• PaupersSerenade@startrek.website
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    5 days ago

    I think about Earth Alliance President Clark a lot nowadays.

    There’s some really poignant lines about following illegal orders. If you like DS9 and don’t like what’s happening under the current US government I implore you to watch Babylon 5.

    Spoilers, and the clip hits so much harder when you’ve watched the build-up, but if you need convincing here’s a small sample about how topical this show still is.

    If you really need convincing here’s one of the best speeches regarding invasion I’ve ever seen.

    • Trump definitely strikes me as the “goes scorched earth when he’s cornered” type. All the oligarchs do. There is no enlightenment at the end of their evil journey, only hatred and spite for having it ended.

      • PaupersSerenade@startrek.website
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        5 days ago

        I completely agree. His spectre will likely haunt us long after he’s gone. Hatred and spite will be his legacy as well, so we have to do what we can to eradicate those symptoms.

      • cybervseas@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Watch it. It will drag slightly a few seasons in but is still worth it. Then you get to see how it isn’t the same show at all. Also you get more memes!

    • Railcar8095@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I’m a bit trek-curious (mostly because you nerds always pop up on my feed). Can I watch DS9 with little to no context?

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      5 days ago

      Babylon 5 is hands down the best sci-fi tv show.

      It hits hard with poignant reminders and leaves you laughing like a maniac at the same time. (The Hokey Pokey scene is legendary.)

      • CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        It was a good show though it irks me that one of the major premises for the setting is that an advanced (later portrayed as wise) elder race just assumed some uncontacted aliens must have the exact same social norms they do and then initiated a genocide over a single incident with no further attempts at contact.

        I ended up liking the Centauri simply because they’re at least very relatable assholes who actually seem to appreciate alien cultures despite being an imperalistic society.

        • Apytele@sh.itjust.works
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          5 days ago

          Watching now and the minbari do NOT come off as wise. They try really hard to look that way though. Reminds me of Japan tbh.

          • bitcrafter@programming.dev
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            4 days ago

            They’re basically like the elves in Tolkien’s world: they’re the elder race that is wise in a lot of ways, but also have a lot of flaws.

      • MalReynolds@slrpnk.net
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        5 days ago

        Eh, best is subjective, mine changes often and I like that. Top Five (or at least ten) probably for the vasty majority if they see it, writing, acting and production are outstanding, concept rocks. As our society has been influenced, Star Trek (especially TOS & TNG) has the high ground IMO, and maybe that’s a good thing, hope is needed and B5 is not foremost that, it’s a damn good story. If you like scifi TV and haven’t seen it, do, no ifs or buts.

        I happen to be doing a rewatch currently and I am reminded to recommend The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5 as an accompaniment to your watch, it captures the 90’s internet fan experience brilliantly.

    • Teal@lemmy.zip
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      5 days ago

      I’m currently on my first watch of Babylon 5 and just finished season 2 yesterday. I didn’t check out the first clip for spoiler reasons but I agree about the second one with Londo.