Comments | dr_nebula: Yeah, I'm bored.

dr_nebula

Yeah, I'm bored.

Mar 03, 2009 13:00

In Lieu of *real* content..

What is the best 'space opera' series? About a week and a half ago, I started watching the entire Babylon 5 series beginning with year 1. Unlike the other years, I've never seen *all* of the episodes so there were a few minor 'surprises' and revelations that I haven't seen before. IMHO, Sinclair was a much better ( Read more... )

Comments 20

unixronin March 3 2009, 18:25:45 UTC

I agree Sinclair was never allowed to develop to his full potential. (Basically because the network execs got cold feet - he was too cerebral for them; they didn't understand the character.) Sheridan stepped up to the plate magnificently, though, and I think Sheridan/Boxleitner pulled off some of the later arc developments better than Sinclair/O'Hare would have. O'Hare's Sinclair was almost ideal as the enigmatic later-to-be-messianic figure, but he really didn't do "military commander" well. I honestly think it was better in the end that the succession of command went as it did. From season 2 on, Babylon 5 didn't need an enigmatic diplomat-with-a-mysterious-past in command, it needed a hard-nosed no-quarter-given-nor-asked brawler, and that's what Boxleitner brought to the table as Sheridan ( ... )

dr_nebula March 3 2009, 18:33:13 UTC

Yeah, I agree on Sinclair - he wasn't as good a military commander as Sheridan needed after season 2. Still, I think he was phased out too abruptly in the series.

As for a Messianic figure - it was interesting to see DS9's Sisko evolve into that same sort of character. They used to accuse B5 as a ripoff of DS9 - but after awhile it really was the other way around.

skellington March 3 2009, 18:49:42 UTC

B5 was pitched as a star trek series, I've heard. Let's not go there. :-)

And I think, but I'm not sure, that the actor who played Sinclair had health issues of some kind. We saw him at one of the DragonCon's while B5 was still going, and he didn't look well.

And I wouldn't put them as best (although I haven't watched them all), but you left off BSG, Stargate, Dr. Who, Lex... What else am I missing?

(Space 1999, the original BSG, Blake 7...)

dr_nebula March 3 2009, 18:58:16 UTC

Yeah, the new BSG probably should be in that list. But since I don't have cable (I watch the DVD's when they do come out) - I forgot to include it.

As for Stargate series - I don't think of it as the same sort of 'space opera' as the others (though it obviously has alien worlds -etc).

Thread 5

writersblock_va March 3 2009, 18:30:39 UTC

B5 all the way, so long as we kinda gloss over the Final year of B5.

And Ivanova, totally fuckin rocks. That scene where they are going to fight for earth, and she's there to send the guy to hell? Oh Ya! She is BAD-ASS.

jadecat March 3 2009, 19:13:06 UTC

Babylon 5 was only four years long... ;)

technoshaman March 3 2009, 18:30:44 UTC

HEY! Best in fight should have had Delenn, too!

Why not! There is only one human captain to survive battle with the Minbari. *HE* is behind me. YOU are in front of me. If you value your lives, BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

You were *there* for that. She kicked Earthfleet ass without firing a shot. Sent'em back home with their tails between their legs.

I'm glad you had a ticky-box for Best Leader, though. Tough call between Mal and Delenn. Sheridan and Picard are right there, but Delenn has this shock and awe thing going... and Mal? If you ever have a fight with him, you'll be facing him, and you'll be armed. :)

The only reason Firefly wasn't the most awesome thing evar is because it didn't last long enough. But it's still got one of the best fandoms ever... including vixyish and tfabris, who are good friends of mine and who are responsible for "Mal's Song", the instrumental version of which is on the companion DVD to the movie. Honestly? I know some Jedi, and Trekkies, and BSG fans (do they have a name?), and a bunch of other fandoms ( ... )

dr_nebula March 3 2009, 18:36:07 UTC

One thing that was really good about B5 - the female characters weren't the sterotypical pushovers. Lots of fire and kick-ass and at the same time weren't hard on the eyes.

:-)

technoshaman March 3 2009, 18:48:10 UTC

*nods* Ivanova, Lochley, Delenn, Na'Toth, Talia, Lyta (yum!)... even that ISN reporter Maggie Eagan played was kinda cute. Gave good hugs, too. ;)

(I think she was thrilled just to have fans atall, after playing a bit part...)

'course, the other shows have a few kick-ass women as well... Zoe, River, Kaylee (lady mechanics are just hot)... Major Kira, Kate Pulaski... oh, whatserface, Denise Richards played the tac witch... (the latter term swiped from another strong woman character, Shannon Foraker of the Republican Navy out of Dave Weber's Honorverse.... speaking of strong female characters... Honor, Queen Elizabeth, Mike Henke, Abigail Owens, oh, jeez, he's got a laundry list... ) Janeway was feisty, but she liked to cheat a little too much.

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Thread 5

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dr_nebula March 3 2009, 18:53:40 UTC

Well, my main character favs were G'Kar and Londo, though Garibaldi was lots of fun when he wasn't hitting the bottle.

Hottest female - Lyta (yumm)

Best minor repeating character - Zathras.

jadecat March 3 2009, 19:15:43 UTC

G'Kar was definitely one of my favorites.

Lyta... yowsa.

But, I must admit to a fondness for Marcus.

(and an icon mixing two fandoms...)

1_rhiannon_1 March 3 2009, 19:32:11 UTC

I'm with you on the Garibaldi love :D And I gotta throw Marus in there too.

mr_spock March 3 2009, 19:30:18 UTC

I'm going to abstain from voting, because I haven't seen enough episodes of B5, ST:E or ST:TNG to be able to vote sensibly. The only series listed that I know for a fact I've seen every episode of was ST:V - and only because we got the whole series from Netflix one disc at a time.