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Welcome to Show #297!
It was something of a milestone when Babylon 5 returned to Amazon Prime in December. It’s the first time since at least 2012 that the original edit of the pilot episode “The Gathering” has been available on a streaming platform.
Tim and Summer dive into comparisons between the original version and the TNT edit, as well as a few observations on what changed between the pilot and Season 1. You know how bitpicky we can get…
“Babylon 5” on Prime Video: The original edit of “The Gathering” is tucked away under “Extras” for Season 1.
“Babylon 5” is still free on Tubi for now, including the TNT edit of “The Gathering”.
And yes, Summer recommends pretty much all of the products from Topaz Labs.
“Babylon 5: The Complete Series” is available now on Blu-ray from most online retailers:
Amazon: Babylon 5: The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
GRUV: Babylon 5: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
“Babylon 5: The Road Home” is available on Blu-ray, 4KUHD Combo Pack, and Digital from Warner Bros Home Entertainment, and the soundtrack is available for purchase in streaming and MP3 formats.
Amazon: Babylon 5: The Road Home 4K UHD
GRUV: Babylon 5: The Road Home (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) [UHD]
Amazon: Babylon 5: The Road Home (Original Soundtrack)
Babylon Podcast on Bluesky: @sliceofscifiworlds.bsky.social
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AAAAIIIIIEEEE! A NEW PODCAST EPISODE!
I was just about to freak out. I’ve been doing a rewatch on Tubi. Last night I finished S4.E4 ? Falling Toward Apotheosis and was about to watch the next episode. It’s not there. Or it’s not playing. Or something. For some stupid reason the Superbowl is affecting Tubi? I can’t even do a Search. What?! If they only have up to that episode I am going to lose my mind. They wouldn’t just… remove an entire series 4 episodes into a season, without warning, would they?! ARGH!
Anyway, thanks for this! I am too tired to listen tonight but definitely soon. So glad this place is not dead!
This morning, Tubi seems to have all the episodes listed, but it’s strange, half of them have a generic thumbnail, WB TV Watchlist, which I’ve never seen before. NO idea what’s going on with that…
I wonder if the issues you had yesterday were because so many people were using the app to watch the Super Bowl?
I sent a service request. But as of this evening, I was able to watch the next episode. I haven’t tried logging in again. I don’t want to mess things up. Hopefully it’s okay. I thought maybe they were taking the show off completely! I’M SO CLOSE TO THE END!
Hopefully things will be fully back to normal by tomorrow.
about the original version of the Gathering. In region 2 the original version was/maybe still is available on a separate dvd.
Thanks for that information!
yes in tnt version Laurel Takashima lines are different then the original.
http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/000.html
“One of the biggest changes is the one least immediately apparent. After we finished the original pilot, some folks at WB felt that Laurel was too…strong. They will rarely put it in terms quite as blatant as that, but that was the message…she was “unlikeable, unsympathetic, harsh.” Meaning some of the guys felt she was too strong, let’s cut to the chase, okay?
They wanted her to loop her lines, soften their (her) delivery. I fought this tooth and nail. I fought this until finally I was pulled aside and it was communicated to me that B5 was, after all, still an unknown property, could be a big failure, and if we ever wanted to see this thing on the air, we’d accommodate this note (which was, I have to admit on balance, one of the few they had). The advice was, in essence, “Pick your battles.”
So, reluctantly, I let it get looped by Tamlyn.
But now, when the re-edit was commissioned, and with the person at the studio who insisted on this now no longer AT the studio, I told Suzie, “Screw it, put back her original production track and trash the loops.” Instantly, Laurel’s energy level comes up, the performance is better…it just *feels* more natural now.”
Another great episode guys. I agree that while it’s nice as a complete us to watch this original cut, the TNT version is SUPERIOR in a lot of ways. Also, you talk about. Also, you talk about Takashima being so wooden, but I remember Ivanna earlier on being very similar for the first few episodes, I’m glad they made this sort of character change in demeanor as well as person.
And as far as Kosh’s hand goes, that will never make sense to me. Even after the series, movies and books it’s still doesn’t make sense and I can’t even come up with a head cannon explanation for it. I’m just gonna have to let that one go.
Great episode! It was a lot of fun to go back to the very beginning.
I still feel like there is a lot about the story that just doesn’t add up. Even if the Vorlons were to be tricked into thinking that Sinclair tried to assassinate Kosh, knowing what they know, why would they act like taking out Sinclair and the station was a viable option? Granted, the pilot was written with the “original arc” in mind, when Sinclair’s purpose in the story was fairly different from the final version, but it still doesn’t quite make sense to me. (And never mind that business with the “hand”!)
These days I end up skipping “The Gathering” during most of my rewatches, because it feels so disconnected from the actual series. And when I do, it’s the TNT version. That said, every so often, I try to watch this version when it becomes available, just to remember what made the series possible.
Wohoo! New episodes, what a fun surprise. Great to hear you guys again.
I had no idea the TNT version of the Gathering had so many new additions. I have to se if I can find it somewhere.