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V Is Not Doomed, And You Should Still Watch
San Francisco, 6:46 PM
Wed Dec 2
29 posts in the last 24 hours
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V Is Not Doomed, And You Should Still Watch |
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11/04/09
11/04/09
Is anyone from io9 going to do recaps? #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
Oh, and will there be lizard/human sex. THAT'S the important question! #v
11/04/09
I think there was a huge mistake made in not presenting this as a two-hour premiere. The characters were anemic and uninvolving, and there was so much exposition packed into a single 45m episode (though less than Dr Who manages) that they totally skipped over any sense of awe or tension.
In the original, most people were originally quite thrilled, and it was only gradually that the unease set in. And yet they told the story (leaving room for a sequel) in just four hours.
In this one, it's like "oh hai, alienz!" and then "three weeks later, most people love 'em but some people hate 'em." We don't even see the healing centers or any of that. Way to develop a world, guys.
I couldn't believe that the big dramatic moment when the V shuttle landed at the UN was shown ON TV as other characters talked over it. Good grief.
And then at the end, somebody says "oh, they are not friendly, they are evil, plus they are lizards, plus they've been here for years starting wars & stuff!" Give me a break.
Not to mention the characters are TOTALLY under-developed.
Plus, there was NO mouse-eating or face-ripping. WTF is that about?? #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
I really like you, but I think we should not start rushing things in our relationship. Constantly saying "we" when you should say "I" is really sweet of you, but I don't think our relationship has reached that far yet. However, what about me calling you "honey" as a starter?
Now, Honey, let me tell you what I think about your arguments:
"We sort of owe it to ourselves to support any show about alien invaders"
No, I don't. I owe it to myself to support good shows or else the networks might think I and likeminded people will like everything they barf onto the screen.
"Part of the answer is that we are science-fiction fans, and having our hearts broken is part of the deal. But you also have to keep the faith alive that it won't happen this time."
Honey, this argumentation is really upsetting me, because it reminds me of beaten housewifes. Maybe we should have a relaxed talk? You can tell me everything you like, you know that.
Yours, sincerly #v
11/04/09
Dear Mr_Noyes,
Please forgive me for reading your mail (although as a lifer, you are surely used to it), but I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it (and the cookies your mother sent you).
Yours sincerely, SJ_Edwards. #v
11/04/09
give me new scifi and i will give it a chance but no more remakes.
forme BSG is the last remake i will go near.i have to say enough is enough weith all these remakes. #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
give me new, original scifi and i will consider giving it a chance but please no more remakes.
BSG is the last remake i will go near. i must say enough is enough with all these remaekes . #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
11/04/09
The old Friend of the Visitors kid was ultimately seduced by youthful malaise and dissatisfaction and the power of hooking up with powerful friends. The new kid, went because a girl smiled at him. In old V, the resistance started to coagulate because the vice of suspicion was tightening around them and their neighbors, who were all part of an easy-to-malign group. In the new one, they all get pictures of lizard men handed to them, and are shortly thereafter shot at. Old V, people started disappearing one at a time under mysterious circumstances, new V, resistance cells are being wholesale slaughtered inside of an hour. I'll leave it as an exercise to circle which choice makes for more drama.
Now, it wasn't all bad- Morena manages to exude some ineffable alien vibe for being such an attractive woman, for one, but as of ep. 1, they've missed the boat on why exactly you do reboots- because time has shown where the merits and failings are and you can do better. Here's hoping ep. 2 raises the bar- which it very well might, I'm certainly note jumping on any hate wagon, it just seems they kinda bypassed most of the important parts of the premise right out of the gate. Characters are still making the same speeches about the power of weaponized loyalty, but thus far, their biggest weapons seem to be good old bombs n' guns. #v
11/04/09
That said, I enjoyed it enough to watch it some more.
The set up for the ethically compromised interview was too on the nose, but it's refreshing to see the subject on a accessible tv show like this. They have a chance to draw out some interesting ethical and political issues. #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
It does make me sad when people don't watch a show because they think it's destined to fail. Sadly, whether it was or not, the people giving up before it starts consign it to that fate.
I hope this at least does well enough to make a complete one season story, if nothing else. #v
11/04/09
This show was the most heinous example of beat you over the head with a 2x4 allegory in scifi since Ronald Moore had the cylons calling the human resistance on New Caprica "insurgents".
I haven't groaned so loud or roll my eyes so much in a long time. Great job V.
Worse yet, as others have pointed out I simply didn't like the characters. There was no one to grab onto. Who cares?
The Visitors were too over the top sinister and nefarious acting. As smooth talking as Anna is she can't talk her way around difficult questions? Any idiot political intern knows how to do that.
And the show was cheesy. Not in a cool campy tongue in cheek 70s/80s way either. In a trying to be serious but laid it on way too thick way. #v
11/04/09
But now that I have policy-wonked out, yes, it's true. The V 2x4 was swung with great force. #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
1. Implying the aliens are coming for our natural resources, when they could be stripping Enceladus of water, Titan of methane and both the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud of any minerals they would ever need.
2. Planting among us, apparently for years, sleeper hybrids that can be exposed just by having a thin layer of skin peeled away.
3. They shouldn't even need hybrids. If they could avoid detection among us long enough to plant spies, the aliens could just as easily cloned, stolen human babies and raise them to be completely loyal Uncle Toms.
Guys (I mean Hollywood), I someone who gets a headache whenever I look at an issue of Scientific American*. If you can't fool even me, you're not even trying.
The only way this could be salvaged is by revealing the whole plan of the V's was to frighten humanity into banding together in the face of an outside threat, ala Watchmen.
*And no, I'm not proud of my ignorance. #v
11/04/09
11/04/09
Overall, I liked it. Y'know, there's always a couple of nits to pick as we scifi nerds are wont to do. BTW nice dig at the half awesome/half stupid "Independence Day".
The female cast is ridiculously sexy (speaking of which, no Jane Badler cameo?) and the special fx were spiffy, although I would've put a few dinosaurs on Wash's desk. ;-) #v