43 Years Ago Today, the Most Iconic Sci-fi Miniseries of the ’80s Premiered (And the Cliffhanger Was Epic)

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The rise of streaming dramatically changed television, and initially, one casualty was the large-scale TV mini-series. These used to be major events, like Roots in the 70s, Stephen King’s IT in the 90s, and Band of Brothers in the 2000s, but they’ve become much less common. While mini-series still exist, very few capture the public’s attention like they once did, and often, if a mini-series becomes popular, it’s extended into a full-length series.

The 1980s were a golden age for TV mini-series, and today marks the 43rd anniversary of a truly memorable one. Simply titled “V”, this science fiction series created by Kenneth Johnson premiered on May 1, 1983, and immediately captivated audiences. It benefited from a fantastic marketing push and a story that really resonated with sci-fi fans. Originally impactful when it aired, “V” remains remarkably well-regarded decades later.

V Was An Immediate Blockbuster Hit

The 1983 miniseries V tells the story of aliens arriving on Earth, initially appearing to be friendly and seeking an alliance with humans. Calling themselves “The Visitors,” they ask for Earth’s resources in exchange for advanced technology. However, this is a deception. Scientists who uncover the Visitors’ true intentions are silenced or branded as traitors as the aliens gradually take over. It’s revealed that the Visitors are actually reptilian creatures disguised as humans, and their goal isn’t cooperation – it’s to exploit Earth’s resources and even consume its population.

Johnson’s story, influenced by the pre-World War II novel It Can’t Happen Here, uses an alien invasion as a clear metaphor for the rise of fascism. The novel, which explored how a movement like the Nazis could gain power in the U.S., is mirrored in Johnson’s work with very little disguise. This is evident through characters like a Jewish Holocaust survivor and the striking similarity between the aliens’ symbol and a Nazi swastika.

Despite the arrival of seemingly benevolent alien ‘Visitors,’ many people around the world refused to cooperate and instead formed rebel groups to fight back. One of these rebels was Mike Donovan, a TV cameraman played by Marc Singer, who quickly realized the Visitors weren’t as helpful as they pretended to be. While this group attempted to resist, their efforts weren’t very successful. The first season of V ended with the Visitors firmly in control of Earth, and the resistance desperately sending a message into space, hoping other aliens might come to their aid. The season finale left audiences on a cliffhanger, but that suspense wouldn’t last long.

Even before it first aired, the TV show V used a remarkably innovative marketing strategy. The campaign started with posters in major city subways showing one of the show’s alien characters in uniform with the message “The Visitors are our friends.” A few days later, those posters were updated with a large red “V” – a reference to graffiti featured in the show itself. This clever approach proved successful. A 1983 article in The New York Times highlighted the show’s massive popularity, reporting that 39% of TV viewers in New York, 41% in Los Angeles, and over 47% in Chicago tuned in to watch the premiere. It was a true blockbuster for its time.

V Created a New Sci-fi Franchise, One Defined by Cliffhangers

The immediate popularity of the first two episodes of V quickly cemented the show’s place in pop culture. Its success led to a wide range of merchandise, including toys, books, comics, and even a video game. Because the series was so well-received—and ended on a dramatic cliffhanger—a sequel was inevitable. V: The Final Battle arrived just over a year later as a three-part series that continued the original story. However, the original creator, Kenneth Johnson, and NBC disagreed on certain aspects, leading to his departure from the sequel, and he was ultimately credited under a different name.

The show was successful again, but like before, it ended with many questions still unanswered. Despite being called V: The Final Battle, it wasn’t a true ending; instead, it led to a longer series. V: The Series first aired in the fall of 1984. While it started strong, building on the popularity of the original, it didn’t maintain that level of success for very long.

Kevin Johnson didn’t return for the show, and it faced significant problems during its single season. Despite Jane Badler and Marc Singer reprising their roles, V: The Series was cancelled mid-season, even halting work on the last episode. Predictably, this left viewers with an unresolved cliffhanger. The second-to-last episode unexpectedly became the series finale, leaving many storylines unfinished and questions unanswered.

I have to admit, V has always held a special place with sci-fi fans, though most agree the original series was the best part of the whole franchise. Like all good IPs, it eventually got rebooted, and a new V arrived in the late 2000s, starring Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Laura Vandervoort, and Morena Baccarin. It ran for two seasons, from 2009 to 2011, but sadly, history repeated itself. The second season ended on a huge cliffhanger, and the show was cancelled before they could wrap things up – a frustrating experience for fans, myself included.

Despite being off the air for a while, V hasn’t been forgotten. Radio adaptations of the original scripts were released as recently as two years ago, and there have been several attempts to make a V movie over the years. What the future holds is uncertain, but if the show ever comes back, the creators should definitely plan out the ending from the start to avoid another frustrating, unresolved conclusion.

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2026-05-01 19:42