V Review, "There is No Normal Anymore" (Episode 1.2)

I was really looking forward to the new V series. In my teens, I was a fan of the original two miniseries and even the failed regular series. While my fondness for the franchise may stem from a lack of teenage discernment (especially when it came to sci-fi) and the rosy tint of nostalgia, Battlestar Galactica showed that even the lamest and cheesiest of shows could be reimagined by brilliant minds into something spectacular. Sadly, those minds were not at work on the new V series.

In last week’s pilot episode, the producers rushed headlong through the Vistors’ arrival, the revelation of their inner lizards and the formation of a resistance movement. In so doing, they robed their story of every ounce of suspense, mystery and surprise. There was no drama. And the character development is similarly rushed or just non-existent, rendering these characters paper-thin. Sure, it looked pretty. The special effects are much better than the original, and the cast is attractive. But this might as well have been a CW teen drama—although even the worst teen dramas have better dialogue. Witness this awesome writing, as two teens react to an alien’s first appearance: “Damn, she’s hot.” “I know, right?” Dawson would be ashamed to hang around with these kids. And the Visitors are now just known as “Vs”—is that supposed to hip them up? I cringe every time they say this.

In this week’s episode, the FBI investigates Dale’s disappearance. Tyler punches out a protester and jeopardizes his chances with Lisa. Marcus tortures one of the resisters from last week’s warehouse scuffle. Chad tries to get one up on Anna and hosts a show mediating pro-and anti-Visitor talking heads while also earning her favor (on his terms) by giving the appearance of fairness while painting a positive picture of them. It works and the U.S. agrees to freedom for and diplomatic relations with the Visitors. This episode plodded along, in comparison with the pilot. But, either way, I didn’t care. The episode title suggests a sense of profound dislocation and existential angst that it fails to deliver. V remains light on drama, short on character development, and lacking in clever plot twists.

Well, there was one interesting twist—the reappearance of Dale (believed dead) in the final scene. That’s enough to get me back for one more episode before I give up. Alan Tudyk (Dale) nails his role, as he’s done in the past (Firefly, Dollhouse, Dodgeball). Morena Baccarin (Firefly) is great as Anna. And Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) plays a convincing-enough agent.

But the writers better give these actors something interesting to work with soon. Otherwise, V will remain a third-rate imitation of all the other sci-fi and fantasy shows it references.