Fall 2007 TV Wednesday Night: Bionic Woman
There’s been a fair amount of griping about the Bionic Woman reboot of the 70’s sci-fi series. I have fond memories of that show from my childhood, which I dare not test by actually tracking down old eps. (Though there is that one with Kristy McNichol as a telekinetic, now that I think of it.)
The criticism focuses most on English star Michelle Ryan’s lack of charisma, though she doesn’t seem to have much to work with, given the character as written. Jaime Summers is a college dropout, a bartender, and a caregiver for her technologically transgressive little sister, who was left on Jaime’s doorstep by their drunk father. Lindsay Wagner’s Jaime was a famous tennis player, whose athleticism brought her to the notice of the bionic scientists. BW 2007 gets her hardware upgrade courtesy of her mad scientist boyfriend, reluctantly financed by shady government types. Other snarks center on the all-over-the-place pilot.
I don’t disagree on either point. Ryan’s Summers is not compelling, and there’s a lot going on. But Katee Sackhoff, one of my favorite actor’s from Battlestar Galactica, has a treat of a recurring role as Sarah Corvus, the original bionic woman. Miguel Ferrer is also good as the head government baddie, who I kept wishing would be named as Oscar Goldman. And a crowded pilot means there’s a lot to explore if the season pans out.
A cameo by Aaron Douglas, who plays Chief Tyrol on Battlestar Galactica, shows that BW creators are hoping to snare the BG geek audience. They’re at least got me, for now.
Some other opinions at Teevee.net, Onion AV Club, The Watcher.