Into the Mirror: Judging Londo

J. Michael Straczynski has stated that Babylon 5 is about actions and consequences, but it is also about patriots. Sheridan, Sinclair, Lennier, Neroon, Delenn, Londo, G'Kar, Vir, and the rest of the main leaders are patriots. Their actions are motivated largely by their attempts to better their people's place in the universe. These attempts are not always successful. Londo's attempts to help his people reclaim their place in the galaxy led to the fall of Centauri Prime and doomed his people.

Londo begins the series as the Ambassador of a dying great power. In "The Gathering", he states in disgust, "My God, man. We have become a tourist attraction. See the Centauri Republic, nine to five Earth time." I do not condone the methods Londo uses to help his people regain their former glory, but if I am honest I can not condemn his motivations. How many of us have cheered when our leaders talk of plans to regain past national glory? Some of the worst moments in human history have occurred because a country wanted to assert its place in world affairs. World War II was caused largely by German and Japanese patriotism. We, as civilized people, condemn the actions of the Nazis and of Imperial Japan, but if we are honest with ourselves all our leaders- whether German (not Nazi, but German- there is a huge difference) or American or British or Israeli or Japanese or Jordanian- have used calls of patriotism to rally us to causes that may or may not be just. Being patriotic certainly does not make something unjust, but patriotism can be twisted to serve selfish goals.

The show is over. We have seen the changes in the characters and races over the course of the series. Hopefully if we are paying attention we have learned something. The TNT reruns (and VCRs) have given us an opportunity to see the early episodes and the fifth season back-to-back. During the first season, we saw a broken Centauri Republic and an increasingly powerful Narn Regime. Looking at the first season G'Kar and the first season Narn can we honestly state that the Centauri or morally worse than the Narn? G'Kar may have become a better individual since the first season, but that lesson was learned partly because of the Narn losses. Would G'Kar have become addicted to Dust and raped the mind of Londo Mollari had the Narn been winning against the Centauri? Would we view Londo the same way if the Centauri Republic had continued to fall and Londo was still the drunk, gambling Ambassador of the first season? As the dream Delenn said in "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari", "Almost certainly not."

I have read several interviews with Peter Jurasik. Jurasik has stated that in order to play Londo, he can not judge him and challenged the audience to look at their own history. As the audience we have the luxury of judging the character (and most of us do), but before we judge we should look at our own history. All nations have skeletons in the closet whether slavery or war crimes or genocide or other human rights abuses.

Londo's actions have made me cringe. His silence as G'Kar was beaten, his answer to Mr. Morden's question (G'Kar's answer also made me cringe), his patronizing description of the Narn to the ISN Reporter in "And Now For a Word" and many more actions and comments offend my morals. Yet, I find myself looking forward to seeing Londo on the screen. Londo is truly a tragic character because a part of him has always been aware of right and wrong. "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" brought his moral qualms to the surface, but we have seen hints of them throughout the series. Two of the best writers in the English language, Anthony Burgess and John Steinbeck ("East of Eden"), have pointed out that simply being good is not enough. One must chose to be good. Alex (played by Malcolm McDowell) in "A Clockwork Orange" was not a "good human" when his programming made him incapable of violence. If he ever became a good human it was by making his own redemption, by choosing to be good. Londo's story is one of comic to dark to tragic and then finally to redemption. It is a painful journey, but ultimately a better one to have seen the darkness and have finally turned to the light than to have never seen the darkness. His quiet, "I am ready," before being crowned as Emperor is one of the most powerful moments in the show.

Even during Londo's darkest hours we saw shades of his remaining humanity (Centaurity?) in his treatment of Vir. Londo's decision to send Vir to Minbar was partly motivated by a desire to hide from Vir's reminders of morality, but he genuinely wanted to protect Vir. Londo has no children and Vir is an embarrassment to his family. As Mr. Allen comments late in season 5, Londo watches Vir like a proud father. Londo has much to teach Vir about politics, but Vir also manages to teach Londo. Londo resists the lesson, but he can not completly ignore Vir's example. Londo is completely honest when he comforts Vir after Vir has killed Cartagia and Londo's confession that he envies Vir for having a good heart is sincere.

The Centauri Claudius: Vir

It is difficult to defend Londo, but it is easy to defend his attach�, Vir Cotto. Actor Stephen Furst (Vir) has described Vir as Jiminy Cricket and Londo's conscience. Like Londo, Vir starts the series as a comic character, but unlike Londo he does not turn to darkness. Londo admonishes him for walking through the halls of power without losing friends and suggests that Vir was not paying attention. I would disagree with Londo and argue that Vir has been paying attention. It is not lack of attention that has kept Vir from descending into darkness, but a refusal to harden himself to the suffering of others whether Centauri or Narn.

Londo's family made him divorce his first wife because she was considered socially inferior and he married his other three wives for political reasons. Vir wants to marry for love. In "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari", we learn that Vir, unlike Londo, was told of the folktale about the angelic soul killing the host it was not worthy of being in.

Vir became a stronger character as the series has progressed, but he became more assertive around those he considered a threat early in the series. He refused to be intimidated by Elric. He was quite vocal in expressing his distaste for Mr. Morden. His answer to Mr. Morden's question is one of the funniest scenes in the series, but with serious undertones. He increasingly stood up to Londo. He tried to discourage Londo from working with Mr. Morden. In "The Long Night of Londo Mollari" the dream G'Kar told Londo, "One word was all that was required." Vir has said more than one word. Unfortunately, as he pointed out when he tried to apologize to G'Kar in the elevator, sometimes words are not enough.

Vir has gone beyond words. While acting as the Centauri Ambassador to Minbar, he saved thousands of Narns. He was willing to kill Cartegia despite the pain it caused him because it was necessary. Yet his pain at killing Cartagia, even though it was ultimately for the good of the Centauri and the galaxy, showed that he is still in the light. Less acknowledged, but also important he is a nice individual. He is pleasant to be around. He is helpful. He is respectful. He bows to Lennier in the traditional Minbari fashion when Lennier leaves to join the Rangers.

Like in real life, Vir's goodness is not always rewarded. G'Kar refuses to accept his apology. (In practicality, Vir could not have stopped the Centauri for enslaving the Narn on his own, especially since it began before he was born.) Vir's rescue of the Narns costs him his wife-to-be and disappoints Londo. His position as the Minbari Ambassador is viewed as a joke. His family, the Centauri, and most of the station view Vir as a joke.

Vir told Londo that all he ever wanted was a good job, a small title, and a wife he could love and maybe one who could love him. Instead he is destined for fame and power which he does not want. Like the Roman Claudius, Vir is the least likely Emperor. We know that being Emperor will not be a good job because by the time he becomes Emperor Centauri Prime will be burning. It is only three years into his term that Zack Allen becomes the representative on Centauri Prime. Like everything else on Babylon 5, it will end in fire. "Sleeping in the Light" leaves the impression that he has women around him as Emperor, but not a wife. He will continue to receive power and knowledge that he does not want and tragically will continue to feel the pain of the suffering of people without being able to end the suffering. Despite Sheridan's and Delenn's agreement with Londo to free the Centauri people, we know the Centauri are doomed. JMS has stated that they do not become First Ones. In the cruelest of fates, Londo's blind patriotism led to the destruction of his people and Vir, the compassionate patriot, was unable to stop the suffering and destruction of the Narn and Centauri.

Coming Alive on the Screen: Peter Jurasik and Stephen Furst

J. Michael Straczynski is an excellent writer (as are Peter David, Harlan Ellison, and the rest of the writers who have contributed to Babylon 5). However, television is a collaborative effort. Good writing, even excellent writing, is useless if it does not come alive on the screen. Peter Jurasik and Stephen Furst are to be commended for their excellent job of bring life to the Londo and Vir and making the audience care about their characters.

Peter Jurasik has blown me away with several of his performances, most notably his entire performance in "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari" (an all-around brilliantly acted episode), his expression as he watched the bombing of the Narn homeworld, his confrontations with G'Kar, and his performance as the disillusioned Emperor. His comic performances, while less intense, have been excellent. "Born of the Purple" and "Soul Mates" were fun and I loved watching his excessive attempts to kill the bugs in his quarters. His sparring with G'Kar during the Council Meeting in "The Paragon of Animals" stood out. It felt real and natural. (To refresh your memory: Londo: "Offer them my body. Ten more minutes of this and I will be dead anyway." G'Kar: "I second the motion.") Nor can one ignore his talent for giving a flair to social, political, and philosophical commentary.

Stephen Furst has not been given as much opportunity to show his dramatic talent, but the rare occasions have always been impressive. He is a talented enough actor to play Vir naturally, almost as if he were not acting. This is quite an accomplishment considering he is playing an alien. His performance in "Sic Transit Vir" showed his range and ability to move between light-hearted as he got to know his wife-to-be and more serious as we learned about his work for the Narns. Furst has continually done an excellent job in showing that Vir is not the baffoon he seems on the surface. His guilt over killing of Cartagia was well played. Like Jurasik and Katsulas, he gave a breath-taking performance in "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari". His dedication and friendship towards Londo despite his anger and sadness at Londo's descent into darkness has been completely believable. Furst and Jurasik have excellent chemistry. Furst's talent at playing comedy is obvious. Sadly comic talent is often underappreciated. His answer to Mr. Morden's question and wave deserve an honorable mention.

I judge actors on the quality of their performances, accepting that many excellent actors are jerks as people. It is a welcome change that every convention report, comment by other cast members, and interview has shown that both Jurasik and Furst are wonderful people as well. (One friend, after refusing to watch Babylon 5 for years, started watching it after seeing Furst at a convention because she said that he was just a nice man that she wanted to support his show.)

Return to The War is Never Completely Won

Babylon 5 is copyright by Warner Brothers, TNT, and JMS. This page is for fan enjoyment only and is not intended to infringe on that copyright. Please see my Index Page before sending me e-mail with questions about the actors or links.

This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit Here.