V: Os Extraterrestres no Planeta Terra

"V" and "V: The Final Battle" were definitely two of the 80's best mini-series. It actually became a full series after "Final Battle", but those episodes never made it to video. The original two mini-series are classics, and wonderfully done. The plots are intense, the special effects are cool and were, at the time, state of the art. Even by today's standards, these are still two very exceptional pieces of work. People who like this series may also want to check out "Alien Nation".

This series had a lot going against it - plot holes the size of meteor craters (why don't the visitors just condition Rev. Turney into giving up the location of the rebel camp?, for instance), some of the cheesiest dialogue heard outside of a Kung Fu movie, special effects that where horrible even in 1984. So how come it captivated me so? It was charming. I felt, when I saw it, that cast & crew alike really had a good time doing this show, and those things rub off. But more important, the series had SCOPE and ORIGINALITY. The creators weren't afraid to take on really heavy topics, and they did it in a way that hasn't been seen before, nor after.

I remember watching the original mini-series in the mid eighties and how it caught my imagination and sense of wonder about the real possibilities of humanity's first contact with an advanced civilization.This mini-series was just amazing as was the second mini-series.Then this came out and it was definitely a diminishing of quality across the boards.I don't think I even made it through all 19 episodes back then in 1985.

It's now 2005 and I only invested in the DVD collection because I've been reading books by David Icke who is this conspiracy theorist who believes our planet has been ruled for the last ten thousand years by a race of shape-shifting reptilian beings from another galaxy who are posing to this day as humans and that they are mostly the ruling elite in all fields of human society.It was in his books that he suggested I watch "V".So I purchased the series and have just viewed the entire 19 episodes.

Irregardless of David Icke's theories I have found V:The Complete Series the most fun I've had in years.Yeah, the series is badly acted and the characters are pretty one dimensional and in the case of Diana and Lydia absolutely campy, but so what? The original Flash Gordon serial is campy and the effects are laughable but I can still enjoy that as much as the first three episodes of Star Wars. V:The Complete Series is 1980's television at it's most fun.I suggest just putting your brain aside while watching this series and you'll be just fine.

It's Liberation Day, a year after driving the aliens from Earth. The mother ship has been captured and being examined by scientists. Elizabeth has superpowers. Diana is on trial. While the situation seems to be going well, dangers persist. The aliens are bound to return.

It is 19 episodes and the last gasp of the original V. It follows two years of mini-series. The first season has a great premise but the second season falters a bit. Recently, I watch this again after three and a half decades. It's better than I remember. This 19 episode season is an improvement over the second mini-series Final Battle. It still has some issues with the scale of the TV production. The story logic is better although they still do the thing where the human rebels are always able to sneak in and win despite overwhelming odds. It's the 80's and realism is rarely on TV. It's canceled after one year. It's 25 years before they try rebooting the franchise. At the end of the day, it's fun 80's sci-fi and is still watchable today.

This series of V was very different to the Mini-Series and The Final Battle episodes. The original series was action packed but it was an allegory of the problems in Germany in the 40's when the Nazi's were stepping on people. The original series explored a lot of issues such as the fight between good and evil and the destructive nature of man.

This series did away with most of the above and instead concentrated on producing action, chases, explosions etc.

Old favourites such as Willie, Ham Tyler and Mike Donovan were back. And of course, the wicked Diana was back (looking beautiful than ever). Joining the show were the likes of Lydia who was a rival to Diana and the mysterious Charles.

The shows were very good producing loads of action. It was a good show if a little short-lived. Let's hope a follow up is done one day because the final episode did leave a lot of loose ends to be tied.