Babylon 5 had to introduce a new lead character in season 2, which radically altered the trajectory of the sci-fi show. Babylon 5 was an early example of the long-form storytelling that has become commonplace in modern television. Series creator J. Michael Straczynski started the show with a clear vision in mind for the overall storyline, which was largely realized by the time the show concluded with season 5. However, the realities of production meant that some elements of the show had to be changed.

Sometimes it was the result of casting availability, or because certain actors wanted to leave the show to pursue different roles. Tragically, one major character was written out of the show because the actor was dealing with mental health issues. This resulted in the invention of one of Babylon 5‘s most important characters, who took on the role that the departed character was meant to fill in the show. However, they still got the chance to give the character a sense of closure and even find a way to make him a crucial figure in the lore and wars of the Babylon 5 universe.

Sinclair Was Babylon 5’s Season 1 Lead (And Was Supposed To Stay)

Sinclair Was Originally Meant To Be The Central Lead For All Of Babylon 5

The original conception of Babylon 5 featured Jeffrey Sinclair at the commanding officer of the space station for the entire show, but real-life complications forced the character off the show and led to the creation of John Sheridan to replace him. In season 1 of Babylon 5, Sinclair is the cool and collected head of the space station. A stable force on the space station amid the debate and discourse between different races, Sinclair was an important calming presence on the station. That’s what made his off-screen reᴀssignment in-between season 1 and 2 so shocking.

It’s partly why Sheridan joining the cast hits as hard as it does, because the more confrontational military commander is such a departure from the far more restrained and diplomatic Sinclair. In reality, though, this was a last-minute change. Sinclair was initially intended to remain the main character of the show for its entire duration. This is why episodes like the time-hopping “Babylon Squared” teased future battles and major revelations surrounding the character that never panned out. This is because the show was forced to adjust to real-life circumstances.

Why Sinclair Was Written Out Of Babylon 5

Michael O’Hare Had To Leave Babylon 5 For Mental Health Reasons

Michael O’Hare was effectively the star of Babylon 5 in season 1, serving as a major focus character and appearing in almost all the storylines as a major character. However, as reported at the time by The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5, O’Hare and J. Michael Straczynski mutually agreed to write Sinclair out of the show. While they stressed this was an amicable parting, the true reasons behind this decision wouldn’t be revealed until Straczynski discussed the matter at the Phoenix Comic-Con in 2013 following O’Hare’s death, respecting O’Hare’s wishes to explain the situation and raise mental health awareness.

While he largely kept it a secret from his colleagues and the public, Michael O’Hare was diagnosed with schizophrenia. During the production of season 1, his mental state began to deteriorate, and he increasingly saw hallucinations while on set. O’Hare and Straczynski agreed that for the sake of his mental health, O’Hare needed to step away from Babylon 5. Initially, Straczynski offered to merely reduce Sinclair’s role in the show so that the actor could continue to appear in the story while seeking treatment, and even briefly planned to suspend production while O’Hare received ᴀssistance.

However, O’Hare was concerned that such a delay in production would prompt the network to cancel the series. Fearing that pausing the show would only cost his co-stars their jobs, O’Hare elected to have Sinclair fully written off the show. However, Straczynski adjusted the overarching narrative of Babylon 5 in a way that could allow O’Hare to return. Although he never resumed a starring role in the show, O’Hare’s health improved enough that he was able to return for the season 3 two-parter “War Without End,” giving Straczynski the chance to give the character a proper send-off.

Sheridan Took Over Many Of Sinclair’s Intended Storylines

John Sheridan Became Babylon 5’s Main Character After Sinclair Was Written Out Of The Story

Because Sinclair had to be written out of the show, his role as the CO of Babylon 5 was given to the newly created John Sheridan. While their differing personalities impacted some plotlines, other concepts that had been planned for Sinclair were transferred over to Sheridan. One of the most notable examples of this occurred during the Shadow War storyline. In season 3, John’s long-lost wife Anna arrives on the station as one of the Shadow’s puppets. In the original version of the plot, this would have been Sinclair’s love interest, Catherine Sakai, who was introduced in season 1.

In some ways, Sheridan’s presence improved the storylines by forcing Straczynski and the rest of the creatives to adjust to a more forceful style of command during the Shadow War and subsequent conflict with Earth. His tensions with the Minari set up a fascinating conflict that helped add layers to the romance between Sheridan and Delenn. However, it also costs some of the emotional potential of plots like Garibaldi’s eventual betrayal, which would have hit harder if it had been his old friend Sinclair instead of his new ally Sheridan.

How Babylon 5 Turned Sinclair Into A Holy Figure

Babylon 5 Season 3 Brought Back Sinclair For One Last Story

Sinclair did eventually get his story resolved in Babylon 5, albeit in an unexpected way. After being reᴀssigned to Minbar between seasons 1 and 2, the character returned in season 3’s “War Without End.” While on Minbar, Sinclair receives a letter from himself that is said to be 900 years old. This is connected to earlier revelations that had surrounded Sinclair’s role in the overarching narrative of the show. As revealed in season 1, Sinclair was revealed to potentially be a reincarnation of the Minbari holy figure Valen, which helped end the war between their races.

However, it turns out that Sinclair is actually Valen himself. Using the time-displaced Babylon 4 as a base of operations, the storyline ends with Sinclair traveling back to the last Shadow War. Having gone through a reversed version of Delenn’s transformation towards humanity, Sinclair becomes a Minbari and was actually the legendary leader of the Minbari all along. Using his knowledge of the future and the technology of the space station, Sinclair/Valen ensured the Shadows were stalled. While it was very different from his original role in Babylon 5, Sinclair’s arc did end up reaching a compelling conclusion.

Source: The Lurker’s Guide to Babylon 5