kungfuwaynewho: (b5 john c and c)
[personal profile] kungfuwaynewho
I am beginning my first-ever Babylon 5 rewatch!  I hope it will be the first of many.  I decided it might be fun to do some reviews as I go along, but I'm not very good at writing actual meta.  So I'm just going to make jokes on top of screencaps.





















And a collection of prettehs:



Part II.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:51 am (UTC)
ghanimasun: (j/d)
From: [personal profile] ghanimasun
Gahhh! First of all this is way awesome and I haven't even read through it yet! *is excited*

Secondly, I am not sure I ever actually watched this entire episode/movie thingie. *hides* I had already seen a lot of the series when I tried to watch it and I was just too shocked by how different everything was.

Date: 2010-09-01 03:08 am (UTC)
ghanimasun: (b5)
From: [personal profile] ghanimasun
Comment spam!

Okay I definitely don't remember everything in here (what kind of a fan am I!?) but I do remember some of it.

I'm so glad Delenn didn't look like that the whole first season too, it's a pretty bizarre look. And imagine the whole race of Minbari being based off that--yikes!

Who is the woman Sinclair is in bed with? I definitely don't remember those parts, but it's entirely possible I just blocked them from my memory.

Also wtf is up with those harnesses they are wearing - is that supposed to be the tram thing? So glad they got rid of those too.

Date: 2010-09-01 11:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
I think they're wearing harnesses because the tram is supposed to be low G? IDK, it's ridiculous. They're obviously just roller coaster harnesses.

The woman Sinclair is in bed with is his girlfriend or something? She seems like a Sakai prototype. The actress is awful, rough-looking, and unfortunately just not attractive at all. I do not want to hear her talking about frictionless sheets with Sinclair blargh no no.

Date: 2010-09-01 03:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xphilehb.livejournal.com
Oh, this will be fun! I'm not far ahead of you in my rewatch with the roomie.

Also, I freely admit I skipped The Gathering, and looking at this, I'm not sad I did.

Date: 2010-09-01 11:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
It's awful, dude.

Date: 2010-09-01 04:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
Yeeeah. I commented on this earlier, and then reread it and realized I sounded like a yeotch. So I deleted it and, yeah. Sorry. I'm having a DAY.

This is so cute. For reals. And I look forward to lots of pictures capped "This is where you should kiss her"; "Seriously, dude, kiss her"; "KISS HER YOU FUCKER!" etc.

K. I'm taking my cranky self to bed now. :)

Date: 2010-09-01 11:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
Now I am totally intrigued by what you originally said! Haha, I can't even imagine.

ETA: I'm sorry you had a day. :( I had one of those last week, and one of my friends said something really nice and comforting and I snapped back, "Why can't I just mope for one day?!" It happens.

Oh, I'm not sure how long I will keep this up, heh. I'd like to think I could get to "kiss her you fucker" but it's a tough call.
Edited Date: 2010-09-01 12:00 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-09-01 01:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
Maybe just do it selectively? 'Cause I think there is a time and a place to play MST3K with this show (*cough*Grey 17*cough*), and then there are other times (Like "Intersections") where it just does not work and we have to just STFU and watch. Those times, meta stuff/cliffs notes/little observations generate a lot of good discussion just on their own.

(I love my husband dearly, but he MST3K'd his way through "Sleeping in Light" in an attempt to make me not cry, and I told him point-blank to shut up. For reals. You can't DO that.)

Date: 2010-09-01 01:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xphilehb.livejournal.com
(I love my husband dearly, but he MST3K'd his way through "Sleeping in Light" in an attempt to make me not cry, and I told him point-blank to shut up. For reals. You can't DO that.)

Oh man. For some reason, I had this brilliant idea that I would randomly watch "Sleeping in Light" before bed last night because I hadn't watched it in years. Oh dear God, why did I do that to myself?! I pretty much started weeping at the very beginning and didn't stop until the very end. I mean, weeping. I love that episode, and I hate it all at the same time. Nothing else makes me cry like that. Nothing. JMS, why do you kill me so good?!

/comment-butting

Date: 2010-09-01 01:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
The truth about comment-butting: I think it makes for better discussion when there are more than two people talking about something. So stop apologizing :P

The truth about SiL: IF I watch it, I have to watch it with the commentary, pretty much. And I STILL cry. And - yeah. Watching before bed? Advised against in ANY sense. Actually, if I'm doing a complete, for-real series re-watch, generally I start crying at the end of "Objects at Rest" when he's leaving the message for his son. And then. Yeah. I never stop, really. Also there is ample cursing at JMS. And then there is "Points of Departure" because - I just can't take it.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xphilehb.livejournal.com
Alright. I'm done with apologizing! ;)

Watching before bed? Advised against in ANY sense.

I have learned my lesson. I was so sad afterwards that I could not fall asleep, so I had to go watch adorable scenes from Season 2, but even they were tainted with sadness...because only 20 years. *cries*

I must admit, I'm a little scared about what Season 4 and "Sleeping in Light" will do to my roomie's current B5 love. She hates sad things, and from the bit she watched of Season 3, she loves Marcus. So, you know, Marcus dies and "Sleeping in Light" is the saddest thing ever. I warned her the other day that things were going to happen that she wouldn't like and that are sad, but I'm still afraid she's going to end up hating the show and hating me. I just hope she'll love the rest of the story enough to be okay with it.

Or as okay with it as one can be. Man, SiL is still killing me today. I just...I don't think I could do it if I were Delenn. I just don't.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
Go find some happy! You are making me sad at work.

Pillow hugging scene... *cries*

...
...
*Pictures Sheridan's face in the Council Chambers when he sees Delenn for the first time*

*HAPPY FACE!* K. Better now.

Date: 2010-09-01 04:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
That's what kills me. KILLS ME. I mean, I am sad that he dies, don't get me wrong, but it's thinking about Delenn alone for the NEXT EIGHTY YEARS that I just can't deal with. That shot of her in the bed rolling over and hugging her pillow? Is when I went from crying to sobbing the first time I watched SiL.

This is why I sometimes have a hard time reading fanfic with Anna Sheridan, even though I know it's not really her in "Z'ha'dum" and whatever blah blah - I just want to punch her in the face.

Date: 2010-09-01 04:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
Now my goal in life (MY GOAL IN LIFE) is to find a way to make a funny screencap review of "Intersections." Totes your fault.

Date: 2010-09-01 04:09 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-09-01 08:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xphilehb.livejournal.com
I, personally, am going to look forward to this. :)

Date: 2010-09-01 05:13 am (UTC)
ext_18428: (Change)
From: [identity profile] rivendellrose.livejournal.com
I.... I....

o_O

So, somehow, after... five or so years in this fandom? I'd never seen caps from "The Gathering" before. Specifically, caps of Delenn from "The Gathering." I mean, I've read the series concept stuff and all that before, and I knew that they changed her look a lot after the pilot, and that they were going for a real androgyny thing there, but... wow.

That. Um. Yeah. Special. It's really... special.

Date: 2010-09-01 12:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
[livejournal.com profile] lizbee had recommended these books by Jane Killick - episode guides with lots of interviews with the cast - and I bought them all super cheap off Amazon. I'm going to read through them as I do the rewatch, right? Anyway, in talking about The Gathering, Mira was definitely trying to be as diplomatic as possible, but talked about how after seeing herself in this makeup, with the chin and the bigger nose (she's Slavic, how much extra nose does she need?) and the bumpy forehead and the bald and the bone and the mottled skin...she got really upset.

I'm pretty sure that's code for "went home and cried." And they were apparently going to give her contacts, but that didn't work, and the voice thing, too? God, she must have just been a wreck. In contrast, her regular S1 makeup is just gorgeous. I'm so glad the voice altering didn't work because that's apparently the only reason she didn't end up looking like this. I can't even imagine.

What's so weird is actually watching it - she is completely unrecognizable. You expect it in stills, but when she's moving and acting? You'd think you'd catch glimpses of her - but no. Like, hearing her voice come out of that creature is kind of freaky, because at no point does she look like herself. I think the only thing up there that's hers is her mouth.

Date: 2010-09-01 01:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
2 Things:

Cast interviews? I must look into this.

And also - I swear I read somewhere that the original plan for Delenn, when The Gathering was filmed, was that she would be more asexual or even masculine in S1, so that she would become not only Human but fully female as well.

Swear it, can't prove it, either way - glad they changed her getup. Yikes.

Date: 2010-09-01 01:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xphilehb.livejournal.com
And also - I swear I read somewhere that the original plan for Delenn, when The Gathering was filmed, was that she would be more asexual or even masculine in S1, so that she would become not only Human but fully female as well.

I have heard this too, and can I just state how THANKFUL I am that this plan did not see the light of day? I just...NO. I'm not sure I could have been convinced by Sheridan/Delenn in that case, and while I love many things about B5, they are my favorite part.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nhpw.livejournal.com
It's good to know somebody else remembers this. One of my least favorite things ever is when I swear to infinity that something is true but I can't prove it.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:41 pm (UTC)
ext_18428: (Delenn2)
From: [identity profile] rivendellrose.livejournal.com
Yup, that was definitely the idea. They were planning to do voice modulation and everything to make her voice lower, and it didn't work, so they dropped the whole masculine/androgyny angle.

What really makes it strange is that all through the initial series concept pitch, Delenn is (I am not kidding) referred to as "he." Twigs me every single time. Particularly since there's no written indication in the pitch that this is planned to change. We know it was, but... it's like peeking into the looking glass. Familiar names, some familiar traits, but then some things that are just way the hell off in left field.
Edited Date: 2010-09-01 02:41 pm (UTC)

Date: 2010-09-01 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
Yeah, I bought all five books used on Amazon for a total of 85 cents. I had to pay shipping and handling, obviously, but still. They look to be pretty awesome. I skipped through and read bits and pieces of my favorite episodes, and it seems like it will be really neat reading.

Yeah, the whole gender switching thing is just too weird. I mean, I can kind of get it? And it's certainly an interesting thing to explore, but...

I'm glad they changed their minds. Yeah.

Date: 2010-09-01 02:37 pm (UTC)
ext_18428: (Delenn2)
From: [identity profile] rivendellrose.livejournal.com
Poor Mira. ♥ That really would be traumatizing, looking into the mirror and seeing... well, that. As you said, it really doesn't look even a little bit like her. More than that, it's just... not at all an aethestically-pleasing design, honestly. Apart from looking like some kind of freaky Narn-Minbari hybrid gone mad with filigree (which, dear god, can you imagine the debates over what the hell that stuff on their heads is if they'd stuck with that design?), it's just not attractive.

Thank goodness the voice thing didn't work. This design is just weeeeeird.

Date: 2011-08-23 09:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] athena799.livejournal.com
I actually STARTED with Gathering and it confused the heck out of me because I was told you need to watch for all these hidden clues throughout the show, and that everything is very consistent, so when her makeup changed the next episode I spent forever trying to figure out the "hidden significance" of the sudden change (do they molt? do they change with the seasons or something? lol).

Date: 2011-08-25 04:58 am (UTC)
ext_18428: (Delenn2)
From: [identity profile] rivendellrose.livejournal.com
so when her makeup changed the next episode I spent forever trying to figure out the "hidden significance" of the sudden change (do they molt? do they change with the seasons or something? lol).

Wow. That must seriously have been the most confusing thing ever. Especially with her other, big, plot-significant transformation later... wow. lol.

Date: 2010-09-01 06:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] indigoviolet.livejournal.com
Poor Mira! I remember reading somewhere that even when she got to look mostly human again, she still wasn't happy about losing her eyebrows and thought it was unflattering. And in the only other English speaking role she's had, they've got her running round the jungle looking like Alice Cooper.

Heh, I've only seen The Gathering once and it was a good few years before I started watching the series proper like. I do remember G'Kar offering Lyta sweet lovings. And I think Takashima was going to be the Psi Corps mole, who shot Garibaldi at the end of S1?

Yeahhh, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone to get them interested in B5. Or most of S1 for that matter, but you have to sit through that to understand what the hell's going on.

Date: 2010-09-01 09:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
I'd be upset about losing my eyebrows, too, if I had such dark and lovely ones as she's got. Seriously, goddamn that picture of her up there. I don't think they work out her makeup issues until S4, really, which is just...how do you start with someone as beautiful as she is and just continue to fuck it up in many and different ways? So bizarre.

Yeah, Takashima was supposed to be the mole, which wouldn't have worked, I think. Because she is boring. There would have been the big reveal and we all would have been like, "...Her?"

Date: 2010-09-01 09:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] un-crayon-rouge.livejournal.com
See, maybe you noticed I stopped commenting on you fic because I am totally LAME and basically illiterate. Yes, sorry about that. On the other hand, pretty pictures with silly comment on them? Bring it on! God, I can't believe how bad The Gathering was. Best thing? Morden! And Lyta's hair, I kind of dig it. Although it's really hard to make Lyta not awesome. Except when she's, like, totally in lurve with Byron. I'm really looking forward to all the malicious Byron commentary, heh.

Date: 2010-09-01 09:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com
Lyta's hair makes her look so much older than she actually is, though; she looks ten years younger in S5 than she does here. And I think Pat Tallman is cute as a bug, but her acting in this...is not so great.

The Gathering is pretty much the worst pilot I've ever watched. I kind of can't believe this show got picked up, actually. Heh.

Date: 2010-09-03 09:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mac-beth13.livejournal.com
"Delenn's Magical Life Savers" killed me, ROTFL!

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