Editing Jeffrey Sinclair (section)

== Departure and reception ==
After filming one full season, O'Hare and the series executive producer/creator [[J. Michael Straczynski]] mutually decided for the actor (and character) to depart as a series regular.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Straczynski |first=J. Michael |date=May 1994 |title=About Michael O'Hare's Departure |url=http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/misc/sinclair-leave.html |work=The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 |quote=As a result of these discussions, it has been agreed that we will have a separation, in the role of the commander. Let me emphasize this very clearly, so there is no chance of miscommunication: this is a mutual, amicable, and friendly separation. This isn't a Tasha Yar situation. Moreover, we will be handling this in such a way that, down the road, Sinclair could potentially return to the story. The character of Sinclair will achieve an important destiny, and the mystery of the Battle of the Line will be explained, both in the first episode of the new season. His story will still track. And the series will still track precisely as planned. I take pains to mention this because both Michael and I want it clear that we both believe in the show, and want this in no way to interfere with the series. He has asked me to convey for him his encouragement, his best wishes, and to emphasize that this is, again, an amicable and friendly separation.}}</ref><ref>[ftp://ftp.midwinter.com/pub/Babylon-5/GEnie/jms94-05-15 Original GEnie post Message 560 by Straczynski on Fri May 20, 1994]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Straczynski announced O'Hare's departure [[Babylon 5's use of the Internet|via a written statement]] posted on [[GEnie]] on May 20, 1994:<blockquote>This is a mutual, amicable, and friendly separation. This isn't a [[Tasha Yar#Resolution|Tasha Yar]] situation. Moreover, we will be handling this in such a way that, down the road, Sinclair could potentially return to the story. ...I take pains to mention this because both Michael [O'Hare] and I want it clear that we both believe in the show, and want this in no way to interfere with the series. He has asked me to convey for him his encouragement, his best wishes, and to emphasize that this is, again, an amicable and friendly separation.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Responding to backlash from fans, Straczynski added: "Please do not stick this on O'Hare. Whatever decisions get made, it is up to the producers — me and Doug — to implement those decisions, so ultimate responsibility rests with me. If you're going to be angry at anyone, be angry at me."<ref name=":0" /> O'Hare left the series for mental health reasons that were not disclosed at the time.

Straczynski revealed the circumstances of O'Hare's departure from ''Babylon 5'' at a presentation about the series at the [[Phoenix Comicon]].<ref name="jms-phoenix2">{{YouTube|utUTN16rrEc|t=10m52s|J. Michael Straczynski Panel at Phoenix ComicCon 2013}} (explanation begins at 10:50)</ref> During the filming of ''Babylon 5'', O'Hare struggled with severe mental illness including [[paranoid delusions]] and [[Hallucination|hallucinations]]. Straczynski offered to suspend production to let O'Hare seek treatment and return to the show as a series regular; however, O'Hare feared that a long hiatus would put the series at risk and he did not want to jeopardize others' jobs. Straczynski agreed to keep O'Hare's condition secret to protect his career.<ref name="jms-phoenix">{{YouTube|utUTN16rrEc|t=10m52s|J. Michael Straczynski Panel at Phoenix ComicCon 2013}} (explanation begins at 10:50)</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=25 Feb 2014 |title=J. Michael Straczynski on Michael O'Hare's battle with mental illness |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwyAo_YjtdM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/AwyAo_YjtdM |archive-date=2021-12-12 |accessdate=23 June 2014 |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Straczynski emphasized that O'Hare's fans, particularly those of his role as Sinclair, had helped him cope with his struggle in ways "medication never could."<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Roth |first=Dan |date=May 28, 2013 |title=Straczynski reveals moving story of why Michael O'Hare left Babylon 5 |url=http://www.blastr.com/2013-5-28/straczynski-reveals-moving-story-why-michael-ohare-left-babylon-5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605142947/http://www.blastr.com/2013-5-28/straczynski-reveals-moving-story-why-michael-ohare-left-babylon-5 |archive-date=2017-06-05 |access-date=2014-09-13 |work=Blastr |quote=What was amazing was when I saw [O'Hare] walk into a room with you, with the fans, the color came back to his cheeks, the confidence came back. You, the group, sustained him and empowered him and brought him to life in ways no medication ever could.}}</ref> O'Hare told Straczynski that fans deserved to eventually learn the real reason for his departure, and that his experience could raise awareness and understanding for people with mental illness.<ref name="jms-phoenix" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

O'Hare reprised the character of Sinclair on season two and had a two-episode guest appearance in season three. As a result of his departure, there are several minor inconsistencies between the first season and the remainder of the show, most visibly in "[[And the Sky Full of Stars]]" and "[[Babylon Squared]]."

In literary analysis of characters in pop culture and science fiction, Jeffrey Sinclair has been examined as a hero<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Iaccino|first=James F.|date=2001|title=Babylon 5's Blueprint for the Archetypal Heroes of Commander Jeffrey Sinclair and Captain John Sheridan with Ambassador Delenn|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0022-3840.2001.3404_109.x|journal=The Journal of Popular Culture|language=en|volume=34|issue=4|pages=109–120|doi=10.1111/j.0022-3840.2001.3404_109.x|issn=1540-5931|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and leader.<ref name="Yost2013">{{cite book|author=Kimberly Yost|title=From Starship Captains to Galactic Rebels: Leaders in Science Fiction Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0pFlAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA30|date=12 December 2013|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-2986-0|pages=30–}}</ref>