Jumpgate #39 - In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum

I've never heard JMS confirm that either way, so I remain skeptical.

Becky Sparks

I was under the old rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated understanding that The original plan was Sinclair was leaving either way and Sheridan’s story was just pushed forward to fill in Season 2.

Mike Zaite

Yes😍

And I don't know if this was ever confirmed, but I always assumed that the backstory about the Icarus wasn't made up because of Sheridan. If Sinclair had stayed, I always assumed Catherine would have been on the Icarus, or a similar ship, and killed by the shadows.

Becky Sparks

I've been introducing B5 to my mom, sister, and 15 year old son. They are all loving it, but my son is the only one who has played Mass Effect, and it's kind of fun. When I played Mass Effect, there was so much that made me happy because of how inspired by B5 it was, but for my kid it's been leading him to guess where some things in the show are going SUPER early.

Becky Sparks

Fun fact about "Knives" and "In the Shadow of Z", they were originally aired out of order because "Knives" wasn't ready in time. The VFX took longer than expected. Sheridan is only going through Anna's things because of the events of "Knives". It's recursive temporal madness, I tell you

Keith D. Jones

I have my doubts the Shadows had that much influence on Earth Dome. They approved of who Morden arranged to be in charge of Earth Dome and left it at that. Remember, Psycorp does not like there's "alien" influence and is actively working to get rid of it. I also got the impression there was a mad scramble to find Anna Sheridan after the alliance started winning. It took Justin totally by surprise. He was vamping and stroking Sheridan's ego by saying "you're a nexus." As part of the above-it-all super rich, Justin has nothing but indifference and contempt for Sheridan. He's only talking to Sheridan because the Shadows want Sheridan to switch sides For the Shadows, it's all about winning hearts and minds. They don't actually give a fig about winning "the war". Winning the war is antithetical to their whole existence. They're supposed to "lose the war". That's their whole point

Keith D. Jones

Yeup, They thought they were installing a puppet CO.

Mike Zaite

Spoiler alert: In retrospect I don't think it was a co-insidence, but that the shadow influences in the earth goverment that put Sheridan in charge of B5, because they knew they had this ace up their sleeve that they had this wife and expected that to turn Sheridan to their side at Z´ha`dum...

Elfie Ethereal

I’m becoming deeply anxious at how clear it’s becoming that Vera is going to HATE the outcome of Babylon 5. Having watched B5 through high school when it aired. In the 90’s. The modern way we consume media is more trying to out think the mystery box, than it is taking a narrative as presented. Stuff happens “coincidentally” in B5 because it’s part of the story. The parts that aren’t part of the story are the parts you don’t see because they don’t matter. (Aside from like half of season 1 and some of Season 2) (and all of Crusade) (and the tv movies…)

Mike Zaite