Just a quick note. Please do not post any comments regarding future characters/plot points/episodes/seasons or anything here which will impact my viewing of this show. I have requested repeatedly for the comments to be completely clear of this information. My moderators are still repeatedly removing these type of comments. On seperate note: please read the community tab for updates on uploads. There have been many posts explaining why videos will not be to schedule for the next few weeks. Thank you.
@@OrangesodaTR Yeah, might be a good idea to set aside other shows cause soon you're gonna be compelled to binge B5 at least through to the end of season 4.
I just stumbled upon your channel and your reaction to Babylon 5 episodes. It's one of my favorite shows, probably watched the series at least 5 times through. With that said, I love the pure joy and discovery that you're having with the series. Me and a buddy of mine were watching the series as it aired, so we had to wait a week for the next episode, but we'd talk about it and speculate on the meanings of things and what consequences people's actions will have. You have a really good insight into G'Kar. The Londo/G'Kar relationship is exquisite. You are on a very special ride. I'm going to tag along to relive the wonder I had when I first watched the series.
This episode is supposedly about Babylon 5, as covered by a reporter. But we hear troubles on Mars, the Earth senator's apathetic attitude, the Psi-Corps commercial, the reporter aggressively questioning Delenn, and pointedly reminding Sheridan Earth technically didn't lose the war. This episode was about Earth.
"I did not expect an episode like this ... " .. Yeah, that's common with Babylon 5. You always expect the unexpected. And Sheridan's speech about stumbling and looking at your feet resonates SO much today. We Have stumbled a lot recently and have started to look at our feet and we need to look back at the horizon.
A subtle reference in the episode: the reporter mentions "*former* senator Hidoshi" (Hidoshi was the senator who Sinclair was dealing with most of the time). It shows that there are political changes afoot back on Earth as well.
This is why Babylon 5 is so special and stands out of other Sci-fi shows. The character development and back storys of every thing in the show is so well written and done before they started writing the script and story.. The actors are not just playing the role they are playing them selfs .
They were always my favourites - the lovely paintwork etc. In the long run I don't know if B5s ship design was ever properly appreciated (even if they did exist as Micro Machines at one time).
@@Matej_Sojka I can definitely agree about the EA vessels, with the rotating sections etc - they convey a sense of functional reality that isn't necessary but contributes so much more to the universe than simply looking good.
Best looking ships in all of sci-fi. 2 miles of Narn military might...half battleship, half carrier...a fascinating middle place between the sleek high-tech ships of the older races (Minbari) and the industrial brutalism of the younger races (EA).
I always reference this episode as evidence the Narn and Centauri were equal in military might...and that it was only by the constant surgical strikes of the Shadows on the Narn fleet and colonies that allowed the Centauri to hold their own.
You should hear the stories that Jerry Doyle told about Andreas Katsulas when they were roommates during the filming. I hate that so many have passed on. Of the main cast I believe only Claudia, Bruce, Peter and Bill are still alive. RIP Jerry, Andreas, Mira, Richard, Stephen, Jeff, Michael, Tim and Robin.
Andrea Thompson (Talia) is also still alive, as are Robert Rusler (Keffer), Julie Caitlin Brown and Mary Kay Adams (both Na'Toth)... plus a few that we haven't seen (much) of yet :) But yeah, a lot have left us, and on occasion that makes certain scenes really hard to watch. On a brighter note, I am now once again laughing about the free ham. What an amazing group of people.
Two episodes in one week? Love it! I appreciate your comments about G'kar and Katsulas' acting. I steel feel hat him and Jurasik should have received awards for what they did on the show.
SFX magazine gave Katsulas a Best Supporting Actor award in their '95 poll, for what that's worth... It's the only time in my life that I've been actually moved to cut a little form out of a magazine and post it because of something I saw on telly...
G'Kar and Londo , IMO are the main 2 characters (if there is such a thing in B5) both actors who play each role are of the highest calibre, they make the personalities so real
I am so happy to get two episodes in a week, thank you for giving us your time. I did comment in you live stream about me rewatching Babylon 5 in sync with you. It takes all my willpower to stop myself watching the next episode but I am glad I do it. I get excited when you post a new episode it makes my day..... thank you medusa xx
It's very difficult to pull off this level of world-building in a TV show. I've played games and read books with worlds that are at least this fleshed out, but you play games or read books at your own pace. You can read at your leisure or choose to ignore the main objective and spend a couple of hours wandering around and exploring. A show has episodes and those episodes have to be a certain length, and each episode has to be a satisfying story in its own right (or a clear part of an arc with a very specific point), so it's really tricky to flesh out the world-building to this level without killing the pacing or leaving vital plot points unexplained. Babylon 5 didn't manage it 100% of the time - The Gathering just stops the story dead to dump exposition on the audience a few times, and the writers don't fully get past that issue until about halfway through season 1 - but it's still really impressive that it managed that balancing act as often as it did.
@@Talisguy I certainly don't have the experience to make truly comprehensive comparisons,¹ but _I suppose_ one could also attribute that to it being not only one person's vision, but having them be the showrunner as well as writing the _vast_ majority of episodes. 🤷🏼♂️ Come to think of it, when a question is asked by any given performer or department head, the answer is going to be pretty definitive, as it's coming from THE source. ··•✺•·· ¹ ─ Since I imagine other shows have accomplished this quite well, without having a single individual be _all things_ to the show.
@@Talisguy Indeed...JMS still holds the record for writing the most consecutive episodes of any show on television. Very specifically he wrote EVERY episode in season 3 and 4, a feat unmatched by anyone else in TV.
I think there are other shows that have done as good or even better job (The Expanse, Game of Thrones, etc) , but importantly those all come AFTER Babylon 5. B5 demonstrated that the extra expense and effort was worth it. Prior to B5 there was a general consensus that scifi fans didn't care about the details, that theater of the mind could fill in the blanks. Doctor Who's cheesy special effects. Star Trek's alien worlds that all look like southern California. The SciFi Geeks would take what they could get. It didn't help that most of the scifi and fantasy shows of the 80's and 90's were set in contemporary settings.
Another sci-fi show where everything seems real is the reboot of Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009). Everything looks old and used, the Galactica being a very old ship is very obvious. The details! Right down to the shape of sheets of paper! Brilliant production values!
I remember a huge amount of buzz for this episode, Channel 4 even had an episode of it's sci-fi quiz show tie in. I think, it's been a couple of decades since it happened!
Nice!!- went from worrying you were lost in Hyperspace to getting 2 episodes in 2 days! This is possibly one of my favorite episodes of the entire series & I'm so glad that you've finally got to it! They ramped the chaos & confusion (& body count!) up to 11 for this 'outsiders look' at Babylon 5 and the whole cast were on top form, but I have to agree with you: Andreas stole the show here!
This series is amazing you watch the entire series for the first time and you see a full story. But if you watch it a second time you pick up a few things you missed on your first viewing that are breadcrumbs for future episodes JMS set unbelievable standards that changed the way future TV shows are written. In future episodes prepare yourself for every emotion under the Sun
Wonderful. I like this episode, too. Did you know that this episode was directed by Stephen Furst (Vir)? He will direct one or two more Babylon 5 episodes. I think, along with the script, he did a splendid job here. You are right, Delenn should have declined the interview, she was not ready. The reporter was definitely rude! .. and here we go again, the escalation of the Narn-Centauri war. Andreas and Peter do such a good job as ambassadors. Throw-away lines: They are **very** rarely that. Most of those come back to "haunt" us. Foreshadowing is so well written by Straczynski.
I like how in a certain episode in season 4, it gives you essential backstory information that truly explains just why those questions upset Dalenn so much. (I wont say more here out of respect for the Channel rules)
"And when you stumble a lot, you start looking at your feet. We have to make people lift their eyes back to the horizon." I love Sheridan's response here, especially that part.
Andreas Katsulas literally suffered for his art. Notwithstanding the discomfort of his facial prosthetic and contact lenses. He was naturally quite a hairy guy. Every time you see G'kar in his robe, that torso piece gave him an involuntary chest and back waxing when it was removed....
Must admit, after seeing the recent debacle in pulling out of Afghanistan, some parts of this are really relevant at the moment. Andreas Katsulas is mesmerizing as G'kar. And so unexpected for me. When I saw the first episode, before knowing what was about to unfold, I had him and the Narn's down as the two dimensional villains of the series. And of course Londo and the Centauri as the comic relief. There was some phenomenal casting done on this series.
A very clever episode that shows us what the people back home on Earth are being told and shown about both the station and the various alien governments. Very well done exposition that does not come across as exposition at all.
Fellow Brit here. I'll be honest I've never been a fan of reaction videos, I watch tonnes of analysis and retrospectives. There was something charming about yours though. I followed B5 when it first came out but gained a new appreciation for it when i was just a few years older and I would relate to the characters from an emotional standpoint. Great to see people of a younger generation discovering and loving older shows in the same way I love the storytelling of the Original Star Trek. Too many people look at things like special effects which, although were impressive at the time have now dated. Character is king and it gives so much weight to the stories. An amazing ensemble cast as well as some great guest actors. There are so many great episodes over the years. No spoilers... but the next 2 episodes are REALLY good ones. I got the DVD box sets back when DVD's were a thing and got a lot of commentaries, the cast ones are so funny. Nice channel and I hope you can continue to grow it.
The level of detail in the acting and directing... when the reporter is on camera in the Zocolo, all the folks in the background moving their heads around, acting goofy cuz they're on camera.
This is the first of your reaction videos I have watched. This is marvelous. I was fortunate to watch B5 when it originally aired, and getting to watch you react is a joy.
I'm not sure if they use this phrase in the UK, but it used really used in the US, especially during live TV in the 50's & 60"s. It's part of the title for this episode, "And Now for a Word" from our sponsor. There was only one commercial as a part of the show.
I just binge watched your Season 1 and Season 2 playlists. Thank you for sharing. It's always nice to find kindred spirits when it comes to Babylon 5. Watching you watch these stories for the first time makes me profoundly nostalgic. Watching the series through your eyes is almost like watching the series again for the first time. Keep up the good works, and keep the episodes coming.
Your reactions to B-5 are one of the best things on RUclips, I love how you get the depth of this show, how very well written it was, the many plots and subplots, how each race has its own agenda, much of it unknown to us. With this level of writing I can forgive a lot, whether it's cheap sets or repetitive use of them, so long as the story and acting are engaging I was always going to return for another episode. I have them all on DVD including the movies and the brief spin-off. Sheriden's line about looking at your feet is very apt and the politics of WMDs and Earth First still ring true then as now. There's a great line in "V for Vendetta" that Evie says to V: Artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.
I do love in universe interview episodes. It gives us a perspective that we, the audience, don't usually get. How the regular people would see these people, because they're not front row seat to their lives like we are. MASH did a good one as well.
Love the vid and your reactions. Very happy to see your appreciation and fascination for the late GREAT, Phenomenal Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar. By far my favourite character, so beautifully written and a truly masterclass in performance and execution.
I love the little touch in the background with people looking at the camera. I hate how the ISN woman treated Delenn. It was like she enjoyed making her suffer. Heartwarming speech by Sheridan. He is the right man to run Babylon 5.
Just stumbled on your reactions to B5... GOD I miss this show! One could edit it down to a 4 hour movie called "The Long Dark Story of G'Kar and Londo Mollari"... and that one plotline alone would be better than anything on TV today.
i love how you are on a first name basis with most of the cast lol. Its like they are your friends. Not sure if you are aware but there is a babylon 5 group on facebook where you have quite a following.
I've been a fan pf Babylon 5 eve since I watch the pilot episode when it first aired oh so long ago. I just love watching your reactions as you watch each episode for the first time. The more you amazed you are about it the giddier I get knowing that the best has yet to come. I can't wait to see more of your reactions. A little behind the scenes tidbit for you... Andreas Katsalus (G'Kar) was a smoker, and could frequently be seen in make-up and costume smoking his ciggies outside the studio entrance. It must have been a sight.
I like these outside observer episodes they occasionally make in this series. They even had background extras try to get into the picture to be on TV. What other sci-fi series would ever do that? ^^ I also like how this episode shows the slippery slope, with ISN slowly transitioning away from a neutral newsservice toward more sensationalism and maybe even a bit of propaganda. Also don't hold this against Mollari. He is the mouth-piece for the Centauri Republic, not the one making the decisions. He has some power to influence his government, but not enough to request or reject the presence of a military capital ship. There is much that can be held against Londo, but not the events of this episode.
You mean a lot of propaganda. Even the intro was worded in a way to put Mars and Babylon 5 in a negative way. Most people in universe seeing it would not have the viewer´s familiarity with Babylon 5 and what goes on there and this would have been one of the few sources of information about it. What would you think about the station if this episode was only thing you have seen from the show? Seriously we should get a sample group who never saw this and have them watch just this episode and then write down what they thought. Then watch the series and compare the notes when they got to this episode the second time.
Getting this today just made my day, so thank you :) Very much looking forward to the next one too... I love how many details this one has. We learn about Earth, politics, the views of people outside our main cast, how everyone interacts with reporters.... Londo is very much the Centauri in this episode, not the person. G'Kar is exactly the opposite. Ivanova would love to throw the reporters out the next airlock, and Delenn is crushed. First the Minbari reject her, now the Humans, and that when she wanted to achieve the opposite. The scene is brilliant, but also almost painful to watch.
Was glad to see another episode so quickly. :) It's interesting to see B5 through the eyes of a news crew and of course background people would be hamming it up for the camera, just like in real life.
Back on track! Screw those WB blocks. This episode seems very current even though it was aired over 20 years ago. News networks spinning truths and reframing events and calls to keep the homeland first. Did I turn on the TV rather than RUclips? Also since she has already seen and posted on Patreon next weeks episode, I can guess with some assurance that she is going to lose her f@$*ing mind and I can barely wait for it
I know, so much to come - how will she cope!?!? Reviewing this episode was fascinating because I remember at the time it was extraordinarily 'current' too, but for different reasons. Cynicism about the cost (human and financial) of funding peacekeeping operations overseas was very much a thing, as were debates about whether the international community should even get involved with any of the horrible things going on at the time. Cynically evasive explanations as to why war criminals are actually being perfectly reasonable, and the gunboat bullying of neutral parties was something you could absolutely see on the news for real at the time this episode was shown...
A brilliant episode! You were surprised by the theme of this one, being completely from the point of view of the ISN... As innovative as it seemed, it was not a completely original idea. About 15 - 20 yrs earlier, a similar thing was done on one of the best TV series of the 70's-80's, "M.A.S.H." (1972 - 1983). I don't know if that was the first instance of a TV episode as seen from the point of view of a news crew, but it was also very well done. For anyone who has never seen "M.A.S.H.", you owe it to yourself. You will laugh your ass off, and you will cry real tears. And more often than I can count, you will do both in the very same episode!
M*A*S*H* has also had episodes from the point of view of a wounded soldier and even a dead one. The show felt free to experiment with unusual formats and concepts toward its end.
Welcome to the B5 family. I'm happily surprised younger folks like yourself are watching it. I hope you enjoy this wonderful ride. I think you will. 😊👍
The "you don't have to be crazy,...but it helps" is a very old joke. On this playback you were looking down as it showed the description at the bottom of the screen under Sheridan. I hope you did see it.
1:15 I'm bein picky, but it's the honour of Lennier's clan he saves, not his caste. There are many Minbari clans, there are only three castes, religious, warrior and worker.
Just found your channel. Super glad to find someone reacting to some really great shows. If you havent seen it already, you might want to consider adding "Fringe" to your watch list. youve got my sub!
I wouldn't say Clark wants Sheridan gone. He wanted Sinclair gone as factions within the government and military suspected he was a double agent for the Minbari. Sheridan, on paper, seems like a right-wing war hawk - a hard-nosed jarhead - who is the perfect embodiment of Clark's Earth-centric, 'fuck you' foreign policy. Who better as the Earth representative to the galactic UN than the man the Minbari consider a war criminal?
Not to suggest different content for your channel, but have you thought to do a character review at the end of the series? With how observant you are, I'd say that you could do a fantastic video on G'Kar and Londo at the end of the series which would be a way to highlight just how good Andreas Katsulas was in the role (and Peter Jurasik too). I don't know if it would work for all shows but for B5 it's certainly rich enough to merit it
This episode starts a great run of stories all the way to the season's end. If you've been enjoying the show up to now then prepare to be amazed because Babylon 5 is about to go up another level. 👍
Well not exactly, the way the headlines reported in the media it sure seems that way, However it is really not the case. What happened is when it came out in the news that the current Dr Who showrunner decided to step down, JMS posted on social media that he would love to take the Job. He also said that no one has asked him,, and that he doubts the BBC would even consider him for the job (believing they would probably prefer a Brit in the job for cultural reasons). If you read past just the headline and read the actual article you learn this. I don't believe he will be the next show runner for Who.... That being said I would absolutely LOVE it, if it does happen.
Can't wait to watch the rest of your reactions to season 2. Oh since I'm certain you've finished it by now, I don't know when you're starting on season 3, but skip the credit intro for season 3 for the first episode, it contains a minor spoiler for the episode.
It's a super episode because it's a sort of objective look on what's happening. Whilst it's quite painful to watch the reporter suddenly tearing into Delenn, it's just investigative journalism, it's just that Delenn has never been exposed to it so she's not prepared. If you take the episode as a documentary it's actually relatively balanced which suggests that it isn't totally Clarke driven otherwise it would have more of a downer on the aliens in general. Also really clever how they have the film crew tap into the station's cameras so we get the space combat as part of the documentary in quite a legitimate way. I think when I looked at it I suggested it would be a good way to bring someone into the show who wasn't familiar with it, because it catches you up but doesn't massively spoil you in the process....
She obviously got hit by the subliminal. They actually had to make it long enough to be properly visible as I recall because there are actually rules on that sort of thing in the US...
@medusa cascade Just so you know, you've gained a following on the semi-official B5 fan page on facebook. I say semi-official because many of the remaiming cast and crew have a presence there.
Hehe I knew you'd like this episode. Yeah, on first viewing, ISN seems kind of antagonistic toward B5, but at the end of the day they presented all relevant points of view more or less equally. How about that PsiCorps commercial, huh?
"Is this the whole point of this?" you asked a few minutes in. I think that by the end, the point is quite clear: propaganda. Trying to portray B5 as a waste of money for the folks back home who now live under a corrupt government (as you put it, President Clarke trying to throw some doubt on B5 and trying to depict aliens in a bad light). Again, something we see too often in the real world and the way JMS chose to present this was indeed pure genius. Glad you really enjoyed it.
I'm surprised you left out the part when Kosh came gliding through. The Mimbari were a very authoritarian culture, so the idea of a free press was a little strange to Delenn, hence her reluctance to give an interview. I don't know if there was an agenda behind ISN going the Babylon 5, beyond getting a story.
Kudos to you on your analysis and understanding of the policy thrust of the Clerk Administration, it's still quite subtle at this point and I didn't pick up on it nearly so quickly as you did. As others have mentioned in the comments section, Babylon 5 stands out among sci-fi shows because of the quality of the writing and the acting skills of the cast. The complexity of the political situation in the show, for me, seems to parallel the build up to World War 2.....
So much of politics is just seeking power and avoiding the blame. Very few political animals get through their time on stage without reality biting them in half, for which I am thankful, but also: 'can't we see it coming and do something about it?'
One thing that is lost in watching this on video instead of the original broadcast is that the fake Psi-corps commercial was inserted in the middle of the commercial break making you do a double take.
Just a quick note. Please do not post any comments regarding future characters/plot points/episodes/seasons or anything here which will impact my viewing of this show. I have requested repeatedly for the comments to be completely clear of this information. My moderators are still repeatedly removing these type of comments.
On seperate note: please read the community tab for updates on uploads. There have been many posts explaining why videos will not be to schedule for the next few weeks. Thank you.
The best episodes are yet to come, keep at it.
@@OrangesodaTR Yeah, might be a good idea to set aside other shows cause soon you're gonna be compelled to binge B5 at least through to the end of season 4.
Does this include future guest stars?
@@putinscat1208 I would assume.
@@sdfried4877 shitz, in hel
I just stumbled upon your channel and your reaction to Babylon 5 episodes. It's one of my favorite shows, probably watched the series at least 5 times through. With that said, I love the pure joy and discovery that you're having with the series. Me and a buddy of mine were watching the series as it aired, so we had to wait a week for the next episode, but we'd talk about it and speculate on the meanings of things and what consequences people's actions will have. You have a really good insight into G'Kar. The Londo/G'Kar relationship is exquisite. You are on a very special ride. I'm going to tag along to relive the wonder I had when I first watched the series.
This episode is supposedly about Babylon 5, as covered by a reporter. But we hear troubles on Mars, the Earth senator's apathetic attitude, the Psi-Corps commercial, the reporter aggressively questioning Delenn, and pointedly reminding Sheridan Earth technically didn't lose the war. This episode was about Earth.
"I did not expect an episode like this ... " .. Yeah, that's common with Babylon 5. You always expect the unexpected. And Sheridan's speech about stumbling and looking at your feet resonates SO much today. We Have stumbled a lot recently and have started to look at our feet and we need to look back at the horizon.
I can't wait for "Interludes"... 🥺
A subtle reference in the episode: the reporter mentions "*former* senator Hidoshi" (Hidoshi was the senator who Sinclair was dealing with most of the time). It shows that there are political changes afoot back on Earth as well.
This is why Babylon 5 is so special and stands out of other Sci-fi shows.
The character development and back storys of every thing in the show is so well written and done before they started writing the script and story..
The actors are not just playing the role they are playing them selfs .
I've always found those Narn heavy cruisers a thing of beauty. It's an amazing design.
They were always my favourites - the lovely paintwork etc. In the long run I don't know if B5s ship design was ever properly appreciated (even if they did exist as Micro Machines at one time).
Most B5 fans agree with you. Personally I prefer the blunt functionality of EA ships and the curves of Centauri vessels.
@@Matej_Sojka I can definitely agree about the EA vessels, with the rotating sections etc - they convey a sense of functional reality that isn't necessary but contributes so much more to the universe than simply looking good.
Best looking ships in all of sci-fi. 2 miles of Narn military might...half battleship, half carrier...a fascinating middle place between the sleek high-tech ships of the older races (Minbari) and the industrial brutalism of the younger races (EA).
I always reference this episode as evidence the Narn and Centauri were equal in military might...and that it was only by the constant surgical strikes of the Shadows on the Narn fleet and colonies that allowed the Centauri to hold their own.
You should hear the stories that Jerry Doyle told about Andreas Katsulas when they were roommates during the filming. I hate that so many have passed on. Of the main cast I believe only Claudia, Bruce, Peter and Bill are still alive. RIP Jerry, Andreas, Mira, Richard, Stephen, Jeff, Michael, Tim and Robin.
Andrea Thompson (Talia) is also still alive, as are Robert Rusler (Keffer), Julie Caitlin Brown and Mary Kay Adams (both Na'Toth)... plus a few that we haven't seen (much) of yet :)
But yeah, a lot have left us, and on occasion that makes certain scenes really hard to watch.
On a brighter note, I am now once again laughing about the free ham. What an amazing group of people.
@@mayra3277 "I'm going to get that ham!"
@@mayra3277 Lyta and Bester too.
@@fig7047 Lyta's head has gotten alot bigger.
@@mayra3277 as is Patricia Tallman, and Tracy Scoggins (spoiler but it is a three year old post so I think it is okay).
Two episodes in one week? Love it!
I appreciate your comments about G'kar and Katsulas' acting. I steel feel hat him and Jurasik should have received awards for what they did on the show.
SFX magazine gave Katsulas a Best Supporting Actor award in their '95 poll, for what that's worth... It's the only time in my life that I've been actually moved to cut a little form out of a magazine and post it because of something I saw on telly...
So many good actors here, but for me Andreas Katsulas takes the cake.
Absolutely!
G'Kar and Londo , IMO are the main 2 characters (if there is such a thing in B5) both actors who play each role are of the highest calibre, they make the personalities so real
Andy K the smoking machine
And here I am still excited about a new episode yesterday!
I am so happy to get two episodes in a week, thank you for giving us your time. I did comment in you live stream about me rewatching Babylon 5 in sync with you. It takes all my willpower to stop myself watching the next episode but I am glad I do it. I get excited when you post a new episode it makes my day..... thank you medusa xx
I don't think any other show has done as good of a job of depicting a living world as Babylon 5. Everything feels real.
It's very difficult to pull off this level of world-building in a TV show. I've played games and read books with worlds that are at least this fleshed out, but you play games or read books at your own pace. You can read at your leisure or choose to ignore the main objective and spend a couple of hours wandering around and exploring. A show has episodes and those episodes have to be a certain length, and each episode has to be a satisfying story in its own right (or a clear part of an arc with a very specific point), so it's really tricky to flesh out the world-building to this level without killing the pacing or leaving vital plot points unexplained.
Babylon 5 didn't manage it 100% of the time - The Gathering just stops the story dead to dump exposition on the audience a few times, and the writers don't fully get past that issue until about halfway through season 1 - but it's still really impressive that it managed that balancing act as often as it did.
@@Talisguy I certainly don't have the experience to make truly comprehensive comparisons,¹ but _I suppose_ one could also attribute that to it being not only one person's vision, but having them be the showrunner as well as writing the _vast_ majority of episodes. 🤷🏼♂️
Come to think of it, when a question is asked by any given performer or department head, the answer is going to be pretty definitive, as it's coming from THE source.
··•✺•··
¹ ─ Since I imagine other shows have accomplished this quite well, without having a single individual be _all things_ to the show.
@@Talisguy Indeed...JMS still holds the record for writing the most consecutive episodes of any show on television. Very specifically he wrote EVERY episode in season 3 and 4, a feat unmatched by anyone else in TV.
I think there are other shows that have done as good or even better job (The Expanse, Game of Thrones, etc) , but importantly those all come AFTER Babylon 5. B5 demonstrated that the extra expense and effort was worth it. Prior to B5 there was a general consensus that scifi fans didn't care about the details, that theater of the mind could fill in the blanks. Doctor Who's cheesy special effects. Star Trek's alien worlds that all look like southern California. The SciFi Geeks would take what they could get. It didn't help that most of the scifi and fantasy shows of the 80's and 90's were set in contemporary settings.
Another sci-fi show where everything seems real is the reboot of Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009). Everything looks old and used, the Galactica being a very old ship is very obvious. The details! Right down to the shape of sheets of paper! Brilliant production values!
B5 is one of those shows that will remain forever relevant to the current world we live in.
I remember a huge amount of buzz for this episode, Channel 4 even had an episode of it's sci-fi quiz show tie in.
I think, it's been a couple of decades since it happened!
Lol, I checked, wrong episode, but it has a similar theme (I was thinking of a season 4 episode lol)
@@SkageXL5 Yeah, the season 4 one actually got (and probably still gets) used in certain college classes...
I would have loved to have seen your face when Kosh scurried off at the sight of the press lmao
Nice!!- went from worrying you were lost in Hyperspace to getting 2 episodes in 2 days!
This is possibly one of my favorite episodes of the entire series & I'm so glad that you've finally got to it!
They ramped the chaos & confusion (& body count!) up to 11 for this 'outsiders look' at Babylon 5 and the whole cast were on top form, but I have to agree with you: Andreas stole the show here!
This series is amazing you watch the entire series for the first time and you see a full story. But if you watch it a second time you pick up a few things you missed on your first viewing that are breadcrumbs for future episodes JMS set unbelievable standards that changed the way future TV shows are written. In future episodes prepare yourself for every emotion under the Sun
Wonderful. I like this episode, too. Did you know that this episode was directed by Stephen Furst (Vir)? He will direct one or two more Babylon 5 episodes. I think, along with the script, he did a splendid job here.
You are right, Delenn should have declined the interview, she was not ready. The reporter was definitely rude!
.. and here we go again, the escalation of the Narn-Centauri war. Andreas and Peter do such a good job as ambassadors.
Throw-away lines: They are **very** rarely that. Most of those come back to "haunt" us. Foreshadowing is so well written by Straczynski.
I like how in a certain episode in season 4, it gives you essential backstory information that truly explains just why those questions upset Dalenn so much. (I wont say more here out of respect for the Channel rules)
@@waltermc3906 I said the same thing on a different reaction channel. Delenn’s reaction is explained.
Yeah, that reporter deserved a solid smacking around just for what she did to Delenn. Another one for her participation in the propaganda. 🤬
"And when you stumble a lot, you start looking at your feet. We have to make people lift their eyes back to the horizon."
I love Sheridan's response here, especially that part.
Andreas Katsulas literally suffered for his art. Notwithstanding the discomfort of his facial prosthetic and contact lenses. He was naturally quite a hairy guy. Every time you see G'kar in his robe, that torso piece gave him an involuntary chest and back waxing when it was removed....
Great actor, his G'Kar performances are magic
Must admit, after seeing the recent debacle in pulling out of Afghanistan, some parts of this are really relevant at the moment.
Andreas Katsulas is mesmerizing as G'kar. And so unexpected for me. When I saw the first episode, before knowing what was about to unfold, I had him and the Narn's down as the two dimensional villains of the series. And of course Londo and the Centauri as the comic relief.
There was some phenomenal casting done on this series.
As G'kar said: No one here is exactly what he appears
A very clever episode that shows us what the people back home on Earth are being told and shown about both the station and the various alien governments. Very well done exposition that does not come across as exposition at all.
Great episode. Andreas, Peter and of course wonderful Mira are/were phenominal actors. RIP Andreas and Mira.
B5 reactions on consecutive days. I could get used to this.
G'Kar's delivery.....stunning. him and Londo are just so solid and real characters, so well written and acted, as you have seen and as you will see :D
I noticed you are borderline crying, I agree with your tears and have also cried at various times during this show
Fellow Brit here. I'll be honest I've never been a fan of reaction videos, I watch tonnes of analysis and retrospectives. There was something charming about yours though. I followed B5 when it first came out but gained a new appreciation for it when i was just a few years older and I would relate to the characters from an emotional standpoint. Great to see people of a younger generation discovering and loving older shows in the same way I love the storytelling of the Original Star Trek. Too many people look at things like special effects which, although were impressive at the time have now dated. Character is king and it gives so much weight to the stories. An amazing ensemble cast as well as some great guest actors. There are so many great episodes over the years. No spoilers... but the next 2 episodes are REALLY good ones. I got the DVD box sets back when DVD's were a thing and got a lot of commentaries, the cast ones are so funny. Nice channel and I hope you can continue to grow it.
The level of detail in the acting and directing... when the reporter is on camera in the Zocolo, all the folks in the background moving their heads around, acting goofy cuz they're on camera.
This is the first of your reaction videos I have watched. This is marvelous. I was fortunate to watch B5 when it originally aired, and getting to watch you react is a joy.
Why did you leave out the David Corwin scene? Him making sure he gives the 'right' answer so he doesn't suffer The Wrath Of God is PRICELESS!
I'm not sure if they use this phrase in the UK, but it used really used in the US, especially during live TV in the 50's & 60"s. It's part of the title for this episode, "And Now for a Word" from our sponsor. There was only one commercial as a part of the show.
Ambassador Kosh does not do interviews.
Several reporters tried to interview him. None returned....
I just binge watched your Season 1 and Season 2 playlists. Thank you for sharing. It's always nice to find kindred spirits when it comes to Babylon 5. Watching you watch these stories for the first time makes me profoundly nostalgic. Watching the series through your eyes is almost like watching the series again for the first time. Keep up the good works, and keep the episodes coming.
Hope you enjoyed the binge. Now that you’re caught up, waiting for new episodes is sometimes worse than it was in 1995.
Your reactions to B-5 are one of the best things on RUclips, I love how you get the depth of this show, how very well written it was, the many plots and subplots, how each race has its own agenda, much of it unknown to us. With this level of writing I can forgive a lot, whether it's cheap sets or repetitive use of them, so long as the story and acting are engaging I was always going to return for another episode. I have them all on DVD including the movies and the brief spin-off. Sheriden's line about looking at your feet is very apt and the politics of WMDs and Earth First still ring true then as now.
There's a great line in "V for Vendetta" that Evie says to V:
Artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.
11:26 _"We need to protect these dimples."_ 🤣
I am so glad YT suggested your channel. I now have to go back and watch the previous reactions. thank you for watching this show.
I do love in universe interview episodes. It gives us a perspective that we, the audience, don't usually get. How the regular people would see these people, because they're not front row seat to their lives like we are. MASH did a good one as well.
I love the worry in your voice when you called out "John!" at the beginning of the attack. You're one of us, and for sure! :)
Love the vid and your reactions. Very happy to see your appreciation and fascination for the late GREAT, Phenomenal Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar.
By far my favourite character, so beautifully written and a truly masterclass in performance and execution.
G'Kar has some amazing speeches and most of them haven't happened for you yet.
10:19
*Ivanova* _'Close blast doors now!'_
_...awkward silence..._
*3rd Technician* _'Oh was that m...'_
I love the little touch in the background with people looking at the camera.
I hate how the ISN woman treated Delenn. It was like she enjoyed making her suffer.
Heartwarming speech by Sheridan. He is the right man to run Babylon 5.
If you can get your guest to cry, it’s great for ratings. Barbara Walters was quite good at it.
Just stumbled on your reactions to B5... GOD I miss this show! One could edit it down to a 4 hour movie called "The Long Dark Story of G'Kar and Londo Mollari"... and that one plotline alone would be better than anything on TV today.
i love how you are on a first name basis with most of the cast lol. Its like they are your friends. Not sure if you are aware but there is a babylon 5 group on facebook where you have quite a following.
She's getting it!!! Medusa is hooked!!!
I've been a fan pf Babylon 5 eve since I watch the pilot episode when it first aired oh so long ago.
I just love watching your reactions as you watch each episode for the first time. The more you amazed you are about it the giddier I get knowing that the best has yet to come. I can't wait to see more of your reactions.
A little behind the scenes tidbit for you... Andreas Katsalus (G'Kar) was a smoker, and could frequently be seen in make-up and costume smoking his ciggies outside the studio entrance.
It must have been a sight.
I like these outside observer episodes they occasionally make in this series.
They even had background extras try to get into the picture to be on TV. What other sci-fi series would ever do that? ^^
I also like how this episode shows the slippery slope, with ISN slowly transitioning away from a neutral newsservice toward more sensationalism and maybe even a bit of propaganda.
Also don't hold this against Mollari. He is the mouth-piece for the Centauri Republic, not the one making the decisions. He has some power to influence his government, but not enough to request or reject the presence of a military capital ship. There is much that can be held against Londo, but not the events of this episode.
You mean a lot of propaganda. Even the intro was worded in a way to put Mars and Babylon 5 in a negative way. Most people in universe seeing it would not have the viewer´s familiarity with Babylon 5 and what goes on there and this would have been one of the few sources of information about it. What would you think about the station if this episode was only thing you have seen from the show? Seriously we should get a sample group who never saw this and have them watch just this episode and then write down what they thought. Then watch the series and compare the notes when they got to this episode the second time.
Getting this today just made my day, so thank you :) Very much looking forward to the next one too...
I love how many details this one has. We learn about Earth, politics, the views of people outside our main cast, how everyone interacts with reporters....
Londo is very much the Centauri in this episode, not the person. G'Kar is exactly the opposite. Ivanova would love to throw the reporters out the next airlock, and Delenn is crushed. First the Minbari reject her, now the Humans, and that when she wanted to achieve the opposite. The scene is brilliant, but also almost painful to watch.
Was glad to see another episode so quickly. :) It's interesting to see B5 through the eyes of a news crew and of course background people would be hamming it up for the camera, just like in real life.
Subliminal Advertising: "The PSI Corps is your Friend. Trust the Corps."
Back on track! Screw those WB blocks. This episode seems very current even though it was aired over 20 years ago. News networks spinning truths and reframing events and calls to keep the homeland first. Did I turn on the TV rather than RUclips? Also since she has already seen and posted on Patreon next weeks episode, I can guess with some assurance that she is going to lose her f@$*ing mind and I can barely wait for it
I know, so much to come - how will she cope!?!? Reviewing this episode was fascinating because I remember at the time it was extraordinarily 'current' too, but for different reasons. Cynicism about the cost (human and financial) of funding peacekeeping operations overseas was very much a thing, as were debates about whether the international community should even get involved with any of the horrible things going on at the time. Cynically evasive explanations as to why war criminals are actually being perfectly reasonable, and the gunboat bullying of neutral parties was something you could absolutely see on the news for real at the time this episode was shown...
A brilliant episode! You were surprised by the theme of this one, being completely from the point of view of the ISN... As innovative as it seemed, it was not a completely original idea. About 15 - 20 yrs earlier, a similar thing was done on one of the best TV series of the 70's-80's, "M.A.S.H." (1972 - 1983). I don't know if that was the first instance of a TV episode as seen from the point of view of a news crew, but it was also very well done.
For anyone who has never seen "M.A.S.H.", you owe it to yourself.
You will laugh your ass off, and you will cry real tears. And more often than I can count, you will do both in the very same episode!
M*A*S*H* has also had episodes from the point of view of a wounded soldier and even a dead one. The show felt free to experiment with unusual formats and concepts toward its end.
Brilliant episode, I really appreciate the fast turnaround! Thank you!
Welcome to the B5 family. I'm happily surprised younger folks like yourself are watching it. I hope you enjoy this wonderful ride. I think you will. 😊👍
One of my all time favourite episodes. That title is so bloody clever.
The box is beginning to open... It gets so much better :)
I've watched a looooooot of scifi in my time, G'Kar is definitely my all time favourite character.
The "you don't have to be crazy,...but it helps" is a very old joke.
On this playback you were looking down as it showed the description at the bottom of the screen under Sheridan. I hope you did see it.
1:15 I'm bein picky, but it's the honour of Lennier's clan he saves, not his caste. There are many Minbari clans, there are only three castes, religious, warrior and worker.
Just found your channel. Super glad to find someone reacting to some really great shows. If you havent seen it already, you might want to consider adding "Fringe" to your watch list. youve got my sub!
Fringe was really good. Declined somewhat, especially in the last season.
I wouldn't say Clark wants Sheridan gone. He wanted Sinclair gone as factions within the government and military suspected he was a double agent for the Minbari. Sheridan, on paper, seems like a right-wing war hawk - a hard-nosed jarhead - who is the perfect embodiment of Clark's Earth-centric, 'fuck you' foreign policy. Who better as the Earth representative to the galactic UN than the man the Minbari consider a war criminal?
Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar got some excellent material to work with. I always thought he gave some of the best speeches.
Whoo-hoo! Two practically back-to-back.
Now, onwards to watching your enjoyment of the show.
Not to suggest different content for your channel, but have you thought to do a character review at the end of the series? With how observant you are, I'd say that you could do a fantastic video on G'Kar and Londo at the end of the series which would be a way to highlight just how good Andreas Katsulas was in the role (and Peter Jurasik too). I don't know if it would work for all shows but for B5 it's certainly rich enough to merit it
This episode starts a great run of stories all the way to the season's end. If you've been enjoying the show up to now then prepare to be amazed because Babylon 5 is about to go up another level. 👍
just found your channel. really enjoying your reactions to B5 and like the break downs at the end with your thoughts. hope you keep.
The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps.
So many levels and layers to this episode love it!
I love JMS's creativity, hes a front runner to be showrunner for the next season of Dr Who!
Well not exactly, the way the headlines reported in the media it sure seems that way, However it is really not the case. What happened is when it came out in the news that the current Dr Who showrunner decided to step down, JMS posted on social media that he would love to take the Job. He also said that no one has asked him,, and that he doubts the BBC would even consider him for the job (believing they would probably prefer a Brit in the job for cultural reasons). If you read past just the headline and read the actual article you learn this.
I don't believe he will be the next show runner for Who.... That being said I would absolutely LOVE it, if it does happen.
Did you catch the subliminal message in the commercial?
I wonder about this too. Episode is litterally named after "And now for a word from our sponsor..."
Can't wait to watch the rest of your reactions to season 2. Oh since I'm certain you've finished it by now, I don't know when you're starting on season 3, but skip the credit intro for season 3 for the first episode, it contains a minor spoiler for the episode.
I am so happy for this series, it reminds me of when I saw this all for the first time…
It's a super episode because it's a sort of objective look on what's happening. Whilst it's quite painful to watch the reporter suddenly tearing into Delenn, it's just investigative journalism, it's just that Delenn has never been exposed to it so she's not prepared. If you take the episode as a documentary it's actually relatively balanced which suggests that it isn't totally Clarke driven otherwise it would have more of a downer on the aliens in general. Also really clever how they have the film crew tap into the station's cameras so we get the space combat as part of the documentary in quite a legitimate way. I think when I looked at it I suggested it would be a good way to bring someone into the show who wasn't familiar with it, because it catches you up but doesn't massively spoil you in the process....
j"kars speech in moments of transition,wow it so true..
The wonderful thing about the throw away lines in Babylon 5 is that so very few of them actually are...
the interstellar politics is part of what makes this a great series.
Nothing about or with the Psi Corp commercial/PSA?.....THEY GOT TO YOU?!?!
She obviously got hit by the subliminal. They actually had to make it long enough to be properly visible as I recall because there are actually rules on that sort of thing in the US...
John "I got a Killer speech, for sure its a beast, even better than the last one" Sheridan
cue slow zoom....
@medusa cascade Just so you know, you've gained a following on the semi-official B5 fan page on facebook.
I say semi-official because many of the remaiming cast and crew have a presence there.
Wasn't this the episode where the reporter kept mispronouncing Ivanova's name as "Eye-vuh-KNOW-vuh"?
I just watched this episode. B5 just upped it's game.
On rewatching this it is quite striking how the news in 2022 is not far off the ISNN studio; CGI, flashy, almost physically impossible 😂
Wow, you are in for a wild ride. What a wonderful series.
Thank you for giving us much joy with 2 a week, hope you are well and see another soon
Hehe I knew you'd like this episode. Yeah, on first viewing, ISN seems kind of antagonistic toward B5, but at the end of the day they presented all relevant points of view more or less equally. How about that PsiCorps commercial, huh?
Another good episode. i do love it when the shooting starts.
"Is this the whole point of this?" you asked a few minutes in. I think that by the end, the point is quite clear: propaganda. Trying to portray B5 as a waste of money for the folks back home who now live under a corrupt government (as you put it, President Clarke trying to throw some doubt on B5 and trying to depict aliens in a bad light). Again, something we see too often in the real world and the way JMS chose to present this was indeed pure genius. Glad you really enjoyed it.
Great episode and a Great reaction
B5 is such a awesome show. Looking forward for your future reaction to this show.
Another one so soon!👍
We are lucky this week:)
One of my favourite episodes in the whole series. :-)
Wow, a whole week early! Don't make this a habit. Or do!
More that the last episode was almost a week late. But B5 and her reactions to it are worth the wait.
I'm surprised you left out the part when Kosh came gliding through.
The Mimbari were a very authoritarian culture, so the idea of a free press was a little strange to Delenn, hence her reluctance to give an interview.
I don't know if there was an agenda behind ISN going the Babylon 5, beyond getting a story.
I love this episode.
Kudos to you on your analysis and understanding of the policy thrust of the Clerk Administration, it's still quite subtle at this point and I didn't pick up on it nearly so quickly as you did. As others have mentioned in the comments section, Babylon 5 stands out among sci-fi shows because of the quality of the writing and the acting skills of the cast. The complexity of the political situation in the show, for me, seems to parallel the build up to World War 2.....
Sadly, a lot of the politics are written well enough that they can keep finding many parallels...
So much of politics is just seeking power and avoiding the blame.
Very few political animals get through their time on stage without reality biting them in half, for which I am thankful, but also: 'can't we see it coming and do something about it?'
2 episodes in 2 days - excellent. Can't wait for more :)
Wow! So early? Actually late for me. It's 12:16am. LOL!
After b5, consider watching and analyzing "The Expanse". Similar long frame story narratives but different, more realistic setting
Testing to see if I can make a comment. Well that's weird. It worked and I don't know what I've changed. Anyway, great reaction to a classic episode.
One thing that is lost in watching this on video instead of the original broadcast is that the fake Psi-corps commercial was inserted in the middle of the commercial break making you do a double take.