Yesterday afternoon I told my oldest son about the rebooted series V, and how much I enjoyed the original version as a kid. When I explained the plot to him–aliens show up and solve all our problems, pretending to be our friends, so they can win our trust and then eat us–he said, “Hmm. Sounds like that Twilight Zone episode, ‘To Serve Man.'” He’s only ten. I was so proud I could have cried.
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After watching the show last night (truly excellent, by the way), I was struck by just how silly, impossible, and outrageous the story was, though. I mean, c’mon, an attractive leader shows up out of nowhere, promising to magically solve our problems with little more than broad bromides about hope and peace, and everybody just goes gaga and falls into line? Why, this leader even has a simpering media quickly trained to jump through hoops! And I refuse to accept that this leader’s minions could be actively recruiting young people to subversively carry on their work.
Seriously, who could ever buy into a story that crazy? Clearly, clearly, this is some pretty far out science fiction. Luckily, nothing like that could ever actually happen in real life.
Gently Hew Stone 
… or could it? (ponderous organ music plays)
Also, attractive leader promises universal health care for everyone!
In next week’s episode, the Visitors will declare all right-wing opponents of their takeover to be a dangerous lunatic fringe–they’ll all be put on a government watch list.