V: "Pound of Flesh" 4/6/10 - Grading & Discussion
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I know we all like for the 'fake' stuff to look as real as possible, being the 21st century and all but what about the story? I can forgive some less than stellar CGI if the story is good and in that respect I think the show is still engaging.
The new showrunner is making a difference. This show is hitting what should be all the right notes. The action is fast-paced and easy to follow. Every major character has a distinct and fairly interesting problem, which coalesce together into a sensible narrative. There's plenty of good set-up for future revelations.
But there's still something so meh about the show. And having to follow Lost doesn't help matters. There's no touch of eccentric genius or individuality. It's like this show is being written by a computer that is compiling All The Stuff You Need for a Successful Sci Fi Show and spitting out scripts. The result is soulless.
But let's face it, even minimal competence is rare enough on TV that I'm willing to stick with V for as long as it lasts. There's no single "this is so STUPID!" element to continually irritate me, like is so often the case.
But there's still something so meh about the show. And having to follow Lost doesn't help matters. There's no touch of eccentric genius or individuality. It's like this show is being written by a computer that is compiling All The Stuff You Need for a Successful Sci Fi Show and spitting out scripts. The result is soulless.
But let's face it, even minimal competence is rare enough on TV that I'm willing to stick with V for as long as it lasts. There's no single "this is so STUPID!" element to continually irritate me, like is so often the case.
I almost wrote in my previous post, "what this show needed was a showrunner who wanted to remake V in particular, not just a studio functionary fitting all the Tab A's into the correct Slot B's."
I didn't know whether there had been anyone interested in remaking V, but for good or ill, someone with passion behind the project at least wouldn't generate such a soulless show.
Yeah, this most definitely is not Kenneth Johnson's new vision of V. You can find that, sadly, in V The Second Generation -- a novel that is roughly as soulless as the new series. It's unfortunate. The original miniseries was magnificent. The concept has *plenty* of potential. But somehow no one has yet managed to capitalize on that potential.
That said, I did like this latest episode. It isn't great, but it's probably the most well-constructed episode of the series thus far.
That said, I did like this latest episode. It isn't great, but it's probably the most well-constructed episode of the series thus far.
I really liked the old witchhunting style of sniffing out the Fifth Column. So the loyal ones died, at least their names were cleared LOL.
Oh yeah, I do agree with you there. Just having bad effects isn't going to be enough to make me stop liking a show, it just annoys me that's all.
Better episode then previous weeks, but I gotta say the biggest dick on this show has to be Ryan. So you keep from your girlfriend that you're really an alien, then you knock her up with a human/lizard hybrid baby when she has a heart condition and not knowing the effects of this type of pregnancy on her.
Then you keep it from her by having her go to your lizard-buddy Doctor and use fake ultrasounds and to top it off you start slipping lizard phosphorus or whatever supplements into her tea?
This guy is a grade-a jackass.
Then you keep it from her by having her go to your lizard-buddy Doctor and use fake ultrasounds and to top it off you start slipping lizard phosphorus or whatever supplements into her tea?
This guy is a grade-a jackass.
^Agreed. The level of Ryan's deception officially passed into 'creepy' in this episode. Not telling your girlfriend about the dangers of the pregnancy is bad enough; going as far as to modify her biology without her knowledge? The show did well to establish how much she wanted a child, and even at that, there are creepy rapist vibes coming off Ryan, treating her not as person free to make her own choices, but as an incubator or breeding stock.
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
whoever mentioned in a previous thread that the kid's father was a V... you get a cookie.
Sorry, but this episode got a below average from me.
I feel like this show talks down to the viewer, like it's written on a sixth-grade level or something. It's just so obvious and repetitive and simplistic. You can see the plot "twists," such as they are, coming from a mile away. The CGI is sloppy in places, too. Is CGI cheaper than sets now? Why did those cylinders in the phosphorus room need to be CGI? They looked ridiculous. I mean, Dancing-Baby-on-Ally-McBeal ridiculous. And was the 'phosphorus' itself just blue sparkly cake sprinkles? Heh.
Ultimately, I'll probably keep watching this because it's better than most shows (which sadly isn't saying much), but I wasn't impressed tonight. I will say the dynamics between Anna, her daughter (who probably has a name, and one day I might even learn it), the second-in-command V (ditto) and Justin are all really fascinating. That's one thing they're doing right.
Oh, and was Tyler's dad Krycek?! That really made me want to go watch some old X-Files episodes.
I feel like this show talks down to the viewer, like it's written on a sixth-grade level or something. It's just so obvious and repetitive and simplistic. You can see the plot "twists," such as they are, coming from a mile away. The CGI is sloppy in places, too. Is CGI cheaper than sets now? Why did those cylinders in the phosphorus room need to be CGI? They looked ridiculous. I mean, Dancing-Baby-on-Ally-McBeal ridiculous. And was the 'phosphorus' itself just blue sparkly cake sprinkles? Heh.
Ultimately, I'll probably keep watching this because it's better than most shows (which sadly isn't saying much), but I wasn't impressed tonight. I will say the dynamics between Anna, her daughter (who probably has a name, and one day I might even learn it), the second-in-command V (ditto) and Justin are all really fascinating. That's one thing they're doing right.
Oh, and was Tyler's dad Krycek?! That really made me want to go watch some old X-Files episodes.
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Yeah...I too have issues with Ryan. To be fair to him, he did say to Doctor Andromeda that their species weren't supposed to be compatible and that they were told they couldn't procreate with the hue-mons...but rather than coming off as sympathetic to his situation, my perception of him has been skewing towards selfishness. She really is in mortal danger, not just from this first ever cross species pregnancy, but from the totalitarian regime he's been hiding out from.
Now he's doping her with blue dust ?
That may alter her in ways even he doesn't know...
And to keep her in the dark about his true nature and the peril she's in, just makes him look like a jerk. A creepy jerk...
That list is about to increase.
Oh Yeah!
Yes he is..
I wonder what they wanted to tell Tyler, didn't they say something about the truth as to who he is?
(I missed a bit while brushing my teeth.)
I liked the part of the failures who were made to take the pill to prove their "loyalty" to Anna ,"Poof" they're incinerated.
as for those who didn't Anna skinned then.
The last episode has a rating of 5.79 million viewers.
What's wrong with the people and why aren't they watching this great show?
What's wrong with the people and why aren't they watching this great show?
It's not a great show. It's barely passable entertainment for an hour, but nothing special.
Just about everything about it is average to below average. Plot. Acting. SFX. Music (actually I don't think I've noticed a single note of music, but I assume it is there).
Right from the pilot it had problems. Aliens arrive on Earth, and there was absolutely no feeling of it being the spectacularly amazing event that it should be.
Humans are shown as being far too trusting far too soon.
Anna is about as exciting as watching a block of wood.
The teenage kid and his alien teenage girlfriend are beyond boring.
The basic concept of V is interesting, but this version of it is not particularly compelling.
Yipee! I'm looking forward to it, too.
You mean Tyler? I'm thinking the big surprise will be that he's 100% V - not Erica's natural son - but a baby they adopted by some questionable and suspicious means, and they wanted a kid so badly that they just ignored any biological oddities through the years. He's gotta be something more significant than just some normal human or even a V hybrid.
Maybe a queen V in training like Lisa needs a "special" mate from among the V's to kick off a new colony, and Tyler is the only one who qualifies? There has to be some reason they've targetted a kid who is otherwise an unremarkable teenage goofus.
The Fifth Column has been on Earth for how long, 15 or 20 years? Maybe they figured they could foil Anna's plans by hiding Tyler on Earth. Wouldn't it be a kick in the pants if the reason they targetted Earth rather than some other populated planet is because of Tyler?
On to the Ryan controversy - the actor is so freakin' bland and always has this pained expression on his face, so that I find it hard to regard him as a "rapist" because he's so frakkin' tragic all the time. But that's not really a compliment. What an opportunity the producers missed with that character.
Cast a more complicated actor in the role, who can convey that Ryan wants to fit in with humanity so badly, yet on his own terms (it must rankle him that he can't even father a child without being condemned for it), which of course is unrealistic and a contradiction, but since when are people or V's rational about their lives? His need for two completely contradictory things - safety and acceptance for who he is - is driving him into nonsensical and now downright unethical behavior.
Of course this will all blow up in his face, what is he thinking? This could all be great stuff but the writing and casting would have to support it, which it doesn't. Instead, we get a one and a half dimensional character who apparently thinks that wearing a tragic expression on his face all the time will immunize him from the effects of his actions when his girlfriend dies/is maimed for life/turns out okay and then fucking KILLS him.
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The last episode has a rating of 5.79 million viewers.
What's wrong with the people and why aren't they watching this great show?
Because, as much as I hate to say it, as much as I like Elizabeth Mitchell and Joel Gretsch and as much as I loved the original, it isn't very good.
