May 19th, 2010 | 
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Amazon.co.uk Review
“The Gathering”, the feature-length pilot episode for Babylon 5, still ranks amongst the best of introductions to any TV science fiction show. In 1993 there was just nothing else to compare with its wall-to-wall CGI effects backed up by eye-popping architectural and interior production design, costumes, alien make-up and hairstyles. A couple of flat performances let down an otherwise intriguingly cast ensemble, but these problems would vanish in the series. Here, character introduction and development was refreshingly left to fend for itself within an elaborate narrative structure that kicked-off several plot threads at once. Creator Michael Straczynski ambitiously starts proceedings with a multi-layered mystery concerned with the nature and destiny of the soul. Political shenanigans, trigger-happy action stereotypes and wavering physics linger in the viewer’s memory, but the tantalising tale told by smooth Commander Sinclair (Michael O’Hare) about the “hole in his mind” makes the strongest impression. Considering how convoluted the show’s mysteries would become, “The Gathering” remains an essential starting point.
On the DVD: Babylon 5: The Gathering is presented here in its 1998 Special Edition version. However, nowhere on the packaging is this stated. In fact, the back-cover credits are incorrect: apart from anything else, this version features a new score by Christopher Franke and not Stewart Copeland’s original. Special effects and sound quality are also superior to the original version, even if still only presented in 1.33:1 ratio and two-channel Dolby.–Paul Tonks
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Babylon 5 was not aired in my country. Looking at reviews at Amazon I decided to buy the series on DVD. Currently I’m watching 2nd season and I’m absolutely hooked. Then I decided to buy the pilot episode “The Gathering” thinking that it may be interesting. Well, I couldn’t find anything interesting (except Delen’s outrageous makeup
. Get the series instead!
Rating: 2 / 5
Being a big Babylon 5 fan I was really looking forward to B5 on DVD… The better picture, the great sound, and extras…
Picture: the extra scenes fill in a few holes for fans so that’s good (but there are some scenes on the video that aren’t on the DVD.)
Sound: alas this one is only 2 channel stereo, calling it surround is stretching a point. The new score by Christopher Franke should be great, but it isn’t, the score on the original video was more atmospheric.
Extras: other than the additional scenes there aren’t any!
Buy the video, unless your already a fan (You’ll still get to see Mr Mordon.)
Rating: 2 / 5
J Michael Straczynskis epic saga begins with this pilot for the series. Anyone who picked up the series later on will be a little surprised by the subtle differences between this and their favourite Sci-Fi phenomenon. only a few of the main characters appear in the pilot and the main character is not Bruce Boxleitner but the impossibly wooden (and in my opinion best B5 chief)Michael O’Hare as the last Commander of B5 Jeffrey Sinclair. Mira Furlan is Delenn and appears with a severe amount of make up which was toned down for the full series to make her more human in appearance and therefore, a future love interest!!! G’Kar, Londo, Michael Garibaldi and Lyta Alexander all make appearances and make this a great set-up for the series to follow.
The storyline revolves around the arrival of Kosh Naranek the Vorlon ambassador who is arriving at B5. His arrival has caused much interest as the Vorlon race is, until now, unknown to the younger races. His arrival is met with an asassination attempt and suspicion falls on our hero Jeffrey Sinclair. There is little left to say as the plot twists and turns as Jeff stuggles to clear his name and I won’t spoil the ending but it’s worth the wait.
Well worth five stars purely because of the series that followed it but better still this is a fine piece of pulp sci-fi on its own, all I can say is buy it, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 5 / 5
Every epic begins somewhere… and in “Babylon 5′s” case, it was the TV movie/pilot “The Gathering.” Like most pilots, it’s kind of an awkward beginning (could the doctor and Lyta be more exaggerated?), but the first flowering of this now-classic TV show is a pretty solid one — we’ve got murder mysteries, strange aliens, and a distinctly philosophical bent.
Ten years after the Earth-Minbari War ended, Babylon 5 is a political, social and diplomatic hub for all the assorted races — most importantly, to avert future wars. Despite the fact that half the ambassadors hate each other or are trying to cut deals, it’s working well.
Now the newest ambassador — a mysterious Vorlon named Kosh — is about to arrive, as well as the new telepath Lyta Alexander (Patricia Tallman). But mere moments after his arrival, Captain Sinclair (Michael O’Hare) finds Kosh collapsed — he’s been poisoned, and may die. And as the doctor goes to extreme lengths to save him, Lyta scans his mind.
Unfortunately, she sees Sinclair doing the loathsome deed. Hoo boy.
And even more unfortunately, the Council (with two yeses, a no and an abstention) votes to send Sinclair to the Vorlon homeworld for trial. And security chief Garibaldi (Jerry Doyle) starts discovering some disturbing clues — and dead bodies — that may mean Sinclair is innocent. But they have less than a day to find out who or what is framing the captain… and almost as importantly, why.
Most TV pilots are rather awkward compared to the actual series itself. In this case, “The Gathering” has a very different cast lineup, some vastly different alien prosthetics, and the first hints of the series’ many subplots. In short, it’s a bit like putting on new, stiff shoes for the first time.
But J. Michael Straczynski manages to whip up a solid sci-fi premise, with lots of old grudges, wars, extremely weird aliens (check out the full-body suit!), and a rather grimy space station the size of a moon. Moreover, he whips up a fairly solid whodunnit full of little twists and turns, and an assassin whose appearance can change into anything.
There are some points that could have been easily cut, such as Takashima rambling for a whole scene about coffee beans and what a rebel she used to be. But the entire movie tightens up in the second half, when Sinclair and Garibaldi start really homing in on the Bad Guy. It also has more of a sense of humour, such as Sinclair’s last conversation with Delenn.
The cast in the pilot — unlike in the series that followed — is a pretty mixed bag. O’Hare is a pretty good commander (noble, upright, kind yet stern) with a mysterious blot in his past, and Doyle is a likable ordinary guy. Andreas Katsulas, Peter Jurasik and Mira Furlan all do good jobs as well, and manage to give hints of their own personal ambitions and vendettas.
The downside is that three of the cast are, pretty simply, awful. Tamlyn Tomita doesn’t radiate an iota of toughness or authority as Sinclair’s second in command, and both Tallman and kindly doctor Johnny Sekka overact to a sometimes embarrassing degree (complete with dramatic pointing and cries of, “He did it! I saw it! I SAW IT! I SAW IT!”).
“Babylon 5: The Gathering” serves as a solid introduction to the classic sci-fi epic, marred only by some bad acting. But definitely worth watching… right before you check out the series.
Rating: 3 / 5
Babylon 5 is one of my all-time favourite shows and although this pilot episode for the series is nowhere near as good as the show itself, it is still enjoyable. As the alien ambassadors gather on Babylon 5 the Vorlon representative Kosh is the target of an assassination attempt and the stations commander Jeffrey Sinclair is implicated.
Although not nearly as good as the series itself, this pilot does include some of the things that made Babylon 5 so good, such as an interesting plot and generally good writing. On the downside much of the CGI effects used here are rather poor and some of the acting on display is truly atrocious. There are a few changes between here and the series proper, with three of the characters being replaced and some of the alien makeup being changed and refined but generally this pilot does set up the series well. Although this pilot isn’t a very good advert for the series itself it is still a good show and is definitely a must see for anyone who is a fan of the series.
Rating: 4 / 5