BABYLON 5 REMASTERED: A Retrospective and Rewatch Thread!

[DKDetective]

I'm comin' for you later today. That funny taste you get in your mouth will be my dust.

 

[InCali]

I finished through "Parliament of Dreams" last night, so I guess I have taken the lead from @InCali, which means that tonight, I get to start with "Mind War" and the introduction of the first to appear of B5's many love-to-hate, incredibly well-written antagonists:

Walter Koenig as Psi Cop Alfred Bester.
Such a grade A, top tier bastard.

If that’s the one after infection that is where I stopped too.

 

[DKDetective]

If that’s the one after infection that is where I stopped too.

Yeah, with the cultural exchange festival...

 

[InCali]

I’m mowin through them.

 

[InCali]

Me no like Mr. Chekov no more.

 

[DKDetective]

Me no like Mr. Chekov no more.

He is sooooo good as Bester, eh?

 

[DKDetective]

So @InCali, how far did you get last night? I'm afraid I fell behind because some work stuff came up...

 

[InCali]

So @InCali, how far did you get last night? I'm afraid I fell behind because some work stuff came up...

Only episode 14 LOL. Does that dust have sort of a soy sauce/garlicy/chili flavor? I had a couple slices of beef jerky while I was watching?

 

[InCali]

I'm at a bit of a disadvantage because I'm looking after my mother and she really likes it so I have to wait until she gets up before I can watch episodes (she's a night owl and sleeps late). @flickchick85 wouldn't have a chance except for the fact that I'm a good son.

 

[DKDetective]

Only episode 14 LOL. Does that dust have sort of a soy sauce/garlicy/chili flavor? I had a couple slices of beef jerky while I was watching?

Oooooooo, so you have seen "And the Sky Full of Stars" and "Signs and Portents"...

Spoiler: For Signs and Portents

So what do you think about the introduction of Mr. Morden and his "associates"?

And Sinclair's "hole in [his] mind"...

 

[InCali]

Oooooooo, so you have seen "And the Sky Full of Stars" and "Signs and Portents"...

Spoiler: For Signs and Portents

So what do you think about the introduction of Mr. Morden and his "associates"?

And Sinclair's "hole in [his] mind"...

I think it's starting to get really good.

Spoiler

We got a glimpse of the main baddies and Mr. Morden returning the eye told me all I needed to know. I think they introduced the Shadows just right. A quick peek with more to come. I love their ship. All spidery and evil. As far as Sinclair, he's obviously a pivotal character (duh....he's the star), but I wonder how his role was changed for the future after season 1. They clearly can't cut him out completely and you said he returns in the future for awhile. I'm guessing they would have taken a slightly different approach if they were to have kept him? Was it ever discussed? It's pretty clear the Minbari saved him for a reason. Probably they knew he'd play a pivotal role in the future and if he died, it would have screwed things up for everyone. They have people who can sorta see into the future.

 

[DKDetective]

I think it's starting to get really good.

Spoiler

We got a glimpse of the main baddies and Mr. Morden returning the eye told me all I needed to know. I think they introduced the Shadows just right. A quick peek with more to come. I love their ship. All spidery and evil. As far as Sinclair, he's obviously a pivotal character (duh....he's the star), but I wonder how his role was changed for the future after season 1. They clearly can't cut him out completely and you said he returns in the future for awhile. I'm guessing they would have taken a slightly different approach if they were to have kept him? Was it ever discussed? It's pretty clear the Minbari saved him for a reason. Probably they knew he'd play a pivotal role in the future and if he died, it would have screwed things up for everyone. They have people who can sorta see into the future.

Yeah, too bad you stopped with TKO, which is one of the weakest, silliest episodes, at least with the A plot. The B plot with Ivanova is great.

Spoiler

Yeah, I love the intro of the Shadows. Despite the first season's flaw, the intros for both Bester and Morden are pitch perfect. I always wondered why JMS was so amazing at writing the villains on the show. His recent autobiography, Becoming Superman, finally provided the answer. I guess his father was a real abusive, alcoholic piece of work and I guess that gave him such tremendous insight into the darkness of human beings and evil.

Yeah, the Shadow ships are so cool. And another great example of how everything is layered is how the silly episode Infection actually functions as an introduction to the idea of living machines and organic technology used by the most advanced races.

Also, gotta love Kosh's implied dust-up with Morden and his associates. He is just so badass. (Perhaps we should call him Gandalf the Green. ) Like in the Deathwalker episode, where everyone is fighting about who gets her immortality serum and the Vorlon's just come in and blow her up because the other races aren't ready for immortality.

The original plan for Sinclair and the plot was revealed in the B5 script books that JMS released a few years back. Very interesting. Although necessity is the mother of invention and I will always love how things turned out.

 

[InCali]

Yeah, too bad you stopped with TKO, which is one of the weakest, silliest episodes, at least with the A plot. The B plot with Ivanova is great.

Spoiler

Yeah, I love the intro of the Shadows. Despite the first season's flaw, the intros for both Bester and Morden are pitch perfect. I always wondered why JMS was so amazing at writing the villains on the show. His recent autobiography, Becoming Superman, finally provided the answer. I guess his father was a real abusive, alcoholic piece of work and I guess that gave him such tremendous insight into the darkness of human beings and evil.

Yeah, the Shadow ships are so cool. And another great example of how everything is layered is how the silly episode Infection actually functions as an introduction to the idea of living machines and organic technology used by the most advanced races.

Also, gotta love Kosh's implied dust-up with Morden and his associates. He is just so badass. (Perhaps we should call him Gandalf the Green. ) Like in the Deathwalker episode, where everyone is fighting about who gets her immortality serum and the Vorlon's just come in and blow her up because the other races aren't ready for immortality.

I actually got "to" it, but turned it off and went to sleep about 5 minutes in. I'll watch it though....

 

[DKDetective]

I'm currently on "The War Prayer" and its xenophobia and human supremacist plotline feels way too close to home and real right now with the chants of "Earth First" and "Go Home".

 

[InCali]

The HBO Max and Wiki show lineups don't match up. Wiki says Quality of Mercy is 21, but I've already seen it. I just finished the 2 parter towards the end of S1 and think I just have Babylon Squared and Chrysalis left. I think Max isn't showing at least some of the episodes in S1 in the same order they were released. I'm guessing it's not a big deal as even with the overarching theme, the stories function just fine as standalones as long as you're familiar with the characters. So.....starting Ep 21 on the HBO Max list.

 

[DKDetective]

The HBO Max and Wiki show lineups don't match up. Wiki says Quality of Mercy is 21, but I've already seen it. I just finished the 2 parter towards the end of S1 and think I just have Babylon Squared and Chrysalis left. I think Max isn't showing at least some of the episodes in S1 in the same order they were released. I'm guessing it's not a big deal as even with the overarching theme, the stories function just fine as standalones as long as you're familiar with the characters. So.....starting Ep 21 on the HBO Max list.

Very interesting.... See @moviefreak's watch order quoted below, is that the order they have the episodes in?

The Gathering (Movie / Babylon 5 Pilot)

--------------------------
Babylon 5: Season One
--------------------------
Midnight on the Firing Line
Soul Hunter
Born to the Purple
Infection
The Parliament of Dreams
Mind War
The War Prayer
And The Sky Full Of Stars
Deathwalker
Believers
Survivors
By Any Means Necessary
Signs and Portents
Grail
Eyes
A Voice in the Wilderness - Part 1
A Voice in the Wilderness - Part 2
Babylon Squared
The Quality of Mercy
TKO
Legacies
Chrysalis

I understand a few episodes were technically aired out of the order that JMS intended them in the first couple seasons. It was not a big deal and I personally stick to the broadcast order, which is how my iTunes version has them anyways.

Have you watched Babylon Squared yet? (which is the broadcast episode 20) I was going to warn you that there is an error and the last two minutes of the episode are missing. I'm trying to find them for you online. There is some important foreshadowing in the last couple scenes. The fans are trying to bring it to WB's attention.

 

[InCali]

Very interesting.... See @moviefreak's watch order quoted below, is that the order they have the episodes in?


I understand a few episodes were technically aired out of the order that JMS intended them in the first couple seasons. It was not a big deal and I personally stick to the broadcast order, which is how my iTunes version has them anyways.

Have you watched Babylon Squared yet? (which is the broadcast episode 20) I was going to warn you that there is an error and the last two minutes of the episode are missing. I'm trying to find them for you online. There is some important foreshadowing in the last couple scenes. The fans are trying to bring it to WB's attention.

LOL.....now I've got THREE different orders!!!! That doesn't match the WIKI order either. Ultimately, I don't think it's going to matter and I'll just watch them in the HBO Max order because if I don't, I could get confused and miss an episode. So far, they've only misordered the ones that don't matter and are single stories (TKO and The Quality of Mercy for example). The latter could have been done an episode earlier, but not a big deal.

I think I just have Babylon Squared and Chrysalis left. I should be a fair way into S2 by the time I knock out tonight.

 

[DKDetective]

LOL.....now I've got THREE different orders!!!! That doesn't match the WIKI order either. Ultimately, I don't think it's going to matter and I'll just watch them in the HBO Max order because if I don't, I could get confused and miss an episode. So far, they've only misordered the ones that don't matter and are single stories (TKO and The Quality of Mercy for example). The latter could have been done an episode earlier, but not a big deal.

I think I just have Babylon Squared and Chrysalis left. I should be a fair way into S2 by the time I knock out tonight.

Yeah, just make sure the season 3 onwards episode order is correct because if they have screwed that up, **** will get weird.

If I CANNOT FIND THE MISSING SCENES ON YOUTUBE, HERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THEM FOR ALL OF YOU:

Spoiler: Babylon Squared Missing Scenes from HBO MAX

The two scenes missing from the end of Babylon Squared are:

1. As Delenn leaves the Grey Council ship she’s stopped by her friend on the Council. She pessimistically thinks she will never see the Grey Council chamber again, he is not so sure. He gives her a triangular artifact called a “triluminary” and tells her if she is right, she will have need of it. They say goodbye and she leaves.
   
   
2. Sinclair returns to B5 and is greeted by Ivanova. He confirms what she’s heard about the mission to B4 and she’s disappointed to have missed it. Sinclair tells her not to be so sure - they don’t know to what time B4 has traveled. Sinclair explains Garibaldi’s earlier reference to The Flying Dutchman, wistfully noting that that ship never found its way home...
   

 

[InCali]

Yeah, just make sure the season 3 onwards episode order is correct because if they have screwed that up, **** will get weird.

If I CANNOT FIND THE MISSING SCENES ON YOUTUBE, HERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF THEM FOR ALL OF YOU:

Spoiler: Babylon Squared Missing Scenes from HBO MAX

The two scenes missing from the end of Babylon Squared are:

1. As Delenn leaves the Grey Council ship she’s stopped by her friend on the Council. She pessimistically thinks she will never see the Grey Council chamber again, he is not so sure. He gives her a triangular artifact called a “triluminary” and tells her if she is right, she will have need of it. They say goodbye and she leaves.
   
   
2. Sinclair returns to B5 and is greeted by Ivanova. He confirms what she’s heard about the mission to B4 and she’s disappointed to have missed it. Sinclair tells her not to be so sure - they don’t know to what time B4 has traveled. Sinclair explains Garibaldi’s earlier reference to The Flying Dutchman, wistfully noting that that ship never found its way home...

Now Im' getting seriously pissed off. I'll read them after I see the episode.

 

[DKDetective]

Now Im' getting seriously pissed off. I'll read them after I see the episode.

Don't be. I checked the B5 subreddit, and this is what the experts say about the run order:

I'm the last person to ask for a short answer on the Season One episode order (see here for the long answer...)

But if I resist the long answer: the short answer is the Season 1 order on HBO Max is fine and actually a slight improvement on the DVDs.

The only change really needed for HBO Max is Season Two episodes 19 & 20: the correct order is Divided Loyalties then The Long Twilight Struggle - they are apparently flipped the wrong way on HBO Max.

 

[InCali]

Don't be. I checked the B5 subreddit, and this is what the experts say about the run order:

I was talking about the deleted scenes in Babylon Squared....grrrrrrr......

 

[DKDetective]

I was talking about the deleted scenes in Babylon Squared....grrrrrrr......

Yeah, it's a pain, but hopefully should be fixed soon. They aren't a huge deal. Reading into the run order issue, the removal of the one may be intentional because it can be considered a continuity error (that arose from production shuffles, etc.)

 

[InCali]

Yeah, it's a pain, but hopefully should be fixed soon. They aren't a huge deal. Reading into the run order issue, the removal of the one may be intentional because it can be considered a continuity error (that arose from production shuffles, etc.)

OK. You've calmed me down.....good job. LOL.

I'll take most of this to the kitchen thread, but I put more jerky into the oven just now and will post pictures that should show the technique I use better than the first round. I'm sure @MissMarvelous87 will be very disappointed that the cow isn't still mooing....

 

[MissMarvelous]

Of course I'm disappointed, @InCali !

That's not how you're supposed to eat meat now... Why would you?!?!?!

 

[InCali]

Of course I'm disappointed, @InCali !

That's not how you're supposed to eat meat now... Why would you?!?!?!

Get your bare feet back into the Kitchen thread where they belong!!!! This is the manly "Babylon 5" thread!!! (Ducks and runs for cover in the most manly way possible).