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B5 musings
A few random thoughts, put behind the tag as to not enrage dedicated fans. You have been warned.
I've reached Season 5 in re-watching the series. I thought re-watching it after a several-years-break would somehow change my opinion about it. It did not. On the contrary. Here is why.
When I first heard about the new series, I was enthusiastic. I love good science fiction of any kind, even though I'm a die-hard Trekkie, and the first spoilers promised great things. A promise that it did not keep - not for me personally, that is.
Still, I stick to the series, even though I found the writing rather poor and the human characters cardboard figures. But a few aliens were really fascinating, and I fell in love with Londo at first sight. It was still much, much better than anything else offered under the label science fiction.
Then the makers (and quite a few fans) began to pick on Star Trek, in an attempt to show the supposed superiority of their own show. Now, I'm the first person to admit that Star Trek could be full of shit at times - I love it, but I'm not blind or stupid - but when people like Claudia Christian (who played Ivanova the Robot) say things like "I haven't seen a single episode of ST-TNG, but my friends told me it's shit, and I could vomit from its political correctness", I began to see red a little.
Then came the mutual accusations of plagiarism. Which are ridiculous, on both sides. Aside from the fact that both shows take place on a space station, B5 and DS9 couldn't be more different. Personally, I prefer DS9, with all its faults, but that's a matter of taste. Besides, if someone calls B5 a rip-off, they should better locate the actual source. Which would be Tolkien, not Roddenberry.
I don't really see why this fandom war was going on for years. Why people feel the need to say bad things from the other show (whichever it is), just to make their favourite look better. It's such an immature behaviour. One very similar to the mini-wars that are constantly going on in the Tolkien fandom itself.
For me, B5 could never be compared to DS9. That's my opinion, and I stick to it. Actually, I even find Battlestar Galactica and Alien Nation a lot better. Especially Alien Nation, which, for me, is the best portrayal of a truly alien culture, a lot besser than anything even the Trek authors did with Vulcans and Klingons.
But I still think that B5 isn't a bad show. Some aliens - the Centauri above all - are truly fascinating, and I'd have loved to see the Telepath War onscreen. Save two tapes, I've got the whole series on VHS, and I like to re-watch the one or other episode at times. I wish I could have Alien Nation or the rest of Battlestar Galactica in original, too.
The only negative result of re-watching B5 is that I feel the irresistible urge to write a story featuring Centauri tentacle intercourse. Great Maker, but I can be strange at times.
Now if I could only find that Marcus/Neroon mailing list somewhere. In almost all such stories I've read so far had Marcus Stuified beyond recognition. I'd like to read one where he behaves like a man.
I've reached Season 5 in re-watching the series. I thought re-watching it after a several-years-break would somehow change my opinion about it. It did not. On the contrary. Here is why.
When I first heard about the new series, I was enthusiastic. I love good science fiction of any kind, even though I'm a die-hard Trekkie, and the first spoilers promised great things. A promise that it did not keep - not for me personally, that is.
Still, I stick to the series, even though I found the writing rather poor and the human characters cardboard figures. But a few aliens were really fascinating, and I fell in love with Londo at first sight. It was still much, much better than anything else offered under the label science fiction.
Then the makers (and quite a few fans) began to pick on Star Trek, in an attempt to show the supposed superiority of their own show. Now, I'm the first person to admit that Star Trek could be full of shit at times - I love it, but I'm not blind or stupid - but when people like Claudia Christian (who played Ivanova the Robot) say things like "I haven't seen a single episode of ST-TNG, but my friends told me it's shit, and I could vomit from its political correctness", I began to see red a little.
Then came the mutual accusations of plagiarism. Which are ridiculous, on both sides. Aside from the fact that both shows take place on a space station, B5 and DS9 couldn't be more different. Personally, I prefer DS9, with all its faults, but that's a matter of taste. Besides, if someone calls B5 a rip-off, they should better locate the actual source. Which would be Tolkien, not Roddenberry.
I don't really see why this fandom war was going on for years. Why people feel the need to say bad things from the other show (whichever it is), just to make their favourite look better. It's such an immature behaviour. One very similar to the mini-wars that are constantly going on in the Tolkien fandom itself.
For me, B5 could never be compared to DS9. That's my opinion, and I stick to it. Actually, I even find Battlestar Galactica and Alien Nation a lot better. Especially Alien Nation, which, for me, is the best portrayal of a truly alien culture, a lot besser than anything even the Trek authors did with Vulcans and Klingons.
But I still think that B5 isn't a bad show. Some aliens - the Centauri above all - are truly fascinating, and I'd have loved to see the Telepath War onscreen. Save two tapes, I've got the whole series on VHS, and I like to re-watch the one or other episode at times. I wish I could have Alien Nation or the rest of Battlestar Galactica in original, too.
The only negative result of re-watching B5 is that I feel the irresistible urge to write a story featuring Centauri tentacle intercourse. Great Maker, but I can be strange at times.
Now if I could only find that Marcus/Neroon mailing list somewhere. In almost all such stories I've read so far had Marcus Stuified beyond recognition. I'd like to read one where he behaves like a man.
no subject
no subject
As I said, it's still a lot better than Farscape and all the other inane shows sold under the label "science fiction".
I'm not happy with the two post-Roddenberry stories, Andromeda and Earth: Final Conflict, either. And the new Trek series, Enterprise, is rather weak, too.
Now, at least when B5 started, it was something new. It had a complete story arc for 5 years and at least *some* interesting characters. It's a matter of taste, I guess.
I can provide you with URLs where you find basic ifnormation, if you want. And, of course, you can always swim across the Sea and watch the show on video with me. *g*
no subject
I didn't like Enterprise much either, the ideas were sound but the scripts weak. I can't comment on the other either, but Farscape was pretty awful. Do you know, they show Farscape at 7.30 here, and Star Trek (the very popular one) at Midnight? Figure that one out.
no subject
Fortunately, I can get a great many German channels on satellite, so I come to the good stuff, sooner or later. Even though it's the dubbed version and often godawfully dubbed. But still better than nothing.
As for the URLs:
The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5:
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/toc.html
Babylon 5 Encyclopedia:
http://www.oinc.net/B5/Enc/
The Minbari Federation:
http://www.ajbaker.force9.co.uk/b5minbarirace.html
The others are too specified for a newbie. You should start with the Lurker's Guide, it has good episode synosis and lots of useful background info
no subject