And So It Begins... (Babylon 5)

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Product:	Babylon 5
Date:	03/02/01 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great, compelling viewing

Disadvantages: the production team could have done a better job

By far the best sci-fi produced, Babylon 5 more than outshines Star Trek (in any of it's forms).

As with Star Wars, the entire story was written long before it was made into a program or a series and is very compelling viewing. Having watched the entire series from start to finish, each time I've watched it, I've picked up on something new. The continuing story-arc glues the view to the screen. What gives Babylon 5 an edge is that it is "beleivable" and much more "realistic" than any of the shows' rivals. It is also good drama and not aimed at kids (something a number of episodes of Star Trek have done over the years), hence some of the language used.

On the downside, whilst being a continuing story from start to finsih through the five series, there are continuity "issues" that let the show down (in series one, Minbari have a "two caste system and from series two onwards, it's a three caste system). A number of "minor mistakes" are spread around the entire series but the most obvious was during season four. I read an interview with one of the stars of the show which cited that that season was edited right down for networking reasons; the entire story was building up into a major intergalatic battle which ended far to soon, and it shows. Season five had too many "fill ins", "A view from the gallery" about two maintanence staff wasn't necessary and nor was the psi-cops episode. It felt drawn out and annoying considering the savage chopping of season four's battle.

At the end of season five, there is a great deal of foretelling of "the telepath war". Then, it was announced that there was a spin off series, views of B5's new main crew - but this never happened! Instead, we got "Cruscade" about another spin off - that itself was axed about half way through the first (and only) season. The continuity of the spin off is
extremely poor, more's the pity as most of it was very good. Perhaps if the production team done their jobs properly, then it would still be here now. B5's popularity hasn't subsided so if they tried harder "Cruscade" would have done well.

Saying all that, it's all good stuff (even if they did use cling film and plastic pallets as sets!

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