V

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I actually liked the finale.

Me too! ...because things actually happened. It was so slow this season that I started rooting for the aliens, since I think they're the only interesting part of the show.

Actually, I didn't know it was the finale. I was just thinking, "Wow, a lot of shit went down!" and I looked online, and it was the end. Blargh. They had better renew it because I do want to see how things play out.

I know it's not that great of a show, but I love anything sci-fi that has to do with aliens so I'm holding on. Also, I remember reading somewhere that the concept is based on the first few chapters of my all-time favorite book, Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. If you enjoy the show at all I HIGHLY recommend that book. Similar concept, but much, much better. And everything that goes down on the show is compressed into like 30 pages - the real story is what happens over the next couple hundred years after the aliens arrive.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

Also, I remember reading somewhere that the concept is based on the first few chapters of my all-time favorite book, Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. If you enjoy the show at all I HIGHLY recommend that book. Similar concept, but much, much better. And everything that goes down on the show is compressed into like 30 pages - the real story is what happens over the next couple hundred years after the aliens arrive.

Really? I didn't know that. I have read that book, but it was years ago. IIRC, though, the Overlords weren't out to screw over humanity, whereas the Visitors (at least Anna and those loyal to her) definitely are.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Really? I didn't know that. I have read that book, but it was years ago. IIRC, though, the Overlords weren't out to screw over humanity, whereas the Visitors (at least Anna and those loyal to her) definitely are.

Right, the whole concept of V was based purely on the tiny section where the ships show up IIRC. Clarke has a preface in one of the editions that mentions it as well.

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Right, the whole concept of V was based purely on the tiny section where the ships show up IIRC. Clarke has a preface in one of the editions that mentions it as well.

Yup.

The Overlords didn't really have humanity's best interests at heart either, though. Their benevolent acts were means to an end - they were just stabilizing the planet for the big event at the end (trying not to give too much away to those who haven't read it). I believe Karellen explains all this in his final speech.

The Vs are kind of doing the same thing, but more quickly, with nastier tactics and to reach a somewhat different goal. It's all a lot less sophisticated than it is in the book but there are some parallels. The most obvious is the ships hovering over the major cities and the resistance movement (which involves a priest, as in the book), but there's also the fact that the Vs are travelling around the universe taking something from each species they encounter, and that children who are a different species than their human parents have something to do with it.