Introduction
V is a science fiction TV franchise created by American producer and director Kenneth Johnson concerning aliens known as “The Visitors” trying to take over Earth. It ran as a miniseries in 1983 and 1984, and a weekly TV series from 1984 to 1985. A remake/reimagining aired from 2009 to 2011.
Outline (General)
V: The Final Battle was played out over three episodes, set several months after the events of the original miniseries.
A year after Liberation Day, courtesy of the red-dust bacteria, the humanoid, lizard-like aliens develop a resistance to the micro-organism and try to regain control of the Earth – only now some humans are knowingly working with them.
Outline (Part 01)
The first episode begins with a nightmare showing Mike Donovan and his son, Sean, trying to escape from a Visitor mother-ship with Visitor troopers in pursuit. Mike is knocked down by laser fire, Sean is shot in the back and apparently killed. Juliet rouses Mike from his sleep as the Resistance prepares for a raid on a Visitor processing plant to rescue humans who have been repackaged into food cocoons. The raid is easily thwarted at the plant perimeter, due to the Visitors’ advanced armour and security measures. In the raid’s debriefing at the Resistance hideout, the team bickers over how things went wrong. Robin Maxwell’s pregnancy is also at an advanced stage but she has told nobody that the father is a Visitor.
The rebels later get wind of a major event to be held at the Los Angeles Medical Centre, where John is expected to announce a medical breakthrough – a universal cancer cure. Due to the extensive media coverage, the rebels infiltrate the hospital. While he can provide uniforms for the infiltration, Martin however cannot supply weapons, as all Visitor armouries are heavily guarded. The rebels scout the facility and secure medical supplies. Meanwhile, after discovering that the Visitors are indeed reptilian, Robin insists on an abortion with Juliet’s help. However, the abortion is cancelled because of potentially fatal complications to Robin and she is therefore forced to continue with the pregnancy to full term.
Meanwhile, television reporter Kristine Walsh begins to doubt her association with the Visitors, after Mike’s claim that Sean is a captive aboard the mother-ship. Her suspicions are aroused even more after a well-known doctor makes a stinging criticism about her being the Visitors’ puppet spokesperson, but then days later gives her a tremendously warm reception (due to Diana’s subjecting him to her conversion process). During a scouting mission, the rebels succeed in capturing Willie, a friendly Visitor technician, whom they bring to their hideout for study. Willie’s human girlfriend, Harmony, then makes a case among the rebels for humane treatment of the prisoner.
The hospital raid is a success, with Juliet unmasking John’s true, reptilian nature. Martin and Lorraine, another member of the Fifth Column, prevent the mother-ship from cutting off the live feed. Diana also kills Kristine after she disobeys her orders to report the incident as a terrorist hoax and instead makes a desperate call for rebellion. After a firefight inside the hospital corridors, the rebels escape with help from the Fifth Column, who have assigned a transport crew to “capture” them; however, it is a Pyrrhic victory, as Juliet, now separated from the group, is captured during her attempt to escape from the hospital.
After the fiasco of the previous evening Diana has the scene re-enacted under heavy security to be passed off as the actual broadcast, with the audience held at gunpoint and Eleanor DuPres eagerly taking Kristine’s place reporting the event. As it concludes, Stephen tells John and Diana they have the location of the resistance base and that troops are on their way.
On the mothership, Juliet is undergoing the conversion process. As she endures the torture, Diana watches, claiming Juliet will be her masterpiece.
Part 02 here and Part 03 here.
V Series
You can find a full index and overview of the V franchise here.
Production & Filming Details
- Release Date: 06 May 1984.
- Rating: 15.
- Running Time: variable.
- Country: US.
- Language: English.
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