By Glenn Garvin McClatchy/Chicago Tribune News (Hat tip: NoisyRoom.net):
Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration — one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: “Why don’t you show some respect?!” The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader’s origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: “Embracing change is never easy.”
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait — did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who’s come here to eat us?
Welcome to ABC’s “V,” the most fascinating and bound to be the most controversial new show of the fall television season. Nominally a rousing sci-fi space opera about alien invaders bent on the conquest (and digestion) of all humanity, it’s also a barbed commentary on Obamamania that will infuriate the president’s supporters and delight his detractors.“We’re all so quick to jump on the bandwagon,” observes one character. “A ride on the bandwagon, it sounds like fun. But before we get on, let us at least make sure it is sturdy.”
I remember the old mini-series (not so much the subsequent tv series).
Apparently, the parallels to current events are striking enough, that the show is being “softened”. By way of MidnightBlue, another columnist, Tom Jicha, notes:
The teasers running on ABC offer a hint of this. “They gave us hope. We gave them our trust.” Who does that bring to mind? Of course, the Visitors (hence the title), after promising things like universal health care and peace in a one world government, turn out to be totally evil. They attempt to seize control of the media, favoring those who don’t challenge them or ask probing questions about their real agenda, which turns out to be the annihilation of humanity. The heroes are everyday people, who form a grass roots resistance movement. Supposedly, the show is being slightly re-conceptualized to soften or remove events some might interpret as negative parallels to today.
“Subtle” is fine. But don’t water down the political allegory!
Hopefully by “softening”, it just means they changed the acting role of the lead lizard from a black male actor to that of a white female (Hillary?).
“V” for “Vendetta”? No! “V” for “Visitor”? Sorta…..”V” for “Victory”? In 2010 and 2012, yes we will!
The show airs on ABC, Tuesday nights.
Trailer:
The first 9 minutes:
*UPDATE*
Check out OwntheWorld.com’s trailer, “O”.
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
Maureen Ryan:
I watched it last night, and the political parallels didn’t look watered down to me. “Universal Health Care” was even mentioned by name. That aside, it looked like a pretty solid show and I hope they stay with it.
i watched the show. the political stuff blew right by me because i was more interested in when the kid was going to get some alien lovin’ and how long it would be before folks started getting eaten. overall, i enjoyed the show. hopefully, they will keep it.
Maybe the rewrite is to make the “Female” leader actually a gay male. That would be hillarious.
I liked the original. I watched last night, loved it. All the V-women are hawt.
Hey, thought you’d enjoy this. I made it in May.
http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=9198
Ha! That’s pretty good, bfh. I’ll update the post with the link.
I was amazed watching last night. Nine months ago something like this would have been unthinkable, and now this program debuts on a night when the Dems were getting their collective a**es handed to them at the polls. This is the change I was hoping for!
love the show. the “universal health scare” line send a chill down my spine
@glenn
A chill down your spine? The “universal health care” line sent a thrill up my leg! =8^)