Our last best hope for a diary
By StackyMcRacky (Sat Nov 17, 2007 at 12:46:50 AM EST) ( all tags)
Babylon 5 discussion diary.
Now that I’m not the last person on the planet to watch Babylon 5, it’s time for a discussion diary! I’ve only watched the TV series - none of the movies.
Overall, I loved the show. Why aren’t more American TV shows done like this? It had a beginning, a middle, and an end. Even the times JMS had to “punt,” it didn’t ruin the story (Sinclair leaving, Ivannova leaving, Talia leaving, etc.). Everything about it was just tight, and it made for an amazing series.
Some comments, in no particular order:
The time travel episodes were by far the best use of time travel EVAR in a series. I’m left wondering what JMS originally had in store, since the entire show was originally supposed to revolve around Sinclair.
Talia Winters - what was her point? I know, I know, there was originally a pretty decent arc planned for her, but the actress left the show so they never got around to completing it. She could have been totally removed from the series, she was so worthless.
I’m still not a big fan of Captain Pretty Boy, I just came to tolerate him towards the end (since he wasn’t going away).
I HATE HATE HATED the romance between Delenn and CPB. Part of the reason I hate it so is in S1, Delenn was all flirty with Sinclair.....and then got all flirty with Sheridan. Space-whore! Also, I feel like the romance was shoved down our throats. There was nothing subtle about it (example of a good romance: Marcus and Ivannova).
Speaking of Marcus and Ivannova, I loved their romance. I hated that he killed himself in the end over it, but that probably adds to the reason I love it so - tragic. Her reaction to his death was wonderful as well “I should have at least boffed him!”
They didn’t use Draal (is that his name?) and Epsilon III enough.
Londo - you just hated him at first, then began to like him once he decided to become a better person. Alas, it was too little, too late. I’d love to know more detail into his reign as Emperor, but I’d have to read the books and I don’t have much time for that sort of thing these days. One day.
G’Kar - great character. Not much else I can say about him.
I’d love to know more about Kosh’s (the first one) motives. I get the feeling he was operating more on his own and less as the spokesman of the entire Vorlon race. Kind of like...he was supposed to have a certain agenda, but then saw a way to end the conflict with the Shadows forever, and changed tactics. Is there a book of some sort on this subject?
IMO, the graphics have held up really well over time.
I’m assuming the rest of Lyta’s story is told in the telepath war book series? I’d like to know what happened to her after she left with G’Kar. I tend to agree with her - they used her and just left her hanging.
What happened to Lennir?
The actor’s commentary on the DVDs was hilarious.
In general, S5 felt like a big afterthought to me. Yes, it continued everybody’s stories, but I didn’t feel the same passion? (for lack of a better word) in the stories as I did in the earlier seasons.
What happened to Catherine Saki, Sinclair’s woman? Garibaldi mentioned her in S5 (“she’s been missing”), but there was no follow-up. Was she just fine and dandy with her husband traveling back in time like that? Was she on Minbar with him? Is she a Ranger?
Captain Pretty Boy’s death at Za’ha’dun bothered me. His resurrection was too quick. If he was supposed to make some spiritual journey to come back to life, I didn’t get it. Then again, I can be a bit thick with certain themes.
They should have worked Lady Morella’s visions into the latter part of the story more. Like have Londo flashback to what she said and have him realize where he went wrong.
LOVED Vir and Lennir’s little support group. “Same time tomorrow?”
That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure more will come up in the comments (get commenting!)
One bad thing about the show - it gives me little hope that BSG will end in a satisfying way. Compared to B5, you can just tell the writers/producers of BSG have been making things up as they go along (Tigh as a cylon? PLEASE!).
Full discussion: http://www.hulver.com/scoop/story/2007/11/17/04650/393
|
