“RED RAIN” Airs Tuesday, January 4 at 9:00 PM on ABC
The remake of V made a big splash when it premiered in 2009 before inexplicably being put on hiatus after just four episodes aired. When it returned for eight more episodes in the spring it had lost nearly half its audience, but maintained a steady viewership and even gained as the season came to an end. The first season was very solid and compelling television and, luckily, ABC renewed the show for a second year. Interestingly, the show has been held until mid-season and only a ten episode order has been given. However, in the case of V, I think fewer episodes is better. The first season started off really strong before stumbling a little bit and being slightly unsure of itself with an excellent finish. A small number of episodes increases the pace of the ongoing story while leaving no room for filler. The second season is no exception. At the end of season one, Ryan and Val’s baby was born on the mothership with Anna killing the mother; Erika set off a bomb that destroyed the nursery housing a few hundred eggs waiting to unleash warriors; Chad Decker discovered the horrible experiments that those humans taken to the mothership had to endure; Joshua had been outed as a member of the Fifth Column and killed by an escaping Erika to divert suspicion from her on the bombing; Anna lashed out over the destruction of the eggs.
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The second season premiere, “Red Rain” begins in the aftermath of the destruction of the warrior eggs Anna has been incubating and her subsequent lashing out by turning the Earth’s sky red. The story picks up immediately following this and goes full speed ahead. We discover the purpose of the red skies and the resulting, titular red rain, both the explanation that Anna gives the world and the real, sinister reason. That ties in with a further revelation concerning the Visitors and just how long they’ve been visiting Earth. On top of that, Anna begins a subversive campaign against the Fifth Column that affects several characters, although the resistance group gains a couple of important allies. Additionally, Lisa begins a slow transformation and finds out her mother’s plans for her and we find out there is something, or someone, Anna is hiding in the bowels of the mothership. Things are set in motion, character fates decided and truths revealed that will affect every character on the show. Oh, and we get more of a look at what the Visitors really look like.
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While this season premiere answers many of the questions left dangling in the first season finale, it does so in a way that propels the greater story and the characters forward. There is no “cosmic reset” button pushed here and all the pieces are not put back where they were to ignore what’s right in front of them. This is a frenetically paced episode with twists and revelations coming fast and furious, but not too much for the viewer to handle. If only all shows, especially those relying on a continuing story, could be this well written and revelatory. Thankfully this pace continues at least through the next two episodes and hopefully will be the tone of the entire second season. If you’ve watched the show since it premiered, you will be very pleased with the story and character progression here. New viewers will be presented with a lot to absorb, but it should suck you in and not only make you want to come back next week, but pick up the first season so you can catch up. V is off to a terrific start this season and should make your must-watch list.
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I’d also like to take a moment and point out the amazing acting job by Morena Baccarin as Anna, the High Commander of the Visitors. She is able to smile at other characters in a way that makes you wonder if she’s about to rip their throats out (and in some cases she more or less does). There is no doubt that she has the worse intentions in mind for humanity, but, beyond that, you really have no idea what she is capable of, just that it is not good. Her performance on this show is light years away from Firefly‘s Inara Serra and about ten levels more nuanced. Baccarin and Elizabeth Michell headlining the cast is what initially drew me to the series and Baccarin’s stellar performance each week has kept me locked in. I see many wonderful roles and truckloads of awards in Baccarin’s future, all of which is a very cool thing for us lucky viewers.