It's a shame it's so hard to do good science fiction.
I really don't like to be negative. I try not to be. But when confronted with lack-luster writing, cliché characters and a polished-off old and obsolescent story, I have to call 'em as I see 'em. The new V is not a rethinking or a re-imagining; it is simply a brainless and uninspired remake. The setting is updated, but nothing else is. A story that worked passably well in the early '80s (because people back then didn't know any better, and TV sci-fi hadn't progressed very far) does not even begin to work as tolerable science fiction today. Why do the V implement some big conspiratorial and ridiculously convoluted plan when they essentially have the technology to just do whatever the heck they want to do to the Earth and the Earthlings? This is one story that *should* have been thoroughly re-imagined, and altered to make more sense.
Why is nobody asking the obvious questions? How come the V appear totally humanoid? How come they have Terran names like Anna and Lisa? These are some of the very basic things people would wonder about if something like this actually happened, and ask about, and which the show should consider its first duty to provide answers for. But it's not addressed at all. And any aliens who appear to us like beautiful human women would, in the real world, be *instantly* suspected of being deceitful manipulators. The seduction and ingratiation shtick is simply too obvious. Which also means that anybody who falls head-over-heels for it can only be pitiful lechers without two brain cells to rub together.
In sci-fi more than in mainstream fiction, the characters have to be fairly rational and (like the viewers) at least half-way intelligent. If the viewer is forced to sit and groan about the ridiculous stupidity of the characters' actions, we know we are dealing with unintelligent television. Also, what of subtext? Even though it was heavy-handed and obvious in the old show, at least there was a subtext (analogy to Nazi Germany). Here, there's nothing; at least none that I can identify. The show doesn't address what's going on beyond the little world of the main cast of characters. What happens to our male teenagers must be happening to millions of male teens all over the world. Somebody would at least see the pattern. Why is there no scientists among the human cast? The show sorely needs some people who actually exhibit some inquisitiveness, and who can provide useful advice.
And what's the official reaction to the presence of the V? Three weeks go by, and virtually nothing changes? It's not convincing. I also had to flinch when they mentioned universal health care. Evil aliens want universal health care? That's pretty much like comparing Obama's administration to evil reptiles for wanting health care to be available to all Americans. The last thing I need is an openly Republican sci-fi show... The producers probably meant it to be another element of seduction, akin to the sexiness of the alien women, but the evil of these aliens is just so totally obvious to the viewers that their every gesture is instantly colored in a negative light. So this sort of thing can very easily backfire. OTOH, maybe the producers *are* Republicans...
Another disappointment in the pilot was that we didn't see (in their entirety) the V's reptilian bodies. I hoped for something new and different in that area - it would have made for an interesting and dramatic end shot - but nothing suggests that it's anything other than what it was in the old show. It is quite plain from the mediocre writing and bland production values that this remake will not last long. One or two seasons, tops. Hate to preach impending doom, but that's how it seems to me, and from what I've seen so far that's what it deserves. The only character I cared for at all - Alan Tudyk's - was killed off by the end of this first episode. Now there's only Morena Baccarin's face left to be excited about.
I'd rate the pilot a 3, but I raise it to a 4 because of the one new element, which was actually a surprise, and provided some much needed depth of character for Ryan Nichols: the revelation that he was an alien, and on the side of the humans. Just for that, I may even keep watching. The show is not a total loss (I'm not rating it a 1 or 2, after all); it just fails to be interesting, intriguing, innovative, impressive or exciting.
I really don't like to be negative. I try not to be. But when confronted with lack-luster writing, cliché characters and a polished-off old and obsolescent story, I have to call 'em as I see 'em. The new V is not a rethinking or a re-imagining; it is simply a brainless and uninspired remake. The setting is updated, but nothing else is. A story that worked passably well in the early '80s (because people back then didn't know any better, and TV sci-fi hadn't progressed very far) does not even begin to work as tolerable science fiction today. Why do the V implement some big conspiratorial and ridiculously convoluted plan when they essentially have the technology to just do whatever the heck they want to do to the Earth and the Earthlings? This is one story that *should* have been thoroughly re-imagined, and altered to make more sense.
Why is nobody asking the obvious questions? How come the V appear totally humanoid? How come they have Terran names like Anna and Lisa? These are some of the very basic things people would wonder about if something like this actually happened, and ask about, and which the show should consider its first duty to provide answers for. But it's not addressed at all. And any aliens who appear to us like beautiful human women would, in the real world, be *instantly* suspected of being deceitful manipulators. The seduction and ingratiation shtick is simply too obvious. Which also means that anybody who falls head-over-heels for it can only be pitiful lechers without two brain cells to rub together.
In sci-fi more than in mainstream fiction, the characters have to be fairly rational and (like the viewers) at least half-way intelligent. If the viewer is forced to sit and groan about the ridiculous stupidity of the characters' actions, we know we are dealing with unintelligent television. Also, what of subtext? Even though it was heavy-handed and obvious in the old show, at least there was a subtext (analogy to Nazi Germany). Here, there's nothing; at least none that I can identify. The show doesn't address what's going on beyond the little world of the main cast of characters. What happens to our male teenagers must be happening to millions of male teens all over the world. Somebody would at least see the pattern. Why is there no scientists among the human cast? The show sorely needs some people who actually exhibit some inquisitiveness, and who can provide useful advice.
And what's the official reaction to the presence of the V? Three weeks go by, and virtually nothing changes? It's not convincing. I also had to flinch when they mentioned universal health care. Evil aliens want universal health care? That's pretty much like comparing Obama's administration to evil reptiles for wanting health care to be available to all Americans. The last thing I need is an openly Republican sci-fi show... The producers probably meant it to be another element of seduction, akin to the sexiness of the alien women, but the evil of these aliens is just so totally obvious to the viewers that their every gesture is instantly colored in a negative light. So this sort of thing can very easily backfire. OTOH, maybe the producers *are* Republicans...
Another disappointment in the pilot was that we didn't see (in their entirety) the V's reptilian bodies. I hoped for something new and different in that area - it would have made for an interesting and dramatic end shot - but nothing suggests that it's anything other than what it was in the old show. It is quite plain from the mediocre writing and bland production values that this remake will not last long. One or two seasons, tops. Hate to preach impending doom, but that's how it seems to me, and from what I've seen so far that's what it deserves. The only character I cared for at all - Alan Tudyk's - was killed off by the end of this first episode. Now there's only Morena Baccarin's face left to be excited about.
I'd rate the pilot a 3, but I raise it to a 4 because of the one new element, which was actually a surprise, and provided some much needed depth of character for Ryan Nichols: the revelation that he was an alien, and on the side of the humans. Just for that, I may even keep watching. The show is not a total loss (I'm not rating it a 1 or 2, after all); it just fails to be interesting, intriguing, innovative, impressive or exciting.
