After a two week break due to Halloween, it was good to see Bionic Woman back with a brand new episode. I liked the Jaime/Tom partnership in the previous episode, it felt natural and organic. This episode was slightly different, the writers focused too much on the ‘love story’ when everyone knows that true romance just blossoms. I’m also slightly worried about Jaime..since Will’s ‘death’ she seems determined to sleep with anything that moves. I know she and Tom didn’t actually do anything but it’s clear Jaime wanted it to happen – this is the woman who is supposed to be protecting thousands of lives. The writers need to seriously address this issue and at least give her wreckless motivations some underlying reason – perhaps have her talk about Will once in a while and how his death and deception has effected her outlook on life? As I watched Jaime and Tom on their mission, I wondered what James Bond would’ve made of it all..he’s someone who mixed business with pleasure, but I’m sure even he would’ve been surprised with the liberties these two took during their very important mission. Isn’t Tom supposed to be a highly trained professional? Why not leave the bulk of the romance til the end like any self respecting secret agent?

That aside, I thought it was a good episode – not as good as “Education” but it was a strange and curious yet ‘fun’ detour. The iris recognition thing that Jaime had to do was cool and it was good to see Ruth with a meatier role, although why Jae was even in Paris is beyond me! That man is fast becoming a punch dummy or a soundbite..I haven’t yet made up my mind which. Will Yun Lee is a good actor, but they need to give him something to do..heck I’d take a weekly beating from Jaime for the money Jae’s on!

So yeah, a fun episode but I wonder how ‘fun’ it would be without Nathan – did anyone else laugh at him calling Victor ”Casino Royal”!?

What worked:

• Michelle Ryan looked HOT HOT HOT!
• Nathan was brilliant yet again..he even brought Ruth out of her shell! Go Kevin Rankin!
• The application of Jaime’s bionic eye – good to see it being used in a new way.
• Jonas and Becca – a lot of people have dissed there scenes together, but I quite liked it. It yet again showed the softer side of Jonas and I think Becca appreciated him covering for her. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t think that Miguel Ferrer is being ’challenged’ by the role (far far from it), but when he’s on screen it’s usually a good thing.

What didn’t work

• The Jaime/Tom love angle. They have plenty of chemistry but the writers were too forceful in their attempt to advance their relationship. Would Jaime really attempt to sleep with him whilst on an important mission?
• No Sarah Corvus or Papa Anthros (remember them?). Though it’s understandable seeing as the focus moved to Paris.
• I’m not feeling the way the episodes don’t borrow from one another. They’re far too ‘standalone’. In fact Tom is one of the few things from a previous episode which has been applied to a current episode. The writers need to alter the formula and make the episodes connect more. This will enable the audience to care more for the characters.
• The random Alexis woman (CIA boss?). I mean, honestly what was the point..? She also had some terrible terrible lines (she’s more convincing as Diane in LOST – I think that’s the woman who plays Kate’s mom?)

Best Quote:
Molly: “You do realise that spies don’t really talk that way?”

Nathan: “I know it blows, I’m just trying to bring back the cool”

Best Character:
Nathan

Best Actor:
Kevin Rankin

Episode Rating: 7/10

NBC have released 5 more promotional images for next weeks episode titled: “The List”. As I mentioned last week the episode sees Jaime and Tom being sent undercover in the city of love. You can read the official episode description and see more promo images for this episode right here. 

Click on these smaller images to enlarge.

Now, I’m not sure exactly what that means -  does it infer a second season? a re-launch? – but it sounds promising!

Ryan has also revealed that new love interest ‘Tom’, played by Jordan Bridges, will be around for “at least three episodes”. She goes on to add that Jaime and Tom have  ”a nice chemistry. I think it will be a good addition to the show.”

If Ryan’s words are anything to go by then this is just what the show needed – the network to place faith in it’s potential. BW has been a mixed bag so far, but I think most people will agree that if they can just get it right it will be one awesome show! I await more news as to what this “big second launch” entails!

You can read more here.

What Worked:

The opening scene where the man kills his fellow soldiers was awesome in that it instantly presented us with the theme of control and manipulation. This mirrors Sarah Corvus’ claim that she was hacked and ‘made’ to kill the Burket scientists and brought it to a whole new level with not only the notion of non-bionic hacking, but the proof that it can be done..even to ‘humans’. I mean if you can effectively ‘hack’ a human, you bet they can hack a machine, right? Corvus is innocent I say! (well, apart from all those subsequent murders maybe)

Nathan is SO the man! His whole protective rant at Jaime was so funny and believable. Gotta love the tech geek! He’s fast becoming my third favourite character – who would have thought?

Jaime going back to college. OK, so I thought that this would suck, but it was actually rather well done. Particularly the bit near the end where her roommate gave her the results of the paper Jaime completed for her – it was sweet to see Jaime fulfil, if you will,  her ambition to experience further education (something she had to give up due to looking after her sister).

Jaime & Tom. OK I was cynical. I don’t watch BW for the ‘romance’. I get enough pointless love stories watching ‘Heroes’. However, this was good. The chemistry between Ryan and Bridges was fantastic, he managed to bring out that sparkle in Ryan and I dare say she added to his performance too. They are certainly more ‘believable’ than her and Will Anthros (who by the way is no longer boring since his ‘death’), and I think the audience will care more about them as a couple as they lead their double lives and perhaps find solace and understanding in one another. Of course it wont be as simple as that..well, I hope not.

Antonio Pope. You have to hand it to Washington, he knows how to work the camera. I thought he was fantastic in this episode, not only because of his presence and intensity, but because he actually gave a more ‘subtle’ performance, which was perhaps helped by his script allowing his character to show more ‘compassion’?

Jaime’s ‘British’ accent. Yes Yes and YES! Now the only thing I’m left thinking is why they didn’t just make her an English Bionic Woman in the first place!? I think NBC are also wondering this as it almost seemed as if they wanted to see ‘our’ reaction to her accent (which is very clever by the way whoever thought of that script). Although Ryan has done a great job with her American accent, it must be hard work keeping it up when it’s not your natural way of speaking, and I actually think that this may be the reason why some people perceive her character lack ‘emotion’ or ‘life’. Maybe she’s concentrating so hard on getting the accent right that she is not able to harness the rest of her acting talents? After all if I were to suddenly have a new arm it would feel kinda foreign to me for a good few months and I’d imagine that co-ordination would be a problem. So, NBC, here’s my suggestion..ditch the American accent..find a way..get freaky-geeky Nathan to rewire her ‘programming’ (he has a fetish for the English accent, right?) and have her speak in her natural accent. You may get some stick for it, but this is the business you’re in..you’ll think of something. I really think it will be worth the risk because for the first time Ryan (as good as she has been) reminded me of her performance in the outstanding ’Jekyll’. Please bring back the English Bionic Woman..even ‘Tom’ (if that’s his real name) liked it!

What Didn’t Work:

The fight scenes. Was the camera person drunk? Seriously what was going on behind the camera? The filming of the fight scenes was so jumpy and disorientating.

The lighting/editing. What I mean is that the outdoor scenes look so ‘pale’. The colours aren’t ‘rich’ enough for what should be a glossy, super-slick show. I mean take a look at the other Sci-fi shows and they ‘look’ much richer on the eye. Unless it’s a dark scene the BW lighting/editing (whatever) just doesn’t look good. Please sort it out NBC because the visuals shouldn’t be noticeably bad – No-one talks about the great visuals on Heroes because they’re just that..great.

More random terrorists. OK, enough is enough – I know that “this isn’t your moms Bionic Woman”, but do we really need the random terrorist plot week after week?Yes, the world is a scary place, much ‘scarier’ than it was in the 1970′s (or at least that’s what they say) but honestly, there’s more going on than just terrorism. Yes, by all means drop it in there every once in a while, but not every. single . week! If something doesn’t work, get rid of it..that’s what I thought NBC were doing with this show, seeing what works and what doesn’t until the show finds it’s identity? Well, the random terrorist plots don’t work, they look silly and only serve to prop up the much more interesting themes – like neuro-hacking..nowTHAT’s a theme..run with that, heck leap from building to building with it, just cut out the random terrorist plots each and every week. We get it, the world is a scary place..but it’s much more believable when the corners of science and it’s often unethical application in society is explored.

Ruth. What have they done to her?? She’s vastly unemployed after such a promising start. Let the caged bird free..

Recommendation:

Other than the whole ‘bring back the British Bionic Woman’ and lose the ‘constant’ terrorism plots, what I recommend NBC do, is to give the Burket’s a barometer – bring a tangible rival organisation into the picture. Not the CIA, an actual rival ‘bionic’ agency. We need something to compare them against..Jaime is constantly questioning the idea that they are the ‘good guys’, so let’s put this to the test, let’s find out just how ethical Burket really are, let’s find out how far it is acceptable for an organisation to go before it becomes immoral and unethical. We have a plethora of themes and issues which should be explored here. Let’s see whether Jaime, who is doing this on her terms (apparently), is fighting for good, for the ‘greater good’, or for the interests of a few fatcats who simply want to shape the world as they see fit. It always gets sticky when the main protagonist finds out that not only are they a puppet on a string, but every choice they thought they were making, was actually a choice which was made FOR them. Let’s explore the notion of freewill, control, manipulation, personal gain and sacrifice. Let’s see this Bionic Woman become a pawn and then have her fight for her right to be free and to make her own decisions..real decisions which she believes in. Then you have the question of what IS real and what is controlled – we’ve seen it with Corvus..now let’s explore that cautionary tale.

———-

Best Actor: I’m pleased to say that it was Michelle Ryan. The lead actress is coming into her own! 

Best Character: Jaime Sommers

Best Quote: One of many from Nathan’s scenes! Oh and this one from Jaime’s room mate:

“I just like secret food, OK!”

I don’t know why that made me laugh, but that’s the whole point..great stuff!

Worst Quote: (Tom) “You’ve got something on your nose” (or words to that effect)

Excuse me whilst I cringe! ;)

Best Moment: The various scenes which showed people being ‘controlled’ (notably the opening scene).

Worst Moment: The fight scene (daytime). Apart from Jaime knocking the guy out with a Melon, watching it gave me a headache. Sort it out..maybe give the camera technicians some of those neuro-control transmitters (I’m kidding about the last bit..but seriously please sort it out)

Episode Rating: 8/10. I’m tempted to raise this by .5 but I hope that there is still alot more to come.

So now they have me interested again..I’ll admit it, I was beginning to wonder whether I had misjudged my excitement over the premise of this show, but although “TEoJS” wasn’t perfect, it was a continued improvement. I really do think that it will be worth being patient with this show as they find their groove. It’s almost like watching a ‘beta’ project at times, but the fact that they have a new show runner suggests that NBC are in this for the long haul, and if they keep on improving then my interest in the show will continue to peak. The biggest compliment that I can pay this episode was the fact that the lead actress did just that, she led and she was brilliant. Furthermore, four of my favourite characters were absent – Papa Anthros, Sarah Corvus, Jae Lee and Becca Sommers – yet I honestly didn’t care.

Now the bad news is that just when things get interesting, NBC decide to put another show on in it’s place for Halloween, so no new episode next week. Bionic Woman returns on November 7.

Hey folks, here’s the official episode description for episode 6 of Bionic Woman, titled: “The List”: 

“The Berkut Group has to team up with the CIA to catch a dangerous man who is selling a list naming the Berkut Group and CIA operatives. When Jaime (Michelle Ryan) and Tom (guest star Jordan Bridges) are partnered on the mission in Paris, they find themselves in the city of love, competing and flirting with each other, while still trying to maintain a professional relationship…

“Meanwhile, Becca (Lucy Kate Hale) lands herself in jail when she tries to impress a boy and Jonas (Miguel Ferrer) has to bail her out.”

NBC have also released three promo images which show Jaime and Tom at some fancy party in Paris. Doesn’t Jaime look glam!

This episode wont be airing next week due to NBC’s ‘Halloween’ schedule, but it will air on November 7.

All those who don’t like spoilers turn away now. The rest of you enjoy these two promo images for next weeks episode, titled: “The Education of Jaime Sommers”. I believe this is the one where Jaime gets a new love interest named Tom. Check out the spoiler section for more on that.

Jordan Bridges (“Conviction”) is the latest actor to join Bionic Woman. He will play Tom, a teachers assistant who also works for the CIA. He is obviously being lined up as a new love interest for Jaime Sommers – those of you who read my earlier spoiler post, will know that in the next episode Jaime reveals to Antonio Pope (Isaiah Washington) that Will is dead.

So, they didn’t waste any time in getting rid of Will! It would seem that they were either looking for an impact death, or they were listening to feedback you guys as I know a lot of you in the Bionic Community weren’t really feeling him.

However, there has been some recent counter rumours which suggest that in actual fact Will isn’t dead. Does the Burket Group have him in ‘holding’ somewhere? Next we’ll be speculating as to whether Jaime’s baby really died in that accident, though the thought of Will secretly creating a Bionic baby really would be unethical. Or would it? What price would you pay to save the life of a loved one?

Anyway, as for thew original spoiler we can expect Jaime to eventually move on from Will – what? you didn’t expect a hawt woman like that to stay single for too long did you?

More spoilers as and when! Don’t forget you can check the Spoilers page for one-click access to all archived spoilers.