so, babylon 5
I don't really know where to start here, but it's not a formal review, so I guess that doesn't matter. Not cut b/c the only people who're seeing this are ones who presumably want to read it and can't be spoiled.
SRS BSNS
I feel like...I laugh a lot at inappropriate times. Like there are clearly scenes meant to be dramatic but someone's line delivery (usually Sinclair's (I'm going to try to be good and capitalize properly and consistently here, but no guarantees for that, nor for immaculate grammar.)) is completely overwrought and I bust out giggling. I can't help but wonder if it's intentional homage to Kirk?
Or maybe it's just the actor trying too hard. Overall it seems everybody's trying a bit too hard at this stage. A lot of lines come across sort of "off" for me. I expect that'll improve as the actors get to know each other better, but it does give a lot of scenes a bit of a self-conscious feel. The often corny props and fx--and maybe the cinematography--a lot of scenes seem too well-lit, too wide angle, not gritty enough, and it all combines to take me out of the scene a bit.
Unrealistic reality
I don't...really care for Sinclair's leadership style, but it's pretty obviously more realistic than that of most TV/movie military commanders. He's basically like, okay: I'm gonna procrastinate, then I'm gonna procrastinate, then I'm going to do something clever in the most quiet, non-commanding way possible and let people be mad at me when they find out. Which is...basically how government people-in-charge operate. Except in real life things don't work out a lot of the time.
Also, when are we going to see main military characters angry with each other? At each other's throats? Disobeying orders? Handling dissent in the ranks is something Sinclair has yet to do. Everyone seems happy to abide by his decisions once he's made them. In that sense it's unrealistic, and also annoying. I'm spoiled maybe--and I know a lot of people hate him, for quite legitmate reasons--by Adama. Whatever his flaws, damn could that man hold together a fleet that basically wanted to kill each other every second of the whole series. Sinclair operates calmly and efficiently...I want to see him deal with something that knocks him off balance and requires more assertiveness. The closest we've come is Franklin disobeying the order not to operate, but he didn't get in any trouble for that.
Who's in charge of this ship, anyway?
Are Talia and Ivanova going to be in the same room anytime soon?
Show yourself, villain
There seems to be a lot of "I will do selfish things that appear to make me unlikeable, but secretly I have a heart of gold" going on amongst the ambassadors. Except Kosh, of course, who is more, "You guys suck; I'm not playing." I think (I hope? I know?) there is some gen-u-ine treachery in the future, which I'm looking forward to. I need backstory, I need motivations, I need emotional brokenness and bad decisions. I liked The Silmarillion better than LOTR, what can I say?
The Helmet
What more needs to be said?
Excuse me, your CGI is showing
I mean, BSG it's not. I wasn't expecting it to be. It isn't bad. They seem to have moved away from the silly blue lightning bolts at least. I'm trying to remember when Toy Story came out--'95, so right in the middle of the series. Pixar was cutting edge at the time--still is, I'd argue--coming anywhere close was an achievement. But I would gladly have traded some CGI quality for better quality fighter cockpit scenes.
Doctor, Doctor, give me the news
I like Franklin. I think he's been given the most personality development so far, despite knowing less about his background than we do about, say, Ivanova's. His moral dilemmas are personal. He gets angry about them. He's kind of an ass sometimes. We haven't really seen those things from anyone else yet.
Xenosociology
Despite being exposed to a bunch of bits of alien culture, it's hard for me to feel anything specific about the ambassadors. I think this is possibly b/c the characterization we've gotten so far has been about their cultures, not them as individuals. Contrast that to Farscape, where finding out about a race's culture happened gradually through the course of getting to know the individual. Whereas here we learn about racial enmities and religious traditions and politics before we really know anything about the people. Except Londo. B/c his personality is so loud that he gets developed just by the tone in which he delivers his lines. I think this is exacerbated b/c it's just a very BIG ensemble cast. Every ambassdor plus attache, then all the humans, and then the bit characters that need some development time during the episode they're in. In some cases I feel like I know the attache better and they're not even supposed to be the "main" character of their species (species? race? How many space shows have I watched and I still don't understand the protocol for this.). So I guess I would say my hope is to see more individual development for all the alien characters.
You Were Always On My Mind
I feel like the social structure set up around telepaths is detrimental to getting to know Talia. We haven't seen in her in any scene, I don't think, where she wasn't being traumatized by reading someone, and no one seems to give a crap, they're just like, this is your job, isn't it? And then she goes and sits alone in that little garden thingy and then probably goes and cries herself to sleep b/c she has no friends and everyone treats her like a power tool. I suspect overcoming prejudice against telepaths is going to be a theme at some point, but right now every time I see her, I just think, shit, what're they gonna make her do now?
Osh Kosh B'gosh
What's that guy's deal, anyway?
Raiders of the Lost Backstory
I...guess we'll find out about them sometime?
Working Stiffs
I would appreciate more sort of everyday activities. Like Susan's sassy alarm clock. And learning why Sinclair goes to bed fully dressed. We have a little bit of that with the casino but--odd choice, isn't that? Or maybe it's b/c I don't give a crap about gambling that I can't understand why they'd pick a casino for on-board entertainment. Surely there's got to be something more interesting they can put on a space station for the inhabitants' amusement. Anyway, I'm sure there'll be more of this worked in as we go.
Plotting coordinates
I had a rant about plot the other night on IM, so I'll just say I'm satisfied with the way and pace at which plot points are being introduced. Unlike how I feel about certain OTHER shows.
Technical difficulties
My stupid internet is frustrating to me, b/c I have a constant low level of anxiety that I'm missing important things when it starts stuttering. So...I really hope I'm not!
That's all, folks!
SRS BSNS
I feel like...I laugh a lot at inappropriate times. Like there are clearly scenes meant to be dramatic but someone's line delivery (usually Sinclair's (I'm going to try to be good and capitalize properly and consistently here, but no guarantees for that, nor for immaculate grammar.)) is completely overwrought and I bust out giggling. I can't help but wonder if it's intentional homage to Kirk?
Click to viewOr maybe it's just the actor trying too hard. Overall it seems everybody's trying a bit too hard at this stage. A lot of lines come across sort of "off" for me. I expect that'll improve as the actors get to know each other better, but it does give a lot of scenes a bit of a self-conscious feel. The often corny props and fx--and maybe the cinematography--a lot of scenes seem too well-lit, too wide angle, not gritty enough, and it all combines to take me out of the scene a bit.
Unrealistic reality
I don't...really care for Sinclair's leadership style, but it's pretty obviously more realistic than that of most TV/movie military commanders. He's basically like, okay: I'm gonna procrastinate, then I'm gonna procrastinate, then I'm going to do something clever in the most quiet, non-commanding way possible and let people be mad at me when they find out. Which is...basically how government people-in-charge operate. Except in real life things don't work out a lot of the time.
Also, when are we going to see main military characters angry with each other? At each other's throats? Disobeying orders? Handling dissent in the ranks is something Sinclair has yet to do. Everyone seems happy to abide by his decisions once he's made them. In that sense it's unrealistic, and also annoying. I'm spoiled maybe--and I know a lot of people hate him, for quite legitmate reasons--by Adama. Whatever his flaws, damn could that man hold together a fleet that basically wanted to kill each other every second of the whole series. Sinclair operates calmly and efficiently...I want to see him deal with something that knocks him off balance and requires more assertiveness. The closest we've come is Franklin disobeying the order not to operate, but he didn't get in any trouble for that.
Who's in charge of this ship, anyway?
Are Talia and Ivanova going to be in the same room anytime soon?
Show yourself, villain
There seems to be a lot of "I will do selfish things that appear to make me unlikeable, but secretly I have a heart of gold" going on amongst the ambassadors. Except Kosh, of course, who is more, "You guys suck; I'm not playing." I think (I hope? I know?) there is some gen-u-ine treachery in the future, which I'm looking forward to. I need backstory, I need motivations, I need emotional brokenness and bad decisions. I liked The Silmarillion better than LOTR, what can I say?
The Helmet
What more needs to be said?
Excuse me, your CGI is showing
I mean, BSG it's not. I wasn't expecting it to be. It isn't bad. They seem to have moved away from the silly blue lightning bolts at least. I'm trying to remember when Toy Story came out--'95, so right in the middle of the series. Pixar was cutting edge at the time--still is, I'd argue--coming anywhere close was an achievement. But I would gladly have traded some CGI quality for better quality fighter cockpit scenes.
Doctor, Doctor, give me the news
I like Franklin. I think he's been given the most personality development so far, despite knowing less about his background than we do about, say, Ivanova's. His moral dilemmas are personal. He gets angry about them. He's kind of an ass sometimes. We haven't really seen those things from anyone else yet.
Xenosociology
Despite being exposed to a bunch of bits of alien culture, it's hard for me to feel anything specific about the ambassadors. I think this is possibly b/c the characterization we've gotten so far has been about their cultures, not them as individuals. Contrast that to Farscape, where finding out about a race's culture happened gradually through the course of getting to know the individual. Whereas here we learn about racial enmities and religious traditions and politics before we really know anything about the people. Except Londo. B/c his personality is so loud that he gets developed just by the tone in which he delivers his lines. I think this is exacerbated b/c it's just a very BIG ensemble cast. Every ambassdor plus attache, then all the humans, and then the bit characters that need some development time during the episode they're in. In some cases I feel like I know the attache better and they're not even supposed to be the "main" character of their species (species? race? How many space shows have I watched and I still don't understand the protocol for this.). So I guess I would say my hope is to see more individual development for all the alien characters.
You Were Always On My Mind
I feel like the social structure set up around telepaths is detrimental to getting to know Talia. We haven't seen in her in any scene, I don't think, where she wasn't being traumatized by reading someone, and no one seems to give a crap, they're just like, this is your job, isn't it? And then she goes and sits alone in that little garden thingy and then probably goes and cries herself to sleep b/c she has no friends and everyone treats her like a power tool. I suspect overcoming prejudice against telepaths is going to be a theme at some point, but right now every time I see her, I just think, shit, what're they gonna make her do now?
Osh Kosh B'gosh
What's that guy's deal, anyway?
Raiders of the Lost Backstory
I...guess we'll find out about them sometime?
Working Stiffs
I would appreciate more sort of everyday activities. Like Susan's sassy alarm clock. And learning why Sinclair goes to bed fully dressed. We have a little bit of that with the casino but--odd choice, isn't that? Or maybe it's b/c I don't give a crap about gambling that I can't understand why they'd pick a casino for on-board entertainment. Surely there's got to be something more interesting they can put on a space station for the inhabitants' amusement. Anyway, I'm sure there'll be more of this worked in as we go.
Plotting coordinates
I had a rant about plot the other night on IM, so I'll just say I'm satisfied with the way and pace at which plot points are being introduced. Unlike how I feel about certain OTHER shows.
Technical difficulties
My stupid internet is frustrating to me, b/c I have a constant low level of anxiety that I'm missing important things when it starts stuttering. So...I really hope I'm not!
That's all, folks!