Babylon 5

Wossi · 23-07-2008, 09:53

Finally finished all 5 seasons of Babylon 5 the other day and I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a tear during the final episode when

Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read!

when the station was finally destroyed as it wasn't needed and Sheridan went off to die

End Spoiler Alert!

Just need to finish off watching Crusade, which is annoying as the episodes are all over the place, then 2 more films and I'm done.

Mark · 23-07-2008, 11:11

Awww.

petemc · 23-07-2008, 11:31

Pretty much the best final episode of show. Great because they filmed it in S4 so Ivonova was still contracted to do it. There was some stupid issue with her contract and she wasn't in S5. No matter how many times I rewatch the entire show I always skip the final episode because I'm too much of a girl to watch it. I haven't seen it in years and I really want to watch it with the directors commentary because I've heard that it was all done on the fly by JMS. It was his first time rewatching it since it aired or something so it could be very interesting to listen to.

Del Lardo · 23-07-2008, 12:01

Does anyone have a "copy" of B5 that they can share? Really enjoyed it when it was on TV but lost track towards the end of S3 and never finished watching it.

Mark · 23-07-2008, 13:39

A few of us have 'legit' boxsets (some paid for, some not

).

Pete, I agree. Most leave their series open-ended in some vain hope of later fulfilment. B5 was different - when it was over, you knew it was over. Sure, some of the characters continued to other B5 spin-offs, films, etc., but not B5 itself. That was gone - no questions and no loose ends. Well done to JMS for having the courage to pull that off.

leowyatt · 23-07-2008, 13:42

The thing is though, JMS always had the 5-year arc planned out. For me the big shame was having to film your series finale an entire season too soon.

petemc · 23-07-2008, 14:25

Ah but due to B5's constant 11th hour renewal the 5 year arc was squished into 4. S5 was like "Oh, *now* you want a 5th season?" The finale works imho because that was the finale he had planned from the start. I would guess that even if he had filmed it at the end of S5 it would be exactly as it was. I've always wanted to buy the original B5 bible. Its got notes and everything written by JMS in. Theres a whole host of changes to how the show actually aired.

leowyatt · 23-07-2008, 14:41

I know they suddenly found out that there was a 5th season which to me was very poor. Admittedly it made season 4 absolutely amazing but I thought the 5th suffered dreadfully because of it.

petemc · 23-07-2008, 14:47

Totally. I think the idea was to stretch out the Shadow war over s4 and the Earth war over S5. First half of s5 was a bit boring really. The 2nd half was much better and classic B5. Nicely showing what happened with Londo, which was pretty heart breaking and what happened with Garabaldi too. I seem to recall that G'kar's storyline in s5 was inspired by what was happening to JMS.

Mark · 23-07-2008, 14:48

Undeniably true. You have the TV execs to thank for that blunder - as ever.

23-07-2008, 09:53	#1
Wossi Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the middle Posts: 1,385	Babylon 5 Finally finished all 5 seasons of Babylon 5 the other day and I'm not ashamed to admit that I shed a tear during the final episode when Spoiler Alert! - Highlight below to read! when the station was finally destroyed as it wasn't needed and Sheridan went off to die End Spoiler Alert! Just need to finish off watching Crusade, which is annoying as the episodes are all over the place, then 2 more films and I'm done.

23-07-2008, 11:31	#3
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Pretty much the best final episode of show. Great because they filmed it in S4 so Ivonova was still contracted to do it. There was some stupid issue with her contract and she wasn't in S5. No matter how many times I rewatch the entire show I always skip the final episode because I'm too much of a girl to watch it. I haven't seen it in years and I really want to watch it with the directors commentary because I've heard that it was all done on the fly by JMS. It was his first time rewatching it since it aired or something so it could be very interesting to listen to. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

23-07-2008, 13:42	#6
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	The thing is though, JMS always had the 5-year arc planned out. For me the big shame was having to film your series finale an entire season too soon. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

23-07-2008, 14:25	#7
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Ah but due to B5's constant 11th hour renewal the 5 year arc was squished into 4. S5 was like "Oh, now you want a 5th season?" The finale works imho because that was the finale he had planned from the start. I would guess that even if he had filmed it at the end of S5 it would be exactly as it was. I've always wanted to buy the original B5 bible. Its got notes and everything written by JMS in. Theres a whole host of changes to how the show actually aired. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

23-07-2008, 14:41	#8
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	I know they suddenly found out that there was a 5th season which to me was very poor. Admittedly it made season 4 absolutely amazing but I thought the 5th suffered dreadfully because of it. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

23-07-2008, 11:11	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Awww.

23-07-2008, 12:01	#4
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Does anyone have a "copy" of B5 that they can share? Really enjoyed it when it was on TV but lost track towards the end of S3 and never finished watching it.

23-07-2008, 13:39	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	A few of us have 'legit' boxsets (some paid for, some not ). Pete, I agree. Most leave their series open-ended in some vain hope of later fulfilment. B5 was different - when it was over, you knew it was over. Sure, some of the characters continued to other B5 spin-offs, films, etc., but not B5 itself. That was gone - no questions and no loose ends. Well done to JMS for having the courage to pull that off.

23-07-2008, 14:47	#9
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Totally. I think the idea was to stretch out the Shadow war over s4 and the Earth war over S5. First half of s5 was a bit boring really. The 2nd half was much better and classic B5. Nicely showing what happened with Londo, which was pretty heart breaking and what happened with Garabaldi too. I seem to recall that G'kar's storyline in s5 was inspired by what was happening to JMS. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

23-07-2008, 14:48	#10
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Undeniably true. You have the TV execs to thank for that blunder - as ever.

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