It's hard to compare modern sci-fi with late 70s/early 80s sci-fi shows. There are so many differences in style, FX and methods of production. One thing of note that is especially obvious with this series (not talking about the mini-series here, just V The Series) and it's re-imagining is that back then plots moved much quicker and had less lengthy story arcs (You get a similar thing comparing comic books too). Almost nothing really happens through two seasons of the re-imagined show while here everything is thrown at you and over about as fast as you can blink.
Modern shows are all about hints and teasing and flashbacks, while in the 80s it was about style, fist fights and doing their best to reset everything back to how it started by the end of the episode. You could say that made the 80s shows more disposable, but at the time I would say they thought it made it more accessible. Both are probably correct. After all you can pick up almost any episode of an 80s show and have fun without needing to see the entire series. Overall I'd say this series fared better than the re-imagining for it as the design left it more complete after it was axed, while the axe really did ruin what potential the new show had.
V The Series had a very noticeable dip in quality compared to the mini-series. It's impossible not to notice this when you watch your way through. But for me the most obvious thing was the clear plummeting of the budget (at least on a per hour basis), which (along with the hairstyles) immediately makes the series seem incredibly dated. After adapting to that and the obvious format changing and lightening of the tone (Replacing the Nazi angle with what can only be described as a Soap Opera one) I found it was a fun series and still had it's moments. The random change in direction about 2/3rds of the way through doesn't help it. Ham Tyler randomly leaving (Probably because they couldn't afford to pay Michael Ironside any more) certainly didn't help. There was obviously some kind of internal shake up and I think it must have been clear to those involved the end was nigh.
Still, I wonder (just as I do with several 70s/80s sci-fi's) if it would have improved were it given a second season and more financial support. So many shows of (and close to) the 90s took at least two seasons to really get into their stride.
Of course now sc-if shows seem to get axed faster than ever, while still being written for the slow burn. Perhaps it will turn out these shows will be viewed as being the disposable ones in the future.
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I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
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