Just a quick update this time around. For all my initial griping about the Shadow War ending quickly, I still finished season 4 about as fast, if not faster, than I did season 3. Whenever Sheridan goes on the offensive, cool things happen and you just have to zoom along with him. It's satisfying to have things settled down at Earth, and the Interstellar Alliance is a cool bonus. Of course, it's also good to know that the rapid changes at the end of season 4 was because of fear the show wouldn't get a fifth season. Otherwise, it would be rather confusing why season 4 didn't have any kind of cliffhanger. (Granted, having Sheridan captured at the end of the season would be one painful cliffhanger to end on.)
Right now, the telepaths make me nervous, as they probably would any other mundanes watching. Nick tells me we won't see much of the Telepath War, which seems unfortunate. I might have to look into the books about the conflict.
Next to last thought: "The Long Night of Londo Mollari" is a great episode, one of my favorites. It would make a great discussion starter on pride and admitting guilt, except you'd have to know a lot about Londo and G'Kar to really get it. More for B5 fans than anyone, I guess.
Last thought: I like the grand, royal feeling to the Season 5 theme music. Very fitting.
Quote of the Day:
Londo Mollari: You misspelled that. There's no 'y' in 'liberties.'
G'Kar: Oh go away. Repress somebody else.
Londo: As you wish.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Wait, the war's over already?!
This show continues to surprise me. I never would have guessed that the Shadow War would be finished six episodes into season 4! In fact, I was a little disappointed at first. I had expected the struggle against the Shadows would last for most of the rest of the show. Or, at the earliest I expected, it would end at the end of season 4 or beginning of season 5 and most of season 5 would be about rebuilding order around the galaxy. Instead, it looks like that rebuilding and regrowth time has begun before season 4 is even half over.
Upon reflection, I realize that as far as story arc timing goes, this is fairly typical of the series. You end one season with a great buildup of tension and continue that tension for several episodes at the beginning of the next season until the story arc is mostly resolved. The middle of the season is the incubation period. It picks up unresolved story threads and helps them grow in tension and importance. By the end of the season, the story tension has become too great to maintain the mid-season's status quo and all kinds of stuff happens to carry the arc into the next season. It's probably effective because you have a lot of excitement at the beginning of the season to get new people in; you know in mid-season you might lose some viewers, but you bring them back at the end of the season with even more adrenaline.
Nevertheless, I still rather miss the Shadow War. There's nothing quite like having a really, really bad bad guy to root against. Trying to sort out the Minbari caste system and weed out the corrupt Earth officials isn't the same. But like Delenn says:
Quote of the Day:
"War is easy. Destruction is easy. Rebuilding is hard."
--Delenn Mir
That may not be an accurate quote, but it's close.
In other news, what is the deal with Garibaldi?! That's been another frustrating thing about this season because I still don't know what happened to him on that alien ship and how it's affected his uncharacteristic decisions since then. Honestly, Garibaldi's always had a suspicious nature, but before this season he'd always been staunchly loyal to his job and his fellow officers. I keep waiting for G'Kar to get in his face and remind him of that "support and obey your superior officer" speech that Garibaldi gave G'Kar last season. Grr.
Upon reflection, I realize that as far as story arc timing goes, this is fairly typical of the series. You end one season with a great buildup of tension and continue that tension for several episodes at the beginning of the next season until the story arc is mostly resolved. The middle of the season is the incubation period. It picks up unresolved story threads and helps them grow in tension and importance. By the end of the season, the story tension has become too great to maintain the mid-season's status quo and all kinds of stuff happens to carry the arc into the next season. It's probably effective because you have a lot of excitement at the beginning of the season to get new people in; you know in mid-season you might lose some viewers, but you bring them back at the end of the season with even more adrenaline.
Nevertheless, I still rather miss the Shadow War. There's nothing quite like having a really, really bad bad guy to root against. Trying to sort out the Minbari caste system and weed out the corrupt Earth officials isn't the same. But like Delenn says:
Quote of the Day:
"War is easy. Destruction is easy. Rebuilding is hard."
--Delenn Mir
That may not be an accurate quote, but it's close.
In other news, what is the deal with Garibaldi?! That's been another frustrating thing about this season because I still don't know what happened to him on that alien ship and how it's affected his uncharacteristic decisions since then. Honestly, Garibaldi's always had a suspicious nature, but before this season he'd always been staunchly loyal to his job and his fellow officers. I keep waiting for G'Kar to get in his face and remind him of that "support and obey your superior officer" speech that Garibaldi gave G'Kar last season. Grr.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Updates and Ruminations
While I fancy this blog is more for myself than anything, I do want to apologize to any regular readers out there for the polka-dot theme. I wanted a dark blue background for this site, and this was the only template I liked. I'm a little disappointed that Blogger isn't easier to customize. Sure, if I knew HTML code I could make this site look better, but I don't presently have the time or interest to learn computer coding. So we're stuck with the polka dots for now. But if anyone knows how and would like to whip up a more appropriate background for the site, please let me know.
I'm still amazed at how fast I've been going through season 3. I watched the first half of the season in about a week. Of course, that stretch of episodes was the most intense stretch the show has seen yet, what with the rise of Night Watch and Babylon 5's eventual independence from Earth. My last post was written while I was in the middle of all that, before the station actually broke from Earth, and Night Watch was still a threat.
It's interesting, Night Watch is clearly reflective of the Nazi regime, considering the arm bands, citizens reporting on each other, and the desire for a pure race. But when I was in Williamsburg on vacation last week, I couldn't help but compare the Bab 5 revolution with the American Revolution. In both cases local leaders saw that their rights were being threatened from afar. Even though these leaders had previously been devoted to their motherland and though they knew the risks and dangers involved in breaking away, they did not shy away from what they knew had to be done. I think that's the scariest thing about being in such a position--to know death and destruction await you if you fail, but taking the plunge anyway. That is true courage.
Anyway, when I returned from vacation Sunday evening, I was so hungry for more Bab 5 (since I hadn't seen it for a week) I watched 5 episodes while I ate and did some ironing. I knew some people at Upland my sophomore year who would have Babylon 5 parties and watch close to an entire season in one day. I thought they were crazy then. Though I still think that's a tad excessive, I can empathize now. Currently, I only have three episodes of season three (three of three! ha!) left to see (a rhyme! another ha!). So...I'll probably finish the season tonight. Hooray!
On that exciting note, good-night.
Quote of the Day:
"Intelligence has nothing to do with politics!"
--Londo Mollari
I'm still amazed at how fast I've been going through season 3. I watched the first half of the season in about a week. Of course, that stretch of episodes was the most intense stretch the show has seen yet, what with the rise of Night Watch and Babylon 5's eventual independence from Earth. My last post was written while I was in the middle of all that, before the station actually broke from Earth, and Night Watch was still a threat.
It's interesting, Night Watch is clearly reflective of the Nazi regime, considering the arm bands, citizens reporting on each other, and the desire for a pure race. But when I was in Williamsburg on vacation last week, I couldn't help but compare the Bab 5 revolution with the American Revolution. In both cases local leaders saw that their rights were being threatened from afar. Even though these leaders had previously been devoted to their motherland and though they knew the risks and dangers involved in breaking away, they did not shy away from what they knew had to be done. I think that's the scariest thing about being in such a position--to know death and destruction await you if you fail, but taking the plunge anyway. That is true courage.
Anyway, when I returned from vacation Sunday evening, I was so hungry for more Bab 5 (since I hadn't seen it for a week) I watched 5 episodes while I ate and did some ironing. I knew some people at Upland my sophomore year who would have Babylon 5 parties and watch close to an entire season in one day. I thought they were crazy then. Though I still think that's a tad excessive, I can empathize now. Currently, I only have three episodes of season three (three of three! ha!) left to see (a rhyme! another ha!). So...I'll probably finish the season tonight. Hooray!
On that exciting note, good-night.
Quote of the Day:
"Intelligence has nothing to do with politics!"
--Londo Mollari
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Year is 2007. The place: Ranger Haven.
I believe I've entered a new realm of fandom geekery. I'm not sure how many people have created or are interested in reading a blog of thoughts inspired by a first-time viewing of a decade-old TV show, but if you're here, hopefully you're one of those people.
Babylon 5 is a progressively addictive show. The first season is somewhat hit-and-miss; there are some great episodes, some average episodes, and a few ho-hum episodes. But there are hints throughout the first season of something special developing. By the time I finished this season, I was hooked--I had to know how the Narn-Centauri war would go, I was shocked by the presidential assasination, and I was worried about the growth of some hidden evil in the Earth government and in a new mysterious race. The second season builds upon all these stories, raising the tension and the addictiveness of the show.
It's interesting how the series will create a status quo for a time, and then completely change it. Most of the first season is pretty much one status quo until the season finale. Then another status quo changes midway through the second season as the Narn world falls. It changes again at least once at the end of the season. In season three, which I'm watching now, it seems the status quo changes every other episode; little is certain anymore. Naturally, this makes the show all the more addicting, since it's hard to guess what's going to happen next.
I'm currently watching Babylon 5 on my own. The upside to this is that I can watch episodes whenever I want to, without waiting for another person to be around. The downside is that I don't get to talk about the show with someone while watching it. Of course, Nick (who's been lending me the series a season at a time) and I gab about Bab 5 whenever we hang out, but lately that's only been every other week or so. I wanted another outlet. Thus cometh this blog.
Now, if you're still reading, here's what you should and shouldn't expect from this blog. Please don't expect me to post with great regularity. I have trouble enough doing that on my normal blog. On the other hand, since I'll be very informal with what I write here, I might be inspired to write something everytime I watch the show. We'll have to see. Also, while I'll try to keep my posts interesting and understandable, I won't promise that they'll always be deep, insightful, or entirely useful. This is a place for me to spill out thoughts after watching whatever episode I'm on. Hopefully you'll be entertained by my musings, squeels of glee, and/or moans of lamentation. Welcome, fellow ranger. This should be fun. ;-)
And now I'll close with the one regular feature I hope to make a part of all upcoming posts:
Quote of the Day:
"'Zog?' What do you mean 'zog?' Zog what? Zog yes? Zog no?"
--Susan Ivanova
Babylon 5 is a progressively addictive show. The first season is somewhat hit-and-miss; there are some great episodes, some average episodes, and a few ho-hum episodes. But there are hints throughout the first season of something special developing. By the time I finished this season, I was hooked--I had to know how the Narn-Centauri war would go, I was shocked by the presidential assasination, and I was worried about the growth of some hidden evil in the Earth government and in a new mysterious race. The second season builds upon all these stories, raising the tension and the addictiveness of the show.
It's interesting how the series will create a status quo for a time, and then completely change it. Most of the first season is pretty much one status quo until the season finale. Then another status quo changes midway through the second season as the Narn world falls. It changes again at least once at the end of the season. In season three, which I'm watching now, it seems the status quo changes every other episode; little is certain anymore. Naturally, this makes the show all the more addicting, since it's hard to guess what's going to happen next.
I'm currently watching Babylon 5 on my own. The upside to this is that I can watch episodes whenever I want to, without waiting for another person to be around. The downside is that I don't get to talk about the show with someone while watching it. Of course, Nick (who's been lending me the series a season at a time) and I gab about Bab 5 whenever we hang out, but lately that's only been every other week or so. I wanted another outlet. Thus cometh this blog.
Now, if you're still reading, here's what you should and shouldn't expect from this blog. Please don't expect me to post with great regularity. I have trouble enough doing that on my normal blog. On the other hand, since I'll be very informal with what I write here, I might be inspired to write something everytime I watch the show. We'll have to see. Also, while I'll try to keep my posts interesting and understandable, I won't promise that they'll always be deep, insightful, or entirely useful. This is a place for me to spill out thoughts after watching whatever episode I'm on. Hopefully you'll be entertained by my musings, squeels of glee, and/or moans of lamentation. Welcome, fellow ranger. This should be fun. ;-)
And now I'll close with the one regular feature I hope to make a part of all upcoming posts:
Quote of the Day:
"'Zog?' What do you mean 'zog?' Zog what? Zog yes? Zog no?"
--Susan Ivanova
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