Can the New V Top the Original?

V the Miniseries

If by original, you mean the the original miniseries, then no, I don't think that they can top it.

For one thing, the original came first and therefore has a cred that simply can't be matched in that regard.

It had a strong, interesting concept and Kenneth Johnson was able to lay out his story in a neat self-contained package. It was very focused. He said what he wanted to say and then stopped.

He didn't even feel the need to kick the Visitors off the planet, because that wasn't the point. It was about how human beings react to the Other and variations on the themes of resistance and subjugation.

The original miniseries was also a cultural event. The ratings were massive at a time when that meant something. We're talking about 40% of the country. That's never happening again.

Furthermore, we can never unknown that the Visitors are reptiles that eat hamsters. Lizard babies at this point are a bit passe. Not to mention flying spaceships and fancy lasar guns. Been there. Done that. The new show's never going to catch that lightening in another bottle.

V: The Final Battle

Now the second miniseries was pretty much about capitalizing on the popularity - ie, money-making ability - of the first. Thematically, we were done. What you were left with was story and characters.

The second miniseries, therefore, was mostly an above-average "plucky group of resistance fighters overthrow the evil overlords" tale. There were some great set pieces, like the raid on the hospital and Kristine's fate. And they finished the story respectably, though it's likely best not to examine the science in the science fiction too closely.

I think that if the new series lays itself out well and tells a solid story, then they can match the second miniseries. The cast is strong. Really really strong, pulling from most of the recent sci-fi hits and cult shows. Morena Baccarin is killing as Anna. Joel Gretsch, Elizabeth Mitchell and Morris Chestnut are solid. And more Alan Tudyk, please.

If they get picked up for a full season or beyond, they'll have more time to let stories stew a bit. There will be good bits and bad bits, but in the end, the new series has potential to pull it off.

V the Weekly Series

If by the "original," you mean the weekly series - the new show has already got that beat.

I loved the weekly series. I really did. It was the only show I ever sat down and wrote a letter of complaint to the network over.

I was like twelve. And not that bright. The weekly series sucked.

There were plot holes you could fly a Mothership through. An episode, for example, based on the idea that you could put a big shield around Los Angeles and route all traffic in and out of the area through a single road. A road that would be conveniently empty when Our Heroes wander along to destroy it because its not like you're moving all the food and materials for an entire city through there or anything.

The characters were not built to sustain any attempt at depth and were mostly reduced to repeating whatever they had said or done in the miniseries. Backstories were not long and when they did pull one out (Ham Tyler's family?), the execution was terrible. Duncan Regehr showed up in a black velvet jumpsuit cut down his navel to show off his chest. (Click here, scroll down for picture.) Seriously bad here.

Heaven save me from the Robin-Kyle-Elizabeth love triangle, even though Tween!Me thought Jeff Yagher was just dreamy. In fact, the whole concept of Elizabeth the Starchild was questionable to say the least. I think the producers completely lost the plot there in their chase for something sparkly.

Anyways. Point is that compared to that schlock-fest, anything is an improvement.

What Do I Think?

I think that the new series will never reach the heights that the original miniseries did, but that's okay. It's a pretty high bar, after all. As long as they don't pull out a story where Erica's son takes control of the Visitor Mothership by hacking in on his iPhone, we're good.