It's time to leave the capsule, if you dare

[cyrano]

So I did it, I bought the Babylon 5 stuff, including the movie pack. However, what I'm trying to find out is where in the chronology people recommend watching the movies--at what point in the series would ThirdSpace fit, for instance, and when would the spoilers in 'In the Beginning' no longer be as spoilery. I figure somebody out there has advice, because you're an opinionated lot, and I trust you more than the folks on the web who for the most part giv ther opns lik this.

Comments

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

well, personally, I'm a stubborn git, and I'd watch the movies after you watch the first four seasons, and possibly the 5th season. But I may not be recommended.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

All of the movies can go between four and five, do you think? Or is that just the way you'd do it? (:

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

OK, ok, I'll actually think for a minute.

*peers at the Lurker's Guide*

I would NOT watch In The Beginning before the first three seasons. What are they, on crack? It gives stuff away!

I'd watch that, mmf, maybe after the end of the third season.

Wherever it is they parked _Thirdspace_ is probably a good time to watch it. It actually does make some sense in context.

You can really watch River of Souls anytime after the first soultaker episode, although I'd wait til after they get around to introducing Sheridan.

And, uh, _A Call To Arms_ after the end. (I admit sheepishly to never having seen it.)

[esmerel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I never understood why 'In the beginning' is recommended early - it's a total spoilerfest. Sure, it's first chronologically, but..

[rhiannonstone.livejournal.com]

Lurker's Guide to the rescue!

Is this your first time watching B5 all the way through?

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I really should have thought to check there. Duh.
This is my first time all the way through--when they were syndicated, I saw the first, second and part of the third series.

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

Well the original pilot I would watch 1st, the rest of the movies really can go at the back end more or less.

[merlinofchaos]

I would watch In The Beginning first IF you've already seen most of the way up to the end of season 3 or if you've been spoiled about the two part episode "War Without End". It would be difficult, in my opinion, to hang around with B5 fans for the last 10 years and not have been spoiled by that episode, but STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. =)

At that point, go ahead and watch In The Beginning first. If not, save it and watch it after season 3.

You can watch the rest of the movies after season 4, except probably A Call To Arms which you should watch after season 5. (Possibly before Into The Light).

Into The Light should definitely be last.

[drdorothy.livejournal.com]

Here is the order recommended by several B5 geeks. We just purchased the set of all five seasons, the pilot and "In the Beginning" DVD, and the Movies. We plan to watch them in this order. (As you can see, this is a review found in Amazon -- for which several folks have expressed their gratitude.) Enjoy!

Reviewer: andreas888 "andreas888" (Geneva, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
As a lover of sci-fi series, it's great to see such a saga sold as a set. The reality for the B5 connoisseur is that this isn't the Full Monty. You should also purchase "Babylon 5 - The Movie Collection" and the B5 spin-off "Crusade - The Complete Series". The reasons are indicated below in my recommended viewing order.

1. Watch the B5 movie "The Gathering"
The Babylon 5 pilot movie The Gathering was originally broadcast in 1993 a full year ahead of the regular show.
2. Season 1
3. Season 2
4. Season 3
5. Watch Season 4 up to episode "The illusion of truth"
6. Watch the B5 movie "Thirdspace"
7. Season 4: continue with episodes 9-22
8. Watch Season 5 up to episode "Objects at Rest"
9. Watch the B5 movie "River of Souls"
10. Watch the B5 movie "In the Beginning"
This is a prelude set 10 years before Babylon 5. Against the logic of the title, I would strongly recommend seeing it at this stage. Should one see it before Season 1, much of the suspense in the main series would be ruined.
11. Watch the B5 movie "A Call to Arms"
This movie lays the groundwork for the spin-off TV series "Crusade".
12. Season 5: watch final episode "Sleeping in light"
13. Watch Crusade Series

The question which is debated in several other reviews is: Despite the release dates of the material produced, in what order should it be seen? In particular, if the viewer is a total new comer to the series. The above is an attempt to give some structure to great content so it is more enjoyable as a complete work.

PS - It is astounding that the Warner marketing dept. gives no official recommendation on how these products should be best enjoyed.