Disapointment

[VALEN]

After just watching Sleeping in Light again, it has just occured to me that a picture of Sinclair was not shown among the other characters:

To me this is a bit of a disapointment - I mean the charactor as a whole played a very important role - he was the one that was.

Not to show him was also an insult to Micheal O'Hare. He put the whole series on the map to start with. But with him being give the push for series 2 & rest (not including war without end), this may of been Warners call

What do others think???

[manephelien]

Um... Sinclair was 1000 years in the past during Sleeping in Light, so I totally understand why they didn't include him. I do think it was great to see him as a guest in the later seasons.

[greenman]

I'd guess it was down to union policey on credits, either they wouldnt be allowed to show him because he doesnt feature in the episode or would have to pay extra to use a shot of him.

Look at Return of The King for example, in the theatrical version we don't see Saruman/Chris Lee in the portrait credits but in the extended DVD in which his scenes are restored we do.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well, I would argue that Sinclair is more influential/important/revered to the Mimbari race than the human one. He after all was deeply mistrusted by Earthforce after his capture effectively ended the Earth/Mimbari war and didn't have the success or acclaim that Captain Sheridan did for instance.
He also did not play a pivotal role in the Shadow war or Earth civil war. He may have been "Ranger One" but that was always a behind the scenes post where fame & recognition was discouraged. Also he was only Ranger One for one year & then Delenn took over the role during the "important" years and later in the formation of the Alliance. Sinclair's achievements are in helping the Mimbari in the previous Shadow war & setting up their government & prophecies for the "war to come".

I suppose ultimately it boils down to the fact that "Sleeping in the Light" was set 1,000 years after Babylon 5 and after Sinclair had already gone back in time.
If it's any consolation, the Mimbari love him to bits

[manephelien]

Minbari (think mini-bar with the i moved).

[Winters_Sorrow]

"You say tomay-to, I say tomar-to" as the song goes, but thanks for the correction

[manephelien]

No problem.

I'd agree with the assesment that Valen was much more important to the Minbari than Sinclair ever was to the humans. He was never promoted beyond a Commander, and while Babylon 5 was important to humanity, it's only under Sheridan's rule that it became truly crucial for the future of humanity, with the Shadows war and tyrannical rule on Earth. Valen probably saved the Minbari, and helped in the fight so that humanity and its allies stood a chance against the Shadows 1000 years later.

[VALEN]

Originally Posted by manephelien

No problem.

I'd agree with the assesment that Valen was much more important to the Minbari than Sinclair ever was to the humans. He was never promoted beyond a Commander, and while Babylon 5 was important to humanity, it's only under Sheridan's rule that it became truly crucial for the future of humanity, with the Shadows war and tyrannical rule on Earth. Valen probably saved the Minbari, and helped in the fight so that humanity and its allies stood a chance against the Shadows 1000 years later.

All true, but I'm more thinking from the part that Micheal played, & that the charactor did a whole lot more than the "my only imput was to have a stim addition"(which his charactor was remembered by at the very end)

[Winters_Sorrow]

I didn't realise that was all he was remembered for. I would have thought he'd at least have got a little more exposure by ending up the head of one of the largest corporations in a free Mars. But Garabaldi, like Dr Franklin & others was a "grunt" in the war, not the symbolic figureheads like Delenn, G'Kar or Sheridan.
It's understandable (especially after 1,000 years!) that their parts get lessened or trivalised.

[VALEN]

Winters Sorrow

"I didn't realise that was all he was remembered for. I would have thought he'd at least have got a little more exposure by ending up the head of one of the largest corporations in a free Mars. But Garabaldi "

Was talking about Franklin, not Garabaldi.

But I supose Franklin did end up being a big cheese in Earth Medical, so your point is valid

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by greenman

I'd guess it was down to union policey on credits, either they wouldnt be allowed to show him because he doesnt feature in the episode or would have to pay extra to use a shot of him.

Look at Return of The King for example, in the theatrical version we don't see Saruman/Chris Lee in the portrait credits but in the extended DVD in which his scenes are restored we do.

Yes Greenman, you're quite correct. The reason why Michael O'Hare's name is not in the credits is due to union policies. Ditto for Tracy Scoggins. In fact, Straczynski addressed this in the Lurkers Guide website. Of course, it would have been nice if they were included since each of them played a pivotal role in the series.

[Whitestar]

Originally Posted by manephelien

No problem.

I'd agree with the assesment that Valen was much more important to the Minbari than Sinclair ever was to the humans. He was never promoted beyond a Commander, and while Babylon 5 was important to humanity, it's only under Sheridan's rule that it became truly crucial for the future of humanity, with the Shadows war and tyrannical rule on Earth. Valen probably saved the Minbari, and helped in the fight so that humanity and its allies stood a chance against the Shadows 1000 years later.

Agreed. Sinclair was an honorable man and accomplished many goals, his crowning acheivement arrived when he transformed into Valen and went back 1,000 into the past (along with his true love Catherine Sakai). As a result, Sinclair is never mentioned again, but that doesn't mean that he was necessarily forgotten. However, as Valen he became a religious icon, most probably with bit of reluctance on his part, but nonetheless, went through with it because he already knew it was his destiny. The thing that disappointed me was the prospect of having Sinclair paying a visit to G'Kar, prior to his transformation and compare notes as former soldiers to upcoming religious icons, but unfortunately, that never happened because Straczynski stated that there simply wasn't enough time for that, considering that there was so much at stake. Still, it would have been interesting if he had enough time to include that.

[Ehkzu]

I didn't miss Sinclair. I missed Ivanova. Replacing Christian with Scoggins in the last season diminished the show considerably for me. And it also lessened my respect for Stracynski--made me feel like he prioritized his hubris over the good of the show. It's not what Lincoln would have done (he appointed people to his cabinet that despised him)(not that Christian despised Stracynski).