Londo Mollari

Londo Mollari, played by Peter Jurasik, is a fictional character in the universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. He was a member of the Centauri race. He was the first Centauri ambassador to the space station Babylon 5. Although superficially identical in appearance to human beings except for unusual hair arrangement on the males and baldness in the females, the viewer is informed that Centauris are actually quite different biologically. Their culture seems generally patterned on ancient Rome as an empire with complex internal politics, which is already collapsing but hungers to return to its 'days of glory', and their dress and customs fit the pattern, with militaristic clothing reminiscent of the 17th Century for the men and gowns for the women whose design appears to be of similar general vintage, and a generally courtly manner.

Although at first glance Londo appears to be a supporting player, in some ways Babylon 5 is Londo's story. The glimpses Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski gives of the future of the Babylon 5 universe confirm the pivotal role of Mollari in the 'big picture', after the top billed characters of Babylon 5 have faded from the scene.

Ambassador to Babylon 5

From his simply drawn, somewhat buffoonish early character, most notable for ineffectual temper tantrums over perceived slights, and his hatred of the lizard-like Narn Regime (once slaves to the Centauris, but now having achieved independence through revolt) and their Ambassador G'Kar, Mollari sought to regain the former glory of the Centauri Republic. Mollari's character becomes more detailed and rounded as the series progresses, and he is shown to be both likable, and capable of acts of kindness and generosity, even forming something of a grudging friendship with G'Kar.

Simultaneously, however, largely through a series of dealings with the mysterious and dark Mr. Morden, Mollari finds his political reputation and power growing as he leads the Republic to reclaim its 'glorious history' through whatever means necessary. As Londo's character grows in power, he also grows in complexity and humanity, until by the end of the series he is a fully drawn portrait of a man tormented by the knowledge that he has sold his soul through the devious and unsavory acts he has committed and caused to be committed on the path to his goal. When Mollari encountered the technomage Elric (Michael Ansara), Elric eventually told Mollari what his future would be.

Elric: "Well take this for what little it will profit you. As I look at you, Ambassador Mollari, I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sounds. The sounds of billions of people calling your name."
Mollari: "My followers?"
Elric: "Your victims."

From the beginning, Londo knew that he would die as an old man, with G'Kar's hands on his throat. In 2260, shortly before the Shadow War, Mollari requested that Lady Morella (Majel Barrett) - the third wife of Emperor Turhan - predict what his future would be. He did this in the hopes that his future would not turn out the way he had foreseen. She told him that he would have one more chance to redeem his soul, by not killing the one who was already dead, who was Sheridan, to save the eye that did not see, and to surrender to his greatest fear even though it would kill him. Finally, she told Mollari that he would be Emperor, and that Vir Cotto would also be Emperor. Morella went on to say one of them would be Emperor after the other was dead.

Emperor Mollari II

Following the galactic war with the Shadows, Mollari eventually rises to Emperor of the Centauri Republic, and becomes Emperor Mollari II as another member of his family had been named Emperor. One of his first acts as the new Emperor was to name Vir Cotto as his replacement on Babylon 5, a job not highly prized because of the Centauri's earlier conquest of Narn though Londo knew that Vir would fulfill the job dutifly, even if some of the other ambassadors would be suspicious of him.

At the end of the fifth season, it's revealed that the Drakh have manipulated the Interstellar Alliance into attacking the Centauri Homeworld. The Drakh decided they needed Londo to be Emperor. The Regent died when his keeper was removed, and another keeper was attached to Londo. For the next 15 years, Londo reigned as Emperor. Londo soon learned that alcohol would put the Keeper to sleep, and would allow him a few minutes of freedom.

When the Drakh kidnapped David Sheridan - the son of John and Delenn - the couple came to Centauri Prime to free their son. Both Sheridan and Delenn were captured by the Centauri. Mollari tried to force the Drakh to leave, who responded by exploding nuclear bombs they had planted on the surface of the planet. Mollari was told to execute Sheridan, and he was able to convince his Keeper that he was soon going to kill both Sheridan and Delenn. Mollari ingested enough alcohol to put the Keeper to sleep. He then freed Sheridan, Delenn, and their son in exchange for their help in freeing the Centauri from the Drakh.

Mollari knew that his Keeper would soon wake up, and alert the other Drakh that he had set his friends free. He knew the Drakh would kill them, and would then kill him for his betrayal. G'Kar entered the throne room, and Mollari explained the situation. He begged G'Kar to kill him before the Keeper woke up. G'Kar began to crush Mollari's throat, and the Keeper woke up. Mollari and G'Kar finally died at each other's hands, just as Londo had predicted for many years.

Following Mollari's death, Vir Cotto found Mollari and G'Kar's lifeless bodies on the floor of the throne room. He managed to escape from the Centauri homeworld, and went to Minbar. In a conference with the surviving members of the Centauri houses, Cotto was named the next Emperor - thus fulfilling the prophecy of Lady Morella that he woulld one day be Emperor. Emperor Cotto was able to finally free his homeworld from the clutches of the Drakh.

In 2281, John Sheridan was dying. Emperor Cotto went to Minbar for one last meal with Sheridan and his friends. When the time came to remember all who had died, Cotto raised his glass to the memory of Londo Mollari.

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