Rating: 
Summary: The first chapter of the greatest sci-fi epic of all time
Review: Babylon 5 is without a doubt the best piece of Science Fiction I have ever seen on television (be it series or movie form). And believe me, I have seen a lot of Sci-Fi.The single most distinctive feature of Babylon 5 compared any all other forms of Sci-Fi I have seen is that it is one five year story planned from the beginning to end. Events in one episode have repercussions a couple of seasons later. But more importantly, events in one episode are often not understood until much later. This means there is a lot of "re-watch value" in B5. As you watch the spisodes a second time you see everything in a different light because you know what is going to happen. There are hints and clues right from the start of things that are not reveiled until much later. Unless you are completely averse to Sci-Fi in all its forms, watch B5 from the start and be amazed. But don't just watch an episode or two here and there. Because B5 is about a larger story, a few individual episodes do not do the series justice. The first season kind of sets the background for the main story arc. It is more episodic than the rest of the series (although still less so than most series), and perhaps not as good when watched for the first time (but you'll be glad you did once you get further into the series!). Watch and be amazed.
Rating:
Summary: At Last
Review: I remember being recommended B5, during the 2nd season run in England, I bought a couple of VHS (the whole series is now available in England); within 3 days I'd bought and watched the rest available, around 30 episodes: completely addictive. I ended up owning all of them, so I was sorely disappointed when I came to NY, and apart from the odd episodes, B5 was not available. I personally rate it as one of the finest TV series made in any genre. It is interesting to note that many people saw it as a clone of DSN, but we all 'know' that the influence goes the other way. B5 was a consistant vision over a 5 series show that had well formed characters who developed with the story line. As well as the heavy weights, the secondary characters also played a major part in developing the culture and moral structure of the aliens (and humans). There are no bad parts. Even the love story between Delenn and Sheridan doesn't 'get in the way' it's an integral part of the story, and Walter Koenig as Alfred Bester (named, presumably, after the great SciFi writer), was a masterstoke, he's better here than he ever was in Star Trek. As with all long running series, not everything was great, but the consistancy created here was without peer. Certainly Star Trek (which I also loved) never managed it to this extent. But lets be honest what we really want are the other series and the (not quite as good) films to be released. Because it just keeps getting better and if the others are even better then this series, how does this get 5 stars? because compared to anything else that what it deseves. If I rate the 1st series 5 stars then next 3 would be 7 stars (unbelieveable story telling) and the final series 6 stars (1 extra just for Londo). Thank you J. Michael Straczynski.
Rating:
Summary: A Phenomenal Series in the History of Television
Review: I am very happy that Warner Bros. made the decision to have the first season transferred to DVD. I hope that they follow thru with the rest of the seasons. ESPECIALLY IN WIDESCREEN!! I whole heartedly agree with many other reviewers from this column. B5 is not just an excellent television show it is INSPIRATIONAL story telling. The downside is that you no longer enjoy television the way you used to. You simply find yourself comparing everything on television to B5. B5 certainly appeals to scifi fans, but even more so to those who simply appreciate good drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait to buy! Do not buy yet
Review: My recommendation, most strongly, is to wait until all 5 seasons are available before purchasing the DVD sets. As a fan of Babylon 5, I purchased the Laserdiscs as they were released (After being assured that they would never be on DVD). With just over half of the episodes released...they discontinued production, leaving a sizable hole of missing episodes right in the middle. I would not buy the DVD sets until all five seasons are released.
Rating:
Summary: B5 Series 1
Review: Whilst this may not be the finest series of the B5 quintet it is certainly safe to say that it is the finest first series that I have ever seen. When it was first shown over here I was dubious to say the least but thought to see it out after the exceptionally dodgy pilot (The Gathering). Come the end of the first series I was hooked. The sheer scope of what MJS was attempting to do, the scale, the sub plots the truth, the feasibility and the accuracy were amazing. The character development and plot progression were spot on. I have friends who have never seen B5, some have borrowed the videos from me and all have made the same assumptions and guesses whilst watching the first series. They want to know more but I just listen and refuse to tell them anything (to do otherwise would spoil it). All are equally shocked when they move on to series two and three. I also know a lot of people who compare B5 to Star Trek, DS9 etc, saying that one is better than the other. This is all fair and well from a Sci-Fi point of view when talking shop about tech ideas and such but as far as plots story-lines and characters go there is no comparison. That's not to say B5 is better than Star Trek, but to say its more like trying to compare Star Trek to Buffy or Star Wars to The Lord of the Rings. You just cannot compare B5 to anything else because it is in a class of its own.
Rating:
Summary: Why did it have to end.
Review: I didn't see B5 until it came out in reruns at 6 am on TNT around 2000. When the series first came out in 1995, I just couldn't bare the thought of another potentially meandering sci-fi series. My friends begged to me to watch, but I didn't do it. Fast forward 5 years, and the need to start my workouts early and B5 being the only thing on at 6 am and, well there ya have it. It sucked me in big time. My wife started wondering why I would start getting up at 5 instead of 6 ( so I wouldn't be distracted when B5 came on), and because she is suspicious by nature, she got up with me one morning and then we were both hooked. I was blown away. This show had thoughtful writing, excellent acting, decent special effects and was fun as hell. I actually started caring about tv characters, I couldn't believe it. As a side note, season 5, which was written after the fact, was a quick fix, but still fun. When I started having to go into work early, I damn near wore my Tivo out. I can't recommend this series highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: A note about B5 widescreen...
Review: There is a customer review in here (entitled "Excellent series, flawed presentation") which complains that the widescreen presentation of Babylon 5 - First Season DVD will be just the "orginal full screen version" with black bars superimposed over the top and bottom. THIS IS NOT TRUE! The original series WAS shot in widescreen format, and modified for television. This was in anticipation of being shown on HDTV. This is what we will be getting on the DVDs.. the full, original widescreen. The US Sci-Fi channel DID superimpose black bars on the top and bottom, to try and "fake" widescreen. This was a horrible idea and probably butchered the composition even more than pan and scan. But this is NOT what we will be getting on the DVD. Just wanted to clear that up. Now that that's out of the way, let me gush a bit about the series. I used to be a big Star Trek fan. I can barely STAND Star Trek now, and it's all because of Babylon 5. It showed me what epic space adventure REALLY is. After you have been thoroughly saturated with Babylon 5, every single Star Trek episode (from every series) starts to look bland, pointless, and predictably formulaic in comparison. Trek realized this, and that's why the last season or two of Deep Space 9 started to (attempt to) copy Babylon 5's style. The writing is superb, the acting is fresh and complex, every single character is deep and interesting, and the overall storyline dwarfs anything else you've ever seen on television. The show centres around the characters and the events, not endless, vapid technobabble like Trek. First season is definitely the weakest of the five seasons, as the actors are finding their characters, and there's some real groaner episodes, such as "TKO" (Mortal Kombat in space), and "Infection" (ancient alien artifact possesses someone and cheesy B-movie havoc ensues.. YAWN), but also some real gems, like "Midnight on the Firing Line", "The Parliament of Dreams", "Signs and Portents", "A Voice in the Wilderness" (two parter), the brilliant time travel tale "Babylon Squared" (you won't realize just HOW brilliant until late season 3), and the astonishingly masterful finale, "Chrysalis".
Rating:
Summary: Best SciFi Series Yet
Review: Babylon 5 was, in my opinion, the best SciFi series ever produced (to this point, anyway). I already have the series on VHS, but was delighted to see it now in DVD. I cannot say enough good things about this series. The progressive story line, the character development, the humor -- these were central, not the special effects. The special effects are impressive simply because they are understated, meant to support the story line and not overwhelm it. Then there's Walter Koenig. To move from Chekov in Star Trek to Albert Bester, the rogue PsyCop -- it's obvious he had a wonderful time being a bad guy. What a performance. My friends and I have incorporated several memorable lines into our vocabulary. Watch the series and you'll pick them up, too. This is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Babylon 5 Season 1
Review: I'm a scifi Fan. I consider the Babylon 5 series the best. It has an ongoing story going thru 5 season which has generally not been the case with sci fi series. They tend to be the same people but stand alone episodes. Michael Straczynski did an excellent job of writing a scifi program that spans 5 season with an ongoing story and thread including a few movies and the crusade spin off while also allowing individual episodes to be watched independently. However, to get the full effect one need to follow the series. Season 1 is an introductory season with good action epsiode. It sets the stage for the later seasons. The best seasons in my view are season 3 and 4.
The characters are excellent and played quite well. It is quite interesting to see how they grow and change as the series moves on. An excellent Scifi series.
I just hope Warner Brothers continue and provides DVDs for all the seasons as well as the Spin of movies and Crusade.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent series, flawed presentation
Review: I'll leave the praises for the series to the other reviewers. I am disappointed that the DVD has the episodes in letterbox format. I've seen these on the SciFi Channel. They are the original full screen version with the top and bottom stripes masked out so that elements of the scenes are missing. For example, compare the fullscreen and letterbox versions of the episode that focuses on the doctor's stim habit. At one point the masking obscures a key scene element. I'm tickled pink the series is finally coming out on DVD. I wish they'd give us the original full screen version, though, so that we could enjoy everything that The Maker intended to be seen.
| 
