One fan-favorite Babylon 5 character wasn’t actually part J. Michael Straczynski’s plans for the show. Compared to many other serialized sci-fi shows of the era, Babylon 5 was far more plotted out on a long-term scale. The show was always intended to be five seasons, with Straczynski creating detailed arcs for each character. Straczynski was resistant to big changes to those plans, such as when he was forced by executives to include a H๏τ-sH๏τ pilot to Babylon 5 that he promptly killed off.
However, there were some elements of the show that were unavoidable and required big changes to the storylines, such as actors leaving the show. One of the nicest examples of this trend actually resulted in one of Babylon 5‘s most unexpected fan-favorites, who rose in the ranks from an unnamed minor character to being a part of the main cast. Here’s how Zack Allan became one of Babylon 5‘s most unexpectedly important characters.
Zack Allan’s Role In Babylon 5 Explained
Zack Allan Was One Of The Most Grounded Characters In Babylon 5
Debuting in season 2’s “A Spider in the Web,” Zack Allan became one of Babylon 5’s best supporting characters. Allan was initially portrayed as a new member of the Babylon 5 security force. He was frequently paired with Garibaldi, serving as his right hand following Jack’s betrayal in season 1. Zack became an increasingly important supporting character over the course of the season and eventually became one of the main characters in the Nightwatch storyline that explored human prejudices against alien races.
After Garibaldi resigned from Babylon 5 in season 4, Zack was made the Chief of Security. Zack served in this role for the rest of the show, playing a deceptively important role in season 5 as a go-between for Commander Lochley and the growing telepathic resistance movement. Zack was present during the time-skip for the series finale “Sleeping in Light,” and was among the characters who toured Babylon 5 one last time before the station was decommissioned and destroyed.
Zack Allan Wasn’t In JMS’ Original Plan For Babylon 5
Zack Allan Was Originally Just A Nameless Background Character
Despite going on to become a consistent presence in Babylon 5, Zack Allan wasn’t actually intended to be an important character at all. Babylon 5‘s epic story was famously plotted out in advance, with J. Michael Straczynski having a clear vision of the entire arc of the show. However, the challenges of production meant that various characters and plot beats had to be altered to accommodate changes in the cast or unforeseen circumstances. To that end, Straczynski made sure every character had a “trap door” that could be used to easily write them out of the story as needed.
By contrast, Zack Allan was not intended to be a major figure in the show. Other minor characters had been set up to flesh out the halls of Babylon 5 like Laurel Takashima, but they had to be written out of the show due to the unavailability of the actress. In fact, according to emails between fans and Straczynski that have been archived on JMSNews, Jeff Conaway was initially only signed on for an episode or two.
This explains why Zack goes from a very background character to someone whose interactions with the main cast didn’t distract from the overarching narratives.
However, the creatives behind the show were impressed with his performance and kept bringing the character back. According to Stracznski, “Zack wasn’t in the opening credits for year two because he came in with just one or two eps going in…but the more we saw him, the more we knew he could give us just what we were looking for in one part of the overall story, and so it grew.” This explains why Zack goes from a very background character to someone whose interactions with the main cast didn’t distract from the overarching narratives.
JMS Created Zack Specifically For Jeff Conaway
Jeff Conaway Was Offered Character And Became A Constant For The Show
There have been conflicting accounts of how Jeff Conaway formally joined Babylon 5, but each story reflects the challenges that Conaway faced in his personal life. After getting his big break in films like Grease and shows like Taxi, Conaway reportedly developed a drug addiction. This, coupled with his own frustrations about the show, led to Conaway being let go from Taxi following season 3. Conaway appeared in a few minor roles, and eventually became a fan of Babylon 5 when he saw the first season on TV.
According to an interview Conaway gave (that has been archived by The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5), he was offered a three-line role on the show that eventually evolved into Zack. Other sources have indicated that the character was specifically designed for Conaway, as Straczynski had been a fan of Taxi and had wanted to give the actor a chance to shine. By all accounts, Conaway succeeded on that front, with his likable performance turning the nameless security officer into a member of the main cast by the conclusion of the show.
Why Zack Is A Great Addition To Babylon 5
Zack Brings Real Humanity To The Mᴀssive Sci-Fi Story
Zack Allan might have been an unexpected addition to the show’s overarching narrative, but the character ended up being one of the most entertaining fixtures of the show in later seasons. While Garibaldi brought an important grounded perspective to Babylon 5‘s sprawling sci-fi story, Zack worked as a perfect everyman character for the audience to latch onto. Zack was well-meaning but not a born hero, he was smart without being a genius.
Zack’s storyline with the Nightwatch was a great indicator of what the character brings to the show. A private peacekeeping organization that steadily reveals itself to be a fascist-aligned push for human isolation and strength, Nightwatch initially recruits several members of the Security Force to be their eyes on Babylon 5. This includes Zack, who is initially led to believe the group is comparable to a neighborhood watch. However, as Zack sees first hand how the group deals with dissent and perceived disloyalty, he pushes back and helps bring the group down.
Zack’s arc indicative of Babylon 5‘s central ethos. There’s no single character who will save the day. Even the most important characters must contend with their faith in themselves and the fear of it going too far. It’s on everyone to fight for peace, doing their part in the mᴀssive wars and endless feuds that exist between cultures. Zack is a perfect example of that, a lowly guard whose conscience motivates him to become a hero. Zack might not have been in the inital plan for Babylon 5, but he ended up bringing a lot to the show.
Source: JMSNews, The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5
