On the heels of its riveting debut and intermittently compelling fall episodes, ABC's alien-wolves-in-babe's-clothing drama V returns Tuesday.

When the series went on break last November after just four shows, the groundwork had been laid for an inevitable showdown this spring: Extraterrestrials sheathed in human skin have beguiled most of the human population with their "We come in peace" promises. But, aided by human-loyal aliens, a few skeptics reject the smooth-talking propagandists.

The spring season debut episode, "Welcome to the War (preview above)," recaps the essentials with a cram course that brings new viewers up to speed.

Happily, the series' most potent asset, Morena Baccarin, remains on view as Anna, the aliens' uber-cool master manipulator. Beneath the fake smile, Anna only becomes more sinister as her reptilian agenda begins to emerge.

Anchoring the core story is FBI Agent Erica Evans, played by Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell. Evans' son has joined the alien mothership and she's determined to bring him back.

Improving on last year's conventional feel – when routine shoot'em-ups would have fit right in on 24 – Mitchell kicks up the intensity now that her character's toothy teen son Tyler (played by Logan Huffman) has been seduced by gorgeous alien Lisa (Laura Vandervoort).

Factoring in brain-aneurysms-in-progress holograms, a half-human/half-alien baby due for delivery, creepy vaccines and an increasingly complicated resistance movement, V continues to intrigue. Whether the show transcends the characters' deadly earnest delivery and potboiler plot twists to generate genuine chills remains to be seen.

Blowback: Sound Off on V————————–

One thing's certain: If the sci-fi series fails to bring in fresh viewers and hang on to existing fans, the people behind the V reboot won't be able to blame the show's lead-in: It now follows Lost at 10 p.m./9 p.m. Central on ABC.

What's your take? Is there too much dead weight in the large ensemble cast? Would you like to see more of Anna? Is it taking too long to get to the aliens' master plan, or do you like the episode-by-episode tease? Weigh in below.

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