Vir Cotto
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| Babylon 5 character | |
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| Vir Cotto | |
|---|---|
| Affiliated with | Babylon 5, Centauri Republic |
| Race | Centauri |
| Home planet | Centauri Prime |
| First appearance | Midnight on the Firing Line |
| Last appearance | Sleeping in Light |
| Portrayed by | Stephen Furst |
Vir Cotto is a character from the fictional Babylon 5 universe, played on screen by Stephen Furst. He is a Centauri male who was from a family of minor nobility who would eventually become the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5, and then become the Emperor of the Centauri Republic in 2278.
Vir is Latin for Man, and Vir Cotto plays a role similar to that of the Everyman character of morality plays, an ordinary person influenced by personifications of good and evil, struggling with moral choices.
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[edit] Character History
[edit] First two Seasons
Vir originally appears in the Episode Midnight on the Firing Line as an assistant to Ambassador Londo Mollari. He is introduced as a quiet, introspective and somewhat shy character, possibly even a "black sheep". However, since the Ambassador's position was considered a joke by the Centauri government during the first season, the assistant's position was not considered a particularly important or prestigious position. At the time, Vir was an embarrassment to his family, and his family arranged for him to be assigned to this position as a means of getting him as far away from them as possible.
Over the next few years, the character of Vir proved himself to be an able assistant to Ambassador Mollari. During this time he developed a friendship with Lennier - the fact that they both served as assistants to ambassadors gave them a common bond. As the prestige of the ambassadors rose throught the series, replacing Vir with another assistant was suggested. However, the character was maintained, which is explained in-universe by Mollari threatening to resign if Vir was not allowed to stay.
[edit] Third Season
Eventually, Vir appeared less frequently, since Stephen Furst had taken a role in a sitcom and couldn't appear in many episodes in the third season. This was explained in-universe as a re-assignment as liason to Minbar. Officially, Mollari arranged to have this happen in order to help Vir further develop in his career. Privately, he admitted to Delenn that he didn't want Vir around with the events - namely the Shadow War - that were soon to come. This underscores the friendship that had, at that point, developed between the fundamentally unlike characters of Londo and Vir, as well as provide some insight into Londos own guilt over his role in the shadow war.
One Episode has Vir returning to Babylon 5 to deliver a report on Minbari culture to Londo. He presented the report to Londo to see what Londo thought of it. Londo proceeded to edit the report - rewording it to make the Minbari society seem stagnant and decadent. This scene showcased the Centauris own decadence. During this visit he was attacked and seriously injured by G'Kar when G'Kar took the illegal telepathic drug 'Dust' that enabled him to assault Mollari telepathically.
Virs second appearance in this season coincided with President Clark of the Earth Alliance declared Martial Law, and the third wife of the late Centauri Emperor Turhan Lady Morella arriving to visit the station. In this appearance, his eventual ascension to emperor of the Centauri Republic was foretold by the late emperors wife and personal seer, Lady Morella.
Vir served to portrait a "good Centauri" throughout the occupation of Narn, possibly to counterpoint the usual role of Centauri as antagonists. He began using his position on Minbar to get Narns away from their home and get them proper care. This once again underscored his "moral high ground" over Mollari, and contrasted with Mollaris eventual anguish over his role in the occupation of Narn, and the atrocities committed against the Narn people.
Another defining appearance of Vir concerned itself with a marriage for the character. Vir had been bethrothed with Lyndisty, the daughter of a prominent Centauri family. Initially the two seemed quite compatible, however it was revealed that Lyndisty had been involved in atrocities committed by the Centauri on Narn. At the same time, Virs involvement in the "underground railroad" was discovered. This discovery led to Vir being punished by being removed from the liaison officer's post and reassigned to Mollari. At the same time, the marriage between himself and Lyndisty was put on hold.
[edit] The Shadow War
Vir Cotto remained an important character during the shadow war arc, which comprises parts of season 3 and 4.
Stephen Furst lost nearly 150 pounds of weight in the time between the third and fourth seasons due to health reasons. The character followed this development, with the loss being clearly visible in the last two seasons of the series. It is not explained in-universe.
Vir was once again used as a "moral counterpart" to Mollari towards the end of the Shadow War arc. Mollari had Vir come to Centauri Prime to assist in the assassination of Emperor Cartagia. At about the same time, G'Kar was captured by the Centauri. G'Kar agreed to help Mollari in exchange for Mollari freeing the Narn from Centauri domination. The assassination plot (which involved luring the insane Emperor to the Narn homeworld) went astray, with Vir finally being the person to kill the emperor. The character felt considerable anguish over this fact, but (after being counselled by Mollari) accepted it as having been necessary.
Vir quickly returned with Mollari to Centauri Prime as the former was proclaimed Prime Minister (partially in order to force the Shadows to leave). Despite Londo Mollaris destruction of the Shadow fleet stationed on Centauri Prime, the Vorlons threatened to destroy the planet. When he realized that there was still someone - namely him - who had been touched by the Shadows, and that the Vorlons were going to destroy Centauri Prime just to kill him, Mollari begged Vir to kill him to save their people. The mirrored the situation of Virs assassination of Emperor Cartagia, with the added complication of the victim being his friend Londo. At the last moment, Sheridan and his forces destroyed enough of the Vorlon fleet that they called in their remaining forces, and the Vorlons left without destroying Centauri Prime. Thus, Vir was spared this decision, and it remained unclear if he had been capable of killing his long-term friend.
[edit] Season 4 and 5
Following the Shadow War, Vir returned to Babylon 5. For the next two years he continued to act as Mollari's assistant, and as a representative of the Centauri to Babylon 5 when Mollari was back on Centauri Prime. When Mollari the throne place as Emperor, he named Vir ambassador to Babylon 5.
[edit] After the Series
Note: Virtually all of the information relating to Virs activities after the main series comes from "The Fall of Centauri Prime" trilogy of tie-in novels. While these books are considered canon by the producers and creators of Babylon 5, they do mildly contradict what little information the show gives us about Emperor Cotto in the episode "Sleeping in Light". While the books strongly imply Vir was a great and good leader, the episode mainly concentrates on Vir's womanizing and drinking. It is entirely possible that both explanations are true (many good real-world leaders have been known to 'indulge', and Vir could also simply have been taking a vacation); in any case, Vir also relies on the assistance of Zack Allen, who was by that point in the Babylon 5 continuity a member of the Rangers.
As Emperor Mollari took the throne, he submitted to control by the Drakh, who planned to subvert the entire Centauri republic. Over the next 16 years, Vir Cotto was able to assemble a resistance movement called "The Legions of Fire." He (assisted by two Technomages) sabotaged the efforts of Prime Minister Durla, who was being influenced by the Drakh through his dreams.
Vir was forced to take decisive action when a fleet build by Prime Minister Durla threatened to attack the worlds of the Interstellar Alliance. He returned to Centauri Prime, in order to oust the Prime Minster from power.
He succeeded, partially due to the assistance of Londo, who was able to give Vir a covert message that said the Tower of Power had to be destroyed. Vir's people destroyed the tower, which revealed the Drakh presence not only to the Centauri, but to the Alliance as well. Vir gave a holographic address to the Centauri people in which he told them that the Drakh had manipulated them.
[edit] Emperor Vir Cotto
With the death of Emperor Mollari at the hands of G'Kar, Vir killed Mollari's Keeper. After being approached by several Drakhs, he managed to escape from the throne room by jumping out the throne room window on to a waiting shuttle. From there Vir went to the Minbari homeworld.
The remaining heads of the Centauri houses met him there. He was able to persuade the nobles into recognizing his claim as Emperor. He ordered the military forces to begin a campaign against the Drakh.
After the Drakh left Centauri Prime, Emperor Cotto set about the reconstruction of the Centauri homeworld, which had been damaged by Drakh bombs. He was given Interstellar Alliance assistance in this.
When Sheridan found that he was dying, he invited Vir Cotto to Minbar to have one last meal with him. When it came time to toast colleagues who had died, Vir lifted his glass to Londo Mollari.
After Sheridan's death, and the destruction of Babylon 5, Emperor Cotto returned to Centauri Prime. Former Babylon 5 security chief Zack Allen accompanied him, and served as his assistant. He is implied to be a capable leader for the centauri people
[edit] Purpose of the Character
With Mollari's increased association with Morden following the events of "Chrysalis" and "Points of Departure", Vir became a silent (and unwilling) participant in Mollari's "achievement" of his destiny - that of a vicious and despised tyrant. Vir pleaded with Londo to sever his ties with Morden, yet Londo's desire in restoring the glory of the Centauri Republic made him ignore Vir's opinion. It was hinted at that Vir thought that he might get through to Londo someday and thus he persisted in staying with him and persisted in letting Londo hear about how wrong he is in his decisions every time. The character thereby became a counterpoint to Londos increasing emotional detachment towards his own actions, and illustrated Mollaris "fall" by remaining true to his principles.
Vir also displayed outright animosity (mostly to comedic effect) towards Mr. Morden. Unlike Londo, who is seduced by the power Morden and his "associates" wield, Vir resists the deception and manipulation of Morden. In one episode, Morden confronts him directly, asking him the Shadows' questions of "What do you want?" to which he responds:
| “ | "I'd like to live just long enough to be there when they cut off your head and stick it on a pike as a warning to the next ten generations that some favors come with too high a price. I'd look up at your lifeless eyes and wave like this. Can you and your associates arrange it for me, Mr. Morden?" | ” |
Since Vir was portrayed as mostly good-natured and unagressive up to this point, this response underscored the loathing and revulsion he felt towards Morden and the Shadows.
[edit] Quote
- "Vir, do you believe in fate?"
- "Well, actually, I believe there are currents in the Universe. Eddies and tides that pull us one way or the other. Some we have to fight, some we have to embrace. Unfortunately, the currents that we have to fight look exactly like the currents we have to embrace. The currents that we think are the one that's gonna make us stronger, they are the ones that are going to destroy us. And the ones that we think are going to destroy us, they are the ones that are going to make us stronger. Now, the other current--"
- "Vir! Yes or no?"
- "Yes! You know, somewhat, why?"
— -- Londo and Vir in Babylon 5:"The Geometry of Shadows"
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