One of Babylon 5's best character arcs elevated one minor gag character into one of the show's best heroes. Babylon 5 was truly an ensemble piece, with many characters all motivated by their own conflicting goals and missions. As a result, many of the show's best moments saw morally upstanding characters make hard decisions even while more dangerous figures wrestled with the ramifications of their actions.

At the heart of the show's approach to politics was the Babylon 5's best examples of a heroic (if morally gray) arc.

Vir's Role In Babylon 5's Early Seasons, Explained

Vir Started Out As Londo's Silly Assistant

Vir has one of Babylon 5's best character arcs, growing from a meek and often comedic ing character to one of the show's most morally complex and heroic figures. In season 1, Vir was introduced as Londo's new assistant. Despite the formal potential of being the direct aide to the Centauri ambassador to Babylon 5, the assignment was meant as a means of keeping Vir away from the high society he frequently embarrassed himself within. Developing a bond with Londo, Vir became a consistent, likable presence on Babylon 5 that could be relied on for some light comedy.

Things began to shift as Babylon 5 inched closer to the Shadow War, which radically altered Londo's place in the show. By working with their representative Mr. Morden, Londo was able to ensure the Shadows helped them ambush and attack the Narn people. Although Vir was initially shown to be loyal to Londo and the Centauri people as a whole, the increasing bloodshed and destruction of the conflict revealed a different side of Vir.

The Narn War Radically Changed Vir

The Weight Of His People's Actions Shook Vir Into A New Direction

As a result of Londo's scheming and Morden's connections, the Centauri/Narn War quickly escalated into near-total annihilation for the latter government and their people. Seasons 2 and 3 of Babylon 5 highlighted the impact this had on Vir. Formerly a lightweight when it came to his culture's overt love of inebriation, the stress and tension of his position often led Vir to one of Babylon 5's bars. His conversations with Londo became more tragic, especially after Vir failed to convince Londo to abandon the power-hungry alliances he had increasingly found himself in.

Vir's horror and grief over the destruction of the Narn radically altered the character.

More than anything, Vir's horror and grief over the destruction of the Narn radically altered the character. While other Centurai's feelings about the Narn were moderately conflicted at best and dangerously uncaring at worst, Vir seemed to be genuinely dismayed by what his government was doing. This is best illustrated in season 2's "Comes the Inquisitor," which sees the two together in an elevator. Vir attempts to apologize, but is left deeply shaken and horrified when G'Kar bluntly illustrates the deaths of his people. It's one of the show's most powerful moments, and sets a change in Vir.

How Vir Saved Countless Narn (At The Cost Of His Own Innocence)

Vir's Bureaucratic Skills Saved Hundreds Of Lives

Over the course of seasons 3 and 4 of Babylon 5, Vir remains by Londo's side until Londo has him reassigned to Minbar for his own safety. Season 3's "Sic Transit Vir" revealed that Vir had been using his place in the government to smuggle Narn refugees out of dangerous circumstances. Using the Earth-inspired moniker of "Abrahamo Lincolni," Vir rescues hundreds of innocents before being found out. Although this enrages Londo, it endears him more to the rest of the Babylon 5 heroes.

However, as the storyline progresses, Vir is forced to sacrifice more of his own morality for the greater good. Londo uses Vir in his schemes to take down the villainous Refa, but at the cost of Vir's full trust. When the Centurai Emperor becomes unstable and risks their entire species being wiped out amid the Shadow War, Londo forces Vir to take part in an assassination plot. To his horror, Vir ends up being the one to kill the Emperor personally. Londo saves countless people as Babylon 5 progresses, but often at a deep personal cost to his soul.

Vir's Arc Is About A Good Man Making Hard Decisions

Vir Remains A Hero Even As He Commits Murder

Many of the storylines in Babylon 5 can be boiled down to the importance of doing good acts even in the face of overwhelming danger and compromise, but this is perhaps best illustrated with Vir. Initially, more of a gag character than anything else, Vir was often a source of levity among the more inherently dramatic relationships and dynamics of Babylon 5. As the show progressed and the character gained more confidence and bravery in the face of danger, he was also forced to reckon with the moral grays that come with being a "hero."

Similar to characters like Commander Sheridan, Vir is portrayed as a fundamentally good person who is forced to make horrible decisions for the greater good. There are no alternatives during the assassination plot, no alternate methods of ending the bloodshed. The fact that Vir has to be the one to kill the Emperor highlights just how far the character is forced to go. The fact that he retains his humanity speaks to the show's ultimately hopeful outlook, but this also underscores the grief and pain one feels when faced with those sorts of challenges.

What Happens To Vir In Babylon 5's Ending?

Vir Becomes Emperor In Babylon 5's Ending

Following the conclusion of Babylon 5's Shadow War, Vir gradually shifted back to the kind of role he played in early seasons. Vir returns to Babylon 5 first as Londo's assistant and then his replacement as Ambassador once Londo is named the new Emperor. However, season 5's Centurari storyline was mainly focused on Vir and his efforts to fight back against the now Drakh-controlled Londo and the chaos this causes among the Centurari. This season highlighted Vir's evolution, as the character retained his heroic side even while deploying a more ruthless approach.

The prophecy regarding Londo and Vir both becoming Emperor was made during season 3's "Point of No Return," and briefly introduced tensions into their dynamic.

As teased in season 3's "Point of No Return" and "War Without End," Londo eventually died in his role as Emperor and the position ed on to Vir. The series finale, "Sleeping in Night," revealed that Vir ruled over the Centurari prosperously for decades, but retained the edge he gained during the show. He even ensured the Drakh were hunted down after their role in splintering the Centurari. Vir has one of the biggest arcs in Babylon 5, which highlights the importance of remaining a good man even when forced to make difficult decisions.