We can’t seem to come to a consensus on which order to discuss Crusade.
There’s the original TNT broadcast order (which is the same order as on the DVD set), the revised broadcast order (set by JMS for the Scifi Channel reairings), or in chronological order.
(Examine the lists over at Wikipedia)
So, you tell us how you’d rather we approach the series discussion and analysis.
Because of our local channel placement or blackout reasons, I began watching the original broadcast order with The Well and the plots seemed pretty mixed up to me. I quickly fell into it due to figuring out a few things because of past experience with B5. So, the Revised Broadcast order seems to me to be the best way for someone to watch. Wasn’t that JMS’s point for this order?
But, since this is a completed/terminated series, any way you cover it will be fine. Also, when you’re done, we can all play JMS and re-order the podcast episodes to suit.
Cheers!
Michael
I’d say the DVD order, whichever airing order that was…. I can’t remember what order the episodes aired in Australia (probably the same as TNT) but the DVD order seems to be the “best” in terms of costume & set continuity even if there’s a bit of character inconsistency and one major plot point that’s anachronistic.
Tim has always said on the podcast that he has to critique the show as presented and not what might have been. While he has always been talking about B5 for that, I’d say the same argument should hold for Crusade, hence the TNT order. That’s how we all got it the first time, warts and all. That’s how we should do it now.
I voted for the “revised broadcast order”. As compared to the original broadcast order, the revised one made a lot of sense with the story. However, I had no idea there was a chronological order. I’ll have to try that out sometime.
I think that for ease of the play-along gang, the DVD order would be simplest.
Just found out today that there’s a fourth option: production chronological.
Jason suggests watching them in they order they were written (which I’m assuming is also production order). I think he does this just to make me even more Crusade crazy 🙂
I see that Keith from Chicago recognizes Wisdom when it hits him upside the earbuds.
Oh! I know! We’ll have Babylon Podcast: Crusade, Episodes 1 -13. For each Babcast show, we’ll discuss each episode of Crusade as it would appear in every permutation of presentation!
…Michael, that means each recording session will be roughly four-and-a-half hours long. Michael? Mike, what – what are you doing with that sword? Michael…
> I think that for ease of the play-along gang, the DVD order would be simplest.
Surely it’s easy enough to choose the right disc!
Keith, the only problem with that is after 211/212 episodes of the podcast, I don’t think it’s possible to limit the discussion to 44-45 minutes, with 15 minutes worth of commercials
Don’t let TNT win another Crusade battle!
Go with JMS order. This is how the writer/creator of the show feels the show is best experienced.
It may be odd to view them out of DVD order, but surely not a difficult task. Other than a few lines of dialog and the costume changes, I think the audience can handle it.
I’ll attach the order to make it easier for everybody 🙂
Ep# Prod# Title
9 103 Racing the Night
11 101 The Needs of Earth
10 102 The Memory of War
2 107 The Long Road
12 104 Visitors from Down the Street
3 106 The Well of Forever
13 105 Each Night I Dream of Home
5 110 Patterns of the Soul
4 109 The Path of Sorrows
6 111 Ruling from the Tomb
7 112 The Rules of the Game
1 108 War Zone
8 113 Appearances and Other Deceits
The chronological order is the only way to go. Everything flows nicely. The JMS order doesn’t make a lick of sense, just like the broadcast order.
My vote is for the JMS/Scifi order. Not because JMS set it, but because awhile ago I actually went though the Crusade eps, watching plots and character development, and came up with my own order for watching the show. (Talk about Crusade crazy.) And this order is closest to what I came up with.
If you want to track progress of character and story at all (as much as you can in a truncated show), I think this is the order you have to go with. Screw TNT. (And why not? They screwed Crusade.)
Kate, now you have me curious. You realize you’re going to have to tell us what your own personal viewing order is, just so we can analyze that, too!
It’s not that different than the Scifi order.
Racing the Night
The Needs of Earth
The Memory of War
The Long Road
Visitors from Down the Street
The Well of Forever
Patterns of the Soul
The Path of Sorrows
Ruling from the Tomb
Each Night I Dream of Home
The Rules of the Game
Appearances and Other Deceits
(War Zone)
I mainly used the relationships of Gideon and Lochley, and Galen and Dr. Chambers to come up with this order. It was a while ago, so I’m sorry I don’t recall all the details of how I arrived at this exact order. Maybe it will come back to me when I rewatch them in prep for your deep geeking. (Sooo looking forward to that!)
I hate to say it, but doing the podcasts in TNT broadcast order would be consistent with the rest of the Babylon Podcasts. For instance, you guys didn’t do “Walkabout” after “Interludes and Examinations” the way JMS originally intended; you stuck to the airing/DVD order.
I do resent casting this vote, though; I still refuse to change the channel to TNT, and if my roommate ever does, I literally leave the room. 🙂
I’ve been following this discussion since it began, with my sympathies listing dramatically to the JMS order. But I couldn’t come up with a compelling reason why……until now.
Lennier’s comment above got me thinking about which order the podcast has followed until now. And I realized that, for the run of B5, the airing order and the JMS order were essentially the same. Sure, some episodes got flipped, but always with JMS’ knowledge and approval. The glaring conflicts and discrepancies crop up only with the beginning of Crusade. So, the question is, do we follow the lead of the meddling network, or continue using the JMS order we’ve used all along? 😉
> You realize you’re going to have to tell us what your own personal viewing order is, just so we can
> analyze that, too!
Fair enough. When it first came out, I missed the first episode, no DVR, no way to see it until it was repeated. Now that I’ve seen 100% of the episodes, I’d start with Racing for sure. For those who suggest starting new B5 viewers with a season other than Season 1, could you envision a more effective starting point for Crusade? (and no fair listing Call to Arms)
Cheers!
Michael