Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS**

[JoeD80]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

that she ends up either possessed and ends ends up being a tool of the Shadows or just dead.

It's clear in the outline that her mind was erased and that she's alive, and that Sinclair *could* restore her mind, but he would have to do the same thing to her again that broke it.

Since the Clark thing already happened and we were already introduced to the Psi Corps, it seems like the Earth Alliance civil war arc would have still unfolded the way it did

The difference is that Sinclair was already being questioned and observed by the Earth government ("Eyes", "By Any Means Necessary", "And the Sky Full of Stars.") The Sinclair story is one of the government turning on him; the Sheridan story is about him deciding to break from the government.

Similarly, I think it likely Garibaldi's arc would probably end up intertwined with Mars and Lise just like we got, though he doesn't end up happily ever after (at least as per the B5 we did get) and he either ends up dead or captured with the evidence pointing towards dead

Garibaldi's listed as one of the characters meeting with the Grey Council after the destruction of Babylon 5 so the plan wasn't for him to die.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Years later what I find fascinating about this original arc is the division between S1-2 and S3-onwards.

the OP noted this: S1 and 2 of this original arc are more or less EXACTLY what we got. That means when you watch these episodes (particularly S1), you're essentially getting a piece of the "original arc"

For instance, the synopsis confirms that yes, indeed, in the episode "Babylon Squared", they were pulling the station to the FUTURE and not the past. It wasn't a clever red herring. That's actually what we were watching.

JMS did an admirable job tracking most things back when he changed his story, but you can essentially watch B-Squared, the episode, and have one foot in an alternate universe (this is no doubt true for many arc related shows early seasons, but I can't remember any where we as fans can actually confirm it by getting a synopsis of the original story, it makes a difference).

The same for a lot of the early foreshadowing about Sinclair. I didn't think the menacing tone some Minbari had towards Sinclair's "secret" (for instance at the end of soul hunter) really matched the outcome of what the secret was. Yes, it can be explained verbally, but I'm talking "tone" here which is important... the synopsis confirms this by explaining that in fact, many Minbari think Sinclair's going to doom the whole race (!!!!).

Basically, it's really interesting how you can see the threads of the "original arc" building in the early seasons. I'd be fascinated to know when exactly he did the heavy plotting changes to S3-5.

 

[Uxi]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

that she ends up either possessed and ends ends up being a tool of the Shadows or just dead.

It's clear in the outline that her mind was erased and that she's alive, and that Sinclair *could* restore her mind, but he would have to do the same thing to her again that broke it.

Who can say Anna was truly hopeless, either? Other than the demented personality she developed or had implanted or whatever. Shadow creepy right behind her and Brucey setting off the nuke probably settled the deal, though.

Since the Clark thing already happened and we were already introduced to the Psi Corps, it seems like the Earth Alliance civil war arc would have still unfolded the way it did

The difference is that Sinclair was already being questioned and observed by the Earth government ("Eyes", "By Any Means Necessary", "And the Sky Full of Stars.") The Sinclair story is one of the government turning on him; the Sheridan story is about him deciding to break from the government.

True that EarthGov NEVER trusted Sinclair and rightly so, what with the "hole in his mind" but most likely still end up at the same place. That said, I could see it not being resolved until Prime, but see the progression as roughly the same.

Similarly, I think it likely Garibaldi's arc would probably end up intertwined with Mars and Lise just like we got, though he doesn't end up happily ever after (at least as per the B5 we did get) and he either ends up dead or captured with the evidence pointing towards dead

Garibaldi's listed as one of the characters meeting with the Grey Council after the destruction of Babylon 5 so the plan wasn't for him to die.

Just trying to with the "moment he was born for." Wonder if it would have been ambiguous or up front with it. Little details like this one and the Sakai one really make me wanna get my mits on this last treatment. Have copies gone on evilbay or is availability really limited?

 

[Uxi]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

The same for a lot of the early foreshadowing about Sinclair. I didn't think the menacing tone some Minbari had towards Sinclair's "secret" (for instance at the end of soul hunter) really matched the outcome of what the secret was.

True. Reminds how... annoyed I was at how JMS softened the Minbari and especially Delenn. It's most visible during In the Beginning where we see cold ruthless PO Delenn at the Line with the reused footage, but they all too frequently intercut with softer humanist Delenn. Her reaction to the death of Dukhat and being the tie breaker for the Earth-Minbari War is perfectly reasonable. Regrettable all the same, but still understandable and didn't need that sort of heavy handed retconning her as originally semi-conflicted instead of remorseful/repentant.

Yes, it can be explained verbally, but I'm talking "tone" here which is important... the synopsis confirms this by explaining that in fact, many Minbari think Sinclair's going to doom the whole race (!!!!).

Agree. The Minbari themselves are complicated enough to be realistic in the original treatment. With the Warriors having genuine concern instead of just being aholes like they come off in the actual progression vs the concept.

Basically, it's really interesting how you can see the threads of the "original arc" building in the early seasons. I'd be fascinated to know when exactly he did the heavy plotting changes to S3-5.

Right. Would have been nice if season 4 could h ave been spread to two separate seasons instead of compacted into 5. 5 as it is a bunch of dangling ends because of the uncertainty over whether there would even be 5, so that was probably, what by the middle of 4 at the latest?

 

[Jan]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Wonder if it would have been ambiguous or up front with it. Little details like this one and the Sakai one really make me wanna get my mits on this last treatment. Have copies gone on evilbay or is availability really limited?

Yes to both. Yes, copies have shown up on Ebay. But they're still very limited because the ones showing up are from people who bought the entire sets so they're usually included with sets being sold.

Jan

 

[Hound of UIster]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Looking back, it's clear that there were hints about a second EarthMinbari War all the way back in season 1 such as the episode where we first see Neroon.

 

[DWF]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Looking back, it's clear that there were hints about a second EarthMinbari War all the way back in season 1 such as the episode where we first see Neroon.

What kind of hints?

 

[Noname Given]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Looking back, it's clear that there were hints about a second EarthMinbari War all the way back in season 1 such as the episode where we first see Neroon.

What kind of hints?

Well, there was a running undercurrent of how the Minbari Religious Caste forced the surrendur and end of the war and that the Warrior Caste was always itching to just go finish the job they started, all through the first two seasons.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

Yup and those hints are way more effective foreshadowing to the Warrior Caste taking over and attacking Earth (!!!!). In the original arc, the war never really ended... it basically got paused. in S1 that theme is simmering under the surface the entire time.

While I generally agree what we got is more complex than this synopsis, I find the Minbari we got to be very boring (I found their "civil war" to be dull as dirt to be honest), I would have loved to see a follow-up storyline to the Earth/Minbari war.

 

[Zeke]

Re: Synopsis of JMS's synopsis of the "original arc for B5" **SPOILERS

This outline is fascinating -- too bad it's an obvious fake. It never once mentions Sinclair's duck.