Except it just goes in a circle.

))<>((

It’s just as well. Where would you even put them all?

It’s a combination of both. Studios typically will mix the end result for the highest-end sound setups, which most people don’t actually have. If you’re lucky enough to have a full surround with the ability to properly dial in equalizer and other settings, you probably won’t have a problem hearing the dialogue even when it’s mumbled. But on conventional tv speakers, it can easily get lost in the mix.

I’ve used subtitles for most of my adult life, ever since having kids. First it was so I could watch without waking the baby, and then it was so I could follow along over all the noise in the house. And I never went back. So as sound mixing changed and got muddier, I guess I didn’t notice, because I was already used to not being able to hear half the dialogue anyway.

But then you also have that very specific window of time when a lot of stuff especially SFX was done on video that can’t be upscaled. Babylon 5 fans weep.

SNW is really top tier production quality across the board. The camera work, the sound, music, design, everything is goddamned impeccable, and that extends to the post production. So much thought goes into every part of it, and I really have to give Paramount its kudos for enabling that level of attention to detail in all aspects of the franchise right now. If I told a fellow Trekkie in the 90s that we would ever see the day, they would laugh.