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**Ubik** · 09-18-2018, 09:10 AM

I am going to diverge here slightly, but it's still broadly relevant. I always loved the way the seeds that were sown in S1 with Sinclair, especially the Minbari Rebirth/Marriage Ceremony shown in Parliament of Dreams, which I always took to be heavy with meaning and portents. As I understand it, in the alternate 'Sinclair stays on' timeline, they were to become romantically involved, and I would have loved to have seen this too. I would have been a very different union I think.

I do think Sheridan provides a better foil to Delenn.

Oh, nice to see some new discussion here. It's been very dead round these parts for a while, but a few of us still remain!

**Anne** · 09-18-2018, 10:38 AM

Hello Ubik and thank you for taking the time to respond.
I agree that Sinclair was probably the original choice for Delenn, although I haven't been able to think of how the whole Valen thing would have come about in that case.
I for one am glad the actor chose a different path. He was way too 'soft' for my taste, if you know what I mean. It's so funny how all the Minbari rituals annoy / bore Sheridan. Sinclair would have loved all of it and I enjoy the contrast between Sheridan and Delenn.
And they wrote a very good backstory for the Star killer when they introduced him!

**Jan** · 09-18-2018, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by Anne View Post

I agree that Sinclair was probably the original choice for Delenn, although I haven't been able to think of how the whole Valen thing would have come about in that case.

Chances are, it never would have. In the B5 script books published a while back, JMS let us see an outline of the entire series that he wrote between the pilot and the first season. No mention of Valen at all.

I for one am glad the actor chose a different path.

Very sorry to be the one to break this to you but he didn't. The reason Michael O'Hare left was due to mental illness. If you do a search for JMS' "Promise Panel' from the Phoenix Comic-Con in 2013 you can find links to the video. He (JMS) paid tribute to Andreas, Rick and Jeff, as well.

He was way too 'soft' for my taste, if you know what I mean. It's so funny how all the Minbari rituals annoy / bore Sheridan. Sinclair would have loved all of it and I enjoy the contrast between Sheridan and Delenn.
And they wrote a very good backstory for the Star killer when they introduced him!

I grew to appreciate Sheridan but always really preferred Sinclair. Thing is, in a cast of scenery-chewers like Ivanova, Londo and G'Kar, his subtlety tended to fade to the background. But I loved the way he thought through things.

Good to see you here!

Jan

**Anne** · 09-18-2018, 01:02 PM

Hey Jan, thanks for the comments. I know a little about the mental illness part. I guess I meant that I didn't mind that his character left. We all have our own preferences. I have to admit I was a huge Bruce fan as a child when Frank Buck was on ... (yes, I'm that old) and I still believe that as a character, Sheridan is a better fit for the character of Delenn. On top of that, I like the idea of Sinclair becoming what he became. That role fit the character very well in my humble opinion. It all worked out in the end

**alpha128** · 09-18-2018, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by Anne View Post

I had expected there to be more threads in the Babylon 5 section here, but I guess since the show aired in a time when the internet wasn't a household commodity yet, only the diehard fans are still here.

Anne,

Welcome. Please be aware that the default display options only show the last month of threads. If you click the Display Options dropdown, and change the setting to something other than "Last Month", you will see many more threads.

**Looney** · 09-19-2018, 06:46 AM

I was really getting into Science Fiction around the time B5 originally aired, so it always makes me wonder why I didn't immediately gravitate to B5, especially given that - at the time- I was very dissatisfied watching TNG. I admit that the reason I finally gave in and started watching B5 was the addition of Boxleitner. I was a Claudia Christian fan pre-B5, so I wanted to make an effort to watch Season One, but college is a crazy time. LOL

Once I saw Boxleitner was added with Christian I had to give it a chance and it was one of my few great decisions.

I can't even remember why Boxleitner sold me on it. I guess I was somewhat of a Tron fan. It was a decision that really changed my life because I became obsessed.

As far as the relationship goes I definitely agree that the Sheridan character was probably a better fit for Delenn. Sinclair and Delenn might have been too similar for the sake of drama, though we never really get much disagreement drama between Sheridan and Delenn - it would have been nice to see a real fight between the two in Season 5.

**Anne** · 09-19-2018, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by alpha128 View Post

Anne,

Welcome. Please be aware that the default display options only show the last month of threads. If you click the Display Options dropdown, and change the setting to something other than "Last Month", you will see many more threads.

Oh, thank you so much! I hadn't realized I was only seeing active threads up to a month old. I'll check out the other threads soon.

**Anne** · 09-19-2018, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Looney View Post

As far as the relationship goes I definitely agree that the Sheridan character was probably a better fit for Delenn. Sinclair and Delenn might have been too similar for the sake of drama, though we never really get much disagreement drama between Sheridan and Delenn - it would have been nice to see a real fight between the two in Season 5.

I agree. I think a real fight would have been interesting. Delenn got angry with him in the beginning, but that was before they started becoming more than friends ...

**alpha128** · 09-19-2018, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by Anne View Post

Oh, thank you so much! I hadn't realized I was only seeing active threads up to a month old. I'll check out the other threads soon.

You're welcome. There's lots of great stuff out there.

**Delenn_of_Mir** · 09-21-2018, 09:24 PM

I started watching because of Bruce Boxleitner, too. I was going through a period of my life where I needed the distraction of TV greatly, so I went on amazon looking for a long running series to purchase. I saw Babylon 5, and I saw that Bruce was in it. I remembered him fondly from "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" so I decided to take a chance and bought all 5 seasons.

Once I started watching, it was Delenn who pulled me in, and it the soulhunter episode that first hooked me. What was Delenn's secret? What was she hiding?
And then, of course, the John and Delenn romance hooked me, too. I agree that Sheridan fell for Delenn from the moment she first lifted her hood and showed her beautiful new face to him. That huge grin that just won't go away, and the way he talks to his sister later about seeing Delenn, you can just tell.

And then their second moment when they're walking together in the garden and Delenn tries to assure both of them that they are in the right place at the right time, and she tells him the greatest secret of all. Sheridan was practically giddy that night, as he got comfy in his desk chair and was telling poor Ivanova all about his encounter.

And then they had their first date at the restaurant and Delenn looked so beautiful in that head-turning dress. And the way they both smiled and laughed away the evening. I think this may have been the first time Delenn started to feel that connection, too.

Comes the Inquisitor was of course when their bond really solidified and became stronger than any soul could ever tear asunder. And I could go on and on about this! I always loved how their relationship progressed slowly and I felt realistically. There wasn't a ton of ridiculous drama because their non-romantic lives were dramatic enough.

I also loved that we got to see the whole first year of their married lives together. That alone makes season 5 worth it (even if the season as a whole still makes me sad).

**alpha128** · 09-22-2018, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by Delenn_of_Mir View Post

I also loved that we got to see the whole first year of their married lives together. That alone makes season 5 worth it (even if the season as a whole still makes me sad).

Just out of curiosity, why does Season 5 make you sad? It is because of the content, the circumstances of its production, or something else?

**Delenn_of_Mir** · 09-22-2018, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by alpha128 View Post

Just out of curiosity, why does Season 5 make you sad? It is because of the content, the circumstances of its production, or something else?

Mostly it's the opening theme. It always makes me super emotional and feels like I'm watching someone's life video at their funeral. I don't know why.

Most of the episodes themselves are fine and it's only the last few toward the end that are goodbye episodes where I feel sad again. But that opening theme, damn! It gets me every time!

**alpha128** · 09-22-2018, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by Delenn_of_Mir View Post

Mostly it's the opening theme. It always makes me super emotional and feels like I'm watching someone's life video at their funeral. I don't know why.

Most of the episodes themselves are fine and it's only the last few toward the end that are goodbye episodes where I feel sad again. But that opening theme, damn! It gets me every time!

Interesting. Thanks for answering my question.

**Anne** · 09-22-2018, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by Delenn_of_Mir View Post

I started watching because of Bruce Boxleitner, too.

For me, it was a very pleasant surprise that he was added to the cast, but I had been watching the show before (you know, back in the nineties...)

Originally posted by Delenn_of_Mir View Post

Once I started watching, it was Delenn who pulled me in,

I was pretty stunned by her as well, right from season 1. The actress was absolutely perfect for the role. I'm very grateful they ditched the first makeup she had on (in The Gathering). It took away all of Mira's beauty.

Originally posted by Delenn_of_Mir View Post

I agree that Sheridan fell for Delenn from the moment she first lifted her hood and showed her beautiful new face to him. That huge grin that just won't go away, and the way he talks to his sister later about seeing Delenn, you can just tell.

Yes, yes yes

And agreed on the other scenes you mentioned. I was very sad too because we already knew Sheridan had only 20 years left to live. I am a fanfiction writer for a different show but I'm definitely contemplating writing one for B5 where he doesn't go to Z'ha'dum! Preferably with some explosive Anna-Delenn scenes

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