Babylon 5: A case of Captain Lockley

[Captain Crimson]

I missed Ivanova, but it didn't take away from my appreciation of Lochley. I think she played well off the other characters, though I do have a slight wish that they hadn't made her Sheridan's ex.

I do agree with the logic to her departure, though. It was too painful after Marcus Cole gave up for his life for her. She had this dream life waiting for her, if she just hadn't been so worried it would have left her. And ironically, didn't give this man who would have helped make it happen a chance. I mean, they were so pessimistic, it's like they were custom-made for one another. But then, that is the point. And I applaud the sophistication.

[Darth Wedgius]

I missed Ivanova, but it didn't take away from my appreciation of Lochley. I think she played well off the other characters, though I do have a slight wish that they hadn't made her Sheridan's ex.

I do agree with the logic to her departure, though. It was too painful after Marcus Cole gave up for his life for her. She had this dream life waiting for her, if she just hadn't been so worried it would have left her. And ironically, didn't give this man who would have helped make it happen a chance. I mean, they were so pessimistic, it's like they were custom-made for one another. But then, that is the point. And I applaud the sophistication.

It was a tragic story, something JMS seems fond of. In the novels, Marcus, at least, get a happier ending (although one with kinda creepy overtones involving a clone of Ivanova he has grown).

[Beastro]

She'd have been fine with another season or two, but her character was stuck in an unwinnable position being a newbie to show that was ending.

[Mecha82]

Well if that had happened I could see that being similar. Mind you I was already bigger B5 fan than ST fan and I have never considered myself as Trekkie.

Thanks for the clarifying!

Actually I did remember that they did replace character in DS9. They killed off Jadzia Dax and replaced her with Ezri Dax just because of behind the scenes issues.

[Captain Crimson]

Well if that had happened I could see that being similar. Mind you I was already bigger B5 fan than ST fan and I have never considered myself as Trekkie.

Thanks for the clarifying!

Actually I did remember that they did replace character in DS9. They killed off Jadzia Dax and replaced her with Ezri Dax just because of behind the scenes issues.

Very true. And yet I still liked Ezri. I have no stake in the Ezri versus Jadzia feud, since I love both. But if it must come to that, let's do like Mr. Chuck suggested. Topless pillow fight!

[ChiggyvonRichthofen]

She'd have been fine with another season or two, but her character was stuck in an unwinnable position being a newbie to show that was ending.

Agreed. I think she is a fine character, there just wasn't a real opportunity for her to grow into a great character. Also probably doesn't help that she misses out on the peak material in the B5 universe.

Sheridan was great, but even he took a few episodes of pretty intense focus to really come into his own as the star of B5. Obviously fans often have issues with late season cast additions, especially if they take away story arcs/general attention from established characters. This doesn't really happen with Lochley, but as a consequence she ends up being sidelined quite a bit for the commander of the station.

[Captain Crimson]

She'd have been fine with another season or two, but her character was stuck in an unwinnable position being a newbie to show that was ending.

Agreed. I think she is a fine character, there just wasn't a real opportunity for her to grow into a great character. Also probably doesn't help that she misses out on the peak material in the B5 universe.

Sheridan was great, but even he took a few episodes of pretty intense focus to really come into his own as the star of B5. Obviously fans often have issues with late season cast additions, especially if they take away story arcs/general attention from established characters. This doesn't really happen with Lochley, but as a consequence she ends up being sidelined quite a bit for the commander of the station.

It was plain that she was NOT a fan of President Clark, and B5 has no issues in taking a politically unpopular stance, like putting a realistic and positive spin on those who are just "following orders." And in that respect, Lochley was a rare character. The Sheridan for Clark's forces. She was somebody who would find the creative loophole to do the right thing, but the show did not provide enough focus on that which comes with the fleshing out of character the further the series goes, like her deep and personal disgust for President Clark. That would have endeared her to more fans, I would hope.

I think about that ex-Clark lackey who tried to assassinate Sheridan on his inauguration, and I feel let down. I know the series has a somewhat pulpy black-and-white viewpoint, but I would have preferred if we could have given a man like that a positive spin just once. Does not have to absolve what's in essence here a death camp commander, or a corrupt party governor, but you could present him more realistically, as part of the TV show's ongoing mantra of tolerance. TV Tropes even calls this "Jerkass Has A Point." I'd like more of that. Nope. He's just another whacked nutjob. And Lochley was a real chance to break from that mold. And sadly, we did not do that because... B5 ended. It ended on many unresolved plot issues, and she was one.

[Mecha82]

She'd have been fine with another season or two, but her character was stuck in an unwinnable position being a newbie to show that was ending.

Agreed. I think she is a fine character, there just wasn't a real opportunity for her to grow into a great character. Also probably doesn't help that she misses out on the peak material in the B5 universe.

Sheridan was great, but even he took a few episodes of pretty intense focus to really come into his own as the star of B5. Obviously fans often have issues with late season cast additions, especially if they take away story arcs/general attention from established characters. This doesn't really happen with Lochley, but as a consequence she ends up being sidelined quite a bit for the commander of the station.

That was clearly problem. She was added too late and she got too little story. She was commander of station but Sheridan still got attention even after he had already complited his story arcs during previous season. Ah what could had been. Maybe I and many others would have more favorible view of her.

[Beastro]

She'd have been fine with another season or two, but her character was stuck in an unwinnable position being a newbie to show that was ending.

Agreed. I think she is a fine character, there just wasn't a real opportunity for her to grow into a great character. Also probably doesn't help that she misses out on the peak material in the B5 universe.

Sheridan was great, but even he took a few episodes of pretty intense focus to really come into his own as the star of B5. Obviously fans often have issues with late season cast additions, especially if they take away story arcs/general attention from established characters. This doesn't really happen with Lochley, but as a consequence she ends up being sidelined quite a bit for the commander of the station.

Thing might have changed had she become a regular guest on Crusade, but we all know how that ended.

[FaxModem1]

She was the Alan Shore of Babylon 5.

Confused? Okay. In the 1990s, there was this legal drama called The Practice, about a few defense attorneys practicing law in Boston. It was mostly about their regular cases, and how they seemed to be dirtying the lines of what the law was to get their defendants off, and they made a lot of moral compromises to do so.

By their final season, there was some behind the scenes drama, and half the cast had to be axed or they had to be cancelled. So, in comes Alan Shore, played by James Spader, as a replacement cast member.

Alan Shore is a much less principled lawyer, but does things that he considers the more 'moral' choice. Half the season's drama was about their differences of opinion, and eventually the legal battle between the cast, including Jimmy(recurring down on his luck schlub character) and Alan Shore. This eventually led to Alan Shore getting his own spinoff, Boston Legal, which the last few episodes of The Practice set up.

Same thing with Lochley. Behind the scenes drama, cast members either left or got the axe, So in comes Lochley, played by Tracy Scoggins, as a replacement cast member. Lochley has a very different moral stance, and is consistently challenged on what she is by Garibaldi(recurring down on his luck schlub character). This eventually led to Elizabeth Lochley getting her own spinoff, Crusade, which the last few episodes and movies of Babylon 5 set up.

That kind of drama can really grate for people, as seeing this new main character versus all of your old main characters is tricky to pull off, and can be very off putting, as all the old characters are usually beloved by the audience(that's why they've lasted so long). BUT, at the same time, the new character does get to show a more nuanced opinion. You guys did commit mutiny, sedition,and treason, y'all were just the ones who won, and that's something that does need to be remembered.

That said, yes, she was working for Clark. But we never got to see her deal with corruption, as Crusade would have showed.