Okay, if you’re reading this, chances are you watched the premiere of V.
Here’s my B+ review to read, so you know where I stand. In brief: I liked it, I thought it had a lot of clever things to say about media cynicism and human-race optimism, I thought Elizabeth Mitchell was terse-tough good and Scott Wolf masterful at playing a soulless, ambitious guy with whom we could still identify.
But I’d be very curious to know what you thought, because sci-fi or fantasy shows on major networks are always dicey, sometimes-devisive affairs. For every Lost, there’s a Manimal, know what I mean?
I’m particularly interested in whether you thought the V writers handled the whole here’s-how-America-would-react-to-aliens stuff. Would we really look up in the sky, see a pretty woman with a soothing voice, and burst into applause, or would something NRA-ish in our hearts and minds get stirred up?
Obviously, if you haven’t had a chance to watch V yet: DON’T READ THE COMMENTS BELOW, BECAUSE I’M INVITING YOU TO DISCUSS THE ENTIRE SHOW, SPOILER-DETAILS AND ALL!
Let me know what you think below, please. Thanks.
Also, read Jeff Jensen’s complete V recap.
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Just watched the “V” premiere. So far, I’m sold on the intensity. They need to fill it out a little with some sub-plots, maybe, but that can come later. I’m interested to see what week-to-week episodes will be like.
I was engaged by “V” but it packed way too much in the first show. That’s perhaps better than the opposite extreme, but here in the first hour the resistance meeting where the rebel guy just spelled it all out for Elizabeth Mitchell’s character, and us–wow, exposition much? On the one hand it’s good they go the story going but instead of creating curiosity they just told us what’s really happening and even who several of the infiltrated Vs are. Since this is a remake there is not as much mystery as there could be, but this makes me wonder if a slow-revealing but brilliant show like “Lost” would make it if it was starting now in this era of 3-minute YouTube clips.
I thought that too, until I considered that a hearty chunk of this show’s audience has literally seen this before. I think maybe they packed as much in as they did to demonstrate that this is not THAT “V.”
I agree that there was too much told. I never saw the original series, I don’t know anything about the show, but in the first minute I said to my husband, “you know, her partner’s got to be a bad guy — he’s not responding to what she’s saying”. Really obvious.
Very Good POint I think this show is trying to catch the attention of the ADD youth who can only focus for 3mins.
Um, “Mojo Mom” 75% of the audience already knows the V’s are evil lizards who want to eat humans. This isnt Lost, dear. No need for mystery or slow exposition.
I felt EXACTLY the same way. I felt this episode jammed in at least two, if not three episodes, worth of info. On the one hand, it moved into the action quickly (and yet, not quite as compelling as I thought it would be overall) – on the other hand, some of the reveals of the first episode would have had more impact if given another episode or two to breath.
I guess I’m in the 25% that didn’t know because I never saw the original series. I’m with Mojo Mom on this one.
They condensed 6 episodes into 4… because it’s going to take a long hiatus to dodge American Idol and the Winter Olympics. That’s why it felt so rushed.
I liked the fast pace of the episode. Actually, right up until tha action started i was wondering if they were going to leave us feeling all sugary about the aliens or clue us in.
Mojo Mom. Liked they got all ‘the mystery’ out of the way. Lost’s biggest problem. Really until SEASON FOUR or even FIVE was that everything was soooo secret that the show lost viewers because clearly the writers didn’t have a clue what the ‘big secret’ was either. V’s decision to ‘reveal’ right up front makes it more convetional, yes, but also more potentially thrilling. This isn’t a ‘big think’ show. Hope, though, it doesn’t become like Threshold where the ‘heroes’ ended up fightin’ the ‘infiltrator’ of the week. That led absolutely nowhere. Liked the start. And I never liked the original miniseries/series.
ABC has only committed to 4 episodes. They needed get people on board right away. If you take 2-3 shows to develop character arcs, those craving action would not come back.
That’s not true. There are 9 more episodes beginning in March.
I definitely think that they had a tough task at hand with this series. I watched and loved the miniseries and actually liked V:the final battle(I was 9 at the time). In the internet age even if you never saw it you heard about the premise and know the tagline. I still do think they pushed the pacing(just like in flashforward), I would have waited on the morris chestnutt alien reveal and maybe waited on totally revealing and killing the partner(who’s hilarious in death at a funeral). Maybe show a human group working with the sleeper cell or something to create some new mystery. I still think right now it lacks the intangible thing that a lot of great shows like this have had(even in the pilot, re:lost episode 1). Also, I think if they’re going the hybrid route (which I am almost sure they will) with either the fiance or the pretty blonde alien youth ambassador, they need to look at the BSG model and create some type of real significance for the child. All in all for major network tv I thought it was pretty decent and I am on board for the first 4 for sure. I’m all for waiting for shows to develop but I think if by hiatus it hasn’t acquired the “it” that separates it and makes it really stand out, it probably won’t ever.
the amount of information would have been acceptable in a two hour premiere event… cramming it into one hour didn’t give time for digestion or reaction from characters. The interesting part will be where do they go from here?
yeah maybe ABC overcompensated after ‘Invasion’ which was great btw but didnt survive in this A.D.D. world we live in
I was expecting something different. Having grew up with the original V and almost every other Alien meets Humans type of show in the last 20yrs I felt this V really was 2 or 3 different mini TV shows for the first half. I hate that the V’s don’t act or look anything different, they FEEL and LOOK like something out of the New Battlestar Galactica or some Android movie. I do like the subplot that for years a handful of V’s have been living on Earth as sleeper agents. I’m interested to see how that evolves.
I totally agree and was really suprised with all the hype that it wasn’t a 2 hour event. I wish there was a little more suspense (even though I saw the original) instead of spilling it all out. Hopefully they didn’t REALLY spill everything. Totally knew that the partner was a bad guy, maybe not that he was an alien though. The years in the making sleeper cells was a good twist on the original. The clapping at the spaceship was NOT.
Justin, I was thinking the same thing. Elizabeth Mitchell said the pilot was originally going to have a slower pace, but parts were re-done to speed things up. I also was thinking it had to do with Invasion. I loved that show, mainly because it had a slow pace and was just brimming with tension throughout the whole first season. They didn’t go overboard on reveals. The revealed just enough to keep things creepy and mysterious. But most Americans have short attention spans and couldn’t deal with the slow pace.
V was still good though. I thought it was pretty solid so I’ll be tuning in next week.
I’m sold! This was great drama, suspense and sci fi! I liked the underlying socio-political commentary about the danger of unchecked Obama-like hype. While it wasn’t an intelligent or deep as LOST, it was still very good.
I will definitely tune in next week.
Very good – i will watch it – sorry ABC is breaking the show up. Not as thrilling as the Battlestar Gallatica
opening shows..those shows
had me gripping my seat every week. i couldn’t get enough of them. One of the best TV shows ever. Too bad no one watched it.
Anyway, hoping V can maintain its hold on ‘AMERCIA.’
I watched the originals in the ’80’s, and rewatched on syfy past couple of days. I think this new series does a good job of giving a nod to the original while remaining it’s own thing. I’m hooked so far…
I LOVE Elizabeth Mitchell, and the kid who plays her son is good too. But yeah, the V woman leader is NO Diana (from the original)
That’s right. She was better than the original actress.
Anna, leader of the V’s, was awesome!
scifijenn – I agree with you – I’m totally hooked so far.
I also watched the originals in the 80’s and on recently on scyfy
I thought the first episode was fantastic, especially the V reveals in the final ten minutes. The applause was a bit of a stretch for sure, but I’ll definitely keep watching. Fingers crossed that the story doesn’t go totally haywire, which is always a risk with sci-fi shows.
I agree…I rolled my eyes at the applause part.
me too. New Yorkers would be more likely to yell at the ship for causing traffic jams.
Very true, Snarf. And I kept thinking that some people would get miffed at the spaceship blocking the sunlight all the time. To be honest, I didn’t think any of the human reactions were very realistic.
I disagree. We do have a certain percentage of this society who think with their nads instead of their brains. The continuing popularity of Sarah Palin proves THAT unequivocally.
As someone who loves movies such as Independence Day, I figured they were applauding at not being blown up, but whatever
Applause? Well, maybe in a large metropolitan area but not out in the sticks. Those folks would have been pulling out the double barreled shot guns and holding them at the ready. Then again, all kidding aside, that could be a very good sub-plot to bring in a bit later on. All in all a great start to the show. A lot packed into the first episode but I believe that had to be done so fans of the original show would know this was somewhat different to keep their attention and new viewers would have a good idea of what is really going on. Go Elizabeth, you’ve got me hooked!
Most people would have the WTF reaction after that instead of applauding. I know I would have…LOL
New Yorkers wouldnt applaud the Second Coming of Christ
They would crucify the poor guy.
Come on now, you’re mixing up New Yorkers with Los Angeleno!
But then again New Yorkers would crucify the Antichrist too…Shoot first, ask questions later
I live in NY and you know this because?????
Ha ha ha… I was wondering if anyone else had got that reference. Like these V’s are the “Anticrhist” especially when the theme of Devotion comes to play at least twice in the show.
I’m glad you are moving past Kate and her miseries. Enough is enough.
And yet you brought it up….
I don’t get this comment. The first Kate I thought of was from Lost, but I know you can’t be telling Elizabeth Mitchell to move on from the role of Kate…since she plays Juliet…?
Explanation?
KO, I believe he is refering to Kate from ‘John and Kate plus eight’. I think they just aired an interview with her called Kate: Her Story. (or something like that)
The promo for next week seemed exciting. But there was some stuff that I had a hard time buying. Sometimes it seems like the lingo that is added to make it seem like a different world just comes across as awkward (I’ve got the same problem with everybody talking about their “FlashForward” with huge seriousness on that other new sci-fi show). But overall, it was at least interesting, and the action was good. I’m not sure how accurate the acceptance amongst the general population would be (the applause did seem a bit much), but I’m willing to go with it for the time being.
The promo showed the FBI partner guy that Elizabeth Mitchell killed in the first show is now back alive! Why bother watching the V’s being killed every week if they are just going to come back alive…
It was pretty good. At first I didn’t want to watch cuz I know Its gonna go on a long hiatus, but it was decent. Still not as good as Fringe…
I enjoyed it and I too am worried about the scheduling of the show. Thats so annoying that we only get to see four episodes than nothing till March. Anyway I love Elizabeth Mitchell, so any compliants I have are lessened by her! Also I think I can handle this show along with Lost and FlashForward. But Glee will be DVR’d if Lost comes on Wednesday at 9 again.
They did a nice job. They really shouldn’t have revealed that the black guy was an alien yet though. They should have waited a couple of episodes and then really surprised us.
I don’t know. While I admit it would have been a bigger surprise, I spent most of the episode wondering why we care about this guy, and then the show gave us a reason to.
Good touch on making the meeting take place at a 4400 address.
gahd I miss that show
oh me too!!!!
I was thining the same thing as I watch “Tom” from The 4400 play the priest. Good show that ended before it was brought to some kind of conclusion.
That would be “thinking!”
I hope more 4400 alumni stop by..That would be great to see.
Loved that show… I was so dissapointed that it ended before its conclusion.
Anyone else want Elizabeth Mitchell to hook up with the hot priest??
You think that old man is hot??? Ohhhh…you mean the younger of the two priests…
I could see they were at least setting up for some…tension…between the two when he wore his “civvies” to the meeting. We’ll see if it goes the Thorn Birds route (Google it, youngsters!)
Thornbirds…love it! Yeah, I totally see the priest and EM’s character hooking up down the road!
I can see this event shaking his faith in God. It’s possible down the road he may leave the priesthood.
They’ll definitely hook up. And then she”ll learn he’s a priest. And he will probably lose his faith at some point…
Did no one else think that the “old” priest is probably part of the V sleeper cell? He was way too pro V for an old school catholic.
I definitely thought the old priest was a V. And what was with the Vatican being so quick to accept the visitors?
I bet Erica and the Priest will hook up, or there will at least be a ton ot angst and tension before something finally happens. Angst and tension works. He’ll question his faith, they’ll hook up, he’ll have to see her romantic with someone else and it will kill him. Oh yea this is going to be a brutal relationship to ship, but hopefully worth it.
Priests dont “hook up” with women dear. They’re gay.
yeah the sexual tension will probably be with the son!
Say WHAT?!?
Tina…stereotype much?
Ooh ooh I do I do!!
Jesus Christ. Anna is hot.
You thought Anna, with her Fisher-Price toy hair and protruding upper lip was hot? No, the “teen Barbie” V was hot. But I won’t go there.
I hadn’t intended to watch this, but my wife got me to watch the premiere. Not impressed. The applause was beyond ridiculous, although I cringingly expected it. I’d never even heard of the previous series, but I felt like I’d seen it all before. Too close to the Fringe/Flash Forward others-among-us vibe.
I wanted Anna to be decked out in some odd funky outfit and have an odd accent… She needs something to LOOK like something other than an ex-America’s Next Top Model reject.
I just watched the show. And as a luke-warm fan of the science fiction genre, I have to say that the show definitely hooked at least for now. I think that it is off to a good start. We’ll see if “V” continues to sizzle or will it fizzle out. Time will tell but so far I like it.
Anyone else think the black chick is pregnant already?
The “black chick” is Lourdes Benedicto, and she is of Filipino and Dominican/Spanish descent. And yes, the idea that her character might be pregnant did occur to me, making the reveal at the end even more unnerving.
God I hope they don’t do the alien hybrid thing again. That was the worst part of the original miniseries. First they had to play the “it’s a woman’s choice” abortion angle, and then they had the freaky “Rosmary’s Baby” c-section birth scene. Ick.
Oh, come on! The lizard baby was the highlight of the original version! If the “traitor’s” girlfriend is pregnant, I’m definitely on board.
I agree with Rich! I watched SyFy’s replay of the original on Sunday just to see the birth of the alien baby! It’s a classic scene.
the green baby was the best part!!
Definitely loved it! It was awesome! Didn’t see the ‘V’ reveals coming at all, totally surprised me. I don’t like that we only get four episodes and then have to wait until March for some more. Doesn’t ABC remember that this didn’t work very well when they did it with LOST?
It almost makes me feel that these 4 episodes of V is akin to the original first V two episode mini series… then the NEXT part that comes in March will be akin to the V: Final Battle stuff… maybe?
How is Scott Wolf still the same age he was on Party of Five? Wasn’t that show on 15 years ago?
He must have a portrait hidden in his attic.
“dorian grey” pretty highbrow there elizabeth. kudos
Vampire.
Hehehehe. Yeah, this.
Because he’s an alien but doesn’t know it. And yeah, why does he still act like Bailey with that confused grin.
Hopefully they won’t resort to having a retarded visitor like they did in the original mini-series.
Willie wasn’t retarded. He was rushed into the job without proper training. By the end of the series, he wasn’t slow.
Willie was supposed to be stationed on a ship in the Middle East and spoke Arabic.
And don’t forget: Willie was also Freddie Krueger!
There was one kind of ‘off’ guy who was hunting for mice in the garbage on the original show. They also had a sterotypical gay alien who was “Head of decorations” for the cammand ship…ahh progress
Loved Willie! I still remember when the teenagers smoked him out and then he went dumpster-diving for “mousey”.
Willie (Robert Englund) was the best thing about the original series, just enough malapropisms to be funny, but also representing taking a stand for what is right and managing to do it as a pacifist. Oh, and it wasn’t Willie that got stoned and went dumpster-diving while calling “mousey.” And Brian, good call remembering why Willie wasn’t fully trained in English yet! Kudos.
I liked it. It kind of reminded me of Flashforward with the dramatic opening and the FBI agents.
Still laughing at that Manimal reference in the article.
I’m still laughing at that Manimal reference in the article.
Me too!!!
Still laughing.
Unimpressed. Something was ‘off’ about the whole thing.
I’m guessing you voted for Obama, and if not, I’m sorry if I offended you.
Might be ok. Reminds me exactly of how people are DEVOTED to “someone” at the present time.
This Jesus-lover is mad that Obama is prez.
Really? I thought he was talking about Robert Pattinson.
Teabags and conspiracy theories. Sheesh.
They also made note about people taking religion into extreme fanaticism.
I swear I think Obama is a V
Is obvious that Anna is inspired by the lizard in the White House. She brings hope and universal helthcare.
Yes, hope and universal health care are so sinister.
Takes one to know one.
“HOPE” is synical when it’s only rhetoric. My guess a lot of conservatives are watching this show. I’m almost conviced Obama’s a V, but he’s not good looking enough.
Okay, but not great. I’m not sure I’ll continue with it. I wasted too much time on “FlashForward” after the mediocre pilot to want to do that again.
What a disappointment! I loved the original, this has a great cast but this was just a bland, uninspired, poorly-scripted effort.
Speaking of bland, uninspired, and poor…
Everybody…Meet Darren.
Lazy rebuttal, just like this show’s writing.
And yet you’ve come back TWICE to discuss this show that you can’t stand. Pathetic.
And yet you reply back cause he insulted your new favvy show. awww.
pathetic.
To ‘Y’ – I thought we were supposed to come here and discuss what we thought of the show, just because someone wasn’t impressed doesn’t mean you have to act all pi$$y. I thought it lacking something as well, and probably wouldn’t watch next week if it wasn’t for Elizabeth Mitchell. Wanna jump down my throat too?
and in true obnoxious, egotistical American fashion, you stick your nose in other people’s business, or in this case, other people’s argument… pathetic.
Kristin….it’s one freaking episode. How many great shows would have been cancelled because of attention-challenged viewers like you won’t give it any time to gel?
I was trying to make a point, Tucker asked us what we thought, Darren made a comment on why he didn’t like it, and Y attacks him. I just don’t understand why people on these boards have to personally attack someone for just stating their opinion on a TV show. Darren didn’t say anything moronic, stupid, racially motivated, yet he was attacked. Get over yourselves people. And Mark, I’m not American, which is probably why I’m trying to stick up for someone instead of personally attack them!!!
@Dave – you don’t even know me. I stuck by many many shows that have ended up being cancelled. I only said I was on the fence but due their casting of EM I would be back. How does this make me attention challenged? If something is boring (which I didn’t say this was), I’m not going to force myself to watch it just because it MIGHT get better.
Kristin – I think it commendable that you stuck up for someone who was being attacked for stating an opinion on a discussion board (imagine having the gall to state an opinion when one is asked for). We’re becoming very intolerant of other people’s views, and some people consider name-calling a proper response to everything. Insults and name-calling do not constitute an argument.
Kristin, thanks for the insight that I don’t know someone who posts under any name they choose on a message board. It’s one episode and people (like you) are making grand pronouncements based on one episode. Some people who weren’t happy with the episode could at least provide some actual examples of what they did not like – that’s great. People (like you) who show up to discuss their future viewership with little else, are simply bores who think everyone is dying to know what they think. We don’t. We’re here to discuss V, not whether or not you’re going to watch it. If you don’t have anything constructive to add, then simply ignore the “Post Comment” button and all is well.
Kristin.. I should have been more clear.. I was aiming my snarky/ironic comment at the post before yours but you posted before me. sorry
If you want badly scripted Darren, try watching Heroes
This reply seems off topic. Are you trying to start a new argument?
What is a badly scripted Darren?
My thoughts almost exactly. This could have been more, but it settles for adequate and makes the actors work a lot harder than they should be to carry the blandness.
I liked it! Thank you for saying something about the applause, didn’t like that. Worried about the time, wish it was a little later. Couldn’t help but think of District 9 when we saw the shots of the cities with the huge ship hanging over…
Really liked it. I thought the pacing was a bit off in the first 20 minutes (3 weeks later – ugh) but SPOILER ALERT: the reveal that the V’s have actually been among us for decades infiltrating Government, causing unrest, “turning faith into extremisim” (Bin Laden a reptilian alien? Brilliant) was a nice touch.
I agree, Snarf. I liked that part best.
I was also fooled by the FBI partner, after she flirted with him. I watched it back this morning, and it is actually really obvious he’s a baddie. They talk about a “mole” in the department, and he gets a weird look in his eye when he “talks all computer-y”.
Overall, I’m not quite on board yet, but I’ll give it another chance.
the only thing I didn’t like about her partner getting killed in the pilot is that I think Allen is a great actor. I was looking forward to seeing him in the series… (I’m always looking for a job for “Walsh”)
I tuned in because of Elizabeth Mitchell. I thought it was solid, although there was a WTF! moment when they started applauding.
I thought the pilot was great. I know that I’ll be coming back next week for sure. Who can complain about another intelligent hour of television given all the crap out there right now?
“They created unnecessary wars.”
Wait, did this show just insinuate that George W. Bush was a lizard? Funny stuff.
This pilot made Flash Forward look good, but I’ll keep watching. I’ve seen worse pilots turn into good shows.
Bush always seemed more ape-ish to me, but I could TOTALLY believe Cheney as an evil undercover lizard dude.
I can see all of them as evi lizards….Obama, bush, Cheney, Hillary
ROFLMAO!!! The exact same thought went through my head, but then again, there was a lot of web stuff about that anyway (probably inspired by the original series, IMHO). Elizabeth Mitchell rocked. She can immerse as well as any actor I’ve seen, no sign of Juliet AT ALL. Impressive. Also enjoyed the nods to The 4400. (One of the best first seasons ever, all downhill from there….) Just wondering when the often ubiquitous Billy Campbell will show up in one of those ambiguous supporting roles. (Although I sure wouldn’t mind seeing Summer Glau!) Thumbs up so far, we’ll see how it goes. As for the hiatus – remember the original was a miniseries before it was a series. (Remember minis? Or is that just for us old-timers? So maybe this is another way to offer homage to the original.)
Very true. The original was a two part, four hour miniseries that ended on a cliffhanger. It took them two years to come out with the disapointing “V: The Final Battle.”
Wait, you got Bush outta that? I got a distinct Obama allegory. The V’s are bringing “hope” and apparently universal health care. They’re socialist reptiles! The whole thing felt like anti-Obama propaganda. But I’ll keep watching because I’m a whore for shiny spaceships.
“universal health care” I think, did allude to Obama – “unnecessary war” was alluding to Bush – so basically, all our leaders are reptiles
Good point. It did seem more sided against Obama… but maybe that’s just because the Dems are in power now, rather than the writers having a specific agenda.
Leela, I thought the same thing immediately, that line specifically pointed straight at his pointed head.
I suppose it was inevitable in this day when we no longer delay gratification, but I preferred the way the original ‘V’ built up to creating the resistance and reveling the visitors plans. I liked the arrest of the scientists being the tip off that something was up. This seemed somewhat rushed and with very weird political references.
Still, interested in what develops but right now the pacing feels a tad off.
i have to agree with you, laura. I felt rushed also. i felt disconnected early on, but sat thru it for my hubbys sake. not sure if we will stick with this one.
I agree. I didn’t actually see the original series, but I felt like we got way too much information in this first show. What, the rest of the series is just gonna be skirmishes between the Vs and the resistance? Where’s the intrigue in that?
I am on the fence. I never saw the original and admit I am intrigued; but I thought the public’s reaction was totally unrealistic. The applause,”healing”, and fun rides on the spaceship. The fact that an alien could come to the planet, open up healing centers, and do tv interviews without any pushback. Where was the government or military in all this? This is no Battlestar Gallactica.
I agree. When told they couldn’t venture on the space ship unless they were 18 or had a note from a parent… Really? Will aliens be so familiar with such niceties?
First a grade: C
Way too rushed. Aliens arrive, begin takeover, and resistance sprouts up within 15 minutes. WHY? Take some time, build some suspense.
And how cheesy was the special effect of the jet plane plowing into the street…come on. That gag wasn’t important enough to the plot to use such a cheap and cheesy effect.
Too much more to complain about….