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b5_revisitedThe Gathering – Babylon 5 Pilot
First of all, I have to tell you that I am not sure I’ve ever seen the original version of this one. I came to the show after it was done, sometime in the early 2000s, so this revised one is all I’ve ever seen. I can see where things were added to help the continuity at a later date.
The first shock for me in The Gathering was, of course, Delenn. She is quite ugly in this version and upon reading about it, I found that she was supposed to be a male character to begin with and that they decided in the end to keep her female. I am not sure they told the makeup and prosthetics department as she looks quite manly with her oh so square jaw.
The gist of the story is that someone tries to kill Kosh as son as he lands on the station and Sinclair is blamed. He, of course, didn’t do it and we see the investigation play out through the movie. Along the way, we meet several good characters that we never see again: Dr. Kyle and Lauren Takashima. We also meet the characters who make the show what it was: Lyta, G’kar, Londo, Delenn, Garibaldi and Sinclair. In the end, the culprit is found and the day is saved and we are ready for events a year later as the series begins.
It is interesting to compare G’kar and Londo in this one and at the end of the series. While we think the series was about Babylon 5 and its various denizens, I think what it really was about was G’kar and Londo and what they became over the course of the series. They began as a strutting peacock with a bad temper and a clown from a people who have fallen from their glory days. They end as men who give their all for their people, for better or worse.
As for Sinclair, I always liked him but I do find him a bit stiff in my rewatches. He seems the least stiff to me in this pilot episode. His good looks were also quite the draw. Knowing now what we do know about Michael O’Hare, I think we all watch Sinclair with a different vision. It is amazing that he could turn in such a performance in light of all his problems. I ma never sure that he was that stiff in Season 1 or if the episodes were conducive to that stiffness. There are many quite interesting standalone episodes this season and many that were just - bad.
Some questions I have for you all:
1. What do think of Delenn here?
2. Does Lyta seem to be the same as she is when she comes back after Talia?
3. What hints do you see of things to come?
4. Did you actually like G’kar or Londo? Why or why not?
5. Not knowing anything else about the show, would you watch on the strength of this pilot (or did you, if you’re an original series watcher)?
Bonus: Did you catch an actor from much later in a different role here?
My aim here is not to recap the episode scene by scene since I shall assume that you are watching it along with me. My aim is to point out this and that were of interest to me and might be to you, to find out your favorite and least favorite parts and to talk about the wonderful characters we’ve all taken into our hearts from this show.
These are my sources other than the movie itself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5:_The_Gathering
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/000.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
***** ALL POSTS REMAIN OPEN FOR COMMENT. *****
First of all, I have to tell you that I am not sure I’ve ever seen the original version of this one. I came to the show after it was done, sometime in the early 2000s, so this revised one is all I’ve ever seen. I can see where things were added to help the continuity at a later date.
The first shock for me in The Gathering was, of course, Delenn. She is quite ugly in this version and upon reading about it, I found that she was supposed to be a male character to begin with and that they decided in the end to keep her female. I am not sure they told the makeup and prosthetics department as she looks quite manly with her oh so square jaw.
The gist of the story is that someone tries to kill Kosh as son as he lands on the station and Sinclair is blamed. He, of course, didn’t do it and we see the investigation play out through the movie. Along the way, we meet several good characters that we never see again: Dr. Kyle and Lauren Takashima. We also meet the characters who make the show what it was: Lyta, G’kar, Londo, Delenn, Garibaldi and Sinclair. In the end, the culprit is found and the day is saved and we are ready for events a year later as the series begins.
It is interesting to compare G’kar and Londo in this one and at the end of the series. While we think the series was about Babylon 5 and its various denizens, I think what it really was about was G’kar and Londo and what they became over the course of the series. They began as a strutting peacock with a bad temper and a clown from a people who have fallen from their glory days. They end as men who give their all for their people, for better or worse.
As for Sinclair, I always liked him but I do find him a bit stiff in my rewatches. He seems the least stiff to me in this pilot episode. His good looks were also quite the draw. Knowing now what we do know about Michael O’Hare, I think we all watch Sinclair with a different vision. It is amazing that he could turn in such a performance in light of all his problems. I ma never sure that he was that stiff in Season 1 or if the episodes were conducive to that stiffness. There are many quite interesting standalone episodes this season and many that were just - bad.
Some questions I have for you all:
1. What do think of Delenn here?
2. Does Lyta seem to be the same as she is when she comes back after Talia?
3. What hints do you see of things to come?
4. Did you actually like G’kar or Londo? Why or why not?
5. Not knowing anything else about the show, would you watch on the strength of this pilot (or did you, if you’re an original series watcher)?
Bonus: Did you catch an actor from much later in a different role here?
My aim here is not to recap the episode scene by scene since I shall assume that you are watching it along with me. My aim is to point out this and that were of interest to me and might be to you, to find out your favorite and least favorite parts and to talk about the wonderful characters we’ve all taken into our hearts from this show.
These are my sources other than the movie itself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5:_The_Gathering
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/000.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106336/
***** ALL POSTS REMAIN OPEN FOR COMMENT. *****
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no subject
Date: 2015-11-03 02:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 02:21 am (UTC)I thought Season 1 was sometimes quite hit and miss as well. I did not see the show during it's original airing though.
no subject
Date: 2015-11-03 03:58 am (UTC)Oh, I'd forgotten there were different versions! I was always confused on that, since I also came to the show years after it was done. I just received my copy and am about to watch it, so I don't know which it is. Bah!
no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-11-03 06:01 am (UTC)Yes, and I came to love them both so much!
As for Sinclair, I always liked him but I do find him a bit stiff in my rewatches.
I remember when I first began watching, I found him a bit dull. Part of it was that monotone voice. But as the show progressed, I came to like and then love him as a character. Even the voice grew on me. I find it soothing and comforting now, and I think it gives a sense of his being in command. It's a complete turnaround from my first impression! (And this became true even before I learned the sad backstory.)
Knowing now what we do know about Michael O’Hare, I think we all watch Sinclair with a different vision. It is amazing that he could turn in such a performance in light of all his problems.
I make it a point these days to stay away from background/personal information on shows, especially when I'm watching for the first time. I burned out on knowing way too much personal information on actors and behind-the-scenes drama during my X-Files years. At this point, it just takes away from my enjoyment. And since I came to the show just a few years ago, I knew zero of the history or about the actors.
Slowly, and through The Babylon Podcast (http://www.babylonpodcast.com/) (HIGHLY recommended!) I learned that he had left the show suddenly. I didn't want to know details of any feuds or things like that. But I slowly learned that there wasn't a whole lot of detail to be found anyway.
Then last year (?) I learned the news of his illness. It broke my heart to know he had suffered so much, and mostly in silence. I can't imagine how hard that must have been. And while I respect his choice and his wishes for privacy, I wonder if he ever knew how many fans he had. I wonder if he ever knew he was appreciated and loved by them. By us.
It still makes me sad to think about it.
1. What do think of Delenn here?
This time around I found her quite harsh, especially with G'Kar.
2. Does Lyta seem to be the same as she is when she comes back after Talia?
I can't remember at this point!
3. What hints do you see of things to come?
I liked the mention of Babylon 4. I swear, that whole thing broke my brain. Maybe I'll understand it better this time around. Or not.
4. Did you actually like G’kar or Londo? Why or why not?
It's hard for me to watch this as though for the first time. When I first began watching, I found their "alien" appearance a bit distracting. They were both quite annoying. Oh, how things change!
5. Not knowing anything else about the show, would you watch on the strength of this pilot (or did you, if you’re an original series watcher)?
I think I may have. Honestly, I have no idea how I never even HEARD of this show until I got on LJ and had a few friends who were rabid fans. I've watched tons of TV, so even if I haven't watched a show, I'd still at least be familiar with the title. I cannot remember ever hearing about it! Otherwise, I probably would have tried it out!
Bonus: Did you catch an actor from much later in a different role here?
I am watching on a computer monitor from further away than usual because my eyeballs are tired! Was it Morden?
Something else that caught my eye and made me remember why I love this show: Even in this first episode, we've got adult people, in adult situations, having to make adult decisions. Londo's conversation with Garibaldi about Londo's vote regarding Sinclair was a perfect example. It seems so easy at first to say that Londo was being disloyal to Sinclair, whom he claims to like and respect. But when you hear about the blackmail by G'Kar... it suddenly isn't so simple anymore. I don't know that it makes Londo's decision any more palatable or morally right. But you can see why he felt pressured to do what he did. And you have to wonder, Would I have done any better in such a situation?
I love that about this show! There were never simple choices. And there were never choices without consequences.
Life is like that.
no subject
Date: 2015-12-31 02:26 am (UTC)I'm afraid time paradox things are too much for me too - it's good we had Zathras to keep with things for us!
no subject
Date: 2016-01-01 02:51 am (UTC)