Click here to view the embedded video.

Well, can they? You know it’s been said a million times by myself and many of you out there, but this show has SO much potential. What a shame that David Eick and NBC dropped the ball! Because ultimately that’s where the buck has to stop – not with Michelle Ryan, not with Isaiah Washington, not with the fans and perhaps not even so much with the writers – who’s scripts have to be sanctioned by, yup, NBC. Of course the writers are to blame for the sub-standard scripts, but ultimately it is the network who gives them the green light or not. Perhaps more time finding the right people to write the show would have been wise?

I’m not bashing NBC (least, that is not what is intended), but they haven’t exactly endeared themselves to their public of late - (apparently) shifting the blame for the shows lack of success onto lead actress Michelle Ryan, stalling over making an official announcement as to the future of the show etc.

Let’s just say that my confidence in NBC has waned somewhat. I hope that they surprise us all by announcing that the show will continue in some capacity (a completely re-tooled one, if possible), but it seems likely that we’ll have confirmation of the shows end any day now.

What a shame, this ‘re-imagined’ concept was so bold, so exciting. It seemed that nothing could get in it’s way – a grown up version of “Heroes”, a show which TV so badly needed. The fan-base was there, all we needed was a good show. Instead it’s now down to us fans to rally behind the premise which excited us roughly a year ago. It’s down to us to sign petitions and do what we can to keep this show alive. This may be a bit early, but if Jericho fans can go “Nuts” for their show, why the heck can’t we!?

..And if NBC don’t want to listen, perhaps another network will see what a brilliant and powerful concept this show has in it’s mechanics? Even if the name ‘Bionic Woman’ was replaced, I wouldn’t be totally opposed to a brand new show being ‘modelled’ on this re-imagining. I expect some stick for saying that, but all things being right (i.e. the script, cast, direction etc), there must be a way to keep the premise alive!?

Over to you NBC.

Vid by Wolfke1979

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!

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.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Looks good. This will also be Isaiah Washington’s fifth episode of a 5 episode arc. Dun Dun Duuun!

I had almost forgotten that Isaiah Washington is only on the show for a 5 episodearc. In fact he supposedly completes this arc in tonight’s episode. Interestingly GayWired.com ask whether his departure will now mean that the “Gay Factor” will be increased:

Maybe Isaiah Washington ixnayed any reference to homosexuality, but seeing as how his character supposedly ends his limited run this week, the opportunity is there to up the gay factor. Perhaps Jamie Sommers (Michelle Ryan) and Sarah Corvus (Katee Sackhoff) could take their rivalry to the next level. At the very least, give us some wet wife beaters—and more of Katee’s slicked back hair. Totally hot stuff!

It will also be interesting to see what happens to his character (Antonio Pope) – will he dramatically get killed off? Will the door be left open for a future return? Don’t forget you can watch tonight’s episode 6 on NBC..or Unbox.

UPDATE: Isaiah’s character, Antonio Pope, wasn’t in this episode so his 5 episode arc concludes in next weeks episode – “Trust Issues”.

Mark Sheppard narrowly beat Katee Sackhoff as the most anticipated Bionic actor back in September..now that we’re almost half-way through the planned 13 episodes for season 1, let’s see who you guys think has been the best performer. Has Sheppard lived up to his promise? Has Katee lived up to her hype? What about Michelle Ryan..has she been your leading lady?

Feel free to cast your vote for your best performing actor so far by using the Poll in the sidebar (will be moved to archive in a few days, where you can still vote).

Here is my top 3 so far:

Katee Sackhoff : Still holds the number one spot for me because she’s such a badass in the ‘nemesis’ role. However it’s not simply the bravado and sex-appeal that she brings to Corvus which makes me sit up – it’s also her more tender moments, like when she pulled Jaime’s hair back to comfort her as she was dealing with her first bout of sensory overload, and the time when she pleaded with Jaime to help her to extend her lifespan. It’s this light and shade which Katee has brought to the role of Corvus that has made the character far from one dimensional, even though she could easily have been.

Michelle Ryan: I know that she has her critics and those who say she doesn’t express enough emotion but all things considered I think that she has grown into the role and shown noticable improvement. This is important because it mirrors Jaime’s journey from being uncomfortable and unsure of herself, to owning both the machine and the human side. Of course neither Jaime or Ryan are there yet, but it’s this mirrored improvement which certainly deserves recognition.

Kevin Rankin: He’s given the show some much needed comic relief. Whilst the likes of Isaiah, Price and Ferrer have struggled at times with the more humorous aspects of the show, Rankin has shone brightly and Nathan’s obsession with Jaime is both sweet and hilarious – He has great chemistry with Ryan and if we see more of him I think he could well be a fan favourite.

Others who have impressed: Isaiah Washington has been good, not great but ‘good’. I feel that his character has a lot of potential if only they can give him a better script to work with. I would also give props to Molly Price because she is clearly made for this role if only they can give her more to do! Mark Sheppard has been superb but we have seen so little of Papa Anthros. Oh and I can’t forget Lucy Hale, I’ve enjoyed her performance so far and we need to see more of her – hopefully they can weave Becca’s ’computer hacking’ background into the storyline (why haven’t they??).

So there you have it, my half-term report of the main actors – what are your thoughts on the actors..who has impressed you and who has left you feeling cold? Oh and don’t forget to vote!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Anyway, Defamer reports that Isaiah is revelling in his ‘popularity’ and the support that people are giving him. As I said last week, the man has plenty of love out there:

 I was just recently at the Congressional Black Caucus, this past weekend. And there was a gentleman there who was a member of those 43 members by the name of Sen. Barack Obama. And there was also two young women there–or, women there–one named Nancy Pelosi, and another named Hillary Rodham Clinton.

And when the lights dimmed, I had a line [outstretches his arms] from left to right of people coming to congratulate me for being on Bionic Woman, and supporting me, and wanting, like, to have an autograph signed for almost the entire–I could not eat my dinner. So if that is any indication–sitting in a room with those three political elites, and people are trying to get to my table more than they are trying to get to their table, then that says a lot about two things: one, where our political system is today, and the confidence people have in our political system, and two, the power of television, and what people feel is genuine and what people feel is right and what people feel about a particular individual. So no, to answer your question, I couldn’t have any time of day to worry about what people are thinking, because I’m too busy trying to learn this dialogue on this show.

So, is Isaiah’s outlook a product or a reflection of America? His large fanbase, whilst they don’t represent an entire country, have no doubt acted as a safety net for him. Whilst Isaiah seems to have moved on from the “F-Word” debacle (at least externally), others haven’t, and with justification too. Perhaps saying “sorry”, even if you have been done over, would be a sign of true redemption?

Ryan has some strong opinions on IW, what are yours?

Seriously Eick, when are we going to get our first lesbian kiss? You can’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind? ..after all  – high heels, rooftops, rain, leather, bionic babes…

It’s not like Michelle Ryan hasn’t got on-screen experience - see this video below for footage from Ryan’s former show, Eastenders, where her character shares a kiss with her best friend:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Or in a braver move, they could make Isaiah Washington’s Bionic character gay? Sorry, but I don’t have any past footage of Isaiah in an intimate ‘gay moment’..

It has been noted that Ruth Truewell could be have a potential Lesbian storyline – likely, after Heavens response to Jaime telling her that Ruth will give her a “test run”, but if anything I’d like to be surprised and have Jaime and Sarah come together in an angst filled romantic moment, if you don’t mind, Mr Eick. Or is it Katims who’s running the show these days?

We’re still discussing that now. There’s no update on that just yet.

It seems that both the network and Eick both want him on the show for longer so if all parties agree, perhaps he’ll have to put his Bionic Spin-off series on hold for a while longer? As for whether any of you would watch an Isaiah Spin-off show..well, opinion is STILL Split!