Bionic Woman: Season One

Despite having already successfully re-imaging one Seventies sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica, creator David Eick can’t pull off the same trick twice. Though the idea of – ahem – rebuilding Kenneth Johnson’s (The Incredible Hulk, V) Lindsay Wagner-starring original with a modern take on a bionic woman sounds like great fun, it never lives up to the promise shown in the pilot.

After student/barmaid Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan) is nearly killed in a brutal car accident, scientists save her life by equipping her with experimental medical implants. While struggling to come to terms with the incredible abilities her new bionic parts give her, Jaime also has to deal with her rebellious younger sister (Lucy Kate Hale) as she adapts to life as part of Jonas Bledshoe’s (Miguel Ferrer) shady government organisation.

Though undisputably darker than its camp predecessor (the heroine there was a tennis player…), Eick’s contemporary take relies too heavily on plot-of-the-week adventures and is peppered with clichés. Okay, so the odd action scene might feature some decent thrills and Jordan Bridges’ love-interst makes things more interesting, but here the end product doesn’t live up to the sum of it’s parts.

Thankfully, the cast is pretty likeable. Kevin Rankin’s quirky IT geek adds humour, Kaylee ‘Starbuck’ Sackhoff is impressive (“ta-da”) and Isaiah Washington’s protective handler brings a credible weight otherwise absent.

However, it’s Michelle Ryan in the lead who stands out and it’s surely only a matter of time before someone pinches her for something better. Sure, Robocop-vet Miguel Ferrer adds class despite occassionally seeming bored, but it’s the perenially-beautiful Brit actress who shines brightest, boasting a flawless American accent and fitting in a way rumoured-choice Jennifer Aniston never could have. Can you imagine Rachel Green jumping off the roof of Central Perk? Nah, thought not.

Unlike it’s titular character, however, The Bionic Woman's re-building doesn’t result in something above the ordinary.