I keep telling myself to not get too excited about this upcoming remake of V. The problem is that the child in me is still absolutely in love with the entire concept. I still have visions of Diana unhinging her jaw to swallow that hamster. I was so fanatical about V that I've collected and read all the books and comic books, and even tried to rip my skin off to see if I was green underneath. Even worse, I recorded and watched V: The Series over and over again.
Okay, I admit I didn't do one of those things. I would never watch V: The Series more than once. But the ideas behind the invasion and the Visitors, with their seeming benevolence masking such nefarious ulterior motives. It also helped that I've always had such a fascination with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi movement. It was fascinating to see how he perverted ordinary people into such a force for hate.
People are weak and we're so susceptible to persuasion, suggestion and more importantly, charisma. Powerful ideas explored in an at times cheesy science fiction mini-series. And I always wanted to go back to that world. Maybe even spend some more time there, but this time not have the stories handled horribly.
So I should be thrilled about ABC's remake of V, right? And I am more than just a little stoked, but I'm also incredibly nervous. Remakes are iffy things (Knight Rider and Bionic Woman anyone?). It looks like ABC feels my concern, so they've put the first 9 minutes or so of the premiere of V online to ease my fears. What it does, though, is tell me that the new V is going to be visually stunning, as well as a little more realistic as far as the impact of the alien arrivals.
We also got to see our new cast in action, and with Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), and Morena Baccarin (Firefly) as the beautiful Anna (the new Diana). Of course, her face has been plastered all over our televisions in promotion by ABC.
Things like plot, ongoing effects, characters and the like I'll still have to wait and see. Yes, I'm worried that production has been halted twice now; this second time leading to this shortened mini-launch whereby we'll get four episodes starting November 3, 2009 and then have to wait until March 2010 (after the Olympics) for more. But I want to believe, not only that they'll get it right this time, but that enough people will jump on board that the new and improved V will stick around for awhile.
Please be "new and improved" and not just "new."
