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Prophechies and Visions in Babylon 5 Part 1

© David Ye

As you may know, the storyline central to Babylon 5 involves a lot of prophecies to help maintain the circular plot that is the heart of the Babylon 5 saga. These prophecies (mostly experienced during season 1) help set the scene of what is to come and to build suspense that keep the viewers interested in what happens next. Many of these prophecies came from a great Minbari spiritual leader known as Valen who lived a thousand years in the past. He predicted that in one thousand years time the great darkness in which they had just defeated in a great war will come again. There are many such visions written by Valen and they will be discussed later.

This examination will be broken into four parts, each part encompassing one season.

Here is the prophecies and visions found in season one: Londo's dream of his own death from "Midnight on the firing line" in which Londo is talking to Commander Sinclair that many Centauri experience their own deaths in dreams that come to them. Londo envisions himself with G'Kar, their hands wrapped around each other's throats. There is Valen's prophecy as seen in "Parliament of dreams" when Delenn recites the prophecy - "Will you follow me into the fire, into storm, into darkness, into death?" And the nine said, Yes. "Then do this as a testimony to the One who will follow, who will bring death, couched in the promise of new life, and renewal, disguised as defeat."

Then there is Lady Ladira's vision of destruction from "Signs and Portents": Fires are breaking out all over the station, a lone shuttle flies out and B5 is destroyed in one single big explosion.

There is also one of Sinclair and Garibaldi's vision of the future from "Babylon Squared" where we see B5 security personnel trying to ward off unseen attackers. Garibaldi is trying to get Sinclair to leave, saying that he has rigged the fusion reactors. After some arguing the attackers broke through and at the same time Sinclair is carried away by a wave of Panicking civilians. We last see Garibaldi fighting the invaders furiously.

That does it for the main prophecies and visions of season one. Next time, season two will be examined.

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