Now I know this will upset/annoy a few but I think DS9 was miles better than B5!!

B5 bored the pants off me - I must admit I only saw half the first series though!!

This is a nasty topic Keith ;)

I love 'em both !!

B5 wins it for me though. Sheer scope and multi-faceted characterisation wins through in the end. As good as DS9 was, and IMHO it was the best of Trek, it simply can't hold a candle to B5 at it's best.

Incidentally, I assume you know the story behind JMS, the B5 series bible, Paramount and DS9 ?? ;)

B5 is miles better (and I do like DS9)

You only saw half the first series?

B5 really hit it's stride in the latter half of the first season and took off into the stratosphere in season 2

Paul's right Keith. When I first saw the first season I tuned out for a while after the first 4 or 5 episodes, a couple actually put me to sleep :rolleyes:

Look for the episodes Mind War, And the Sky Full of Stars and Signs & Portents, then pick up the rest of the first season. By season's end you'll be hooked :)

I used to work with a guy who loves B5 as much as me. He also loved DS9 and kept telling me how the latter 5 seasons of that almost matched B5 in scope.

I downloaded the first 3 or 4 eps of DS9 when I first got into downloading.

I thought it was okay but too modern trekkie for me - all "glory of the federation" stuff. I decided it wasn't worth the effort to stick with it.

I suppose that makes me like Keith in not really being able to judge :) but I have to say I can't see anyway as it stands that it could be better and I honestly don't have the time or inclination to find out.

It's not better Neil, and the scope is certainly nowhere near as grand. It is however still a damned good show.

I'd accept that but I still can't be arsed :)

Your loss :P

I kind of lost DS9 at the beginning of S4, I can't remember why now.

I've been thinking about this for a while and I must admit that this kind of discussion bothers me, especially when it's about two shows of such obvious quality, and also because I have been guilty of it myself.

It's all just a matter of opinion, isn't it? And seeing as everyone is entitled to one there is no right or wrong. All our tastes differ, which is healthy.

I liked DS9 when it was originally aired, even collected the videos up until the third season. But then I lost track of it, started to get bored, whatever. It was no reflection on the show, at all, but more an indication that my tastes were changing.

I loved B5 when it was on. I followed it religiously and found it absolutely thrilling. The sad thing is that, since the dvds have been coming out, I vowed to rewatch the whole series and have so far only made it up to Severed Dreams. I am finding it immensely difficult to summon the enthusiasm to go any further. Even though there are cracking episodes to come I find it incredibly hard these days to deal with the poorer episodes in between and Strazsynski's frequently woeful handle on dialogue. Again, it's not a reflection on the series, but a sign that my tastes have moved on.

Which is a bummer, considering I've got all those box sets sitting on the shelf... :lol: :rolleyes:

Oh dear Keith - You'll upset the applecart with this one:cry:

No seriously now, when B5 first came out I didnt watch it because I thought it would be a second rate DS9 and as that was and still is my least favourite of the TREK francise I didnt bother watching it.

Recently, after discussions with our good friend ANGEL (or Valhalla) I have watched a number of episodes and found them to be good but not in the caliber of say NEXT GEN at its best or even ENTERPRISE in its finest hours.

As to which is best in DS9 and B5 as a devote trekker I am obliged to say DS9 but in reality I would say that there is not a lot to choose between them.

(The above post is submitted in the knowledge that a lot of you will disagree but also in the acknowledgement that I probably havent seen either of the two shows in their finest hours)

I think it important to stress here, that the point of this thread isn't to establish which show is the better one, simply what people's opinions are. Even if we all came into the thread and said that yes, B5 is the better show, it still doesn't necessarily make it so. It's all about opinion and the fact that some like one or the other, or even better like them both is quite healthy :)

well said

Exactly what I said. ;)

If it's worth saying once, it's worth saying twice ;)

ENTERPRISE!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Thank you Ken for that I was feeling very low and it's good to laugh. :D :p


Back on Topic I personally think Babylon 5 is untouchable although I was really enjoying DS9 up to about season 4 or 5 , then it just seemed to go downhill and I lost interest...I still watched it but enjoyed it less.

I loved DS9, and before that TNG and TOS, but in no realistic way, shape or form does Star Trek ever come close to eclipsing B5's magnificence.

B5 was a product of it's like much as TOS and TNG had been. Not surprisingly, critically, just as TOS and TNG had done before it, B5 dominated the entire genre, shaping the way other shows were made. It left an indelible mark on the entire breadth of television sci-fi, that endures to this day. DS9, whilst IMO, still the best of the Star Trek shows will not have the same degree of longevity and lasting contribution.

I think I know this CK but could you elaborate on this for me.

When Joe was trying to get the show (B5) on the air, one of the studios he pitched it to was Paramount. They showed initial interest, holding the series bible for six months. Eventually they turned the series down as it apparently 'mirrored something they already had in development'. Shortly afterwards, DS9 was announced.

There are similarities all the way through the series, even the finale. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how Paramount really came up with DS9 :lol:

I thought so! :lol: