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Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

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Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#101

Post by M95D »

WorldMaker wrote: post #37
Apocryphon wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So just what is the optimal way to watch this show

There sadly isn't one. The 4:3 Blu-Ray remasters are about as good as it gets in visual quality, but there's a "cinematic" feel lost from the 16:9 DVDs, but the quality difference is noticeable and unfavorable. It's a bit of a dealer's choice at this point if you want "best available quality" or "best available widescreen." Babylon 5 was filmed at a weird moment where they were prescient about HD TV and the coming wi…

> The 4:3 Blu-Ray remasters are about as good as it gets in visual quality, but there's a "cinematic" feel lost from the 16:9 DVDs, but the quality difference is noticeable and unfavorable.

I don't understand what you're trying to say here. What's wrong with the quality difference?

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#102

Post by chasil »

TiredOfLife wrote: post #96
chasil wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Claudia Christian, who played Susan Ivanova, is also well known for her documentary on alcohol addiction. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=crYU4xT1aRI

It would be easier to list b5 actors without drug or alcohol issues.

Look at what she has to say.

It is of profound significance.

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#103

Post by usrusr »

lloeki wrote: post #63
potamic wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can someone who is new to Star trek start with DS9 or need to watch earlier series for context?

Probably you should really watch TNG first, lots of characters and lore that would be needed to fully appreciate a lot of things that would otherwise fall flat at best or be outright not understandable. I don't think they matter to understanding the main arc but then the main arc is only a small part of the show. (Voyager is entirely optional but a much welcome addition that happens concurrently at later seasons; I w…

Not knowing the established history of some characters can actually be nice I think. The difference between a blank slate with conveniently made up background and a background that has already been told, in quite some detail, that difference tends to be very noticeable. No matter how "complex" the background made up on the spot is.

When the background has been told elsewhere, it's a legitimate challenge to the unprepared viewer's mind. But when it's made up on the spot, it's an arbitrary riddle. I know some viewers love that kind of stuff (e.g. everybody who made it through Lost I guess?), but to me that just feels annoying. If you want me to apply myself to the riddle, make it part of the story (like in a whodunnit), or don't keep me guessing.

But when it's organically grown background complexity from another story, I'm perfectly fine with it. Patrick Stewart's Gurney Halleck: he just pops up later with atomics, the "how" is not part of the movie adaptation. And neither is speculating about it. It's just an obvious indication that yes, there's more happening in this universe than the part squeezed into anamorphic cinemascope.

That being said, yes, watching TNG after DS9 wouldn't work well at all. It's hard enough watching early episodes after late episodes, because even the "adventure of the week" episodes have been told very differently later, but the universe is too much the same to really disconnect.

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#104

Post by munch117 »

pupppet wrote: post #66

For those who have watched both Babylon 5 and Star Trek TNG- which did you like better?

TNG, by a country mile. B5 has "writer identifies too much with the main character" written all over it. It's the story of how Our Great Leader does the right thing and saves the world, over and over again.

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#105

Post by chasil »

TiredOfLife wrote: post #97
chasil wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The primary thing to know is that the actor who played Sinclair in season one, Michael O'Hare, suffered from mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_O%27Hare His treatments were only partially successful. He reappeared in a cameo appearance early in season two ("The Coming of Shadows") and returned in season three for a two-part episode ("War Without End") which closed his character's story arc. At that…

Could you list more spoilers!?

If you want to know something about the series, then ask.

I will upvote you now.

Edit: Vir waves.

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#106

Post by danaris »

TiredOfLife wrote: post #96
chasil wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Claudia Christian, who played Susan Ivanova, is also well known for her documentary on alcohol addiction. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=crYU4xT1aRI

It would be easier to list b5 actors without drug or alcohol issues.

And sadly, so many of the main cast are no longer with us—far more than one would expect from their ages.

I know that some of them, indeed, died due to substance abuse issues; I don't know the circumstances of all of them. They will all be greatly missed.

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#107

Post by yrro »

MindSpunk wrote: post #72
fao_ wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Season one it was a traditional adventure of the week style show that was popular at the time and before. because having a multi season story arc was unheard of and still more or less is today so the first season was traditional TV and only when mildly successful did it have the ability to spread its wings. and it did so so well that it forced other shows like DS9 to also have seasonal story arcs. Unfortunately inc…

The first season is definitely the most conventional (for the time) and I think that reflects in some of JMS's statements saying the show was still getting onto its feet through the first season. Having the serialized story was very unfamiliar territory for Hollywood television back then, they were learning on their feet. If I recall correctly JMS wrote basically every episode after season 1, where as season 1 had a…

The "TKO" 'A' plot is silly but it has one of the most moving and memorable 'B' plots of the series!

Re: Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

#108

Post by wdkrnls »

fao_ wrote: post #58
conception wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Season one it was a traditional adventure of the week style show that was popular at the time and before. because having a multi season story arc was unheard of and still more or less is today so the first season was traditional TV and only when mildly successful did it have the ability to spread its wings. and it did so so well that it forced other shows like DS9 to also have seasonal story arcs.

> Season one it was a traditional adventure of the week style show that was popular at the time and before. because having a multi season story arc was unheard of and still more or less is today so the first season was traditional TV and only when mildly successful did it have the ability to spread its wings. and it did so so well that it forced other shows like DS9 to also have seasonal story arcs. Unfortunately inc…

I heard the original story with O'Hare was for Babylon 5 to blow up after an alien attack and for the Babylon 4 to be sent forward from the past to replace it. We saw hints for that in two different premonitions in season 1. That's a pretty big departure from the story we actually got.
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