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								<title>JMS Explains O'Hare's Departure</title>

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								<h1>About Michael O'Hare's Departure</h1>

								<p>

								Michael O'Hare left the show after one season due to mental health issues, though

								this wasn't made public until after his death.


								<p>

								JMS revealed the real story behind O'Hare's departure at Phoenix Comicon in

								May 2013.

								[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yjOsaa7XL4">Video</a>]


								<h2>Explanation given at the time</h2>

								As written by J. Michael Straczynski on GEnie, May 20, 1994

								<p>

								I have some news that must be imparted.  I think that the best way

								 to convey that news is to start at the end of the story, make my

								 way to the middle, and end at the beginning.

								 So: the end of the story.

								<p>

								 Everything is okay.  Nothing major really changes.  All is well.

								<p>

								Now the middle of the story.

								<p>

								 I've been asked, several times, what happens if something <em>happens</em>

								 to me, or one of the cast members, during the five year arc, since

								 this is a fully-worked-out novel.  Generally, I blow off the question

								 with humor.  But the truth is, obviously, I've taken every possible

								 step to make sure that no one is disappointed.  In my case, I've

								 made sure the story is available somewhere.

								<p>

								 The trouble, of course, is that unlike writing a novel, where the

								 characters exist only on a sheet of paper, actors and writers are

								 some discussion on the best of days).  They can get sick, they can

								 get into contract disputes, they can be hit by meteors, they can

								 decide to buy a house in Cambridge and raise hedgehogs under an

								 assumed name.  There are, in short, <em>always</em> unpredictables in any

								 such endeavor.

								<p>

								Consequently, in drafting the story for Babylon 5, I made sure to

								 compensate for any possible changes.  For lack of a better term,

								 there is a "trap door" built into the storyline for every character.

								 Obviously, you don't want to lose anyone, but in <em>every</em> case any

								 such change momentarily shifts the story about ten degrees to one

								 side for a little bit, and then you're back on track again.

								<p>

								 Case in point: Dr. Benjamin Kyle and Lyta Alexander.  Here are the

								 only two humans who have seen or scanned a Vorlon.  This is Very

								 Important to the storyline.  Alas, as later events unfolded, things

								 did not work out, and the characters were dropped...but their story

								 remained important, in that it was established that they were soon

								 afterward recalled to Earth under mysterious circumstances (as noted

								 in "War Prayer"), which actually <em>helps</em> the storyline in many ways.

								 This is not meant to sound callous.  As a writer, and as a producer,

								 it's my job to tell the story, to be responsible, and to make sure

								 every possible contingency is covered.  To do anything less would be

								 simply irresponsible.

								<p>

								 Now to the beginning of the story.

								<p>

								 Over the last few weeks, we've been re-activating our cast, making

								 the deals for the coming season.  One aspect of this has been a

								 series of conversations with Michael O'Hare.  Having produced one

								 full season, and having learned a lot, and having fine-tuned the

								 "saga" along the way, it was our goal to expand the show, bring in

								 some new characters, and take the show in some new directions, which

								 will prove quite interesting, I think.  (One sidelight to all this:

								 now that we've established the series, we'll be able to spend a bit

								 more time on personal stories, to let our audience learn more about

								 the characters, particularly the humans, who kinda got short shrift

								 this season.)

								<p>

								 There is also the question, from an actor's point of view, about

								 other opportunities, any possible concern about typecasting, the

								 limitations of a continuing role (and the role of the commander

								 does have some definite "walls," giving more freedom in many ways

								 to other characters).  Now is the point where one needs to take

								 a breath and assess one's future, because the deeper we get into

								 the story, the more problematic it is to change things (though,

								 again, it's do-able, as noted above).

								<p>

								 As a result of these discussions, it has been agreed that we will

								 have a separation, in the role of the commander.  Let me emphasize

								 this very clearly, so there is no chance of miscommunication: this

								 is a mutual, amicable, and friendly separation.  This isn't a Tasha

								 Yar situation.  Moreover, we will be handling this in such a way

								 that, down the road, Sinclair could potentially return to the story.

								 The character of Sinclair will achieve an important destiny, and the

								 mystery of the Battle of the Line will be explained, both in the

								 first episode of the new season.  His story will still track.  And

								 the series will still track precisely as planned.  I take pains to

								 mention this because both Michael and I want it clear that we both

								 believe in the show, and want this in no way to interfere with the

								 series.  He has asked me to convey for him his encouragement, his

								 best wishes, and to emphasize that this is, again, an amicable and

								 friendly separation.

								<p>

								 He has said that he is happy to continue to do the conventions, to

								 promote the show, because he believes in it, and because he is an

								 important part of this season's success.  We can think of no

								 finer ambassador for Babylon 5 at conventions than Michael O'Hare.

								 He is a dynamite speaker, he cares about the fans of the show, and

								 his compassion shows.  We think he's a nifty guy.

								<p>

								 On our part, we wish Michael only the very best.  We know that

								 he is very much in demand, and look forward to seeing him in other

								 projects over the next year.  This will also allow us to pursue some

								 new directions avenues for the show that will help to expedite the

								 overall story.  Sinclair disappearing for an indeterminate period

								 after the events of "Chrysalis" will allow us to tighten the screws

								 of the story, and heighten the tension of things going on in the

								 storyline.

								<p>

								 If I can speak personally for a moment...those of you reading

								 this on-line know that I've always talked straight with you.  If

								 I thought this in <em>any</em> way would interfere with the story, you'd

								 hear about it from me loud and clear.  When problems have arisen in

								 the past, I've always spoken about them quite bluntly here (much

								 to the chagrin of some people).  This is okay.  We're all still

								 very much friends.  I speak frequently to Michael, and consider

								 him a friend, just as he considers me a friend.  This was a hard

								 decision, but we both knew that it was the right decision, for

								 very different reasons.  We both kinda came to the same place

								 at the same time from different directions.  We've got to do

								 what's right for the show, and for each other, and in many ways,

								 this does just that.

								<p>

								 So both we on the show, and Michael are served by this mutual and

								 amicable separation.  We will go our separate ways for now, with

								 the possibility of meeting Sinclair again down the road a piece,

								 as Gandalf disappeared for a time into Mordor, only to return when

								 needed most.  (We will also be keeping the character of Sinclair

								 alive in the comic, and some of the planned novels, to keep that

								 option available to us.)

								<p>

								 Once again, let me emphasize that the story continues on the path

								 that has been set for it, everything you learn this season sill

								 obtains, the show remains solid, with all of the other cast members

								 coming back for a new season, and that the saga of Babylon 5 will

								 continue to reveal itself exactly as planned.  And I hope you will

								 continue to stay with us for that journey.

								<pre>

								                                    Sincerely,

								                                    Joe Straczynski

								                                    Creator/Executive Producer

								                                    BABYLON 5

								</pre>

								<hr>

								<h2>Replies to the Usenet discussion about the above</h2>

								<p>

								Please do not stick this on O'Hare.  Whatever decisions get made, it

								is up to the producers -- me and Doug -- to implement those decisions, so

								ultimate responsibility rests with me.  If you're going to be angry at

								anyone, be angry at me.  Your anger is misplaced.

								<p>

								Again, this was <em>mutual</em>.  We looked at the story, the way a

								novelist looks at a novel he's one-fifth through writing, and you learn

								things writing the novel that you can learn NO other way, however much

								you plan and outline.  And at some point, you say, "If we leave things

								JUST as they are, no changes, we can do X and Y, which are both very

								cool.  But if we take a chance, and make some shifts in direction, we can

								do X, and Y...<strong>and</strong> Z...and Z is <strong>very</strong>

								interesting indeed.  It opens up

								whole new areas for us to explore.  So we talked about it with Michael,

								who had some thoughts of his own...and now here we are.

								<p>

								Granted, it's taking a chance.  But we all swore a blood oath to

								make the show consistently better.  Any time a possible decision comes

								up -- like, Should we do "Believers," knowing that it'll get us in

								ENDLESS trouble -- we ask, "Will this benefit the show?"  If the answer

								is yes, we do it, regardless.

								<p>

								Once again, this is <em>mutual</em>.  So blame me.  And be assured, this

								isn't now going to be a band-aid covering...it will let us get deeper and

								faster into the meat of the storyline, and intensify the characterizations

								and relationships.  Sinclair's purpose in the large part of the first

								section of the story was really to get everyone together...to start the

								pieces moving.  And now we've got all the players in position.  The whole

								24 hours/Line thread was <em>always</em> going to be resolved at the top of year

								two, because you can't sustain that for more than 1.5 seasons at MOST.

								The audience, rightly, won't stand for it.  At that point, that mystery

								dispensed with (which would lead to other questions), Sinclair kinda

								faded a bit from the story, because now we have to bring the other

								players into the foreground.  So if he's going to fade <em>anyway</em>, why have

								him meandering around?  Why not "absent" him for a time...and up the

								stakes for everyone else, and help focus on other aspects?

								<p>

								The story will go where it was always going to go.  This much is

								certain.

								<p>

								jms

								<p>

								---

								<p>

								The Battle of the Line and the hole in Sinclair's mind was always

								intended as the entry point or trigger to the story.  It's like Frodo

								being given the Ring in LoTR.  The story isn't about that, that's how we

								get INTO it.  Frankly, there's no way you can sustain that one element for

								five years, nor did we ever intend to do so.

								<p>

								The only difference in the resolution of that aspect is this: we had

								originally intended to resolve the missing 24 hours, and the Battle of

								the Line, by episode four, season two.  We've simply moved it up 3 eps to

								the first episode.  Because new players are coming onto the field, in the

								form of the Shadowmen, and other forces, and we now have to begin turning

								our attention to new mysteries.

								<p>

								jms

								<p>

								<hr>

								<p>

								<em>Additional note:</em>

								The new commander of Babylon 5, Captain John Sheridan,

								will be played by Bruce Boxleitner, star of "Tron" and other

								films.


								<p>

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								<h5>Maintained by

								<a href="http://www.midwinter.com/~koreth/">Steven Grimm</a>

								&lt;koreth@midwinter.com&gt;.<br>

								<a href="mailto:koreth+lgfeedback@midwinter.com">Send mail</a>

								if you have comments or suggestions.</h5>

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