New ‘Alien Option’ for Healthcare

Written by Alicia CohncloseAuthor: Alicia Cohn Name: Alicia Cohn
Email: alicia.m.cohn@gmail.com
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About: Freelance writer from the Heartland.See Authors Posts (11) on November 9, 2009

Aliens are among us, and they have brought universal health care.

In “V,” strange Visitors from another planet drop in to visit earth without warning, causing panic worldwide until the aliens’ charismatic leader broadcasts a well-written, brilliantly delivered speech on the giant LCD screen built into the bottom of their city-wide space ships. In soothing, diplomatic language, the aliens offer to scratch our backs (by setting up clinics and offering health care to all) if we scratch theirs (with…well, unspecified “help”). Relieved and mesmerized, popular sentiment reacts through novelty merchandising and a pro-V movement which particularly energizes the youth demographic.

Of course, it turns out that these powerful, unexpected Visitors who have the resources and technology (and, apparently, money — where it comes from remains to be seen, hopefully, in future episodes) to offer universal health care to planet earth are not as benign as they represent themselves. But all that peace and health stuff sounds pretty tempting, doesn’t it? Especially when the Vs seem capable of providing it. The question is at what cost.

It is a concept tailor-made for the currently political climate. Laura Ingraham has said that “V” provides a metaphor of the Obama administration, and Rush Limbaugh raised the possibility on his show as well. Tommy Christopher of Mediaite actually asked White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs whether the president knew there was a show comparing his administration to space invaders. (The response was non-committal; Gibbs is not nearly so convincing as the aliens’ spokesperson, Anna.)

Any good English major would know that it is dangerous to attribute definitive meaning to a work of fiction, but the fact that “V” is willing to play with the political connotations of universal health care within a narrative about freedom vs. persuasive tyranny proves that this is one TV show unafraid of tweaking hot topics. It is a little like playing with fire in that it depends on controversy and invites conspiracy theories. In other words, “V” is just what every good scifi TV show should be.

The best science fiction stories follow a tradition of taking advantage of current events. Science fiction starts with a little truth and plays with the possibilities (that is what differentiates it from fantasy). The original 1983 miniseries “V” attempted to tap into society’s fear of socialism, which has returned as a powerful social fear of our day (see: Obama as Joker posters, or the signs carried by protesters attending Bachman’s House Call in D.C. on November 5).

“V” could be the most relevant narrative on television today due to its timeliness (which is a curiosity in itself, considering the show was conceived during the Bush administration and put on hold for months only to premiere the week the current bill reached the House floor for a vote).

TV is not a two-party political system (fortunately), so the show’s creators really don’t have to intend some kind of cutting political commentary. Good TV uses material that already exists, twists it into an imaginative narrative, and leaves it to the audience to ask questions and craft theories.

So all I’m saying is: I bet the aliens who have defected to the “human cause” aren’t voting Democrat these days.

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