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Review/Recap: V 1.09 “Heretic's Fork”

Written by Cory Barker
Follow Cory on Twitter @corybarker
Check out Cory’s TV-centric blog/podcast: www.idsnews.com/blogs/weekendwatchers
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Email: barkerc65@gmail.com

After a few weeks of misguiding writing and poor plotting, “Heretic’s Fork” placed the series’ story back on track – sort of. Parts of this episode reminded me why I thought V was going somewhere when it came back from the break, but other parts continued to frustrate me and make me wonder if ABC should even bring it back for a second go-around next season.

At this point in the season, the main “resistance” – it has to go in quotes because they’ve accomplished next to nothing – group feels totally worthless and full of wheel-spinning. We learned here that the human guy Erica and company had tied up was doing it because the Visitors had healed his son and then asked for something in return. Now, is it interesting that the Visitors are using humans to fight their battles for them while the super-soldier race is being groomed/grown/born? Most definitely. But just like a number of ideas presented on this series, the execution didn’t do much for me.

Also interesting in theory: presenting a conflict over torture between Hobbes and the rest of the “resistance.” On a better or more complex series, trying to determine if the Fifth Column folks should use torture as a way to fight terrorism could be played right, but when the opponent is a blood-thirsty alien race that has no problem EATING you, I’m not sure that anything is off limits. It’s a possible storyline that could have worked later down the road once the series introduced more “good” Vs, but now it’s being used to create fake conflict between the team that isn’t necessary.

One more complaint: How many episodes have started with Anna sending an order down for something to happen – in this case catch Ryan, Val and the hybrid baby – only to have it not come to fruition with little to no consequences at the episode’s end. Sigh.

I’ll try not to be too negative, because I think I could go on for days about the ineptness of the supposed heroes and villains.

On the bright side, Scott Wolf is trying his best to convince us to care about the show – or at least creating a nice sizzle reel for ABC to place him in new pilot once V is canceled in a month. Chad Decker is by far the most interesting character among a cast of drab, lifeless vessels for dialogue. In this episode he goes through the rigmarole of being “healed,” but admittedly feels like he probably wasn’t ever sick in the first place.

He’s also been asked by Anna to find out more information about Fifth Column, which randomly (read: too conveniently) brings him to Father Jack for information. So maybe Chad is really looking to stop Fifth Column, or maybe he wants to join Fifth Column as a way to take down Anna and the Vs. Either way, it’s nice to have one character with sketchy motivations.

Additionally, Ryan and Val on the run worked for me. I was happy to see that she was willing to trust him a little and it put a little weight to Ryan’s actions thus far. He admits that he’s done everything for Val, and I believe him even if she does not. I’m not sure what it means to have Val out of the picture, but I’m hoping we’ll see her again. And it also sets up Ryan for some nice V revenge killing.

Maybe we can just have the Vs kill most of the “resistance” and have Ryan and Chad subvert them on their own. I think that show would be more interesting.

Grade: 3/5

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V returns in March on ABC.