https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/21/10/03/017252/new-babylon-5-reboot-being-developed-by-original-creator-j-michael-straczynski Slashdot * Stories * + Firehose + All + Popular * Polls * Software * Apparel Submit Search Slashdot [ ] * Login * or * Sign up * Topics: * Devices * Build * Entertainment * Technology * Open Source * Science * YRO * Follow us: * RSS * Facebook * Google+ * Twitter * Youtube * Newsletter Slashdot is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop Nickname: [ ] Password: [ ] [ ] Public Terminal --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Log In] Forgot your password? Close binspamdupenotthebestofftopicslownewsdaystalestupid freshfunnyinsightfulinterestingmaybe offtopicflamebaittrollredundantoverrated insightfulinterestinginformativefunnyunderrated descriptive typodupeerror Try the CryptoTab Browser. It works like a regular web browser but mines Bitcoin for you while you browse! Works on all devices. | Do you develop on GitHub? You can keep using GitHub but automatically sync your GitHub releases to SourceForge quickly and easily with this tool and take advantage of SourceForge's massive reach. | Follow Slashdot on LinkedIn x 153089883 story Television Sci-Fi New 'Babylon 5' Reboot Being Developed By Original Creator J. Michael Straczynski (variety.com) 89 Posted by EditorDavid on Sunday October 03, 2021 @11:34AM from the Babylon-5.1 dept. Back in 2014 Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski answered questions from Slashdot's readers. And now this week, long-time Slashdot reader Jaegs writes: According to many sources and the Babylon 5 creator/writer/director/producer himself, J. Michael Straczynski (JMS), the CW -- partly owned by the original Babylon 5 producer and rights holder, WarnerMedia -- will be rebooting the popular franchise. JMS will be writing and executive producing the series. Per JMS: "[W]e will not be retelling the same story in the same way... There would be no fun and no surprises. Better to go the way of Westworld or Battlestar Galactica where you take the original elements that are evergreens and put them in a blender with a ton of new, challenging ideas, to create something fresh yet familiar. To those asking why not just do a continuation, for a network series like this, it can't be done because over half our cast are still stubbornly on the other side of the Rim. The last part refers to the recent passing of Mira Furlan (Delenn), as well as the untimely deaths of other primary cast members after the conclusion of the original run of the series: Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin), Michael O'Hare (Jeffrey Sinclair), Jerry Doyle (Michael Garibaldi), Stephen Furst (Vir Cotto), Jeff Conway (Zack Allan), and Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar). Straczynski points out on Twitter that "The original Babylon 5 was ridiculously innovative: the first to use CGI to create ships and characters, and among the very first to shoot widescreen with a vigorous 5.1 mix." But his tweets also seem excited about the questions that this new reboot will answer. "if I were creating Babylon 5 today, for the first time, knowing what I now know as a writer, what would it look like? How would it use all the storytelling tools and technological resources available in 2021 that were not on hand then? "How can it be used to reflect the world in which we live, and the questions we are asking and confronting every day? Fans regularly point out how prescient the show was and is of our current world; it would be fun to take a shot at looking further down the road..." [apply tags ] - Related Links - Can High-Powered Lasers Unlock the Secrets of Strong Field Quantum Electrodynamics? JMS and Wachowskis Teaming Up for New Netflix Funded Scifi Series Interviews: J. Michael Straczynski Answers Your Questions Babylon 5 May Finally Get a Big-Screen Debut Babylon 5 Actor Jerry Doyle Dies 'Babylon 5' Actress Mira Furlan Dies At 65 Submission: Babylon 5 Reboot Being Helmed By Original Creator J. Michael Straczynski Tesla Vehicle Deliveries Hit Another Record In Q3, Beats Analysts' Estimates New 'Babylon 5' Reboot Being Developed By Original Creator J. Michael Straczynski More | Reply Login New 'Babylon 5' Reboot Being Developed By Original Creator J. Michael Straczynski Post Load All Comments Full Abbreviated Hidden /Sea Score: 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 More | Reply Login Nickname: [ ] Password: [ ] [ ] Public Terminal --------------------------------------------------------------------- [Log In] Forgot your password? Close Close Search 89 Comments Log In/Create an Account Comments Filter: * All * Insightful * Informative * Interesting * Funny The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. * I don't think we need this, good luck anyway (Score:3) by jfdavis668 ( 1414919 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @11:38AM (#61856079) I really did like the Battlestar Galactica remake, but there was a world of difference in the technology from the '70s. Also, the new one had a much better plot. The only thing wrong with the first Babylon 5 is that they had to wrap up in season 4, then were given season 5 and had to come up with something. Hopefully the new version will have a more consistent plot. Hopefully Walter Koenig is still available, he was great in the show. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: I don't think we need this, good luck anyway (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: I personally love Caprice a lot more than Battlestar. I think despite technological difference, the writing is so much better which is why it's designed ore effectively as a sequel. I haven't looked for inconsistencies because I never completed the original Battlestar series but I wouldn't be surprised if the set of 3 series is relatively consistent with the timeline. That's Whitaker good writers and probably is quite unique for that series compared to many of sci-fi Series. o o Re: I don't think we need this, good luck anyway (Score:2 ) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: auto correct. I love Caprica # # @ @ - @ 1 reply beneath your current threshold. # 1 reply beneath your current threshold. + Re: (Score:2) by Baron_Yam ( 643147 ) writes: >I really did like the Battlestar Galactica remake ... Also, the new one had a much better plot The basic series plot was the same, but the episode plots of the original were often a lot dumber (though some good enough they were remade in the newer show). However, the original made a huge mistake telling viewers Cylons have wiped out all of humanity except for those who escaped on a 'rag tag fleet' or are part of the mysterious missing colony of Earth... and then doing episodes-of-the-week where they visit o o # o 1 reply beneath your current threshold. + o + o + o o Re: (Score:2) by stabiesoft ( 733417 ) writes: Babylon 5 predates W. It was 93-97 or 98. # o Re:I don't think we need this, good luck anyway (Score:4, Interesting) by Luckyo ( 1726890 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @05:10PM (#61857223) First of all, it was made in the Clinton era. Just FYI. And it was far better than Star Trek, because not only did it not have "no scarcity" nonsense as a pre-requisite for the setting, but it didn't even have humans as a meaningful race at the start. We were the losers of a war of extermination by the aliens. And the only reason the Babylon 5 station exists is because just as those aliens were to finish totally exterminating humanity, they suddenly just stopped, pulled back and made peace, where humanity was allowed to not just survive, but trade with others. Even if it was from a position of weakness. And then offered an opportunity to put a space station into what was essentially alien sponsored realm to function as a politically neutral beacon in a universe of extreme political divisions and extreme scarcity for most species, where total genocide over scarce resources is more of a norm than peaceful existence. Just like it is on this planet throughout its history. And we don't even find why humanity was allowed to continue to exist at all until a few seasons in. It's why it wasn't as popular as Star Trek. It didn't offer a Disney Musical in Space-experience, where a child got a nice, cushioned and very safely PG-13 talk about utopian situation of near total lack of scarcity in finite universe, so everyone who wanted could become whatever they wanted if they put the work in. Instead you got an adult version of space drama, where everyone is at everyone else's throat all the time because everything that matters is scarce, and it asked questions that were very much impactful at the time. Such as for example, "do you allow the race formerly enslaved by another race to enslave, exterminate and nearly totally genocide their former slavers?" And the way they played that one was exceptionally well executed. You genuinely saw both as victimized people, and the enslavers and murderers. It was a message of racial reconciliation that was popular in the 90s, before the Critical Theory got entrenched into the Anglo cultures and fired up the racial tensions again. It was a message of a 90s US Democrat. Which is why modern far leftists hate it as "republican". The entire point of the show that was that rather than a dominant "we want for nothing, so let's wax philosophy from that utopian perspective" space supremacism of watching the inferiour races and not interfering with their plight because of the Prime Directive, Babylon 5 offered an actual insight into what the underdog race that barely climbed out of the home star system into a hungry universe that almost devours it right at the start has to do to survive. That's why a lot of Trekkies despise B5 as you do. It shows the horror show "Prime Directive'd race" would have to face, not in pretty idealistic speeches and universe that had artificial lack of scarcity, but in reality where resources are indeed scarce. It simply destroys the fundamental presupposition that makes one of the philosophical underpinnings of Star Trek. It was "republican" in that it was indeed realistic. World isn't nice nor utopian, and scarcity is the prime motivator for everything. Because in space, matter is scarce and useful matter is far more scarce. There's no button to push to make almost anything. If you can't contribute meaningful expertise on a space station, where every bit of water and food is rationed because shipping it in costs a fortune, and you can't pay for a ticket off the station which is far away from everything specifically so it can be politically neutral for everyone, you're not going to have a nice life on that station. Not because humans and aliens are awful to the poor, even though they are. It's because there aren't resources to go around, and the station is literally made out of hopes and dreams of species that barely survived a near total genocide by their current alien sponsors and is desperately trying to climb out of that hole while making sure that maybe, just maybe should their alien sponsors change their mind, they be able to actually do so Read the rest of this comment... Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate # o Re: I don't think we need this, good luck anyway (Score:2 ) by barlevg ( 2111272 ) writes: What part of Babylon 5 makes you think right wing? The focus on international cooperation? The continual siding with labor unions? The vilification of large trans-planetary corporations? At *most* it's libertarian--though The Rangers are every libertarian's worst nightmare. Yes, Jerry Doyle was a right wing radio host, and yes, we're '90s Republicans weren't quite the "populist" anti-intellectuals that have come to dominate with the rise of the Tea Party, but in no way would Sheridan, Sinclair--or much les # + Re: (Score:2) by Dutch Gun ( 899105 ) writes: Well, you can argue that no one "needs" anything from Hollywood, so that's a weird way to put it. But I think it's a great time for a reboot of B5. I belatedly became a fan of the original after I borrowed a friend's DVDs and powered through all five seasons. The use of CG was innovative and let them tell an amazing story on a small-ish budget, but the technology just wasn't mature enough back then to really make it work. No problem with that these days. Even TV shows with modest budgets can feature brea o + Re: (Score:2) by Brain-Fu ( 1274756 ) writes: The original Battlestar Galactica started out as a pilot episode with no plot beyond that point, and it was a huge hit. The producers basically dumped buckets of money on the table and said "I want new episodes by Friday." The writers were scrambling like mad to come up with plots and an overarching plot that was any good while the show was filming. There were days when the actors were handed their scripts literal minutes before shooting. In one episode they were all sitting around a table presumably in o + 3 replies beneath your current threshold. * Trekie Perspective (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: I was never big into B5. I don't remember the order exactly but I remember think this is just a DS9 ripoff. I had a friend who was a diehard fan and if I recall right Babylon 5 was first. Either way it grew on me though the core store kind of seems like a classic epic tale. I think in particular the Minbari narratives were the most interesting and besides the light vs dark aspect, I think it's what really grabbed. Nonetheless, star trek just seems so more fleshed out and as a universe not so much a pure epic + + Re:Trekie Perspective (Score:5, Informative) by crow ( 16139 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @11:51AM (#61856121) Homepage Journal JMS had pitched Babylon 5 to Paramount, and ended up suing them saying they stole his ideas for DS9. They settled, and apparently he received some money out of it. Really, though, the stories and feel of the shows were very different. Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate o o Re:Trekie Perspective (Score:4, Funny) by freeze128 ( 544774 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @01:35PM (#61856471) Paramount's problem was that they tried to tack it onto their existing Star Trek franchise. There was really only one formula that the Star Trek fans liked, and that was boldly going where no one has gone before each week. This is why Paramount had to eventually give Sisko a ship. It's not very interesting when the Captain points to the viewscreen, says 'Engage', and your space station just sits there. Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate # # Re: (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: I laughed. Sounds reasonable. @ # Re: (Score:2) by Aighearach ( 97333 ) writes: Paramount's problem was that they... Made a successful show that made them a lot of money? I don't think it is a "problem" they regret. Actual "Star Trek Fans" (they were actually called trekkies) loved the show. And almost everybody else loved it too. It is the memories of hipsters that hate it, but there is no money in that. @ o Re: (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: The shows are very different with some central commonalities in terms of the setting and the main arc. However, since Star Trek is very episodic (with DS9 perhaps being the least like this), the tangents that are built up into other story arcs are very different. I think the antagonists are radically different both in terms of individuals and groups. Probably still enough similarities for the lawsuit to be fair, especially consider the circumstances. # o There was no lawsuit (Score:2) by Derekloffin ( 741455 ) writes: I keep hearing about this mythical lawsuit, but every source I can find with any legitimacy says no such thing existed. If there was some kind of settlement, it was not part of anything legal filing. # # @ # Re: (Score:3) by fafalone ( 633739 ) writes: Well it's not like the rumor has zero basis. Patricia Tallman, who played Lyta Alexander on the show, and was involved both in business and romantically with JMS in the 2000s, explicitly said in a 2017 interview [youtube.com] there was a lawsuit and it was settled out of court. The truth is, Joe [JMS] had gone to Paramount with the bible for Babylon 5, pitched it to the Star Trek producers, left it for a year. They finally returned it back to him saying nah, we're not going to do it. Meanwhile they make Deep Space 9. So there was a lawsuit, they settled out of court. So yeah, they did, they ripped off the script and the idea. They had a character named Lyta, they didn't even change it, I mean, there's just some things, you know, the arrogance, is just kind of, are you kidding me. But it worked out, they settled it, uh, and that really did seem to be the end of it, and nobody cared after that, so. And I was very aware of what had happened when DS9 premiered a month before Deep Space 9 premiered, and it really was terrible for Joe and the team, because it would look like Babylon 5 was the, uh afterthought, or however you want to put that, and um that they wouldn't get then, because of course Paramount has this enormous platform and Babylon 5 had nothing, you know, so, the fact that it succeeeded, and obviously it was such a different show in the end. I'm glad they were able to sort it all out in the end. But it was tense, it was weird. If I had to guess lawyers sorted it out before it saw the courtroom, but something happened. @ @ Re: (Score:2) by fafalone ( 633739 ) writes: ...sorry goofed transcribing it, should be 'Deep Space 9 premiered a month before Babylon 5 premiered', my mistake, not Tallman's. - - Re: There was no lawsuit (Score:2) by barlevg ( 2111272 ) writes: Trying to think of two characters more dissimilar than Lyta and Leeta. Well, maybe Dukat and Dukhat... = # 1 reply beneath your current threshold. + Re: (Score:2) by ShadowRangerRIT ( 1301549 ) writes: DS9 came out first, barely (it premiered a month before the B5 pilot movie), but there is suspicion DS9 was developed in response to the studio being pitched Babylon 5, rejecting it, then making a clone in Star Trek universe. DS9 also took much longer to get going on the main arc, so the similar notes between the shows were on Babylon 5 first, then mimicked by DS9 a season or two later. o o Re: (Score:3) by Phact ( 4649149 ) writes: Something i noticed in the opening sequences is that star trek was as expected. But the B5 opening sequence showed life: cargo ships, welders, stuff happening that was more vibrant, and believable for a point of commerce and transit. Then after season 1 or 2 Star trek changed their introduction sequence, to mimic the more bustling, active, believable version of the space station, clearly playing catch-up, to not seem so dated. # # Re: (Score:2) by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) writes: The producers of post-Roddenberry Trek shows made them about the special effects. B5 couldn't compete on that budget so made the show about people; and with that mindset, of course they would include things about people in the set up every week (so many post credits scenes were at the immigration line ups). Trek shows had to play catch up because like all major studios, Paramount only understands the "it blowed up real good" or "if it looks cool, who cares about stories". Stories were so unimportant they wo @ # Re: (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: This is a fair point too. Though I will say the very first DS9 episode makes a point that the social aspect is important with how Sisko interacts with Quark. This being said, Babylon 5 does make the station life more a vibrant part of the story which is pretty much incomparable to anything else of the time. This is one of the unique aspects to DS9 in the star trek universe but it doesn't seem as central in most of the episodes. @ o Re: (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: This rings a bell. I know there was something off about my original understanding and that Babylon 5 was essentially the trend setter. The second point makes sense too, like DS9 has some idea how they want to develop Sisko but it's rather vague until the following seasons. I really like Sisko though and he is my second favorite ST captain though he has unique advantages over Picard (I feel like another Trekie will come in and rip me apart for saying this). # # Re: (Score:2) by CaptainLugnuts ( 2594663 ) writes: I always thought that DS9 was an investigation on how Starfleet interacts with religion. @ + Re: Trekie Perspective (Score:3) by e3m4n ( 947977 ) writes: I liked it, because at the time, most shows were done as if they could be viewed out of order, like TNG. This was the first real gamble at continuing story arch outside of soaps. It was also a bit different as it was a sci-fi soap opera. A lot of cast came from daytime soaps. After season one got out of the way things really started to click together. The Episode with B4 appearing, and then later retold from the other side as a heist a few seasons later was a good example. o o Re: (Score:2) by Phact ( 4649149 ) writes: Yeah to my recollection this has to be one of the first genuine long-story-arc shows attempted. They're a common format now, but back then it wasn't done that way. # o Re: (Score:2) by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes: I guess that's why I really enjoyed TNG. I got into TV watching more sporadically, so I would commonly catch things out of sequence. There were long-story arcs but they were more subtle and "extra" to the everyday aspects. This was I think more profound in Enterprise and DS9. DS9 at the end I think spends a lot of time wrapping up these. This is a very good point though and probably why I enjoyed it more later in my life when I can download or stream it. Likewise, I agree it clicks a lot more after season 1. # + Re: (Score:2) by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) writes: Original Trekker perspective: I liked Babylon 5 even while at the same time I have to admit that the Babylon 5 actors, with few exceptions like Andreas Katsulas and Mira Furlan, were as stiff as cardboard (and often written that way). But its saving grace was that the stories were almost always about the people, not pumping up make believe technology into major plot devices a la Star Trek TNG et al. And that's even with the early use of CGI. It's why I could rewatch the first four seasons of it recently, whe o + Re: (Score:2) by stabiesoft ( 733417 ) writes: The first time I watched it I was not a big fan either. Like you, it grew on me. I think it did a great job of pointing out good can be bad and bad can be good, as well as how things like a psicorps can get out of control. All relevant to the real world. I also thought they did a great job on "god"(Lorien) in the final episodes. I am not sure how they reboot it though. It ended, cleverly I thought, with sheridan crossing the river styx(outer rim). They could go on from the ending in a post vorlon/shadow uni o * The story arc was the best part IMO (Score:3) by UnknowingFool ( 672806 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @11:49AM (#61856109) What I and many people liked was there was a multi year story arc and the an overall plan to how the show was going to end. Some great shows do not know how to end *ahem* Game of Thrones, Dexter--and that leaves many fans disappointed. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:2) by v1 ( 525388 ) writes: He had so much of the main story arc planned out before filming of the first episode of season 1. This created some incredible payouts in later seasons, and a level of story-cohesion you almost never see in a TV series. It's common to see strong cohesion within a season, but then they sort of "reboot" the series in the next season, with a new story arc. B5 had a few sub-arcs, but the real story arc was played out through the entire series. Time travel that links together episodes that aren't even in the s o + Re:The story arc was the best part IMO (Score:4, Insightful) by Phact ( 4649149 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @12:19PM (#61856233) To be fair B5 has it story ending written by the Author before production, while GOT ran past what the Author had written and was "winging it" for an ending by the shows writers. Reply to This Parent Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate o o Re: (Score:2) by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) writes: GRRM was *supposed* to be part of the team right to the end of GoT, and yet we still got the drivel that we ended up with - and GRRM still hasn't committed to the release of his next actual book in the series. After a lot of thought on this, I'm actually of the opinion that a lot of the blame lies with GRRM here and not the show writers - I think he lost interest and the book series won't ever get finished, and for the same reason the latter seasons of the show were similarly unfleshed out. # * + + Re: (Score:1, Insightful) by Growlley ( 6732614 ) writes: They won't even need to destroy hummanity - just put on red maga hats and increase the stupidity. o + o + Re: (Score:2, Informative) by serviscope_minor ( 664417 ) writes: I remember how much miserable little gits like yourself lost their shot when they gender swapped Starbuck. Anyway please take your identity politics to the GOP conference or whatever. They're not interesting. o + Re: (Score:3) by know-nothing cunt ( 6546228 ) writes: facist I admit, I'm a bit of a facist. The ones that are always smiling kinda tick me off. o + Re: (Score:2) by Dragonslicer ( 991472 ) writes: If you're worried that a new Babylon 5 series will be "woke", you obviously didn't pay much attention to the first series. o + o + 2 replies beneath your current threshold. * Editing! (Score:1) by Samantha Wright ( 1324923 ) writes: The last part refers to the recent passing of Mira Furlan (Delenn), ... [As well as Mira Furlan (Minbari Ambassador Delenn)] Is there anything Slashdot editors can't do?! + + In the subject line! (Score:2) by Entrope ( 68843 ) writes: Where is the best place to answer a rhetorical question in a Slashdot comment? o o Alas! (Score:2) by Samantha Wright ( 1324923 ) writes: No, no, that was an independent and intentionally preposed exclamation. e.g., "The Land of Oz! Is there any place with yellower brick roads?" # + o + Re: (Score:1) by freeze128 ( 544774 ) writes: Read! o + 1 reply beneath your current threshold. * Well I will look forward to it (Score:1) by jmccue ( 834797 ) writes: Well I will look forward to it, I liked the original but a reboot with a different direction seems interesting. All I hope is it is on a network I can get and even more, it is not cancelled after 1 or 2 seasons. Seems only really dumb and extreamly predictable shows last these days. + + Re: (Score:2) by jcdick1 ( 254644 ) writes: It's being developed for the CW, and if they can drag "Flash" out to eight seasons, surely they can get this to at least four. I just have to hope they have a better CG budget than what currently airs on the network. o o Re: (Score:1) by Randseed ( 132501 ) writes: It's the CW, so expect some musical interlude 40 minutes into every episode, bizarre love triangles, an overflow of wokeness, at least one major LGBTQA++123 or whatever the hell the acronym is now arc, a bunch of really attractive twenty-somethings trying to play 16 year olds, and the resident Vorlon to be a cliched parody of itself. The Technomages will make a reappearance, but the backstory will be that they're some hybrid of humans, space-vampires, and werewolves. Actually, I've got the cast all figured # # Re: Well I will look forward to it (Score:2) by barlevg ( 2111272 ) writes: You know that Ivanova slept with Talia, right? And that the original plan for Delenn was that the metamorphosis was to include a gender swap? Nothing that B5 could do today would be more "woke" for our era than what the show did for theirs. Hell, the whole third and fourth season features a rebellion against a President and his lackeys whose literal motto is America--sorry--Earth First! @ o Re: (Score:2) by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) writes: CW means it will suck. If it were on Amazon or any other serious streaming service it would be amazing, with good story lines. But we'd only get 8 shows a year and it would take 2 years per season. I wonder if the streaming services can ever figure out a middle ground. # o Re: Well I will look forward to it (Score:2) by barlevg ( 2111272 ) writes: People keep saying that CW has bad CGI. And yeah, on some shows (read: The Flash) it's pretty atrocious. But you know who always had garbage CGI? SciFi Channel originals (Sharknado anyone?). Even recent shows like The Magicians look like the rendering was done by someone going through a Blender tutorial on Skillshare and using their laptop to do the rendering. But then again, SciFi / (SyFy) produced two shows that SET THE GOLD STANDARD for CGI in their respective eras: Battlestar Galactica, then The Expanse # * + + o + 1 reply beneath your current threshold. * B5. (Score:3) by GimpOnTheGo ( 6567570 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @12:15PM (#61856211) Video Toaster, lightwave. Amiga. I was at university downloading B5 backgrounds and shit from Usenet when the show first aired. Half of the cast are dead ? I feel old. The writing was pretty shit, and quite a few of the actors were shit (read "cheap") , but the FX was amazing for the time. Not sure if MS has the chops for a reboot though. Needs some grittier writing. Like BSG (new) on steroids. I think MS is too old. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:2) by msk ( 6205 ) writes: He goes by "Joe", and when referenced by initials, it's "JMS". o o Re: B5. (Score:1) by GimpOnTheGo ( 6567570 ) writes: Meh. Whateva. :) # o # o 1 reply beneath your current threshold. + Re: (Score:2) by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) writes: Half of the cast are dead ? I feel old. The writing was pretty shit, and quite a few of the actors were shit (read "cheap") , but the FX was amazing for the time. Not sure if MS has the chops for a reboot though. Needs some grittier writing. Like BSG (new) on steroids. I think MS is too old. To be fair, a lot of the cast died not very old relatively speaking these days. And yeah, many of the actors were stiff as cardboard with the exception of Katsulas, Furlan, and Bill Mumy. And actually the original commander played by Michael O'Hare. Maybe his mental issues made him a better actor in the role as it made him completely incapable of being stiff. But for sure, the rest were pretty lame, especially the doctor. I like the show quite a bit, but he made me cringe in anything he was in. But I think o o Re: (Score:2) by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) writes: Oh ya, those three were amazing, but I also loved Peter Jurasik. Over the top was the character concept but he could do the subtle bits too. Scenes with both Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas were amazing! Stephen Furst was great too. Something of comic relief early (he was best known prior for being Flounder in Animal House) but the role got more serious and he pulled it off very well. # # Re: (Score:2) by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) writes: Stephen Furst will be missed in quite a few ways - he directed several episodes and was involved in the production team as well, he was more than a cast member :( @ + Re: (Score:2) by Beryllium Sphere(tm) ( 193358 ) writes: Gotta disagree about the writing. The intricacy of the plot, the fun of having a line explain a mystery from years earlier, and the dialog that other authors have copied (David Weber had a character say "They are behind me. You are in front of me. If you want to survive, be somewhere else.") all point in the direction of good writing. Deconstruction of Falling Stars had the scope and sense of wonder of the best of the Golden Age. o + Re: (Score:2) by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) writes: A couple friends of a friend (who I briefly worked with) worked one some early Amiga ray tracing, which got used in the B5 pilot at least. And my friend was all excited about it and said "so-and-so's elbow can be seen in one scene!" o * I never watched it. (Score:2) by MikeDataLink ( 536925 ) writes: Maybe it is time to go experience this classic! I'll queue it up! + * I feel like... (Score:1) by linforcer ( 923749 ) writes: ...the serialized nature of Babylon 5 put it (a bit) ahead of its time. I remember being a kid watching TV and when TNG or even DS9 (which was sort of serializedish) was on I was like "I get this, this episode is self-contained" and when B5 was on I was like "There is some kind backstory I am missing, I have no idea what is going on" I can only imagine the current show will be on time, or worst case, behind the times. I think there are also some big shoes to fill considering the amazing cast the original had. + * ok.. what odds will you give me.. (Score:2) by Pax681 ( 1002592 ) writes: That Delenn will be a male mimbari who becomes a female Mimbari-Human hybrid + + Re: (Score:1) by richbaker ( 8800699 ) writes: Given that this was the original plan in the first version of Babylon 5 -- hence Mira Furlan's different makeup in The Gathering -- I think it's fairly likely that this will be the case. o o Re: (Score:2) by Pax681 ( 1002592 ) writes: Delenn was female as a mimbari and female as a human- mimbari hybrid.. fuck my old boots.. what is old is new again right enough.... # # Re: (Score:1) by richbaker ( 8800699 ) writes: JMS in 1992: "What we have, basically, is a female actor playing a male character. Women simply *move* differently than men do; the gestures, the tilt of the head, the smile, it's just a shade different. So you now take that, and wrap it inside a male character, aided by prosthetics to make the face and body more masculine. Now, when you look at the finished product, you are looking at a male, but there's something wrong about it somewhere, and it makes you a little uncertain. The first time I saw Mir @ @ Re: (Score:1) by richbaker ( 8800699 ) writes: JMS in 1994: "Yes, since you've sussed it...the plan was to turn Delenn from male to female in "Chrysalis," in my original plans, as well as making her half-human. And yes, it would've had one hell of an impact...but my concern when I made that decision not do do this back in the pilot was based on the reality that we couldn't do it well. The "male" voice, altered by computer-enhancement, just sounded REAL bogus; we couldn't get it right, and I had to decide between dropping it, and doing something th - * Bad audio mix (Score:3) by MMC Monster ( 602931 ) writes: on Sunday October 03, 2021 @12:45PM (#61856319) I didn't watch it when it came out and picked up a pirated version. The audio mix on it was horrible, with the special effects/space having very high volume and the dialogue low volume, making it hard to pay attention without getting my ears blown out when the special effects scenes started up. Reply to This Share twitter facebook Share on Google+ Flag as Inappropriate + + Re: (Score:2) by evilquaker ( 35963 ) writes: Maybe that's because you bought a pirated version? I just recently re-watched the official DVD version and it did not have that problem. o * So, are they using Amigas on this one as well? (Score:2) by Z80a ( 971949 ) writes: The original babylon 5 is quite a very neat Video Toaster demo besides being a good show. + * Unfortunately... (Score:2, Insightful) by VAXcat ( 674775 ) writes: ...this will be an unwatchable woke mess. + + Re: (Score:3) by andydread ( 758754 ) writes: Maybe any show where you have humanoids from different backgrounds mingling and dealing with diplomatic issues will be a woke mess no? I mean...even the original Star Trek was a woke mess. All that equality bullshit. There was so much outrage at the time because how dare they put a Black, a Russian, a Jap, all working together. Try sticking to shows where there is a monoculture and you'll be fine. o o Re: (Score:2) by ITRambo ( 1467509 ) writes: The reason that the reboot will likely be a "woke mess" is that it's going to be on CW, which panders to the woke fringe audience. Trans superheros and gay and lesbian lovers on just about every CW show do not give me any reason to think that it's going to be very watchable. Even the Flash, which was pretty solid for five seasons went off the rails with lazy writing and excessive multiverse and time travel. The CW reboot of Walker made me want to take a nap during it. Batwoman is just terrible writing with # # Re: (Score:2) by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) writes: Naw, those shows mostly lot my interest because they were all vehicles for a cast of twenty somethings... Boring. As far as woke, there's the anti-woke crap where all alien civilizations must be like conservative Earth because God created everything everywhere with only two sexes, which isn't even true on Earth. Star Trek did it that way because it cost too much to do more than a bit of latex on the forehead and nose, not because they wanted to push a 60s square agenda. Gays and lesbians exist, deal with @ + Re: (Score:2) by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) writes: Maybe just accept in your soul that you don't like modern society, and perhaps now is the time to remove yourself from it? Go live in the mountains, watch reruns of "un-woke" 1980s "man good! woman subservient!" TV shows. o * will be hard to watch (Score:2) by renegade600 ( 204461 ) writes: with the exception of the final season, B5 was one of the greatest scifi shows ever. The final season was too rushed and lost its appeal. I usually don't care for story arcs over episodes but the way this one was done over seasons is what made the show great, and thought provoking. In addition, the actors who played the different characters were perfect for their parts. I doubt I could picture or accept any other actor playing those characters. That is not to say I will not give it a try and fol + + Re: (Score:2) by dunkelfalke ( 91624 ) writes: The final season was the opposite from rushed. The goddamn telepath war thing has been dragging on and on and on and on and on. Fuck Byron. o + Re: (Score:2) by Darinbob ( 1142669 ) writes: Television station that I watched it on canceled season 4 halfway through, because season 5 wasn't going to be on their network. That was a weird move and it meant a panicked scramble to try and pick up that week's episode in snowy form from a a city two hours drive away. Multiple stations would just change the time slot with little warning, pre-Tivo days, so I would find some days that it didn't actually get recorded and I'd stay up late to catch it on a different station late night. Watching it all at the o + Re: (Score:2) by Richard_at_work ( 517087 ) writes: Season 5 *was* rushed, because it wasn't green-lit until very very late on in season 4's run - this meant that, in order to wrap everything up without any guarantee of another season, a lot of season 5 material was pushed into season 4, and when season 5 was finally green lit it had to have a load of new material written for it. I think the original storyline was going to be season 4 wrapping up the Shadow-Vorlon conflict, and then season 5 dealing with Earth and the telepath situation. o * 2 replies beneath your current threshold. * There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead. 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