I have the series on DVD but I’ve never seriously cracked it, only seen a few episodes. Was wondering what people here think, is it as good as the internet often says it is? I know it was an inspiration for one of my favorite franchises (Mass Effect) and The Orville had a cute reference to it by making its main actor the president of the Planetary Union, but that’s the extent of my B5 knowledge. So anyway, should I binge the series?
First season is all setup. Really, start with season 2.
Season 4 is the single best season of sci fi television ever done.
Here’s what I would do…
Burn through season 2 and 3, then go back and watch season 1 so you can see all the seeds they planted there before hitting season 4.
Season 5 is the “Oh, crap, we thought we weren’t getting a season 5…”
Thanks for the heads up. Is Season Five bad or just not as good?
It’s decent. First half is not as good as any of the other seasons, but the second half ramps it up considerably and is great. Sad but great.
It’s not that season 5 is bad, it’s that they pretty much resolved everything in season 4 when they didn’t think they were getting a season 5.
Then, after they hit it out of the park with 4, TNT comes along and goes “So about season 5…”
“Uhh… yeah… season 5… heh.” 💧💧😅💧💧
Maybe I’m the only one who likes S05 just as much. Yea it’s not as bombastic in scope, but you still get the same great characters and universe.
I liked season five too.
Sorry but that’s a horrible idea… The whole point of ‘planting seeds’ is how the pieces fall together in succession.
I think watching season 1 later isn’t a bad idea at all. It feels like you’re in on what’s being set up, and knowing what’s coming makes the sloggy episodes tolerable. I watched the show in the order 2 3 1 4 5 on the advice of a friend, and I’m really glad I didn’t start with season 1. I would have quit before the end of the season and missed out on what’s now my favorite show of all time.
Better to skip the first season than not watch at all.
I am someone who noped out of the show mid season one during its original broadcast run, despite being really psyched by the pilot, and fortunately gave it a second chance for season two when Boxleitner was brought in.
There are problems with Season 1, Season 2 has a better hook and because they replaced the commander and are doing a bunch of catch up work, there’s no harm starting there then circling back.
Season 1 is a slow burn and there are a lot of filler episodes that don’t go anywhere (looking at you Infection, Deathwalker, Believers, TKO).
That being said, the must watch season 1 episodes:
1-3, 5-8, 11-13, 16-20, 22.
That’s pretty much the case of S01 of any series, especially sci-fi, especially from the 90’s.
I’m in the minority who believes Fox was right to start Firefly with the Train Robbery, so what do I know? :) (I know my wife fell asleep 1/2 way through the original pilot.)
Possibly… It’s true that people want instant gratification, and also true that pilots tend to kinda suck (see B5 actually).
I think these days the show creators have gotten better at hitting the ground running from the start.