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timepiececlockAfter a while, when it all starts to sink in, Delenn really floors me. I'm trying to think of an appropriate analogy for her role/character, and the best I can come up with is lions.
The last scene of this episode is yet one more example of a cumulation of actions that all combine to make John Sheridan what he is. She freaking *made* him. Is making him still. Yeah, he's smart and honorable and true, but that's not enough. Delenn wanted to save the universe and fulfill prophecy, so she found herself a reliable, inspiring knight and turned him into a king. So far Delenn has given, as gifts, through her actions or her fellows, at least the following:
- a ship (White Star)
- an army (Rangers)
- an alliance with the most powerful "young" species in their galaxy (I'm guessing that the Minbari are stronger than the Centauri)
- guard dog ships for Babylon 5 defense
- a planetary machine with ancient secret technology
- a lover to place absolute trust in
- the future promise of a child
- an enemy to fight (Shadows)
- angels to believe in (Vorlons)
- a fleet (this was damn near an engagement gift, if I read the scene correctly)
- a destiny and purpose
...and dinner (three times so far to his one.)
Cripes! She practically handed him the entire galaxy on a silver platter. I said lions before because that's the best thing I can think of, though it's a poor analogy. See the male lion is big, scary, ruthless, and vicious. It defends territory and any other big males come along, it kills the rival. It's very good at doing so. However, it's the lioness that do the hunting and provide for the welfare of the pride. Delenn is Sheridan's lioness. She is his general, his hunter, and the bearer of his emotional burdens.
Sheridan has a destiny to lead the galaxy in war against the Shadows. And he makes a great gun and a better leader of guns. Put him into a situation, point him to the enemy, and he'll do everything and anything to get the job done. And he's inspiring. He inspires his own people, other races, and Delenn herself. What's interesting to me here is that Delenn is not operating from behind closed doors... she is power beside the throne rather than behind it. She is powerful amongst her own people, and by becoming Ranger One, she is a leader of an army in her own right. She gives Sheridan a fleet and tells him that her armies are in his hands. She is his eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to build, and feet to strike. It is an interesting dynamic because although Delenn would seem to be the one with the power, they remain equal because every time she gives Sheridan power (a ship, an army, a purpose) she genuinely gives it. She doesn't hold onto part of it for control... it is equally his and she is his partner. Although she has enough charisma to be that leader herself, she needs someone with a soldier's heart to do it, and she needs a human leader as well. She is a fanatic, but that doesn't mean she's not right. Her belief is strong, and her love is true and real.
Delenn is a very interesting character when it comes to power studies. She takes power, uses it to control and manipulate, but her moral convictions are so strong that she uses her power for that purpose rather than for power itself. But you can see, when she puts on her leader face, that although she is wise and lovely and gentle and warm to everyone, she is also completely aware of how to use the power she has to get what she wants. She's patient, methodical, judgemental, thorough, and accurate. The Minbari war leader was absolutely right to fear what she could become, though he and everyone is lucky that she's so far too "good" to go down that slippery slope.
Hmmm... maybe the lioness thing doesn't work, and I should go for the classic chess analogy instead. Delenn is the queen, the person who maneuvers and arranges and traps, the most dangerous and effective piece on the board. But the king's fate determines the end of the game.
Zathras's prophecy about "the one that was, the one that is, and the one that will be" appears to be very thoroughly played out in the story. Delenn does all this to make way for Sheridan to save them all in the future, like Sinclair/Valen saved them in the past. As a writer/story creator, planning out this whole world must have been a nightmare to revise and sort out... there's so many levels of interconnectedness between characters, places, themes, and symbols.
Now it's late and I have to sleep, but I wanted to get my thoughts out first.
WARNING: For comments, I am rewatching the series, but it has been a long time since I saw the show, though I do remember generally what happens. Please don't talk about the movies since I haven't seen them yet and am unspoiled.
The last scene of this episode is yet one more example of a cumulation of actions that all combine to make John Sheridan what he is. She freaking *made* him. Is making him still. Yeah, he's smart and honorable and true, but that's not enough. Delenn wanted to save the universe and fulfill prophecy, so she found herself a reliable, inspiring knight and turned him into a king. So far Delenn has given, as gifts, through her actions or her fellows, at least the following:
- a ship (White Star)
- an army (Rangers)
- an alliance with the most powerful "young" species in their galaxy (I'm guessing that the Minbari are stronger than the Centauri)
- guard dog ships for Babylon 5 defense
- a planetary machine with ancient secret technology
- a lover to place absolute trust in
- the future promise of a child
- an enemy to fight (Shadows)
- angels to believe in (Vorlons)
- a fleet (this was damn near an engagement gift, if I read the scene correctly)
- a destiny and purpose
...and dinner (three times so far to his one.)
Cripes! She practically handed him the entire galaxy on a silver platter. I said lions before because that's the best thing I can think of, though it's a poor analogy. See the male lion is big, scary, ruthless, and vicious. It defends territory and any other big males come along, it kills the rival. It's very good at doing so. However, it's the lioness that do the hunting and provide for the welfare of the pride. Delenn is Sheridan's lioness. She is his general, his hunter, and the bearer of his emotional burdens.
Sheridan has a destiny to lead the galaxy in war against the Shadows. And he makes a great gun and a better leader of guns. Put him into a situation, point him to the enemy, and he'll do everything and anything to get the job done. And he's inspiring. He inspires his own people, other races, and Delenn herself. What's interesting to me here is that Delenn is not operating from behind closed doors... she is power beside the throne rather than behind it. She is powerful amongst her own people, and by becoming Ranger One, she is a leader of an army in her own right. She gives Sheridan a fleet and tells him that her armies are in his hands. She is his eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to build, and feet to strike. It is an interesting dynamic because although Delenn would seem to be the one with the power, they remain equal because every time she gives Sheridan power (a ship, an army, a purpose) she genuinely gives it. She doesn't hold onto part of it for control... it is equally his and she is his partner. Although she has enough charisma to be that leader herself, she needs someone with a soldier's heart to do it, and she needs a human leader as well. She is a fanatic, but that doesn't mean she's not right. Her belief is strong, and her love is true and real.
Delenn is a very interesting character when it comes to power studies. She takes power, uses it to control and manipulate, but her moral convictions are so strong that she uses her power for that purpose rather than for power itself. But you can see, when she puts on her leader face, that although she is wise and lovely and gentle and warm to everyone, she is also completely aware of how to use the power she has to get what she wants. She's patient, methodical, judgemental, thorough, and accurate. The Minbari war leader was absolutely right to fear what she could become, though he and everyone is lucky that she's so far too "good" to go down that slippery slope.
Hmmm... maybe the lioness thing doesn't work, and I should go for the classic chess analogy instead. Delenn is the queen, the person who maneuvers and arranges and traps, the most dangerous and effective piece on the board. But the king's fate determines the end of the game.
Zathras's prophecy about "the one that was, the one that is, and the one that will be" appears to be very thoroughly played out in the story. Delenn does all this to make way for Sheridan to save them all in the future, like Sinclair/Valen saved them in the past. As a writer/story creator, planning out this whole world must have been a nightmare to revise and sort out... there's so many levels of interconnectedness between characters, places, themes, and symbols.
Now it's late and I have to sleep, but I wanted to get my thoughts out first.
WARNING: For comments, I am rewatching the series, but it has been a long time since I saw the show, though I do remember generally what happens. Please don't talk about the movies since I haven't seen them yet and am unspoiled.
