Poll: Babylon 5

[Batfred]

Hi all,

I have an opportunity to pick up the entire B5 Universe on DVD for a very tiny sum. The question is, is it worth it?

Forget the money, is it worth the investment of 200+ hours? 200+ hours that I could spend gaming, or on quality wife time... so that I can then spend a different 200 hours gaming?

Discuss if you like, one word answers are welcome, but please do vote as that is what I will really be looking for from however many thousand like minded folk on the Escapist.

 

[Fire Daemon]

Is it worth the investment? Yes, yes it is. One of the best Sci-Fi's ever to grave the Television by far. If you are a fan of science fiction, be it movies, novels or other TV shows than you'll be hooked on the first few episodes.

If you don't like Sci-fi than maybe it isn't your thing but maybe it will be. I showed my sister a few episodes and liked it enough to watch every episode I own without being a fan of any other science fiction material.

If you weren't a fan of science fiction I wouldn't imagine that you'd be even considering getting it so yeah, go buy it.

 

[Plinglebob]

Recently finished re-watching it and even if you're not a big fan of Sci-Fi, you should watch it anyway as it has some of the best character development in a TV series (all hail Londo Mollari!!) However, as a warning some of the additional comtent isn't very good and none of it really matches the quality of the main series.

Also, try and get your wife into it as well do you get both B5 and quality wife time. Worked with my 1st girlfriend.

 

[dududf]

Go head and give it a gander. You should buy it and make it a weekly event, also you should try to get your wife into it. Might be able to make tv time ALSO wife time. ;P

 

[jthm]

I own the series on DVD and the box set of the movies (most of which were pretty bad). I'd say buy the series, it's damned good. Pass on the movies unless you have no standards for film, a large disposable income and a need for completeness. The latter movie about the exorcism and Vir's successor to be are both pretty good by the way.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

Simply put hell's yeah though you may want to give crusade and legend of the rangers a swerve!

 

[Marlun_42]

Most definitely get it. Season 1 can be a bit of a slog, but if you stick with it, the reward is great. If you like sci-fi at all, you'll be watching entire seasons in one sitting. In my opinion, nothing has come close to the epicness of Babylon 5 until maybe the new BSG. The SFX do look dated, but remember, this was the early-mid 90s so it can be forgiven.

The movies aren't necessary for the story, but they are a good watch.

 

[Underdark_jester]

I'll quit lurking for a second to toss my two cents.

Yes, yes oh god yes! It's an amazing show, really well designed, very well put together. Almost all of the characters really are 3 dimensional, and there are little things that knit together to make the show amazing. Like a giant fuzzy blanket, or socks that keep your feet warm while gaming. And the quotes from the series are priceless.

Especially if your picked them up on the cheap, even if you don't like them for some reason, you really are guaranteed to sell them to someone.

Watching them while drinking was my favorite pass time the past 3 years. Still is in fact.

 

[ShadowKatt]

In my opinion, it was the best sci-fi series to have ever grace television. It was the only one to ever really interest and even move me. The characters are pretty two dimensional in the beginning, but they grow in so many ways throughout the series they gain so much depth you almost fall right into them.

Definitely worth it.

 

[tkioz]

Babylon 5 is one of the best Sci-Fi series ever made. I highly recommend watching them.

If you do watch them, find a recommended watching order before hand, do not just watch them as they come in the box, for example "In the Beginning" spoils a lot of the first three seasons if you watch it first, Thirdspace falls in between the middle of Season 4(IIRC)... err the other ones aren't really worth watching IMO, and Season 5 is pretty piss poor mainly due to the fact they weren't sure if they were going to get a 5th season so the planned 5th season was the second half of season 4.

But really, "GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR GALAXY" is reason enough to watch them.

 

[Batfred]

Babylon 5 is one of the best Sci-Fi series ever made. I highly recommend watching them.

If you do watch them, find a recommended watching order before hand, do not just watch them as they come in the box, for example "In the Beginning" spoils a lot of the first three seasons if you watch it first, Thirdspace falls in between the middle of Season 4(IIRC)... err the other ones aren't really worth watching IMO, and Season 5 is pretty piss poor mainly due to the fact they weren't sure if they were going to get a 5th season so the planned 5th season was the second half of season 4.

But really, "GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR GALAXY" is reason enough to watch them.

Thanks for the advice. I found this viewing order [http://en.allexperts.com/q/Babylon-5-1098/Babylon-5-Viewing-order.htm] as I had heard the same.

Liking the positive advice so far guys and it's looking like a few quid may be leaving my account if the poll stays like this.

As for getting getting my wife to watch it with me... Ha ha ha ha ha ha. That was brilliant. No seriously, it isn't reality TV, so it isn't going to happen. Nice try though and a really optimistic idea.

 

[Batfred]

I liked Space:Above and Beyond.

Chiggy von Richtofen [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chigs#Chigs_of_Note]: possibly one of the best "named" bad guys of all time. Classic!

 

[Gildan Bladeborn]

Liking the positive advice so far guys and it's looking like a few quid may be leaving my account if the poll stays like this.

As for getting getting my wife to watch it with me... Ha ha ha ha ha ha. That was brilliant. No seriously, it isn't reality TV, so it isn't going to happen. Nice try though and a really optimistic idea.

Chiming in to emphasize that the television series are excellent (and Season 5 isn't terrible at all). I've only ever watched the first of the movies though, so I can't say much about their overall quality.

Also I wouldn't write off getting the wife involved - I got my mother to watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel, and reality TV is the bulk of what she ordinarily watches. Play up the drama angle!

 

[cleverlymadeup]

yes it's an awesome show and you should watch it all. it's a great series and probly one of my most favorite tv shows ever. the only downside is it takes a season or two to really pick up

 

[TheMatt]

Hooray for Vorlons*

how the hell do you spell Vorlon?

Anyway, hooray for them.

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

I actually looked it up on play.com and found they have the complete box set including all the films and crusade for £65 methinks that may get itself purchased in the near furure.

 

[Asturiel]

My sister has been watching it behind me as I post on the escapist. To be honest it seems like a great show and all the praise here is only making that fact more emmenent so get the series!