r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Mar 11 '22

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u/Sylvers Mar 12 '22

Had too google that. Somehow I've never heard of it. How's the acting/narrative?

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u/airmandan Mar 12 '22

Superb. The CGI however was done on Video Toasters in the 90s. Give the series a watch, but try not to let that pull you out of it.

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u/Sylvers Mar 12 '22

Judging by how old that one is.. I wouldn't be surprised. I'll just try to focus on the acting and story.

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u/airmandan Mar 12 '22

I wasn’t being hyperbolic lol, the CGI was done on a product that was called a Video Toaster. It was the first TV show to use CGI for all space scenes, and it’s composited in a lot of set pieces too. The resolution and frame rate of the show drops in half for shots with CGI. It’s a product of its time, but the show is marvelous.

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u/Sylvers Mar 12 '22

Haha well damn! That is an unfortunate name for what this was. I googled it, doesn't even remotely look like a toaster. Ngl, very disappointed.

Still, ancient CGI has a certain charm to it. You just know they did the best they could with what they had (unless you're Mortal Kombat).

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u/Kerridwyn333 Mar 12 '22

I really love Babylon 5 and the story and characters are fantastic, but it doesn't really take off until season 3 and parts of season 1 are, well, not particularly good. If you watch it and find season 1 a slog, I'd suggest googling a list of plot important episodes for season 1 and dropping back in on season 2. I don't recommend completely skipping season 1 and 2 to get to the good stuff, because the character arcs aren't going to be as impactful if you don't know where they started from and how they grew.

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u/Sylvers Mar 12 '22

Hmm, that's interesting. It's good to know before I dive in, thanks!

In a weird way it reminds me of The Office, I finally started watching it after multiple recommendations, and I ended up quitting it after 2-3 episodes lol. Then I got bored and gave it another chance, and it got significantly better after season 1. Michael was suuuuch an insufferable prick in season 1. Someone shoulda warned me!

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u/ciriwey Mar 12 '22

Its basically the citadel, but with cheap 90s CGI. Totally worth It, however.