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.
FAIL. they should remake Nightman, retelling the exploits of Johnny Domino, the smooth sax player, who recieves the ability to see seconds into the future. he also has a futuristic suit built by Raleigh, the super genius.
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 loved V last night. Not only was Elizabeth Mitchell amazing (as always) but i liked the plot, i thought it was good that there was alot of information to soak up because it kept me paying attention. Cant wait for more
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)
I think it started a bit slow, but the end was great.
*Spoiler* Alan Tudyk being a sleeper visitor was an honest surpirse. Although, looking back it makes sense.
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.
I wish I had watched it, I wanted to but decided to stick with my old reliable NCIS…the episode last night was REALLY disappointing!!!!
I’m checking out V first thing tomorrow, I hope it is as good as I think it is going to be.
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!!