 |
|
THE ZOCALO DISCUSSION TOPIC - PAGE 4
Date: 3/29/2001 11:01:25 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: babylon_5fan@yahoo.com (F.H.)
What is your favorite musical score?
The Never Ending Story
Driving Miss Daisy
Forrest Gump
Contact
Star Trek: First Contact
Blade Runner
Fried Green Tomatoes
Any Babylon 5 soundtrack
Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Cocoon
October Sky
I can't think of others right now, but this is plenty.
Cheers!
Date: 3/29/2001 6:33:06 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: melynda_dg@bigpond.com (Melynda)
On the soundtrack to Pokemon the Movie 2000: The Power Of One (I love Pokemon! So sue me!) there is a musical
score that is played at the climax of the movie. It's called "The Legend Comes To Life" and it is just amazing.
Listening to it makes you feel like you are flying! You just feel so great when you listen to it.
I also adore the John Williams' piece "Theme From Jurassic Park". I really like the Jurassic Park theme
because you could really get it stuck into your head. It also seems able to convey the large scale of
everything when it comes to the dinosaurs. Though the movie demonstrates (mostly) their "dark sides", this
piece really reflects the beauty of it all.
As for Babylon 5, the piece that is played when they show the starting credits (after the fancy intro) of
Series 5 is probably my fave. I also like the starting piece of Series 3.
Mel Squallina
Date: 3/27/2001 5:04:26 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
For movies: I have to go with John Williams. He always produced stirring, adventurous music. For TV: Call me
crazy, but I've always thought Mike Post made some of the best themes and scores for TV series (especially in
the '80s). His music always enhanced shows like The A-Team, making car chases and fights really intense and
urgent. I've seen other shows with a car chase and improper music behind it (by other composers) and it didn't
seem that exciting. So, the right musical score can really make a difference.
-Epsilon3
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 3:23:39 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: "Cripe, Helen L."
First of all, I think most of the Babylon 5 music is very good because it
fits so perfectly with what you're seeing that you often don't even realize
it's there. That's an art. That's also why I hated the Crusade music -- it
was too percussive and intrusive.
I don't go to many movies, but my favorite movie music is Star Wars I,
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Star Trek !V, and Star Trek V. The music
for the first Star Wars movie and the Indy movie is so jolly and so well
fitted to the action that you just can't help bouncing in your seat and
enjoying it. Star Trek IV's music caught my attention because in the
overture during the opening credits there's a little fugue riff cribbed from
Bach's Second Brandenberg (I think it's the Second but I know it's one of
them). I agree with the other correspondent that Star Trek V was the worst
movie with the best score and that the song she mentioned is lovely, but I
can't remember either who sang it.
My own personal favorite music starts with the polyphonic music of the
Renaissance and goes up through the middle 19th century. I like to play
Bach, Handel, Scarlatti and the Spanish baroque composers on my harpsichord
and Schubert, Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Chopin on my piano. And don't tell
anybody, but there's a stash of old Tennesee Ernie Ford, Eddy Arnold, Ray
Price and Marty Robbins LPs in my record cabinet!
Date: 3/27/2001 3:04:55 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: msweet3@stny.rr.com (Matthew Sweet)
Hi Sandy! =) My Favorite musical score in a movie HAS to be from the Blues
Brothers Movie. I haven't seen the movie in a while but all the music had
somthing to do with the plot or the mood of the movie. The fact that all
those blues greats were in the film makes the movie real speciial!
Date: 3/25/2001 6:58:21 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: delenn@ync.net (sara adler)
Well, I can't say that this piece of music affected what I saw on the
screen, but I did find it to be an extremely beautiful song. It's called
"The Moon's a Window to Heaven". It's from the "Star Trek V Soundtrack"
(albeit, not one of the better movies, which is funny, because the two
movies I had the hardest time with in the Star Trek Genre, seemed to have
had the best soundtracks. At least I thought so). Anyway, I don't know the
composer/performer's name, but I know that Nichelle Nichols sang it in the
movie. I don't think it was her on the soundtrack though. I listened to the
tape until it got stretched out (and then had to run around everywhere
trying to find another tape or CD), and it just didn't sound like her.
Anyway, that's one of my favorite songs from a soundtrack.
Sara A.
Date: 3/25/2001 9:12:53 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: min05@singnet.com.sg (T. shena Talesedrin)
I hardly watch movies nowadays and at best could
only think of Fantasia 1 & 2. =) In this case, I
suppose the topic is reversed for the prob with
Fantasia 1&2 was to match the musical scores
with visuals. ^_^
I'd say the Disney animators surpassed themselves
with Fantasia 2 for that's my fav of the 2. It's very hard
to select the best among the 6 newest creations for
IMHO, they are really really fantastic.
To 'adhere' to the topic, well.....the next best thing I can
think of is Dune, the Prophecy theme written by
Brian Eno. Arrakis, dune, desert planet.... dry, dunes
that stretched miles upon miles into the distance. The
song of the wind and hope of the Fremen swirl like the
sand that dance eternal over the face of Arrakis till one
day, the dance is still by the death of the Maker.
And btw, do comp games count? 0 )
Matching music to FMV/videos in pc games ain't
a walk in the park, this kinda work demand as much
creativity and hardwork in order to attract ppl.
Anyway, I'm a sucker for the hero scenario. 0 )
I consider the trailer for the game Metal Gear Solid 2
to be well done. The music is written by Harry Gregson
Williams who also wrote the score for Enemy Of The State.
The part where the hero ran down the passage with
explosions going off as the ship detonated is atypical
which would amount to nothing without the music. =)
<*>
Date: 3/24/2001 4:04:55 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: captain.average@home.com (Captain Average)
Without a doubt, there are two film scores that refuse to leave me alone - the haunting score
from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the driving score from Big Trouble In Little China.
John Carpenter's score for cult classic, BTILC, perfectly matches the film's frantic pace and
the theme song is a classic combination of power pop and R&B.
Tan Dun's score for CTHD is a masterpiece of subtlety in the more more emotional segments and his
use of just percussion in the action sequences is astounding.
I really can't choose between these scores.
Captain Average
The superhero - All Tied Up
Date: 3/24/2001 3:11:13 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
Hi there:
It's an interesting question.
My favorite music score for long time ago (a lot) was, and is the Star Wars
theme (the original).That sound track touch the soul.
Other music score can be...The Bodyguard (Withney Houston). I like the
romantic music, too.
And, of course, I like the B5 sound track, but mainly, of the season 1 and 5.
Be careful.
Friend: Andres.
Date: 3/24/2001 11:13:22 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: TJGuitar85
While I love Christopher Franke's work ALOT. As well as all the Star Trek composers...I find
myself really enjoying the Farscape music. Its a nice change of style for a sci fi show...The
CD is amazing...I give two thumbs up to Guy Gross.
-TJ
Date: 3/24/2001 10:44:27 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: macbreck@access995.com (Mac Breck)
It's a tie between "The Dead Zone" and John Carpenter's "The Thing".
Both added immeasurably to the "feel" of the movie. The strings and horns
of "The Dead Zone" are so poignant. The score of The Thing creates a
feeling of dread. If I had to pick, it'd be "The Dead Zone".
With Babylon 5, I remember lots of places where the score was absolutely
beautiful, but I can't remember what episodes they were in. I love the
Season 5 theme.
Mac
Previous discussion topic:
This week, let's do something a little different. Let's talk minor
characters! There were a LOT of them, but some made MAJOR
contributions to the story -- and the show. Which one is your
favorite? Would it be Neroon, Zathras, Morden, Lorien? Why did you
pick them? Let's give them the attention they deserve!
Date: 3/21/2001 2:37:50 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: msweet3@stny.rr.com (Matthew Sweet)
Hi Sandy!! =)
I'm very surprised that there wasn't much attention given to the Great Pakh
mi 'Rah Empire! All that was said of these fine beings was said in Series
5, when they were scorned by the Minbari for not being a very smart race.
Generally, when a group is being persecuted by anyone, it is the Minbari who
come to the rescue and find justification for the race. Delenn simply gave
them courier duties during the war between B5 and Earth, while the rest of
the sentient beings are given more practical jobs in the war against Earth.
Why is it that the Pak mi 'Rah are ostricized the way they are? Is it
because they are a violent people? They seem to be very respectful of all
people. They don't start extraneous wars for no reason like the other races
do. They bow to people they meet, they try not to get into serious trouble
and they respect the democratic principles on B5. That sounds pretty smart
to me. I really think that the Pakh mi 'Rah are severely beiing severely
discriminated against.
1. Because they have no vocal chords, they can't speak except through a
communication device placed on their lap. (Is that the reason they are
scoffed at by the Minbari and others?)
2. They have a religion that forbids them from speaking other languages
other than their own. If their religion forbids it, does that mean they're
stupid? Are Jews considered stupid because they don't eat pork or ham?
Talk about Prejudice! There was never any attempt by the Ambassadors or the
crew to understand this race. It just sounds like a bunch of bullies making
pre-judgements of this group who can't talk. I say it's unfair!
Isn't there, too, a group within the Pakh mi 'Rah who have broken from
tradition, went to school and have tried to make a name for themselves, but
can't because it is institutionalized that all Pakh mi 'Rah are stupid?
It seems that the Ambassadors and the crew of B5 and the Minbari need to get
an attitude change!
Pakh mi 'Rah FOREVER!!!
Matthew Sweet
Date: 3/20/2001 11:39:59 AM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
I can't remember all the minor characters on B5, but I would have to pick Zathras as my favorite. Just
because he was such a goofy character and it is fun to imitate his voice and speech pattern. And he wasn't
overused like many comic relief characters in other shows (I think he only appeared in two or three episodes).
But the most important minor character to the overall story arc would have to be Morden. He represented the
Shadows to us (the viewers) as well as the characters on the show. He was the voice for the Shadows (who I
assume couldn't speak themselves) and we learned to hate them through him. Even though he was revealed to
actually be a tragic figure in one of the novels, you still couldn't help but hate him on the show. He was
partially responsible for the tragic mistakes Londo made (after all, no one forced Londo to make those
decisions, just enticed him) and the major events of the series. It seems like he appeared on more episodes
than he actually did because of his importance to the story.
-Epsilon3
Date: 3/19/2001 10:23:54 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: CripeHL@itrcorporation.com (Cripe, Helen L.)
You knew I wouldn't pass up a chance to write and say that Neroon is my
favorite minor character in B5! After all, I did ask if I could buy him
instead of a prop last week, and I named one of my cats after him.
Seriously, though, I think he is a character who personifies one of
Babylon'5's most important underlying philosophies, that of letting a
character grow and change. The Neroon of "Legacies", his first appearance,
is prickly, paranoid, spoiling for a fight, almost out of control.
Throughout his later appearances he grows and changes from a person willing
to use violence to oppose Delenn into an understanding of her importance to
Minbar, then makes his final sacrifice to end Minbar's civil war and ensure
unity among the castes. It was also important to show a strong member of
another caste besides the religious caste -- Neroon was a great gadfly to
counter the frequent impression that the religious caste was a little too
perfect.
My cat Neroon has not lived up to his namesake -- despite his large,
formidable all-black appearance, he's about as un-warriorlike as you can
get. He's sweet-natured, purrs a lot, and -- unflattering but true -- not
real smart.
Date: 3/19/2001 3:29:20 AM EST
From: Kris.Hawkins@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK (Hawkins, Kris (TPE))
Morden.
Morden put everything into perspective, many times in more tangible terms
than Zathras or even Lorien. Morden was the typical self-serving human, out
to better his own ends at the cost of whoever he had to stand on; as a
character he was very believable. As a baddie, he was worse than Cartagia.
Day of the Dead summed him up perfectly ...
Date: 3/19/2001 5:30:00 AM EST
From: melynda_dg@bigpond.com (Melynda)
I think my fave minor characters would include Ta'lon, Elric, Morden and the Centauri prophetess who visits
in "Point of No Return" (I can never remember her name!). These characters played a small though important
role in the series.
Elric and the prophetess told of things to come. They played small roles but certainly stand out when one is
watching the series through. I really liked Ta'lon. At first he seemed quite weak when Sheridan met him on
the alien ship but when he returned he was the wise warrior who would always repay a debt.
Though Morden was someone who you wanted to see have his head stuck on a pike so you could wave into his
lifeless eyes, he played a very important role in the whole scheme of things. I think over and over again
"What would have happened if Londo had said 'No' to this man?" Afterall, it was because of this man (and
Londo's decision to employ his 'help') that everything started.
The minor character I least like would be Emperor Catagia. I swear it I felt so sick in some scenes that
involved him. Of particular note is a scene in one of the early series 4 episodes where Londo and Vir are
in the royal gardens discussing the plan to get rid of Catagia. Suddenly, the Emperor comes screaming around
the corner, complaining that G'Kar won't make a sound. As he complains, Vir looks down at the Emperor's
blood-covered hands with a sickened expression. He watches as Catagia poors the dish of blood-water over
the plant and walks off. Then Vir says: "Kill him." That scene made me so sick.
Mel Squallina
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 3:11:18 PM EST
From: "Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval"
Hi there:
It's an interesting question, Sandy.
My favorite minor character can be...Lorien, his contribution was very
important for the final of the story.
Other minor character... the Garibaldi's girlfriend, she was, and is, a very
nice girl who contributed to the story, in great shape, too.
President Santiago (no face), mainly his character was a very important
contribution in the season 1 and 2.
Zathras (ugggg.... very ugly), but his contribution was important at the
season 1 and 3.
Well. I think this is all.
Be careful, Sandy.
Your friend,
Andres.
Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 12:24:06 PM EST
From: Dave Manning
Hi!
I vote for Morden. His character comes right out of the beliefs of
traditional Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Asthe stalking horse for the
Shadows, he is the deceptively benign face of that which is thoroughly evil.
So those tempted sufficiently to make a pact with him end up making up a
pact with the "devil" himself. Marvellous.
Morden is an excellent example of what I like about the Babylon 5 story,
from beginning to end: so many interesting people, places, and events,
written to make the viewers really think and not merely be entertained.
Keep up the Zocalo. By doing this, you're keeping the faith. Good work,
everyone.
Dave Manning
Previous discussion topic:
Now that the series has completed it's first run at SCIFI, let's have
a little fun -- dream a bit! Let's pretend that the studio is holding
an auction of ALL the items in the prop department! Yes, these are
all the little things that dressed up a room or scene! What ONE prop
would you be most anxious to buy and why?
Date: 3/15/2001 4:14:20 AM EST
From: melynda_dg@bigpond.com (Melynda)
Okay most wanted prop. I'll split this up into two sections: Most Wanted Costume Piece and Most Wanted Prop
MOST WANTED COSTUME PIECE
5. The coat of the Centauri Emperor
4. Marcus' Outfit
3. G'Kar's shoes
2. Ranger One's full length coat
1. The new uniforms of the B5 crew (including the jacket!)
MOST WANTED PROP
5. Link
4. PPG
3. Minbari fighting Pike
2. The sword Londo keeps in his quarters (I just loved the scene where
Londo was trying to kill the bugs in his quarters, and after throwing
things at them he pulled out his sword and started bashing at them
with it!)
1. The Seal of the Centauri Emperor
Mel Squallina
Date: 3/14/2001 10:32:32 AM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
I would like to buy an entire quarter of the station, better if is the
commander quarter, with all facilities inside.
Andres.
Date: 3/13/2001 11:33:22 AM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
The only prop I can think of that I would want is one of the PPG guns. That would be pretty cool.
-Epsilon3
Date: 3/12/2001 2:53:55 PM EST
From: LierEl
If I could have any one prop from the series, I would like to have Marcus Cole's Ranger pin.
I just loved the character of Marcus.
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 3:44:44 PM EST
From: Wendy Emlinger
Hi,
And I know exactly what I'd like to buy. That delicious Minbari style bed that John and Delenn had
in her quarters on B5. Esthetically, it's very attractive and it looks so darn firm and comfortable,
too. (I've my current bed propped up on bricks so the head is about 5-6" higher than the foot and it
helps with my breathing at night. Can't tilt it much higher, though, because the bed simply isn't
built to be at an angle and the frame objects a bit. Plus the mattress slowly slips downhill and, if
it weren't for the footboard, it'd probably would be off on the floor.) I'd gladly trade my current
bed for that one. (I know, it's a pretty prosaic reason for wanting it, to sleep on, but it's as good
a reason as any.)
Wendy
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 2:47:51 AM EST
From: Starla Pureheart
Oh gosh..that's hard ^_^ I think perhaps the prop(s) I
would want most from B5 would be the Triluminary,
Delenn's chimes (the ones hanging in her quarters),
the cocoon crystal thingy--it looks neat!--and of
course, Marcus's fighting pike. Matter of fact, the
pike should be #1 on that list. Not to mention, I'd
want the wardrobes of both Delenn and Marcus *grins*
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 2:08:59 PM EST
From: Cuchu106
Hay Sandy!
I would buy The poster of Garibaldi's Egyptian god of Humility. Either that,
or the remains of Delenn's Coccoon!
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 3:43:10 PM EST
From: "Greg Joynson"
I've got a few ideas. A PPG, Minbari Fighting pike and a Psi Corps badge.
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 1:37:31 PM EST
From: "Dave Pesec"
This is a difficult choice. There are two I would like, one is the Daffy
Duck Poster from Garibaldi's room, the other is the "Battle of the Line"
medal.
The reason for the Daffy poster is closely aligned to what G'kar thought
about the poster, the insanity and spontaneity of the universe.
The "Battle of the Line" medal, because of what it symbolizes, doing what it
takes to preserve something of meaning, no matter what the cost. These EA
pilots knew it was hopeless, like Lando said in the movie "In the
Beginning", yet they continued to fight.
I'd like both, but if only one, the "Line" would win, because of the nobel
self-sacrifice it idealizes. Perhaps, this is why I have a "Ranger" pin in
my desk, to remind me of something that Sheridan said, "Fight for what you
believe, even if you're the only one." Clearly, not a bad piece of wisdom.
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 10:27:33 AM EST
From: BPowell170
Well, let's see ...
I guess the prop I think of first would be Bester and Lyta's contract. But a
close second would be The Book of G'quon. Followed by the Book of G'kar.
Others on my list: the menu from the Fresh Aire Restaurant that John and
Delenn ordered from on their first date; any one of the pieces and parts
from the contraption that changed Delenn and Sinclair; the pizza box from
Zack's surprise visit to Lyta; any of the candles from G'kar's room; a glass
from Earhart's; Londo's sword; Garibaldi's Daffy Duck painting; Sheridan's
baseball bat from the batting cages; a PPG and a com link ...
Now about the furniture ... I'm thinking ... PASTELS ;-) ...
-- barb
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 10:46:13 AM EST
From: "Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval"
Hi there:
Good question this week.
The prop...
I wish to buy the new dress of the crew (the black one).
Anyway, I like mainly not a thing, the friendship between the cast.
I like this kind of things, not to buy, of course, just I want to have it,
all of them.
This is my answer, my sincere answer.
Be careful.
Andres.
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 6:35:42 AM EST
From: JBONETATI
Oh, that's easy! A link. No, a PPG. On third thought, maybe a fighting pike. Or are those costumes
rather than props?
As far as set decoration type props I think I'd like the crystal drop mobile from Delenn's quarters.
I've always liked that a lot.
Fun question, thanks.
Jan
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 5:47:38 PM EST
From: "Cripe, Helen L."
Instead of buying a prop, why can't I just buy Neroon?
Previous discussion topic:
This week we see "Sleeping in Light" -- probably the most remembered
of all B5 episodes! There are those who cry every time they watch it;
there are those that were disappointed by it! What did you think of
it? Did this close the series for you?
Date: 3/7/2001 3:08:33 PM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
I have mixed feeling about "Sleeping In Light". It wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be. But I suppose
as much as it was hyped at the time, nothing could have lived up to that. It was sad and emotional enough
(although, not as emotional as Ivanova's "dying" scene a season earlier). But I was expecting one last
adventure (as it was advertised on TNT) and there wasn't any. Just Sheridan seeing old friends again before
he died. Which was okay, but I wanted it to go out with a bang (maybe fighting another alien threat, some
space battles, something dramatic and exciting). As it was, it was only sad and kind of plot thin. Also,
setting it 20 years later after season 5 seemed kind of strange to me. It was the end of the story for
Sheridan and the station only, not the other characters, as they lived out the rest of their lives (I assume).
Only now do I realize that JMS left a lot of years in between season 5 and the end to leave room to tell some
more stories of what happened to the characters in those years at a later time (such as in novels or any
future B5 movies or TV series). While that was smart, I really don't want to see future stories of Sheridan
as a grizzled old bearded guy. He was at his peak in his clean-shaven first three years at the station.
(Nit-picking: Sheridan looked younger on the final episode than he did on "A Call To Arms" which happened
years earlier. A slight mistake on the make-up staff's part.) The special effects of the station exploding
were not as good as the effects had been in the third and fourth seasons. It just didn't look as real as
all those space battles did in those seasons. I don't know why. That lessened the impact for me of the
station be destroyed. JMS being the one that turned off the lights and hit the bomb button was a nice touch,
if somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I thought the dead cat joke the group was talking about at the beginning was in
bad taste and unnecessary. Ivanova being given the title of head of the rangers seemed out of left field. She
had no previous expeience with the rangers directly (other than Marcus and the White Star crew), and she wasn't
Minbari or married to a Minbari, so I didn't get that. Also, I think Sheridan's death would have been more
touching if he hadn't vanished into thin air. Finding a body and giving a funeral would have been more
emotional (Lorien gave him life force to live, but Sheridan's body was still solid organic matter and shouldn't
have vanished like that.) It wasn't the best episode of the series. It could have been a lot better, but for
what it was, it wasn't bad.
-Mike Tuck (Epsilon3)
Martin, TN
Date: 3/6/2001 4:30:43 PM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
No doubts, Sleeping in Light is the best chapter of the season 5.
It's very spiritual, for that it won an award. I cried (not a lot) in each
repetition.
Sincerely,
Andres. (The faithful ranger of Lat Am zone)
Date: 3/5/2001 4:46:10 AM EST
From: nickhindle@cwcom.net
When I saw SIL for the first time, my jaw hit the floor! I couldn't believe
they blew up the station, and said "Babylon 5 was the last of the abylon stations".
They usually keep things like ships and space stations in case they want to
make more shows in the future - but I guess thats another thing that makes B5
different to all the others.
Peace.
Date: 3/5/2001 11:49:22 AM EST
From: CripeHL@itrcorporation.com (Cripe, Helen L.)
I don't like to watch "Sleeping in Light" by itself -- I prefer to watch it
in sequence with the two preceding episodes, "Objects in Motion" and
"Objects at Rest". I get out my tapes, lay in a supply of snacks and drinks,
turn off the telephone, and have my own little B5 festival. That way I can
enjoy uninterrupted the characters, the humor, the action, the sadness of
letting go -- and realize again what a rare gift we have been given in this
visual novel.
For me, "Sleeping in LIght" was a perfect coda to the series. Although sad,
it was not depressing because we knew that our favorite people had had
interesting lives in the intervening 20 years and that there would be new
beginnings for others. As to things left out, I was disappointed that there
was no mention of Lyta and that we never saw David Sheridan. Lochley should
also have been at the farewell gathering or at least mentioned, but that
would have been impossible because at the time the episode was filmed we
didn't know she existed.
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 3:27:57 AM EST
From: "Hawkins, Kris (TPE)"
Hey Sandy!!
2 things -
1 SiL was by far and away the best single B5 episode ever, it didn't
wrap everything up and I don't think it was supposed to. In answer to one
of your previous questions, of the storylines that were not finished I would
most like to have seen the telepath war unfold, and the role that Lyta
Alexander has to play in it. (not that I have a crush on Pat Tallman or
anything ... okay I do)
2 If you're mentioning Harry Potter in your zocalo dispatches, perhaps
a passing nod to the greatest book of the 20th century, about to be made
into the three greatest movies of all time? www.theonering.net
So long and thanks for all the fish
Kris Hawkins
From: "Jeanette Miller"
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 17:06:25 -0000
It aired in England between Christmas and the New Year, the final 4 episodes attached with fine irony
to one of those bright, brisk early morning breakfast shows that appeal to the average 13 year old.
There I am , the morning of New Years eve , sitting blinded by tears and it's only 10.30 and I'm feeling
faintly ridiculous and quite bereft. My 10 year old , who had watched with me since the beginning,
informed his father that they should take a walk, ...or something .
I'll check into the Zocolo sometimes but for the most part I am no longer a B5 obsessive.......except
occasionally, I'll take "Sleeping in Light" off the shelf and watch it, alone, late at night, and I
always cry.....but I am happy.
Jenni
England.
Date: 3/3/2001 12:15:02 PM EST
From: ugleb81@hotmail.com (Greg Joynson)
Sleeping in Light was the very pinacle of B5. If the show had to end, that was the only way to do it.
As the show pretty much centred on Sheridan, and because of Loriens prediction, it was only fair to show
us how it all ended. How unjust would it have been if we never saw anything come from that line, "And one
day, he shall simply stop."
The decomissioning of B5 was one of the most beautiful and saddening sequences ever to grace Science
Fiction. It said goodbye to the greatest story of the decade, and let everyone know that it was over
for good. The legend that was Babylon 5 had stepped aside, ready for a successor to take its place.
Date: 3/3/2001 11:58:30 AM EST
From: gkarfan@webtv.net (Tammy Smith)
In this cynical era, a lot of people dismiss anything that is overly
emotional, so that could explain why some B5-fans didn't like the
episode. As for myself, I wasn't afraid of the overly-emotional
content. I even watched the sun rise the next day, just like Delenn
did. But the part that really got to me was Ivanova's voiceover at the
end, the part where she said there could be "new beginnings, even for
people like us". That has deep personal meaning for me because I had
been suffering from depression & had to seek help just before I saw B5
for the first time in '98 when TNT picked it up. I watched B5 over the
next few months as I was healing, so when Ivanova said that line, I lost
it & was an emotional-wreck for at least an hour afterwards. But
eventually, I was strangely hopeful because I knew I had my "new
beginning", too. So to me, SiL was a *very* good episode.
Tammy Smith
Date: 3/3/2001 8:31:41 AM EST
From: snowheel@bellsouth.net (John Hill)
Rarely has a television program moved me as much as Sleeping In Light did when I saw the finale on the night
before Thanksgiving in 1998. So much anticipation led up to the episode, and it was paid off in a big way.
The two most emotional scenes for me were Sheridan's final goodbye to Delenn (I dare anybody to NOT cry
during that scene!) and the demolition of Babylon 5. How ironic it was that B5 was destroyed, not by an
enemy fleet or some unknown force, but by bureaucrats who no longer could find a use for the station.
Why the folks at the Television Academy failed to nominate this show for Best Dramatic series just goes to
show how stupid they really are!
John T. Hill
President, Republic of Mars
Date: 3/3/2001 8:43:42 PM EST
From: hg@babylon-fem.com (HG)
Hi!
You did ask for some thoughts regarding Sleepin in Light, and think I must agree with U. That this episode is
the episode that is the hardest to forget of them ALL!!!
Maybbe it left more Questions than answers, about what did happend to Sheridan.
If he just died or if he, went over the rim. To the first ones.
Best Regards
Håkan G Webmaster
http://www.babylon-fem.com/
With the announcement that SCIFI will show Crusade in April, let's
switch from B5 for a minute and talk Crusade. What did you
like/love/dislike about the series?
Date: 2/27/2001 2:15:39 PM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
My favorite Crusade character would have to be Capt. Gideon. He's intelligent, a good leader, and he's not
above kicking some ass when he has to. Also, he has a sense of humor, which is needed for a well-rounded
character. Galen comes in close second.
-Epsilon3
Date: 2/27/2001 5:56:37 AM EST
From: melynda_dg@bigpond.com (Melynda)
My fave Crusade character would have to be Galen for three reasons. Number one would have to be his mystery.
Though his tendency to leave certain important details out is quite annoying, his secrecy and mysterious ways
make him who he is. It also makes you curious about him.
The second thing I love about Galen is his cynical sense of humour. I think it was in "The Memory Of War" where,
after Galen's speech about coming to rely on the Excalibur and its crew and how he would hate to start over, Gideon
says "Then why don't you come with us?" Galen's amusing reply is "Because I would hate to die more than I would
hate starting over."
Reason Number three: That outfit! Damn it is so cool. I love the whole cloak and hood thing. The outfit itself
represents his position as wizard yet it also suggests the advanced side of things. I love his staff too.
Can I just say: I have this strong theory that the character of Elric that we met in series 2 of B5 ("Geometry
of Shadows") is actually the teacher Galen refers to. The staff Galen carries seems to be the same that Elric
did. Galen also mentions (I think) Elric in "The Long Road".
Thanks for your time,
Mel
Date: 2/23/2001 6:10:31 PM EST
From: dhemmings@Yacobian.com (Daria Hemmings)
The show wasn't bad, but the music was A-W-F-U-L !!!!
It made my ears hurt!
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 10:50:55 AM EST
From: "Cripe, Helen L."
I thought Crusade had the potential to become another Babylon 5 --
different, but just as good. It was very well cast and had some great
characters and stories, even though it suffered from the rearrangement of
the order in which the episodes were shown. I really liked Gary Cole as the
captain -- somewhat quirky but entirely capable of getting the job done. I
thought John Matheson/ Daniel Dae Kim had the most "breakout" potential --
not as attention-getting as some of the others at the start, but one who
grows on you and can convey more with a single facial expression than most
actors/characters can with words. Galen would have to be handled carefully
in the writing or he could easily become overdone and boring -- soulful
looks and cryptic utterances can't carry a characer indefinitely. There were
also some folks who could have developed into interesting occasional
recurring characters: Edward Woodward's character (can't remember his name),
Max's ex-wife (and cat), the Mars cop who mouthed off at Lochley, Mr.
Welles. Had the series continued I would like to have seen more development
of the doctor's character, and more of Captain Lochley and some of the B5
people.
Dislikes? Not many, actually. Although I thought a couple of the episodes
were a little slow and talky, if seen in the context of an entire series
they might have been more effective as parts of a whole. "Visitors from Down
the Street" was the only episode I thoroughly disliked -- thought it was a
pointless one-joke show and the aliens were too silly-looking to be
convincing. I didn't like the gray and red uniforms -- thought they looked
like a midwestern high school band. I hated the music. It just wasn't right.
It was distracting and intrusive. An epic needs music with an epic sweep and
many moods, not ricky-ticky percussion.
Somehow or other we MUST be able to get the unfilmed Bester episode and the
two written for the end of Season 1 in print! I was never able to read the
Bester episode at all, and was only able to briefly scan the other two, as
they were in a format my computer couldn't open. Surely there are a lot of
us out there who would buy copies of these episodes if they were available.
Any hope?
Date: 2/21/2001 8:17:17 AM EST
From: jeffferoce@mediaone.net (jeff feroce)
Hi,
Here's my thoughts:
The one thing I disliked most about the series was the music. I realize
the JMS still gets ruffled when the topic emerges, but the fact of the
matter is that the music was as mismatched to the show as it is to wear
stripes with plaids. It did nothing to bring any kind of mood
atmosphere or ambiance. Typically, in scenes involving threat or
danger, the music seemed lighthearted or distractive. Bottom line: it
was the wrong type of music to have in a sci-fi series.
Liked: Really enjoyed the characters; thought they all were individually
well-developed and had a story to tell.
Jeff Feroce
Date: 2/20/2001 4:58:39 PM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
What I liked about Crusade: 1) The Excalibur. Cool starship. 2) Capt. Gideon. Gary Cole made a good captain.
3) Galen. A good ally/comrade-at-arms for Gideon. The mystery surrounding Galen was interesting. 3) The alien
box. (I think this was called "The Apocalypse Box", but I'm not sure.) Another mystery that we will never get
to unravel. 4) the black uniforms. Much better than the gray uniforms. 5) The special effects. Maybe not as
good as B5's effects during the 3rd and 4th seasons, but still, not bad for TV.
What I didn't like: 1) The theme/opening. The theme was too dissonant and not catchy or rousing at all and the
voice over questions and answers were annoying. 2) The overall background music. Sorry, but the Chinese composer
made the music sound too, well, Chinese. Not what we're used to listening to here in the U.S. Should have gotten
Christopher Franke. 3) The gray (or were they blue?) uniforms. Yuck! 4) The rest of the cast/characters just
didn't thrill me. Bland. The actress who played Dureena was a good actress, but her makeup/look was not easy
on the eyes. 5) The whole reworking of the scheduled episodes and costume change. Knowing this was happening
made you feel like you were watching the shows out of order. 6) Unfortunately, only some of the episodes were
good. Most were only fair and the good ones didn't air right at first.
-Mike Tuck (Epsilon3)
Date: 2/19/2001 7:32:58 PM EST
From: alisondobell@madasafish.com (Alison Margaret DOBELL)
Hi Sandy,
What I *loved* most about "Crusade" was the way Gary Cole played Captain Gideon. A masterpiece of cool,
intelligent acting. He made the man so much more than the sum of his parts. You could see the thinking man
coming through, without the need for reams of extraneous dialogue to join all the dots for you. Marvellous.
I loved all the actors' work though felt that Marjean Holden took the longest to get 'into her character'.
The wonderful bits that I so longed to see explored were:
THE APOCOLYPSE BOX. Just what is it? Who made it and why? Is it sentient? Is it remote controlled? Why
did the last owner kill himself after passing it on to Gideon in the card game?
THE ALIEN RELICS. Max Eilerson (just gotta love Max) had that excellent piece of ancient technology that
ringed the bad guy who was blackmailing his wife and said the artefact was at least 1,000 years old - which
ties nicely with some stuff found by Psi Corps in "Babylon 5". I see a thread crossing over here (hope, hope).
GALEN. Love the enigmatic quality and have the following questions. Why has Galen been watching Gideon? Was
he waiting to find a way to ingratiate himself into Gideon's good books and saving his life after the Cerebus
was destroyed was a happy coincidence that he could use, exploit? What is his real purpose on the Excaliber?
Who destroyed the Cerebus and why? What is Galen up to with Gideon? Is he hoping to somehow be a mentor to
him and if so, why? What does he know?
MATHESON. Why did Gideon protect him and bring him aboard the Excaliber? What has happened between them that
makes Gideon trust him more than any other first officer he has ever had?
I love the link-ins with "Babylon 5" that happened from time to time.
What I hated were the bell-hop uniforms - the black is so much cooler, looks the business and makes them look
serious about their mission. I also hated it that several upcoming stories were tampered with to remove as
much reference to "Babylon 5" as possible. Come on folks, without B5 there would be no "Crusade" and references
between the two simply adds to the mytharc of the B5 universe. I also was not keen on "The Neighbours From Down
the Street". It was too much of a Simpsons episode with rubber masks. The whole homage to "The X-Files" would
have been okay elsewhere but not in "Crusade". A reference yeah, a whole episode? Nah. Grated on my teeth as
much as cute bears did with JMS in B5.
I want more "Crusade". I want to see the WHOLE story shown as Joe had mapped it out in his head, without the
men in suits, the bean counters, interfering and ruining it. I want "Crusade" to follow B5 into DVD and then
I want a "Crusade" film, comic series, ongoing novels and set of trading cards and 6" action figures. In short,
I want this whole wonderful experience to keep on rolling and let it take me with it. Abso-fraggin-lutely!
Thanks for another excellent issue of the Zocolo Today.
Take care,
Alison M. DOBELL
Date: 2/18/2001 10:27:57 AM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
Hi there:
It´s a good question.
I can to say Crusade' story would be enlarged. (Not only about the virus).
The story is good, and could include more characters of B5.
Between us, I like the B5 story more. I don't know why.
Andres.
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 7:05:05 PM EST
From: Joanne Watson
Hi Sandy,
I could go on for hours exulting and nit picking about
Crusade but I will spare you all the platitude (sounds
like Dr Smith on "Lost in Space") and only go on for
awhile.
I do have a love/hate relationship with the
programme. As fickle as my mind is, this programme is
absolutely (absofrigginlutely as a Delenn said on a
B5) brilliant and yet so very short in it's story
line. My mind boggles at the thoughts of stories that
can be told. So many directions to go. First thing
that comes to mind are the actors and the roles they
play. All do their roles so exceptionally well that I
could see them as real people in the real world and
not just characters in a story. (A big compliment to
their acting abilities and the script) Gary Cole as
Gideon (I liked him very much in Midnight Caller and
American Gothic (freaked me out at times, no couch to
hide behind, LOL)) comes across as a savy type captain
with a chip on his shoulder and a secret. Not the
squeaky clean potato. Don't know what the chip is.
Peter Woodward as Galen showing how well he can
deliver his lines. A British dramatic acting type
way. Marvelous! A feel of eerie suspenseful way with
awesome powers as a technomage (beautiful blue eyes).
Marjean Holden as Dr Chambers (didn't see much of her
character being built) intellectual person, dedicated
to a mission. Daniel Dae Kim as Matheson made me feel
sad as he had to deny his own special talents as a
telepath yet slipping at the crucial/awkward times.
David Allen Brooks plays as the man you like to hate
and yet he showed he is humane at times. Doesn't want
to be known as a softie. Carrie Dobro as Dureena
Nafeel is the one I can relate to best or put in
better words like to emulate. A rogue that doesn't
have a home. A clever thief yet wants so much to
learn more but maybe for the wrong reasons or for the
right ones. Doesn't mind getting dirty. Now on to
the music by Chen as it is unusually new like
futuristic, symbolism tones capturing the essence of
the moments. Drawing out the importance of the story.
Something I will probably get use to. The costumes
is a nit picking area though it was more like the
videos were numbered in the wrong order. I watched
the show where the uniforms are changed and yet the
old uniforms turn up in a later show. Go figure!!!
My favourite costume though is Dureena's. All that
leather and the colour was right. Wish I was that
size. I'm a scruff at heart. The setting I think was
not explored enough. Could do a lot more but then it
could be how short the Crusade is. Special effect
another absofrigginlutely brilliant in areas though in
others did fall down in parts as being fake. (I think
my imagination carried over the discrepancy so it was
fine by me). Can do better (sound like my report
card). Now on to the last and best bit for me the
story line. As usual and not disappointingly (well a
few times) the twist and turns of J Michael
Strazcynski's threads in Crusade. Read the suspenseful
scripts that were up in bookface by JMS and Fiona
Avery. Bester (Walter Koenig) was in one of the
stories. (Loved him in Star Trek as Chekov). I could
imagine it as if the script had played on telly for
real. A real tickler... So many questions waiting to
be answered. Where do we go from here or where are
you taking us or do we need to go down this alley? I
am not the storyteller of Crusade so won't be making
any suggests of where I want/don't it to go but I will
tell J Michael Strazcynski more please. I love the
Babylon 5/Crusade realm. I have said my
piece/peace(???). Thanks for reading. I would like
to know what other fans of the show think. :-)
Thanks for your comments. They match perfectly with my own.
I love/hate Crusade because there was SO MUCH POTENTIAL, but so
little was realized. The abbreviated nature of the story, the
changes in set, costumes, etc. force you to intially see disorder
or the lack of continuity. When you know the story behind what
was going on as the story was being produced, you are amazed that
it happened at all. When you read the scripts bookface.com had for
a while, you are frustrated that the show was halted -- just at the
time when the arc was kicking in! BUMMER!
Sandy
Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 2:42:57 PM EST
From: "Captain Average"
Crusade may not have had the epic grandeur of B5, but it contained the seeds of an extremely entertaining
series. When I watched the first eps of B5 after the corresponding number of Crusade eps, I was surprised
to note that the Crusade eps more than held their own in the quality department.
As episodes establishing the characters, Crusade's early eps gave us just as much as the matching B5
eps. There may not have been quite as much subtext, but that was in keeping with JMS' statement that,
although the Excalibur's crew did have an ongoing mission, the series would be a good deal more episodic
that B5.
Even with TNT's interference, the Crusade creative team managed to produce 13 thoroughly enjoyable eps
that gave us a glimpse into a whole new adventure that, while set in the B5 universe, would have developed
into a dramatically different tale both in theme and execution.
One of the major differences in the series, was that the Crusade team showed a willingness to use humour
more frequently, and to better effect than in the equivalent B5 eps (isn't experience a wonderful thing?).
Another thing I liked, was the casting. I thought the show had been cast almost as well as B5, and that's
saying a lot!
If Crusade had been allowed to unfold without TNT's interference, and the resulting brouhahas that got
it cancelled before it ever ran, Crusade would have probably been a success - maybe not on the order of
Star Trek, but certainly comparable to B5.
If the series draws enough response that SciFi actually decides to re-ramp production, I would be thrilled
(especially if SPACE: The Imagination Station were to pick it up in Canada). I just hope the entire cast
will be available...
Captain Average
The Crusading Superhero
Previous discussion topic:
If you could pick ONE thing about Babylon 5 that sets it apart from
other shows – whether science fiction or not – what would
that ONE thing be?
Date: 2/14/2001 4:05:08 PM EST
From: tuckbros@crunet.com (Gary L. Tuck and Mike Tuck)
The one thing that sets B5 apart from other series is the fact that the characters changed as the series
progressed. I can't think of any other show that has ever really shown the characters changing over time.
There might be some substantial things happen to a character, but, on most shows, that character would be
back the same (unchanged) the next episode. B5 seemed more real in that area than other shows. (Look at how
much Londo changed, and he is only one example.)
-Epsilon3
Date: 2/12/2001 6:30:01 AM EST
From: ericpdawson@earthlink.net (Eric Dawson)
Very few other shows grasp for the big reach that JMS went for with B5. You just don't find too many novels
for TV. Many shows will have continuing storylines, but they don't have the planned beginning, middle and end
that JMS developed and then added to over the years. To have a relatively complete tale told from start to
finish seldom happens in television.
And because JMS had that story skeleton to work with, he was able to build so many different things into the
actual body of it that he just didn't see until the characters themselves showed him (I always liked JMS saying
that one character came to him as he was writing and said "Let me do it -- let me kill Cartagia" -- and of
course, Vir got to do it).
And because it *was* JMS's vision, the overall story is so much more channeled than other shows have been. It
was interesting to see the choices that people made in one epsiode come back to impact them later, sometimes
years into the future. That focus and vision also allowed for JMS to make many a statement about all the
things that matter in life no matter where or when you live or who or what you are. Or if not a statement,
then at least to ask a thought provoking question of the viewer.
Eric
Date: 2/11/2001 1:49:06 PM EST
From: Anla Channa
For me, the one thing that sets Babylon 5 apart from other shows is the believability of the world it created.
While the show was set in the future, the characters were still flawed and the world was familiar. As much
as we hope that the future will be better than the present, it's unrealistic to assume that things and people
will ever be perfect. There will always be struggles and quests. In the Babylon 5 universe we see that people
are "human" (both earthlings and aliens) - they have strengths and weaknesses, hopes and fears, pasts and
dreams. One of my favorite scenes from Season 1 involved Sinclair showing the ambassadors the long line of
representatives from all of earth's religions. That brought home to me that this show was set in a universe
that could really grow from the world we live in now. It's not so far-fetched at all.
Date: 2/11/2001 12:23:40 PM EST
From: falco@eskimo.com (Rick Riebs)
Heya Sandy,
The arc, without question. There are SO many wonderful things about the
show it is a challenge to select the best, most fundamental aspect that
sets it apart from other SF programs and other TV programs in general.
But a great deal of them are all about us in other fantastic efforts of
the present and recent past. Blow-you-away acting and intense situations?
Homicide: Life on the Streets. Excellent characterizations and continuing
story lines? Buffy the Vampire Slayer is only one of many great shows
that've fulfilled this aspect (others include Murder One, Now and Again,
NYPD Blue, X-Files and Once and Again). Great science fiction and killer
special effects? Farscape more than fills that bill as well.
But the shameless audacity to come out with a show that has a
well-scripted beginning, middle and end and is set to run five years and
five years ONLY. The courage to do this with an SF show when no SF show
without the words "STAR" and "TREK" in the title had gone more than two
years in the past 30 years of television. The popular support and luck
needed to stave off cancellation for four years in a row, even moving to
cable from syndication at the last possible minute to make the fifth and
final season. And at last, the guts to end the show exactly when it was
supposed to end, despite that same popular support. All that is what
makes Babylon 5 unique in television history. That the story was epic,
cohesive and compelling, that they pioneered CGI special effects on TV in
fantastic form, and that regular old character actors stood out to give
the best performances on the show, well all that is just icing on the
proverbial cake. Not that you didn't need the icing, it just makes that
20 layer cake stand out even more next to the vast number of one and two
layer jobs surrounding it. Ultimately, the arc is B5 and B5 is the arc.
No one's ever done it better and no one will likely ever do it again.*
Date: 2/11/2001 5:41:53 AM EST
From: alisondobell@madasafish.com (Alison Margaret DOBELL)
If I could just pick one thing that sets "Babylon 5" apart from all other series it would the Arc. That
wonderful interweaving of story threads, the foreshadowing of events to come, the beautiful way Joe has
created a novel for television that works on every level including the viseral. As he so rightly told us
time and time again at conventions and in interviews on the subject, the more you put in to watching the
show, the more you see and get out of it. It is the details that make the series so exceptional and the
biggest and best detail of them all is the five year arc.
God bless Joe. God bless us all!
Alison M. DOBELL
Date: 2/10/2001 2:33:16 PM EST
From: captain.average@home.com (Captain Average)
While there a lot of things to like about Babylon 5 (it's study of themes like war, politics, religion; its
examination of the things that make us who we are; the attention to the science end of the "science-fiction",
et cetera), the biggest thing about Babylon 5 - the most important thing about it - is its vision: part "War
and Peace", part "E.E. 'Doc' Smith" and all JMS.
Babylon 5 works because it combines the epic grandeur (the Grand Guignol space opera) of Doc Smith, with the
equally epic humanity of "War and Peace".
There is a single, epic story to be told here, but in telling this story, JMS also tells us the smaller stories
that make up the foundation of the larger story: the times, the politics, the religions, the characters,
telepaths, aliens, good ol' homo sapiens.
That JMS had the vision to conceptualize such a tale is one thing - making it, with vision intact, is quite
another. That he completed his story, even with the changes that time, budget and other factors made necessary,
is a testament to the strength and appeal of his vision. And the word "completed" is also important.
JMS had an epic story that he wanted to tell. It had a beginning, a middle and an ending. When it was told,
he ended it. There were reasons to keep it alive ranging from the demand from the show's fans to merchandising,
to any number of things - but JMS had told his story and it was over. It was as simple as that (as revolutionary
as that, too).
Therefore, it is B5's vision (JMS' vision) that is the one thing that sets it apart from every other television
program - genre or not.
Captain Average
The Semi-Visionary Superhero
Date: 2/10/2001 3:59:33 PM EST
From: flipglen@stn.net
A feeling of "real life".
Most dramas of any stripe focus on key events. Daily issues such as shortages of money, where is a character
going to work, how do things get fixed (by who), are swept under the rug because there isn't enough time to
flesh out the story.
B5 is a story which could have been a few movies.... and all these real moments would have had to be dropped.
Phil
Date: 2/10/2001 3:47:09 PM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
The only thing that I can say is that B5 is believable, possible. For that,
the show get a lot of fans. A real story, in any place.
Sincerely,
Andres
Last week's discussion topic:
What were some of the themes expressed through episodes of Babylon 5? The stories were terrific,
but most had at least one underlying theme. Which were your favorite or most memorable? Why?
Date: 2/9/2001 12:23:27 PM EST
From: Anla Channa
For me, the underlying theme of the show was about how individuals needed to take responsibility for their
choices and deal with the consequences. When we meet the cast, they are all running from their past. Sinclair
has to deal with what happened during the missing 24 hours of the Battle of the Line, Garibaldi is running from
years of alcoholism and messed-up decisions (personal and professional), Ivanova is so shut down emotionally
that she can't deal with her father's death, Londo is the laughing stock of Centauri Prime, G'Kar is willing
to do practically anything to make the Centauri pay for what they did to his people (and his father in particular),
and Delenn is still carrying the guilt of initiating the Earth-Minbari War. They're all wounded souls trying to
find a niche in the universe.
Then, through the series they all have to face responsibility for their actions, sometimes in very painful
ways. Sheridan fights the war against the Shadows and the evil Earth government, but he realizes that his
methods are not always "pure", that he will have to use people and take advantage of situations. This is why
he sends Delenn away at one point, so that he can do what he needs to without her being there. Delenn dedicates
her life to trying to fulfill the prophecy uniting the Minbari and the humans in order to atone for starting
the war. Garibaldi needs to face his alcoholism, rekindle a relationship with the woman he loves, and rebuild
his life after what Bester did to him in Season 4. G'Kar (reluctantly) accepts his new position as a philosophical
and political leader of the Narn. And of course, Londo needs to face the responsibility for the actions that arose
from his deal with Morden. Billions of souls suffered in order for Londo to get what he wanted, and then he had to
accept his fate and try to make up for it as well as he could. Ivanova's closing speech in Sleeping in Light talks
about how there are always new beginnings, even for people like them. Once they faced their choices and their pasts,
they could build a better future.
Date: 2/6/2001 1:25:45 AM EST
From: SoylentTom
Destiny....or rather the choices we make. Paths which are chosen and we feel we cannot change. Ooh, Ooh! I
know! Taking control of your own detiny/life. We had that with Franklin, Garabaldi, and Londo and then Lyta.
Basically, there are just too many. JMS is a grand writer and his themes were the themes of life. Whether
they're Narn, Centauri, Human or Minbari, (hey, nice rhyme) the characters had feeling, were so well written
and well acted that we could relate. The theme? Excellence.
Date: 2/4/2001 9:54:24 AM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
I think the personal story of Ivanova is memorable. It's a story of real
people. I can to say the same thing about the personal story of Garibaldi,
Sheridan, etc. B5 is full of personal stories, into a great story of the
station, the main one.
This is the fundamental property of this show. For that, I think B5 have a
great number of fans, children and adults.
Friend,
Andres.
Previous week's topic:
OK, we've talked about noteworthy scenes from Babylon 5 -- those which could have/should have been in the
running for Emmys. Let's turn our attention to special effects! What are your favorites -- or what do you
think Babylon 5 did best in this area?
Date: 1/30/2001 11:36:46 AM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
Hi there:
Quickly today... I'm working (I guess...)
Discussion Topic
The best scene...no doubt, the jumpgate, this is my vote.
The station on the space is very beautiful, too. (This scene is my wallpaper
in my PC).
Friend:
Andres.
Date: 1/29/2001 8:36:11 AM EST
From: ugleb81@hotmail.com (Greg Joynson)
Special effects of note? Oh dear....
It would have to be, erm, the decommissioning of B5 in "Sleeping in light".
Beautifully shot scene. And music. That scene told you in no uncertain
terms that it was all over. The legend had an end. Sorry, I love that
scene
Date: 1/27/2001 7:47:18 AM EST
From: penguins@hove42.freeserve.co.uk (Chris White)
Have to say I think the best effect was probably little noticed and that was in Objects At Rest.
When Sheridan is leaving on the Whitestar you get the pan of the 'new' B5 crew. Lockley then salutes and
you get a single 'zoom' shot that goes from behind Lockley, thru the triangle of her saluting arm, out through
into space towards the Whitestar, through into the Whitestar and the shot settles on Sheridan saluting. A
subtle effect but one I appreciated.
Chris
Previous week's discussion topic:
About this time of year, everyone starts talking about nominations for the Emmy, Oscar, Hugo, etc. It
seems as if science fiction NEVER gets the kind of respect and attention it is due! So, let's see what
you all think. What are some of the MOST noteworthy scenes from Babylon 5 that should have been nominated
for an Emmy? I know there will be a lot of them, but I think a number of us will have the same favorites.
We'll start with acting honors -- next week we can talk about make-up and special effects.
Date: 1/26/2001 10:38:10 AM EST
From: nickhindle@yahoo.com (Nick Hindle)
Hi Sandy,
Here are my nominations for the Sci Fi "Emmy awards".
I can't quote a particular scene, as there were so many, but G'Kars speeches, starting in episode 6 and
then in may subsequent eps. were so profound.
Next up would be the many episodes which followed the rocky relationship between Londo and G'Kar. Worthy
of a series on it's own.
Nick
Date: 1/26/2001 2:17:52 PM EST
From: akvastel@ix.netcom.com (Anatoly Kvastel)
Hello everyone,
The actor in B5 that should have gotten an Emmy award as a best guest star
is Damien London. He simply was the Centauri Regent. It was also amazing
that he turned a trivial guest character into a complex and not only comic
but also tragic figure. Hats off to Damien.
Date: 1/24/2001 11:05:59 AM EST
From: MT_Evelyn@KCLIBRARY.ORG (MT_Evelyn (Evelyn Pypes))
I would nominate Andreas Katsulas for top acting awards, as he manages to
give Shakespearian acting performances through an almost impermeable mask of
alien latex. Mira Furlan gets my Emmy vote for best actress for performing
a complex range of emotions effortlessly.
Evelyn Pypes
Date: 1/22/2001 6:00:40 PM EST
From: tlanne@yahoo.com (T)
1. The scene where Delenn tells G'Kar that she knew of the Centauri plans
to attack Narn and did nothing because they weren't ready to show their
hand to the Shadows.
2. The last hug between Sheridan and Delenn.
3. Delenn's "If you value your lives, be somewhere else." scene.
4. All of G'Kar's monologues.
Date: 1/22/2001 5:39:47 PM EST
From: falco@eskimo.com (Rick Riebs)
Heya Sandy!
In that perfect world were excellence in acting on television was
recognized regardless of subject matter, Peter Jurasik would have walked
away with the Best Actor award during at least four of the five years of
Babylon 5's run (perhaps not Season One, since it wasn't so
Londo-intensive). The best argument for this that's been recently
re-shown on SCI FI, was in the episode, "Into The Fire," when a Centauri
minister informed Londo that it was Morden, not Refa, that had Adira
poisoned. The rampage Londo went into thereafter seemed to radiate the
intensity of his anger and anguish right through the TV screen! A
powerful scene to be sure, and yet another one of those scenes you've seen
before that STILL leave you breathless when they happen.
Now if you were to choose one for the fifth season, the obvious choice is
"The Very Long Night of Londo Molari." It's as if everything, and I mean
EVERYTHING that has happened to and because of Londo comes together in
that one episode and then is sharpened as keenly as a razor. I remember
Londo's apology to G'Kar sparking tears when I first saw the ep. I expect
them to flow freely the second time 'round. In a lot of ways B5 is the
story of Londo. Sure there's TONS of other things going on, but Londo is
the prime mover of the series, bringing in the Shadows, starting the
Narn-Centauri war (and thus the Shadow War), beginning to turn the tide in
the war to save Centauri Prime, and finally sacrificing himself to save
his homeworld after being taken over by the Drakh. They couldn't have
found an actor more capable of taking on this monumental challenge than
Peter Jurasik. In every scene, in every sense, he make Londo live as few
other characters have in any other television show. And but for the crazy
hair-do, the rocket ships and the ray guns, he'd have been lauded for it
all over the country. And maybe, just maybe, since B5 seems to be
undergoing a bit of a renaissance these days, that just may yet occur.
Too late to take home a gold statue for the effort, but sometimes living
well IS the best revenge!
Date: 1/22/2001 10:35:50 AM EST
From: ugleb81@hotmail.com (Greg Joynson)
I'd nominate Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurassic, for their work with the
G'Kar and Londo characters. They did some excellent work in the fourth/fith
series together. Some of the scenes in the last few episodes of series 5 in
particular.
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 2:40:00 PM EST
From: "Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval"
Hi there:
You 're right. Too scenes can be candidates for an award.
At this moment I choose two:
The scene of "Objects at Rest" where Sheridan disappears into the ship.
Really beautiful, and dramatic too.
Other scene can be...the final scenes of the final chapter, when the different
characters appear, the sad scene after the destruction of B-5. All
together, (except Sheridan, of course). Dramatic too.
Be careful.
A friend:
Andres.
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 2:01:37 PM EST
From: EmKayCats
The scene that stands out in my mind is the one in which G'Kar is being
whipped under order of Emperor Cartagia. Vir and Londo are standing
helplessly by watching, Londo is silently imploring G'Kar to scream, and
G'Kar won't give in until the last possible moment.
MK Dombrowski
EmKayCats@aol.com
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 1:57:28 PM EST
From: Dizzheart
It's hard to make a choice, there were so many, but I think I'd wind up
choosing:
-- Londo watching the bombing of the Narn homeworld
-- Londo and G'Kar trapped in the elevator
-- G'Kar's "We are One" speech
-- Delenn sitting watching the sunrise without John
-- "If you value your lives, be somewhere else!"
-- Dr Franklin's horror as he bursts in on the family mourning their child in
"Believers"
-- Susan mourning her father in "TKO"
-- John and Delenn's "first kiss"
-- Londo and Garibaldi sitting together in the bar -- "It is good to have
friends, yes?"
-- Lennier picking up Marcus by the throat -- "We may look like you, but we
are not like you"
-- Tick and Tock
I suspect we'll all go on forever with this question :)
Janice Jacobson
dizzheart@aol.com
"I'm always sure about things that are a matter of opinion."
-- Charlie Brown
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 9:56:10 AM EST
From: CCB5Flamekeeper
Sandy, here is my 2 cents worth for the discussion topic.
For my money, when I think of memorable scenes from Babylon 5, and there
were many, to me, the council chamber scene in "The Long Twilight Struggle"
when G'Kar is being thrown out comes most immediately to mine. It is the
scene that made me fall in love with G'Kar. I will never forget, the agony
with which G'Kar lifts himself out of his chair, and then, rising to his full
height he delivered that amazing impassioned speech of defiance and truth, "
Though it may take a thousand years, we shall be free." It just blew me away
as I came to B5 in the latter half of the 2nd season. I just loved and
sympathized with G'Kar from that moment on. My Heavens, is Andreas Katsulas a
wonderful actor, that voice and his stregth brought so much to the role of
G"Kar.
Of course, Peter is no slouch either, and in Dust to Dust, he had some
amazing moments with G'Kar, and as well, in the 5 season episode " The Long
Night of Londo Mollari" he really did some amazing acting.
I agree and have been very annoyed with the 'clubbish' atmosphere that
the Emmy's have had for years, and the fact that SF is ignored all the time.
I think Andreas is ever bit as good as any of those who have won supporting
actor. Peter too. No one has anything on those two guys.
I also think that Bruce turned in some amazing work in " Sleeping in
Light". So poignant, so powerful. The final assault on Earth in "Endgame" was
also powerful.
So, those are just a few things that come to mind in considering the
question.
Thank you for listening.
Faith manages,
Connie Colvin
The Flamekeeper of B5 forever.
Last week's Discussion Topic:
Recently, I've noticed a number of shows, not necessarily science fiction shows, that have had plots or
plot segments that remind me of other shows -- and other plotlines. How about you? Can you think of some
shows that you have seen similar storylines in?
For example, last night I was watching Stargate. In a new episode, they show the SG-1 team 10 years in the
future. I won't get into any spoiler information (since it was a terrific episode), but the solution was a
letter from the future, sent back into the past! Sound familiar? Valen - letter to Sinclair/Delenn? That's the
kind of coincidence I'm talking about.
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 3:34:17 AM EST
From: "Matthew B. Sweet"
M.J. Fox in Back to the Future was always going back and forth in time to
make his own life better.
Quantum Leap always went back in time and tried to make right what once was
wrong.
Om pne episode of Star Trek, the Enterprise went back to 1969 to stop Dr.
Seven from detonating a Nuclear Warhead on an orbital rocket that could've
set off World War III. Teri Garr was in that one! =)
Previous discussion topic:
Here's an EASY one, well sort of! What is your favorite (only 2-3 please) quotation from Babylon 5! I know,
there are a zillion to choose from, but let's see what we come up with.
Date: 1/12/2001 12:30:32 PM EST
From: msweet2@stny.rr.com (Matthew B. Sweet)
I tought I would add to your topic of quotations today. I love
Kosh and I love Ivanova, and I love to quote from them both! =)
Talia: What is he? And what was on that data crystal he gave you?"
Kosh: "Reflection. Surprise. Terror. For the future."
--Deathwalker
Date: 1/8/2001 12:11:26 PM EST
From: ugleb81@hotmail.com (Greg Joynson)
"The sky was full of stars, everyone of them an exploding ship."
Sinclair, talking about the battle of the line.
I hope I got that right.
Date: 1/7/2001 5:26:51 PM EST
From: alisondobell@madasafish.com (Alison Margaret DOBELL)
Hi Sandra!
My three favourite quotes from "Babylon 5" are:
1. "What is built endures. What is loved endures. And Babylon 5, Babylon 5
endures." (Delenn)
2. "Never ever trust a telepath. I'm gonna have that tattooed on the inside of
my eyelids." (Garibaldi)
3. "Ah, arrogance and stupidity all in one package, how efficient of you!"
(Londo)
Help, I have SO many and I can't cram them all in!
Just adore "Babylon 5", just love the Zocolo Today. Thanks for all your hard work,
Date: 1/7/2001 3:52:37 PM EST
From: pkazmir@austin.rr.com (Peter A. Kazmir)
Hi!
Here are my favorite three (in no particular order). Since my wife died in
June, my list changed a little bit from what it used to be.
1. "Hope is all we have." - Lorien, Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi
2. The Preamble to the Alliance Declaration of Principles, G'Kar, The
Paragon on Animals
3. "Faith Manages." - Delenn, Confessions and Lamentations, as well as
others, such as JMS in The Deconstruction of Falling Stars
-Peter
Date: 1/7/2001 8:23:06 AM EST
From: dixonhill67@home.com (dixonhill)
OK, so there are tons. But lately, as my 9 y/o son is FINALLY learning to read well, we both find ourselves
quoting Londo from Sic Transit Vir (in jest, of course):
"If you see something this big with 8 legs, let me know. I have to kill it before it develops language skills."
Date: 1/6/2001 11:19:08 PM EST
From: blgorsic@yahoo.com (Bonnie Gorsic)
Hi Sandy,
I have two quotes I really like. The one is when Delenn captains a Minbari warship back to B5 and confronts an
Earth Force fleet. "The only one to defeat a Minbari warship is Sheridan. He is behind me. You are in front of
me. Be somewhere else!"
And I liked the "We Are One" speech started by Sheridan and completed by G'Kar from Season 5. "The universe
speaks in many languages, but only one voice. The voice is not...It speaks in the language of hope. It speaks
in the language of trust. It speaks in the language of strength and the language of compassion..."
Finished reading the Centauir trilogy over the holidays. It was a great story, and wrapped up, for me, the
missing pieces for Londo and G'Kar's lives.
Bonnie Gorsic
Date: 1/6/2001 10:40:19 PM EST
From: mak@thirtytwopaws.com (Mary Alice Kropp)
Easy, easy, easy! :)
"You see, it's like I've always said: You can get more with a kind word and
a 2x4 than you can with a kind word alone."
Marcus Cole, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark"
Date: 1/6/2001 5:34:41 PM EST
From: ericpdawson@netzero.net (Eric P. Dawson)
Sandy --
Keeping it short but sweet --
"Not the one..."
"Absofragginlutely!"
"Initiating 'getting-the-hell-out-of-here' manuever"
"We are victims of mathematics"
"The next time you need a revelation, could you please find a way that
isn't quite so uncomfortable?"
"...because I don't trust telepaths -- never have, never will."
"Nothing...I saw nothing."
Eric
Date: 1/6/2001 3:15:24 PM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
a. My heart and I don't speak anymore (Ivanova)
b. Try don't... in my own life, too complicated (Garibaldi) (Sorry, don't
recall the entire quote).
Friend,
Andres.
Date: 1/6/2001 1:55:19 PM EST
From: delenn@ync.net (sara adler)
Ok, I may botch this a bit, but here goes... "Only one human Captain has
ever battled against a Minbari Warship and survived. He is behind me, you
are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else."
I used to know every word of this quote by heart, but its been a while. My
friends and I were in a restaurant one night having dinner and we were
discussing that episode (it had just aired for the first time the week
before) and we started saying the quote and the farther along we got, the
louder we got until we ended with a slam of our hands on the table resulting
in almost everyone in the restaurant staring at us. We just started
laughing.
Well, that's my favorite quote. Thank you. I've been hoping you'd ask us
that. Have a good weekend!!! Happy (belated) New Year!
Sara Lynn Adler
Date: 1/6/2001 1:13:30 PM EST
From: falco@eskimo.com (Rick Riebs)>[?
Heya Sandy!
Great question this week! I'll let my .sig speak for me in this case.
Take care.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Yours Truly, | "The universe is run by the complex interweaving of three
Rick Riebs | elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest."
falco@eskimo.com | -- G'Kar, _Babylon_5_, "Survivors"
Date: 1/6/2001 12:14:37 PM EST
From: kudla@pobox.com (Rob)
"The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
Date: 1/6/2001 9:04:44 AM EST
From: llhoover@home.com (Linda Hoover)
I have two... Not quoted completely in either case.
Delenn's speech to the earthforce armada that was
demanding the surrender of B5 -- the "he is behind
me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives,
be somewhere else." speech
Ivanova's "repeat after me, 'Ivanova is God.'" speech
Linda H.
Last week's discussion topic:
What are some of the unfinished stories you'd like to see completed on Babylon 5? There are a ton of them.
Let's see what you favorites are.
Date: 1/3/2001 5:06:49 PM EST
From: CripeHL@itrcorporation.com (Cripe, Helen L.)
Unfinished stories on B5 that I'd like to see finished:
* Well, the biggest unfinished story of all is Crusade and I'd
certainly like to see it finished, especially after reading JMS's two
episodes on Bookface!
* The Telepath War and what finally happened to Lyta
* What's going on with Draal and why he didn't have any part in the
Shadow War
* More about Sheridan and Delenn's life on Minbar and their son
* Vir's adventures as Centauri Ambassador on B5
* A story explaining why Lochley wasn't at Sheridan's final gathering
of his friends in "Sleeping in Light". Of course we know she wasn't
"invented" yet when SiL was filmed, but it would still be interesting to
come up with a plot reason why she wasn't there.
OK, here's one that will make you put your thinking caps on a bit – maybe! You are on Babylon 5 and
New Years Day is approaching. What kinds of New Year's resolutions would be made by the major characters
– Sheridan, Delenn, Garibaldi, G'Kar, Londo? To make it more interesting, let's have two sets of
resolutions – one made at the beginning of Babylon 5; the other just before "Sleeping in Light".
Date: 1/6/2001 3:15:24 PM EST
From: andresvene11@hotmail.com (Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval)
Hi There:
Happy New Year Sandy
I hope this year be full happiness and reached dreams, for you, for me and
for all members of our B5 community. Really, I hope so. This is my
resolution for this new year, (delayed, I'm sorry)
Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 3:12:41 PM EST
From: "Andres E. Hidalgo Sandoval"
The Discussion topic of this week is... complicated, well.
The new year's resolutions for all of them (I think so) is simple, like for
real people (everybody, for them, for us, etc.), our dreams come true, and,
very important, be happy with that dreams, all together our family and/or
our friends.
Of course, Sandy, I wish you the same things, reach your dreams and be
happy. Please, send this messagge to all members of the great community of
B5, crew and members, in belief of me and my little group of amateurs
astronomers of Venezuela.
Merry Christmas, Sandy!
Andres and company
To get your comments listed on the page, drop a note to TheZocalo@aol.com
To read previous discussion topics,
See Page 3.
Back to The Zocalo Home Page.
|
