One of the most buzzed about new series of the fall season is Bionic Woman, the stylish, sexy, sci-fi show from NBC, airing in Canada on E! Unfortunately, the buzz so far seems to be about its pedigree and behind-the-scenes problems rather than what's actually been seen.
There are high expectations given both the background of the title and of the series creator. David Eick is an executive producer of Battlestar Galactica, a thoughtful remake of a cheesy old science fiction classic. He was also a producer of the Kevin Sorbo-starring Hercules, but let's not quibble.
Since Battlestar Galactica has been reimagined as an allegory for modern times, the expectation seems to be that Bionic Woman would somehow use this woman who is both vulnerable and superhuman to make a comment on women's role in today's society. Instead, it seems like just another superwoman reimagined for men.
The problem with the nostalgia factor is that while I loved The Bionic Woman, original recipe, I was six when it started. My tastes have changed somewhat since then; I don't like wearing pink barrettes anymore, either.
The nostalgia factor quickly dissipated anyway, since what my six-year-old self loved about the original – that cheese factor, exemplified by the awesome fembots, plus Jaime as a butt-kicking woman who could save herself and save the world and still have time for love with a six million dollar man – does not seem to be part of the new show so far.
Deviating from the old isn't a bad thing, of course, especially since television and the world have changed considerably since 1976. The new series can't rely on nostalgia, but neither can it rely on the fans who have made Battlestar Galactica a modest ratings success. The last thing NBC needs is another show that gets great ratings ... for a cable show.
The pilot I and many critics received was the original, with Mae Whitman as Jaime Sommers' deaf sister. Whitman has since been replaced by Lucy Hale, and the deafness by computer hacking. I was relieved to hear about that change, though Whitman is a fine actress and there could have been interesting metaphorical possibilities for the superhearing Jaime and her deaf sister. However, this was one element of the pilot that made me uncomfortable – seeing a recognizable, hearing actress mimicking the voice of a deaf person. I don't know why it should be any different for me from first seeing Blackadder's Hugh Laurie mimicking an American accent on House, or Al Pacino playing blind in Scent of a Woman. It just was, and it took me out of the story and into wondering whether I was justified in feeling that discomfort.
Article comments
1 - terrt
The pilot ep was decent at best.. at least the show has a lot of room to grow and develop the characters.. ill continue to watch
2 - Frank
"Deviating from the old isn't a bad thing, of course, especially since television and the world have changed considerably since 1976."
The world hasn't changed that much that an upbeat, caring Jamie Summers can't exist in it. The new series showed us that dark isn't a magic formula. BSG showed us that moral relativism can garner weak cable ratings.
People are tired of dark heroes and "the bad guys are just like us." The new bionic woman would have worked as a true white hat wearing hero.