Show Type: Sci-Fi
First Telecast: October 24, 1984
Last Telecast: July 5, 1985
Cast
Mike Donovan..... Marc Singer
Dr. Julie Parrish..... Faye Grant
Diana..... Jane Badler
Nathan Bates..... Lane Smith
Robin Maxwell..... Blair Tefkin
Elizabeth (as a teenager)..... Jennifer Cooke
Ham Tyler..... Michael Ironside
Elias..... Michael Wright
Willie..... Robert Englund
Kyle Bates..... Jeff Yagher
Lydia..... June Chadwick
Howard K. Smith..... Howard K. Smith (Himself)
Sean Donovan..... Nicky Katt
Mr. Chiang..... Aki Aleong
Charles..... Duncan Regehr
Lieutenant James (1985)..... Judson Scott
Martin / Philip (1985)..... Frank Ashmore
SYNOPSIS
"V" stood for "Visitors" in this sci-fi series of the takeover of Germany by the Nazis in the 1930's. The Visitors were aliens from a distant planet who came as friends, offering to help the world solve its problems with the help of their higher technology. All they asked for in return were some needed minerals. With the cooperation of a gullible world population and clever manipulation of the media, they slowly gained total control of Earth and then began eliminating their enemies. As the story unfolded in two widely viewed mini-series broadcasts in May 1983 and May 1984, the Visitors were finally unmasked (lizards underneath all the human flesh!) by a small band of resistance fighters who discovered their true plan - to conquer Earth and eat its people (sound like an old familiar Twilight Zone episode - To Serve Man?). A battle ensued and the Visitors were finally driven off the Earth with the help of a Red Dust Bacteria.
As the weekly series began, the Visitor's captured leader, Diana, faced a Nuremberg-style trial. But she escaped and regained control of the Earth with the help of greedy humans - most notably, corrupt industrialist Nathan Bates whose Scientific Frontiers Corp. (nicknamed Krupp) manufactured the Red Dust.
Leading the resistance were TV newsman Mike Donovan, who had discovered the Visitors' plan; Julie, a brilliant scientist and Ham & Elias. Their hideout was the Club Creole, and their allies included: a young woman named Robin, who had given birth to a half-human, half-alien baby following an affair with a Visitor and Willie, an alien who had turned against his leaders' plans. Elizabeth, Robin's child, had gone through a rapid metamorphosis, emerging as a beautiful teenager with extraordinary powers - and the key to the Visitor's destruction. Kyle was Nathan Bates' rebellious son, who helped the resistance and Lydia was a Visitor military leader who plotted against Diana. Charles, Lt. James and Martin were Visitor officers, with Martin working with the resistance instead of against it until his untimely death. His twin brother Philip, a Visitor leader, also sided with the resistance and helped fight for Earth's freedom.
In the last episode (aired March 22, 1985), in spite of Diana's efforts to thwart it, peace was finally reached between the Visitors and Earth. Elizabeth and Kyle returned to the Visitors' home planet and Willie remained on Earth with his new friends.
Real-life anchorman Howard K. Smith portrayed himself as the newsman of the Freedom Network newscast that opened each episode from November to January.