V (TV series)

V was a 1983 U.S. science fiction television miniseries written and directed by Kenneth Johnson and first shown on NBC. It starred Jane Badler, Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Michael Ironside, Michael Durrell, Jenny Sullivan, Richard Herd, Peter Nelson, David Packer, Blair Tefkin, Diane Civita and Robert Englund. It was followed by a sequel in 1984, V: The Final Battle and a TV series, V (sometimes referred to as V: The Series) during the 1984-1985 TV season.

Premise

Humanoid (and completely human-looking) aliens arrive on Earth from the sixth planet of Sirius in a fleet of huge saucer ships that they park over the major cities of the planet. They appear to be friendly and seek the help of humans to obtain needed chemicals to aid their own planet. In return, the Visitors promise to share their advanced technology with humanity. The governments of the planet accept, and the Visitors gain considerable influence with the native authorities.

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However, strange things are soon noted, such as scientists that find themselves facing increasing media hostility and government restrictions on their activities and movements. This includes confessions of subversive activities by noted scientists, who are exhibiting unusual behaviour, such as suddenly demonstrating the opposite hand preference than they are known to have.

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Photojournalist Michael Donovan (Singer) sneaks aboard one of the Visitors' motherships and discovers that beneath their humanlike covering, the aliens are reptilian in nature and carnivorous, preferring to eat live food, such as white mice. However, when Donovan tries to air this exposé, the broadcast is blocked and Donovan becomes a wanted fugitive pursued by both the police and the Visitors.

Related Topics:
Photojournalist - Motherships

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As the series progresses, the true designs of the Visitors' agenda are revealed: they plan to steal all the water of Earth and harvest the human race as a food source, leaving only a few as slaves and as soldiers/cannon fodder for the Visitors' wars with other alien races. The scientists are persecuted both to discredit the part of the population most likely to detect the Visitors' secrets, and to distract the human population with a scapegoat they could focus their fears on. Furthermore, key individuals are subjected to a special mind control process called "conversion", which makes them obey the commands of the Visitors while leaving only subtle clues to their manipulation. However, there are numerous humans who willingly collaborate (including Donovan's own mother) who either are ignorant or refuse to accept the truth.

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A resistance movement is formed, determined to expose and oppose the Visitors as much as possible. The Los Angeles cell leader is Dr. Juliette Parish; eventually, Donovan joins this group. Together, the resistance strike their first blows against the Visitors. Meanwhile, there is a small group of dissidents among the Visitors (known as the Fifth Column), including their leader Martin, who are opposed to their leader's plans and attempts to help the Resistance by any possible means.

Related Topics:
Resistance movement - Los Angeles - Fifth Column

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