Why only live for 20 years?

[nx01a]

New Earth... Vorlon technology must be exceptional to be self-sustaining for a million years.

Sheridan got enough time to shape the future as best he could, being a nexus and all. He finished his mission, it was time to rest.

[Groove]

That's the point. Everything doesn't have to snap into place just so. I expect that at least 99% of all human beings in history have died meaningless deaths, and odds are you and I will have the same fate. Just as well that TV shows it too, don't you say?

99.999999% of human deaths are meaningless.

But this is a story. If we wanted realistic TV then we'd watch reality TV or soaps... and I think we all know how good they are!

Sheridan's death wasn't pointless. He showed the way for humanity

He did that through life, not death.

[Ulkesh47]

But this brings me back to a very simple question: why did JMS decide that he had to only live 20 years? Why couldn't he have just been given his life back, end of story?

Okay. Kosh told Sheridan twice, "If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."

Twice. Kosh felt that Sheridan had to be sufficiently warned about the very real danger that goes with a trip to Z'ha'dum.

Of course for the sake of the story Sheridan couldn't actually die at Z'ha'dum.

But... to make the consequences of Sheridan's decision to go to Z'ha'dum more severe, JMS gave Sheridan a limited time to live.

There had to have been real consequences for Sheridan's decision to go to Z'ha'dum. Does that answer your question?

[Groove]

Nope. Kosh didn't have to say that.

And the death still could have been revived and indefinite.

[maneth]

Why are you so opposed to Sheridan's death? I thought it gave the story a poignancy it would otherwise have lacked. And yes, it showed that even when you do the right thing, there's often a price to pay.

[Groove]

B5 is an amazing series. It didn't need to have this aspect.

I'll never watch the last episode of season 5 ever again. Stories don't have to have a sad ending to have meaning. And Sheridan going to Z'ha'dum thinking that he would die is enough, he didn't have to die at all, as long as he thought he would. And dying but being revived indefinitely by the first one is a pretty damn good get-out clause anyway.

[maneth]

Yeah, well that's obviously your prerogative. Stories don't have to end happily either to be fulfilling. Besides which, I don't think his death was a tragedy for anyone except Delenn, who as far as I can tell never committed to anyone else even though she lived for at least another 80 years after his death.

[Dumper]

Well i thought the last episode was excellent, with a beautiful and touching ending.

[nx01a]

Sci-fi isn't about everyone becoming immortal and living forever. Sheridan was willing to die for what he believed in and he died. We all do, apparently. The death of Sheridan mirrored the end/death of Babylon 5, both the station and the show. I thought it was nicely done, AND Delenn's response of taking each day as it came, watching the sun rise and continuing to live was very inspiring. Death happens, but those left behind have to carry on.

Of course, Sheridan was probably just taken beyond the rim with Lorien and he's alive and well out there with him and the Shadows and Vorlons and Walkers and other First Ones and Valen/Sinclair...

[jds1982]

JMS didn't have to have him die.

You're right, he didn't have to have him die, but he did. That was the story JMS chose to write. He didn't have to blow up B5, he didn't have to have Londo and G'Kar kill each other, he didn't have to have the Shadow war, but he did, because it was his story to write. Don't like it, then don't watch it. I for one thought the ending was powerful, poignant, and bittersweet. It made me feel something, and I think that's what JMS wanted.

[Ulkesh47]

In my opinion, "Sleeping in Light" is the most emotionally effective thing ever committed to film.

And Sheridan's death, I thought, was the natural and logical progression of the choices he made.

[g.o.d]

You're right, he didn't have to have him die, but he did. That was the story JMS chose to write. He didn't have to blow up B5, he didn't have to have Londo and G'Kar kill each other, he didn't have to have the Shadow war, but he did, because it was his story to write. Don't like it, then don't watch it. I for one thought the ending was powerful, poignant, and bittersweet. It made me feel something, and I think that's what JMS wanted.

I like everything he wrote in B5. I still consider B5 as the best scifi show

[Thunder God]

Well i thought the last episode was excellent, with a beautiful and touching ending.

I have to agree. B5 was the show which sucked me in to sci fi world. I love Sheridans and Delens love story and space battles were made quite good. In my opinion it was first good sci fi show

[Dimbo_Sama]

No one's pointed out that Sheridan is a Messianic figure yet. lol.

JMS has said as much that one of the main influences for B5 was the bible. Sheridan is the architypal mythological hero. He dies, he is reborn, and ascends.

It creates a mythology around him, much the same way as Valen. Valen died and was reborn again in a less literal way, Sinclar died and was reborn as Valen, after the last Shadow War he was taken beyond the Rim the same as Sheridan. "Some of the Minbari say he'll come back, but I never saw him again in my lifetime"

he's basically "Star Jesus"

that last episode has me in tears EVERY TIME I WATCH IT! lol

[nx01a]

"Time... to rest now..."