Episode 2 Recap: There Is No Normal Anymore

Woo-hoo! I was very happy with last night's episode. They are starting to work with a bit more subtle character development, but there were a few moments where points were driven at us full force without any hesitation (the random extreme reaction by Tyler to fight with a demonstrator- it felt so contrived...)So, here are my thoughts:


ERICA
My favorite plot line, by far, is Erica. She is in the difficult position of not being able to trust anyone, even at work...at the FBI. She returns to a crazed FBI office, faced with loads of questions about her missing partner. She plays it extremely well...I was loving her straight-faced lies. Later, she runs to the scene where his car was found with her captain, and manages to slip her missing gun and badge back into her pocket and pants before he comes over. It looks like he caught her grabbing something...but no, she slickly hands him her partner's phone. Cut back later to her storyline, and things are getting even more complicated. She see the priest from the night before (Father Jack), he's there to turn info over to the FBI (specifically the Visitor Task Force). She asks him "what part of trust no one don't you understand?" They have a tense face off (setting the stage for later cavorting??) and he storms off. Meanwhile, her boss calls her into his office: he has her, on tape, calling 911. She is quick to cover her lying, the whole story, by explaining how the cell they were following kept getting tipped off, and she thought her partner was a mole. This oddly is accepted by the director. (not sure I would have bought it, but maybe he's waiting for her to lead him to something??) The big reveal here was that they were conducting an investigation in that area, and were re-routing 911 calls from the warehouse. SAY WHAT?! Talk about Big Brother...she seemed to realize the extent of the Visitor infiltration at that moment. They are EVERYWHERE. Later, after a bit more back and forth, she makes up with Father Jack and shows him a list she "swiped" from the FBI visitor task force...all of the names of people who have contacted the FBI to warn about the Visitors, or to make alien arrival claims.



TYLER

I am not sure what to say about our misguided Tyler. I have been heavily critical of him, despite the young age of 17, being too easily manipulated. Joining the Peace Ambassadors against his mother's wishes-not cool. But he had a line, that I couldn't help but be sympathetic to, along the lines of "who wouldn't want to get to talk to aliens?". Heck, I can't disagree with that one...
It went down hill again, however, when he decided to punch a demonstrator who heckled him for a short period of time. C'mon, he's that insecure? Really? Any guy I know, even at 17, can handle a bit of heckling. Weak. I guess we had to have some drama and separate him from the Visitor Lisa. Another point worth mentioning, the extended focus on Tyler's iPhone. He is busy showing Lisa his bike, and she stops him to take a picture of herself. (Nice move, Lisa!) But any extended product placement annoys me, even if it's something I like.


RYAN
Ryan may be my second favorite character now. I love all of the conflict- he really loves his girlfriend, but he knows he has to go and fight with the resistance (and leave her) to protect her. Heavy stuff really. I can see he will be the tortured soul of the show, showing emotions and empathy, and proving that not all Visitors are bad.
He visits an old friend for help to heal his deep wound from the fight at the warehouse the night before. This friend is also a Visitor, one trying to stay off the grid...or, maybe he's in the resistance. Hard to tell yet who to trust, but he seems to truly care when he warns Ryan to get far a way from his girlfriend to protect her.




CHAD/ANNA
I'll talk about Chad and Anna together today, as they are currently both working to manipulate each other. Chad tortures himself for going soft on Anna during his big prime-time interview with her, so he decides to put together a show with the pros and cons of the United States joining into diplomatic relations with the Visitors. This captures Anna's attention. They pull him on board the NY ship to express their displeasure with the show. Chad points out that people trust him, and that the polls have moved in favor of the V since the airing. Later in the episode, the US agrees to diplomatic ties with the V, and Chad receives a brief call from Anna "thank you." Then as he starts to talk, she hangs up. So cold! (what good stuff!)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on V

So Robert Gibbs doesn't watch "V"??! I'm shocked- he doesn't have anything else to do...
;D

Check it out as a reporter from the website asylum.com asks Mr. Gibbs about the supposed controversy surrounding the similarities between V and the Obama Administration:

ABC online: "Premiere episode arrives today. Commentary is coming soon."

So I guess it wasn't meant to be. I was looking forward to spending part of my Saturday re-watching the Pilot episode and checking out the producer's commentary. So far, I have been unable to stream the show, and the commentary is now being pushed back..."coming soon".

Dang technical issues! I'll be watching for the commentary....c'mon ABC, don't disappoint the fans!

Episode 1 Recap: Pilot

Here's a quick recap of the first episode- better late than never!!? (And for goodness sake, don't read this recap if you haven't watched the show!!)

The first episode jumped right to the action- we were quickly introduced to FBI counter-terrorism agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) and her son, Tyler Evans. We see multiple huge-ginormous space ships carrying the visitors, and experience the intense technological advances they have immediate- the entire ship transforms to create the world's biggest LCD screen, which projects the image and voice (in every major language, depending on its location) of Anna, the high commander. Whew! Yes! Intense 5 minutes, and I was hooked.

The show then slowed up a bit, but the abbreviated dialog made it feel too rushed at times, and even (dare I say it..) too contrived.

We see Anna walking among a throng of reporters (where is she? Is this on a city street?) who hound her with questions. Our scruples-lacking journalist, Chad Decker (played by Scott Wolf) stands up for her, shouting the others down to "show some respect". She offers to answer a question for him. He slickly asks, "Is there such a thing as an ugly Visitor?", referring to, well, her attractiveness...hmmm. Is there something else to this?



The action moved from character to character, establishing the main roles and (perhaps) what side they are on.

ERICA

Erica learns not to trust anyone - I mean anyone- after sneaking into a meeting of the V resistance. As the meeting is ambushed and attacked by the Visitors, she finds herself face-to-face with her FBI partner. Crap! He's got scales under his skin, and lizard-like eyes. Great special effects her, BTW.

RYAN

Ryan finds himself in a tough position- he loves his girlfriend, has a good job, nice place to live...but he has a conscience, and knows that the V aren't as peaceful as they claim. And he has a pretty good secret he's keeping from her- he's one of aliens.

ANNA/CHAD
Things are going to get interesting between these two...I love the tension, and her cool, calculating demeanor.

TYLER

Tyler is young and brash. And a little stupid. His mom is trying to protect him, but he blames her for being a single mom and not giving him enough attention. But to turn to aliens to be noticed? I'm not a fan of Tyler's just yet...


Click on the iTunes link to buy Episode 1, Pilot:

V Streaming Starting Nov 7th on ABC.com-with Commentary!

Beginning on Saturday November 7th, you can stream the first episode of V online at abc.com , and it will include episode commentary with the executive producers. Fans will be able to join in on the comments. Hopefully they will be offering tidbits of information to keep us informed, without giving away secrets, much like the LOST executive producers currently do...

Controversy Already!

Several mainstream websites and review sites have reported that the new V is anti-Obama, or at very least, anti-Obamamania.

An excellent review of the series opener was posted on the Chicago Tribune website by Glenn Garvin. He writes about the comparison between the charismatic and attractive aliens who arrive and offer us "Universal Health Care", and the Obama administration. He makes some good points in the article, but I think everyone is over-analyzing the script.

There are always going to be people who interpret sci-fi and other works differently. The point with V is that it can be relevant in any time, not just as a condemnation of the Nazi Regime. So, people may see it as anti-Obama, or anti-someone else, as their current viewpoint interprets the show. But, from my fairly liberal viewpoint, I saw a show that chose to use current buzzwords, on the good side and bad, to make itself more relevant. When I heard "Universal Health Care" come out of the reporter's mouth, I laughed. I saw it as a thinly-veiled attempt to sound hip and "now", not as a knock at Obama. Relax everyone...it is a fictitious show after all...isn't it??!

The First Episode!

It's here! After months of waiting, the new ABC series V has begun. The first episode of V aired in the U.S. on Nov 3 at 8pm EST. The hour-long series opener had great special effects and good acting. I'm on the fence about the writing so far (it was a bit too predictable for my taste), but based on this first impression, I think this is going to be the best interpretation of V yet.

My favorite characters so far are played by Elizabeth Mitchell(character Juliet of LOST fame) as a skeptical FBI agent Erica Evans, and Morena Baccarin as Anna, the cold and cool representative of the Visitors.


Erica attends a secret resistance meeting

I'll be watching for more on the Peace Ambassador Program next week...I wonder how long before they start to brainwash the kids...or will they end up wishing they hadn't brought them on board??

Can't wait for next week. Until then, I'll be posting more info about the show and characters. :D