I have arrived at the declaration of martial law on Earth in my rewatch of Babylon 5, and let's just say the whole show hits differently in 2025. I wish it didn't.
Still my favourite scifi show ever, and I am having a great time watching it one episode a week.
1 month ago · 👍 xoagray
You only get to watch it for the first time once! · 1 month ago
@darkghost According to JMS, and I believe him, Paramount really did steal the idea and tried their best to squish B5. Which is insane to me - DS9 had the full weight of Star Trek at one of its popularity peaks! Way to show that you don't trust your own series. But I am very glad they both got made.
The way the B5 fandom is so very careful not to spoil anything is one of my favourite things about it :D People don't want to deprive themselves of the possible reaction to any newbie screaming about the big twists as they happen · 1 month ago
I think if you compare the general premise of each show it is similar, particularly the set up in the first season. But they did diverge over time for various reasons. Let's just say it's a heck of a coincidence there's two shows with (space station)(number) situated near a wormhole/portal airing at the same time. I'm being vague to not spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. Now I need to watch it again. · 1 month ago
@darkghost Eh I mean yes there are parallels but they ended up doing very different things with the building blocks they have.
The REALLY interesting parallels are with Mass Effect though! ME never made a secret out of the massive inspiration B5 was for it, and they built a super compelling universe around that.
Oh and Quark and Emperor Cartagia have the same interior decorator :D · 1 month ago
@bookscorpion Did you appreciate the parallels between B5 and DS9? Allegedly DS9 ripped off B5 after the creator pitched B5 to Paramount! It's the scandal of the century!... last century ... · 1 month ago
@half_elf_monk I do like a good binge but man I have missed having to wait a week between episodes. Or longer (I saw the first Borg episodes of Trek Next Generation as they aired and THAT was one hell of a cliffhanger to end on for a couple of months)
It's a very carefully planned and written show, all the actors are having a blast, they have incredible guest stars (hello Walter Koenig) and I will always love how relatable all the characters are, even and especially the ones who commit the worst crimes. The song of the B5 people: LONDO NO! · 1 month ago
@hanzbrix You should! I am obviously biased, but it's such a satisfying show with carefully planned arcs over multiple seasons. Every time I rewatch it, I sit there in S1 and go, what do you mean they foreshadowed/started the thread for this HERE already?! And when things really get going, it's one hell of a ride · 1 month ago
@darkghost Same here - I watched Deep Space Nine at the time, being a long time Trekkie it was the obvious choice. And I still love it very much, but as a standalone show, B5 just is my fav. I will never get the complaints about the CGI (is it hyperrealistic? Hell no. But I love the look.). And no other scifi show I've seen has such tight writing and foreshadowing and huge payofffs as the arcs span the seasons. · 1 month ago
@m0xee Lexx was WILD, I remember that! I should rewatch that as well. The Expanse was such a great show (I did not yet watch the last season but still), they had awesome actors and great writing.
B5 is actually funny as hell, they have a cast that just has great chemistry overall and they so visibly enjoy playing off each other. But it also hits so very hard with its story. Definitely give it a try! · 1 month ago
I remember it from childhood, but I wasn't really into sci-fi at the time, so it didn't seem too different from Lexx — except Lexx was more funny, so the choice was obvious 😂
I'm re-watching Lexx now and… it's just as funny! But now I like shows like Expanse, so maybe I should try re-watching more serious shows of the past 🤔 · 1 month ago
This one is also my favorite. I get the warm nostalgic fuzzies from it even though I watched it long after it had finished. Something about the Lightwave 3D CGI and early 90s synth is just like a feast. Great engaging story too. · 1 month ago
Never seen it, but I've heard it's good. I very much appreciate the slow pacing that you're watching it it... not-binging it seems like a good plan. · 1 month ago