V Notables by Jaime Boler

Julie Parrish: From Medical Student to Resistance Leader

Jon Farley of the United Kingdom calls Julie a favorite character because “She is a natural leader who has doubts about her leadership skills. Usually leaders who can doubt themselves and question their own motives are leaders of the best kind.” She was so young to rose the occasion when it was necessary. The early leader of the Resistance, Julie did the job just as good if not better than any man could have done. As Tamie Kwist of Indiana adds, “Juliet Parrish provided a strong female role model.” Faye Grant as Julie showed even good girls could kick lizard butt.


Mike Donovan: The Camera Doesn’t Lie

He was the quintessential hero. Donovan, like other characters in V had his faults, but they made him human. No matter the hurdles he had to overcome in the TV movies or on the series, he always came out on top. With Marc Singer playing Donovan, it was clear that the good guys didn’t always finish last. He charmed the ladies, flashed that smile, and still saved the day. The only dark clouds in Mike’s horizon were his mother’s collaboration with the Visitors and his son’s conversion. Though he and Julie developed feelings for one another, this storyline was put on the back burner as the focus shifted to Kyle and Elizabeth, which was a shame.

Diana: The Queen Lizard


Like Julie, Diana was another strong female character, but she wore lizard skin. Brian Tosko-Bello of Washington DC calls Diana, “the epitome of ambition and power. She’s intelligent, beautiful, sexy and determined. She had a strategic use for everyone around her and was most consumed with advancing herself at whatever cost.” Woe to any who stood in Diana’s way… John, Pamela, Charles… she did not discriminate. As Sabine Friedrich of Germany points out, Diana “gets what she wants.” When Ken Johnson first looked into Jane Badler’s smoky eyes, he knew he had found his Diana. I’m sure all the fans agreed that he could not have made a better choice. And what’s more is that Jane is exactly the opposite of Diana!


Lydia: Green with Envy

Diana’s shadow must have been a very cold place to be. Just ask Lydia who was always second to Diana in matters of love and war. Old rivals from the time they were baby lizards, the two knew just how to push each other’s buttons. When Diana and Lydia were at each others throats, claws bared, Dynasty had nothing on V. Carol Duggan of the United Kingdom says, “Lydia was my favorite lizard, partly for just being British, and I was really cheering for her during her dual with Diana.” As Lydia, June Chadwick developed a real friendship with Jane Badler. The most we saw of Lydia’s softer side was when her brother Nigel, was to be sacrificed at the Visitor holiday of Ramadan. Many believe that Lydia and Philip, the Inspector General, should have been a couple.


Martin: A Visitor We Can Trust

Martin did not believe in what members of his own race were doing. So he did something about it. Following his convictions, the Fifth Columnist aided the Resistance at every turn, making Diana’s green blood boil. When the producers of the series decided that a catalyst was needed to cause he Visitors to return, Martin was killed. The fans, however, initiated a write in campaign, and Frank Ashmore was brought back as Phillip, Martin’s twin. Some of the best scenes in V are between Martin and Donovan as viewers see a lasting friendship that bridged two worlds.


Robin Maxwell: Just One Look and She Knew

Robin Maxwell was only seventeen when the Visitors arrived. If she was the moth, then Brian was the flame. Unknowingly, Robin was part of a scientific experiment conducted by Diana. After a strange and unhuman-like pregnancy, Robin gave birth to twins; however, only one Elizabeth, survived. Blair Tefkin replace Dominique Dunne in the role of Robin after Dunne was brutally murdered. Watch the scene closely where Robin and her family look up at the mother ship. From the front, Robin is played by Tefkin; however, Dunne still plays her from the back.



Willie: Far From Home

Willie was originally was headed to the Arab world but instead was assigned to L.A. Not knowing English, he found himself truly an alien in a strange world until Harmony Moore befriended him. The Resistance captured both Willie and Harmony, but soon learned he was not like the other Visitors. He sympathized with the plight of the humans and pledged his help. Willie kept his promise and became a member of the Resistance. Anyone who knew that Robert Englund played Freddy Kruger was never character because he was just Willie.


Charles: You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

The Leader’s Special Envoy, Charles captured Lydia’s love but became enraptured by Diana. The rest is V history. As a member of the ancient Sirian House of Raman, Charles was entitled to choose his wife. If she refused, she met certain death. Charles and Diana married, but Lydia was determined to murder her rival after Charles revealed he would not send his new bride home. Lydia thus put cat poison in Diana’s cup, and in a calculating move, Diana switched cups with Charles. He drank the poison and died instantly. Duncan Regher had a short run on V, but fans loved him nonetheless.


Elizabeth Maxwell: Everyone’s Favorite Hybrid

Robin’s new baby looked human, but soon showed that looks can be deceiving as her lizard tongue was revealed. Growing fast and shedding her skin, Elizabeth looked like a five year old when she disarmed Diana’s doomsday weapon and displayed miraculous powers, even though she was only a few weeks old. In the first episode of the series, it became apparent that Elizabeth was going through drastic changes


John: He Only Thought He Was the Supreme Commander

He was the first Visitor we met, known as the “Supreme Commander” But it didn’t take long to see that he was not really running the show. Unmasked by Julie at the L.A. Medical Center, John was livid but couldn’t control the bickering and pettiness of the officers at his command. In one of the best scenes from V, Diana rants and raves at John and kills him, with a young Elizabeth watching. Richard Herd went on to appear in some episodes of Seinfeld.


Daniel Bernstein: Served the Visitors Well- On a Platter

Daniel was a disaffected youth who searched for place to belong but never found it. When the Visitors came and initiated the Visitor Youth Program, he finally found where he fit in. The darker side of Daniel emerged when he turned in the Maxwell family, hiding in his family’s pool house. In the process, the Visitors captured Daniel’s family, and took them too the mothership. Serving the aliens was more important to Daniel than fighting for humanity. No fan of the Resistance will ever forgive him for killing Ruby. David Packer, in interviews’ given over the years, has pointed out that people still remember him for killing her.


Steven: The Man in Red

Never trust a lizard. But you knew that, right? Martin was okay and so were some of the others, but Steven? No, no, no. He wasted no time in wrapping Eleanor Dupres around his little finger. If you study his eyes, you can tell he was always thinking about one scheme after another. Determined to outshine Diana, Steven worked with Pamela to discredit her, but Diana won that battle. When Steven died as Tyler poured a whole packet of red dust down his throat for killing Eleanor, Andrew Prine really did choke on the carpet bits they used!


Nathan Bates: Hail the Chief!

Lane Smith was the smooth talking Bates, who headed Science Frontiers. Bates manufactured the red dust, but also made its antidote. Father to the rebellious Kyle, Bates was forever trying to coax his son away from the Resistance. A buffer between the Visitors and the Resistance in Los Angeles, he and Diana had some great scenes in the series. Poor Nathan! Entranced by Julie, but alas she loved another. With his death, the Open City Agreement dissolved and the Visitors were once again able to wreak havoc to the citizens.


Pamela: So Easily Ruffled

Sent to L.A. to hasten victory, Pamela soon decided that Diana was not doing her job. She worked to prove that Diana was incapable of handling military matters and had her confined to scientific dealings. Diana had the last laugh, however, when she shot Pamela. The actress who played Pamela, Sarah Douglas, can also be seen in Superman II.


Kyle Bates: Rebel with a Cause

He was a handsome, young, rich muscular- it was no wonder a mother and daughter both fell in love with Kyle. Best known for his trademark black leather jacket and motorcycle, Kyle and his father were estranged as Kyle went his own way in his life. He decided to join the Resistance, perhaps to get back at his dad or get closer to Elizabeth. Nevertheless, Kyle proved himself to be indispensable to the cause. As you know, Elizabeth won the battle for his heart. V the Series was Jeff Yagher’s first role, and what a good job he did!


Brian: Villan or Victim?

Brian had many faces in V. At first, he seemed genuinely lonely and fond of Robin as the human and the Sirian spent time together. When Diana summoned him to aid her with an experiment, Brian consented. Was it because he couldn’t refuse her, a superior officer? Because he wanted to please Diana? Or because he cared nothing for Robin? It is a tough call. Many fans believe Brian changed drastically from the Original Miniseries to the Final Battle. He seems more cold blooded in the second installment. Today, Peter Nelson is an executive at Sony Pictures.


Elias Taylor: The Hood Who Went Good

Before the Visitors came and up until his brother’s death, Elias had a shady past. A young black man, his character represented the problems that his race faced in an urban environment in the early eighties. However, Elias turned his live around once he joined the Resistance. After Liberation Day, he opened up the Club Creole and also served as technical advisor on the film called “Lizard Kill.” When the Visitors returned, Elias was there and allowed his restaurant to serve as Resistance Headquarters. Perhaps, one of the saddest scenes occurs when Elias, played by Michael Wright, is killed with a disintegrator.


Eleanor Dupres: Mommy Dearest

It’s hard to believe that Mike Donovan and Eleanor Dupres are related, but it’s true. Mother and son, in fact. Eleanor saw the arrival of the visitors as an opportunity to advance herself and her husband. Developing a mutually rewarding bond with Steven, Eleanor chose to side with the Visitors rather than her own son. The conflict between parent and child was one of V’s best. Eleanor, played by Neva Patterson met her end as she tried to play both sides when the rebels stormed the Visitor Legation. Steven was listening and shot her in the back.