YGCTO Episode 20 - In the Beginning

A Standalone Movie as Setup

Spirits were high as JMS had pulled off the unexpected and was granted his last season of Babylon 5. It would be a change of networks, but Our Man Joe still had plans. The show was picked up by TNT and would need to be introduced and marketed to their audience. JMS and the Network whipped up a TV movie to catch up new viewers and set up the new season.

What it turned into was a product for no one. The plot was mostly a re-telling of some major Babylon 5 events by future Londo. For regular viewers, there were no new plot developments or revelations other than Londo will always be a liar. New viewers… well you should listen to the episode for Ryan’s thoughts.

This Week’s Guest

Ryan Bond has a lot of thoughts on Star Trek and Babylon 5. He is involved with several Chicago Theatre programs and can be seen on stage around Chicago. Listen to a rival podcast where Ryan talks about his theatre and digital marketing background.

Ryan is a Chicago Theatre Producer, Director and Actor.

Ryan has tried twice to get through Babylon 5 from the beginning. As of today, he has failed to break into season two by more than a few episodes. He is definitely willing to watch various sci-fi series, but B5 kept bounding off Ryan. A movie made to catch him up quickly should be a slam dunk win. Except that the movie works against itself at every turn.

Mike’s Image Picks

As we begin, our heroes have been taken over by TNT…

One of the most foreboding starts to a movie

Londo inserts his younger self into major Babylon 5 events from season 1-4

And the de-aging process turned him into Terry Jones

Lotsa Mimbari inner-circle intrigue

Dre likes this one

So many Mimbari in this pledge class

Not F. Murray Abraham, despite what Mike thinks

Dukat is really into the whole Valen thing

These guys are all about dead aliens

The entire Religious Caste is hot for fanatacal death

Everyone's a Zealot Here

Does a cameo count if it’s only a flashback montage?

Even Michael York makes it

Sheridan pulls some of his trademark war shenanigans.

Sheridan's looking much younger without the goatee. The beard adds 15 years, they say. ...I say.

Dukat Lives on! …or not.

Dukat had back up plans for his back up plans

There is no way these guys met before the TV series. Londo is puffin’ himself up.

Winners write history, and Londo is the last one standing for this to work.

What Did We Learn?

A TV movie is never the right answer

Next Episode

For the next full episode, we cover the first 17 episodes of Babylon 5, season five in the You Gotta Check This Out Babylon 5 Blitzcast coming to you Sunday, May 3rd featuring almost all previous guests of the show.

Get the podcast

Socials

Mikeslater.com only maintains its grip on sanity by instituting a no comments policy. For that jazz, feel free to hit us up on social media:

Cheers, all!