V: The Original Miniseries

V: The Original Miniseries appears to be a science fiction show about an alien invasion. But it’s frankly much more than that …

V: The Original Miniseries, starring Marc Singer, Julie Parrish, Richard Herd, Jane Bradler, Leonardo Cimino, Robert Englund

Synopsis of V: The Original Miniseries

 V: The Original Miniseries – Aliens pretending to be friendly come to Earth and are received openly. The aliens have masqueraded themselves to look just like humans. When it is discovered that the aliens’ planet is dying and that they have come to rape the Earth of its natural resources, the war for Earth begins. An important key to the humans’ success is distinguishing their own from the aliens.

Review of V: The Original Miniseries

In a real sense, V: The Original Miniseries was groundbreaking television in many ways. Outwardly, it’s about an alien invasion, where the aliens initially pretend to be benevolent. They give promises of huge technological advancements, and worm their way into positions of power worldwide. Then, they slowly begin taking over. And before most of the citizens know what’s happened, they’re living in a dictatorship.

Mike Donovan : How’d someone like that get to be your leader anyway?
Martin : Charisma. Circumstances, promises… Not enough of us spoke out to question him until it was too late. It happens on your planet, doesn’t it?

But it’s actually an exposé of fascism. Too many people in contemporary America scream “fascist” at their political opponents, without knowing what the word means. It’s more than an insult. It‘s about a government, that brooks no dissent. Labeling parents who dare speak out as school board meets as “domestic terrorists”. Arresting old men with handcuffs, leg cuffs, and live TV coverage, to intimidate other people. Fascism is a creeping thing. But like a snowball rolling downhill, it grows quickly, with destructive force.

V: The Original Miniseries shows, in a fictional context, how Fascism begins, grows, ensnares.

Eleanor Dupres : I know the Visitors aren’t saints. But they’re in power! They are power… You and I are in unique positions, don’t you see that? Why not take advantage of…
Mike Donovan : Because I can’t survive at the expense of other people, it’s not right! You know, when I was a kid, there was a woman who taught me what was right and what was wrong… I wonder whatever became of her.

It’s absolutely riveting, and highly recommended.

Product Description 

Fifty spaceships, each three miles across, hover ominously above Earth’s major cities. The Visitors that emerge are humanlike in appearance and extend the hand of friendship. Our planet’s resources are just what these aliens need to survive. And for its future survival, unsuspecting humankind will need…a miracle! Kenneth Johnson’s science-fiction spectacular mixes dynamic special effects with cliffhanger thrills. As fascist rule enslaves the globe, freedom fighters battle to save our species. Marc Singer heads an epic-sized cast of human defenders and — behind sleek uniforms and benevolent behavior — reptilian invaders. For unparalleled extraterrestrial excitement, the invaders of V are unstoppable.

Cast of characters

Humans

• Marc Singer (The Beast Master, Batman: The Animated Series) …. Mike Donovan. The primary protagonist. A reporter, who becomes suspicious of the Visitors’ claims. And his own mother turns him over to the Visitors.
• Faye Grant (My Best Friend’s Girl) … Julie Parrish. Biologist, leader of the Los Angeles resistance cell.
• Blair Tefkin (Fright Night Part 2) … Robin Maxwell. Daughter of a scientist. She’s seduced, and impregnated, by the Visitor Brian. At Diana’s command, as one of her biological experiments.
• Polly Maxwell Viveka Davis
• Leonardo Cimino (The Monster Squad) … Abraham Bernstein. Daniel’s grandfather, Holocaust survivor. He begins the ‘V’ motif by spray painting a red ‘V’ (for Victory) over a Visitor propaganda poster.
• David Packer (Robocop) … Daniel Bernstein. A young man who buys into the Visitors lies hook, line, and sinker. He joins the Visitor Youth, and reveals the location of a scientist family, his neighbors the Maxwells, to the alien cause. Despite being the grandson of Holocaust survivors. His eventual reward, when he fails the Visitors? He’s dinner.
• Neva Patterson (An Affair to Remember 1957) … Eleanor Dupres. Donovan’s mother, who willingly collaborates with the Visitors. And betrays her own son to them.
• Evan C. Kim (Caveman) … Tony Wah Chong Leonetti Donovan’s close friend and assistant. They discover, and record, the Visitor’s true nature. And shortly after become fugitives. He’s captured by the Visitors, and dies in one of Diana’s experiments.
• Rafael Campos … Sancho Gomez. He aided Robin’s family in their flight out of occupied Los Angeles. Later taken prisoner by the Visitors, he escapes from their ship with Donovan.
• Diane Cary (Misfits of Science) … Harmony Moore. Former waitress, member of the Resistance. She befriends Willie, and becomes his pseudo-girlfriend.

Visitors

• Jane Bradler (V: Final Battle) … Diana. The heartless, cruel second in command of the invasion force. She has a process to “convert” humans, to be willing slaves to the Visitors. But she prefers torture …
• Richard Herd (The China Syndrome) … John. The leader of the Visitors. He puts on a facade of friendliness to the people of Earth. At first.
• Steven Andrew Prine
• Frank Ashmore … Martin. One of the Visitors, but a member of the Fifth Column. They don’t want to go to war with humanity, but rather want peaceful coexistence. He risks his life to help Donovan escape one of the Visitors’ ships.
• Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street) … Willie. Another Visitor who doesn’t want to kill. Literally a pacifist. He falls in love with one of the resistance fighters.
• Peter Nelson (The Last Starfighter) … Brian. The Visitor who, on Diana’s orders, seduces & impregnates Robin. He’s also one of Diana’s lovers. And he’s used as the guinea pig for the biological weapon against the Visitors in the sequel.