Laurel Takashima
Encyclopedia
Laurel Takashima is a fictional character
from the science-fiction television series Babylon 5
, portrayed by Tamlyn Tomita
. Her only appearance was in the pilot movie The Gathering
.
while working at Mars Colony Security. She had been stationed at a corrupt mining station where it was common to go on the take in order to get a better job. Not succumbing to the culture of graft, but unable to receive a promotion as a result, she became disengaged from her work. She eventually began to get into trouble with the Earth Alliance
for breaking rules. When Sinclair became her commanding officer on Mars, he agreed to seek a promotion for Takashima, if she brought her behavior in line.
Sinclair asked for Takashima when he was posted to Babylon 5 in 2257, and she became Babylon 5's original first officer.
However, following the assassination attempt on Ambassador Kosh, Takashima was recalled to Earth where she was assigned to a classified mission to the Rim by EarthForce. She was replaced as Executive Officer
by Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova
in 2258.
knew that Tamlyn Tomita would want to leave the show eventually and pursue a film career, he planned a character arc
which would remove Takashima during the second season: originally, she "would have been revealed as having been in on the Vorlon assassination attempt by season's end", was the one who would be harbouring the "Control" personality
for the Psi Corps
, and under the control of this personality it would be her that shot Michael Garibaldi
in the back in the season 1 finale cliffhanger
. When Tomita did not sign on for the TV series after all, the "Control" personality was given to Talia Winters
and the shooting of Garibaldi was done by his second-in-command.
Takashima would have also been in an intimate relationship with the second officer, Susan Ivanova
. Ivanova was made the executive officer in place of Takashima, and the intimate relationship was again transferred to Talia Winters.
Straczynski found the loss of Tomita particularly frustrating, as the Warner Brothers executives felt she was not convincing as a military officer, a result of their own earlier request to make her performance more feminine and relatable.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the science-fiction television series Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, portrayed by Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Naomi Tomita is an actress, who has appeared in many Hollywood films and television series.-Early life:Tomita was born in Okinawa, the daughter of Shiro and Asako Tomita. Her father then later became a Los Angeles Police Officer, rising to the rank of sergeant. He succumbed to cancer in...
. Her only appearance was in the pilot movie The Gathering
Babylon 5: The Gathering
Babylon 5: The Gathering is the pilot movie of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. The telefilm aired on February 22, 1993...
.
Character background
Laurel Takashima met Commander Jeffrey SinclairJeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
while working at Mars Colony Security. She had been stationed at a corrupt mining station where it was common to go on the take in order to get a better job. Not succumbing to the culture of graft, but unable to receive a promotion as a result, she became disengaged from her work. She eventually began to get into trouble with the Earth Alliance
Earth Alliance (Babylon 5)
The Earth Alliance is the name of a fictional alliance of the nations of Earth and off-world colonies in the television series Babylon 5. The transition of Earth government from a democratic, elected government to an authoritarian, militaristic one and back to a democracy again is a major theme of...
for breaking rules. When Sinclair became her commanding officer on Mars, he agreed to seek a promotion for Takashima, if she brought her behavior in line.
Sinclair asked for Takashima when he was posted to Babylon 5 in 2257, and she became Babylon 5's original first officer.
However, following the assassination attempt on Ambassador Kosh, Takashima was recalled to Earth where she was assigned to a classified mission to the Rim by EarthForce. She was replaced as Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
by Lieutenant Commander Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
in 2258.
Original plan
Takashima was originally intended to be a main character in the Babylon 5 TV series. Because series creator J. Michael StraczynskiJ. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
knew that Tamlyn Tomita would want to leave the show eventually and pursue a film career, he planned a character arc
Character arc
A character arc is the status of the character as it unfolds throughout the story, the storyline or series of episodes. Characters begin the story with a certain viewpoint and, through events in the story, that viewpoint changes. A character arc generally only affects the main character in a...
which would remove Takashima during the second season: originally, she "would have been revealed as having been in on the Vorlon assassination attempt by season's end", was the one who would be harbouring the "Control" personality
Divided Loyalties
"Divided Loyalties" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Lyta Alexander returns to the station with news that one of the senior staff may, unknowingly, be a spy for the Psi Corps. During the course of the investigation, Susan Ivanova...
for the Psi Corps
Psi Corps
In the fictional universe of Babylon 5, the Psi Corps is an agency of the Earth Alliance responsible for all humans with telepathic or other para-psychological abilities anywhere within Earth controlled space. All persons with Psi abilities are required to either join the Corps, face lifetime...
, and under the control of this personality it would be her that shot Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
in the back in the season 1 finale cliffhanger
Chrysalis (Babylon 5)
"Chrysalis" is the final episode of the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Mollari and G'Kar argue about Quadrant 37....
. When Tomita did not sign on for the TV series after all, the "Control" personality was given to Talia Winters
Talia Winters
Talia Winters is a fictional character appearing on the science fiction television show Babylon 5 during its first and second seasons. She was portrayed by actress Andrea Thompson....
and the shooting of Garibaldi was done by his second-in-command.
Takashima would have also been in an intimate relationship with the second officer, Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova
Susan Ivanova is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Claudia Christian.-Character overview:...
. Ivanova was made the executive officer in place of Takashima, and the intimate relationship was again transferred to Talia Winters.
Straczynski found the loss of Tomita particularly frustrating, as the Warner Brothers executives felt she was not convincing as a military officer, a result of their own earlier request to make her performance more feminine and relatable.