With that in mind, the i09.com blog responded to my post by citing a different reason for the failure of BW:

Personally, I don’t think that money was the problem with the show, and almost all the troubles can be traced back to the fact that no-one involved with it seemed to know what kind of show they wanted to make. Was it dark updating of the original? Buffy with robot parts? Alias without interesting bad guys? The show seemed to change its mind episode-to-episode, and sometimes even within each 44-minute chunk. Play fantasy TV exec here, kids: If the show does return, what needs to be changed to make it work, and how would you do it?

I would agree that the creators seemed not to know what show they wanted to make - I suggested a few months ago that the show needed to find it’s identity. However I would argue that having such a huge amount of money guaranteed for the pilot episode, ‘perhaps’ contributedto the shows lack of identity. It’s almost as if they spent more time worrying how to spend NBC’s money and less time worrying how to get the most out of each line, each story arc and each character. I could be wrong, but I think that the pilot episode was one of the best of the eight episodes..and it had $10-14 million to finance it. The rest of the episodes (with one or two exceptions) were pretty bad..which would suggest to me that the show delivers best when it has financial clout to realise the imaginings of the creators, but struggles when the money factor is removed.

Again, I could be wrong and I’m not saying that io9.com are ‘wrong’ in their views..I’m simply saying that there must be a contributing factor as to why the writing and identity of the show was so weak. We know why the first eight episodes were weak: The writing.  I’m trying to establish possible reasons for why the ‘writing itself’ was weak.

The readers over at io9.com aren’t holding back their views on the show:

Erackman writes:-

“It’s Alias with Bionics but not nearly as interesting or well-written”. That is how I describe the show to anyone that has not seen it. If the show had any hope of surviving, the writer strike probably killed it. I was willing to give it some time but now, with all the time that has passed, I will probably just skip it altogether now.

I don’t know what I was expecting from the show but I guess I thought the bionics would be more… well bionic. The premise of bionic body parts seemed like it would be more intriguing than it is and more relevant.

Ryan. H writes:

“I thought one of the biggest problems with it was that it couldn’t decide on it’s format. There was a strange mix of format between 90′s style episode-of-the-week and the more serial style that shows like Lost, Heroes and BSG use.”

Pretty scathing. I hope NBC arelistening to such views, but that they do not fold the show because of such views. Let’s not forget that a hell of a lot of people still want this show to do well. This show shouldn’t be cancelled, it has a ready made fan-base, all we need is a good show. It would be a major dent in David Eick’s reputation if he manages to drop the ball on this one – but NBC need to give him, or whoever is in charge these days, another stab at it. The premise is just too good to waste!

———–

Incidentally, the LOST pilot cost $10mil, but the writing is also awesome. Seriously, JJ Abrams, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof know how to make great TV. Over to you BW!

Bionic Woman fell victim to sub-standard writing, but remains a show littered with potential, especially in terms of the caliber of actors on board and the premise – which I still believe is awesome. I’m not saying that I want to see less cool special effects – a sci-fi show like BW needs it’s share of ‘razzmatazz’, but I think creators should first focus on getting the foundations right and then build from there. I get the feeling that alot of shows are sanctioned on a whim – it sounds good and so the networks go for it, then when it fails they drop it like it’s (not so) hot.

BW has been ridden with mistakes..every BW fan knows it and so do the critics, but I sincerely hope that NBC don’t make another mistake by ditching the show. There are not many shows which could have a better premise than BW – let’s work with it and get it right..that would surely be better than spending another $10 million on another show with half the potential, only for that to be cancelled? Yes, let’s stick with BW – everything is in place..all we need is our (re-tooled) show back.

Back to the nytimes article – they cite Bionic Woman as being a prime example as to why the networks may decide to spend less on TV shows post-strike:

Cost is at the center of the drive to reduce the number of pilots, or at least to restore them to being television shows instead of mini-movies. Several executives pointed to the bloated costs of drama pilots, which have reached as high as $9 million, while episodes of the subsequent series cost only between $2 million and $3 million. Audiences then often decide that the regular episodes fail to live up to the pilot. One recent example: “Bionic Woman,” NBC’s remake of an old series, which got off to a roaring start thanks to a film-quality pilot and never measured up again.

As I said, it’s an interesting article and well worth the read. You can read the whole piece here.

I guess my main question after reading that article, is does having too much money over-complicate things for the networks? Obviously it’s all relative and it’s different for each show, but it could be argued that both BW and Heroes fell victim to trying to do too much too quickly? Obviously the writing was at fault for this, but perhaps having such huge budgets also contributed to the confusion? By the way, I’m referring to Heroes Season 2..Season 1 was awesome, and had a smaller budget, I might add ;)

One of my early questions when this whole Bionic Woman series was pitched, was whether real-life technology was capable of achieving the technological advancements that the show would flaunt. No doubt, one of the coolest gadgets in Jaime’s configuration was her Bionic eye, which, if memory serves me, allowed her to see for miles and miles..with perfect vision.

Now it seems that my question is beginning to be answered, with the exciting news that scientists have developed the worlds first Bionic Contact Lens! The lens allows it’s wearer to “zoom in on distant objects and display useful facts”. Useful facts? Do they actually mean that the contact lens comes equipped with a digital interface just Jaime Sommers’? Now THAT is cool.

Apparently the prototype “doesn’t light up and display information” – so it’s not quite like Ms. Sommers’ version, but still, it’s an awesome leap into the scientific ‘Pandora’s box’ that we seem to be ever opening these days.

When I first heard this news I was instantly reminded of just how exciting this kind of thing can be..I remember being overjoyed that there was actually a TV show which was going to present us with the idea of what it would be like to be a bionic person..to be a product of man living in God’s world.

As for when this Bionic Contact Lens will be available..well, I wouldn’t have thought it will be on general sale for a good few years..perhaps even a decade. But it’s always fun to read about the real world catching up with fantasy!

However, not everyone is as happy about this rumour (I won’t call it ‘news’ until NBC officially confirms it) as most of us are. One such blogger is literally up in arms that the show hasn’t been cancelled:

Look guys, the only reason I watched that last, craptacular episode was because I believed it was the last one ever and felt a twisted sort of obligation to see it through to the end, having been a huge BW apologist from the beginning, trying to convince folks every week that it was going to get better, pointing out the few bright spots each week in a sea of craptaculosity.

Now you’re telling me it wasn’t even close and that I might have to watch more episodes when it returns? Not gonna do it.

NBC, do the right thing: Put Bionic Woman out of our misery and bring back Journeyman.

Firstly, NBC, do the right thing and keep Bionic Woman on the air! Do not bow to the negativity. If you’re going to give the show a chance, then give the show a chance. It may only be 5 episodes but a lot can happen in that time. Let the writers and the other creative forces come back with a knock-out 5 episodes and then I predict that people will flock back to the show. All we want is good TV. I’m not going to go on about the shows potential because that is obvious. The show received 14 million viewers on it’s debut..something drew the people in..think back to how the show was presented, to what was promised. Think back to what that was and go back to that premise! 

I still believe in this show – I might be crazy, but there’s something about BW that excites me. Granted, we haven’t seen it yet, but all we need is a blank slate and some creative writers who will stay true to the dark and edgy show that David Eick promised us.

I’m not even going to sweat the negativity that this show is still receiving. The thing is, people are still talking about the show – more than they’re talking about Journeyman or Chuck, even. As fans of BW we are not blind – we know what was wrong with the first 8 episodes, and I’d like to think that we’ve duly given constructive criticism were needed. I’d just like to appeal to all those who love or hate the show, to give the rumoured 5 remaining episodes a chance and make up your own minds. Importantly I hope that people keep talking about the show – if you hate it then please by all means continue to share those views constructively..equally if you love it (or anything in between love and hate) then keep talking about the show! There’s so much to be gained from interacting with other fans and critics of a TV series – we might not always agree but our different perspectives can help create a Universe which the creators can tap into. I want a ‘Bioniverse’! Perhaps if we talk and rant about the show enough then it will improve and we might even have something worth holding on to?

Hey, it’s Christmas..I can but hope!:D

Those of you who want to show your support for the show by signing the Bionic Woman petition (set-up by Chris Johnson) – you can do so here. There are currently 842 signatures!

At the end of the Pilot episode a determined Jaime told Jonas: “If we’re gonna do this, what ever this is, then we’re gonna do it on MY terms”. A stupid line if ever there was one, but that aside, what ever happened to Jaime ‘doing things on her terms’??

I was actually looking forward to seeing Jaime claim her independence only to realise that it would be more complicated than she had envisaged – or something like that. Instead we’ve seen very little of Jaime working for Burket on her own terms. Sure, she’s had the odd day off here, finished work a few hours early there, but I had associated ‘doing things on my terms’ with her making conflicting choices regarding right and wrong, possibly leading to her working outside of the organisation that made her. After all, this was the cautionary tale – Sarah Corvus served as a warning to what could become of Jaime. However Jaime has instead led a rathered sheltered life – not once have I got the impression that she was in any REAL danger (either physically or psychologically), or that she could be ‘changed’ by an event which ‘could’ lead to her taking the ‘Sarah Corvus route’ in self preservation.

Perhaps I’ve just missed the parts when any of this happened? Perhaps I haven’t been paying close enough attention? Perhaps I’m being unfair? Hey, I’ll admit it if this is the case.

I actually think that two of the biggest problems with the Jaime character is that she relies too much on men (or when she is ‘ballsy’, as they say in the UK, it’s unconvincing), and she never seems to be in any great risk. What’s the point of being bionic if you’re never in any real peril – even Superman had Kryptonite! This is why I really wish they had expanded on the whole ‘Bionic Lifespan’ storyline (what happened to that? Heck, what happened to Corvus!?) – now THAT was interesting! I get the feeling that they thought we were too unintelligent to grasp such a storyline..that, or they didn’t want to get too ‘scifi’ on us…HA!

Anyway, my main point is that I don’t think Jaime stayed true to herself – perhaps I am overlooking moments when she did things on her terms? If I am, I fear that they were too insignificant or not important enough to make me remember!

*I realise that alot of my complaints are down to the problems that the show has encountered, but hey, this is a blog and until the show gets cancelled I’ve gotta get my BW thoughts/frustrations out there!

Some of the comments on the nytimes tvdecoder blog, in particular, leave no doubt as to their feelings regarding MR’s performance. Here’s a sample:

It’s pretty simple: Michele Ryan is a car wreck, and there’s no rebuilding her. She mistakes oogling her giant, expressive eyes for acting. The writing is generally stiff and unengaging. — Posted by Janet V

Michelle Ryan? Bless her heart- awful. Really, just about the worst actor I’ve seen a show built around since Emeril Lagasse. Not many people can make a line that reads as bad as “That saving the world thing? I’d like to give it a try,” and deliver it so it sounds even WORSE. Ryan sunk to the occasion. — Posted by howlless

The problem in a nutshell: Michelle Ryan ain’t no Jennifer Garner. Nor is she a Lindsey Wagner.

— Posted by Phil

Whilst I realise that these views are supplemented with many positive views about MR, from what I have seen a lot of the recent criticisms of the show are beginning to focus on the lead actress. I am surprised that MR is under such attack – sure, she wasn’t outstanding but in my opinion she’s miles better than the entire female cast of ‘Heroes’ and Evangeline Lilly from ‘LOST’ (no offense, Evie), yet I don’t see them getting bashed for their acting ability, not to this degree.

Sorry, but I have to defend Michelle Ryan’s corner because she has shown vast improvement over the course of 8 episodes. Doesn’t that deserve credit? The main problem with BW is the writing – it has been terrible, it has been disjointed and it has been ‘insecure’ – it has tried to please, but has failed to find it’s voice after the first showrunner left. Sure, great actors can sometimes carry a show – heaven knows Jack Coleman has just about carried Season 2 of Heroes – but Ryan is not a great actress, not ‘yet’ (that’s not to say she won’t be). She is a fresh actress, in a new country, with her first breakout series. Yes, she does deserve criticism, as does every person who is judged on performance, but personally I don’t think she should shoulder the blame for Bionic Woman’s ills. Could anyone else really have made the show ‘better’? I’m not so sure they could – not when the likes of Miguel Ferrer, Isaiah Washington and even ‘cult hero’ Katee Sackhoff, have at times, struggled in their own performances.

It’s good, however, that the show is still provoking so much opinion – that’s what it’s all about and that’s what NBC need to recognise. Yes, the show has, by and large, sucked so far, but the show is STILL a major talking point and still has so much in reserve. Let’s just hope that Michelle Ryan and friends get the chance to give the fans something positive to talk about.

C’mon NBC, give us the ‘edgy’, ‘dark’ and ‘captivating’ Bionic Woman we were promised! Remember that? Can’t we, like, just go back to that?

—————–

* I should add, that in regards to the crisitsms being laid at Michelle Ryan’s door, she is also receiving much love from some quarters. Keep your head up girl!

For now I have a few bits and pieces:

I recently read an interesting article by Liz McKeon regarding her theory on ‘Bionic Woman v Chuck’ – she writes:

I’ve been forming this theory for some time now, and I’m just going to lay it on you: NBC wanted to run a show like Alias, and couldn’t decide how best to update the concept in order to make it entirely their own.

And there were two lines of thinking at the pitch meeting, the first which went something like, “We should do it as a spoof, like an edgy, modern version of Get Smart,” while the other camp was all, “We should totally provide an explanation for why the awesome, strong female spy lead character can suddenly do all of the cool things she can do, relying on the audience for a liberal dose of the suspension of disbelief.”

And those two camps broke off, much like the crack-up of the Algonquin Round Table, and went off to their respective jobs to create their own series.

And thus, up until this week, we had Chuck and Bionic Woman.

Interesting theory, I don’t think it quite happened like that but interesting nonetheless. You can read the whole article here.

In other news, Michelle Ryan is rumoured to be dating..hold on..I don’t care who she’s dating. No offence to Ryan or anything, but that’s not really the reason why I started this blog. I have to keep it real and so I wont expand on who she is apparently dating, but you can find out here if you want to know, or click here to find out whether it’s true or not.

That’s about it for now – there’s not much going on in the world of BW at the moment. Expect that to change once news breaks on the shows full season pick-up. Here’s hoping, huh! I’ll be back with more BW blogging soon, as I’ve still got a lot to say :P

Today SyFy Portal report that this is simply not true , and they actually have real-life quotes and everything, to back their story up! ;) In response to the accusations that she had been unprofessional in comments made at a recent Battlestar Galatica convention, she said:

“I have no plans to leave ‘Bionic Woman,’ and Michelle Ryan is doing a great job. There’s not one ounce of bad blood between us.”

“It’s sad because you want to connect with the fans, and then they throw it in your face in a negative light,”

Good on her for coming out and putting the record straight – I know what it’s like to have words or gestures twisted or presented in a malicious way, it’s not a nice feeling and the thing you want to do most is speak out and let people know the truth. As for her reference to the fans – I hope she’s not making a sweeping statement here, because a lot of people (certainly myself and many of those who commented on this blog) expressed our opinion, on the story that RoadrunnderDM broke, with honesty but also with the possibility that it may have been a sensationalised ‘story’.

I’m not saying that’s what happened – perhaps the person who broke the news genuinely believed that KS was inferring the things she was said to have been inferring? Who knows? All I know is that it’s a good thing that KS has expressed her side of the story.  However, I do hope she doesn’t make snap judgements about ‘all’ fans. After all we’re in the entertainment business (or rather we respond to news, in and around the entertainment business, that interests us, I don’t want to sound corporate ;-)) and so a ‘story’ like this was always going to provoke a response from fans and cynics alike. KS is now ‘fairly’ big news in the sci-fi fan communities, and these days she will be talked about more than at any other time in her career, I would imagine.

But it’s not just about KS, as fans we (I say ‘we’ to be diplomatic) sometimes go over the top, but I hope that most of us take any news story with a pinch of salt and with the potential that it might actually be untrue. To be fair, most of the comments that I read had this in mind, so maybe KS hasn’t been reading Bionic-Blog lately? ;-)

Anyhoo, it’s disappointing ‘if’ this story was ‘intentionally’ made-up. I know it’s the silly season and there’s also writers strike, so we’re all in need of some new content to speak about, but we also don’t want to be making things up and upsetting people now do we?

Some of you may be wondering whether we should take Katee’s word for it, whether she is just covering her tracks? Well, we simply don’t know but in the absence of real evidence I’m inclined to take the word of someone who I struggled to believe would say these things in the first place. I’ve commented on what she ‘apparently’ said, as I’m a viewer and blogger of BW, but I always left room for the story being a load of you know what.

Now Katee, hows about you tell us how that meeting with the producers went? :-)

Those are my thoughts on the whole affair, but what are yours? Feel free to share them!

Well, whatever you want to say about Isaiah and his time on the show, he certainly brought the buzz that helped to catapult BW into he realm of ‘most anticipated new show’ back in the summer. I recall blogging about the controversy that his arrival brought - often I wished we could just have the actor and not his baggage, but the two things remained inseparable as column inches were filled with his past controversy, and predictions were made that he would unsettle and fall out with certain members of the cast. How ironic that it is now Katee Sackhoff who is ‘apparently’ doing the falling out. As for Isaiah, not a peep..not one problem reported. Not that it deserves praise..that’s what professionals are supposed to do. But in light of the hype, he did his job – got kicked through a few walls, raised the stakes and got shot. Goodnight Antonio.

I don’t think Antonio Pope was the greatest character I’ve ever seen..far from it. Neither was Isaiah’s performance anything special. On the whole it was just ‘OK’ (although many would disagree).

Will Isaiah or Antonio be missed? Not really. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Jaime will miss her human ‘punch bag’ and Jonas will miss those long lingering stares that the pair used to share, but in all fairness they can now promote Jae Lee to ‘actually’ doing something other than “taking it beyond the demo”.

But let’s give Isaiah his due, he did a decent job (not that “decent” should be enough for this re-imagined franchise) and gave us some excitement by walking into his ex girlfriends bullet.

Incidentally, do you think we’ll ever find out what happened to her? Did she get caught? Perhaps they’ll tidy up such loose ends in Isaiah’s spin-off show? ;-)

I’m also noticing a trend here..first Will Anthros (remember him?) and now Antonio Pope (remember him?) killed by a bullet. They have all this technology and these two guys get killed by bullets? You gotta love it..

But I digress, this is not the time to split hairs..join me as I say goodbye to Antonio. Even Jaime shed a tear for him..one more than she shed for Will Anthros. Bless.

Let’s take a look at the current results of this poll:

 [poll=20]

Interestingly the overwhelming majority have (so far) stated that they would continue to watch BW even if she left, suggesting that KS isn’t the be all and end all of the show. Incidentally, I also voted that I would continue to watch (assuming the show didn’t become unwatchable, of course). It’s not that I’d continue to watch just to spite Katee – heck, she’s a good actor and I respect her work. It’s because at the end of the day no-one person makes a show (although LOST’s John Locke comes close!) and the last few Katee-less episodes have actually been quite good..which is testimony to how the show has improved.

But maybe I’m of this opinion because I’m still fairly new to KS? I’m a fan (of her work on BW), but not a fan-atic, if you will. I didn’t know much about her until she landed on primetime TV, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. Which makes her ‘apparant’ disassociation with the show that gave her more limelight all the more baffling.

If KS does leave BW (whether or not the show survives), it will be interesting to see what she does next. Of course she is a cult icon on Battlestar Galatica, but is that show ‘mainstream’ enough to propel her career forward? Or is it cool to be cult?

I just wonder, with the writers strike tipped to soon end and talk of a “relaunch” still up in the air..could Katee Sackhoff soon regret being on the outside looking in:

(‘assuming’ she does want out of BW ; ))