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Comment by ethbr0 | Hacker News Reader

The other unique thing about B5 is the richness of character arcs. The central plot moves everything forward, but each character has their own multi-season arc inside it.

I mean, Garibaldi? G'Kar? Londo?

These are not "Oh, that's cute, the character changed" few episode arcs. They're the sum of innumerable small events in most episodes, that result in complete (and believable!) overhauls of the characters.

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Londo’s arc is just amazing. It made him one of my favorite characters in all fiction

In case you haven't seen it, Peter Jurasik did a long-form interview just a couple months ago. Incredibly kind and a great sense of humor!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIneqJIbsMs

Oh nice I’ll check that out, thanks

B5's characters felt real to me when nothing else on TV really did. This is why.

(I'm a fan of both DS9 & B5)

You could also look at the arc of say Nog, or Jake Cisko, or Vir.

Or Elim Garak, one of the most interesting anti-heroes in all of the Trek universe.

(Is he really an anti-hero? Well as Garak would probably say, "I'm not so sure, but there's hope for him yet.")

I loved Garak, I just wish DS9 had devoted more time to him! Or Bashir!

It's been a minute since I've done a watch-through of DS9, but from memory they have great episodes, but also get lost in the background for large chunks of seasons.

Garak got a lot of love by the end, especially in the last 2 seasons. Earlier on in the show you can tell he may have been meant for comic relief, but by the end he was a critical part of the plot and resolving certain plot lines wouldn't have happened without him. There's also In The Pale Moonlight, which is one of the best episodes of Trek and TV science fiction in general.

Odo: You'd shoot a man in the back? Garak: Well, it's the safest way isn't it.

Do you know what the sad part is, Odo? I'm actually a very good tailor.

That's still my favorite line from the entire series. :)

re: In the Pale Moonlight (above)

"and all it cost was the self-respect of one Starfleet officer."

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