Sci-Fi/Fantasy - The original "V" miniseries

Jim4Comcast · 05-28-2009, 12:57 PM

Hi all, thought you might get a kick out of this: while ABC is remaking the cult classic "V" - apparently with beautiful aliens this time, oy, the original miniseries has just resurfaced on Fancast, scaly aliens and all

Jim (for Fancast)

**Cryostar** · 05-29-2009, 05:19 AM

Thanks Jim, though i'm familiar with fancast. Are they a licensed place, like Hulu? As big of a fan of the original series as I was (even including Marc Singer), if this isn't a 100% legit site, we'll have to remove the links.

Jim4Comcast · 05-29-2009, 11:15 AM

Hi Cryostar. YES, we are absolutely 1000 percent legal. In fact, as you may have guessed from my screen name, Fancast is owned by Comcast, the nation's largest cable company. Trust me, we do everything by the book!

And since Comcast is the largest purchaser of television content in the country, we have great relationships with EVERY single major network and studio. In fact, in addition to the NBC and Fox stuff that Hulu has, we also have CBS and ABC content too, as well as free programming from cable channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, FX, TLC, Disney, etc etc.

So when we heard ABC was remaking "V" we went to Warner Bros. (V's copyright holder) and asked them if we could put up the original cult fav which aired on NBC in the 80s.

If you want to check out the full library on Fancast, here it is, it's pretty amazing:
Watch TV Online for Free | Streaming Full Length Television Episodes | Fancast

We also have a nice library of feature films too, and, of course, they are also free Watch Streaming Full Length Movies Online for Free | Fancast

Hope that clears up any concerns.

Cheers,
Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryostar (View Post)

Thanks Jim, though i'm familiar with fancast. Are they a licensed place, like Hulu? As big of a fan of the original series as I was (even including Marc Singer), if this isn't a 100% legit site, we'll have to remove the links.

**Cryostar** · 06-01-2009, 02:18 PM

Sounds great!

Looks like I'll be clicking on through the links to watch some original lizard people!

***Raonaild*** · 06-02-2009, 10:39 AM

I watched this series as a kid when it first aired, it was one of the first series I ever taped, and boy were those Betamax tapes well used

I have the two miniseries on DVD now, but I didn't bother with the TV series they tried to make ... it was a huge disappointment, they killed off the most interesting main characters pretty quickly.

**Cryostar** · 06-03-2009, 05:39 AM

Woo, if we had karma here, I'd give you points just for mentioning Betamax.

I concur about the tv series. It was just rammed down our throats that we need to "move on" from the mini-series. Personally, I love the impact and turn-about that we had, learning the Visitor's true intentions.

***Raonaild*** · 06-05-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cryostar (View Post)

Woo, if we had karma here, I'd give you points just for mentioning Betamax.

I was very fond of my old Beta collection, when my last Beta VCR finally died I was very annoyed at having to downgrade to VHS - it was like growing up with high def and then being forced to switch to standard def. I dropped VHS quickly once DVDs came out.

The TV series did have the problem that it was pretty hard to continue from the two miniseries. The first miniseries set up the situation, and the second resolved it in a pretty final way. But still, they tried and the result was pretty bad.

**Cryostar** · 06-07-2009, 11:20 AM

I know the feeling. That's why I'm so anxious about buying an HD DVD player. I know BluRay won, but still, I can't help but wonder if it's going to stick around, or if something different is coming our way.

That's very true. Still, you'd have to think that scrapping almost every thread of the story to start a new was a huge mistake.

***Raonaild*** · 07-15-2009, 07:28 PM

After posting on this thread, I pulled out my DVDs and watched both miniseries again.

Some of it was definitely cheesy and dated. But it reminded me how, at the time, mainstream sci-fi was incredibly rare on TV.

The other thing it reminded me is how I learned at a young age watching this show to be suspicious of the powers that be when they label other groups "terrorists".

**Cryostar** · 07-21-2009, 05:41 AM

Heh...I wouldn't mind seeing it again, unfortunately, I'd have to hook up a VCR if i wanted to do that.

Reggie · 07-25-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim4Comcast (View Post)

Hi Cryostar. YES, we are absolutely 1000 percent legal. In fact, as you may have guessed from my screen name, Fancast is owned by Comcast, the nation's largest cable company. Trust me, we do everything by the book!

And since Comcast is the largest purchaser of television content in the country, we have great relationships with EVERY single major network and studio. In fact, in addition to the NBC and Fox stuff that Hulu has, we also have CBS and ABC content too, as well as free programming from cable channels like HBO, Showtime, Starz, FX, TLC, Disney, etc etc.

So when we heard ABC was remaking "V" we went to Warner Bros. (V's copyright holder) and asked them if we could put up the original cult fav which aired on NBC in the 80s.
Jim

Jim,
You guys got any pull with the channel formerly named Sci-Fi? It's gone bad, rogue even, and someone over there needs a bucket of cold water applied. There's only ONE really science fiction show left, and I'm not talking about prank shows, spook chasers, or the WWF! Meanwhile, SW: Clone Wars is on cartoon channels and Spike, ABC is doing "V", and no one is carrying Dr. Who, Torchwood, or any of the old serials. Wouldn't you love to see the original Flash Gorden serial? The Star Trek cartoon series? Wasn't there a "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet" series? Imagine that, done with the Clone Wars CGI technology...

"V" would go nicely on a Sci-Fi channel, if there was one.

**Cryostar** · 07-27-2009, 09:15 PM

Well, the thing is, SciFi wanted to get away from Aliens and Flying saucers and stuff....

**Cryostar** · 07-27-2009, 09:16 PM

Well, the thing is, SciFi wanted to get away from Aliens and Flying saucers and stuff....

TrekGoddess · 11-06-2009, 09:19 PM

This is my attempt to "bump" this up towards the top of the list and onto the front page of the Sci-fi/Fantasy forum.

From looking at this thread I truly see no need to incorporate the two and to leave them as two different threads. This way people that have seen the original can post in here about the episodes that thay have seen without the fear of potentially spoiling the new series.

Now as for the title of this thread. It is almost dead on correct. The only qualm that I have about it is because it says "mini-series". The original "V" was not a mini-series like "Roots" was. It was a full blown regular weekly tv show that aired on a major network in the mid-eighties. It may have seemed like a mini-series, but that was because it only lasted 19 episodes. lol

Other than that, does anyone remember the twin "V" babies that were born? The one that looked like a "V" was good of heart and (I think) died. The one that looked most human was evil. I forget... what happened concerning those babies. Hrmm... maybe the new show will address that issue eventually.

portiaslegacy · 11-07-2009, 10:18 AM

First thank you for doing this bump.

The original miniseries came out the year I was born. I first heard of it in and EW 100 best things in sci fi list but I only got around to watching it last weekend.

First I generally hate the way Star Wars is a common pop culture but the scene with high school band performing the rebels theme to welcome the visitors was great. I also loved the Maxwell parents discussing their first impressions of the the visitors after the party. It was a bit clunky as exposition, but also really effective.

Since the new one is coming out highlights so much of the political tensions of it. The original was conceived as an allegory about the rise of Nazism and as such is muddled and ineffective, which is especially troubling in the remake. First by having the enemy come from without it is messes with the anti-racism/ anti xenophobia messages. Second it cuts down on what the populist appeals would have been. Having some members become instantly enamored is too much of a simplification. Tragic as Daniel becoming an alcoholic Brown Shirt was to his family it really just gave us the audience someone to hate.

The idea of political dissent among the visitors was also interesting, but as a allegory unenlightening. There was a lot liked about it, but a lot I have problems with and I am not sure the new one has any intention of addressing these at all.