5th, but if you get that far you're in for the long haul anyway so it shouldn't matter anyway.

In conclusion: it's worth it!

I'm very liberal and have a biiiig soft spot for heavy-handed political preachiness. *glances at icon* so that sure as hell won't be a problem for me. ;)

I gotta say I'm actually kind of intrigued by this info that the last season was kind of leftover aftermath stuff. That sounds pretty cool to me, since it's usually the opposite in most TV shows (plot resolutions left to the very end to draw out viewer interest, resulting in rushed conclusions and clutter and dangling threads).

Just reread my comment and i'm sorry about it's dodginess - def wrote the last bit in a hurry :/

Anyway, I actually have a better view of the 5th season than the commenters above me. I haven't watched it for years, and when I did I knew that they'd had to basically extend/invent more plot, but I thought it was still actually decent considering that. Also, some of the wrapping up of the 4th season was necessarily a bit rushed since it was originally intended to be a 5 season show, so it was satisfying to have partial continuances of the previous plots. Also, if you get as far as season 5 presumably you have fallen in love with all the characters and just love being able to spend a bit more time with them before the finale, which breaks you down before lifting you back up. You will cry!

Since I'm on the subject, I think that how much you like the episode Parliament of Dreams is pretty indicative of how much you're going to like the rest of the show, even if it doesn't have much stuff about the wider plot arcs. Enjoy :)

The anon above is me, btw :)

ENJOY IT.

I honestly have nothing more to say. There are no warnings, it's pretty much great all the way through. The real story arc of the whole thing gets properly started in the second season, but the first season is great too.

[ SECRET POST #2321 ]

Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!

Re: Starting Babylon 5: any tips and warnings from fans greatly appreciated!