Previous Post If it's a paradox, it probably didn't matter who she picked. Whomever she picked would be the reincarnation of Valen because she picked them, and thus they were destined to go back in time and become Valen. Or to put it more simply, it wasn't just a coincidence. The reason she picked the person who happened to be Valen is because the only reason he's Valen is because she picked him.

I have read that theory before that basically states there was, will and must always be a Valen to fight the shadows 1000 years ago and that whomever she chose would be Valen.

The one thing that breaks that theory though is that in Season 1, Sinclair was shown a glimpse of the dark future from the Centauri psychic of B5 being destroyed and a shuttle escaping at the last minute. Then when B4 appeared, we get another look of that same future that shows Sinclair and Garibaldi fighting the shadows on the station, Garibaldi tells him there is a shuttle waiting for him and that the fusion reactors are set to blow. Sinclair is swept away by the tide of evacuees and we see his shuttle escaping as the station blows up.

Then in Season 3 we see yet more of the dark future as Ivanova is on the wrecked bridge sending that distress call. Sheridan was dead, the reactors were set to blow, etc.

So, I think the better theory is that the Vorlons helped nudge things a bit and used their powers to ensure Sinclair was chosen, thus keeping the paradox/temporal circle intact.

Sinclair was, is and always will be Valen and he had, will, and always be the one to take B4 back in time.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing a Babylon 5 TV movie or miniseries that shows the war of 1000 years ago and we see Valen in action. Sadly the role would need to be recast but I suspect it would make for an interesting tale.