Thursday, October 04, 2007
That Frees Up My Wednesday Nights
It was Wednesday, but it seemed like Freaky Friday. The first post-pilot episode of NBC's re-imagined Bionic Woman was not just bad, it was surrealistically bad.
Long-time readers and real-life friends will understand what a disappointment this is to me. The new Bionic Woman is the creation of the people who brought us the new Battlestar Galactica, a show I unabashedly love.
Let me underline that last part. The new Battlestar Galactica is the smartest science fiction series ever made, full stop. More than that: BSG may well rank as one of the most important shows in TV history. The show stared unblinkingly into the ugly face of human weakness and used science fiction symbolism to great effect.
It handled deep contemporary and philosophical issues with a level of complexity and sophistication rarely seen on the boob tube. This is, after all, the series that carried off the 'know-thine-enemy' artistic coup of making North American audiences regard a suicide bomber as a hero, a feat with few parallels in TV history.
Bionic Woman started off with all the advantages BSG had. Same writers, directors, producers, many of the same actors and crew. Even the locations (Vancouver and area, natch) are the same and I wouldn't be shocked if they even recycled a few of the old sets.
And yet it is not the same at all. It is a pale, pathetic imitator. It made me think of those scenes in Freaky Friday in which, after the mother and daughter switch bodies, the daughter hopelessly attempts to imitate adult life but only succeeds in pulling off a string of cliches and transparent bluffs. It's as though someone has taken over producer/writer David Eick's body and is trying to fake his way through the show by using Eick's previous formulas but with none of his previous talent.
If this is what Eick's future holds, he should just pull an Orson Welles and spend the rest of his days doing talk shows, conventions and product endorsements.
The only thing I kinda enjoyed about the show was the irony of a show about a half-robotic woman that featured so much totally robotic acting and dialogue.
I'm not going to go into the terrible, terrible details of why the show sucks or what scenes or aspects I found especially suckitudinous. Just take my word for it and avoid it.
posted by Mentok @ 10:07 a.m.,
7 Comments:
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At 10:13 a.m.,
drainpip said...
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Actually, thankfully, you are off on one point, that Eick is the source of talent behind BSG. Most consider Eick to be simply the money, whereas Moore is the true talent. Moore has nothing to do with Bionic Woman... well behind the scenes maybe, but he's in no way responsible. Moore is the guy responsible for some of the greatest Trek:NG episodes... Eick brought us Hercules... hmm... Yeah so while Moore is busy doing the last charge of BSG, we can breath a collective sigh of relief that the real man behind the curtain has yet to stumble up.
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At 10:20 a.m.,
drainpip said...
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Ok that said... dude, are you freaking flipping out that BSG is almost back for the last hurrah?
There's going to be little snippets about the TV Movie "Razor" this month that will air with some other SciFi show, but will be released online right after. Then Razor comes out sometime next month... then in early '08 we have the end of BSG. It almost makes me tear up a bit... -
At 11:42 a.m.,
Rachel said...
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I don't know anything abour Battle Star Galactica but I do know that I am really not that surprised that the Bionic Woman didn't pass with flying colors the snippets looked awful.
That's all I got for you...I think I should brush up on my BSG now before the new season starts...Otherwise I may be SOL. -
At 1:14 p.m.,
Mentok said...
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drainpip - yeah, point taken about Moore being the real talent on BSG. As for BSG in general, I'm finding myself surprisingly serene about it. I feel BSG has had a good life and is ending its cycle at a proper, natural time.
One more season would have ruined it and one less would have been too rushed. Ending it this year will ensure it goes out as a solidly satisfying TV epic.
Compare that Lost, where I predict that negotiated three-more-seasons business will kill it.
Rachel - yeah, you better brush up on your BSG, foo'! I pity the foo' who isn't brushed up on BSG!
As for Bionic Woman, I guess I was hoping against hope that it would be good. I even gave the pilot the benefit of the doubt, but after that it totally tanked. -
At 1:43 p.m.,
drainpip said...
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No totally, I agree - I think the four seasons will be a perfect testament to storytelling. I had dreams long ago to do stuff just like that, three seasons of a show, but make it feel like one loooong ass movie. Great stuff. We shall celebrate in the streets like naked nymphs of scifi love upon arrival at Earth!!
*looks around*
*ahem* -
At 1:38 a.m.,
FiL said...
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I just ordered season one of BSG on DVD for Dearest Wife & I to watch at our leisure (Ha! Leisure!! Whozzat??). I did so largely as a result of your unstinting adulation of this series. I hope we'll share your enthusiasm!!
Question: Should we watch the miniseries before getting stuck into season one?? -
At 9:32 a.m.,
Mentok said...
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Yes, you absolutely need to see the mini-series first since it sets up the rest of the show. And I'm afraid you need to invest in the whole original four hours, not the truncated "movie" version.
You will quickly get lost if you dive right into the first season, since the first episode begins hours after the end of the story of the mini-series and doesn't waste any time with exposition.
Enjoy! I'm eager to hear what think.
