[ekidd]

Yes, Season 1 is really uneven. For new viewers, if you have someone to pick out the important episodes, then you can skip the rest and come back later. (And you can always skip "TKO".)

Seasons 2 to through 4 are still some of my all-time favorite science fiction TV. The three-episode mini-arc of "Messages from Earth", "Point of No Return" and "Severed Dreams" (IIRC) is still incredibly intense.

The closest thing I can think of today is probably The Expanse. It has the same mix of human politics in the face of aliens we cannot comprehend. Of course, The Expanse has a higher budget and more consistent acting.

In a lot of ways, Babylon 5 is the first "streaming-style" show. There's a clear series arc, viewers are expected to know what happened in previous episodes, and there's plenty of foreshadowing for the attentive viewer. (The original online Babylon 5 fandom kept track of every tiny hint.) Buffy was also moving in that direction, and Star Trek quickly followed.

[kemayo]

It's tricky even just pulling out key episodes from Season 1, because a lot of what you need is the character work. You can get all the raw plot elements that come up again later, but if you're not somewhat invested in characters like Londo and G'kar, the impact of later events is going to be dulled.

[orangecat]

The three-episode mini-arc of "Messages from Earth", "Point of No Return" and "Severed Dreams" (IIRC) is still incredibly intense.

Probably my favorite moment of 90s TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv3t86imsDI. RIP Mira Furlan.

[flopsamjetsam]

I hadn't realised she'd passed away. That is sad news.

[autoexec]

Your comment was great timing, I've been watching the first season and it's been starting to grow on me, but I really wasn't sure if I would stick with it. It's crazy that it came out 7 years after Star Trek TNG, but still somehow aged so much worse.

[Tuna-Fish]

The effects on B5 got noticeably better each season.

This was simply because it used all-digital effects in a time where the same budget would buy you twice the rendering time a year later.

[aidenn0]

I think season 1 of B5 is way better than season 1 of TNG, with the exception that TNG's pilot was way better.

I'll have to ask my wife, she hadn't seen either until adulthood.

[mcphage]

If you find anything worth watching in Season 1, then please, stick with it. The later seasons are worlds better.

[ChuckMcM]

Exactly. I felt the Expanse was similarly engaging. The shenanigans of season 5 being on again off again impacted the way B5 ended up, but even with those headwinds I highly recommend it.