ABC's V Remake

[DeToxRox]

Anyone watch this tonight?

Was a decent first episode. I never saw the original but I hear it followed that pretty closely.

Anyway, intrigued me enough to DVR it and go from there with it.

[sabotai]

Watched it. It was good...not great, but good. I barely remember the original miniseries, only a few bits and pieces of it, so I can't say if it's following the original closely or not.

Since the TV series that was spawned off the miniseries failed (only 1 season), it'd probably be best if they did move away from the original story at some point, though.

[Thomkal]

<----spoilers here so don't read if you haven't watched yet.




I have to say I was disappointed in how quickly they moved the storyline along. People being revealed as aliens too soon, and I would have liked more of a build up to the revelation that they were already amongst us and have a sleeper cell working. Didn't like they revealed an FBI agent as a sleeper already-would have preferred that to develop over the first few episodes-is he a V or not? Love the actor that plays that agent though.

Just doesn't feel like there's going to be much mystery or suspense in what's going to happen next-just the resistance fighting to reveal the truth about the Visitors and eventually winning.

[Alan T]

I agree Thomkal

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

<----spoilers here so don't read if you haven't watched yet.

I have to say I was disappointed in how quickly they moved the storyline along. People being revealed as aliens too soon, and I would have liked more of a build up to the revelation that they were already amongst us and have a sleeper cell working.

On one hand, I do agree that some of the plot elements (especially with regards to revealing key players early as humans that are really aliens, or as aliens that are really on the humans' side) were introduced too quickly. But on the other hand, too many people remember the original, so "the reptilian alien with nefarious designs on earth" angle had to be introduced right away.

Anyway, I thought it was well done. Doesn't seem as campy as the original (though I am sure this remake will be considered camp in 20 years). I can already see a few themes emerging: career vs conviction, the allegorical idea that folks of "your kind" may not be your friend, while foreigners may not necessarily be your enemy. I'd be interested to see how this plays out, and even if it will have a chance to play out. The winter hiatus for the olympics will do the show no favors.

[Logan]

Haven't seen it, but the original (I'm not sure if it was aired or on tape) is honestly one of the first memories I have...someone peeling off the skin on their hand to reveal a green, disgusting alien arm. That's all I got, and nothing in my mind dates back further.

[Eaglesfan27]

Darn. I forgot to DVR this. Any word on if it will be repeated?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Darn. I forgot to DVR this. Any word on if it will be repeated?

First episode will be available online on November 7th according to the website.

ABC.com - V - Home

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

On one hand, I do agree that some of the plot elements (especially with regards to revealing key players early as humans that are really aliens, or as aliens that are really on the humans' side) were introduced too quickly. But on the other hand, too many people remember the original, so "the reptilian alien with nefarious designs on earth" angle had to be introduced right away.

Anyway, I thought it was well done. Doesn't seem as campy as the original (though I am sure this remake will be considered camp in 20 years). I can already see a few themes emerging: career vs conviction, the allegorical idea that folks of "your kind" may not be your friend, while foreigners may not necessarily be your enemy. I'd be interested to see how this plays out, and even if it will have a chance to play out. The winter hiatus for the olympics will do the show no favors.

Apparently ABC is giving the show some time. The network is airing 4 episodes and taking a break for the Olympics and then coming back for 4 more. The producer said it's being aired as "four episode pods" or something like that.

[DanGarion]

After all the talk about bad acting in Fast Forward it got me thinking that the acting in V was pretty bad as well.

Plus why the fuck would the FBI agent not go to her superiors regarding the alien cell and that her partner was an alien... WTF?

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

After all the talk about bad acting in Fast Forward it got me thinking that the acting in V was pretty bad as well.

Plus why the fuck would the FBI agent not go to her superiors regarding the alien cell and that her partner was an alien... WTF?

she fears that they're aliens? she fears that they'll think she's nuts? she will try to in a later episode and one of these two things will happen?

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

she fears that they're aliens? she fears that they'll think she's nuts? she will try to in a later episode and one of these two things will happen?

Everyone in the FBI is an alien? Not to mention unless she's already had issues with her superiors I don't see why you wouldn't immediately report it. I would think the FBI, CIA, and NSA would have their doubts about the aliens from the start no matter if they were being good or not. I'm just saying they searched that guys house on official business, so there should be a report starting the meeting, and then the aliens (or someone who cares who it is) kills a bunch of people at a meeting... And that's it? WTF.

At least Jack Bauer yells at people and and asks what they did with the bomb.

[TroyF]

If she reports it and there is another "sleeper" there, she's blown it for everyone. The resistance would be dead before it ever started.

I also think the idea was to speed things along because people knew about it already. There was no need for them to hide that they were lizards or hide the fact they were really bad. Better to get all of that over with so we can get on with the story.

Only one plot element bothered me. (there is spoilers from here on out)



The black alien traitor. He clearly loves humanity. He's going to marry a human. He knows the aliens have a plot to destroy mankind. Yet when the ships come, he doesn't answer his cell phone from teh resistence movement and he says he wants to start a new life? That didn't make sense to me at all.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by TroyF

If she reports it and there is another "sleeper" there, she's blown it for everyone. The resistance would be dead before it ever started.

Yeah you wouldn't want the entire US government behind the resistance...

I understand the plot device, I think the way they did it was dumb.

[NewIdentity]

I really wished the Pilot would have been 2 hours long. If you ask me there were too many aliens revealed in this episode. Going this fast it seems more like a miniseries than a new show that could run for 5 years.

Thought it was a great show though. But, then again, maybe my standards for new SciFi shows have hit rock bottom with the piece of crap StarGate Universe is.



And, imagine that, another lead role for a FireFly character? If FOX only had the vision to keep FireFly on for another year.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

Yeah you wouldn't want the entire US government behind the resistance...

I understand the plot device, I think the way they did it was dumb.

If this ever were to really happen, I hope to God you wouldn't be the one to find out.

If her partner was one and they'd got that far into the government, how likely would it be that there would be others in the agency, including potentially her boss?

The odds someone was in a power position would be extraordinarily high.

I have zero problem with how they are handling that aspect.

[RomaGoth]

I was going to watch this but forgot it was on last night. Like Logan, I vaguely remember peeling of skin by an alien, but I remember it being some woman peeling it off her face. I remember the show was a little creepy to me, but I was a kid, so meh.

[Arles]

I thought it was good. I agree on the alien traitor story being a little sloppy. I think what they were trying to do was show his conflict on being an Alien and trying to be "normal".

As for the rest, I thought it was pretty good. I don't want to see 15 episodes with 5 leading up to what 80% of the people watching know (Aliens are bad and actually lizards). I think the 8 episode plan that moves quickly - should be much more watchable for those that know the story. As to why the girl didn't "blow the whistle" after the fight - I'm guessing she will try at some point. But, she doesn't know who is good or who isn't. Remember when she went to the meeting, she didn't know it would involve V Aliens.

[cthomer5000]

The sci-fi acting community seems awfully small.
2 firefly cast members, 1 Lost, and i spotted a Battlestar Galactica cast-member in next week's preview.

Decent enough, but i felt they were advancing things WAY too fast for 1 episode.

[Arles]

Don't forget "Steve, the Pirate"!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

The sci-fi acting community seems awfully small.
2 firefly cast members, 1 Lost, and i spotted a Battlestar Galactica cast-member in next week's preview.

Decent enough, but i felt they were advancing things WAY too fast for 1 episode.

Originally Posted by Arles

Don't forget "Steve, the Pirate"!

I think "Steve, the Pirate" is one of the 2 Firefly cast members (Wash), cthomer was referring to.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by Arles

Don't forget "Steve, the Pirate"!

yeah that's my boy Alan Tudyk (sp?) who was a lead in Firefly, and has also popped up in Dollhouse (another Joss Whedon show).

The main 'V' chick played Inarra in Firefly (another main cast member).

The mom/FBI agent is a Lost regular.

And in the preview for next week i saw Rekha Sharma who was a regular in the last few seasons of Battlestar Galactica.


also, on the small world of Sci-Fi... Dollhouse (Joss Whedon show previously reference) has been sprinkled with a number of Battlestar Galactica members, as well as the more obvious use of people from previous Joss Whedon shows.

[cthomer5000]

Still... my biggest point should have been that the show seems to be moving at an unsustainable pace.

[spleen1015]

I too was disappointed they revealed the aliens so quickly. I know people remember the first time around, but that's the reason enough to go so quickly to me. There are plenty of people who haven't seen the old stuff.

If they are only planning 8 episodes, then maybe they have to move the plot quickly.

[Bee]

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

yeah that's my boy Alan Tudyk (sp?) who was a lead in Firefly, and has also popped up in Dollhouse (another Joss Whedon show).

The main 'V' chick played Inarra in Firefly (another main cast member).

The mom/FBI agent is a Lost regular.

And in the preview for next week i saw Rekha Sharma who was a regular in the last few seasons of Battlestar Galactica.


also, on the small world of Sci-Fi... Dollhouse (Joss Whedon show previously reference) has been sprinkled with a number of Battlestar Galactica members, as well as the more obvious use of people from previous Joss Whedon shows.

And don't forget the priest who was the guy from The 4400.

[bob]

I watched the original miniseries over the weekend on SyFy before checking this out. Couple things that I noticed:

Spoiler

- The original was very much an allegory about the rise of fascism and the Nazis. Looks like that has been dropped. Instead of Jews, it was scientists being wiped out in the original.

- The religious aspect was missing from the original.

- The idea of a sleeper cell of V's was also not in the original.

- Overall, I thought the pace was ok. The original introduction was a bit quick, but otherwise exposing the V's as lizard-like and "bad" so quickly seemed alright given that lots of people remember the original.

[finketr]

For the original series on tv: try this url:

hxxp://www.fancast.com/tv/V/86351/full-episodes

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

If they are only planning 8 episodes, then maybe they have to move the plot quickly.

Well that's the thing. I don't think its going to be a series, per se, but another miniseries. And I think enough people know, even if they haven't seen the original, that the aliens turn out to be bad.

[NewIdentity]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Well that's the thing. I don't think its going to be a series, per se, but another miniseries. And I think enough people know, even if they haven't seen the original, that the aliens turn out to be bad.

I thought V was going to be a full fledged New series? Where did you hear different?

[ISiddiqui]

Huh... I didn't know it was going to be a series... and if so, I'm not sure how it'd last after 2 seasons (what, it turns into a war/reistance series?)

[Mustang]

I've had this DVR'd, but found time to watch last night. Like many people here I did not like the pacing and too much was revealed too quickly. I understand there is the whole element of people knowing what happened from the first one so why build up to that, but if you are concerned about that then the plot should have tweaked it some. (Make the Visitors benign, but have it where they have been infiltrated just the same as the humans...) If it is just a pure remake, but they just change some of the themes, I'm going to be quickly bored.

[bob]

Originally Posted by Mustang

If it is just a pure remake, but they just change some of the themes, I'm going to be quickly bored.

I'm not sure you are going to have time to get bored. I read somewhere the audience dropped ~ 28% from week 1 to 2 and then another 18% from week 2 to 3.