Babylon 5: the Last True Space Opera?

[Slide]

They should make the Foundation series or the Culture into a space opera, that would be almost as incomprehensible as the attempts at doing Dune.

[Velk]

I just watched the first two episodes, and damn, you don't see acting like that these days...

The commander's hamminess would make william shatner embarrassed on his behalf. I swear his normal speaking voice appears to be that of a voiceover guy on a fox conspiracy special.

[Overgauss]

Speaking of space operas, I just got hooked up with Legend of the Galatic Heroes and am getting Crest/Banner of the Stars this week.

Also the beauty of B5 is that despite the obvious cheese factor of the sets and hamminess of the actors the script shines like a star in the night. You know imo and such.

[Lyenae]

Originally Posted by Velk

I just watched the first two episodes, and damn, you don't see acting like that these days....

The first season sucks =/

[Lefazz]

Rise from your grave!

I recently started re-watching Bab5 and totally agree with the OP. Such a great, great series and it's a shame that there will probably never be a sci-fi series like this again.

Seriously, for ANY of you who have never watched Babylon 5 in it's entirety, you have truly missed out on something special. I realize the first season isn't that great....but good God...by the middle of season 2 when the shit starts hitting the fan, I guarantee you'll be utterly hooked.

[Faille]

so glad that I own the dvd's since I almost always get the urge to rewatch the series every year or 2.

[spronk]

farscape imo is a series that evolved into grand space opera as well, most of the show was decent scifi craziness but the last season and the movie really turned into grand space opera with thousands of ships and the fate of the galaxy type stuff. If you liked B5 I think you'd like Farscape.

btw how is the last B5 movie, I haven't watched it yet but have it on my dvd shelf. came out late last year or this year i think, heard it sucked real bad

[FulorianC]

It wasn't the vibrant, active B5 world you would expect. It's two movies that literally give 95% of the screentime to two characters apiece, and just feels so empty. There's no extras milling around, there's no supporting actors, it's like two episodes of the Twilight Zone set in Babylon 5's universe.

[Saban]

Started downloading the series, watching season 1 now.

[FulorianC]

Just make sure you tell yourself 'Season 2 will make this all worthwhile'. Don't get discouraged and quit just because Season 1 was kinda boring and low budget.

[Rhuobhe]

like most sci-fi series. The first season or two look nothing like the later seasons.

B5 was a great series indeed. I started watching it a little late tho but eventually got caught up. I think I started to get hooked when B5 defects and has an awesome battle against earth alliance.

I am not sure if anyone mentioned this earlier but B5 is basically Lord of the Rings in space. They used a lot of themes from tolkien.

[Chanur]

Londo is my hands down favorite character. I loved this show in the 90's and still do today.

[spronk]

one of the blogs I read weekly: Darth Mojo

Its one of the guys who was a fx/visuals guys on B5, Voyager, and now BSG. He has some great older articles (just click the SciFi link on the right) on B5 sets and nice mini essays on construction or fx and other behind-the-scenes stuff. Its really fun stuff to read.

Also read his blog entry on the Blade Runner charity night a few weeks ago, was very interesting stuff. 10 people won a charity auction afterwards for a backstage tour, and funnily enough 3 of the 10 posted their thoughts on his blog! small (nerd) world.