Babylon 5 - Appreciation Thread

[Alan Castillo]

*puts a box of Kleenex nearby* You'll need it. :cry

Yeah. Sleeping in Light WILL break you up, but only in the best way. It's a truly fitting end to the show.

You guys weren't kidding :cry

I still feel bad when I watch then end of ST Enterprise, seeing they killed off Trip, & T'pol was left all alone , but boy, B5 takes the biscuit :cry

Fitting end, yes indeed, but sad as heck

Not only in the way Sheridan goes off to die :cry, but they blow up B5 to boot !!

The Mrs. needed the kleenex.

I didn't.

.......... I had to use my t-shirt while looking the other way so that she wouldn't see me tearing up

Thank goodness we watched "A Call to Arms" straight after, at least it sort of took us back to happier times

 

[Solo4114]

Well, Sheridan's death is, I think, entirely appropriate. Unless they end the show with him hugging Delenn and some "And they lived happily ever after" message of some sort, I suppose, but that doesn't really fit the vibe of the show. Very few characters on the show get that. Most of them have some kind of turmoil in the future, according to JMS, external "official" material, etc.

Plus, they already show that after Delenn and Sheridan get married, you've got the whole Drakh problem (I'm not including Crusade in that, mind you -- just the flash-forward episode depicting Londo's death). So, we know they DIDN'T live happily ever after once the war was won, and the ISA formally established. So, in a sense, Sheridan passing beyond the rim is, to me, a perfectly appropriate and even "happy" death. It's bittersweet, as a death after a long, productive life often is, but it's a good one.

B5 being shut down and destroyed...to me, that parallel's Sheridan's arc. The station was established for a reason. I suppose they could've kept it as some kind of monument, but absent that, it served its purpose, first maintaining the peace, and then as an essential element of the winning of the war and establishment of the ISA. If the station is a "character," and I think you could argue that it is, then its death is basically not that different from Sheridan's. It's earned, after a long and purposeful existence. And I suppose if ya gotta go, what better way than that?

 

[Alan Castillo]

I am 'shocked' about something though.

The whole series was perfectly thought out from the start. When one thinks nothing makes sense, it all comes together in various bits of various seasons, till a tangled bowl of spaghetti ends up looking like a single straight strand.

Except that I cannot believe Londo and Lennier are dead in "Sleeping in the Light", yet nowhere in any episode or movie does it cover / explain the how why where who etc they died.

(EDIT - Yes, Londo is supposed to be strangled by G'Kar. That is known. But except for that very brief 'flash- forward', there is no 'expansion' of that story like there was for all the other flash-forwards.)

In particular, it's Londo for crying out loud ! One of the main characters !

I can't believe I'm just left 'hanging' there regarding those two

... if the above is somehow 'covered' in 'Crusade' or 'Lost tales', no spoilers please as I'm starting those tonight

 

[Alan Castillo]

I agree with you 100% Dan thumbsup.

It's still sad though

It's just that I'm a softy at heart :$

 

[Solo4114]

Londo's death has been dealt with well before. G'Kar kills him. And I forget which episode it is, but the flash-forward to Delenn and Sheridan escaping Centauri Prime with their son, that's when G'Kar kills Londo, albeit at Londo's request.

Lennier's death, however, is addressed in external stuff. You can look up how he dies. Lennier is a bit of a tragic figure, as many characters are on the show. Really, the only one who gets anything resembling a "normal" life at the end is, I think, Garibaldi.

 

[Alan Castillo]

Londo's death has been dealt with well before. G'Kar kills him. And I forget which episode it is, but the flash-forward to Delenn and Sheridan escaping Centauri Prime with their son, that's when G'Kar kills Londo, albeit at Londo's request.

Yep. I edited my previous post before you replied. Still, I would have loved to see an 'expansion' of that brief flash-forward.

Plus, its still fresh in my mind, so I remember that while G'Kar was strangling Londo, he had a bandage around his eye.

Small lapsus in the story-line there I think, as G'Kar had his implant well before that.

Lennier's death, however, is addressed in external stuff. You can look up how he dies.

Will do ! Thanks for that info.

Really, the only one who gets anything resembling a "normal" life at the end is, I think, Garibaldi.

More than normal I think.

He not only gets the love of his life back, he becomes a gazillionaire too

 

[Nwerke]

I love your "Alan discovers a great show" threads. :lol

In 1995 I was backpacking in the UK and would time my hostel stays to places that had a TV and enough fellow fans to be sure of not missing episodes, I was that addicted. I still have most of the series on VHS from many late-night taping sessions back in the day, lol. Got it on DVD too but somehow it's great to watch it the way I did the first time. Still haven't finished watching it on DVD.

Lennier's fall was terribly sad and not as well handled as I'd have preferred TBH; just too abrupt or something, something seemed off. Wasn't foreshadowed much (or I'm autistic and just didn't catch on that he was that mad about Delenn). IIRC Billy Mumy was really broken up about it himself, as you would be.

Strange thing about the show; far too many B5 cast members have died. That's life I guess, but it bites.

 

[Alan Castillo]

I love your "Alan discovers a great show" threads. :lol

I opened this thread because there was no thread specifically dedicated to discussing this show

!

I love my 'discoveries'

Not having enough time for my love of movies in the 90's now has its advantages

... and I've many more to go. Taking it easy to make it last

Strange thing about the show; far too many B5 cast members have died. That's life I guess, but it bites.

I was thinking on those lines just yesterday.

I had seen Andreas Katsulas on Star Trek of course, but only 'researched' him yesterday because of B5.

 

[Solo4114]

Yeah, him, Michael O'Hare, Richard Biggs, Jeff Conaway...

Richard Biggs was, to me, particularly sad, considering that it was just this random congenital thing that got him WAY too young. Jeff Conaway was sad in a different way, but in a sense, you saw it coming.

I try to think of it, however, that we can give their lives meaning by continuing to enjoy the work they did.

 

[Nwerke]

Crud, Commander Sinclair's gone too?!? I didn't even know that one. Augh! The curse continues!!

Tim Choate too.

 

[Solo4114]

Yeah, O'Hare died just last year. Heart attack at 60. Damn shame.

 

[Nwerke]

Gawd dang it all to heck. Rassin frassin mutter grumblin whut in tarnation.

In my first post I said something about how I get all agitated and PO'd when this happens, for B5 people specifically. Edited it out thinking 'eh, dopey thing to say really'.

But now I'm feeling all riled up and agitated and PO'd right now. Life, you're a stupid *****.

Agree on Biggs. That one really came as a shock. Never met him but he had a likeable screen presence.

 

[Kerr Avon]

I heard some particularly unflattering stories about O'Hare from Jerry Doyle on his show once. O'Hare supposedly punched an actress in the stomach for flubbing her lines on one episode. There's a good reason he was replaced after the first season, no one really seemed sorry to see him go. He was also a diva, having his own 'posse' that followed him everywhere.

 

[Nwerke]

Welp, thanks for that...not stuff to wish death on anyone for, but sure lessens the sting a little. D-baggery, it's everywhere.

 

[Riceball]

I am 'shocked' about something though.

The whole series was perfectly thought out from the start. When one thinks nothing makes sense, it all comes together in various bits of various seasons, till a tangled bowl of spaghetti ends up looking like a single straight strand.

Except that I cannot believe Londo and Lennier are dead in "Sleeping in the Light", yet nowhere in any episode or movie does it cover / explain the how why where who etc they died.

(EDIT - Yes, Londo is supposed to be strangled by G'Kar. That is known. But except for that very brief 'flash- forward', there is no 'expansion' of that story like there was for all the other flash-forwards.)

In particular, it's Londo for crying out loud ! One of the main characters !

I can't believe I'm just left 'hanging' there regarding those two

... if the above is somehow 'covered' in 'Crusade' or 'Lost tales', no spoilers please as I'm starting those tonight

If you want more details on Londo's eventual death there was a series of B5 novels that came out years ago that deals with Londo's time as Emperor and his eventual death at the hands of G'kar. I don't know if they're still in print anymore but if they are or if you can find I highly recommend that you get them, they're a very good read and must read for any fan of Londo.

 

[Kerr Avon]

Yup, there's a few good novels. I have the PsiCorp trilogy too which involves Bester's birth to death. There's also one about Anna's expedition to Za'ha'dum.

 

[SmilingOtter]

Yeah, the Psi Corps trilogy is good stuff. I also recommend To Dream in the City of Sorrows which is about Sinclair becoming head of the Anla'shok. Very well written.

As for G'kar and his eye, it was removable. Could be the Centauris confiscated it for some reason.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I read the Technomage trilogy and the Londo trilogy. They were both pretty good. I was told those were the only good B5 novels.

 

[Apollo]

Zathros- Tim Choate although a minor character died in a motorcycle accident.

Biggs was really heartbreaking to lose him as we did.

One of the nicest guys you would ever meet.

Back when the show was on they had Conventions in Birmingham England and Richard would go up to peoples rooms and hang out.

He was a real sweetheart!

Yeah, him, Michael O'Hare, Richard Biggs, Jeff Conaway...

Richard Biggs was, to me, particularly sad, considering that it was just this random congenital thing that got him WAY too young. Jeff Conaway was sad in a different way, but in a sense, you saw it coming.

I try to think of it, however, that we can give their lives meaning by continuing to enjoy the work they did.

 

[Alan Castillo]

Finished watching everything last night.

Pity they only made one 'Lost Tales' 'double' episode. The could have been room for more

.... and again, that goodness I didn't watch "sleeping in the light" last after everything, it would have 'depressed' the heck out of me.

Now I know what's coming, next time round, I'll watch it last though