Discerning Lurkers Portal: A Babylon 5 Podcast
Discerning Lurkers Portal
- 18
- Episodes
- 2022
- First episode
About Discerning Lurkers Portal: A Babylon 5 Podcast
The Discerning Lurkers Portal endeavors to review every episode of Babylon 5, one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows ever and a favorite for hosts, Dave and Todd. We'll examine the plot, world-building, characters, performances, dialogue, behind-the-scenes info, and general good stuff and bad stuff of every episode. Near the end, we score each episode using the Psi-Corp P-rating scale from P1 to P12, saving spoilers for future episodes until the very end. We hope you'll also check out our other podcast, Discerning Geeks Portal, where we discuss more geeky topics, with a focus on movie reviews.
- Publisher
- Discerning Lurkers Portal
- Category
- tv & film
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 22 Feb 2022
- Latest episode
- 11 Mar 2023
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
11 Mar 2023
#018 - B5 1.18 - "Babylon Squared"
This week we review one of the best episodes of season 1 and the first part of Babylon 5's only time travel arc, "Babylon Squared." - Not being as familiar with this episode, maybe not seeing it before, what was Dave's first impression? Was he pleased, frustrated, or a little of both, with this episode's teasing nature? - How well (or not well) is the governing structure of the Minbari explained? Does this Delenn subplot in this episode help explain it any better? - What is the deal with the Zathras character? - What are the co-hosts' favorite moments & quotes from the episode? - What are the co-hosts's opinions of the question, "Fasten or zip?" - What were the co-hosts' few nitpicks about the episode, and which co-host brought up one actor's performance as one of them? - How does the story arc we get in Babylon 5 differ from the one we were going to get before certain real-life changes in the cast required adjustments in the story? - Who from JMS's real life inspired Zathras' odd speech pattern? - What story point in this episode was intentionally left vague to provide some flexibility when re-addressing the storyline a couple seasons later? And, how much did that flexibility end up being necessary? - Did the co-hosts agree on their psi-rating scores for this episode? - And, what was Dave curious about in the Spoiler Zone? Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as we do the math on..."Babylon Squared." If you see a 5-star rating system, remember to click on 5 stars if you love us or 4 stars if you hate us. Don't bother with the other three stars. I really don't understand why they're even there. ;) If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. - Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal - Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
31 Jan 2023
#017 - B5 1.16 & 1.17 - "A Voice in the Wilderness, Parts 1 & 2"
This week, we cover the first of Babylon 5's only two-parters, "A Voice in the Wilderness, Parts 1 & 2." - Which co-host(s) wonder how previous survey crews somehow missed the Great Machine and deemed Epsilon 3 a dead world? - Do our co-hosts have bad memories, or are there reasons why portions of this two-parter seem easy to forget? - What did Draal mean being going "to the sea"? - How did the co-hosts feel about the further development of the background Mars subplot? Is Mars too much in the background? - What were the co-hosts' favorite moments? - Which guest actor will return later but playing a different character? - Were Sinclair & Garibaldi wrong for their protectiveness over Ivanova, who's tough enough to take care of herself? - When going through quotes in Green Sector, which co-host loved an exchange between Londo & Garibaldi, and which co-host loved a tirade by a cranky Ivanova? - Which co-host is a little worried Garibaldi might be a creeper? - Which tiny little pause by a cast member led one of the co-hosts to reading a snippet from an interview in which that actor admitted to a certain level of disbelief before doing what he did in that scene? - Which co-host made an unexpected connection between the lyrics of the "Hokey Pokey" and something more serious that was revealed in the episode? - Which character do the co-hosts really miss, and how many episodes have gone without that character in them? - Did the co-hosts have a lot of nitpicks for this episode? - What were the business-related reasons JMS was encourage to write a two-parter like this? - What led JMS to totally re-write the script for this two-parter? - Did the co-hosts have similar or different final grades for these episodes? - And, what spoilers did the co-hosts cover in the Spoiler Zone? Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as we explore "A Voice in the Wilderness." If you see a 5-star rating system, remember to click on 5 stars if you love us or 4 stars if you hate us. Don't bother with the other three stars. I really don't understand why they're even there. ;) If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. - Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal - Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
14 Jan 2023
#016 - B5 1.15 - "Eyes"
Continuing to view episodes in the JMS-preferred order, the bottle episode "Eyes" is the next installment up for investigation. - What level of enthusiasm did the co-hosts have for this episode? - What were the interesting aspects of the Ivanova / Harriman Gray interactions? - Is this the only episode in which Major Atumbe is mentioned? (This isn't a rhetorical question. I'm actually asking, because I'm not sure.) - Which events from earlier in the season get name drops during Col. Ben Zayn's interrogations of the B5 staff? - Harriman Gray is played by Jeffrey Combs who's probably well known for his guest roles in Star Trek shows. How many appearances? How many shows? - What Garibaldi quote from this episode confused Todd and in what way? - What were two of Dave's favorite character moments from the episode? - What one thing or person encapsulates all of Todd's issues in Brown Sector? - Where does Dave stand on Todd's main complaint? - What is the main conundrum involving the motivation, mental status, and timing of the Ari Ben Zayn character? - How did this episode end up being the responsibility of script supervisor Larry DiTillio, and what were his challenges? - What circumstance led to one quick interior scene being done with computer graphics, and why was that perfectly fine with Garibaldi actor Jerry Doyle? - Which actor got caught by JMS trying to sneak the weird name of his band's next album into some alien dialogue? - Why is the episode called "Eyes"? - And, what do we cover in the Spoiler Zone this week? Listen now for the answers to these and other probing questions as we take a deep look into..."Eyes." Don't let this podcast be for your eyes...uh, ears...only. Tell others about us and rate us wherever you receive your top secret podcast communiques. If you see a 5-star rating system, remember to click on 5 stars if you love us or 4 stars if you hate us. Don't bother with the other three stars. I really don't understand why they're even there. ;) If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. - Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal - Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
2 Jan 2023
#015 - B5 1.14 - "Grail"
We're back to talk about the Babylon 5 episode "Grail." Note: We're now going by the JMS-preferred order of episodes, so this one is next instead of "TKO" which was next in the original air order. - What are Todd's & Dave's overall opinions of this episode? - What was one of the main strengths of this episode? - Why did Lennier say there were two castes of Minbari instead of three? - Who were the very experienced & recognizable guest stars in the episode...and one that was...not so experienced? - Which usual member of the crew made an acting cameo in this episode? - Which lines of Ivanova dialogue from this episode are among fans' favorites to quote? - Which actor wins the Character Superlative this episode for...{exact award redacted}...a certain overactive facial movement? - Which co-host has issues with some of this episode's special effects? - What behind-the-scenes information does the script book have about this episode and the involvement of its writer, Christy Marx? How did she get the job? What parts of writing the script did she like the best or find most difficult? - Where does one guest character's last name, Gajic, come from? - Did Dave & Todd agree on their grades for this episode? - Was there any need for a spoiler zone this time, and what is this episode's main contribution to the overall story arc? Listen now as we...truly seek...the answers to these and other questions, as we wholly review "Grail." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. You can also check us out at the Facebook & Twitter sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Note: We're a little behind on Twitter again, but we've been posting on Facebook quite a bit about re-uploads of some our classic episodes with slightly improved audio quality. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
12 Nov 2022
#014 - B5 1.13 - "Signs & Portents"
This week, we review "Signs & Portents," the Babylon 5 episode so important that J. Michael Straczynski named all of season 1 "Signs & Portents" as well. - Why is Dave slurring his words? - How far did Todd get in editing before the file failed to save and proved to be corrupted, such that Todd had to start the editing over from scratch? - What did Dave & Todd think about this episode? What category is this episode starting to fall under for Todd? - What were the various subplots of this episode, and which ones worked better than others? - What is it about the damage to Kosh's encounter suit that Todd questioned? - Is there a greater importance to Lord Kiro, or is he just another noble? - When & where did Ed Wasser, the actor played Mr. Morden, show up on Babylon 5 previously as a different character? What off-screen role did Ed Wasser also have on the Babylon 5 set before being cast as Mr. Morden? - What did Dave & Todd like so much about the scene with Londo & G'Kar waiting on the lift? - What did Todd think was so significant about Kosh's demand to Morden? - What aspect of the space battle didn't quite work for either co-host? - What natural catastrophe occurred during the filming of this episode, and how much -- or how little -- did it affect the filming schedule of this episode? - Which cast member got stuck on set during one of several frequent evacuations? - And, what topics did the co-hosts cover in the spoiler zone? We see the "Signs & Portents." We predict you're going to listen to this episode. If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. 'We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts "soon" (okay, *eventually*), but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country that has recently attacked & invaded another country in 2022. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
26 Oct 2022
#013 - B5 1.12 - "By Any Means Necessary"
We are finally back with another Babylon 5 episode review, this time taking a look at 1.12 "By All Means Necessary." - Which two characters were the saving grace of this episode? - Did the co-hosts like the main subplot centered around the dock workers? - Did the co-hosts enjoy Sinclair's creative solutions to the workers' issues and/or the diplomatic and interpersonal issues between two ambassadors? - Which guest actor performance did the co-hosts like and which one did they not? - What were the co-hosts' favorite quotes from the episode? - What were the co-hosts' issues with the Eduardo character? - What were some of the flaws in the resolution to the episode? - What did the co-hosts think of the negotiating skills of the Orin Zento character? - What kinds of hoops did JMS's then-wife have to go through to write this episode without there being any sense of nepotism? - What kinds of bizarre subplots and character inclusions were in early drafts of the scripts? - What/who is the Rush Act named after? - What questions did Dave have for Todd in the Spoiler Zone? Listen now for the answers to these and other questions as we try to negotiate the episode..."By Any Means Necessary." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts "soon" (okay, *eventually*), but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country that has recently attacked & invaded another country in 2022. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
11 Jul 2022
#012 - B5 1.11 - "Survivors"
We are back with a review of Garibaldi-centric episode, 1.11 "Survivors." - Which co-host thought the episode was just okay, and which co-host really enjoyed the episode to the surprise of the other? - Which recurring character makes his last appearance in this episode, and which character makes his first appearance? - What was it about Garibaldi's backstory and character development did one co-host particularly enjoy? - What nitpicks were there about acting and "stunts" in this episode? - Is the nature of Garibaldi's addiction realistic? - What preparation did Marc Scott Zicree do to write this episode, and how much of his original work made it into the final version? - How high or low and how far apart were the co-hosts' final scores? - And what details about the future does want to hear or not hear in Spoiler Zone? Listen now to hear us address these and other questions as we investigate this episode and try to be..."Survivors." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts "soon" (okay, *eventually*), but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country that has recently attacked & invaded another country in 2022. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.) - Explanation of weird "stunts": "Wakka Wakka" by Bryan Teoh via FreePD.com
6 Jun 2022
#011 - B5 1.10 - "Believers"
We are back! After an unintended hiatus, we return to review one of the most divisive episodes of Babylon 5, season 1 episode #010, "Believers." - Which other Babylon 5 podcast got a mention at the beginning & end of this episode? - What years did Dave & Todd graduate high school? How is that relevant? (Hint: It's not.) - What was one co-host's biggest issue with the A-plot, and did he wish there was more to the B-plot? - Does this episode give a fair shot to religion? Does it make religion look bad? Or, is it a little of both? - What were some of the best quotes in this episode? - Which other dialogue was clunky & downright maddening? - Who was most right or most wrong in this episode? Franklin? Sinclair? The kid's parents? - Did Sinclair handle the situation well? - Did Franklin learn a lesson? - Did this episode hurt one co-host's opinion of one of the characters? - What information did one co-host feel was most lacking from the episode? - So... Gloppit egg... Any strong opinions? (Hint: Be prepared to adjust your volume almost 2/3 of the way through. Sorry; it's actually adjusted in editing but probably not enough.) - What were some of this episode's best & worst moments? - And, is this episode too much like a Star Trek episode, very different from a Star Trek episode, somewhere in between, or is there just no comparison? Do we address these & many more controversial questions? I...*believe*...we do. Listen now if you want to be..."Believers"...too. (See what I did there?) If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts "soon" (okay, *eventually*), but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "P----'s Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: This song sounds perfect for the intro to season 1 of the podcast, but it has an unfortunate name that includes the last name of a war-loving leader of a certain Eurasian country that has recently attacked & invaded another country in 2022. From now on, I'm just going to sensor the P-word in the name of the song.)
27 Apr 2022
#010 - B5 1.09 - "Deathwalker"
This week, we are postponing our Chon-Kar to review the Babylon 5 season 1 episode, "Deathwalker." - So, who in this episode knows that Sinclair has a hole in his mind (doesn't everyone know that in season 1)? - Which ships do we see for the first time in this episode? - Which support character does one co-host feel is underutilized? - What are a couple of the co-hosts' favorite scenes? - Are Vorlons truly leery of telepaths, or are they just faking it for...a particular reason? - Do we know exactly what Kosh is trying to get out of Talia Winters? - How do the themes of responsibilities, choices, and consequences, factor in to this episode's twist & turns? - Why did Kosh blow off the council meetings? Was he busy making preparations, or did he just find the council's concerns on both sides irrelevant? - What are some of Dave & Todd's favorite quotes from the episode? - Did the guys like the Abbut subplot or not? - What nitpicks did the guys have regarding the Vorlons' aim and the council's method of watching Jha'Dur's ship leave? - Who was originally supposed to play the character of Abbut? - What were Larry DiTillio's favorite aspects of his script for this episode? - And, what part of JMS's script revisions did Larry DiTillio protest against -- something that the co-hosts agree was a correct decision on JMS's part? Listen now for the answers to these and other ageless questions as we try to survive the machinations of..."Deathwalker." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro...with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch.)
15 Apr 2022
#009 - B5 1.08 - "And the Sky Full of Stars"
This week, there is a hole in our mind, but we're still ready to review Babylon 5 episode 1.08 "And the Sky Full of Stars." - What were the co-hosts' overall feelings about this episode? - Was the big revelation of this episode really that big a revelation? - What does one co-host feel about what he calls "psychobabble" episodes? - Just how desperate was the Battle of the Line? - Which moment of Garibaldi & Ivanova dialogue did one co-host enjoy? - Which character did one co-host like best in this episode? - Which Sinclair line did one co-host particularly like? - Which character had a couple over-acted moments, including a moment where he sounded like Gollum from "Lord of the Rings"? - What were some of the other nitpicks from this episode? - Which actors were originally supposed to play guest roles Knight One and Knight Two? - What were some of the articles about from the newspaper Garibaldi was holding? - Why did JMS portray San Diego as a bombed wasteland in the Babylon 5 universe? - What improvised, practical object had to substitute for a special, expensive camera lens that was inadvertently rented to a different production? - And, which co-host still has a landline phone as if it's still 1994? Listen now for the answers to these & other psychobabble questions as we probe into a hole in the mind... "And the Sky Full of Stars." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with an additional co-host and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro...with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch.)
31 Mar 2022
#008 - B5 1.07 - "The War Prayer"
This week, our shoes are too tight, and we have forgotten how to podcast. Just kidding, we remember, as we review the Babylon 5 episode 1.07 "The War Prayer." - What real-world social issues did the co-hosts feel this episode held up a mirror to? - What elements of the pilot TV movie got a mention in this episode? - What physical trait of the Minbari did one co-host notice for the first time? Is it a natural feature, or do Minbari women wear this type of make-up too? - Which co-host went through a weird phase of watching soap operas during high school and college? - What else is Danica McKellar known for? - What are the interesting nicknames Londo gives his wives behind their backs? - What kind of plant life gets mentioned in both Green Sector and Brown Sector? - What line of dialogue did one co-host appreciate for being funny & aggressive at the same time. - What complaint did one co-host have about the tone of the episode? - What line of dialogue was not delivered in the best way? - Which character is not nearly as good an actor as the actual actor playing that main character? - What kind of details did one co-host have about the preparation & process that went in to D.C. Fontana writing this episode? - And, which episode coming soon is one co-host particularly looking forward to reviewing? Listen now for the answers to these & other discerning questions as we speak about "The War Prayer." Personal Note: Please bear with us if the release schedule of this podcast or our other podcast, the Discerning Geeks Portal, is affected by a profound loss we have experienced recently. David T., a founding co-host of Discerning Geeks Portal, and our friend & brother for far longer than we have been podcasting, passed away recently after his eight-year battle with cancer. At the time I'm posting this, his funeral was three days ago, and we are still settling in to a "new normal" without him. We hope to somehow honor & memorialize him after discussing the best time & method. Prayers & positive thoughts are appreciated as we process this loss privately for now. In the meantime, reviews of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" were both recorded before his passing...but still without him, sadly. The first of those may be coming soon, but I don't know when. Dave and I hoped to start a weekly schedule for the B5 reviews going forward, but we now need to catch up on recording those too. Thank you for understanding. If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro...with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch.)
25 Mar 2022
#007 - B5 1.06 - "Mind War"
This week, we get our first appearance of Star Trek's Walter Koenig as Psi-Cop Alfred Bester in the Babylon 5 episode 1.06 "Mind War." - What did Dave S. & Todd think about this episode overall? - Which aspect of the show is a "weak link" for one co-host? - Is recurring actor Walter Koenig as Alfred Bester in more episodes than any actors that are in opening credits of whole seasons? And, which recurring character (not introduced quite yet at this point in season 1) has been in just barely more episodes than Alfred Bester? - What are the statistics on telepaths & telekinetics among humans? - What view of the station interior in this episode did one co-host appreciate? - What P-ratings are instructors and Psi-Cops in Psi-Corps? - What is the behind-the-scenes reason Walter Koenig appeared in this episode as the start of a recurring run rather than as a one-shot in a different episode? - Which Talia Winters quote did one co-host like, and why did the other co-host not totally like that same quote? - Which Ivanova quip did both co-hosts particularly appreciate? - Does G'Kar have possibly the best moments of the episode, an episode that barely has anything to do with him? (Note: If the answer is yes, it might become a trend.) - Does Garibladi have a thing for women in conservative suit jackets? - What gesture and line of dialogue are homages to the 1960s British TV show, "The Prisoner"? - To what is the name Alfred Bester an homage? - And, what did the cast do at lunch during filming to honor Walter Koenig's involvement? Find out the answers to these and other mind altering questions as we get probed & scanned by "Mind War." Personal Note: Please bear with us if the release schedule of this podcast or our other podcast, the Discerning Geeks Portal, is affected by a profound loss we have experienced recently. David T., a founding co-host of Discerning Geeks Portal, and our friend & brother for far longer than we have been podcasting, passed away recently after his eight-year battle with cancer. At the time I'm posting this, his death was three days ago, his funeral is still two days ahead, and we are still quite shaken. We hope to somehow honor & memorialize him, but we need to discuss how & when to properly do so in this public forum. Prayers & positive thoughts are appreciated as we process this loss privately for now. In the meantime, reviews of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home" were both recorded before his passing...but still without him, sadly. The first of those may be coming soon, but I don't know when. Thank you for understanding. If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro...with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch.)
20 Mar 2022
#006 - B5 1.05 - "Parliament of Dreams"
This week, we review the B5 episode 1.05 "Parliament of Dreams," an episode of Babylon 5 that explores the alien cultures present on Babylon 5 and has a unique & profound final moment. - Each co-host felt there may have been an out-of-place subplot, but did Dave & Todd feel it was the same one? - What did the last Xon say before he died? - Which relative of one of the co-hosts used to sing the same song that G'Kar sang in this episode? - What neat little things are going on in the backgrounds of the Centauri celebration and Minbari ceremony? And, who would have died if a little fruit really had been poisoned? - Which main & recurring characters are introduced or returning in this episode? - Which actor loved their make-up & costume? - Which actors had trouble keeping straight faces while another actor unexpectedly crawled on a table during one scene? - Did the dialogue between Sinclair & Catherine Sakai feel natural or awkward, and why? - Which particular line of Catherine Sakai dialogue did the co-hosts disagree on? - What were some of the favorite quotes from this episode? - What weird, nitpicky thing did one co-host notice about Catherine Sakai that he now can't...un-notice? - What significant flaw of the episode did both co-hosts agree on? - What prop used in this episode almost made cast & crew sick? - And, what was it about this episode that JMS described as so moving that even studio executives showed up for filming that day and that he's never seen anything like it since? Find out the answers to these and other questions as we meditate on the "Parliament of Dreams." Note: Full disclosure, while skimming through the episode again to write the summary for this episode, I noticed an editing mistake -- nothing horrible, but just a transition between topics that wasn't made smoothly. I did a quick re-edit and re-imported the audio before publishing, so you shouldn't notice a problem (I hope). Listeners, if you ever do notice a glaring mistake that I've missed, especially one that involves missing content or something in the episode not being clear, please feel free to let us know at one of our contact points below (or the separate Twitter & Facebook accounts hopefully coming soon). Unless the mistake is extremely minor and/or too difficult to fix, I'll be glad to re-edit and re-import for an improved experience. If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro...with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch.)
15 Mar 2022
#005 - B5 1.04 - "Infection"
Listen now to our infectious review of B5 1.04 "Infection." - Did Dave & Todd's opinions of this episode line up with those of most fans? - Which bits of informative world-building does this episode provide? - Which guest actor played a character in the first weekly episode *produced* (this one) and a different character in the last one *produced*, even though those weren't the first & last episodes that aired -- making that guest actor coincidentally there at the beginning & end of the series -- behind the scenes, even if not on screen? - Which aspect of Sinclair & Garibaldi's friendship did Dave & Todd especially appreciate in this episode? - Which significant & memorable lines of dialogue about space exploration came from this episode? - Despite being the 4th episode aired, this was the 1st weekly episode produced? Was it obvious? - Which plot element & accompanying lines of dialogue did not appeal to at least one of the co-hosts? - Which law of physics is it that one co-host wishes movies & TV shows would stop breaking so blatantly? - And, what tidbits did we have in Spoiler Zone this week? Find out the answers to these and other questions as we study "Infection." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro (with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch).
10 Mar 2022
#004 - B5 1.03 - "Born to the Purple"
Listen now to our Jovian review of B5 1.03 "Born to the Purple." - What's the Jovian deal with Ko'Dath, G'Kar's attache before Na'Toth comes along? - What did one co-host particularly like about the Jovian portrayal of the Adira character? - What did one co-host appreciate so much about a Jovian scene in which two adversarial characters agreed about something? - Which Jovian co-host really enjoyed the Ivanova / Garibaldi / Gold Channel subplot, and why? - Isn't "moon-faced assassin of joy" an awesome Jovian insult? - Who said, "Don't give away the Jovian homeworld"? (Okay, they didn't include the word "Jovian," but I have to be consistent for the gag.) - What question did Todd ask Dave about the episode, based on something co-hosts of another Jovian podcast were kind of obsessed with when they did their own review of this episode? - Which character's final Jovian fate is revealed in Spoiler Zone? - Which Jovian questions did Dave not want answered even in Spoiler Zone? - And, why the #&!| am I putting "Jovian" in everything? Find out the answers to these and other Jovian questions as we examine, "Born to the Purple." If you'd like to contact us, our Jovian e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro (with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch).
5 Mar 2022
#003 - B5 1.02 - "Soul Hunter"
Listen now to our review of B5 1.02 "Soul Hunter." - Which plot points and lines of dialogue particularly intrigued one of the co-hosts? - Which character makes the first of four appearances in this episode, and which co-host particularly liked that character concept? - Which Star Trek characters were played by the same actors that played the two Soul Hunters in this episode? - Which line of dialogue did one co-host think helped set the tone for the series as a whole? - What was one co-host's biggest problem with the premise of this episode? - What issue did JMS run into after writing the first draft of this episode, and how adamant was he that anyone seeing it hold off until a new draft could be written? - And, what ship name caught the attention of one of the co-hosts? Find out the answers to these and other questions as we examine, "Soul Hunter." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in March 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro (with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch).
26 Feb 2022
#002 - B5 1.01 - "Midnight on the Firing Line"
Listen now to the 2nd episode of our new podcast where we review the first weekly episode of Babylon 5, “Midnight on the Firing Line.” - What did Dave & Todd think about this being the first weekly episode? Was it surprisingly good or disappointing? Did one co-host grade it higher than he has on previous re-watches -- if so, how much & why? - Which co-host was particularly impressed with the show's treatment of inertia and the vacuum of space when depicting Starfuries and raider ships for the first time? - The two co-hosts enjoyed several different character interactions in this episode: G'Kar & Londo, Londo & Garibaldi, Garibaldi & Talia, Talia & Ivanova, and Sinclair & Kosh. Which interactions or quotes did you enjoy the most? - Which recurring B5 actor is Facebook friends with one of the co-hosts? - What is Londo's death dream? This is not the last we'll hear of it or even see it. B5 veteran viewers, don't spoil the details for new viewers. - Was Garibaldi really flirting with Talia Winters? - Does a major scene between women in this episode pass the Bechdel Test? - How did some characters' appearances improve between the pilot TV movie & the first weekly episode? - What far-future details were spilled in the Spoiler Zone? In keeping with the theme of "Midnight," I just barely got this episode out before midnight (Eastern U.S. time zone), and if you're reading this, the description was edited just a little after midnight. But, for a more interesting story about raiders, invaders, rivalries, grudges, the foundation for prophecies, and Daffy Duck in space, check out the episode itself & then our review of..."Midnight on the Firing Line." If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in February 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro (with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch). - Spoo Segment, song 1: "Fancy Family" by Rafael Krux via FreePD.com - Spoo Segment, song 2: "Comic Game Loop - Mischief" by Kevin MacLeod via FreePD.com
22 Feb 2022
#001 - Babylon 5 Pilot TV Movie: "The Gathering"
Greetings, Discerning Listeners, and thank you for stepping through the portal with us for the very first episode of The Discerning Lurkers Portal: A Babylon 5 Podcast. Also, Happy Anniversary, as we release this episode on the 29th anniversary of the premiere of "The Gathering," the pilot TV movie, starting it all on 22 February 1993. Apparently, the modern gift for 29th anniversaries is furniture. I'll take a new bedroom suite, if anyone's buying. We will be taking a discerning look, episode by episode, of Babylon 5, one of the best sci-fi TV shows ever and a favorite of the hosts, Dave & Todd. In our first episode, we'll talk a little about what drew us to Babylon 5 and about the structure & content of each of our episodes before diving in to our review of "The Gathering" itself. We'll explain a little of that structure here... - Blue Sector: We start with a brief episode summary & logistical info like episode order, writer, and director. - Red Sector: This is open discussion about the episode's subplots, world-building, and things we generally liked. - Green Sector: This is a deeper focus into characters, performances, and quotable dialogue (three of the best aspects of Babylon 5). - Brown Sector: Even the best things in life aren't perfect. Here, we'll highlight flaws & nitpicks. - Grey Sector: We'll wrap up with trivia, behind-the-scenes info, and our scores for the episode (based on the Psi Corps P-rating system of P1 to P12). Then, we'll say a preliminary goodbye to newer viewers before delving into spoilers for future episodes as our very last item. Note: One of the co-hosts has not seen quite all of Babylon 5 himself, so even in the Spoiler Zone, our other co-host will be cautious of revealing certain big spoilers too much or too soon. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we review one of our favorite shows. "The Gathering," a story of an assassination plot against the space station's most recently arrived alien ambassador, is just the beginning of our adventure. If all goes according to plan (and, there's no guarantee it will), we hope to commemorate the importance of the numbers 3 (among the Minbari) and 5 (for Babylon 5 itself) by releasing subsequent episodes on the 25th of February and the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th of March. Starting in April, we'll probably settle into a less nutty, weekly schedule. If you'd like to contact us, our e-mail is discerninglurkers@gmail.com. We might have separate Facebook & Twitter accounts soon, but for now, you can also check us out at the sites for our "parent" podcast, The Discerning Geeks Portal, where we take a discerning look into other geeky topics with two additional co-hosts and with a frequent focus on movie reviews. Facebook: Discerning Geeks Portal Twitter: @DiscerningGeeks (With this episode being released on 02/22/2022, I was tempted to schedule it to publish at 02:22 AM Eastern. But, I'll settle for midnight because I want to make sure it uploads okay before I settle down for the night.) Public domain music used in this episode... - Intro / Transition Into Spoiler Zone / Outro: "Putin's Lullaby" by Alexander Nakarada via FreePD.com (Note: I know with current events going on around Ukraine in February 2022, a song with "Putin" in the title is unfortunate, but I can't help it. That's the name of the song, and the song was picked out weeks ago when the first half of it sounded perfect for a Babylon 5 intro (with a few "swoosh" sound effects added to the end of the intro for added punch).
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