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this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Risa
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Ah. I’ve heard great things about Babylon 5 but the first couple of episodes didn’t draw me in. I’ll have to give it another shot.
So, the first season is kinda rocky. Many of the actors are struggling to come to terms with their makeup and costumes, the effects aren't all that great, and, not wishing to spoil, it's laying a LOT of groundwork for what is to come. The second and third seasons are AMAZING.
The fourth and fifth seasons...let's talk about them. What happened was, the network was going to shut down, meaning Babylon 5 wouldn't get it's planned 5th season, so they crammed as much A plot into the fourth season as possible to finish the main story. So it's a bit...intense. Then another network picked up the show for the fifth season after all...after some of the principal cast took other jobs. So they stretched out a lot of the B-plots that were supposed to be in Season 4 into full episodes in Season 5, and...what can I say they made a whole season of TV after the show's climax.
They made a cuddle season
If you enjoyed it and did a second watch through you see the immense world building they do in season 1 that ties into later season plots. On first watch through it sounds just like filler, or even just something specific the episode, but it wasn't as often as you'd think for a 90s show. Even though I grew up in the 80s and 90s I didn't watch Babylon 5 till about 10 years ago and I still found the first season rough, like close to TNG rough.
It takes a little bit, but it gets really good
GARABALDI
MY FRIEND! COME DRINK WITH ME!
And they made a very satisfying thump when they hit the floor.
Oh I went to the rock to his my face,
And the rock cried out "No hiding place!"
First season is setting building and absolutely necessary for the series as a whole. But if you bounced off the style itself, then it might not be for you.
Well, Star Trek TNG season 1 is also largely puke tier television, to the point that if I were introducing someone new to the show, I'd start at Season 3, and if they're still interested go back and hit a few key episodes from 1 and 2. If anything, B5 gets its shit together faster than TNG did.
If you can make it through the first season, the quality of the CG of every season after that has a noticeable increase as their budget increases. I wouldn't say the final season looks incredible by modern standards or anything, but it definitely holds up a lot better than the stuff in the first season.
The first couple of episodes are not great. There were also substantial changes from the pilot, for example the weapon props got a major upgrade. I think it starts getting there around mid season 1 but 3-4, as others mentioned, after really some of the best sci-fi that I've seen with writing that aged well in many ways.
Same boat here. I've probably watched just about every other space/sci-fi series out there, too, but haven't been able to make it through the first season of this.
If you can get through S1, it gets really good (part of S3/4 is honestly some of the best sci-fi I've ever read/watched)