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Comment by hnlmorg | Hacker News Reader

Coincidentally, I recently (in the last few days) started rewatching B5.

If you just started watching, I strongly recommend following the Lurker's Guide's viewing order, especially if you intend to watch the movies the Crusade spinoff:

http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html

A comparison of the Lurker's Guide's and others' viewing order:

https://babylon5.fandom.com/wiki/Viewing_Order

The Lurker's Guide's order having the movie "In the Beginning" first is controversial and not something I'd personally recommend. It spoils one of the major story arcs of the first two seasons.

Their rearrangement of the TV episodes is fine.

I just reread the summary of “In The Beginning” and you’re absolutely correct. Do not watch this pilot first!

I don’t know why the Lurker’s Guide (or JMS) recommend watching it first. I rewatched Babylon 5 recently and I’m glad I watched “In The Beginning” last.

The main reason to watch "In the Beginning" first IMO is that Season 1 is mostly world-building that doesn't start paying off until the very last episode of Season 1 and then into Season 2. If you're showing it to someone you think may not stick through the entire first season otherwise, watching ItB first demonstrates that this story really is going somewhere interesting and worth your time.

I just slap people if they stop watching it. Escalating to hot needles as needed.

Also, its a lot to take in—they'll probably forget what happened after several seasons.

>I just reread the summary of “In The Beginning” and you’re absolutely correct. Do not watch this pilot first!

You are absolutely correct that "In the Beginning" has all kinds of spoilers, and shouldn't be watched.

Because "In the Beginning"[0] is not a pilot. It was a TV movie made to introduce the series to TNT viewers and broadcast just before they started airing Season 5.

"The Gathering"[1] is the only Babylon 5 pilot (with "A Call to Arms"[2] as the introduction for Crusade[3], and "To Live and Die in Starlight"[4] was the pilot for the never-made "Legend of the Rangers"[5])

[0] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/111.html

[1] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/000.html

[2] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/115.html

[3] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/113.html

[4] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/117.html

[5] http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/guide/117.html

Recently finished my rewatch cycle, using the Lurker's Guide this time to complement it. Totally worth it.

Funny enough I did recently too. Currently a few episodes into the second season.

In the last few days I just finished watching it! Totally worth every time.

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