Senior Buddy TV Writer Jon Lachonis has given his review of the re-tooled Bionic Woman Pilot which is currently available via Unbox and various digital means, before it airs on NBC on the 26th of this month. I haven’t seen the re-tooled version yet, but I thought I’d post this up in the meantime:
In short, the new Bionic Woman is less dense in the interpersonal aspects, and more polished in the blackened science fiction murk that it seeks to bring. The color temperature is up, but the mood is down.
‘Polishing’ was the very thing I thought the pre-aired Pilot needed so i’m glad that they have touched it up somewhat. “The mood is down” – say what? From what I saw the mood was fairly low as it was – i’m interested in seeing just how much lower the mood is! He continues:
The most obvious loss is Jamie Sommers’ deaf sister. Replaced now by a typically mouthy teenager, this loss is one that viewers of both versions of Bionic Woman may feel the most. Having Jamie’s sister be deaf gave the series an irony that could be oft recycled in some seriously confounding ways. Here you have a character, Jamie, who is brought back from horrible mutilation without her consent, walking around keeping the very technology that could restore her sisters hearing a total secret.
Having seen the pre-air and been rather disappointed with Mae’s performance i’m not too fussed about her absence, though I do accept the loss of some worthwhile irony. However is there not also irony in the fact that Jaime’s ‘new’ sister is a computer hacker..? I’ll be interested to see just how they play Lucy Hale’s role..
Those of use who savor characters and conflict will mourn the loss of Bionic Woman‘s more challenging architectural features, but fun loving science fiction fans probably won’t bat an eye at the absence of them
Erm..I savor characters and conflict..yet i’m also a fun loving science fiction fan, so where does that leave me, Jon!? I’m pretty sure the fans of Bionic can’t be so easily pigeon-holed. As for the loss of challenging architectural features, i’m pretty sure he’s referring to Mae’s absence..oh and the loss of the chimpanzee’s? Look they’re gone, get over it already (sorry John, it’s just i’ve heard so many people bemoan this)! In all seriousness though I will wait to see the re-tooled version before I comment too much on these ‘losses’ – but I can give my ‘opinion’ and in my opinion those losses are ones which can be sustained.
You can read Jon’s full review HERE.
Bionic Woman lands on our screens Sept. 26, 9/8c on NBC
