"V" (1984) TV series 1984-1985

Creator:

Kenneth Johnson

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

26 October 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Teen | Lizard | Beautiful Woman | Alien Invasion

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Jane Badler	...	Diana (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
June Chadwick	...	Lydia (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jennifer Cooke	...	Elizabeth Maxwell (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert Englund	...	Willie (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Faye Grant	...	Dr. Julie Parrish / ... (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Marc Singer	...	Mike Donovan / ... (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jeff Yagher	...	Kyle Bates (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael Ironside	...	Ham Tyler (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Lane Smith	...	Nathan Bates (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Blair Tefkin	...	Robin Maxwell (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael Wright	...	Elias Taylor (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Howard K. Smith	...	Howard K. Smith (12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Aki Aleong	...	Mr. Chiang (9 episodes, 1984-1985)
Judson Earney Scott	...	Lt. James (8 episodes, 1985)

Also Known As:

V: The Series

Runtime:

60 min (19 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Sable Ranch - 25933 Sand Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

The character Diana was ranked #5 in TV Guide's 25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends (1 August 2004 issue).

Quotes:

[Nathan Bates is apparently collaborating with the Visitors]
Mike Donovan: We know Bates is in bed with Diana.
Willie: Really? I did not know that.
Elias Taylor: It's a figure of speech, Willie.
Willie: With Diana... one never knows.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV)

Continuing the great sci-fi tradition.

V:The Series was not a disappointment, just don't compare it to the first two mini-series. V and V:The Final Battle were landmarks in television history, V:The Series was a great science fiction series. Yes, it could have been better, but it was still great all the same. Most of the cast from the originals turned up for the series and some great new ones as well, and V:The Series was sweet while it lasted.

It began really well, on Liberation Day, a year after the Visitors had been defeated. Yet Diana came back and we were in for it. New arrivals such as Nathan Bates and his so cool son Kyle, the evil Visitor Lydia and the beautiful 'Star Child' Elizabeth all contributed to V growing with time. Yet it all went a bit wrong a bit too soon.

Ham Tyler and Robin Maxwell (two classic V characters) disappeared mid-season, new opening titles graced our screens and V:The Series departed our screens on the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers, with Elizabeth leaving with the Leader and Kyle stowing away, never knowing what was to become of them.

The actors in V, as always, was great. Jeff Yagher and Jennifer Cooke were the most attractive couple on TV as Kyle and Elizabeth, and June Chadwick was very bitchy as the glorious Lydia. The usual players (Jane Badler, Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Blair Tefkin, Michael Ironside, etc.) were fabulous as always, and the episodes were outrageously fun.

The only problem was that V:The Series was simply not as good as V and V:The Final Battle. A shame really, because on it's own, V:The Series was really good. It will just never be remembered as a great show.