Image Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC; Janet Mayer/PR PhotosThis season of V is drawing to a close — the finale is next Tuesday — and I’m still waiting for the queen alien to gulp down a live guinea pig, the way the reptilian Visitors did in the original 1983 ABC miniseries. But the more I watch, the more I realize there’s something else happening on the new V besides the classic extraterrestrial invasion plotline. On the original miniseries, the aliens would peel away their human faces to reveal the lizard underneath. In this new version, the face beneath the mask looks more like Barack Obama’s. Indeed, V may just be the most wildly paranoid and insanely reactionary TV show since Glenn Beck got a time slot on Fox News. Stick with me here.
The leader of the Visitors, Anna (Morena Baccarin), is smooth, articulate, fabulously photogenic, and seemingly totally benign. She offers humankind “hope” and is mistaken by the Earthling masses as a “savior.” She’s a darling of the left-wing media establishment (Scott Wolf plays an ambitious TV reporter who gets sucked into Anna’s scheme, becoming the alien’s own Keith Olbermann). Anna even gives the whole planet universal health care, setting up miraculous healing centers all over the world. And yet, there is a skeptical band of freedom-loving American mavericks — they call themselves the Fifth Column, not Tea Partiers, but big diff — who recognize a socialist conspiracy when they see one. They meet secretly in dark cellars and scheme to blow up transport shuttles and cause other mischief. So far, though, Anna has always outsmarted them, convincing the rest of the world that these heroic patriots are merely a bunch of crazy fanatics (now they know how Michele Bachmann feels).
Anyway, Pop Watchers, what do you make of the new V? Am I the only one seeing right-wing metaphors here — or is this show truly the sci-fi series of Rush Limbaugh’s dreams?
“…the face beneath the mask looks more like Barack Obama’s.” What? I think you’re reaching here…reaching a great deal.
My husband and I disagree politically. He has been saying this for months – I disagreed. I thought his were crazy and way in “Right” field. But, now seeing others with the same opinion I have to give credence to his point of view.
Isn’t that the way it is in marriage? It’s easy to discount your spouse’s opinion, but when you hear someone else say it, suddenly it makes sense…
I think he was being metaphorical, not literal.
Metaphorical? So Obama’s like a lizard?
that is quite a reach.
Welcome to like 6 months ago. People were making this connection before the show even premiered. In fact, I think the V creators responded to it in an interview somewhere (Slate maybe?). Don’t you work for an Entertainment News site?
Nice — way to nail it. was thinking the same thing. Can you say “slow news day?”
Am I the only one who thinks V is finally finding it’s footing? It’s been a lot better in recent weeks and I’ve gone from not caring to hoping for a 2nd season pickup.
You’re not the only, sadly though ratings have been bad so don’t be surprised if V and Flashforward get cancelled.
Actually V’s demo ratings have improved (2.3 this week), so I would have not be surprised to hear about a second season pickup. Flashforward is unfortunately dead and buried (1.3 for the last episode).
I totally agree, it’s getting better and better. I just wish there was more Anna/Chad action…
i sincerely hope it does not get cancelled, i really enjoy it.
Btw, really, really reaching with the article.
I agree; even the Tyler/Lisa storyline (which I always saw as the weakest link in the show) has become interesting. Still hoping for a season 2.
I disagree. I really wanted to like this show, but it’s just awful. I still tune in because I’m interested in how the story plays out, but the writing and acting make it almost unwatchable. At this point, I just want someone to tell me how it ends so I don’t have to suffer through an hour of wooden acting and check-the-block writing. One example: this week’s ep, Elizabeth Mitchell is told that at first her son was just an “assignment”, but now Lisa’s feelings are probably real. Boom- move onto the next scene. If the writers were willing to invest in any character development at all, we should have had a scene about Visitors’ emotions and their idea of “love”, what was the purpose of the assignment, why would she change her mind, etc. Instead we just move on to the next plot point. Unfortunately, the show is full of things like that. It’s like the writers are just trying to burn through an outline of what the episode’s major plot points. Again, I want to like this show but it’s just so poorly written and acted that I just can’t stay engaged.
Oh noez! There might be one right wing show among 500 left wing shows!
Choad
With all due respect, it seems like you are reaching. I think the show gets better every week.
You may want to have your doctors check your meds.
I keep watching V and DVR’ing the Good Wife because I keep hoping it will get better, but alas, Elizabeth Mitchel has been wasted. Bleh. And do they use some kind of fish-eye camera on the actress who plays Anna to get a lizard effect, because I swear her head looks ever-so-slightly lizard shaped. Like a gila monster. She’s very attractive in still photos, but she’s got something funky going on on TV.
Yeah, they’re definitely going for the subtle lizard look with Anna. I think a lot of it is the make-up too. It does look they’re ‘Lens Baby’ing her on the close shots too though.
I think it has some elements of oppsing media bias and some socialist values. However, for the most part I think it really is about lizards trying to take over the world and the people that are trying to stop them and not a right wing conspiracy.
no. he’s right. V is very heavy-handed in its politics. theyre not even trying to be subtle.
With the vast abundance of shows out there that are more aligned with liberalism and the left-wing, I think we’ll survive if V veers slightly to the right. Personally, I don’t see why this is a big deal.
Because this is EW.
I think you mean to say the mask you see is Barack Obama’s not the face underneath. We have yet to see any true motivation from the visitors or their true face. It’s a stalled show and reminds me very much of the short lived NBC show Middleman. Promising premise, but glacial timing in execution. I’m sorry to say that I am outright bored watching this show and this is really unfortunate because I want to like it. The story of what Ana is willing to do to her own daughter to accomplish her goals shows promise in Ana’s character development. I hope we see more character development across the board.
Whole-heartedly agree. The lack of character depth and development is a cripppling weakness of the show.
Take a look at what Hollywood (in particular the Clooney’s and Damon’s of the world) spit out in reaction to Bush’s Presidency. This happens all the time, but because it’s not a Republican in the WH, it’s becoming a cause for “concern.”
Tool.
There will be no answers as there will be no second season. Give it up.
I suppose you can see whatever you want to see in pretty much anything … as South Park recently showed in its Catcher in the Rye episode.
You use what’s happening in current events as a hook. Health care for all, a media “savior” … it feels familiar because it is familiar. I consider myself independent, but I don’t see this as being a right-wing show. You see what you want to see based on your own experiences. I enjoy this show (though apparently I’m among the very few) because I like the characters and the plot … not because it may or may not reflect my personal politics.
When writing speaks universal truths (good vs evil, freedom vs enslavement) you can make parallels to any current political events. Remember at Cannes when they thought Anakin in Epsiode 6 was the embodiment of Pres. George W Bush?
I mean Episode 3. Where he turns to Darth Vader. It was very well received in France because they thought it was intentionally a social commentary on America.
I think your assumption is a huge stretch. I think V is good sci-fi and they writers are trying to update it to meet todays issues and make it relevant. I look forward to the finale and hope ABC makes the right choice and renews it for next year.
Reaching Quite a bit! I find your synopsis funny.