1. I received my $600 check from the government the other day, which is fantastic. I won’t spend any of it though, and immediately deposited it into my savings account. Take that economic stimulation! When I went to the ATM across the street at work during lunch the other day, I pulled out a deposit envelope and found this behind it:
Cute right? But how did they know that I would be the one to pull out the revealing envelope? It seems risky to put “Beautiful” when you don’t know who will see it. What if I was ugly? (As if!) That would have been a disaster. I guess they lucked out. Anyway, it made my crappy day slightly better for like a second before I realized I left my ATM card up in the office. Blerg.
2. Read this genius post titled “The Very Strange Day of Miranda P. Stick” from Anne Nahm. You won’t be sorry. Me and Anne are totally best friends now. She just doesn’t know it yet.
3. I finished the final book in the Star Wars: Legacy of the Force series titled Invincible. I have to say, I was a little disappointed. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Jacen Solo just wasn’t evil enough. Nothing will be able to match the savagery of the Yuuzhan Vong, who were the major antagonists of the New Jedi Order series. That series will always be the pinnacle of the Star Wars: Expanded Universe novels. Read them! Now I’m back to reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, which I’m almost done with. After that, I’m gonna start Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.
4. I’m about halfway through the first season of Babylon 5. It’s good, but the production values leave a lot to be desired. It started off a bit slow and random, but the episodes lately have made it a bit more apparent where they’re going, which makes it a lot better. Is it bad that I started off right away with Season 1 and didn’t watch the TV movie Babylon 5: The Gathering first? I assume I’m missing some background material, but they seem to be filling us in as we go along. I know there are a few movies, so if someone can fill me in on the movies, their importance in the overall story and when I need to watch them, I’d really appreciate it.
OMG you’re in for a treat. I envy you the fact that you haven’t read His Dark Materials yet. I wish I hadn’t so I could read them for the first time again!
You got hope noted. http://www.hoperevo.com/photos/
I want my freakin’ stimulus check, and I want it now!
I left the note.
Oh please stick with B5, it gets *much* better on all levels (acting, effects, story). The Gathering isn’t required watching, but it does solidify some of the plot points they mention (like the first telepath, the first doctor and the incident with the Vorlon Ambassador).
I’ll take a look at the movies to figure out where they fall with the series when I’m at home and note you later.
Brian: Those are fantastic!
HRH: Could you imagine? How crazy would that be!
John: Speaking of the Vorlon Ambassador, there seem to be 2 random Ambassadors, one that has to wear a robotic suit, and another that looks like a giant praying mantis. Are they the same? Which one is the Vorlon? Can you explain them to me please?
You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful.
You’re beautiful, it’s true.
But my life isn’t brilliant, what’s wrong here.
The second HDM book is pretty good. The other two are lame.
I liked that Anne Nahm post, but you are obviously funnier.
DO NOT watch THE GATHERING first. It’s much more fun to watch after you’ve gone through all five seasons.
Yes, season one is rocky. Season two really picks up momentum. And then seasons three and four require seatbelts.
The praying mantis is not a Vorlon. It’s just one of the other creatures that lives in the non-oxygen zone. It’s not around for very long. Kosh is the only Vorlon on the station in season one. He’s in the robo-suit.
Watch all five seasons and then go back and watch the movies. (Actually, just watch GATHERING. The other movies didn’t do it for me.)
After season three, go back and watch the pilot again. You’re in for the shock of your life.
(1) I finally read everything up to Invincible and while i’ve been enjoying the storyline for the most part, I kept having the nagging feeling that it just wasn’t building up enough to some solid conclusion. I guess you confirmed that for me. SAD. The last book in NJO was world shattering and I sort of wish that energy and excitement had translated to LOF. Oh well.
(2) I’m forcing my boyfriend to watch Babylon 5 from the beginning and we watched the first couple episodes together and he kept complaining that they were extremely boring. I watched the show growing up so I don’t even really remember the first season but it helps to know that it will pick up within the first season so he’ll stop complaining about it.
You can…. force your boyfriend to do stuff? Omg – shocked-. Do you use some kind of drug or mind control trick? If I say something like “I’d like to watch so and so”, the answer usually is “Sure, honey, have fun, i’ll be doing – fill out with anything else he’s actually interested in”. I totally gave up on making him watch any kind of animated movie by now. Sigh.
(I’m very tired today so HRH beat me to leaving that comment. but since I’m tired I can repeat)
OMG so happy to see you got my note!!!
Holy wow, thanks for the link! I’m glad you liked it. BTW – you have many, many readers who do your bidding. My stat counter is going to be sore in the morning.
Craig:
Brian F is correct, don’t watch The Gathering first. It is fun to watch after and isn’t critical to watching the series.
Season one is definitely rough at times, but it really does pay off in the later series. I have a few favorites in that season (Deathwalker e9, Believers e10 and Signs and Portents e13).
The order of the movies and episodes is:
B5: In the Beginning
The Gathering
All of seasons 1, 2, 3 and episodes 1-8 of season 4
Thirdspace
The rest of season 4 and episodes 1-21 of season 5
The River of Souls
The Legend of the Rangers
Episode 24 of season 5
A Call to Arms
The movies aren’t bad. I enjoyed Thirdspace and The River of Souls isn’t bad. I don’t think you necessarily have to watch them to enjoy the series and you certainly don’t have to watch them in order. A Call To Arms is actually the set up for the follow up series Crusade.
Brian is also right about the Praying Mantis is an ancillary character. Kosh is the Vorlon, a picture of him can be seen here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/B5_kosh01b.jpg
(don’t read the wiki article yet).
Kosh is pretty low key in the beginning, but he becomes more important as the series continues. Plus he is a Vorlon (they kick a55!).
Keep us posted on you impressions of the rest of the series.
David-
It’s not so much forcing as it is withholding sex.
And he can’t complain too much since he’s been making me watch Gossip Girl and the live action Sailor Moon with him.
I was wondering where your love for science- fiction and fantasy comes from? What are the reasons you enjoy it so much?
FDot: That’s a good question I will save for a post.
B5 was groundbreaking for its use of computer animation during the 1990s, meaning it could have way cool space battles. The best seasons are 2, 3, and 4, which you’ll likely love. The Gathering was actually somewhat important for those seasons, so you should give it a look. Much like the first season of Star Trek NG, the first season of B5 is sort of hokey, but it picks up after.
I must confess…it was my fav sci fi as a kid.
My question has inspired a future post? I am the male Thalia!