NBC’s remake of the 1976 Bionic Woman got off to a great start with the premiere of the Pilot episode. The “Bionic Woman” stars Michelle Ryan as Jaime Sommers, a bartender whose boyfriend Will Anthros implants bionics into her body after a nearly fatal car accident.
Much like the original bionic woman, played by Lindsay Wagner, the new revamp features Sommers with the same bionic replacements: ear, legs and one arm. Oh, this time they threw in a bionic eye as well. Definitely one of the cooler bionics, the Six Million Dollar Man’s son had in the original series. Speaking of bionics, what would have happened if Sommers only lost one leg? She’d probably have a pretty difficult time maintaining that bionic speed.
The opening sequence had a very sci-fi feel, which reminded me of the first Resident Evil movie. Sarah Corvis, an apparently “failed” bionic woman, is feasting on the entrails of a government employee. Jae Kim breaks in on her feast followed by several guards. Corvis professes her love to Kim with blood still dripping from her mouth and asks Kim to tell her that he loves her. Kim promptly shoots Corvis, says the three words she wants to hear -I love you, and then promptly lets off another shot at Corvis.
Isn’t it just like a man to shoot you when you ask him if he loves you. What a easy way to avoid the question. Alas, art imitates life - kidding folks.
The story of the “Bionic Woman” involves her unique and reluctant relationship with the government, while raising her teenage sister and trying to manage a normal life.
Sommers must come to terms with the bionics her boyfriend implanted in her body without her permission. Ok, now that I think about it, there’s a lot of subtext in the storyline as well with male-female relationships. Why was the first bionic experiment a woman as well?
One thing about Sommers character that stands out is that she is very courageous and self-motivated. After escaping the government facility that held her captive, Jamie quickly comes to grips with her new bionics. She had no problem trying out her bionics by attempting a bionic leap. Coincidentally, not even Neo from the Matrix made the first jump. But, this bionic gal did. And, what happens when a rogue bionic Corvis puts a bullet in your boyfriend. You hunt her and take her down. So, kudos to Sommers.
This exciting show is not without its fair share of clever quips. I guess it’s necessary in all sci-fi shows. Jonas Bledsoe, played by Miguel Ferrer (who just happens to be great at portraying sarcastic characters), tells Sommers that she has $50 million of his property in her body, so he’s her landlord (ugh domineering guy - lol). When she speaks about her future relationship with the government, Bledsoe cleverly responds, “Heads u lose, tails u die.”
Throughout the Pilot questions remain about the backgrounds of Sommers and Anthros. Will has a father who was in jail at the start of the show, who gets freed by enemies of the government. While, Sommers has a closed book court case that Bledsoe wants to learn more about.
The “Bionic Woman” will easily become a staple show in my tv viewing lineup. You can catch new episodes Wednesdays at 9/8 C on NBC.
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