Morena was fantastic. I literally can't think of another actress in the world who could nail the part so well. She projects the perfect amount of warmth and coolness, and steadiness and articulateness, all with the half hot, half eerie smile. Just perfect. Even if the show's not a hit I hope the role makes her a big damn star.

Outside of her, I didn't care for a lot of it. FBI-lady-from-Lost does nothing for me, or the cheesy dialogue and stereotypical scenes that set up all of these people's lives. Also: where did they find a professional NFL quarterback to play a preacher? Now that's casting.

I thought the plot tried to do too much for a single episode. Not only did they set up the premise, they knocked it down. They should have left the reveal until the end of the episode, then at least there would have been a cliffhanger to carry over into next week. But they spilled the beans 15 minutes before the episode even ended, and even though I never saw the original, I already feel like I know where it's going. That means the only reason for me to tune in next week is to see the characters and how they'll react-- and I don't like most of the characters. I very likely will watch it just to see Morena again, though. She's that good as Anna.

[ edited by dispatch on 2009-11-04 11:24 ]

dispatch | November 04, 11:24 CET

dispatch: I thought it was going to be a two hour premiere, so yes felt rushed a bit. Morena is good, but honestly I still think her best work was on Firefly. She was on Stargate SG-1 for a bit, and I don't know if it was the script or what, but her acting seemed very wooden/blank. I was trying to tell hubby watching about how great she was in Firefly...and I don't know, but it seems she's playing the same "type" here. Nothing against her as an actress, just maybe she's getting typecast as was feared Summer Glau was/is, between River and Cameron, as less than human? My 50 cents (Way too long a post for only 2!) and I do have to say in both characters' cases that remoteness is called for, and loved premiere of V for most part!

hopitopia | November 04, 13:08 CET

For those of you who don't know, it scored a 5.0 18-49, and 14.56 million viewers at the peak.

Frick | November 04, 19:07 CET

Is the plan still for it to be a smaller season (compared to the length of most network runs) and, if successful, to last for exactly three mini-seasons total ? I remember that's what was being reported back in May or during the summer.

Will watch after work tonight. I wasn't gonna get into another show, was maybe gonna wait for the DVDs if I heard overwhelmingly good things about it, but I liked the '80s original of this quite a bit (only saw the mini-series though, I think, not when it went to full series). It has actors I like. Production values look impressive. Nothing else on Tuesday nights for me (well, work, but it's nice to have something after work at 2am to eat dinner during and then go online to check out discussion and then go to bed).

Kris | November 04, 19:28 CET

14 million viewers? Okay, that's impressive.

menomegirl | November 04, 20:20 CET

For how much ABC advertised it, it better have. Every single commercial break. Probably gets more promotion an hour than Dollhouse gets in a month...

hacksaway | November 04, 20:49 CET

I thought Morena was brilliant casting - just completely perfect. What dispatch said, really - plus her almost unearthly beauty, those eyes that conceal while pretending to reveal, and that "I'm a stranger to your language" perfect diction.

She was ace, and Alan was great, too. He's got good sweet jocularity-goes-menacing chops, don't he?

I'll probably keep watching it. Shey, I too was in my long "Phooey on TV" phase when the original came out - plus, I was working full-time, and back in school for graphic design, and all political-active-y - so I didn't see its original airing. Though being me, I'd since read all about it, because I love this kinda thing and this and this.

In fact, given the kinda ordinary sci-fi-itude of the script, trying to spot new logos-and-symbols, etc. will prolly be a good half of the reason I'll stay watching. ; >

(Re: Morena in Stargate - I though it was the uninspired script & direction that made for Morena's possibly less-than-stellar performance.)

QuoterGal | November 04, 21:24 CET

QuoterGal, I bow to your researchy skills. Also nice to know I'm not alone with my "didn't watch TV for ten years" thing.

Although my counter-cultureness was not nearly as productive as yours and yielded no marketable skills. ;)

Shey | November 05, 11:37 CET