V: The Complete First Season

This 21st-century reboot of the 1980s sci-fi miniseries—about a fleet of alien Visitors (“Vs”) who arrive with a promise of benevolence but plan to conquer Earth—landed in 2009–10 in an abbreviated but furiously paced season. Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) leads the human resistance against the insidious PR campaign waged by the ruthless Visitor commander, Anna (Morena Baccarin)—organizing a cell called the Fifth Column that includes Father Jack Landry (Joel Gretsch), V rebel Ryan (Morris Chestnut), and international terrorist Kyle (Charles Mesure). Meanwhile, Erica's son Tyler (Logan Huffman) is seduced by Anna's daughter Lisa (Laura Vandervoort). While not the smartest or most original sci-fi show on TV—plotlines tend more toward space-opera melodrama than soul-searching about the human condition—V is a visually lavish and highly entertaining series, filled with rebels, traitors, conspiracies, and family crises (not to mention lots of things blowing up). Compiling all 12 first-season episodes, DVD and Blu-ray extras include an episode audio commentary, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Not essential, but certainly addictive, V is recommended, overall. (S. Axmaker)