The New Bionic Woman

[JustSkipIt]

Ok. Am I the only one who is totally and completely excited about The Bionic Woman? The preview is fantastic and Katee Sackoff (sp) from Battlestar Galactica is the uber villan so she should be totally delicious. Looks like there will be lots of girl-on-girl action (fighting that is).

The first version was like my little-girl-dyke TV. I remember having to save up my minutes (we were allowed to watch 30 minutes a day and 1 hour on a weekend day) to watch Bionic Woman and Charlies Angels on the same day. I was just facinated!

Anyone else?

[tazraven]

It's funny, cause I just saw the preview for this, and was totally excited. Glad I'm not the only one She looks kick-ass and I'm really looking forward to the first ep.

[dlline]

I'm excited, but a bit guarded. Lindsay Wagner was a childhood crush of mine, and I'm a bit prepared to be disappointed. I hope I'm wrong, because I love the idea.

[GayNow]

Wow...I'm kinda stoked about this.

[Kieli]

I'm so tired of people complaining about remaining "true" to the old series like they did with Battlestar Galactica. This is a fresh take on a really good series without all of the cheesy sound effects and the ridiculously improbably romance with the Six Million Dollar Man. Though still a fantasy show, this Jamie Sommers seems to have a more realistic life with realistic troubles (and no bionic dog to help her out of situations). Kate Sackhoff as the solution to the fembots is perfect. She's so evil that I got chills of pleasure. And they do kick each others' ass quite soundly.

As much a fan as I was of the old series, I'm not holding anything against this new series. Because that is what it is for me...NEW. I loved the new Battlestar Galactica (before it jumped the shark at the end of the last season) and frankly, liked it better than the old series. It was more dark and realistic in regards to the struggles of the colonists.

No more shiny happy people of the 70s, folks. This is a new century and things are a lot darker. I've set my TiVO to record it and am eagerly awaiting the series with an open mind.

[Sheridan]

I'm so tired of people complaining about remaining "true" to the old series like they did with Battlestar Galactica.

I totally agree with you Kieli from Star Trek TNG to Doctor Who there always seem to a certain section of famdom who can't accept TV has changed since their favuorite show was on 20/30 years ago. Try to remake BG or Bionic Woman exactly as they were in the 70's and you'll wind up with s sitcom by 21st century standards.

[dlline]

Hey folks!

I know I said that I was hesitant, but I'm fully willing to accept this show as it is, as long as it's a good show. I've stuck with Trek for the full 40 years it's been on, and I'm absolutely willing to watch this show with an open mind. I just worry, because it happens so often, that the retelling won't be good. The new Battlestar Galactica beats the shit out of the old one, but ST Enterprise was a lame shadow of it's earlier kin (mostly because the producers changed the focus from Trek fans to 15 year old boys).

I just want quality programming and nothing more. I loved Lindsay Wagner as Jamie Summers, but new is good, frequently better. Please don't kick me in the ass for being hesitant. I promise I'm not being judgmental.

[Kieli]

Try to remake BG or Bionic Woman exactly as they were in the 70's and you'll wind up with s sitcom by 21st century standards.

I saw "sitcom" and my brain almost melted down. But I totally agree, it would look like a comedy of errors. Actually it would sort of remind me of this really HIDEOUS Japanese television sitcom that is ridiculously popular over there called Oh Mikey! I have never shuddered so much in my life.

ST Enterprise was a lame shadow of it's earlier kin (mostly because the producers changed the focus from Trek fans to 15 year old boys).

I'll admit, Enterprise sucked beyond the telling of it. I totally disagreed with the casting of Archer, probably because Scott Bakula was as wooden as he could be. I adored Trip and the rest of the cast but he just irritated the hell outta me.

I just want quality programming and nothing more. I loved Lindsay Wagner as Jamie Summers, but new is good, frequently better. Please don't kick me in the ass for being hesitant. I promise I'm not being judgmental.

Last time I checked, I wasn't kicking any one person in particular in the ass for whinging. I was making a general statement about the complaints I've seen ALL over the NBC site, and frequently in 3 yr old, misspelled, grammar-challenged language.

[dlline]

Okay, cool. Sorry if I came on a little strong, but I'm just feeling a little picked on around here lately (not by you). I haven't read the NBC site, but I will now. Sounds like lots of whiney fun.

No hard feelings?

[Kieli]

Okay, cool. Sorry if I came on a little strong, but I'm just feeling a little picked on around here lately (not by you). I haven't read the NBC site, but I will now. Sounds like lots of whiney fun.

No hard feelings?

Never had any to start with

[SySnootles]

I'm at a strange place where I'm looking forward to the new series, but I'm also hesitant to be too enthusiastic about it. I have no problem separating "original" materials from the "remakes" (or, sometimes "reinvisioning" is more accurate), so I'm not going to be upset if it's not like the original Bionic Woman. (As some have pointed out, if they didn't make changes to update the series to today's standards and expectations, there's no way it would fly on modern airwaves.) I like the premise of the series, and I am so looking forward to seeing Katee Sackhoff kicking some butt (I generally don't go for blondes, but I've definitely made an exception for her).

BUT...

I've found that most new series, especially those in the sci-fi vein, are severely lacking in quality all around, including the story arcs, general episode plots, writing, acting, and production. The most current example I can think of, Painkiller Jane. I was looking forward to that series, and then I saw the first episode. Enthusiasm - quashed. Oh well.

So I'm really really looking forward to the new series, but I'm also not holding my hopes very high. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but the realist in me keeps kicking the back of my chair.

But here's hoping for the best!

EDITTED TO ADD:

It's kinda weird how similar the promotion photos of Michelle Ryan are to Lauren Lee Smith's character of Emma Delario on Mutant X. Makes me with they would have cast her instead of Michelle Ryan (nothing against MR at all... I just have more of a thing for LLS).

[guitarchic]

Yaye me, first to post watching the episode!!

First of all I was a true Bionic Woman fan back in my younger days. So yes, I was excited to hear that they were bringing the concept back to tv!

Jamie Sommers is a hottie, those eyes are well, gorgeous. And too bad she didn't get bionic lips because I can't stop staring at them and wanting to bite knowing I wouldn't hurt her. LOL

I can see how there is probably so much more to all the characters which has peeked my interest as the show goes on. Especially Jamie having a kid sister who has no idea that she went through a bionic make-over yet. That will be interesting to see how long that secret will be kept since they live together.

Here's hoping that Jamie and the evil bionic nemesis develop a love interest. Wouldn't that be the coolest!!!

Thanks for starting this topic Justskipit!

Take care! Marie

[Alcy]

It's kinda weird how similar the promotion photos of Michelle Ryan are to Lauren Lee Smith's character of Emma Delario on Mutant X. Makes me with they would have cast her instead of Michelle Ryan (nothing against MR at all... I just have more of a thing for LLS).

I totally agree! i love LLS! She would have been fantastic for the role. I'm missing her on my TV.

Anyway, this show looks kick arse, I've been following all the latest news on afterellen.com and I think I remember reading something that they werent convinced by the main actress who plays Jamie Sommers after seeing the pilot but were more than convinced by the gorgeous and talented Katee Sackhoff...yes, I'll be adding this show to my must download list as I don't think it will be on TV in New Zealand for another year at least.

I'm too young to have watched the original, caught a few reruns but I have no pre-conceptions about the story etc. (Although I'm personally more excited about Sarah Connor Chronicles and Cashmere Mafia!)


Alcy

[Hemiola]

Well, I am old enough to remember the original show, and I am especially glad that they got rid of that stupid "ngngngngngngngngng" bionic sound effect.

[tarawhipped]

Oh, come on, Hemiola! Didn't you ever pretend to run really fast while doing the sound effect? I know I did.

This should probably go in the random thread, but it's more or less on topic: did anyone else evre wonder what would happen if someone got one bionic leg? Could they run super fast, but only in a circle? These are the thoughts that keep me up at night.

-Cameron

[gorn]

Man, I could run in slow-motion faster than anyone else in the neighbourhood!

It's probably been about 20 years since I've seen a first-run pilot on network tv ... and I'm sad to say I wasn't all that impressed. I tuned in for sentimental reasons, and found myself wishing for Lindsay Wagner to show up. I don't know, I'll give it another couple of tries, see what happens. That evil Bionic Woman was kinda cool.

Remember she used to have a bionic dog, too? (Lindsay Wagner, that is, not the Evil Bionic Woman)


Whoops, almost forgot! I DID hear The Bionic Sound in the background when she was running around in the woods. They tried to slip it in with the background music, but if you know what you're looking for you can't miss it.

[masterjendu]

I saw an unaired pilot for Bionic Woman on tv-links http://www.tv-links.co.uk/listings/1/9027 (this is a wicked site, if you've never been). In it her sister is deaf. It was actually pretty cool; a nice character foil for Jaime. I don't know why they changed it but I guess they have their reasons.

It also got me thinking (once again) about the recasting of Willow after the unaired pilot of Buffy. I often find myself wondering how different the show would have been without Alyson Hannigan. Indeed how different my life (or maybe the lives of all all us Kittens) would have been. Okay that last bit might be a tad melodramatic, but think about it!

So yeah, I guess TV execs often have good reasons for recasting.

[Culzean]

After watching the second episode I'm not sure which character I like more - Jaime or Ruth (the 2nd in command in the organization).

Ruth, with the short blond hair who drives a muscle car, wears a machine gun well, and has attitude to spare. Her response when the damsel in distress asked, "Who are you people?" was absolutely hysterical.

So far, I'm really enjoying this series.

[Kieli]

After watching the second episode I'm not sure which character I like more - Jaime or Ruth (the 2nd in command in the organization).

Ruth, with the short blond hair who drives a muscle car, wears a machine gun well, and has attitude to spare. Her response when the damsel in distress asked, "Who are you people?" was absolutely hysterical.

So far, I'm really enjoying this series.

If you look closely, Ruth is played by Molly Price, formerly Faith Yokas of Third Watch (this lesbian SO wished that Faith would've had a one night stand with her old lesbian school chum *swoon*).

I'm sorry but the bionic dog and the lame running sounds did nothing for me in the 70s and I'm not sentimental about it. Thankfully, this show is a bit more on the realistic side as to how Jamie would handle her life being turned upside down and inside out. She's finding herself having to choose which side of the fence she wants to be on and how to make something of her life. The Old Bionic Woman was too pat, too easy. And her relationship with Steve Austin was just....contrived *bleh* I loved the show as a kid but, give me this new version for the adult, pls.
I think it can stand on its own merits without having to constantly be compared to the cheesiness of the 70s version. I had the same issues with people whinging on about the Battlestar Galactica remake.

My opinion? Give credit where credit is due. The writers were making a fresh start on a old theme, and doing quite nicely despite some of the changes they made from the preview. I heard they removed the deaf sister after some in the deaf community took umbrage with the character being played by a non-deaf actress.

[JustSkipIt]

Well, I messed up the VCR because somehow it didn't have channel 4 programmed in as an option so we missed the first episode and had to watch it on NBC.com (which at least is an option). We watched the 2nd ep on regular old VCR tape. So far, I'm not terribly impressed. It's almost like they keep thinking that it's a spoof and then remembering that it's not. So one of them does something or says something completely off and then kind of makes it a joke. Katee Sackoff is pretty amusing but I'm not like falling over myself to divorce my wife and go in search of her or anything.

I'm about equally amused by the TWoP recaps as the actual show at this point. I want it to be so so so much better!

[Kieli]

I think the problem is that somehow, what we saw or were expecting in the previews, got severely altered for some reason. I keep thinking that I'm watching a different show than what I first saw a snippet of.

True, the second ep left me wanting...but I've never been one to ditch a series after the first two episodes. Hell I'm even still watching Hot Shots though I can't figure out for the life of me why. It's hilarious to some degree but overall it's no great shakes thus far. I want Jaime to rock my socks. I love the actress and hope she gets a better deal as the series progresses. Initially Battlestar Galactica and even ST:TNG didn't do much for me either. It took me close to 8 eps before I really got into them.

[JustSkipIt]

Another episode and I'm getting more and more disappointed. It seems as if "they" (I don't know who: director? writer? producer?) can't decide where this show is going. Are Jamie and Sarah going to team up? The 43 seconds of them fighting on the same side was good but the rest was all wierd and made no sense. First Sarah is crazy and wants help. Then she vows to make Jamie pay. Then she's sweet again. Then deranged. Uh. What? And I want them to be more bionic. I mean the trainer (Jay?) and the Isiah Washington guy (more later on that) were hardly hurt by Jamie's hits and the serbian guys got hit a few times with no blood. Shouldn't all these guys make holes in the wall after Jamie or Sarah hit them and knock them into one? Shouldn't there be blood all over them? What kind of cut-rate bionics are these? I'm so very disappointed.

And I was wondering last week. Does anyone else find the casting of Isiah Washington on this show to be bizarre? I mean here's a guy who got fired from his last job for repeatedly using anti-gay epithets and now he's a "good guy" (so far) on a show that really any idiot can see will have a large lesbian following (in so much as anyone will follow it). Does that seem strange?

[gorn]

I was about ready to give up on this. Just wasn't doing it for me, you know? I don't expect it to be like the old Bionic Woman (haven't seen it in years & years, no idea how well it has aged), but the show as it is just didn't grab me. I'm not entirely sold on the actress playing Jamie Summers, which pretty well makes whatever's happening with the rest of the show somewhat irrelevant. Yeah, I like the Evil Bionic Woman, but Jamie needs to carry the show, not her.

So 8 o'clock rolls around last night and I didn't tune in. We're sitting there in the living room, having dinner and watching The Weather Channel (Mrs. Gorn & I LOVE The Weather Channel!), when all of a sudden Mrs. Gorn grabs the remote and says, "We're missing The Bionic Woman." We watched the first couple of episodes together, but I didn't think she was really into it. Certainly not enough for her to interrupt The Weather Channel! But she likes it, which means I'll probably be watching it from now on and I better get used to it.


I'm going to agree with JustSkipIt on the lame Bionics we're seeing. The jumping around is kinda neat, and they've got the Bionic Eye down pretty good, but the fight scenes leave a lot to be desired. After 7 years of Buffy, they need to do a little more than standard action kung-fu to sell me on how bad-ass Bionics ought to be. Jamie Summers kicks a guy, he needs to go flying THROUGH THE WALL! When that one guy attacked her with the crowbar, she should've BENT IT like a pretzel around his neck! Hell, they used to pick up CARS in the old show ... and not these little wimpy cars like we've got today, but those 70's boat-sized steel-framed Cadillacs.

Also, I want to SEE the Bionics. Yeah, we get these neat effects of going in her ear or eyes, but in the old Bionic Woman they used to open up panels in her legs and show off all these wires and flashing lights. THAT was cool! They kind of had that going in the pilot episode when Jamie first woke up and looked at her legs, but I haven't seen much since to reinforce that image. Without the machine, Jamie Summers is not a whole lot different than Buffy or Trinity or any other kick-ass female action hero. This is a post-Matrix / post-Buffy world we live in; they're going to have to do better.

I like the Asian guy and his background story with the Evil Bionic Woman; it's nice to see an Asian actor with a little more to do than martial arts or comic relief. Also nice that there's nothing particular about him that says he HAS to be Asian - he could be White, Black, whatever, and he'd still essentially be the same character.

I like Jamie's sister. Sad to say, but I think she's the only character on the show I find I really care about. The Evil Bionic Woman could kill anyone else on the show and I wouldn't care, but I'd feel bad if she killed Jamie's sister. On a related note - is there any particularly reason WHY Jamie's bionics are a secret from her sister? If I came home one day all bionic-ed up, the FIRST person I'd tell is my little brother.

Also, is there a particular reason why her sister wasn't IMMEDIATELY taken into protective custody the minute the Evil Bionic Woman showed up? I'm not a professional psychologist or profiler, but I saw that attack on Jamie's sister coming a mile away. I don't even have a secret bunker, military budget, or the Evil Bionic Woman's case file in front of me.

I'm going to disagree (mildly) with JustSkipIt on the casting of Isiah Washington. If I were the producers of a new show, I'd be looking for any sort of buzz I could create - good OR bad. People are going to talk about it and write about it, and it gets the words "Bionic Woman" out there. I would also imagine that if the guy is any good - and if he keeps his mouth shut and stays out of trouble - the media is going to forget whatever he did in his past life. And if enough folks in the Gay/Lesbian community complain, they can always kill him off or turn him into a bad guy (at this point, I don't know that ANYONE on the show is important or good enough not to be replaced, and if you fire him AGAIN because of Gay/Lesbian protests it makes even more news). Not saying I agree with this, but that's likely the thinking behind casting this guy.

To be fair, I didn't even know who this guy was until I read JustSkipIt's post, and I didn't follow the story enough before when he was on that hospital show (that I never watched). Is he genuinely heinous, or was it all blown out of proportion?



Damn, I can't believe I wrote so much about this show. I don't even like it that much.

It must be Thursday.

[Katharyn]

I've now seen the pilot and, Katee Sackhoff aside, I couldn't care less about this. I dimly remember re-runs of the original and 6MDM from the old days. I'd have to say that someone (David Eick) is riding on the coattails of BSG. Sadly he's proving himself to be no Ron Moore. I'm not a huge BSG fan, but it's enjoyable TV and very well acted. This, on the strength of the pilot, isn't.

As a 'reimagining' this lacks bite, substance or practically any redeeming feature. As a remake it lacks a lead you can care about (though she is easier on the eyes here than she ever was in Eastenders)

I was intrigued by the idea of the deaf sister in the earlier versions of the pilot (partly because I'd been writing a deaf character in my fic for years) but they just dropped it and left the show devoid of anything that makes it different to any other show. Where's the hook?

All in all we appear to have a show here with the weaker half of a producing team, that can't hold onto half of another great producing team (adios Glen Morgan) a Brit with a dodgy accent playing an american and not suceeding in doing anything but look good.

Oh, and Katee Sackhoff.

Maybe I will be proven wrong, but on the strength of this and other kittesn reactions to later episodes I can't see why it'd be renewed.

Katharyn

[xita]

I wouldn't say this show is great at all. I didn't have great expectations though. I loved the old one. If anything, maybe they'll start showing reruns. I do like Sarah Corvus though and I like the slashy nature of the bionic women's interaction. And the Isiah Washington thing, yeah it bugs me but so far I've enjoyed him getting his ass kicked by a woman.

I do agree, they have not done a great job with the bionics at all. She should be murdering those guys instead of sparring with mere humans. I hope they work on that. The running is lame.. lame.. lame...

[Gatito Grande]

They need to rename this show Bionic Women, put Katee Sackhoff's name right after Michelle Ryan's, and get it over with!

Let's face it: KS is the reason to watch! If this show does nothing other than make hers a household name, that'd be enough.

GG This show is taking its time to find itself (themselves!), but I think it'll get there... Out

[JustSkipIt]

Ok I've given it up. We watched last week's episode last night mostly because there was absolutely nothing else on. And even that really sucked. And you know what? I'm not the only one. Miss Ali and TWoP are all done with it now. Done. Sucked.

[Kieli]

Ok I've given it up. We watched last week's episode last night mostly because there was absolutely nothing else on. And even that really sucked. And you know what? I'm not the only one. Miss Ali and TWoP are all done with it now. Done. Sucked.

Tis a shame really. I'm glad I don't read those forums. I prefer having my opinions uncoloured. It could be worse, I suppose. They could have brought back all of that hideous 70s fashion

[JustSkipIt]

Tis a shame really. I'm glad I don't read those forums. I prefer having my opinions uncoloured.

I must have been unclear. Maybe. I wasn't saying that I quit because Miss Ali quit. I was saying that I quit because it's not worth my time and then read that Miss Ali apparently felt the same way.

[Kieli]

I must have been unclear. Maybe. I wasn't saying that I quit because Miss Ali quit. I was saying that I quit because it's not worth my time and then read that Miss Ali apparently felt the same way.

Thank you for the clarification. Hope you find another series that is worth the effort.