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Is Babylon 5 worth watching? (self.entertainment)

submitted 2 years ago by LurkyMcLurkface to c/entertainment

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The reason I'm asking is instead of just giving it a go is it isn't available to stream in my region. So I would have to acquire it in some other way if I give it a go.

I have never seen it before. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan or anything. I watched some Star Trek: TNG and liked it just fine. Do not like OG Star Trek at all.

I just landed on the B5 wikipedia page and the synopsis intrigued me.

Has it aged ok or does it feel like old? I don't care all that much if the effects or make up is a bit dated. It's more that the acting and storylines in 90's tv shows isn't always the greatest.
Is it heavy handed with trying to give the viewer moral lessons like some older shows tend to?
Also not looking for a action show nor do I care all that much about shocking story twists that newer media tends to lean on.

So TLDR I guess: Is the story and acting good?

I know it's hard to recommend things to people you don't know so any kind of input would be appreciated.

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[–] Deebster 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I just (re)-watched it recently, so I feel qualified to answer. I'd seen much of it during its original run, so I knew a lot of the broader story, but I still enjoyed watching it and would recommend it. If you get to the end and Londo & G'Kar aren't your favourites, I don't think we can be friends.

Has it aged ok or does it feel like old?

There's definitely the occasional wooden acting and cardboard set, particularly in the early stuff. It's more about the story though. There's a remastered version out, with the original effects upscaled.

According to Engadget:

Babylon 5 Remastered has been scanned from the original camera negative. The film sequences were scanned in 4K and then “finished,” or downscaled, back to HD, with a dirt and scratch clean-up, as well as color correction. The show’s CGI and composite sequences, meanwhile, have been digitally upscaled to HD with only some minor tweaks where absolutely necessary.

Before that there was a widescreen version that you should avoid - it wasn't meant to be broadcast like that and you can see e.g. actors not in that scene watching their colleagues.

There's some extra stuff as well - TV movies and spin off series. I'd have to look at the titles to remind me what was worth it, but in summary some of the movies were worth it and Crusade is not.