NBC's new Bionic Woman

[raefinlay]

Just watched the pilot. I really, really, really wanted to like this. Really.

In can be aptly summed up in one word: AWKWARD. Awkward transitioning, awkward script, awkward acting. The musical selections and subsequent mixing were...um...AWKWARD.

Katee Sackhoff, however, was da bomb.

From a writing standpoint, they really screwed the pooch. TOO MUCH has happened already, stuff that would have been better hanging out in the proverbial back pocket for a while. For instance:

...by the end of the episode, Jaime is in complete command of her phat bionical skilz. No training. Just 30 seconds of adjustment, and Bang! Superhero! Also, we don't need to know that evil ex-con is the boyfriend's dad just yet. And the not-sex scene? Holy AWKWARD transitioning, batman. Would have been better to develop that relationship a tad before letting us into the bedroom. *sigh*



But it is, yanno, The Bionic Woman! I'll give it an ep or two before passing final judgement.

Also, major props to NBC and Amazon for understanding the mighty marketing power of The Free Download.

Comments

Bionic Woman

[camillemulan.livejournal.com]

Damn, I really, REALLY want to love this show. Something out there has got to fill the Buffy/Alias/Dark Angel Ass-kicking Chick Void.

I'm still gonna watch the pilot this Wednesday when it airs. It's good to know Starbuck rocks. :)

Re: Bionic Woman

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Some of the stunting was great. And filming in Vancouver gives it a more noir feel. So there's enough potential there to pay attention!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Ooh, fantastic choice, though! Go Starbuck!

I loved that show as a kid--I'll have to find a way to watch an episode or two. Is it on network TV or cable?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh wait--haha, you said: NBC. And yay Amazon!

[chrisbillett.livejournal.com]

Sackoff is awesome, I'll check it out just for her.

You a fan of Starbuck n' BS:G?

P.S. Am I gonna be seeing you in New York next month?

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

She's definitely worth watching. And yes, I'll be in New York! I'll buy you a (light) beer. :D

[chrisbillett.livejournal.com]

If I had a pound for every...

:)

[franfriel.livejournal.com]

Rae - Sadly, I missed the debut, but perhaps it was a good thing. I'm old enough to remember the original Bionic Woman (now, the dial your bed number spokes model...I guess bionics weren't so good for the career). It wasn't really that good...but really, what else was there to watch? No cable. No VCR. How did we ever survive? *chuckles*

Anyway, I just stopped by on a Context 20 reconnaissance mission. We're doing a panel together, so I thought I'd see who I'd be sitting with. From your journal, I suspect you're going to be a stellar panel buddy.

See you in a few days, Rae!

Hugs from CT,
Fran Friel

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

You didn't miss it! It debuts Wed on NBC. (I caught it as a free Amazon download.) I'm really hoping the series improves, because the Bionic Woman was my hero when I was a kid. Well, her and Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman. *shamefaced*

Woo, panel buddy! I'm looking forward to it. :-)

[franfriel.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check it out. If the BW and WW were your heroes, then it's only fitting that I give the next generation a fair shot. Sorry for dissin' your girl...heroes are few and far between.

See you soon!

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Yanno, it's funny...I watched a clip recently of the original Bionic Woman and just about died of shame. It was THAT bad. But I loved it at the time!

[franfriel.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed by your loyalty, Rae. We should all be so lucky to have fans like you.

I get a little red faced myself for my undying love of the original Star Trek series. I lived for that show as a child. I so wanted to be on that ship...a Starfleet Academy grad. Turns out, I'm only a space cadet, but the dream lives on

[db-writer.livejournal.com]

As I understand it, the pilot went through some major re-shotting when the network decided they didn't like one character, so they totally inverted her character and made other changes, brought Katie Sackoff more into teh story, etc. So that is probably why it seemed awkward, lot's of changes in the pilot. We'll see how the series goes.

db

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Ah, that would explain it. Hopefully, the ensuing episodes will be better! I'm definitely giving it the benefit of the doubt for now.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

You know, every time I look at a Bionic Woman commercial I can't help but think, "Was there really a call for that?" I mean, did I miss the groundswell of support for such a show? Did I miss the letter-writing campaign?

That snark aside, it does seem like it would deserve a better launch than it's getting. Like, I'd expect product tie-ins and such. But... not so much. They're treating it like any other new show, and yet relying on people's nostalgia to win it a fanbase. I'm not sure you can have it both ways.

[ccfinlay.livejournal.com]

That's too bad.

But why did you start calling me "Chuck" last night?

[sonyamsipes.livejournal.com]

Hey Rae,

Do you think Charlie would be interested in a free copy of 'Cooking Your Way To Romance' in exchange for a fair & balanced review on Amazon/LJ?

I am trying to drum up some more traffic, and since the book is aimed at men, and he's a man! (duh!) who takes his relationship with you seriously... that he would be a great candidate for a review.

You/he won't hurt my feelings if he says no :-)

[raecarson.livejournal.com]

Hi Sonya! Alas, Charlie already has a stack of books THIS big to review that he never got around to. But if you want, I'd be happy to take a look. I know my blog doesn't get as much traffic, but I'd do what I could. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll give you an addy.

You ARE going to be at WFC this year, right??