This time around “V” embraces its science fiction roots more, allowing for a lot more looks in to the rebellion, and the inclusion of new corners of the visitors’ world and the rebels. Most of all, there’s the introduction of a Visitor/Human hybrid that becomes one of the larger symbols of the war, and is pushed back and forth between the resistance and people that think the visitors can stop the invasion and work with Earth. Months after the humans sent out the beacon for other alien species to help them take down the Visitors, nothing has happened and the humans are still trying to stop the Visitors and their plans. Now the Visitors are building new tactics, which includes armor that can deflect bullets, and a form of torture leader Diana has concocted that allows her to convert humans to the side of Visitors for programming.
Frustrated the humans decide to stage a big event to reveal to the world the identity of the Visitors, but when that fails, leader Juliet is kidnapped and tortured by Diana. This leaves Michael as leader of the rebellion, and he’s faced with new difficulties as he’s struggling to find his son, who was taken by the Visitors, all the while pairing with a new group of human rebels led by the more militant Ham Tyler. Michael Ironside, in one of his very few roles as hero, is the very matter of fact ally to Michael and his team who relies more on deadlier options to take down the Visitors, and has no time to consider mercy or empathy. “The Final Battle” is a more action packed counterpart to the original miniseries but still stands on its own legs with some interesting turn of events.
This involves the birth Robin’s hybrid child, and its importance to the overall war, as well as the increased significance of Robert Englund’s character Willie. The 1984 sequel to 1983’s “V” entitled “The Final Battle” is a great follow up and companion to Kenneth Johnson’s original miniseries, but it does hit some pitfalls along the way. “The Final Battle” basically works as a resolution to the storyline while also setting up storylines to the failed series. So while “The Final Battle” is the end, it also leaves a ton of plot threads open that leave the final three parts of the excellent saga completely baffling. Did Earth ever hear from another alien race? Did Julie ever fix her inability to hurt Diana? What did the group do to Michael’s son who was programmed to side with the Visitors? How would the group deal with Diana now that she escaped? How would the Earth get back its lost water?
What powers did Lizzie have? Would the Visitors attempt more human/reptile hybrids? Who did Lizzie ultimately side with in the war? And if the humans built a toxin to kill the Visitors, would a resistance of Visitors pop up to stop the toxin? In either case, while the “The Final Battle” leaves a load of questions for the unfortunately short lived, less than stellar spin off series, it’s still a powerful and entertaining sequel. It’s a great finale to the saga of Visitors, and while it’s one I wish would have resolved its storylines better, it succeeds in action, fleshing out the characters, and interesting twists on the concept.