Best B5 episode - Page 3 - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Gilraen · 22nd February 2001, 10:19 AM

Love a Call To Arms every time I see it Im on the edge of the seat bitin me nails. (sad i know, as if I didnt know what was goin to happen already, tut)

Rowan · 23rd February 2001, 03:09 PM

I understand. The mark of a well writing story, no matter the medium it's presented in, is the way it can still grab you even though you know where it's going.

And within the episodes, so many scenes that clutch at your throat:

Londo standing at the view port watching the bombing of Narn.

Delenn on the bridge of the White Star telling the attaching Earth fleet that they should leave. Now.

Sheridan and Lorien when JOhn realizes that Lorien *is* the First One and the prive he'll have to pay for those he loves. "Is there anything worth living for?"

Ivanova in Med Lab with Franklin just after Marcus dies.

Bester talking to his lover in her stasis chamber in Med Lab.

Marcus and Dukat's duel with pikes.

The list goes on and on ...

Gilraen · 24th February 2001, 04:11 AM

All of those moments are what makes B5 great. I love the fact that you can watch the ones youve seen millions of times but they still bring the same emotions. That is definately the mark of a brilliant writer.

CYA

Rowan · 24th February 2001, 04:46 PM

Like 'Reboo and Zooty' in "Day of the Dead'. Or the young Teep in 'The Corps Is Mother...". That was just on last night and always chills me with it's ending.

Faith Manages.

Mellian · 23rd March 2001, 02:49 PM

Favorite episode? That is a difficult one, it would be easier to pick the handful I didn't care for that to pick the one episode, or even one for each season I really liked.

Here goes, "Severed Dreams" would definetly have to be near the top. Loved the way Delenn came out in the nick of time and her response to the attackers. Then there is the episode where they free earth. Never forget the Agemmenon taking out that defense platform.

On the lighter side there was Bo and Mack. That was a great episode, a chance to see things on the station from a working class perspective.

As for movies, loved Call to Arms, and IN the Beginning. River of souls was okay but I wasn't a big fan of Thirdspace.

As to Crusade, I think the show had a lot of potential. For those who didn't care for it remember the episodes where shown out of order, TNT kept interfering with the way JMS wanted it and the first season of any show is one of the main one for the characters to be built. Rewatching the first B5 episodes then the last ones you can see the change in the developent in characters. A change which never had a chance to develop in Crusade. I think if JMS had been left alone to do it the way he wanted and Crusade had been given a chance it would have been right up there with B5.

Starling · 23rd March 2001, 08:13 PM

Don't forget the reason why everyone started watching the first season, the quality of the effects, the first episodes made you stand up and take notice of them! The link between human and Minbari souls and history. How each episode linked to the next. The writers had a vision of the whole season, and every proceding season.

starling

Mellian · 24th March 2001, 07:48 AM

That's right. It is that story line or arc which really made the series. B5 is one of the most consistent shows out there. So many others are riddled with inconsistencies, Star Trek for example.

Of course the special effects helped. I didn't start watching it until mid-way through the second season. At the time I was hooked on Star Trek and the local channels showed them opposite each other. I actually stumbled onto it on a Sunday afternoon when the channel showed an episode then for a change. It was the episode where the person from earth is asking all the ambassadors if they have ever seen this ship (the shadow ship) and I've been hooked ever since.

ponyperson · 24th March 2001, 03:45 PM

Watching the first season right now on Sci-fi, its amazing how the writers really knew how the story was going to play out.. there's so much now that was done to lead up to the final season and the wars...unlike any other tv series, the story arc to this show flowed so smoothly..

markpud · 26th March 2001, 01:18 PM

yeah I totally agree with you there Ponyperson... the strength of the story, and the skill of the arc are some of the best features of B5

Mellian · 26th March 2001, 07:20 PM

They definetly are and I have been enjoying rewatching the episodes for the umpteenth time (lost count quite a while ago).

It is a shame that more shows don't employ a type of story line or arc. Some have tried it but not with the success of B5.

markpud · 27th March 2001, 12:03 PM

thats true. They did some arcing in DS9 when they lost control of the station, and the war situation, but it wasn't anywhere near as complex as the stuff pulled of by B5. The whole B4-Sinclair-Delenn thing was pretty complicated...

Gilraen · 27th March 2001, 03:04 PM

The B5 story-arcs were all the work of one man. And it shows.
DS9 kinda lost their way when they tried to compete with B5 it probably had something to do with the amount of different writers they have.

Mellian · 27th March 2001, 07:03 PM

It certainly made a difference with most of the stories being written by one person. Even the stories he didn't write do not contradict his story and ar.

sumoner · 8th June 2001, 08:28 AM

Thats because JMS had his hand in in even when he didnt write the story..He always had final aprooval.
Sorry for butting in but I just loved B5

Mellian · 8th June 2001, 08:39 AM

That's okay, feel free to but in anytime. B5 is my favorite show and we always welcome comments. In fact be nice to have some more conversaction in this forum about the show.

23rd February 2001, 03:09 PM	#32 (permalink)
Rowan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In the wilds of Puget Sound. Near Seth and Cascade, WA. Posts: 2,480	Episodes I understand. The mark of a well writing story, no matter the medium it's presented in, is the way it can still grab you even though you know where it's going. And within the episodes, so many scenes that clutch at your throat: Londo standing at the view port watching the bombing of Narn. Delenn on the bridge of the White Star telling the attaching Earth fleet that they should leave. Now. Sheridan and Lorien when JOhn realizes that Lorien is the First One and the prive he'll have to pay for those he loves. "Is there anything worth living for?" Ivanova in Med Lab with Franklin just after Marcus dies. Bester talking to his lover in her stasis chamber in Med Lab. Marcus and Dukat's duel with pikes. The list goes on and on ...

24th February 2001, 04:46 PM	#34 (permalink)
Rowan Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In the wilds of Puget Sound. Near Seth and Cascade, WA. Posts: 2,480	Moments ... Like 'Reboo and Zooty' in "Day of the Dead'. Or the young Teep in 'The Corps Is Mother...". That was just on last night and always chills me with it's ending. Faith Manages.

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22nd February 2001, 10:19 AM	#31 (permalink)
Gilraen Logan`s Lovebird Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: A small Tibetan monastary somewhere high in the Himalayas Posts: 187	Love a Call To Arms every time I see it Im on the edge of the seat bitin me nails. (sad i know, as if I didnt know what was goin to happen already, tut)

24th February 2001, 04:11 AM	#33 (permalink)
Gilraen Logan`s Lovebird Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: A small Tibetan monastary somewhere high in the Himalayas Posts: 187	All of those moments are what makes B5 great. I love the fact that you can watch the ones youve seen millions of times but they still bring the same emotions. That is definately the mark of a brilliant writer. CYA

23rd March 2001, 02:49 PM	#35 (permalink)
Mellian Sothoii war maid Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corning, New York, USA Posts: 597	Favorite episode? That is a difficult one, it would be easier to pick the handful I didn't care for that to pick the one episode, or even one for each season I really liked. Here goes, "Severed Dreams" would definetly have to be near the top. Loved the way Delenn came out in the nick of time and her response to the attackers. Then there is the episode where they free earth. Never forget the Agemmenon taking out that defense platform. On the lighter side there was Bo and Mack. That was a great episode, a chance to see things on the station from a working class perspective. As for movies, loved Call to Arms, and IN the Beginning. River of souls was okay but I wasn't a big fan of Thirdspace. As to Crusade, I think the show had a lot of potential. For those who didn't care for it remember the episodes where shown out of order, TNT kept interfering with the way JMS wanted it and the first season of any show is one of the main one for the characters to be built. Rewatching the first B5 episodes then the last ones you can see the change in the developent in characters. A change which never had a chance to develop in Crusade. I think if JMS had been left alone to do it the way he wanted and Crusade had been given a chance it would have been right up there with B5.

23rd March 2001, 08:13 PM	#36 (permalink)
Starling A glass of Ciannti..mmm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Robbie's love shack, Jack's love shack & Scotland Posts: 625	Don't forget the reason why everyone started watching the first season, the quality of the effects, the first episodes made you stand up and take notice of them! The link between human and Minbari souls and history. How each episode linked to the next. The writers had a vision of the whole season, and every proceding season. starling

24th March 2001, 07:48 AM	#37 (permalink)
Mellian Sothoii war maid Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corning, New York, USA Posts: 597	That's right. It is that story line or arc which really made the series. B5 is one of the most consistent shows out there. So many others are riddled with inconsistencies, Star Trek for example. Of course the special effects helped. I didn't start watching it until mid-way through the second season. At the time I was hooked on Star Trek and the local channels showed them opposite each other. I actually stumbled onto it on a Sunday afternoon when the channel showed an episode then for a change. It was the episode where the person from earth is asking all the ambassadors if they have ever seen this ship (the shadow ship) and I've been hooked ever since.

24th March 2001, 03:45 PM	#38 (permalink)
ponyperson Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 93	Watching the first season right now on Sci-fi, its amazing how the writers really knew how the story was going to play out.. there's so much now that was done to lead up to the final season and the wars...unlike any other tv series, the story arc to this show flowed so smoothly..

26th March 2001, 01:18 PM	#39 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	yeah I totally agree with you there Ponyperson... the strength of the story, and the skill of the arc are some of the best features of B5

26th March 2001, 07:20 PM	#40 (permalink)
Mellian Sothoii war maid Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corning, New York, USA Posts: 597	They definetly are and I have been enjoying rewatching the episodes for the umpteenth time (lost count quite a while ago). It is a shame that more shows don't employ a type of story line or arc. Some have tried it but not with the success of B5.

27th March 2001, 12:03 PM	#41 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	thats true. They did some arcing in DS9 when they lost control of the station, and the war situation, but it wasn't anywhere near as complex as the stuff pulled of by B5. The whole B4-Sinclair-Delenn thing was pretty complicated...

27th March 2001, 03:04 PM	#42 (permalink)
Gilraen Logan`s Lovebird Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: A small Tibetan monastary somewhere high in the Himalayas Posts: 187	The B5 story-arcs were all the work of one man. And it shows. DS9 kinda lost their way when they tried to compete with B5 it probably had something to do with the amount of different writers they have.

27th March 2001, 07:03 PM	#43 (permalink)
Mellian Sothoii war maid Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corning, New York, USA Posts: 597	It certainly made a difference with most of the stories being written by one person. Even the stories he didn't write do not contradict his story and ar.

8th June 2001, 08:28 AM	#44 (permalink)
sumoner Insanity's Guide Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 272	Thats because JMS had his hand in in even when he didnt write the story..He always had final aprooval. Sorry for butting in but I just loved B5

8th June 2001, 08:39 AM	#45 (permalink)
Mellian Sothoii war maid Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corning, New York, USA Posts: 597	That's okay, feel free to but in anytime. B5 is my favorite show and we always welcome comments. In fact be nice to have some more conversaction in this forum about the show.