I'm a huge BSG fan, so I really looked forward to "Bionic Woman". I hoped for another re-imagening, where an old below-average show was turned into something new and different. Now that I've seen the pilot (on Amazon Unbox/TiVo), I can only say: What a let-down!
What makes BSG so great is the focus to detail and human stakes. I quickly grew to care about the characters and what happened to them, even in the face of a fairly ludicrous plot. That's why I've stayed with the show for three years.
BW doesn't manage to duplicate this character-involvement. The pilot felt rushed; the emotional points didn't land; actions didn't make sense. For example (***MINOR SPOILER***), why is Jamie so mad at her boyfriend after the surgery? Didn't he just save her life? Shouldn't relief/gratitude be a part of her character's reaction, too? (***END SPOILER***) The main thing BW has going for it is a strong cast on the villain-side, including BSG-holdovers Katee Sackhoff and Mark Sheppard, as well as the awesome Thomas Kretschmann. And Miguel Ferrer is always gruff... I mean, great. But the script/direction/editing (I never know who to blame) doesn't give them enough to too. It's a real problem when (***SPOILER***) Jamie asks -- and I paraphrase -- "What do you want with me" and evil-BW answers has to answer "I don't quite know myself." In a stronger show, she would know! Otherwise, there's no point to their fight. Which there wasn't really. (*** END SPOILER ***)
Finally, based on the pilot, Michelle Ryan doesn't seem up to the task of carrying the show. Now don't get me wrong, I was thrilled that the heroine for once isn't some generic ano-yogic surgerized LA bimbo. (Some of us dudes like a little variety, dear TV executives.) But her acting simply wasn't very strong. And for an action-show, she didn't seem very "in her body." In contrast, the reason why Katee Sackhoff is so awesome (in this and BSG) is that she is physically convincing as an athlete, who can and will kick your ass. And Ms. Ryan isn't.
The two stars are for the villain-cast as described above, who all deserve better. As do we, the audience. I won't be watching this show.
What makes BSG so great is the focus to detail and human stakes. I quickly grew to care about the characters and what happened to them, even in the face of a fairly ludicrous plot. That's why I've stayed with the show for three years.
BW doesn't manage to duplicate this character-involvement. The pilot felt rushed; the emotional points didn't land; actions didn't make sense. For example (***MINOR SPOILER***), why is Jamie so mad at her boyfriend after the surgery? Didn't he just save her life? Shouldn't relief/gratitude be a part of her character's reaction, too? (***END SPOILER***) The main thing BW has going for it is a strong cast on the villain-side, including BSG-holdovers Katee Sackhoff and Mark Sheppard, as well as the awesome Thomas Kretschmann. And Miguel Ferrer is always gruff... I mean, great. But the script/direction/editing (I never know who to blame) doesn't give them enough to too. It's a real problem when (***SPOILER***) Jamie asks -- and I paraphrase -- "What do you want with me" and evil-BW answers has to answer "I don't quite know myself." In a stronger show, she would know! Otherwise, there's no point to their fight. Which there wasn't really. (*** END SPOILER ***)
Finally, based on the pilot, Michelle Ryan doesn't seem up to the task of carrying the show. Now don't get me wrong, I was thrilled that the heroine for once isn't some generic ano-yogic surgerized LA bimbo. (Some of us dudes like a little variety, dear TV executives.) But her acting simply wasn't very strong. And for an action-show, she didn't seem very "in her body." In contrast, the reason why Katee Sackhoff is so awesome (in this and BSG) is that she is physically convincing as an athlete, who can and will kick your ass. And Ms. Ryan isn't.
The two stars are for the villain-cast as described above, who all deserve better. As do we, the audience. I won't be watching this show.