ABC’s upcoming new sci-fi series V looks like it’s going to ruffle a few feathers at 1600 PennAve. A safe bet is that Brother O will be updating his enemy’s list to include producer, writer Scott Peters.
The series suggests that many of the world’s problems are caused by the Visitors, who have been living among us as clandestine humans for some time, and the theme of the series is “blind faith and devotion.”
See Garvin’s piece below, “‘V’ aims at Obamamania,” for a more comprehensive account of the series’ not so subtle barbed commentary on the One and his worshipful followers.
The Visitors promise to do no harm, offering universal health care, medical miracles, and breakthrough technologies, but Homeland Security agent Erica Evans discovers their true plans are to infiltrate the worlds’ governments and businesses to control mankind.
The sci-fi series V premieres tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC.
In the 1:22 video clip, newscaster Decker gets an exclusive interview with Anna, the leader of the visitors:
Transcript of the interview scene:
Decker: “Do you have any questions before we go to air?”
Anna: “Just be sure not to ask anything that would paint us in a negative light.”
Decker: “Excuse me?”
Anna: “Don’t ask any questions that would portray us negatively. Ask ones like you did when we first met.”
Decker: “I think there’s a mistake. I’m a journalist. It’s my job to ask questions, even if they make the other person uncomfortable.”
Anna: “That was not my understanding.”
Decker: “I’m afraid I don’t have a choice.”
Anna: “This interview is now cancelled.”
Decker: Woe! Hang on! This is just how it’s done. I swear I’ll be fair.”
Anna: “You’ll need to be more than fair if you want to proceed. We can’t be seen in a negative light. This interview would elevate your career, wouldn’t it Mr. Decker? Don’t you want to elevate your career?
‘V’ aims at Obamamania
By Glenn Garvin
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.
“We’re all so quick to jump on the bandwagon,” observes one character. “A ride on the bandwagon, it sounds like fun. But before we get on, let us at least make sure it is sturdy.”
The bandwagon in this case is conspicuously saucer-shaped. “V” starts with the arrival of a couple of dozen ships from outer space, piloted by creatures who look like humans except a lot prettier. “Don’t be frightened,” says their luminously beautiful leader Anna (Morena Baccarin, “Serenity”). “We mean no harm.”
The aliens — who become known as V’s, for visitors — quickly enthrall their wide-eyed human hosts.
A handful of dissidents hold out against the rapturous reception given the V’s. Some are simply uneasy, such as the youthful priest Father Jack (Joel Gretsch, “The 4400”), who sharply criticizes the Vatican’s embrace of the V’s as divine creations: “Rattlesnakes are God’s creatures too.”
With or without the political sheen, “V” is sweeping television storytelling at its best. Whether you choose to view it as a blood-and-guts war story, a spy thriller (unlike the original show, these V’s are perfect replicas of humans, so you never really know who might be sitting beside you at the bar), a high-stakes family drama (as households divide over the intentions of the V’s), a religious allegory (the V’s make a crippled man walk, filling up churches again) or just a sci-fi throwback to the days of “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers” and “The Thing,” “V” is irresistible. This bandwagon is definitely worth jumping on.