V debuts tonight at 8/7c on ABC. [The original (two mini-series and a sequel television series) was on NBC in the 1980's.]
{Los Angeles Times - Tues., November 3, 2009}
TELEVISION REVIEW
'V' on ABC
Smooth talkers from space aren't what they seem in a sci-fi tale that is sleeker, sexier, and faster than the 1983 original. It's futile to resist.
By Mary McNamara, Television Critic
LET'S BE FRIENDS: The Visitors' Anna (Morena Baccarin, second from left), who tells Earth's residents that she and her friends have come in peace (David Gray / ABC)
Some story lines just never get old -- star-crossed lovers, mistaken identity, lizard men from outer space.
It's impossible to tiptoe around the main plot device of ABC's "V" -- those aliens may be smart and purty but they're up to no good -- because it is, of course, a remake of the 1983 miniseries. And even if it weren't, writers Kenneth Johnson and Scott Peters have infused the pilot with as many sly sci-fi references as CG special effects.
Which are pretty terrific, as is the pilot in general. Although fans of the first "V" may find themselves longing for Richard Herd's Supreme Commander in his jaunty jumpsuit and funky glasses, this "V" is not only sleeker, faster and more visually gripping, it promises to be thematically more compelling.
Its opening sequence is a masterpiece of back-story compression. What appears to be a temblor startles a series of characters (and an almost flawless cast gathered from various sci-fi hits): Erica Evans ("Lost's" Elizabeth Mitchell) is an anti-terrorism agent with the FBI and divorced mother of Tyler (Logan Huffman), a basically decent but rebellious teen. Chad Decker (Scott Wolf from "Party of Five") is a newscaster who aspires to do more than "read the news"; Father Jack Landry (Joel Gretsch of "The 4400") is a young priest working among the homeless; and Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut) has just purchased the engagement ring he hopes to offer Valerie (Lourdes Benedicto).
All of their plans are put on hold, however, when the quake turns out to be the arrival of an enormous spaceship, one of a matched set now hovering over all the major cities of the world. But even as the throngs prepare for the requisite scream-flee-and-die scene of mass hysteria, the underbelly of the craft becomes a screen and the lovely Anna ("Firefly's" Morena Baccarin) assures everyone in flawless English (and French and Egyptian) that "the Visitors" are here to offer technology in exchange for a few undisclosed but very renewable resources, and they come in peace.
Undone by relief, Anna's Audrey Hepburn haircut and the promise that the Visitors can cure 65 of our diseases, humans, or at least New Yorkers, neglect to consider that they are a renewable resource themselves. Like the gullible little oysters in "The Walrus and the Carpenter," they quickly embrace the "V's," signing up for theme-park-like tours of the ship and, of course, merchandising like crazy.
Fortunately, not everyone is convinced. Father Jack preaches caution only to be assured by his pastor that the pope is on board with the V's. Erica worries that "terrorist chatter," though down among many groups, shows one major spike -- one cell seems to be arming itself pretty heavily, planning an attack, she assumes, when everyone is distracted by the aliens.
A mysterious old friend is harassing Ryan to man up now that "they're here," but it's Chad who gets the clue to the real nature of the V's. Anna asks him to be her first interviewer only to insist that he not ask anything that might cast her in a bad light. Being a good-looking, ambitious newscaster in a television show, Chad, of course, agrees.
The original "V" drew obvious connections between the Visitors and the Nazis, and much has been made over the possible anti-Obama sentiment of this "V." The instant adoration, the attractiveness and rhetorical skills of Anna, the idea that the Visitors will woo us with universal healthcare and then destroy us all seem a right-wingish take on the president's ascendancy.
Perhaps that is the creators' intent, but most successful science fiction contains an element of, if not outright humor, then the absurd. That the human race will be enslaved not through brainwashing or firepower but adequate healthcare is pretty hilarious in a dark and almost possible way. And Anna and her crew seem to embody more of a Wall Street deregulated/Bernie Madoff mentality -- big returns for minimum investment. And we all know how that turns out.
Just like we all know how these "we come in peace" alien invader tales turn out -- a resistance forms to slowly but surely reveal the Visitors for who and what they are. (Kids, lock up your guinea pigs!) Along the way, they find a sympathetic alien or two, which leads inevitably to interspecies breeding (lizard babies rock!) and the deconstruction of the essence of humanity.
But just because something's a chestnut doesn't mean it isn't worth watching. There is a reason we tell the same story over and over again. Our collective longing for an effortless happy ending provided deus ex machina, whether by a political administration, a religious leader or a bunch of dulcet-toned aliens, is humanity's Achilles' heel.
As the plot of "V" progresses, no doubt we will see the subtle strangulation of democracy by fascism -- already the press has been corrupted -- and that is a story that cannot be told often enough. Especially when it comes, like the V's, in such a fine, fun and attractive package.
{Los Angeles Times - Tues., November 3, 2009}
Elizabeth Mitchell is an unlikely action hero for 'Lost' and 'V'
The self-professed theater nerd quickly lands on her feet after her character is seemingly killed on 'Lost.' She's an FBI agent battling aliens on the new show.
By Shawna Malcom
V's NEW STAR: "I thought at this point, I'd be sinking into oblivion," says Mitchell, with Matthew Fox on "Lost." (Mario Perez / ABC)Elizabeth Mitchell was wearing mismatched shoes -- an Ugg on one foot, her husband's slipper on the other. That is, until said husband -- actor Chris Soldevilla -- appeared, having discovered the mate to Mitchell's sheepskin boot in the car. Dropping to one knee in the couple's Bainbridge Island, Wash., home, he slid it onto his wife's foot.
"My Prince Charming!" she exclaimed during a phone interview. "Look at you coming to my rescue."
On screen, it's Mitchell who's doing most of the rescuing these days. In ABC's hotly anticipated new drama "V" -- an update of the '80s miniseries that premieres tonight -- she's FBI agent Erica Evans, who helps lead the charge to save humankind from an alien race made up of the preternaturally beautiful (at least on the surface).
And then, of course, there's her role as "Lost's" enigmatic fertility doctor Juliet who, in last May's season finale, seemingly made the ultimate sacrifice -- death by hydrogen bomb -- in order to give her island cohorts a shot at rebooting their knotty lives.
No one is more surprised to find herself at the forefront of TV's fierce femmes than the actress herself.
" 'Action hero' is not something I thought I'd have the chance to do," said the self-described theater nerd who previously garnered positive notices for romancing Angelina Jolie in "Gia" and Laura Innes on "ER." "I mean, I'm 39 years old! I thought at this point, I'd be sinking into oblivion."
At least from a Hollywood perspective, the Texas native began her career fairly close to oblivion -- the Dallas Theater Center, where she honed her acting skills for about six years. Before finally landing her prized role on "Lost," she guest starred on some of television's best shows, including "Boston Legal," "House" and CSI."
Self-deprecating humor is part of Mitchell's considerable charm, though she rarely gets the opportunity to exhibit that playful side on screen. But like the brainy, tough characters she's becoming known for, Mitchell can turn steely when she feels it's warranted. Take her initial reaction to the news that "Lost" executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse planned to hook up her character, originally conceived as a romantic interest for fellow physician Jack (Matthew Fox), with the oft-shirtless reformed con man Sawyer (Josh Holloway).
"I not only hated the idea but was completely vocal about it," she said. "I told Damon and Carlton, 'We have zero chemistry, both in person and as characters. I can't think of a more boring pair.' "
To her surprise, Mitchell found herself ultimately won over by the story line, even as she realized, "Any time characters fall in love and are happy on 'Lost,' that's kind of the end for them." She learned her own end was near after she'd just said goodbye to her 4-year-old son, CJ, at the Honolulu airport.
"I was already crying," she said, "so I just cried some more." For support, she reached out to one of her younger sisters and costar Evangeline Lilly. "They came over later that night and we got rip-roarin' drunk," remembers Mitchell. "We cried and laughed and watched really stupid movies." The "Lost" bosses insist Juliet's death wasn't particularly easy for them either. "Making that call to Elizabeth was one of the hardest things we've had to do," says Lindelof. "But Juliet's actions in the finale completely catalyze what's gonna happen in the final season." Mitchell, by now a pro at keeping "Lost's" patented twists under wraps, will add only, "I've already shot [scenes] with Sawyer. It's one of those things where it appears to be one thing, and then it turns into something else."
By losing one steady gig and so quickly landing another, Mitchell has learned to embrace the unexpected. "V" executive producer Scott Peters has witnessed the actress' roll-with-it style on set. "There are actors who do a scene exactly the same way every time, but each take is a new adventure for her," he said. "Elizabeth's not afraid to play."
Particularly when her booty-kicking single mom role is fulfilling a long-held personal fantasy. "I remember watching the 'Terminator' series and thinking, 'How amazing to be [Sarah Connor] after she got all buff and crazy,' " said the actress, who has been working to bulk up her own biceps. "To be a mother fighting for your life and the lives of the people that you love -- I mean, come on. That's just fun."
It hasn't all been fun. In September, "V" shut down production for just more than a month so that the series could undergo creative tweaking. "We needed to punch everything up," Mitchell said. "Up the drama, make it more chilling. We were at a 7 and we're now at a 10."
In The Invaders, David Vincent could tell who was an alien by their crooked pinky
fingers.
