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We've just got to the end of season 1 in our one episode a week at most latest rewatch of Babylon 5. And I thought I'd jot down some quick thoughts. We've been watching it if I'm well enough each week on Sunday evenings, while we finish off our dinner. It feels like a real treat, and perfect timing.
It's been really interesting rewatching it again. I am amused at how many of the character lines I know off by heart and anticipate them about to say! It's also been interesting rewatching it in HD for the first time for us.
There are definitely rough elements and it was very much finding its feet in that first year. There are some seriously clunker episodes among there. But at the same time the seeds of what would become a superb series are there from the start, and they do develop nicely as the first season goes on. There are especially standout episodes towards the end. And it very much feels like an accelerating thing at that point.
The regular characters are a joy, though it's bittersweet rewatching Michael O'Hare as Sinclair, and especially at the end of the season wondering how differently things might have gone had he not had to leave. To be fair I really like Bruce Boxleitner as Sheridan, so I'm happy enough. But it does make you wonder as you watch.
G'Kar and Londo interactions are an absolute joy throughout, even when they are sparring quite understandably. They carry the emotional heart of the series at this stage, and even now, before the events of season 2 and more, the gut punches are there, and the sense of tragedy unfolding.
I've also been impressed by many of the guest cast, though not all. Some real standouts in the cult/SF/fantasy world, including David McCallum, David Warner and June Lockhart. Among just many.
And I adore how it is essentially a storytelling engine, that even someone like who doesn't usually go for "hard" SF can watch and adore. JMS's storytelling is superb, and it's phenomenal watching how much he wrote. Not everything fully successful, but more often than not. And he kept it going.
I'd like to go straight on to start season 2 tonight, but that is next Sunday's treat! Meanwhile we're both very happily enjoying this all over again. Going slowly, but that lets us savour it. And it definitely merits that.
It's been really interesting rewatching it again. I am amused at how many of the character lines I know off by heart and anticipate them about to say! It's also been interesting rewatching it in HD for the first time for us.
There are definitely rough elements and it was very much finding its feet in that first year. There are some seriously clunker episodes among there. But at the same time the seeds of what would become a superb series are there from the start, and they do develop nicely as the first season goes on. There are especially standout episodes towards the end. And it very much feels like an accelerating thing at that point.
The regular characters are a joy, though it's bittersweet rewatching Michael O'Hare as Sinclair, and especially at the end of the season wondering how differently things might have gone had he not had to leave. To be fair I really like Bruce Boxleitner as Sheridan, so I'm happy enough. But it does make you wonder as you watch.
G'Kar and Londo interactions are an absolute joy throughout, even when they are sparring quite understandably. They carry the emotional heart of the series at this stage, and even now, before the events of season 2 and more, the gut punches are there, and the sense of tragedy unfolding.
I've also been impressed by many of the guest cast, though not all. Some real standouts in the cult/SF/fantasy world, including David McCallum, David Warner and June Lockhart. Among just many.
And I adore how it is essentially a storytelling engine, that even someone like who doesn't usually go for "hard" SF can watch and adore. JMS's storytelling is superb, and it's phenomenal watching how much he wrote. Not everything fully successful, but more often than not. And he kept it going.
I'd like to go straight on to start season 2 tonight, but that is next Sunday's treat! Meanwhile we're both very happily enjoying this all over again. Going slowly, but that lets us savour it. And it definitely merits that.