The Bionic Woman

catwhowalksbyhimself · October 04, 2007, 04:45:08 AM

More specifically, what I like was them going on a mission involving at least a bit of a mystery with her using her abilities in useful ways other than just beating people up, although I found it odd that she barely beat the soldier when she went toe to toe with an experienced, well-trained bionic woman with far more enhancements that she has. Really, she has advanced military training implanted in here brain and has been show to be able to use even her normal arm pretty effectively, she should have pretty much pulverized the guy with little effort.

On the other hand, the storyline with the other bionic woman was pointless, and the little sister thing was even more pointless, distracting, and seemed like a totally different show that they are were trying to ram together with this one for no apparent reason.

bredon7777 · October 04, 2007, 04:58:57 AM

Hence my comments about finding a better balance.

catwhowalksbyhimself · October 04, 2007, 07:08:24 PM

And in ratings news, the show's ratings went down 30 PERCENT this episode. Ouch! Reviewers, who were saying that the second episode was the show's chance to redeem itself, especially as a lot of changes went behind the scenes for it, thought it was quite horrible.

Life's ratings also went down, just not as much.

If Bionic Woman keeps this up, it won't be around much longer.

Uncle Yuan · October 04, 2007, 07:57:33 PM

We have become such an instant consumer society! Does anyone remember the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Stinkarooni. But there was enough committment by the producers and network to give it time to get it's legs and become a good, if not iconic, show. 'Round about the third season. I'm not huge Cheers fan, but I've heard similar things about it's first seaon.

Now? If a show has a mediocre first season (or first episode!!) it's off to the chopping block. It's instant success or death these days, with nothing in between.

Uncle Yuan · October 04, 2007, 08:11:23 PM

Quote from: ips on October 04, 2007, 07:58:29 PM
that's an unfair comparison... tng had redeemable qualities. bw doesn't so far.

It wasn't meant to be a comparison, but merely an example of what a show that started inauspiciously might become given time to mature.

As for TNG's redeemable qualities, I can't imagine what the where beyond securing Patrick Stewart and cashing in on a frustrated ST fandom. Have you re-watched season one lately? We got them last month from Netflix. Beyond a decent pilot, most of the first season were nigh on to unwatchable.

And I'm NOT arguing that Bionic Woman will become that sort of show. Only that the viewing public, reviewers and TV execs seem to have fallen into a very binary and short-term view.

bredon7777 · October 04, 2007, 09:03:37 PM

Quote from: Uncle Yuan on October 04, 2007, 07:57:33 PM
We have become such an instant consumer society! Does anyone remember the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Stinkarooni. But there was enough committment by the producers and network to give it time to get it's legs and become a good, if not iconic, show. 'Round about the third season. I'm not huge Cheers fan, but I've heard similar things about it's first seaon.

Now? If a show has a mediocre first season (or first episode!!) it's off to the chopping block. It's instant success or death these days, with nothing in between.

Sad but true. Ive no doubt BW can be turned around, but it'll need at least half a dozen more episodes to do it, and Im not sure at all it'll get them.

Kommando · October 04, 2007, 11:58:15 PM

Hmm, they dropped the deaf Kelly Osbourne for a new kid. I could at least believe the first one would be smoking up in school, the replacement can't convince me that she's done anything stronger than chewable aspirin. Let her go live with her father, and be forgotten about. Its a needless subplot.

Speaking of plot. There are strains of it. Jonas and Ruth seem more interesting than Jaime, and could probably hold the show on their own. Jaime seems more like a sidekick character than anything. Not to mention the most interesting character in the show so far is Sarah Corvis. Heck they could bump Jaime altogether, fix Sarah and make her like the Bionic Femme Nikita or something.

stumpy · October 05, 2007, 12:00:28 AM

I agree in principle about the short window shows have in which to succeed. I think the DVD commentary for one of the most successful shows of all time, Seinfeld, mentions that their first season didn't pull in the overall ratings the network was expecting and if that had happened in today's environment, they might have been canceled. In its favor, Seinfeld was doing okay among the demographic the network was trying to get and it had a couple execs who really thought it could find an audience.

But, at the same time I agree that shows have a very limited opportunity to make an impression, some shows (like Seinfeld) have elements of greatness even when the execution starts out a little shaky. BW, so far, isn't really showing that. I am not seeing some parts of the show and thinking, "I would really like to see that aspect explored" or "that is an interesting concept that I hope they really develop". Instead I am thinking that I don't care about the "real, everyday problems Jamie has to face" like dealing with her sister's acting out or her doubts about where her life should be going. It's just not compelling as a sideline and it doesn't seem woven in well with the bionic aspect of the show. You could have cut every scene with her sister and the show wouldn't have missed a beat.

[spoiler]BTW, I agree that the fight with that soldier guy was overly challenging for her. I was initially thinking maybe he was some sort of amped up mercenary. But, when it became clear that he wasn't, I couldn't help thinking that maybe she should try and kiss him because she did more damage to that twerp at the bar just making out.

Also, are Miguel Ferrer and Isiah Washington really just doing a few episodes and then leaving? They aren't shown on IMDb's (admittedly incomplete) credits after the first couple shows. It occurs to me that they and Molly Price may be the best actors on the show and have the most interesting characters. They are going to have sort of a talent drought if they leave...[/spoiler]

Anyway, I am not saying the show is horrible. It's still just "meh". I mean, I will still watch a few more episodes to see if some part of the show starts looking interesting. But, better shows have been canceled. I'd rather be watching Day Break than this.

Alaric · October 05, 2007, 07:48:00 AM

Quote from: Uncle Yuan on October 04, 2007, 07:57:33 PM
We have become such an instant consumer society! Does anyone remember the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Stinkarooni. But there was enough committment by the producers and network to give it time to get it's legs and become a good, if not iconic, show. 'Round about the third season.

I'd say that the second season was already noticeably better than the first, and the show got better every season- allthoguh, my all-time least favorite episode was in the otherwise-excellent final season...

You're right that the first season stunk, though. There were no chracters, just gimmicks with names, and every episode looked like it was ripping off an episode of the original series. Fortuantely, the chracters mostly developed as the series went on (even soem of the ones who I couldn't stand in the first series I found genuinely likeable later), and the plots became more original over time, too.

(Apologies for the threadjack- haven't seen the new Bionic Woman show, and frankly I don't really understand why they decided to do it as a remake of the old show instead of going with an entirely original female cyborg- although, it sounds like, asside fromt he character's name, that's essentially what they have done, anyway.)

Bujin · October 05, 2007, 04:19:20 PM

Quote from: Uncle Yuan on October 04, 2007, 07:57:33 PM
We have become such an instant consumer society! Does anyone remember the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation? Stinkarooni. But there was enough committment by the producers and network to give it time to get it's legs and become a good, if not iconic, show. 'Round about the third season. I'm not huge Cheers fan, but I've heard similar things about it's first seaon.

Now? If a show has a mediocre first season (or first episode!!) it's off to the chopping block. It's instant success or death these days, with nothing in between.

I agree with that sentiment as well- for example, I really enjoyed the Dresden Files last season. It got better & better as the season progressed, but was unceremoniously dumped by SciFi. If given more time, it very well could have become a success.

Zippo · October 10, 2007, 05:57:07 PM

I saw them filming this on my campus today (UBC).

She was throwing cantaloupes really badly while the two guys she was with watched in amazement. "Whoa, nice throw!" one said as she almost hit one of the camera operators.

Ah, the wonders of post production... and cantaloupe-firing air canons.

Uncle Yuan · October 11, 2007, 05:40:27 AM

Quote from: Bujin on October 05, 2007, 04:19:20 PM
I agree with that sentiment as well- for example, I really enjoyed the Dresden Files last season. It got better & better as the season progressed, but was unceremoniously dumped by SciFi. If given more time, it very well could have become a success.

I dunno, SciFi is a world unto themselves - they cancel the good shows and keep the dreck. Makes me wonder is they ascribe to the "Producers" model of network management.

bredon7777 · October 12, 2007, 05:10:12 PM

Ok, now that's more like it. Third episode is a massive improvement. Dialog is better, action is better, pacing is better, and crazy daddy might be an acceptable recurring villain after all.

Continuity kinda took a hit (I thought Becca wasn't allowed on a computer connected to the net, and yet she's shopping on line)- but nothing major.

I just hope its not too little too late.

catwhowalksbyhimself · October 12, 2007, 06:34:57 PM

And that recommendation might be enough for me to watch it on line, just to see.

MJB · October 13, 2007, 03:27:52 AM

I have stuck around for 3 episodes and I say cancel it.

This show sux!

-MJB

catwhowalksbyhimself · November 14, 2007, 06:23:42 PM

Just popping in to say that, much to my shock, the show is actually watchable now. The missions are now rightfully the focus of the show and are more interesting. The other characters are now more interesting as well, and Bionic Woman Mark I has disappeared, I'm relieved to say.

Jakew · November 14, 2007, 07:28:43 PM

This show is actually very watchable ... it's reminds me of Alias without all the faux seriousness and plot convolution. It's another popcorn entertainment guilty pleasure for me, alongside Supernatural.

I hope they manage to get a decent nemesis for the Bionic Woman though ... the girl who plays Starbuck on Galactica still doesn't really cut it. It's funny how she plays such a great role on Galactica, yet she's quite dreadful as a baddie on Bionic Woman.