One of the more iconic television events of my youth, 'V' is an ambitious (if at times clunky) allegory that hits its beats with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, yet I was surprised by how well it held up overall. The production values are first rate, a reflection of its massive budget ($13 million, the equivalent of $31 million in today) and the performances are what they need to be for this kind of story. Standouts include Marc Singer, bringing his B-movie star power to bare as the hunky camera man turned resistance hero, David Packer as the traitorous Daniel, Robert "Freddy Krueger" Englund as the decidedly non-Freddy-like Willie, a friendly Visitor, and the aptly named Jane Badler as Diana, the hottest lizard I've ever seen.'V' often tries to do too much. It wisely localizes the action and drama, but it still tries to keep a few too many balls in the air, with its sprawling cast passing the narrative baton around like a hot potato at times. There are also giant plot holes that one of the Visitor's massive motherships could fly through. But on balance 'V' is a surprisingly effective "It could happen here" allegory that's worth a re-visit for my fellow 80s kids. For others, your light years may vary.

"V" and me is a long story: it has been broadcast in France in 1985 and it was a huge hit: Sadly, as it was Monday night, my brother and me couldn't watch it. Indeed, our parents allowed us only Tuesday to watch TV after dinner. But as past legends, we were told the stories by our friends at school. Next, i was able to watch it on a rerun maybe 5 years later but i missed the essential episode, that is to say the first one. Thus, i never knew how the visitors arrived. Next, the DVD came out but there was only the first series (the two episodes of Johnson). It's only in 2004 in a London trip that i found the DVD of the "Final Battle" in English only. Finally, it's when i collected them all that a lavish collection with all episodes was released in France that I couldn't buy so.Now, i can watch peacefully my DVD thirty years after the release and the show is still a incredible one. It begins with great credits with this iconic painted V and the great musical theme. Sure the special effect are outdated but that's not the point otherwise we would never watch old movies as well. Maybe what's more annoying would be the short-cuts in the story: Why did Visitors conspire in English when they are alone in their own mothership ? Also, the events are ultra fast (as the scientist conspiring or the pregnancy) which made them unlikely and they do too much operations inside the mothership. For sci-fi fan, it wouldn't be very original because "V" strips a lot of classics ("Episode IV", "4th dimension", "War of the worlds").However, those cunning visitors allow the best lesson of democracy mass audiences can find. That's why this show would be always accurate. In short, it says that dictatorship comes ala ways under a mask. When its evil roots have taken, the pluralism is the first victim and the only way to restore liberty and freedom is the fight. What's original and totally truth in this show is that the resistance or terror are personal choices and it can bring strangers together or divide families as well. It's very different from what we see today when heroic characters are Potus, the army, police, which may be a signal that fascism is indeed coming.The so awaited first episode of the arrival is brilliantly directed and totally anticipatory. The invasion can be followed live on streets as well on TV. The news keep going on the screens of all the key families and it's a good trick to tell the story as well to introduce the characters. Finally, it's one of the few shows that deals with an extended cast in which all of them are real good. I have never seen them in anything else (except from the deadly Freddy) but they were unforgettable in those "V" shows! In addition, it's cool to have a show wrapping all the story lines at the end.Our young generations should take a look at this show and find inspiration for the nowadays threats that keep going stronger!

This is the finest ever made for TV mini series I have seen. I remember watching it when originally broadcast and recently bought the DVD and re watched. Not only does it hold up, it seems better to me now than when I first saw it 29 years ago. Leonard Cimino is brilliant as the aged holocaust survivor who lost his wife in a concentration camp. He makes the most of his part and teaches us all not only how to fight, but how to love. The beautiful Faye Grant is awesome as the leader of the resistance. While there are obvious allusions to the Nazis, it is amazing how much of the story mimics today- There are allegations of "Owning the press and the news media." Civil rights and homes are lost. The visitors, with their own version of Obama's "Hope and Change" really had their own agenda, which they dare not reveal. I really enjoyed this, there was surprisingly little gore, and scenes of torture were implied, but not shown. Well done and very enjoyable.

I think because of the introduction of Blue/green screen technology and computer graphics - V can come across as abit dated but it is still very entertaining and full of fabulous colourful, yet realistic characters. Ham Tyler, played with gusto by Michael Ironside, is one that sticks out and stays in my mind and also jane Balder - a sexy bad woman alien known as Diana...love it! The weapons and spacecraft are also top draw sci-fi creations and Donavan (Marc singer) is so brilliantly dramatic in his physical stances - also love it...but the bad guys/aliens are still quite menacing in the way we know that want to actually eat all of us.I hope they re-make this as a ten part mini series!!