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Has V lived up to the hype?
They came. They put a pretty Visitor on the bottom of a big-ass spaceship hovering over New York City. They conquered the ratings ...
They are ABC, and the show is V, the biggest new hit the network has seen in a long time.
Yes, V lost 3 million viewers or so between week one and week two, but things are still looking bright for the alien-invasion drama, which has garnered its share of raves and pans. (The third of four initial episodes airs tonight at 8 ET/PT.)
Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker wrote, "As an adventure series bristling with ideas, it's V+. Or as we grade 'em on Earth: B+." However, Salon's Heather Havrilesky felt, "Suddenly this might as well be Fringe or Warehouse 13 or The X-Files or Eureka or any one of hundreds of shows that involve FBI agents and international espionage and terrorist thugs and secret plots to take over the universe. Come on, now. Isn't there a new way to handle the alien invasion story?"
So the real question now that we've seen a couple episodes is, "Is V good?"
(Spoilers ahead!)
Let's dig into the good, the bad and the alien of it all and dig underneath the surface to see if beautiful really is only skin deep. We think V is actually very entertaining, despite the fact that it doesn't quite live up to the original or the hype of its potential.
Here's what we like most so far:
Morris Chestnut, who plays Ryan Nichols, because he's hot. OK, the truth is that all the regulars are hot on this show except the old V-loving priest, Father Travis (Scott Hylands), and he'd probably be hot if he were younger.
Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) is warm and real as an FBI mom, and she's a nice contrast to the beautifully cold and slightly alien (though still smokin' hot) Anna (Morena Baccarin).
We agree with PioneerLocal.com's Jennifer Thomas, who wrote, "When I saw some of the first clips for ABC's V, especially the one of Morena Baccarin's giant face broadcast across the New York skyline, I got worried. That looked kind of cheesy. But V is good, actually very good."
The way Anna forces reporter Chad Decker (don't you just hate him a little at first?) to do her bidding. We liked it even better in the second episode when he turns the tables on her and forces her to accept the fact that he's not going to be her little pet human.
The floating alien ball that shoots out projectiles to kill some of the rebels during the rebel meeting. Cool stuff.
Loved what viewer matwamango considered the most shocking moment of the pilot, "Ryan's scaly reveal, but he was one of the good Vs." Which makes him being an alien kind of OK.
The idea that there are spaceships hovering over her head and Erica still wants to hunt down a terrorist cell.
The incredibly brief but gorgeous view of the V city inside the enormous ship. We'd like to see more of it.
While it wasn't a huge surprise that Erica's partner, Dale, who is played by Firefly's Alan Tudyk is an alien bad guy, we sort of love it anyway. Especially since we knew he wasn't a regular on the show. The good news, it's looking like he's definitely going to be back, and he's pissed.
You've got to love the idea of literal "universal healthcare." That one made us laugh. (A political comment? See below.)
Lisa's (Smallville blondie Laura Vandervoort) look of revulsion when Tyler punched out someone saying nasty things about the Vs. So much for being a Peace Ambassador, Tyler. Maybe you should listen to your mother and stay away from the Vs. Like that's going to happen.
The fact that alien traitor Ryan, who's wearing the cute-guy human suit, and his traitor buds don't really know what the Vs have in store for the humans. As Ryan's traitor friend says, "Whatever they're going to do to the humans, it's nothing compared to what they'll do to traitors like me and you."
Anna's blinky eyes. No, no other Vs seem to do it, but it's kind of a fun bit.
And here's what we didn't like so much from the first two episodes:
Yes, we like Jack and Erica. However, does anybody really think these two could lead a revolution? Not so much.
One of the big complaints, which we agree with, from a comment by viewer warren887: "I just have to say, I don't like the way the graffiti symbol of 'V' has been changed to 'V for visitors' instead of 'V for victory!' That was a very important scene in the original series, when the old Jewish man explained the 'V for victory,' to the kids. I thought it paid great respect to previous generations. This 'V for visitors' is disrespectful to the original V and the idea behind the title of the show!" If "V for Victory" isn't somehow incorporated into the show, we'll be very disappointed too, warren887.
Teen Tyler is annoying! Yes, actor Logan Huffman is as pretty as Laura Vandervoort, but don't you just want Erica to slap him? We know that teenage boys don't necessarily think with their brains, but really, Erica, slap him. Come on! Give him a good smack for us.
Why do shows too often kill off the most entertaining character in the pilot? Or, in this case, make Dale a traitor. We liked Erica and Dale better than Erica and Jack. Yes, we liked the twist, but were more entertained with him as her partner than we will be with him being her enemy. (There are signs he will return, however.)
Viewers reading silliness into V's meaning, such as deciding that the series is an allegory that demonizes Obama's promise of hope and change. Really, folks, unless they were criticizing Obama in 1983, when he was 22 years old, the prez really wasn't in the picture when the story was developed about a charismatic leader of an alien culture who came to save us with promises of hope and universal healthcare. In fact, in the original, alien commander John offers to help the human race solve its "environmental, agricultural and health dilemmas." That sounds like universal healthcare to us. We doubt writer Kenneth Johnson (who wrote the original V) knew who Obama was, since he was graduating from Columbia University about then. Not everything from the new V is lifted from the original, but that idea (of embracing those who promise to save us) pretty much remains intact.
HitFix.com's Daniel Fienberg writes that while he likes the series so far, "if the original V hadn't been so clear in its message, I wouldn't feel that the new V had any responsibility to follow suit. But a V without subtext is just an alien drama parasitically feeding off the V brand name." In other words, it needs to be better than the original.
Nobody's eaten a guinea pig yet.
How sad that ABC had so little faith in V before it aired that they decided to run only four episodes, with the remainder of the episodes airing next year. Any bets on whether they'll change their minds?
And what we're looking most forward to:
Someone eating a guinea pig.
Morris Chestnut having lots of excuses to take his shirt off.
Jyarter said, "From this point on most will play the 'Who's a V? game' as they are watching the show." That would include us.
Erica and Father Jack getting tough enough to be believable leaders of this revolution.
More Chad-on-Anna action.
Discovering who the Vs are going to pick on. In the original it was the scientists. They need some group to persecute. But with no scientist characters, who's it gonna be?
While we like Anna and her possibilities, tharkhold said, "Did anyone ever notice all the hot chicks in sci fi are almost always vampires, werewolves, or lizards in disguise? It is enough to make you distrustful of anything that doesn't have 27 tentacles and is dripping acidic ooze." With that image implanted in our brains we can't wait to see Anna's 27 tentacles and acidic ooze. Or at least her eating a guinea pig.
V coming into its own and stepping away from its source material. We liked the original, even though it looks pretty darn dated these days. But if V is going to work and continue to draw us to our TV sets each week, it needs to do so on its own merits by being scary and thrilling and entertaining and picking up the action and characterization. After only two episodes they've done a pretty good job so far, but we do expect more if we're going to want to come back in a few months for more V.
What do you think? Has V lived up to the hype?
By green11420 at 12:41 PM ON 11/17/09
Finally someone said it! Tyler AND his stupid friend need some sense knocked into them!
And yes, I do think the show has lived up to the hype so far. I'm very interested in seeing how things work out later on in the season!
By TJL at 12:44 PM ON 11/17/09
What episode is Anna going to get a nobel peace prize? Obamamania indeed!
By Artemis at 12:55 PM ON 11/17/09
The pilot wasn't bad — not spectacular, but watchable. The second episode was weaker IMO, and I predict another ratings drop tonight. Still, it has potential. Maybe the new showrunner will help when V returns in the spring. And yes, Morris is smokin' hot.
By mykl at 1:06 PM ON 11/17/09
I think the biggest issues with the show are suspense and pacing. They rushed through the arrival and such quickly, revealed the Vistors' secret too soon and (spoiler) very causal during that first rebellion meeting. There was no: OH! factor in it for anyone new to the series or already known to the series. The pilot felt very compact and rushed and so did the second episode.
I hope the show is given a chance to pace itself out better and things like (spoilers) Vistors that are FBI agents and 5th Columnists will be more staisifying to the audience when it is finally revealed.
By ommytror at 1:08 PM ON 11/17/09
So far I think its fallen short of the original, mainly because no one has full-on swallowed a guinea pig.
In seriousness though, it reminds me of Heroes' first season where there were too many characters causing me to not feel invested in any of them with the exception of Hiro and in this case Erica. I felt the second episode was a clear improvement over the first and hope that trend continues!
I'm tired of people just trashing a show and not having optimism about its future prospects. I have my limits too, even I've given up on Heroes.
By archer75 at 1:27 PM ON 11/17/09
The concept is good. I like the cast. However the writing is bad. The pacing is bad.
Get some new writers/directors and you'll have a great show here.
By ET II at 1:29 PM ON 11/17/09
'I'm tired of people just trashing a show and not having optimism about its future prospects. I have my limits too, even I've given up on Heroes.'
Best laugh I've had all day.
By Omen at 2:08 PM ON 11/17/09
So far so good,but 2 points.
Resurrecting Dale.
C'mon.
How many times have we seen this?
SG1,BSG etc..
Can't they just stay dead!
The rear of the V ships has what looks like a horn demon.
How's that for subtle.
By Krazy Joe at 2:18 PM ON 11/17/09
"Viewers reading silliness into V's meaning, such as deciding that the series is an allegory that demonizes Obama's promise of hope and change"
Sorry, dude. Time to stop burying your head in the sand. This show is clearly a criticism of the Obama administration. Not only was there the line about Health care, but the aliens refused to talk to any news source that wouldn't portray them only in a positive light. That's right out of the Obama playbook. Then there was the theme of hope and change, and let's not forget, :"they are arming themselves with the most dangerous weapon of all. Devotion".
The original was an allegory for the Nazi takeover. This update is clearly targeting Obama.
By antodav at 2:25 PM ON 11/17/09
The first two episodes intrigued me enough to keep me watching, though I agree it's not as good as the original. So far it's off to a strong start though and I for one intend to keep on watching. The early reveal of the Visitors as reptiles in disguise should come as no surprise to anyone, at least not anyone over the age of 25. So that doesn't bother me either.
As far as the politics of the show go...SyFy is naïve if they don't see that the series is trying to make some kind of a statement about the world in which we live today. The original V had very strong libertarian themes, and the re-imagining has maintained those same themes, thankfully. They just seem a lot more poignant now when we have a socialist president in office. I imagine as the show proceeds beyond the limits of what the source material can provide, like the remakes of Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, or even The Office have, it will become much more direct and bold on it's criticism of the Obama administration. If so, I look forward to it--somebody on TV has got to have the courage to speak out about what's been going on.
By exiguus at 2:31 PM ON 11/17/09
> Anna's blinky eyes. No, no other Vs seem to do it, but it's kind of a fun bit.
No other Vs seem to do it, but I know a guy who is 40+ years old that does it. Creeps me out big time. He says he's not gay, so I guess that makes him a V with the wrong skin suite on.
By Maltheus at 2:40 PM ON 11/17/09
Obama didn't invent the cult of personality. And the media devotes themselves to power where ever they find it. Hollywood is incapable of "targeting" Obama. Any Obama supporters who see comparisons should probably take the time to examine what that means. You know, kind of an eye of the beholder thing.
By Sithboy at 3:20 PM ON 11/17/09
I could watch Alan Tudyk scratching his rear!
By actually_V_stands_for_victory at 3:38 PM ON 11/17/09
man, this show is such a huge disappointment that i'm rather shocked people are still seeing it as "having potential"! the pilot was "supposed to be stellar" but from the start, it's pacing and lack of any character development had my hopes sinking fast! then episode 2! wow, it was quite seriously B.O.R.I.N.G! there is nothing special about this show what-so-ever to my great surprise since the original is still hailed the world over as a very influential mini! Kenneth Johnson has actually been stated saying that the change of the V away from it's historic association with Victory is a HUGE insult to all the resistance fighters the world over and I can't agree more! They got the very core symbol, the core point of the story all wrong and replaced it with... ? the V's? oh man!
there is nothing here grabbing me and making me want to come back and view more! I'm not invested in ANY character! and this whole FBI thing is achingly uncomplicated and lacking in any suspense!
the writing is embarrassing, the pacing really off, the acting horribly wooden, the story really unoriginal (not at all a better take on the original which is STILL a chilling viewing!) and even the special effects- nothing new here ! just another derivative, glossy network tv teen show!
oh, and what happened to all this talk about "epic" and "startling cliff-hangers" and "deep character development" the cast and others have been so good at spewing out? I've seen NONE of this- NONE!
wow... what an utter waste of potential... gone is a thinking man's story with crazy action and deep characters to be replaced with something... simply boring...
By gorehound696 at 4:32 PM ON 11/17/09
i am not watching because of this being a remake.i am really burned out on remakes/reboots.
i decided for myself to now ignore them all.
when they decide to make new scifi i will be there weekly.
By tunji_n at 5:18 PM ON 11/17/09
V will fizzle out like Sarah Connor Chronicles. I enjoyed the premier of V and hope it will stay on long enough to complete the story line. I read that only 4 episodes will air then the show is gone until spring. Remember the old days when shows were on for the entire season, 22 episodes? Same time slot week after week. Now the networks do not give shows a chance. Sarah Connor got bounced around too much. I would have loved to see a third season.
By Nid celle at 5:30 PM ON 11/17/09
The only way to make this show semi interesting is to have an immediate one half hour (after the Dancing with the Stars Finale) where two unnamed battlestars jump out of nowhere and obliterate the floating V fleet, causing them to crash into humanity and teaching them a lesson for watching this crap show. MorAnna, of course, will escape in her shuttlle and return to the Serenity firefly (piloted of course by a very alive Alan Tudyk). NOW THATs Storytelling!
By Nid celle at 5:33 PM ON 11/17/09
Oh,, and I can't forget Captain Castle Browncoat Tightpants and Terminator Dollhouse Glau
By emilymargrit at 5:49 PM ON 11/17/09
Anyone who thinks Obama is a socialist needs to take a look at most of Europe and reassess their personal meaning of the word. No way is he socialist. On the spectrum from socialism to capitalism, which is he closer to? I guess, probably socialism, but I don't even know.
With that said it does seem like V is purposely drawing parallels, just like the original. I think the point of V is to lampoon whatever political power is making false claims at the time. And that's pretty much everybody all the time in politics!
By jpl1976 at 7:01 PM ON 11/17/09
its funny when people start reading into things. remember when rupert murdoch stated that Superman Returns was an allogory for g.w. bush? how delusional is that? also as far as obama not going on faux news....why didnt bush jr ever go on msnbc? you see people can go around in circles about this. this show is like most other shows in that it picks up on hot button issues and adds a line or two in their show to hopefully make it more relevant. there is nothing allogorical about V and the current administration and those that say otherwise are only folling themselves.
By judasnicknack at 7:39 PM ON 11/17/09
i really miss the red uniforms, thought they woulda kept them in some way - they were kinda like a key ingrediant to the show that made it stand out
By biphindy at 7:58 PM ON 11/17/09
LOL. Two battlestars destroying the V fleet. Back when the original miniseries was on, my sister and I used to joke that the Visitors' enemies were the cylons in the 70s Battlestar Galactica.
By zzbickyzz at 9:07 PM ON 11/17/09
Yawn, hopefully this copycat trash gets canned instead of FlashForward, a series based on originality.
By yokozuka at 9:35 PM ON 11/17/09
Well, so far so good, i hope it has a real ending this time!!...and also i wanna see more of Tyler, lots more!!, and of course more Anna!!! xD
By paramore at 10:56 PM ON 11/17/09
I truly don't know what Channel or TV show you all have been watching but the New "V" adds more depth & plot every week. I was a huge fan of the original series, but this new series blows the old one out the water. when it was revealed this week that Lisa was Ana's daughter that was a twist! Also the idea the visitors have been here over 20 yrs amoung us ohh and the recently revealed Ana controlling the "Connection" and "Bliss" is leading up to something huge. This goes far beyond human being food. Next weeks episode will be interesting
By luvvinV at 1:23 AM ON 11/18/09
I'm enjoying the series. The only thing I miss from the first series is how they showed how sheepish we are as a race when they started rounding up and genuinely hating all the scientists and doctors and enlightened class.
But it's avoiding most of the TV traps I hate.
By Cris at 3:36 AM ON 11/18/09
I like the new V, but what I miss the most is the B-movie feel, with laser gun battles and green alien puppet babies.
By Evey at 3:49 AM ON 11/18/09
Before this tv show "V" there was a much better idea for the world to remember. V for Vendetta. So whatever this show does, it is ruining what people find when they look for V. Im not watching.
By Dazzler69 at 7:52 AM ON 11/18/09
Instead of V they should call this D for democrats! It's a perfect political statement for what obama is doing.
By 3456 at 9:11 AM ON 11/18/09
I personally CRINGE when I hear them call the Visitors in the "new" remake "Vs".
V stands for "V" for Victory over TYRANNY! Get it right folks. Other than that, I have been watching the remake and it has been ok so far. Looks like in the fourth episode we will see more of what the Visitors (not Vs) are up to.
By Thaddeous_Bonk at 10:00 AM ON 11/18/09
Just an observation: there are a few rebel/sympathizer aliens who join the resistance.
So, um, why don’t they just walk into public, or even better, a news studio, and unmask to show their lizard faces? I would imagine that would be a lot more effective then say, shooting a gun in a warehouse.
By CAG at 11:17 AM ON 11/18/09
Yeah, pacing is bad IMO. They should have started in the middle and used flashbacks to fill in gaps so they could really hit the ground running in the premier or started with what the V had planned for the human race to keep the story line moving along. I do miss the red uniforms but not the GP eating so much ...always thought that was kind of cheesy. Anyway, at this point the only real thing we have to look forward to are the character interactions ...SAD!
By Drew at 11:26 AM ON 11/18/09
I'm liking the series so far. I'm looking forward to seeing more about how the V-Baggers rebel against Ob-Anna's evil alien regime.
By Maltheus at 12:21 PM ON 11/18/09
I'm liking this show more with each episode. But while I don't mind the speed at which it's moving, considering they're only showing four eps right now, they simply haven't done enough to deliver the punch that's needed for such a short run. That decision will come back to haunt ABC. The original V was a lot further along three hours in, and it had six instead of four hours to play with.
By w0lfm4n at 12:35 PM ON 11/18/09
Scifiwire owned by Syfy owned by NBC owned by GE and GE is huge Obama supporter (and huge investor in "green" tech, hence green week). Of course anything critical of Obama will be down played by that network and any subsidiaries.
The criticism of the orignal show was on fascism in general and more directly pointed at everyone's favorite National Socialist movement the Nazis. Heck they even had the stormtrooper uniforms.
Obama is a bit of a socialist / communist hybrid. V is using his language to specifically attach itself to current events and fears that some people have about his administration. The way the media is being portrayed in this remake is spot on with Obama's use of the media.
As for the media being attracted to power, why was there so much hate for Bush and Cheney, surely they had more power than Obama, yet were despised.
The changes happening in America right now are clearly shifting us closer to communism and socialism than at any other point in history and with Obama and followers leading that change, V becomes more culturally relevant than ever.
I vaugely recall hearing the new directory has stated that he was intentionally going after Obama, if anyone can confirm I'd appreciate it.
As for the rest of the remarks, I was a little let down that they didn't have the wierd voice flux like in the original.
Also am I the only one that misses lasers being used in sci fi any more? We are getting closer to achieving them on our own, wouldn't it stand to reason that an advanced race would have something like that in their arsenal.
And enough can't be said for their mammal munching ways. Are they just waiting for Nathan's National Guinnea Pig eating contest to spring that one on us?
By Aaron at 1:23 PM ON 11/18/09
I'll pass, thanks
By Flux Cheese at 1:33 PM ON 11/18/09
This show is terrible
By LoveFarscape at 12:16 AM ON 11/19/09
Hey it's no Farscape, but I like it. It's not bad like say I don't know maybe SGU. Give it some more time. I remember reading something about a change in the management of the show. V has a lot of story potential if done right. Too early to start the death watch.
Oh I got my Farscape complete series on DVD the other day, and It just really pissed me off all over again what scifi did to its Crown Jewel, moment of silence please, on SciFi Friday.
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
LoveFarscape:
Hey it's no Farscape, but I like it. It's not bad like say I don't know maybe SGU. Give it some more time. I rem...More »