Note to Bionic Woman: I know I've been harsh on your show, and I know that you've gone through a dozen or so show-runners to even get us through the first third of your inaugural season, but please, whomever is running the show now, let's keep it this way. Pretty please, with bionic sugar on top. While still not "great," there was a lot of "very good" sprinkled across this episode, and marked the best non-Sarah Corvis episode of the show to date.

It helped that this week's episode featured both the best plot (protect the morally problematic leader of a Darfur-esque country) and the most dramatic event (Antonio's death) since the premiere episode. Having my wife watch this episode with me helped me telegraph further events with greater ease ("The sniper's wearing mascara!"), but I almost enjoyed Antonio's lectures to Jaime even more due to their irony. Clearly this was a man who once loved, and clearly this woman would be the object of said long-ago affection, and clearly the scars informed his character to this day, but know what? Sometimes such clarity comes through strong narrative and strong performance, and Bionic Woman and Isaiah Washington had both in spades.

Antonio's death may also mark the death of the insanely schizophrenic nature of this show to date. As I mention on an almost weekly basis here, the show seems different nearly ever time I watch it. It's almost as if there's a "Genre Wheel" in the writer's room, not unlike the big Price is Right wheel, and they spin it each week to see what type of show they will produce. His death might have marked a potential turn towards the serious on Bionic Woman, a change I've been hoping for all along. I already have Chuck to fulfill my whimsical spy show needs: I want something with a little more meat on its bones, and the show wore the gravitas served up in tonight's episode well.

Take her relationship with Tom (please!), as an example. Last week I spent the majority of the episode banging my head against the wall as they acted like kids from Degrassi Jr. High while on a mission. This week started off no better, with him calling her mid-mission to ask what she was wearing, but by the end of the episode, the cutesiness had all but worn away, leaving behind a relationship still fairly unbelievable but ringing a lot more truthfully by episode's end. And yes, I'm talking about realism in a show with a bionic woman, but the human emotions in a show such as this still have to remain fairly grounded, no matter how high concept the show might be. And by episode's end, the stark reality of what had been a teenage crush finally seemed to hit home for both of them. And not a moment to soon.

That's not to say the show's grown completely up. I'm just about ready to invent some bionic duct tape so I can stop Nathan from rambling on scene after scene. I get it, Bionic Woman: you want a version of Marshall from Alias, and I like me some Marshall too, but occasionally, it's OK to simply show him buckle down, get on mission, and help Jaime out. I understand his role provides a chance for humor each week, but there's a fine line between "clever" and "really annoying." And the subplot with Ruth's plant seemed completely out of left field. Then again, quite frankly, Ruth herself seems out of place on the show right now. And Berkut Group? If I may? You invested $50 million into her bionics: how about springing $100 for some running shoes for her? If I see her run after someone in high heels again, I'm driving to the nearest Foot Locker and buying her a pair myself.

But minor quibbles all. I'm not going to overly hate on a show that was remarkably watchable for the first time in ages. The mission felt right, the stakes felt right, and the tone felt right. I'm not asking for a relentlessly dour hour of television ("Dour Hour TV" doesn't have quite the ring as "Must See TV," does it?); but I do enjoy the show more when it takes its fantastical concept seriously, applies it to real world situations, and then produces drama and action plausible with our version of that reality. This week's episode did that most ably, and I look forward very much to seeing if they can repeat it again in the near future. And so, a tentative "thumbs up" for the future of the show, with final judgment reserved until further evidence is produced.

What did you think about this week's episode: a step in the right direction, more of the same, or a step backwards? Should Tom remain on the show, or go the way of Will and Antonio? And when will we see a Bionic Woman/Extreme Makeover: Home Edition cross-over episode, during which Ty Pennington and crew remodel the Berkut Group's headquarters?

Comments

This show is still on?

Jess | Nov 14, 2007 11:07:55 PM | #

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I want to like this show but its getting harder each week. First of all there is no chemistry with Tom. The relationship seems so contrived. And they killed off Antonio

Darren | Nov 15, 2007 5:40:22 AM | #

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Cant believe this garbage is still on. Show sucks big time.

john | Nov 15, 2007 5:47:37 AM | #

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That really was a serious episode, but it didn't make me as happy as the reviewer. I like the lighter episodes better, with enough humor to keep things moving along. She's bionic, for crying out loud; there's no reason to make this so "realistic" and depressing. Have fun with it!

It was good to see Curtis from "24" as the dictator's bodygaurd. Bring him back on the show; he got a raw deal when Jack Bauer killed him last year!

Reggie | Nov 15, 2007 7:14:56 AM | #

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Let's just drop the discussion on Bionic Woman until Sarah drops in again and start some real discussion on Life. Why no write up on that show? Great characters, great actors, and even an underlying mystery to solve.

RKM | Nov 15, 2007 8:21:52 AM | #

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I wasn't clear if Antonio's shot that hit his former lover killed her also. Anyone know for sure or are we left to guess? My guess is she's still alive and she and Jamie will meet again in a "this one's for my partner" revenge theme show.

ECP | Nov 15, 2007 8:48:07 AM | #

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I dropped this show from my DVR while watching the episode where she went back to school, I don't know if I will pick it back up again, maybe once they start rerunning it on SciFi channel, I might sample it again, or I just might watch something else instead, I hear Life is a pretty good show.

Wizard732 | Nov 15, 2007 9:40:19 AM | #

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I dropped this show from my DVR while watching the episode where she went back to school, I don't know if I will pick it back up again, maybe once they start rerunning it on SciFi channel, I might sample it again, or I just might watch something else instead, I hear Life is a pretty good show.

Wizard732 | Nov 15, 2007 9:40:28 AM | #

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This episode was probably the best example of what the show could be. I like that they actually killed someone off '24' style. By the way guest apperance from 'Curtis' from '24' was cool to see. I have to admit I was hoping it was going to be the new love interest that was gonna get it. Michelle Ryan is hot!

Albert | Nov 15, 2007 9:41:55 AM | #

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I was just telling my wife what a great actor Washington is, and how Gray's anatomy (or whatever, I didn't watch) was a fool to loose him, and then... oh well...

Tristan Yates | Nov 15, 2007 10:25:11 AM | #

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This was a good episode tonight, however, I'm getting tired of this cliche...when there is a sniper who has the target in the scope and takes forever to fire the damn gun. Just fire the gun already!! "I can't fire yet, I need to wait until the hero jumps in and saves the day at the last second, even though I have the target clear in my sight." I'm of course referring to the scene at the racetrack. Again, it was a good episode, one of the better ones lately. Just that gripe I had to share.

Aaron | Nov 15, 2007 10:35:44 AM | #

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First I want to say that I agree about buying her running shoes, but does anyone remember that Scully on X-Files ran around everywhere in heels too? Or what about what the people on CSI where to crime scenes? On Miami on Monday night Boa Vista wore WHITE pants to a crime scene. Who would wear white pants to a crime scene when there is blood and who knows what else? The fact is we know it is silly, but we do like our characters to look good.

To RKM-last week I was thinking the same thing, Life is an amazing show with great stuff happening and yet we don't hear about it. WHY?????

Bren | Nov 15, 2007 12:11:12 PM | #

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Great eye candy. Needs more Jack Baur and less Days Of Our Lives

phritz | Nov 15, 2007 1:00:26 PM | #

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I thought this episode was boring, I didn't think it was one of the better episodes. I think washington only signed on for 5 episodes, so I wasn;t surprised he was killed off. His character was pretty worthless on the show. Ruth is totally worthless, which stinks because I loved her on Third Watch

derek | Nov 15, 2007 2:29:47 PM | #

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Tom is cute.

I'm sorry, was I supposed to discuss the merits of this show? I just did.

Can't believe they killed Dr. Burke. Christina is going to lose it.

By the way, did they bother to try to push epi, or did they just use defibrillators when trying to save Dr. Burke? I've been watching too many of these shows . . .

For the sake of everyone involved, I hope this show gets canceled. David Eick, go back to Ronald Moore and prostrate yourself in front of him and say "I'm not worthy". Then learn all you can from him.

Siansonea | Nov 16, 2007 9:02:12 AM | #

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i'm sorry, but this ep didn't do anything for me. i'm getting more and more disappointed with each show. i really wanted this to be good.

first of all the shoes are a minor quibble with all the other unrealistic stuff going on. even in the first bionic woman jamie didn't show her powers in public. since when can a women go running in the streets, much less a race track, even at a normal speed, without everyone noticing and wondering what's going on? secondly, how could she make those tower jumps in broad daylight without anyone seeing her?

thirdly, why is jamie such a cocky s.o.b.? how can anyone summon any empathy for her at all with her strutting around like the queen of the cock walk, and disregarding just about anything anyone tells her? i'm all for an independent, aggressive lead, but she's ridiculous to the point of disdain. her remorse over nathan's death didn't even ring remotely true since she's been such arrogant character up to now.

i really expected her to get a come-uppance this ep, but if his death was supposed to be that, it fell far short. it would have made much more sense if she was in some way the reason for nathan's death. then she REALLY would have learned something.

alias has shown us how this type of show is done so much better. anything less is just a farce. it had a truly sympathetic lead who easily took charge without being obnoxious. i'm sorry about that too cause i've tried really hard to like jamie and the premise, but it's a wash for me.

did you see all those producer credits? perhaps there's just too many cooks in the kitchen. if this gets a 2nd season i'll be amazed.

KR | Nov 16, 2007 12:11:05 PM | #

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I thought it was one of the better episodes but I still have bionic problems. Why doesn't Jaime have any weapons? It doesn't have to be a rail gun built into her bionic arm with a bionic optic sight (but why not?), what about a simple aerodynamic knife that she can throw (or a 1" diameter steel ball)? You have a sniper with a gun that has a 2.5 mile range and you have to get within 2 feet to do something about it? The writers do know that bionic Jaime isn't faster than a speeding bullet don't they?

Chris | Nov 16, 2007 2:15:42 PM | #

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One of the better episodes - although i still found myself fastforwarding bits. The plot actually made sense and worked this time. MR was pretty good in the ep.

For once having Isiah Washingtons character on the show made sense. They actually did something with Antonio. Before this ep having his character on the show made no sense at all - it was like the producers had just hired him for publicities sake.

My biggest gripe is the romance. First of all why call him when she's on a mission? She maybe new to things but the writers need to stop putting in silly things like that...

TBH i want to see Tom go. Their romance is boring me.

As for Jaime's sister, there is still no sense in having her character in the show. I think that Lucy Hale does a good job with the little she has to do. But there is no reason for her character to be on the show.

All in all a good episode, an improvement - i just hope that the writers/producers can keep this up.

Neena | Nov 17, 2007 9:05:25 AM | #

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I thought this was one of the better episodes, but I agree with the reviewer that htis show has some severe schitzophrenia. Its in need of some bionic meds. This is mirrored by the character herself. In the premier episode she says something to the effect of killing anyone who is sent against her. Then she gets all weepy and frightened at any kind of serious spy-work.

As for the high-heels I think it goes beyond wanting our heros to look good. She kicks in doors with superhuman strength. She jump long distances. She runs at superhumna speed and her high heels never break. Its comical.

Also her strength level fluctuates more often then the pace of the show. One minute she is bending metal and the next she can barely fend off a couple of thugs. Also, please stop having her "struggle" getting over walls. She is bionic! I know "one arm is normal", but come on.

Ed | Nov 18, 2007 11:36:52 AM | #

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This show started out the way Alias ended. Lame. Does anyone remember the "sisters" episodes of Alias. Whimsical crud.

Mr. E | Nov 18, 2007 11:45:22 AM | #

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