And now for something completely different...

[melvin_udall]

If you are a Babylon 5 fan, the video that follows is absolutely brilliant.

If you are not a Babylon 5 fan but pretend you enjoy science fiction, I do not hear you, as it is the best science fiction series. Bar none. (Firefly was exceptional but too short to compare.) I respect your wrong opinion if you disagree. Although if you say "BSG" or

Comments

[melvin_udall]

Deep Space Nine was pretty good. They sadly spent a great deal of time deliberately ripping off ideas (including the Defiant). Sans Worf, who I think detracted, and sans the Bajorans, who made my teeth ache (I can think of maybe one or two redeeming qualities to any actor or story dealing with the Bajorans), it was a respectable show with some good characters. It just wasn't Babylon 5 by any stretch.

I'd put the acting abilities and stories of Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) and Peter Jurasik (Lando) alone against any in a science fiction series.

(And "Enterprise", under Manny Coto's guidance in the 4th season, was starting to improve considerably
I'd stopped watching after, I think, the first. It was so godawful despite a cast that could have done some great stuff. It was a half step above Voyager, but with a better, more interesting cast.

I'd heard rumors the fourth season would be a tribute to fans since they knew they were done, so I tuned in. Glad I did. It was great stuff. The finale was absolutely kick ass.

not to mention that the programming execs running UPN didn't much like the Trek franchise anyway because it was a bad fit for everything else in their lineup.
Yep. First they screwed B5, then they stomped on their own product.

[the_mcp]

Well, one of the more redeeming qualities of the Bajorans on DS9 was that it was a rare example of a race's spiritual and religious beliefs actually being treated somewhat seriously and with a modicum of respect by the other characters, as opposed to modern Trek's more usual patronizing approach of "oh, those silly primitives with their superstitious beliefs, they obviously haven't Evolved far enough as a culture yet."

Actually, the improvement in Enterprise began about the middle of the 3rd season, when Coto started doing a lot of pushing behind the scenes (as co-producer and script editor) to get the 3rd-season "Xindi" arc back on track after Berman & Braga started running it off the rails. (Of course, everyone involved publicly plays this down now, and the "official" word is that B&B "always" supported Coto and they were the ones who moved him into the showrunner's position... but those of us who were paying attention to what was going on at the time know better. :D )

Oh, and by "kick-ass finale", I assume you mean the last real episode, the two-part "Demons" and "Terra Prime", and not that godawful pseudo-TNG episode "These Are the Voyages..." :D (Berman & Braga are just about the only people involved with that episode who don't hate it or regret being involved with it -- the only Trek episode I can think of that's been more negatively received is Voyager's "Threshold", and that one's been pretty firmly filed into the "we shall not speak of this again" category by all involved. :D )

[melvin_udall]

Well, one of the more redeeming qualities of the Bajorans on DS9 was that it was a rare example of a race's spiritual and religious beliefs actually being treated somewhat seriously and with a modicum of respect by the other characters
Yes. Unfortunately I hated them, their religion, their whining, and just about every one of them.

They often touched on some great themes. I just disliked every Bajoran actor and 90% of what happened with them.

Also, B5 did it better. G'kar's evolution would be a prime example. Just about everything with the Minbari. They also had one episode in particular dealing with various religions that stands out in my mind because it handles the religions of Earth with respect, and to my utter astonishment was written by an atheist. Unlike other Scifi series they also handled Christianity with respect, again to my astonishment given the creator's atheism.

But yes, they should get some credit for that.

as opposed to modern Trek's more usual patronizing approach of "oh, those silly primitives with their superstitious beliefs, they obviously haven't Evolved far enough as a culture yet."
Absolutely agreed. Star Trek's superficial treatment of and disdain for religion throughout the series has always irked me.

Actually, the improvement in Enterprise began about the middle of the 3rd season, when Coto started doing a lot of pushing behind the scenes (as co-producer and script editor) to get the 3rd-season "Xindi" arc back on track
Hm. Maybe I'll eventually check that out.

I so wanted to like the show. It just had several serious drawbacks. It became the Trip and T'pal show for one. Trip and T'pol became a soap operay whiny mess I didn't care about. It got to a point where anything dealing with them chafed. I realize Trip was good looking, charismatic and interesting, but he was also the engineer. He must have had a hell of a right hand man actually monitoring the engines. :) DOn't get me wrong. B5 illustrates I love me some soap opery whiny mess, but the more those two interacted the less I liked them.

Oh also, while playing up SuperTrip, Kirk's successor, to me they completely dumped on Malcolm and used him as the punchline for the comic relief used to satisfy the morons in the audience. That always bugged me. B5 did this, too, though. I thought they crapped on Garibaldi a bit too much.

Oh, and by "kick-ass finale", I assume you mean the last real episode, the two-part "Demons" and "Terra Prime", and not that godawful pseudo-TNG episode "These Are the Voyages..." :D

Oh GODS MY BRAIN! MAKE THE HORROR GO AWAY!

I just went back and looked at the episode list to remind myself. I could not have been more off. I'm so glad you clarified. Yikes!

I had blocked Demons, Terra Prime and MOST ESPECIALLY "These Are the Voyages...", which you've pegged perfectly with a Voyager comparison, from my mind. Fucking fatass Riker and that god damned perpetually overused holodeck. ARG! It was so AWFUL.

My extreme error! My apologies.

To me the series finale was "In a Mirror, Darkly" Parts I & II. The actors were given an opportunity to shine, including the underexposed hottie Linda Park. The episode moved. It tied beautifully with TOS. I was actually surprised by where things went. I had focused on that as the finale, blessedly erasing the others from my mind. I will now go back to work at repeating this exercise. :)

But thank you for reminding me in that I don't want to run around praising freaking These are the Voyages. Ugh.