I think B5 generally had the better story. DS9 had much better production values. Not to say DS9 didn’t have some great stories, but B5’s was just better thought through and more cohesive. The story arc was clearly planned from the beginning with B5 with all the details that get seeded in early seasons and pay off in later seasons. DS9 is much more episodic (except for the whole Dominion war thing) with not nearly as much development.
Really, even with all the deeply cringy Bashir and Ferengi stuff? That alone made DS9 much harder to get into for me, and then the continued weak writing and wooden acting once the show ‘found it’s feet’ wasn’t particularly inspiring either. Even the best episodes of DS9, which imo is arguably the best of the Treks, pale in comparison to the weak episodes of B5.
Not even close
Babylon five felt cheaper in every way for me. DS9 ftw.
I think B5 generally had the better story. DS9 had much better production values. Not to say DS9 didn’t have some great stories, but B5’s was just better thought through and more cohesive. The story arc was clearly planned from the beginning with B5 with all the details that get seeded in early seasons and pay off in later seasons. DS9 is much more episodic (except for the whole Dominion war thing) with not nearly as much development.
Really, even with all the deeply cringy Bashir and Ferengi stuff? That alone made DS9 much harder to get into for me, and then the continued weak writing and wooden acting once the show ‘found it’s feet’ wasn’t particularly inspiring either. Even the best episodes of DS9, which imo is arguably the best of the Treks, pale in comparison to the weak episodes of B5.