Feb 23 2011 07:07 AM ET

'V': Anna apparently has a back-up plan for everything

Tags: , TV

VImage Credit: ABCLast night’s episode of V practically felt like a mini-reboot of the whole series. No longer was our beloved rebel gang stuck plotting in the basement. Instead, Erica and Hobbes took an extended espionage vacation, first to Bangkok (where they met with other Fifth Column leaders) and then to Hong Kong (where they pulled an elaborate operation to interrogate a mysterious baby doctor.) Hobbes stole the show here, whether he was showing off his language skills by tossing out some Chinese or initiating some white-hot chemistry with Erica mid-safecrack.

Give it to the creators of V: They seem to have finally understood that a rebel army should actually, well, rebel at some point. You could quibble with just how quickly the Fifth Column has become a global operation. (I winced a little bit when the lovable scientist sidekick gave a status update on his research: “I reached out to the global scientific community.” Yup, that’s how science works, just reach out to scientists everywhere!) But Elizabeth Mitchell seemed particularly energized in her new role as anti-V chieftess. And the revelations that came out of their investigation were both gooey (those Y-chromosome attack bugs) and fascinating: Apparently, the Visitors have been spurring their own evolution by cherry-picking the best genetic elements of lifeforms from across the galaxy. They’re sort of like Sylar from Heroes in species form. (I mean that as a compliment: Sylar was always kind of cool, even when Heroes totally wasn’t.)

Meanwhile, up on the Mothership, the eternal struggle between mothers and daughters played out across three generations of Visitor Queens. Anna gave Tyler a mercy buzzcut and put him into pilot training, but alas, it seems his blood isn’t quite phosphorous-y enough to start makin’ V babies. (I like to imagine Anna waving her fist into the air, screaming “Phosporoooooouusss!“) She told Lisa to get close to an alternate-Tyler. But Lisa refused, leading to a back-and-forth slap-fight, and a key revelation: Anna has one Queen egg left, which could potentially hatch into a less troublesome daughter. (Grodiest line of the night: Anna calling the egg “The last of my clutch.”) She had Doctor Joshua work on his magical aging science, which magically worked almost immediately on the hybrid baby.

The episode concluded with Lisa confiding in her grandmother…but given the grin on Grandma Diana’s face, I’m betting we’re about to see some vintage Jane Badler backstabbery. Viewers, did you dig last night’s Mission: Impossible-esque espionage? Could Hobbes really pass as a Chinese security guard? Did you treasure Father Jack’s joke about his new roommate Hobbes’ “tight black shirts”? Oh, that Father Jack: What a Felix!

Follow Darren on Twitter: @EWDarrenFranich

Comments (80 total) Add your comment
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  • Jocephus

    I loved Diana’s grin at the end of the show! Only three episodes left. Can’t wait to see how all this plays out. I keep waiting for Diana to over throw Anna.

    • von medler

      Lisa needs to get serious, realize that Tyler’s a lost cause, not trust Grandma and join the Fifth Column then together they can give Mad Insect Anna her due! Please, somebody needs to reign her in. Can Grandma do it? at this point the only good thing she’s done is that grin.

    • allie

      I keep waiting for Diana to do… anything. I didn’t watch the original series so I don’t have any sentimental attachment to her character. But people keep saying she is great so I have to assume they have really wasted this opportunity.

  • Greg

    Last night ep was great, even though its been good all season the buildup is great, I beleive LISA will be kick ass by the end of the season, and off the ship Grandma taking control and Anna in the basement.

  • Yes

    This show keeps getting better. I hope it gets renew for a 3rd season.

  • kim in kentucky

    Agree about Father Jack’s line about the black t-shirts!!

  • bgl

    It’s getting better. But the ratings are iffy. I hope there is a third season.

  • KFed

    I’m officially addicted now. I’ve been watching all along, but the last couple of weeks I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Taking the action to another country opened it up, and makes sense seeing as there are 29 ships around the world. I always wonder what the other ships are doing and how the people there are reacting.

  • tipsy

    Erica and Hobbes got a shipper-pleasing moment and Cryler is more into shuttle-piloting than mating with Lisa which is so good – he is expendable so expend him already!
    Not to mention that Ryan`s fugly as heck baby got replaced by a cute one – they`ve heard the fans!

    Great episode.

    • J-Mac

      Every week I say to my wife; “They need to get that baby off of tv!” They finally found a way to do that….and for that….I am thankful!

      • will

        LOL!!!

    • SLB

      That baby was cute.

      • J-Mac

        SLB..I think you have an eye appointment on Thursday. Make sure you show up cause you definitely need some glasses.

    • ty

      They haven’t heard everything the fans have said. Tyler is still around.

  • Kt

    This show is definitely on an upswing. Come on ABC don’t let em down…

  • Mike

    What would have been awesome was if Anna ripped Lisa to shreds during the slap-fight. THAT would have been awesome. And I feel we are getting so close to Tyler’s demise.

    That is how season 2 needs to end, with Tyler finally meeting his maker.

    • allie

      maybe Anna will make Lisa prove herself by killing Tyler

  • AUStarwars

    I thought it was a weak episode…why cant shows like this hit a home run with the “kids” on the show? Like Tyler is just unwatchable..its kind of annoying that all the good guys are very “sacrifice of the few for the good of the many” except for Ryan..who needs to worry about his fat annoying hybrid kid..it was good to see the amnesiad V again at least..

  • SLB

    Now if we can get rid of that stupid “bliss” and the whole “soul” (does this mean atheists are safe?) issue, (and Tyler gets killed) this show will be great.

    • Remmy

      Atheists don’t believe in God, they would still have a soul

    • Jim

      Yes, that’s a strange comment. Who ever said atheists don’t have souls? Whether you believe in God or not does not change how you’re made (and this is coming from a Christian).

    • Pete

      I agree – this “soul” mumbo-jumbo has made the show even more ludicrous.

  • CHERRY

    Battle Star Galactica it isn’t, but V is awesome within its own right. My God Anna is the bomb much like #6 on Battle Star. I love the rebellion, but leave Tyler around, hell have no fury like two mothers battleing it out. ABC has it right on this one.

    • allie

      other than the fact that there are ships involved, there is no comparison between this show and BSG, sorry.

  • Voice of Reason

    I like what they are doing with the direction of the show, but I’m scared that even Ned from The Pie Hole can’t bring it back. (too soon?)

    • John Berggren

      I’d rather have Ned & Olive back.

      • Moe

        Me too.

  • lala

    Did anyone else think that Tyler looks like he has a really misshappen head? that buzz cut has done him no favors. he looks very weird now, like the top of his head is really small and the bottom, the jawline, is gigantic.

    • Bette

      Oh my. But yes. Yikes !

    • allie

      I thought he looked a bit like John Travolta… and not in a good way.

    • Helenann

      Yeah…and I am not sure that wasn’t intentional. He has alien DNA, so maybe…? Who knows?

      • Bette

        Almost like a male version of Anna’s haircut. LOL !

    • John

      Uhh I’m not Tyler fan (mostly because the character ‘Tyler’ is supposed to be a mercenary, and played by MICHAEL IRONSIDE!!) but are you all blind? He looked better with the buzz cut!

  • waya

    While the show has improved, if they don’t stop with all the whiney Tyler cr*p, I’m off. Last night I just got sick of the crying and whining about Tyler. Kill him already!! Same with Laila on The Event. Dump these two characters and there might be two good shows in there somewhere!

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