It’s no secret that girls with superpowers really rock my world, but it’s also a genre where I hold all newcomers to the utmost scrutiny. When heroines aren’t pulled off correctly, they’re generally more annoying and frustrating than their mediocre male counterparts. For every Buffy Summers, there is a Jessica/Niki Sanders, and for every Sydney Bristow, there are two movies’ worth of Electra. Ergo, I have serious reservations over NBC’s Bionic Woman.
After almost vomiting during the clip NBC released after the upfronts (I don’t handle amputation well), I was a doubly apprehensive about screening the pilot. But as it turns out, the ick-factor was kept to a kind minimum and the show itself about as compelling as a pilot can be. The premise: no surprise. Jamie Sommers is in an epic car wreck and most of her body is replaced with robot parts, giving her super-strength, a newfound attitude, a buttload of enemies and a cause worth fightin’ for. British import Michelle Ryan commands the role very well and is thankfully neither as busty nor blonde as I’m sure some producers would have her be. Katee Sackhoff (of BSG fame) plays what we hope will be Jamie’s arch-nemesis and near the end of the hour engages her in a truly stellar girl fight – the episode’s high point. While the tone is wonderfully dark, the organization that made Jamie into what she is could be a lot more villainous – or at least mysterious. More annoying than threatening, they’re much like a friend’s pervy father.
As I mentioned before (and will mention again), I’m a big fan of promoting the feminist agenda through the tube. Whether it be in awe of strong characters, or out of fear of getting shivved in the scrote, TV is the most subtle way to convince the ignorant. What I’m not a fan of, however, is being smacked with the obvious stick. I don’t need to see a child catch a glimpse of the Bionic Woman outracing a car and note to herself: “I just think it’s cool that a girl can do that.” For that remark, little girl, you must grow up to bake pies. If they choose to re-shoot the pilot, which they likely will, I hope they spare us that little moment the second go around.
So while Bionic Woman may be a mostly solid venture, it’s mired in enough casting issues and controversy to possibly signal an early demise. First of all, the hiring of Isaiah Washington for a 5-episode arc isn’t so much offensive as it is offensively advantageous. Homophobe or not, Washington is a pretty bland actor with nothing to really bring to the table but scandal. Whether this move will help or hinder BW securing an audience, I can’t say. But it sure is tacky. Sackhoff, who plays a large role in the pilot, was rumored to be in some severe contract scuffles and only in the last 24 hours signed on for a “recurring role.” Different people seem to have different ideas of what that means, and I, for one, might not be keeping up with the show unless “recurring” means “on screen most of the time and constantly kicking ass.”
You may decide for yourself when Bionic Woman premieres September 25th, at 9pm on NBC.
[...] Jekyll (9pm, Saturday, BBC America ) – The US run of this short-lived BBC drama started airing last week on BBC America. A modern rendition of Jekyll and Hyde, it tells the story Tom Jackman (James Nesbitt) – a man who is the unknowing decedent of the real Dr Jekyll. Instead of dangerous experimentations with drugs or serums, Hyde is activated by a genetic marker that passed down the generations. The ways in which Tom interacts with his evil counterpart (through a digital recorder and shared assistant) make him almost Golem-esque. It’s rough seeing Nesbitt as a creep after playing the greatest dad ever in Millions, but the ease with which he seems to play the two characters probably couldn’t be rivaled by many. At only six episodes, tuning in for Jekyll isn’t much of a commitment, but it’s well worth it – if only to better acquaint yourself with new Bionic Woman Michelle Ryan. [...]