I only watched a few eps when it originally aired, but a co-worker kept talking about it and I started watching it. On season 2 right now. A little dated with the effects, but I am enjoying it.
Yeah, I think that the hardest part of getting into B5 is what you mentioned: Season 1 and the very dated graphics. Bruce Boxleitner changed the game.
Good news: The graphics vastly improve as seasons progress, and I think you'll appreciate S1 more as long story arcs come together.
Also, several movies and another series were produced -- but sometimes the movies were set chronologically during the series. Here's a handy-dandy infographic (http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/10009/what-order-should-the-babylon-5-movies-and-series-be-watched-in) if you'd like to watch them in chronological order in B5's universe:
(http://i.stack.imgur.com/glTFC.png)
Bruce really does make a difference. He has so much more charisma and gravitas than Michael O'Hare did (he has such a sad person story R.I.P.).
'BABYLON 5' STAR JERRY DOYLE DEAD AT 60
http://www.tmz.com/2016/07/28/jerry-doyle-babylon-5-dead/
:beercheer:
Cheers, Jerry.
Go find every single gag reel of B5 on YouTube if you haven't seen them already. They are classic.
2:45, 5:07 and the coup de grâce 5:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRRI1WHlUcc