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Oh, ABC. When are you ever going to get over your obsession with finding the next "Lost"?

Through the years, the network has rolled out several copycats, from the lackluster "Invasion" to the newest try, "FlashForward." Now, it's offering a re-imagining of the 1980s miniseries "V" (9 tonight, WATE, Channel 6) about an alien invasion of Earth. However, unlike the other highly complicated, deeply plotted series ABC has introduced recently, "V" is actually easier to follow and balances fun with a gripping sense of danger.

"V" has a clearly defined purpose. It's a well-crafted story questioning authority and delving into a powerful human emotion - devotion.

It also is "Lost"-like in scope: The subplots follow several individuals with seemingly no connection to each other, but they all have strong reactions to the arrival of aliens from outer space.

To "V's" benefit, the story has a very singular execution. It's all about how humans are reacting to the arrival. Suspicions are running very high.

Unlike a lot of other "Lost"-esque attempts, "V" keeps its cast relatively small. The jumping around from one character to another isn't a mad rush for the viewer to try and recall who's doing what and when or where.

FBI agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) is immediately questioning the intentions of these seemingly peaceful aliens, who are all extremely sexy individuals, but they tend to smile far too much.

These slick-talking visitors claim they just need a few of our resources and in exchange they will share their advanced technology with us, eliminating disease and hunger.

Erica's trouble-prone teenage son, like everyone else, is buying into this good will and becomes devoted to spreading their message of cooperation.

Elsewhere, TV newsman Chad Decker (Scott Wolf) lands an interview with the alien leader, a sexy woman named Anna (Morena Baccarin) and gives up his journalistic ethics just to have exclusive rights to her.

Meanwhile, Father Jack (Joel Gretsch) has a crisis of faith when the aliens appear. He wonders where God is in all of this.

Life was going great for Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut) before the aliens came around. He was about to ask his girlfriend to marry him. Now, he is forced to make a choice on whether he should spill a secret.

"V" isn't starting out as too ambitious, a problem for many epic network dramas. The storytelling is relatively tight, but the conclusions aren't really all that shocking.

For now, inviting these visitors into your home isn't such a bad thing.

Score: HHH (out of five)

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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