this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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Should I Give Babylon 5 Another Chance? (self.sciencefiction)
submitted 1 year ago by PlanetOfOrd to c/sciencefiction
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As a Sci-Fi fan I've been a huge fan of shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, Terminator: TSCC, Star Trek, etc. I keep hearing Babylon 5 is awesome.

I was too young at the time to watch the series when it was on. But then as an older teen/ young adult I decided to give it a try. Everything was so cringe it was hard to get through 3 episodes. IMO the whole vibe was "safe..." maybe even a bit corny--not the intense, exciting, politically-tense space opera that I was told it was.

So maybe the beginning episodes are just world-building? What do other people think?

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The first season is a lot of world building and one off episode stories. They all move forward character motivation and the world, but it is the most difficult part to get through for most people. Once season 2 gets going, it pretty much doesn't stop til halfway through season 5.

I'd easily say that B5 is as good or better than almost any other sci fi show ever made. It's absolutely a product of it's time, but at the same time it is so forward thinking in terms of an ongoing multi season story arc that survives multiple major characters leaving the production with few hiccups. It is almost prescient in some of the scenarios that are explored, particularly in the back half of season 4.

I don't know if another show has done a better pairing than Londo and G'Kar. By all measures, I probably watched B5 way too young, but I adored it at the time and found it amazing on a rewatch a handful of years ago. Typing this makes me want to watch it again

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Agreed. Had a hard time pushing through season 1 but when the link between season 1 and season 2 occurred, I was hooked. Great overarching and intertwining storylines with amazing character development.

IMO watch the first 2 seasons. If it doesn't move you by then, it probably won't and you can say you've given it a fair shot.