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Many Americans have thought that President Obama has been taking too weak a stand on illegal aliens, but some people are claiming that a new science fiction series on ABC is bringing those concerns to an all new level.
The ABC network began airing a remake of the science fiction “V” series on November 3 — but how long the series will last is apparently still under discussion; apparently four episodes will air in November, and then the series will resume after the March Olympics. Overall, there is a commitment to 13 episodes.
All well and good for science fiction fans, but what does this have to do with Obama, you ask?
The “V” franchise inherits a certain amount of baggage on a less-than-subtle allegory about the dangers of totalitarianism. The original “V” series began with a two-part miniseries in 1983, and spawned a second miniseries and short-lived episodic series in 1984 and 1985. The red and black uniforms of the ‘visitors,’ an alien symbol which looked suspiciously like a swastika, and many other points of comparison made for a pretty obvious social commentary on the dangers of a totalitarianism which hides behind a ‘human’ face and makes a lot of promises about ‘friendship’ and technological advances for the human race.
The original “V” was hardly alone in sending such a ‘message’: the original Battlestar Galactica began in 1978 with the near total destruction of the human race after a weak president naively agreed to peace talks with an implacable red-eyed enemy. In case anyone missed the ‘Cold War’ emphasis, series creator Glen Larson returned to the theme in an episode in which the Galactica intervenes in a war on the planet “Terra” in which a sneaky totalitarian “Eastern Alliance” schemes to a launch a nuclear first strike against the Western, freedom loving nations, which are led by a naive president who has been seduced by promises of peace, and who arrests anyone who questions a peace treaty with the Eastern Alliance. One suspects that President Carter did not invite Mr. Larson to visit the White House....
Which brings us to the remake of “V”.
The echoes of Obama-speak in the ‘visitor’ rhetoric were far from subtle. As Glenn Garvin has written for the Chicago Tribune:
Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration -- one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: "Why don't you show some respect?!" The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader's origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: "Embracing change is never easy."
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait -- did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who's come here to eat us? ...
Nominally a rousing sci-fi space opera about alien invaders bent on the conquest (and digestion) of all humanity, it's also a barbed commentary on Obamamania that will infuriate the president's supporters and delight his detractors.
"We're all so quick to jump on the bandwagon," observes one character. "A ride on the bandwagon, it sounds like fun. But before we get on, let us at least make sure it is sturdy."
It would seem that some of the people writing scripts for ABC entertainment may have a better grasp of current events than folks in the news division. In fact, the self-serving anchorman in “V” is, thus far, one of the most pathetic characters, because he can see that the ‘visitors’ are not what they claim to be, and yet he advances their agenda anyway because of personal advantage to his career. The aliens promise “universal healthcare” — a fact which seems to light up the little world of the anchorman — and thus all rational thought gets chucked out the nearest airlock. The facile devotion with which many young people embrace the ‘visitors’ is also a neat smack at the mentality evoked by the “Rock the Vote” drives. Watching reality take a stickpin to the bubble of collective stupidity manifest in the herd mentality of visitor devotion should be interesting — provided we ever get to see it.
Apparently, the series may already be in a certain degree of hot water with the network. According to Cinemaspy.com: “According to our source, only three episodes have been filmed thus far, and ABC hasn't been satisfied with subsequent scripts.” Lousy scripts have very rarely stopped a network television series — sometimes it almost seems a prerequisite to their acceptance. (That the short-lived science fiction series Max Headroom ever made it to television — dedicated as the series was to mocking the stupidity, crassness and/or evil of almost all aspects of network television — remains a wonder.) So one wonders whether the lack of satisfaction on the part of ABC network execs is related to quality or some other factor.
For now, pop some popcorn, and watch the fun. And when the heroes express their uncertainty over who in the government can be trusted — and who is secretly an alien bent on destroying the human race — enjoy the jab at the teleprompter-driven Leader for as long as it lasts. The only way this is going to get any better is if the Leader of the 'visitors' actually starts talking about "change we can believe in," while the vacuous fanboys of the 'visitors' sit around chanting, "Yes we can! Yes we can!"
Rt. Rev. James Heiser has served as Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas, while maintaining his responsibilities as publisher of Repristination Press, which he established in 1993 to publish academic and popular theological books to serve the Lutheran Church. Heiser has also served since 2005 as the Dean of Missions for The Augustana Ministerium and in 2006 was called to serve as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA). An advocate of manned space exploration, Heiser serves on the Steering Committee of the Mars Society. His publications include two books; The Office of the Ministry in N. Hunnius' Epitome Credendorum (1996) and A Shining City on a Higher Hill: Christianity and the Next New World (2006), as well as dozens of journal articles and book reviews.
The ABC network began airing a remake of the science fiction “V” series on November 3 — but how long the series will last is apparently still under discussion; apparently four episodes will air in November, and then the series will resume after the March Olympics. Overall, there is a commitment to 13 episodes.
All well and good for science fiction fans, but what does this have to do with Obama, you ask?
The “V” franchise inherits a certain amount of baggage on a less-than-subtle allegory about the dangers of totalitarianism. The original “V” series began with a two-part miniseries in 1983, and spawned a second miniseries and short-lived episodic series in 1984 and 1985. The red and black uniforms of the ‘visitors,’ an alien symbol which looked suspiciously like a swastika, and many other points of comparison made for a pretty obvious social commentary on the dangers of a totalitarianism which hides behind a ‘human’ face and makes a lot of promises about ‘friendship’ and technological advances for the human race.
The original “V” was hardly alone in sending such a ‘message’: the original Battlestar Galactica began in 1978 with the near total destruction of the human race after a weak president naively agreed to peace talks with an implacable red-eyed enemy. In case anyone missed the ‘Cold War’ emphasis, series creator Glen Larson returned to the theme in an episode in which the Galactica intervenes in a war on the planet “Terra” in which a sneaky totalitarian “Eastern Alliance” schemes to a launch a nuclear first strike against the Western, freedom loving nations, which are led by a naive president who has been seduced by promises of peace, and who arrests anyone who questions a peace treaty with the Eastern Alliance. One suspects that President Carter did not invite Mr. Larson to visit the White House....
Which brings us to the remake of “V”.
The echoes of Obama-speak in the ‘visitor’ rhetoric were far from subtle. As Glenn Garvin has written for the Chicago Tribune:
Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration -- one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: "Why don't you show some respect?!" The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader's origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: "Embracing change is never easy."
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait -- did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who's come here to eat us? ...
Nominally a rousing sci-fi space opera about alien invaders bent on the conquest (and digestion) of all humanity, it's also a barbed commentary on Obamamania that will infuriate the president's supporters and delight his detractors.
"We're all so quick to jump on the bandwagon," observes one character. "A ride on the bandwagon, it sounds like fun. But before we get on, let us at least make sure it is sturdy."
It would seem that some of the people writing scripts for ABC entertainment may have a better grasp of current events than folks in the news division. In fact, the self-serving anchorman in “V” is, thus far, one of the most pathetic characters, because he can see that the ‘visitors’ are not what they claim to be, and yet he advances their agenda anyway because of personal advantage to his career. The aliens promise “universal healthcare” — a fact which seems to light up the little world of the anchorman — and thus all rational thought gets chucked out the nearest airlock. The facile devotion with which many young people embrace the ‘visitors’ is also a neat smack at the mentality evoked by the “Rock the Vote” drives. Watching reality take a stickpin to the bubble of collective stupidity manifest in the herd mentality of visitor devotion should be interesting — provided we ever get to see it.
Apparently, the series may already be in a certain degree of hot water with the network. According to Cinemaspy.com: “According to our source, only three episodes have been filmed thus far, and ABC hasn't been satisfied with subsequent scripts.” Lousy scripts have very rarely stopped a network television series — sometimes it almost seems a prerequisite to their acceptance. (That the short-lived science fiction series Max Headroom ever made it to television — dedicated as the series was to mocking the stupidity, crassness and/or evil of almost all aspects of network television — remains a wonder.) So one wonders whether the lack of satisfaction on the part of ABC network execs is related to quality or some other factor.
For now, pop some popcorn, and watch the fun. And when the heroes express their uncertainty over who in the government can be trusted — and who is secretly an alien bent on destroying the human race — enjoy the jab at the teleprompter-driven Leader for as long as it lasts. The only way this is going to get any better is if the Leader of the 'visitors' actually starts talking about "change we can believe in," while the vacuous fanboys of the 'visitors' sit around chanting, "Yes we can! Yes we can!"
Rt. Rev. James Heiser has served as Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Malone, Texas, while maintaining his responsibilities as publisher of Repristination Press, which he established in 1993 to publish academic and popular theological books to serve the Lutheran Church. Heiser has also served since 2005 as the Dean of Missions for The Augustana Ministerium and in 2006 was called to serve as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (ELDoNA). An advocate of manned space exploration, Heiser serves on the Steering Committee of the Mars Society. His publications include two books; The Office of the Ministry in N. Hunnius' Epitome Credendorum (1996) and A Shining City on a Higher Hill: Christianity and the Next New World (2006), as well as dozens of journal articles and book reviews.
