Babylon 5's first season.
In 1991, I read (and took place in) on-line debates about the upcoming Star Trek series Deep Space Nine and some new show that was rumored to be in production. The synopses and initial concepts for both shows were circulating through UseNet, and were rather similar. Longtime Trek fans said, dismissively, “This new thing is just ripping off the plot from a Trek series. It’ll never last.” As it turned out, we were wrong on both counts: not only did the show last, but since its creator had shopped the show to Paramount several years previous, it’s likely that the creators of Deep Space Nine got their initial-outline ideas from this new show.
The name of the series is Babylon 5.
I first started watching this series in 1992, when the first movie premiered. Even the UseNet naysayers were impressed: the characters, the story, the special effects hooked most of the geeks with whom I was in college. It took a year for the series to begin, so all the geekfen were good and ready for it to come back. It “came back” with different music (an improvement), different makeup for the Minbari (another improvement), and a few cast changes. It took us on a long ride…and we loved every second.
Being the first season, there are a few rough spots; and, of course, the inevitable filler episodes. Folks who stuck with the series would see a seemingly-insignificant line in season one’s fifth episode (for example) turn into a major plot point in season three. For years, I didn’t buy the series on DVD: I didn’t have the money, and the show would turn up periodically on Space of Sci-Fi. I finally bought the DVDs in 2004. I’d come home after work, make dinner, and watch two episodes a night.
Posted by Laughing Muse • 1848 views • Share this link • Newer • Older
Click here to join