Star Trek vs Babylon 5

[Beaky Smoochies]

More aggressive series like Stargate replaced Trek with it's much more gun ho militaristic style and the obviously middle Eastern inspired Goa'uld were little more than cyphers for Americas dislike of Arab type cultures generally. 

Yeah, those nasty, xenophobic Americans, it's not as if any Arab types have done anything to them, is it...?

[Zarjazzer]

More aggressive series like Stargate replaced Trek with it's much more gun ho militaristic style and the obviously middle Eastern inspired Goa'uld were little more than cyphers for Americas dislike of Arab type cultures generally. 

Yeah, those nasty, xenophobic Americans, it's not as if any Arab types have done anything to them, is it...?

sold them all that lovely oil? (sorry yanks call it gas).

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

More aggressive series like Stargate replaced Trek with it's much more gun ho militaristic style and the obviously middle Eastern inspired Goa'uld were little more than cyphers for Americas dislike of Arab type cultures generally. 

Yeah, those nasty, xenophobic Americans, it's not as if any Arab types have done anything to them, is it...?

Yeah I think 9/11 simply confirmed the deep suspicion in many American minds that certain Islamic groups saw America as the new enemy. There was that bombing of the World Trade center in 1993 plus various other attacks the USS Cole, the Kenyan Embassy bombing in 1998. All  horrible prologue's to 9/11.

Sorry if I sounded glib Beaky Smoochies perhaps we can't really understand the cataclysmic culture shock for the USA 9/11 was and still is.

Anyway I think programmes like Stargate and the cancelling of the more Liberal leaning Star Trek franchise must surely reflect a shift inside American culture. Away from 'let's try to understand and get along' to a more guarded stance.

The TV series 'Homeland' is a very good example of this. To much exposure to the enemy might turn you into one it seems to be saying. If even your Defenders can be turned against you who can you trust?

Nobody of course. 

[Minkyboy]

If even your Defenders can be turned against you who can you trust?

Trust only in the Modpleton.

For the Greater Good.

[Zarjazzer]

If even your Defenders can be turned against you who can you trust?

Trust only in the Modpleton.

For the Greater Good.

This is the truth.Like Sonic Youth.

[Professor Bear]

Star Trek reflects the American Dream.

Pretty much.  That's why when they go to other planets, instead of lots of different cultures sharing the one globe as would be expected, there's a singular culture usually analogous to something on Earth.  Basically Trek is about how America likes to view itself as a cowboy riding in to the rescue and then buggering off without any long term problems arising from their interference seeing as they're basically imposing the American values Space Russia secretly longs for.

[Dandontdare]

can't believe this hasn't appeared yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpb1OXvNNMc

(it isn't, by the way)

[Roger Godpleton]

Which one had the exploding turtle?

[James Stacey]

I can't believe there is even this argument going on. Bab5 was so much better than Trek in so many ways. The only downside with Bab5 was some very wooden acting in the first season. The downsides to Trek were most of it.

[Mardroid]

Speaking of Star Trek, I rewatched the film (reboot) yesterday. Despite not really buying the [spoiler]'future star going supernova put the entire galaxy in danger'[/spoiler] gubbins, and the [spoiler]Spock Uhura[/spoiler] malarkey, it's still a cracker in all it's Star Warseyness.

Incidentally, I never go round to watching the new(ish) Babylon 5 mini-series (I remember there were supposed to be three, but don't know if they got beyond the first as I think ratings were poor.) I was really looking forward to it, but the reviews I've seen haven't been too good. I'll still give em a shot though.

[Professor Bear]

Bab5 was so much better than Trek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWtuKm6C1Sw

[Mardroid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWtuKm6C1Sw

Heh. I've never seen that. I actually quite like the idea as using VR as a space ship battle interface (I actually had an idea for that in a comic story, so slightly irate to find out they did it first.* ) but boy, did she look silly.

*In my one it was a small one man fighter with the person plugged in directly via a cybernetic implant. To their perception they're flying through space kinda like superman, with a 360 degree view all around, actually relayed to their brain via the ship's sensors. The pilot might point to shoot, etc, but none of that flipping around. Unless he/she wanted the entire ship to do that.

[Tiplodocus]

Argue all you like. But we don't have to because we know that Star Trek really is the best.

[klute]

After just watching the complete run of battlestar galactica(2004-09) something i've been meaning to do for a while but never got around to until now.

Reading the thread and watching the 4th season really hit home with the whole debate going on in here...I feel as though the 4th season more so the last 4/5 episode really ruined it for me not sure if i'm alone in thinking that.i know the directors and producers can't please everybody.

[Onlyverysmall]

I only saw a teensy piece of Babylon5, I was put off by the CGI ships- models are still even now better in my opinion, and at the time what I saw didn't grab me.
   @Klute- I didn't think the end of BSG was perfect [spoiler]so the baby didn't in the end matter at all, and that theatre stuff was meaningless)[/spoiler], but in terms of every other drip-feed multiple season mystery I've seen it was up there with the best.
   And the soundtrack throughout was immense.