Babylon 5 season 5
Apr. 12th, 2006 03:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethHave been watching Babylon 5 some more. Got as far as the Day of the Dead episode. Which I still love.
But it totally shows the difficulty with season 5.
Season 4 was such a powerhouse. Arc heavy, in fact never letting up for a minute with arc. I could barely make myself stop watching, there was so much going on.
And then, season 5. Character based. Lovely, lovely character moments. And seen from odd angles, like this with Reebo and Zooty, or the one watched from the pov of the maintenance guys. And its just such a change of pace. The big, rather jolting, difference, makes it difficult for season 5 to follow season 4. But I think I love it of itself.
Its also difficult because characters we followed through really intense arcs in season 4 are sort of idling along in season 5, while new characters are making all the mileage. The new captain, and the telepath Byron. Leeta and Lennier are not new, but have not been the focus to such an extent before. And all the others are still there, but pretty much in a holding pattern, almost background characters. Londo hasn't had to make a vast world changing decision yet, and neither has G'Kar or Delenn or Sheridan. Allowing the telepaths to be on board just sets up the telepath arc. Aside from that, they're basically bantering. Plot happens, but it doesn't happen with them as the protagonist, the one changed. And the ones that are changed... Leeta is drinking the kool aid, which is so obviously wrong its not so easy to find it involving. And Lennier is giving in to the more doubtful and now darker parts of his nature. Its interesting, but not... you know, striding through the stars building the future together.
And Lennier's changes... well, this Day of the Dead ep, all he does is sit still, meditate and deny. Most eps, he isn't there. When he is, its about what he *isn't* doing. Again, lacks the momentum, the drags you along with it.
So, I'm not saying season 5 is bad, but its very very different. Sort of meandering along. Even when there's big battles, we see it from a step back, so less involving.
Interesting, but different.
But it totally shows the difficulty with season 5.
Season 4 was such a powerhouse. Arc heavy, in fact never letting up for a minute with arc. I could barely make myself stop watching, there was so much going on.
And then, season 5. Character based. Lovely, lovely character moments. And seen from odd angles, like this with Reebo and Zooty, or the one watched from the pov of the maintenance guys. And its just such a change of pace. The big, rather jolting, difference, makes it difficult for season 5 to follow season 4. But I think I love it of itself.
Its also difficult because characters we followed through really intense arcs in season 4 are sort of idling along in season 5, while new characters are making all the mileage. The new captain, and the telepath Byron. Leeta and Lennier are not new, but have not been the focus to such an extent before. And all the others are still there, but pretty much in a holding pattern, almost background characters. Londo hasn't had to make a vast world changing decision yet, and neither has G'Kar or Delenn or Sheridan. Allowing the telepaths to be on board just sets up the telepath arc. Aside from that, they're basically bantering. Plot happens, but it doesn't happen with them as the protagonist, the one changed. And the ones that are changed... Leeta is drinking the kool aid, which is so obviously wrong its not so easy to find it involving. And Lennier is giving in to the more doubtful and now darker parts of his nature. Its interesting, but not... you know, striding through the stars building the future together.
And Lennier's changes... well, this Day of the Dead ep, all he does is sit still, meditate and deny. Most eps, he isn't there. When he is, its about what he *isn't* doing. Again, lacks the momentum, the drags you along with it.
So, I'm not saying season 5 is bad, but its very very different. Sort of meandering along. Even when there's big battles, we see it from a step back, so less involving.
Interesting, but different.