More Screenings of Babylon 5 season 1

The Mrs and I watched three more episodes.  The shows are growing on her, but she's made some snarky comments to both the overacting (which is declining) and the "special" effects.  It's weird for me, as I don't remember them being this bad... but as I recall, season 2 was an improvement over season 1 (hopefully).

Episode 7: So much depth, yet somehow still shallow.

Me:  Dang I wanted to like this episode.  It has racial hatred being triumphed over, artistic integrity, young love, noble intercession, a look into a main character's past, more mysteries of the Vorlons, and more.  Yet its all just sort of covered.  I think JMS tried to do too much.  We get a few episodes where not much happens off the "A" storyline, where as this probably needed to be two episodes.  I like the thought(s) behind this one, it's still a long ways off season three's professionalism though.

Mrs:  She got bored with this one.  I tried to keep her engaged with discussion on the Homeguard, but I think it needed more Sinclair, more Garibaldi, more Londo v G'kar and less Ivanova and her past and less weak poetry.

Episode 8: Such a great episode

Me:  In my humble opinion, this was one of the those truly great moments in season 1.  Both of the Knights feel like deep authentic characters, the mystery of the Battle of the Line is deepened, and this episode just ties in soo much.  To me, this is the first time the overall story arc really moves forward.  We have little baby steps here and there in the first 7 shows before this, but this one actually takes strides.  This also felt like something Shakespeare would write today if he were still alive.  I see some of the same art and intellect as we get in Thor in episode 8.  Love it.  Knight Two's closing comments are epic to me.  Before the Matrix or anything like that, for him to be trapped in himself... very cool (I know there is some serious nitpicking with this episode, but I feel like they're missing the point here).

Mrs:  She too saw the Shakespearean undertones of this.  I think she really liked this episode too.  It doesn't do too much and does what it set out to do quite well.  Again, I think she's really buying into Sinclair as the main character and liking him for it.  It really is too bad that he (Micheal) couldn't have kept doing the shows (I know, mental health and love of stage took him away).  Not that I don't like Sheridan (I do), but I would have liked them both to be regulars.

Episode 9: A Bit of Tolkien in here

Me:  I love how JMS brought in a back story and didn't have to tell it all.  It reminds me a bit of the Lord of the Rings (more the movies than the books, which do tell just about all of it).  It works to develop a deep back story and not tell it all.  Its how people would talk in real life.  Add a few outsiders to here the story bits you need and let it all run forward.  This episode also feels very mature (much like 8), in that it deals with deep and troubling issues.  It doesn't have Shakespeare but instead feels like a TNG episode soaked in 40K grimdark and then dried out in space.  I feel like we really get to see the workings of B5 and its political machines in this one... which I like.

Mrs:  She liked this one, but I think it got a little too twisted to follow for a casual fan.  My wife also pointed out some kinda weird plot holes, that while they didn't ruin it for me, were good points (like why didn't the Wind Swords want immortality or why is Earth letting her talk to the Narns or why are there no consequences for a Vorlon attack on neutral shipping).

In other news:

The lunch game got delayed another day, sickness mainly kept to many away.  But if I can talk them into it, I'll sit this game out (basically if there's 4 or more, I won't play... 3, I will).

Home Faction Ambassador B5 CCG Lunch Game #2, second AAR

A little progress on our lunch game, looks like the Neroon deck has some real potential.  We're kinda playing open hands here, so they've all seen mine and I've seen theirs.  Almost all the fun Minbari warrior caste character/fleet combos are already in Neroon's hand and now its just growing his influence enough to get them in... we'll have to see today if he can.

In other decks, Refa's frustrated as this is a war deck of 80 some cards, 20 of which are fleets, none of which are in his hand.  Meanwhile he's pumping Ragesh III to bring in a 1st-3rd fleet early and then I assume Border Raid or the like with that (we Narn aren't worried).

Bester is slowly getting things out, but I really hope he'll be aggressive.  You can't play Psi Corps and play nice (well, he can be nice to someone, but he needs to pick on someone too).  Its a race right now between him and Sheridan to get Earth out and get some of the limited fleets too, but I'm trying to drill into the Bester that a few Psi Corps locations, a couple high power telepaths, and Military Telepaths are all he needs to stay competitive in military conflicts and that's good enough.

Sheridan is a pure B5/Diplo deck.  I think it will do well in this meta rather than the Shadow War/Military heavy games we've had in the past.  He needs to focus on things other than B5 influence and just grow his own power pool.  Right now, I could Power Politics and make them all tap out, but nothing gained (other than making them give +2 influence to someone other than me), but once Sheridan and the Senators are all up in running, that will change.  Hopefully he and the other players will get that working together to stop Power Politics is a must right now.

Na'Far is sitting pretty.  He's contingency protected, will soon have 2 strife marks on him, and is sitting at a 10 diplomacy right now.  I might try and ram through one more Power Politics conflict but I think almost all the homeworlds will be in soon and this might be a pretty quick game for everyone but Refa.  Right now he's got the biggest challenge besides Bester.  They both need two turns to make most of their influence, where as Neroon and Na'Far can easily make 2-4 every turn.  However there are some Alliance cards floating around and I'm going to encourage them to not target me... that should elevate the others quickly, but this one's going to be a race to 20 not a Major Victory (sorry Bester and Refa)... unless something unexpected happens, and just like in the show, it often does.

In other news:

The Screenings Continue

The Mrs and I are still watching the season 1 and we've just finished the first disc and started the second.  All and all, I think she's getting it (not understanding it (which of course she is), I mean "getting it", as in seeing what redeemable qualities the series had and why people liked it).

Episode 4: Lumbering Plot device and Ducky betrays the Doc

Me:I like the look into the short-sighted and aggressive policies of EarthGov.  Much like when the show aired, the current distrust of politicians makes this even more relevant. 

Mrs: I think the lack of well done parallel plot lines in this episode made it less interesting for her.  I don't want to say that this is a throw away episode, but as much I as remember liking it the first time through, this might be one to skip if you're trying to speed a new view through the first season... just mention ISN and move on

Episode 5: Londo's Party and G'Kar's Peril

Me: Good ole Parliament of Dreams, might be one of, if not my favorite episode of Season 1.  G'Kar is overacted, and I'm glad that he's toned down in theatrics but deepened as a character later.  We get to meet Na'Toth (one of those characters that I wish we saw more of, but since actress was allergic to Narn makeup, that happens).

Mrs:  Found G'Kar a bit too much of a ham... and, sadly, he was.  However, I think Londo and Sinclair are growing on her... but oddly enough, not Delenn (given what's coming, too bad on all accounts, I'm curious to see what she thinks of the season 2/3 changes).  All in all, a solid episode for her.

Episode 6: Bester Arrives and Ironheart

Mr:  Good ole Bester, we meet the Psi Corps, finally, and see just how controlling it is.

Mrs:  I knew this wouldn't be a strong favorite for her... the over acting, psi powers in general, and the suspension of belief needed on this one was going to make it weak.  She's not a scifi person, so things like psychics in the scifi sense, just aren't a given for her... I hope this doesn't make her like season 5 even less than most people do.

All in all, its growing on her.  I'm curious to see if she's emotionally invested enough in the characters to feel the betrayal and inner conflict of the next two seasons... I think she just might.  She did mention the other day that she was enjoying the series and found it entertaining... if she can say that on season one, that's a pretty good sign for me.

BTW, here's an Excellent episode guide for those looking

Babylon 5 episodes 1-3 reviewing again

The Mrs. and I are slowly watching the series from beginning to end. She's never seen them before, clearly, I saw them all back in the day. I've watched seasons 2-5 within the last year, but not season 1 and not all the movies.

Episode 1: Ragesh and Raiders

Me: wow, I forgot how dated the CGI was. Also, I forgot how much G'kar was one part villain and one part buffon at this point in the show.  Sinclair's a better character than I recalled. Londo is very much the flawed good guy.

Wife: That looks like an old video game. Found the characters weird, really didn't see the acting that bad. Not convinced, but being quite the sport.

Episode 2: Soul Hunting and new medical digs

Me: ok, written like a Shakespeare spin off. Good, but still rough.  I did like the Grey Council teasers.

Wife: noticing the forced costumes and CGI. She's liking Garibaldi and Sinclair.

Episode 3: Aides and Maids

Me:  Again, I forgot how sympathetic Londo was and how much of an antagonist G'Kar was too. I also appreciate how much JMS kept the feeling of being in space, in a major trade hub. Nice to see the main characters interacting with each other and friendships forming.

Wife:  we talked about the silliness of the "futuristic" civilian clothes (and yet how 80s/90s it all felt).  There was some confusion between Kosh and N'Grath (stupid character and stupid costume, glad they dumped him) as they both live in climate controlled zones.

I think she's enjoying it, but certainly not hooked. I did skip The Gathering (would have hated for that to be the first impression). I also lowered expectations as best I could (PC CGI effects, poor acting, mood inconsistencies etc. in season 1), so that helped too.

I'll post again once we've screened some more.