You know what doesn't work, with one exception? Expansive shows with the scope of LOST on network television, except for LOST. So Sorry V, but this show just doesn't work. As a result its future is in jeopardy, with its second season seeming doubtful at this point.
So why is V a failure? Let's deal jut with the most recent episode, titled "Welcome to the War," and examine its shortcomings.
Last night's episode represented a jump starting of the show in the wake of an extended layoff after the first four episodes. That first volume ended with a nice enough climax, and it set the stage for a more developed show. WELCOME to the WAR tries to build on that momentum by establishing the groundwork for a showdown between the Visitors and The Resistance.
The failure stems from the fact that what I'm watching is about as interesting as watching a bad chess game. We're seeing pieces get moved around, but ultimately I care as much as if I was just watching pawns.
I hate to compare the show to LOST, but that's what it is emulating in terms of the narrative, so that's what it will get. On LOST you are presented with conniving and complicated villains to go up against inventive and courageous heroes. This rapport is quite captivating, as it keeps us on our toes. Additionally, the characters are three dimensional and it provide actual meaning.
Now let's examine how V has failed to capture that same magic with the Priest character. He is overtly complicated, but ultimately just a caricature of something we might find on LOST. The real shame, though, is that Joel Gretsch is a good actor and is wasted in this role.
Speaking of wasted actors, let's address the biggest travesty, which is the utilization of Elizabeth Mitchell. Her Jack Bauer impersonation has been wearing on me since the Visitors arrived. I love Mitchell from her time as Juliet. In that role she created one of the most mischievous, beloved and quixotic character in recent memories, but now she's been relegated to playing two stereotypical roles: The renegade cop and the mom trying to get her kid back. Why didn't they just break it into two parts and let Keifer Sutherland play one and Charlize Theron take over the other?
Her kid on the show is also one of the most annoying characters in television history, and at this point is beyond redemption.
Anyway, the only mildly interesting characters are played by Morris Chestnut and Scott Wolf. Chestnut does a great job portraying the conflicted soul, who has a foot in each camp and simply wants to live his life in peace with the woman he loves. Contained in that desire is the capacity to utilize his alien skills and go kill people like it's his job. He is tough, sensitive and the only hero i would turn to.
As for Wolf, his character's back story is pretty ridiculous, but he does seem to have all the brain power on the show. He understands the game, and can actually play it without revealing all his cards. Not sold on him yet, as he is still a little too smitten with Anna.
Speaking of Anna, she is such a bore. What a ho-hum villain. Oh no, she eats the head up the guy who fertilized her eggs. Seen it on Buffy the Vampire slayer. Oh no, she's going to inject the humans. The Others have been injecting and poisoning people for years on LOST. Oh no, she's got a ruthless sidekick. Oh wait, he's not ruthless and he basically sucks.
In a show where the stakes are supposedly so large and i should actually care, i find myself generally apathetic about what's going on. Oh no, the Visitors are going to kill us! What else is knew? Maybe I'd care if we had some consequences. Right now I'm just seeing a buildup that isn't interesting, since all we have is the rising action. There's no character development or extraneous stories to follow. V can't go at this break neck pace if it wants to retain my interest, unless it decides to become a version of 24.
My advice to V would be slow down and give me a reason to care if these people die. Right now I basically hate all the humans and hope they die. I'm worried, though, that the show can't slow down at this point and is heading for a cliff it's doomed to dive into.
All of this contributes to make V almost unwatchable. What are your thoughts?
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