Babylon 5’s fifth season didn’t feature Claudia Christian, which impacted the overarching plot of that season in some big ways.Babylon 5had a firm five-season-long storyline that was planned in advance of the show. Certain characters were at the center of some pretty important plots, but series creator J. Michael Straczynski always planned contingencies in case any actors became unavailable. This is how the show was able to so quickly shift gears when Commander Sinclair left after season 1 and was replaced by Commander Sheridan.
This also applied toSusan Ivanova, the Lt. Commander ofBabylon 5for the first four seasons. Played by Claudia Christian, Ivanova was one of the show’s most important characters, a grounding presence whose dry wit and complex approaches to faith, addiction, and romance was revolutionary for the time in mainstream sci-fi. She wasn’t a part of the fifth and final season of the show, with real life events impacting her place on the show (as well as seriously impacted the plotline toBabylon 5season 5). Here’s why Claudia Christian left the show and how it impacted the storyline.
Why Claudia Christian Didn’t Return As Susan Ivanova For Babylon 5 Season 5
Both Sides Blamed One Another For The Falling Out
Claudia Christian didn’t return for season 5 ofBabylon 5due to a behind-the-scenes contract dispute— which forced big changes for that season. Initially airing on PTEN,Babylon 5almost came to a premature end when PTEN shut down in 1997, forcing the show to accelerate their plans to giveBabylon 5a proper ending during season 4. When the show was brought back for another season on TNT, most of the cast returned. However, Claudia Christian only appeared in the finale (which was filmed during season 4) and Ivanova was written out of the show.
Babylon 5’s Best Trick Was Hiding The Show’s Real Villain In Plain Sight
Babylon 5’s big cosmic war arc was a stand-out storyline, but quietly helped hide the show’s true big bad in plain view of the characters.
As collected byThe Lurker’s Guide To Babylon 5, the public statements from J. Michael Straczynski and Claudia Christian suggest her departure was because of a contract dispute. While most of the cast quickly accepted the new deals, Christian had been cast in a film and requested fewer episodes so she could do both projects. Negotiations broke down, however, withJMS blaming Christian’s desire to work outside the show while Christian accused Warner Bros. of effectively firing her. Despite this situation, Christian was in the final episode and returned forBabylon 5: The Long Road Home.
Ivanova’s Storyline Was Split Between Two Characters
Lyta And Lochley Became More Important Because Of Ivanova’s Departure
Similar to Talia’s departure from the show, Straczynski had set up “trap doors” that could justify removing a character from the narrative. At the end of season 4, Ivanova leaves from Babylon 5, becoming the Captain of her own vessel. However,Ivanova was intended to have a major role in season 5. Her departure forced the show’s creatives to split her intended plot-line between two different characters. Lyta, the telepath who debuted in theBabylon 5pilot and returned to the show afterTalia’s departure, was given the telepathic uprising storyline that would have gone to Ivanova. Lyta also got a love story with the rogue telepath Byron, which was also intended for Ivanova.
Following her role inBabylon 5season 5, Elizabeth Lochley became a central character in other media connected to the franchise, such as the spin-off showsCrusadeandBabylon 5: The Lost Tales.
Ivanova’s role in the central command of Babylon 5 was also thrown into disarray by Christian’s departure from the show. Elizabeth Lochley was introduced as the new commander of Babylon 5 in season 5 instead, taking over the leadership positioned vacated by John Sheridan after he is made President of the Interstellar Alliance. Ivanova would have been given this role if Christian had remained on the show. To replicate the long-standing friendship between Sheridan and Ivanova, Lochley was made Sheridan’s ex-wife, who nevertheless maintained a respectful bond with Sheridan.
Babylon 5’s 5th Season Would Have Been Better With Ivanova
Season 5 Would Have Been Ivanova’s Chance To Take The Spotlight
While Lyta and Lochley were solid characters elevated by the performances of Paticia Tallman and Tracy Scoggins respectively,those storylines would have been improved if they had been able to build off of four years of development with Ivanova. The telepathic rebellion plotline would have been elevated by Ivanova’s long-standing distrust forr the Psi-Corp, as well as the subtle hints that she herself was a low-level telepath. Her romance with Byron would have also continued to explore her bisexuality and poor luck with romantic partners.
Those storylines would have been improved if they had been able to build off of four years of development with Ivanova.
Ivanova’s role in the rebellion would have been complicated by her command position, forcing a reckoning of her personal duty verrsus her moral conscience.This would have been a great example ofBabylon 5’s habit of exploring thorny moral issues from a military point of view, fitting neatly into the overarching arc of the show. Ivanova had also established herself as the heart of the show, and her departure removes one ofBabylon 5’s most entertaining and compelling characters. Season 5 ofBabylon 5suffers from a lot of problems, but the lack of Ivanova is definitely the most glaring.
