“I hope the future will be like Star Trek, but I’m afraid it’s going to be like Babylon 5.”
I’m rewatching it right now and enjoying it. The characters are well-written, the principals were cast well, a lot of recognizable “B” and “C” actors make cameos, I honestly think some of the CGI still works (fight me).
Right now it looks like we’ll have a couple of decades of Road Warrior (any of the Mad Max series) for a couple of decades, with declining care use and rising cannibalism. And then its up to the roaches, rats and coyotes.
We’re going to have to learn some serious Star Trek stuff if we’re going to survive the climate crisis and plastic crisis.
Had never heard of this show before, but from what I read in all these comments it’ll be enjoyable - thank you everyone!
The usual warnings for newcomers.
(1) There was a made for TV movie pilot called “The Gathering” which was made about two years before the show kicks off. It was used to pitch the show. It was released a few years later. Most people consider it an essential episode #0 if you want to watch the show. It’s quite bad. The computer graphics were rendered on a bank of Amiga computers…
(2) the first season, up to about the ~15 episode mark, seems quite hokey. There are important story arc details buried in each episode, despite them seemingly being quite disconnected. By about the last third of the first season, it has its legs.
(3) The graphics, sets, and music improve over time. You just sort of have to imagine the first season as a stage play. Unlike Star Trek which had the budget to do models, B5 was comparatively on a shoestring.
(4) There are cast changes between the pilot and episode one; again at the end of season one; and finally, again at the end of season four. Don’t be alarmed.
I love this show so much, I even went and found the poorly made continuation/movie thing that seems more like an amateur student film project just to have more Babylon 5.
Farscape is another great scifi show that’s not really brought up too often.
So… On a slight tangent… If you enjoyed Babylon 5, but have never seen Blake’s 7, then you’ve got some essential viewing ahead of you. Shonky sets, dubious costumes, some terrible fight choreography, and some of the best plotting and dialogue going (all credit to Terry Nation). British SciFi at it’s best. And the spiritual precursor of all ‘plucky group of outlaws on a stolen ship’ series (such as Farscape and Lexx).
