Reviews

I came across this incredible podcast on YouTube, and I'm so glad I did. As someone who watched Babylon 5 way back when it first aired, I'm seperated from my first watching experience by decades. Listening to Brent and Jeff go through the series for the first time, hearing their thoughts, comments, guesses, and predictions has been such wonderful nostalgia. Brent & Jeff: "Is this the episode where a disease breaks out on the station?" Me: "No, we'll get there." Brent & Jeff when we get there: "OH MY GOD!!!" Me: "Yup. Definitely *not* Star Trek." Thanks for letting me com along for your First Time, guys. P.S. Watch the YouTube version, if you can. It's even more fun than the audio version!

I’m a watcher from the very beginning of the series and I have watched all of the sequels and read the novels. The insights that the guys express fascinate me and I look forward to each episode dropping. I hope that they will cover all of the material including Crusade!

I’ve been a longtime fan of both B5 and Trek. Brent and Jeff do a great job of introducing B5 to new viewers while helping longtime fans like me relive the excitement we felt watching the series more than 25 years ago. Their links to Trek show both franchises can coexist harmoniously. I’m doing a slow rewatch of B5 and it’s been great hearing their perspective of Season 3, which I consider to be the best season of sci-fi of any show. I heartily recommend the pod.

As a big fan of Star Trek, Stargate, BSG and Babylon 5 I really like hearing about your experiences and how you slowly realize how great the story of B5 is in the same way I experienced watching it two decades ago. This has been a fun journey and I hope you guys do Stargate at some point as well. Qapla’

Zathras likes when people podcast about Zathras.

I watched B5 when it was new and I really enjoyed it. I hadn’t watched the series in a while but this podcast got me back into and now I’m watching it with them. It feels like a book club for sci-fi TV and now my life is changed. I love this show and this podcast. Thank you and please keep it up. Live long and, oh wait, wrong show! D’oh!

I found out about this podcast about 3 days after finishing my very own first watch of Babylon 5. I knew I would be coming back to this show, but didn’t realize I would be diving back in right away. I binged the podcast on YouTube (cough, 65, cough) until I got all caught up and the experience is even better being able to watch the episode, watch the Brent watches, and wait for Monday for the full conversation. I am so glad that my babylon 5 for the second time experience is along side Brent and Jeff. Ya’ll better be serious about Stargate because I was going to watch that for the first time next and I’m postponing waiting for the podcast lol.

I started late to the podcast. And just caught up with Jeff and Mutt -- Sorry Laurel and Costello -- Mr Akin and Mr Allen. Joking aside I like how the two of you don't just like at the show as written, but see what the deeper thought was. You even showed my a few thing in a way I did not see them in. And I'd like to tell you how --- well those are spoilers my good sir. Until them all I have for you is a "Old Egyptian Blessing - Capt. John Sheridan [JMS]".

I watched Babylon 5 as a kid when it aired, and it is still the most important work of art in my life. I need a shirt that has the old “everything I needed to know about life” trope, lol. I’m enjoying everything about listening to these guys discover my favorite show for the first time. They’re super insightful and respectful of the show even when pointing out it’s flaws. It’s a great podcast for your first view or fiftieth.

This is an outstanding podcast that doesn’t jump the B5 timeline and spoil anything that is to come so it’s perfect if you, like the hosts are a new comer to the B5 universe or an old down-below-er looking to revisit B5 and mine it with deep dramaturgical, philosophical, social and in-universe analysis. Finding the messages, morals, Minbari and meanings in B5 from the background of doing the same for Star Trek, this is fun and worth your time. Enjoy!

This is an outstanding podcast that doesn’t jump the B5 timeline and spoil anything that is to come so it’s perfect if you, like the hosts are a new comer to the B5 universe or an old down-below-er looking to revisit B5 and mine it with deep dramaturgical, philosophical, social and in-universe analysis. Finding the messages, morals, Minbari and meanings in B5 from the background of doing the same for Star Trek, this is fun and worth your time. Enjoy!

As a First One (borrowing a term from Grey 17 pod) who watched Babylon 5 for the first time almost 30 years ago, it’s been a treat hearing unspoiled, inspired musings from two self-proclaimed veteran Star Trek podcasters, enjoying the show as I did, 1 ep at a time, 1 week at a time, watching, waiting, not knowing exactly what was coming but able to imagine the greatness that was.. BABYLON 5! Listening to Jeff ‘Radio Voice’ Akin and Brent ‘StandUp Comic Voice’ Allen discuss and dissect every kernel of juicy goodness in each episode has been exciting and enlightening, with very little in the way of negative slant toward what others have deemed ‘weak’ or even ‘awful’ episodes. Although this is NOT a Star Trek podcast, these guys GET IT! There’s a distinct Babylon 5 message, theme, growth, change in each episode! There’s STUFF there! To channel Richard Dreyfus over his pile of mashed potatoes THIS MEANS SOMETHING!! I have decided: I should have listened to this podcast sooner… but, as I’m caught up, I’m anxiously awaiting the reviews of s4 and beyond! Thanks chucklenuggets!!

B5 was my gateway to Trek. Now many years later after watching every episode of Trek, I am revisiting Babylon 5 and having a blast experiencing through the Trekkie/B5 newbie eyes of this fantastic podcast.

As a fan of B5 from the first airing of the show, I am seriously enjoying this podcast. I discovered it during my most recent rewatch and am having such fun listening to the speculation from two guys who have never seen the show. I find myself yelling “Yes!” when they get something right and chuckling over the things that are miles away from being right. And I am really looking forward to their reactions to some of the upcoming episodes. I give it 5 star furies! Keep up the great work!

I recently started a rewatch of Babylon 5, and discovered this podcast. The idea of two Star Trek Podcasters, watching, and reviewing Babylon 5 from beginning to end is equal parts enthralling and infuriating (in a good way!) Listening to these guys watch the episodes and enjoy them, while referencing Star Trek along the way, is a ton of fun. Hearing their theories and hearing their interpretations of different clues and ideas is fantastic. And sometimes hilarious, and startling when they tease out major plot points, sometimes a full season ahead. It’s also infuriating when they focus in on the weirdest throwaway part of an episode, and demand it come back around in later episodes. The most frustrating moments for me are when the hosts miss the point of an episode or complain that there was no moral to a serialized, story driven episode. While I absolutely love listening to these guys watch the series, there are times I wish they could just sit and enjoy the show for what it is, without comparing or reviewing, even if it means we lose a great podcast as a consequence. Still, this is a great listen. It takes a couple episodes to find the rhythm, and almost 20 hours for one of the hosts to reliably say a characters name correctly (which is totally fine at first, but becomes grating by episode 15, TKO). But eventually everything come together to be a show I’m hopelessly addicted to, even if I sometime angrily yell at the hosts while I’m listening…. Which, if I’m being honest, is part of the fun.

I’m a relatively new fan of the show, having watched it for the first time this year. Now, I’m on my second rewatch and listening to all the B5 podcasts out there. I really enjoy hearing Brent and Jeff’s opinions about each episode. And, the Discord community for this podcast is wonderful too!

I watched `Babylon 5` as a kid when it originally aired in the mid 90’s. This podcast has been a fantastic way to revisit one of my favorite childhood shows while pulling out all the complexity and nuance that flew over my smooth little baby brain at the time. I’ve never rewatched the series but Jeff and Brent do a FANTASTIC job of jogging my memory with their recaps while providing engaging and thought provoking context and analysis. If you’re a fan of B5, Star Trek, or any other science fiction this might be a show for you.

I originally watched Babylon 5 what seems like decades ago (AND IT WAS!) I watch the series almost every year and love it as much today as I did yesterday. But this review is about the podcast, not the series. So what can I say. Jeff and Brent bring a unique perspective to Babylon 5. I appreciate they do not hesitate to hold JMS’s feet to the fire while still loving the plot and all the twists and turns the series makes. Welcome to the fandom! Oh and since you are now done with series 3, I have one thing to say…No Spoiler, I Promise! That one thing is MORDENANNA. A Late Delivery From Avalon is one of my least favorite episodes, but I'll let you ponder that, regardless. Be Well. Doug.

As a long time fan of Babylon 5 I have really enjoyed catching up on Jeff and Brent's Journey through one of the my favorite shows for the first time! They offer a nuanced and fresh perspective through another of my favorite lenses, Star Trek! Thrill each week as they nail prediction after predicton....until they don't....and laugh along as they call out Dr Franklin for being the absolute WORST!

Very much enjoying listening to these guys discover my favorite show Has anyone told them the cast put out an album?

I first heard Jeff talk about Babylon 5 when he appeared on another podcast discussing the episode TKO, and as a longtime fan I loved hearing his points and perspective on an episode I alway enjoyed. I started listening to this podcast at the start of season 2, and it quickly became my favorite podcast. I’m always excited to hear Jeff and Brent talk about the show and make their predictions. Their friendliness and excitement is what keeps me coming back for more. Thank you both for a fantastic show!

I like this podcast

As a first run viewer of B5, I am so happy I’ve stumbled upon these guys. Their enthusiasm for SF, Star Trek, and B5 is infectious. The best parts of the show are the predictions about the next episode based solely on the title. Their riffs on B5’s themes and how they tie it all into modern SF TV and movies is really entertaining and thought provoking. They’ve got me waiting each week for their takes. WoW, Z-14 days! I even have my old Revell Starfury model out and am thinking about finally putting my Revell B5 Station model together. This is so much fun! Anon, Andrew

I’ve been in love with Babylon 5 since I saw the pilot air when I was 9 years old. “There is a hole in your mind” has been living rent free in its own hole in my mind for the last 30 years now! I initially started listening to a different podcast (Grey 17, still listening to them too) that Jeff guest starred on for the episode TKO - I loved his breakdown of the episode which was a fresh viewpoint to me so I knew had to give this show a listen. Man am I glad I did! Since I first watched B5 so long ago and at an early age, it’s amazing to see (hear) these two gentlemen’s adult perspectives on a first time watch of what is my favorite tv show ever. I also love Star Trek and grew up watching Kirk and Picard (buzzzzzz!) but to me Babylon 5 just has such a realism that makes it hit harder. They acknowledge that bathrooms exist! The writing and acting are top notch (mostly) and the plot twists and turns are like a beautiful mountain highway - the drive is amazing with some great surprises along the way. That describes this podcast to me as well and now I can’t wait for my Monday morning drive to work so I can listen to a new episode. Can’t wait for Babylon 5 for the Second time now! Oh, and one last thing - while I like the Aladdin genie quote about the rule of 3, I really feel like you missed out by not using the Monty Python line about “the number of the counting shall be 3” and so on with the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch from their Holy Grail movie.

I have watched Babylon 5 all the way through at least 5 times and watched most of Star Trek. Seeing one of my favorite shows through the lens of Star Trek is so amazing. I love seeing their journey through the show and their predictions. This is a must listen to. And remember No Spoilers!

An excellent podcast about an excellent series - highly entertaining and highly recommended. Essentially the host are watching Babylon 5 for the first time, having somehow failed to see it at any point over the past couple of decades, despite both being well versed in sci-fi (star trek in particular). They consistently watch an episode a week, discuss it, try and work out if there is an overall message, and (this is the best bit) try and work out just where the series is going and predict what is going to happen next - their predictions vary between being scarily prescient to comically wrong, and either way is very entertaining. The rapport between the hosts is great, and the production is top notch - something they make a point about. If you are in any way a fan of B5 listen to this pod cast. It truly is like watching it all for the first time!

Caught half of the series the first time in college. Now I want to go through the entire show and this is the perfect compaction discussion points. They recognize that Sci-Fi shows has a mix of good and terrible acting. Some stories are great and some are cringeworthy. Love the discussion points. I’m learning about leadership and parenting along the way. Now my kids have to ask and grant forgiveness as well. Looking forward to the rest of the show. Hardest part is waiting a week to watch with them!

These two good boys are smart, thoughtful, sociall conscious, and have all the Star Trek knowledge you need to analyze a non-Star Trek property. Where's Kosh? What happened to Katherine? I'm not caught up yet so I have no idea!

Waited 3 seasons to write this review… if you think you do it have time for this podcast remember what Zathras says: Cannot run out of time, there is infinite time. You are finite, Zathras is finite, this is right podcast - always listen to this.

You guys are one my favorite podcast to listen to. Back in the 90s when was I kid couldn’t get into B5. Grew up watching Star Trek after I found ur podcast started watching B5 for the second time u 2 really made me like B5 for the second time. Can’t for u guys to watch stargate never seen the show can’t wait to watch it for the first time with ur podcast. After u guys finished watching stargate would u do a podcast for earth final conflict or Farscape? Keep up the great work. Melissa Z