rewatch Babylon 5

I love Babylon 5. I personally think it’s the best scifi show.

And so I’ll close this goal, having rewatched what, to me, is one of the best stories around, in any media.

I’ll repeat myself here: The good part is, that in a while, I’ll want to rewatch it yet again :)

I could not have planned it like this. I just happen to finish my rewatching of the series, when in the following week I receive my DVD of the just released all-new B5 !

So, what did I think of this first new real B5 material since 1998 ? To put it shortly, it put a big smile on my face. I was in somewhat of a low mood today and at the end of watching it I felt almost euphoric.

It stayed true to its established story, but still managed to introduce new characters and ideas.

So nice to see some of the old characters again.

And the references to the actors who have since passed away were very touching too.

Good stuff.

And so I just watched the final B5 episode. I’m somebody who finds a “good” ending to a story important. And this was pure brilliance.

There’s this one scene, where Sheridan leaves Delenn and again, as had happened when I first saw this eight years ago, I find this just heartbreaking, when he turns the corner and is not seen anymore.

This concludes my rewatching of Babylon. I had started this rewatching in July 2004, so it took me three years. Wow.

So, is this the end ? No – since last year there is good weekly B5 podcast out. And this year some direct-to-DVD specials will be released. And of course, I’m sure, I’ll be rewatching the series again in the future :)

This was a pilot-movie set in the B5 universe a couple of years after the regular series. I found it interesting enough and certainly entertaining. I wonder where the story would have led us, had a series evolved out of it after all.

So… I’ve seen all the B5-material I have now, except for the final episode. I do wonder if I’ll find it as heartwrenching as I did, when I saw it the first time…

I found the time tonight to watch the next TV movie in the B5 series, which I also hadn’t seen yet. This one actually sets the stage for the short-lived spin-off series Crusade. I haven’t seen that other series, but I know it was plagued by all sorts of problems. In any case, this movie was nice and brought many interesting concepts into play. I’m actually interested enough to maybe want to check out the spin-off after all…

this evening, so no B5. Soon again, I hope !

I made time yesterday evening to watch this made-for-TV movie of B5. This one was special, as in I hadn’t seen it yet. Since it was set after the regular series I wanted to wait until I had rewatched it. So… now I did <g>

I liked it. It wasn’t perfect, but had some nice concepts going for it. A fun time.

This marks the end of the “regular” series. Next I’ll see the TV movies and then the masterpiece that is the final episode.

This was mostly a strong character driven episode. I found my thoughts wandering back along the years, remembering just how far the story and the characters have come. I find the sheer scope of it breathtaking :)

So, again I want to close this entry with a quote, this time spoken by Delenn:

“When I was first assigned to Babylon 5, I had to learn to speak several languages… One of the most difficult words for me was goodbye. There is no corresponding word for goodbye in Minbari. All our partings contain, within them, the possibility of meeting again in other places, in other times, in other lives. So you will excuse me, if I do not say goodbye. Our souls are a part of this place. Our hopes, the foundation of our future. And we will pass this way again.”

More good-byes in this episode. Seeing G’Kar leave was especially touching, as the actor portraying him, Andreas Katsulas, passed away last year. Very sad.

And again a nice quote towards the end. Delenn is suggesting something to Sheridan to which he asks: “Now ?” to which Delenn replies: ””Now is all we have.”