The ABC miniseries V premiered last night. Several television critics have made the claim that the show, featuring man-eating space reptiles, is really an allegory for the Obama administration.
Miami Herald movie critic Glenn Garvin wrote on Sunday,
“Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration — one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: “Why don’t you show some respect?!!” The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader’s origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: “Embracing change is never easy.”
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait — did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who’s come here to eat us?”
Garvin’s review was reprinted in the Chicago Tribune under the title, “‘V’ Aims at Obamamania.” Garvin isn’t the only writer to make the V/Obama connection. In a March interview with USA Today, the producer of “V” was forced to deny on multiple occassions that the show was based on the Obama administration.
Time magazine also used the Obama-as-space-lizard metaphor. Blogs like Gawker and Politico jumped on the bandwagon. The site freerepublic.com went insane with conspiracy theories on their boards.
Apparently, it’s not enough to accuse President Barack Obama of being just “alien.” Now, he’s not even human.
