Babylon 5 is now free to watch on YouTube

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

YouTube Release and Availability

  • Episodes are being released on the “Clipzone: Beyond Infinity” channel, currently one per week, plus clips. At this pace, finishing all 5 seasons would take several years.
  • The pilot “The Gathering” is up, but the first regular episode (“Midnight on the Firing Line”) is missing so far; upload numbering is slightly confusing.
  • Some viewers warn YouTube’s recommendations are full of spoilers and that availability is region-dependent; others note the whole show remains easily accessible via Blu‑ray, some streaming services, or torrents.
  • Several comments dislike YouTube as a viewing platform (ads, tracking, DRM, unstable UI) and prefer owning physical media or local copies.

Video Quality, Aspect Ratios, and Remasters

  • Strong debate over the “best” way to watch.
    • 4:3 Blu-ray remasters are widely seen as the highest overall quality.
    • Older 16:9 DVDs preserve a more cinematic feel but often look worse technically.
  • Technical history: live-action was shot widescreen, but CGI and final composites were 4:3. The FX masters were later lost, so modern “widescreen” versions are usually cropped and upscaled 4:3 with aggressive noise reduction and sharpening.
  • The YouTube release uses the 16:9 cropped/upscaled version, criticized as inferior even to some DVDs.
  • Fans discuss AI upscales (for B5, DS9, VOY) and wish for a sanctioned, high-effort remaster; others argue visual fidelity matters less than story and acting.

Story, Structure, and How to Watch

  • Many urge newcomers to push through a rough, often-criticized Season 1 (acting, humor, low-budget FX) because of critical foreshadowing and character groundwork.
  • Others say Season 1 is fine by 90s-TV standards and that dismissive disclaimers are unnecessary; a minority find the show never rises above “okay” or is too corny to enjoy.
  • Season 3–4 are widely praised as the peak, but Season 4 is acknowledged as rushed due to renewal uncertainty; Season 5 is often viewed as weaker.

Comparisons and Influence

  • Frequent comparisons with DS9, TNG, Voyager, The Expanse, and BSG:
    • B5 is praised for a tightly planned multi-season arc, deep worldbuilding, and especially the Londo/G’Kar relationship.
    • Trek shows are lauded for episodic strengths and hopeful tone; some prefer their philosophy and production values.
  • Several note DS9’s apparent borrowing from the Babylon 5 “bible,” though DS9 is still respected as its own, often excellent, series.

Politics, Themes, and Legacy

  • Commenters emphasize B5’s portrayal of rising fascism, xenophobia, propaganda, unlawful orders, and a corrupt Earth government as strikingly relevant to contemporary politics.
  • The show is credited with pioneering serialized, multi-season storytelling in TV sci‑fi and with early, ambitious use of CGI on modest hardware (Amigas, Video Toaster, Lightwave).
  • Longtime fans express nostalgia, note the high number of early cast deaths, and celebrate enduring fan resources like the Lurker’s Guide and the show’s original Usenet community.