Babylon 5 (no it isn't)

I think the news reel episode was a last minute thing. They'd already filmed the final episode that properly finishes everything off and then had to move that to the S5 finale when they got recommissioned.

I don't have good memories of S5 (except the finale which is great) and 2 episodes into my rewatch isn't doing much to change that impression. The main story is a bit shit (it's mentioned in the season 4 finale though so I guess they tried to make it a bit less out of the blue) but the production quality also seemed to take a bit of a dive.

People seem to forget that there's loads of good Centauri stuff in the second half of S5. Unfortunately it's all mixed in with Byron

One episode in

Something I've noticed on this rewatch is how much difference viewing patterns make to the experience. At times I felt the story was progressing much quicker than I remembered, but when watching an episode nearly every day of course it will feel that way. Each season represented a year of station time and with 26 episodes put out weekly you're looking at at least 6 months to watch a whole season assuming no mid season breaks then a gap before the next one starts.

One of the characters referred to something that happened 1 or 2 episodes previously as being 'months ago' and that really brought home that I wasn't getting the experience of time passing that was intended.

I miss the olden days.

Since in the last year or so I’ve done stuff like Enterprise, Galactica, X-Files, Marvel-Netflix and others before jumping into Babylon 5 as well as watching new stuff as its come out I think one thing that is a huge difference is the amount of domestic time you used to spend with characters.

A lot of newer shows are all plot and all forward motion whereas those longer slower 90s shows are quite happy to drop in plenty of personality quirks and social interaction deeper than the occasional quip.

So when they do act in decisive (or divisive) ways later on we understand it or can be genuinely surprised by it because they’re rounder characters with a range of motivations and background deeper than whats immediately in front of them.

Plus you get to spend more time living in and absorbing the world of the show so you get a better feel on why you should care too.

Is Bester the best recurring character, not played by Jeffrey Combs, there is?

I think if they are proceeding with this reboot, if they are going to focus heavily on the telepath rights issue then they should introduce Byron or his equivalent as Besters' sidekick earlier on and give him a proper arc of growth and change, sort of like a Damar to Besters' Dukat, instead of retroactively inserting him into Besters' history in flashback scenes.

Speaking of which that season 5 episode guest starring

It was excellent casting against type. 

Lovely moment of comic awkwardness right near the end of season 5 when

Looks like the Freevee versions of the films aren’t remastered like the series was so its a real aspect ratio and definition lottery

Watching it all in a binge this time I quite liked it actually. But cramming in all his episodes over two days is probably a much different experience to sitting with it for a couple of months. Plus it helps the shows horizons widen back into general life in the universe again after Season 4 focus so heavily on the wars and events rather than world-building.



Crusade is the only part of B5 not on Freevee so looks I might be skipping that and going straight to Legend of the Rangers and Lost Tales. Unless someone is going to tell me its worth buying on digital.

Crusade isn't really part of B5, it's a separarate spin-off. I don't remember much about it but it wasn't very good. It got cancelled after a season so ultimately it doesn't go anywhere. I wouldn't bother if you can't stream it for free.