"V": Hopes?

[23skidoo]

I don't find V boring at all, personally. But if you want spaceships blowing up every 5 minutes, or 24-style ADD storytelling, then I guess it isn't for everybody. (I said the same thing to people who were put to sleep by the Prisoner remake, too.)

The concern I have is whether the new production team will break what was appealing about the early episodes. If the show comes back and it comes across as a "do-over" it'll die because the people who were tuning in will drop it. And it'll get the bad press that usually comes with "do-over."

The big problem V has is the same problem demonstrated vividly back in 1984 the last time V became an ongoing weekly series. I can't really see the premise sustaining itself for multiple episodes. There's another thread where I supported the opinion that US network shows show follow the UK mold and run 13 episodes rather than trying to stretch to 22 episodes or longer. I also feel there is no reason why a weekly series can't simply be confined to a dozen episodes, if that's what it takes to tell the story. Some shows like CSI are designed to run forever. As far as V is concerned, if it only gets 13 episodes and it's able to tell a complete (or more or less complete) story, then I'll be quite happy. The original V miniseries is considered a classic more than 25 years later, while the sequel mini and the series aren't. Perhaps V 2009/2010 might have been better of conceived as a six-parter...

Alex

 

[BlackestPanther]

I don't find V boring at all, personally. But if you want spaceships blowing up every 5 minutes, or 24-style ADD storytelling, then I guess it isn't for everybody. (I said the same thing to people who were put to sleep by the Prisoner remake, too.)

I resent that. Just because I find a series boring doesn't mean that I want explosions or fast paced (read: ADD) story telling. V is the type of show that could have all of that and STILL be boring. Boring characters, boring stories, boring dialogue.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

I really don't see how V can get better without a drastic change in approach -- focusing on character and thematic depth with exceptional storytelling. But there's nothing in the first few episodes, let alone the characters or the stories, to suggest that such depth is even possible at this point. I'll stick with the series ... but as for hope? I don't have much.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Doesn't everyone know what the original V was about? I don't see why they would spend time building up to aliens=evil reptiles, when it would most likely end up being underwhelming.

If they'd spent four episodes doing that, everyone here would be bitching that the show is too slow and it's obvious the V's are evil lizards, why don't they get to the story already!

The story they need to dive into is the problem that both the good humans and the good V's (on their side) have: that bucking the emerging status quo will be an incredible uphill battle. The humans have to convince other humans that the wonderful V's and their medicine are just a trojan horse, and dash all their hopes. People resist fanatically against having their hopes dashed and aren't usually very objective about it. Some humans will know the V's are evil but having figured out how to capitalize on them, will still be obstructions.

The good V's have to deal with their own species, the vast majority of whom are apparently behind Anna, either because they are druggies or because of some motive that we don't yet know. Maybe their species' survival is at stake. The fact that some V's would go to such great efforts to fight their own species against all odds demonstrates that they are far from being an inherently evil species.

The development of just who the V's really are is the reason to stick with the show. The human side of things will be running around/shooting up shit - that's okay for a while but will get old quick.

How long this premise can run depends on how they handle it. The V's are the key. If they're developed shallowly, they've got maybe a couple seasons' worth of material. Developed with more depth, and five or six seasons would be possible. There's all sorts of places they could go with the V's. For instance, who says the story needs to stay on Earth?

 

[Hober Mallow]

Doesn't everyone know what the original V was about? I don't see why they would spend time building up to aliens=evil reptiles, when it would most likely end up being underwhelming.

Because the buildup is the story. Buildup = tension.

Take the original. In order to understand the motivations of the various characters we had to first see the arrival of the aliens through their eyes. An old Jewish man is distrustful. He's heard this "We come in peace to help you live better" before. His son thinks this could be good for the human race. His grandson is awestruck, and ends up working for the Visitors. Without the buildup, the choices each of these characters ends up making wouldn't make sense. Why would that grandson sell out his family? Why is the grandfather risking his life to help a scientist and his family who are on the run? What is it that causes the old man's son to change his mind about the visitors? We know the answers to these questions because we see the situation through each of their eyes, and we see their reactions -- and actions -- are inevitable.

Don't get me wrong. The original V was still a goofy lizard invasion story. But its saving grace was the time spent on character.

If they'd spent four episodes doing that, everyone here would be bitching that the show is too slow and it's obvious the V's are evil lizards, why don't they get to the story already!

But they should at least take enough time on characters to make their motivations seem clear. The first episode of the new V has the Visitors arriving, and then seemingly immediately some people love them, others are protesting them. Uh... what are they protesting? And why? It was made clear in the original V why humans slowly went from adoring the Visitors (who were never called "V's," by the way... sheesh, do they have to dumb down all the source material?). In fact, that was the story.

Despite bad ratings, about everyone I know loves the new show. It just ain't my cup o' tea.

I really don't see how V can get better without a drastic change in approach -- focusing on character and thematic depth with exceptional storytelling. But there's nothing in the first few episodes, let alone the characters or the stories, to suggest that such depth is even possible at this point. I'll stick with the series ... but as for hope? I don't have much.

Oh, it's possible. They have a new show runner, it's only four episodes in. They could certainly turn things around. I'll never know, though.

 

[gastrof]

What we don't know is that the show is real and the reason for the hiatus is so that its promised return this spring will end up being when the alien fleet actually arrives. The show isn't coming back. The ships are just gonna show then, and they'll land and and begin eating us all.