…Is For Versimilitude
By Mitch Berg
I liked the original version of “V” which, back in the Reagan years, was pretty much a rockin’ good war story (as I recall it at the time).
I’ve been looking at the new remake with the usual trepidation one gets when something good gets remade.
But my trepidation is changing to something else:
Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration — one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: “Why don’t you show some respect?!” The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader’s origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: “Embracing change is never easy.”
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait — did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who’s come here to eat us?
Welcome to ABC’s “V,” the most fascinating and bound to be the most controversial new show of the fall television season. Nominally a rousing sci-fi space opera about alien invaders bent on the conquest (and digestion) of all humanity, it’s also a barbed commentary on Obamamania that will infuriate the president’s supporters and delight his detractors.
OK, it’s worth a shot. I hope it’s on On-Demand.
I have a hunch that’s what I’ll need; writing aside (fingers crossed), here’s hoping it survives what will no doubt be a full assault from Obama’s faithful in Hollywood.
UPDATE: Dang. I’m remembering why I liked the first one so much.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I needed to look no further than Morena Baccarin to want to see this show.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Yeah, if casting her was part of the marketing plan I’ll say “well played”.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Give me Jane Badler. Guns, big hair, and spandex outfits. She owned the 80s.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Oh, why must I choose?
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 pm
watching it now, I’ll post a review on my blog after digesting the episode, if anyone cares.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I’m loving the production values so far.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
“Production values”? Is that some kind of code for “fabulous babes”?
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Ms. Baccarin seems to be playing the same role, or same sort of role anyway, that she did on Stargate…
And she was a good, albeit “working gal”, character on Firefly. I suppose she doesn’t mind being typecast as a space babe vixen. She can still cash the checks.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
My only question now is does this show have staying power even if it does have a following? IMDB sez they’ve already got 5 episodes in the can and no more for now.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
The original series ran over the weekend.
It is interesting to see how closely they’ve stayed in some parts to the earlier series. I’m guessing this seemed like a good idea after the cult following of the Battlestar Galactica remake.
Baccarin looks different enough from Firefly / Serenity to be believable as a different character. Harder to do with Alan Tudyk. I’m waiting to see how Marc Singer holds up in the new series – paralleling BSG bringing back Michael Hatch. (All the space babes conversation needed a little balancing, LOL)
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
THey’re only planning to run the first four episodes now; they”re holding the rest until after Olympics. Five is plenty for now.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:33 am
The original V was a miniseries. Are they planning on making this a weekly show?
November 4th, 2009 at 8:50 am
The original was a two-part miniseries (1983) that spawned a series that ran two seasons (’84-85).
The schedule for this one is odd. They’re going to air four epis this month, and resume after the Olympics.