'FlashForward,' 'V' are incredibly aggravating

At this point, I might be happier if "FastForward" and "V" were both just a little bit worse than they are.

Because then I could convince myself to stop watching.

As it is, I'm hanging on with both shows because, well, I'm a fan of the whole science-fiction genre. And because I keep holding out hope that both shows will get better.

Or maybe it's the fear that, having stuck with them to this point — having served my time, sort of — they're suddenly going to get really good and I'll miss it.

My head tells me that that's not going to happen. But there's a little place in my heart where I still hold out hope.

Both shows have Big Secrets that have yet to be revealed. And, if nothing else, I'm still curious about what they are.

"FastForward" has been the better of the two shows to this point. The pilot was very promising and the concept was intriguing — everyone on the planet blacked out for two minutes and 18 seconds. And just about everyone has a flash-forward vision of where they'll be and what they'll be doing seven months later.

In addition to the death and destruction that accompanied the blackout — millions died — there's some sort of big plot involving the people who caused the blackout. And, apparently, they're planning another one.

There have been some really good episodes along the way. Last week's installment — a race to save Dmitri (John Cho) — was tense and exciting.

But "FlashForward" suffers badly from a couple of major flaws. The characters are either underdeveloped or just not that interesting.

For example, we're not invested in the relationship between the dull-as-dirt Mark (Joseph Fiennes) and Olivia (Sonya Walger), so why do we care when they break up?

And the show seems to have crossed the line into "X-Files" territory with a one-step-forward, two-steps-back investigation that's more aggravating than intriguing.

It was hugely manipulative last week when a huge chalkboard filled with all sorts of clues was suddenly washed clean before it could even begin to be deciphered.

As for "V," there are definite similarities to "FlashForward." It, too, began with an intriguing pilot, about the arrival of aliens with an ulterior motive, that showed great promise.