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Babylon 5: In the Beginning (1998)
A love story to the fans
Can you imagine one of your favourite TV shows producing a film about a past event of the show that is crucial to the series plot? This is about a past war by series time and I watched it as a fan already. It felt like a love letter to the fans and I was as excited watching this as I have ever been watching anything. If you are a fan of the series, this will give you goosebumps. If not, then I have no idea.
Babylon 5 (1993)
The show that everyone copied
A five season long story had never been attempted before on TV. Old shows always had to reset at the end of each week as studio execs demanded it for various reasons. The people who made this show had to fight that attitude and many other problems to even get it made. They didn't have enough money and had many problems making the show. Despite all of that, they still managed to produce one of the very best TV shows of all time. It is a labour of love, and it shows. Thank you to everyone involved for fighting so hard to bring me the joy that I have found watching over the years.
Why so good? The story is genius, the scripts superb (usually Grey 17 is a running joke) and the themes are as relevant today as they were back in the 90s. It has some great acting and the cgi is surprisingly good for a near 30 year old show.
To sum up the show - it is as much a sci fi show as it is a mystery adventure show set in a plausable future. It is made believable by the characters and their arcs are some of the best anywhere in story telling. Oh, and now many shows follow the long format that they pioneered.
The West Wing (1999)
One of the very best
Up until Aaron Sorkin left, it was a masterpiece of television. Sharp, witty, intelligent and brilliantly acted. It waxed and waned a bit after that but was still superb at times.
It took me a few episodes to 'tune in' as it was so unlike anything that I had ever seen but can't imagine my world without it now. It comes down off the shelf every few years and challenges me still. I find myself drawn to compare it to the state of politics in the US at the time of watching it. Themes explored in the show keep reappearing or just never get old. What does 'being presidential' mean? What is the value of a proportional response? Mandatory minimums. This TV show is as relevant today as it ever was.
I also learned about US history and politics as a welcome bonus.
Breaking Bad (2008)
Feel So Let Down
So many people told me to watch this. Turned out to be hours of boredom punctuated with the odd good moment. I am used to sharp, intelligent scripts from the US shows that I love - Sopranos, The Wire etc. This show is neither sharp, nor intelligent. I found no emotional involvement with any of the intensly unlikable characters. It got so bad that when any of the huge number of life threatening situations a main character is put in, I didn't care whether they died. (and frequently wished some of them would for a change). I am just glad that I don't have to watch Walt & Jessie sit on chairs in front of people who should be killing them for the umpteenth time. With a deus ex machina ending almost every time. One of the worst threads was the depiction of the Mexican cartel. Absurd. Just look at Sicario to see how it should be done.
Better than the Sopranos? Better than the West Wing? I am afraid not. Not even on the same planet let alone ball park.