TV Review: V Wars (2019)

V Wars (2019) based on the book series by Jonathan Maberry

Dr. Luther Swann (Ian Somerhalder) has lost touch with his research outpost in the Arctic. He goes with his best friend Michael Fayne (Adrian Holmes) to investigate. They find some unearthed humanish remains and the dead body of one of the two researchers. They also get exposed to an ancient virus that was preserved in the ice and released with the thawing of the humanish remains. Returning to civilization, Michael develops a powerful hunger for human blood, along with heightened speed, strength, and senses. Swann is unaffected. They both start to infect other people, most of whom turn into the vampire-like creature that Michael has become. Michael, as patient zero, assumes leadership of what he calls a new species, the Bloods. Swann, meanwhile, works to find a cure. He's given a lot of resources though little freedom when a federal agency sweeps in to deal with the issue. Initially the feds wants to keep things quiet and contained. An enterprising blogger (Kaylee Vo) who has been trying to make money off her Goth-obsessed website hits pay dirt when she's able to get the scoop on the rise of the vampires. She creates enough exposure to bring the conflict out into the open.

The threat of a viral outbreak that will change the world has been used before, mostly in zombie stories like World War Z or 28 Days Later.... Switching it from zombies to vampires might seem like an original twist except that Richard Matheson did that with I Am Legend which has had several movie versions. An unoriginal premise might be okay if the creators threw in some clever twists or some good dialogue or some intriguing insights or some fine performances or some visual flare. None of those are present in V Wars. One or two original ideas are quickly abandoned in favor of the cliched plotting. Some moment make no sense whatsoever. At one point, Swann's ex-wife appears on the blogger's web site in a video that disparages Swann. He calls his ex and they meet at a restaurant to hash it out. This happens while he's work for the feds in what seems like a completely secured facility. How did he get out for a lunch date with his wife? Why is he surprised when one of the soldiers followed him there and the soldier intervenes when the ex starts beating on Swann? Sure the scene is a dramatic moment but it is not at all plausibly set up or executed. The show has far too many scenes similar to this one. This series just does not work.

Not recommended. It is streaming on Netflix, but don't bother.