As a Sci-Fi fan I’ve been a huge fan of shows like Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, Terminator: TSCC, Star Trek, etc. I keep hearing Babylon 5 is awesome.

I was too young at the time to watch the series when it was on. But then as an older teen/ young adult I decided to give it a try. Everything was so cringe it was hard to get through 3 episodes. IMO the whole vibe was “safe…” maybe even a bit corny–not the intense, exciting, politically-tense space opera that I was told it was.

So maybe the beginning episodes are just world-building? What do other people think?

  • @Voroxpete
    11•8 months ago

    Look up a “necessary episodes only” watch list.

    Babylon 5 is excellent… eventually. Most of season 1 is supremely skippable, and much of it absolutely should be skipped. Season 2 gets a lot better, and by season 3 you’ll be watching every episode.

    • Blackout
      4•8 months ago

      This was the list I found. I will give it a chance too.

      Story Arc essential ones

      Midnight on the Firing Line
Soul Hunter
And the Sky Full of Stars
Survivors
Signs and Portents
A Voice in the Wilderness
Babylon Squared
The Quality of Mercy
Chrysalis
      • @Voroxpete
        4•8 months ago

        I managed to dig up the list I used when I was rewatching it with my wife.

        • 1.01 Midnight on The Firing Line

        • 1.06 Mind War

        • 1.08 And The Sky Full of Stars

        • 1.13 Signs And Portents

        • 1.18 A Voice In The Wilderness (1)

        • 1.19 A Voice In The Wilderness (2)

        • 1.20 Babylon Squared

        • 1.22 Chrysalis

        • 2.01 Points of Departure

        • 2.02 Revelations

        • 2.08 A Race Through Dark Places

        • 2.09 The Coming of Shadows

        • 2.13 Hunter Prey

        • 2.15 And Now For A Word

        • 2.16 In The Shadow of Z’ha’dum

        • 2.19 Divided Loyalties

        • 2.20 The Long, Twilight Struggle

        • 2.22 The Fall of Night

        Personally I would very much skip Soul Hunter. It’s a bad episode, and it’s plot relevance is only for one of the movies. I’m also really not convinced that Survivors is strictly necessary. I guess on that one I’d say give it ten minutes, and if you’re not digging it then skip.

        From Season 3 through season 4 just watch every episode, it’s a really solid show by that point. Season 5 is basically a coda. Watch or skip based on how you’re feeling by that point. The main plot functionally resolves at the end of season 4 because of network fuckery.

    • YaksDC
      1•8 months ago

      I didn’t really enjoy the episodes/season dealing with the Earth separatists. Much rather have earth - alien conflict.

      Loved me some Londo.