Delenn's Transformation in Chrysallis

[munnp001]

After Season 1 Delenn is a Human-Minbari Hybrid. was this a pre-determined storyline or was Mira Furlan unhappy with the makeup required for delenn?

[OmahaStar]

Done from the beginning.

Actually, in the original version, as filmed, in "The Gathering" Delenn was not even female. Delenn was a male. They couldn't get the vocal effects to work quite right, and it was suggested they leave them as Mira's natural voice. There was only ever one line that identified Delenn's gender, the computer voice that said "He's in the garden" ... They just re-recorded the line as "She's in the garden" and that's it.

The original plot would have Delenn as we saw him there, and when he emerged from his chrysalis, not only would he now be half-Human, half Minbari, but also female.

[JohnFourtyTwo]

WOW! I missed that one about Delenn being a male originally! Reminds me of The Cage where the two Talosians are played by female actresses but had male voices. Anyway, that would be a weird twist that Sheridan married a Minbari who used to be male.

[Joseph DeMartino]

WOW! I missed that one about Delenn being a male originally!

That's why the Minbari makeup, both Delenn's and the assassin's, was so different in the pilot. JMS wanted Delenn played by the same actor for all five years, for continuity of performance. Since the role was supposed to be female for four of the five years, and since it is usually easier to make a woman look like a man than vice versa, that meant using Mira from the beginning. Because even with the voice change there would invevitably be feminine characteristics in movement, stance, and other subtle indicators in Mira's performance, JMS decided that the Minbari in general would have an androgynous look, with few visible differences between male and female (at least when they were fully clothed.) That's why the Minbari assassin was played by a male actor of slight build and delicate features.

Because they could never get the voice modulation to work the way they wanted it to, and because they couldn't "sell" the character for 22 episodes without a voice that worked, they dropped the whole idea of making Delenn a male. As a result there was no longer any need for the Minbari to look androgynous, so we got to see how cute Mira could look as a Minbari, and we weren't denied the wonderful Reiner Schone as Dukhat or John Vickery as Neroon, neither of whom would have fit the original conception of the Minbari.

Regards,

Joe

[Shabaz]

I found this behind-the-scenes special of the Gathering on youtube the other night. Which is kind of interesting in its own right, but it also has Delenn in it, with the male sounding voice modulation, about 55 seconds in. I can see why they didn't went with the modulation, although the idea of the gender change has always struck me as an interesting one. But Mira's voice worked fine without any electronic work done on it, and she managed to create any needed otherworldliness in season 1 through acting just fine, I think.

[Kevin]

Wow.

Just when I think I've seen... or well, in this case, heard it all, something new pops up

I gotta say, that is... pretty much as terrible as they made it out to be. I'm extremely thankful that they decided to just make the character female from the get-go, cause dealing with that during the first year would have been pretty rough

[JohnFourtyTwo]

After watching the pilot again a couple times a couple nights ago, I noticed that Delenn did have some masculine features. She looked more male than female, broader shoulders, and those robes hid any female attributes she has. Her face also looked pretty manly, especially with that big crooked nose. Again, thank God JMS ditched the male Delenn.

[Kevin]

After watching the pilot again a couple times a couple nights ago, I noticed that Delenn did have some masculine features. She looked more male than female, broader shoulders, and those robes hid any female attributes she has. Her face also looked pretty manly, especially with that big crooked nose.

And don't forget running in at the end and lifting up and carrying Garibaldi over her back... Not really a feat of physical strength you ever see her perform again

[Joseph DeMartino]

And don't forget running in at the end and lifting up and carrying Garibaldi over her back... Not really a feat of physical strength you ever see her perform again

Although it is possible she could have. Minbari are stronger and tougher than Humans, able to live longer on less air, food and water. In "Ceremonies of Light and Dark", Lennier, who is not exactly Ah-nuld, grabs Marcus by the neck and effortlessly lifts him off the deck with one arm. "We may look like you, but we are not you."

Regards,

Joe

[JohnFourtyTwo]

And don't forget running in at the end and lifting up and carrying Garibaldi over her back... Not really a feat of physical strength you ever see her perform again

I was a bit rushed for time this morning, that was the main "manly" feature I forgot to mention.

I know Minbari are stronger than humans but I knew for a fact it was a male actor/double picking up and carrying Jerry Doyle. I seriously doubt Mira Furlen could've managed that feat.

[Joseph DeMartino]

I seriously doubt Mira Furlen could've managed that feat.

I dunno about that. Have you seen her on Lost? She's looking pretty tough these days.

Regards,

Joe

[JohnFourtyTwo]

And don't forget running in at the end and lifting up and carrying Garibaldi over her back... Not really a feat of physical strength you ever see her perform again

I dunno about that. Have you seen her on Lost? She's looking pretty tough these days.

Regards,

Joe

Unfortunately I've only seen a couple episodes of Lost and that was early last year. The only episode I remember was the one with the black cloud creature. After that I pretty much gave up because I didn't (and still don't) know what that show is about. I like the actor who plays the character John (I think that's his name, the older balding guy who was killed in the X-Files movie) but really couldn't get into it. I guess I have to give it the B5/SG-1 treatment and watch it from the beginning.

As for Mira Furlen, I'll have to take your word for it and assume she's been working-out or something, because in B5 she looked about as small as my fiancee.