And now, more fannishment ...

[apocalypsos]

Verdict: Boy, that was just really ludicrously awful, wasn't it?

Let's see ... I don't like the characters (I don't even like Miguel Ferrer and I adore Miguel Ferrer, and while I didn't get to see the entire original pilot where the little sister was deaf and Mae Whitman, I liked what I saw of her a lot more than I do now that she's a bratty computer hacker -- ooo, edgy! -- and a low-rate Rachel Bilson), the episode didn't flow at all as if the scenes were hastily chopped together, and the dialogue made me want to gag. "I'll bury one guy after the next"? Urgh.

And let's not even talk about the little girl saying pretty much directly into the camera, "I just thought it was cool a girl could do that," which offended some part of me so deeply I would have thrown my laptop across the room if it hadn't been, you know, my BABY. I imagine it's supposed to be some sort of thinly veiled feminist statement, but it fails so miserably I can't even comprehend. I mean, really, didn't we all think only boys could run sixty miles per hour?! (That's not what she meant, of course, but considering that was the first reaction that popped into my head, that's not good.)

And there are so very many things about the relationship between Jaime and Will that are skin-crawlingly skeevy I don't even want to think about it.

I just ... ugh. I would think I couldn't possibly hate this show any more than I already do but then I remember the PTB hired Isaiah Washington as if it were some great fucking casting coup and then I realize, no, actually, it COULD get worse.

Verdict: AWESOME. Oh, man, that's a great followup to suffering through The Bionic Woman. Charlie's great, the partner's great (the Woman in White! *squeaks*), and I maybe spazzed out at Alan Arkin (EDIT: ARGH. Meant to type Adam Arkin, typed Alan. I know the difference, I swear. That's what they get for having similar names. Hmph.) being the financial advisor/best buddy, especially during that last scene. "You want to drive the tractor." "You know, I think I kinda do." *snickers*

It inspires great fannish glee in me so I am most definitely torrenting it again next week.

Comments

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I enjoyed "Life" too.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Why am I not surprised? ;)

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

It was hard not to wonder at some points "Why is Winters running around with those floozies?"

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

And let's not even talk about the little girl saying pretty much directly into the camera, "I just thought it was cool a girl could do that," which offended some part of me so deeply I would have thrown my laptop across the room if it hadn't been, you know, my BABY. I imagine it's supposed to be some sort of thinly veiled feminist statement, but it fails so miserably I can't even comprehend. I mean, really, didn't we all think only boys could run sixty miles per hour?! (That's not what she meant, of course, but considering that was the first reaction that popped into my head, that's not good.)


Yeah, this combined with the original Jamie Sommers being a PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE and this one being a bartender? Not so much with the feminism, I'm thinking.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

And there's something particularly repulsive about the fact that instead of Will taking her to a hospital he takes her to a secret location, fills her full of bionics without her permission, and allows them to hold her against her will for far longer than anybody who really gave a damn about her would allow, and she rewards him not with a two-by-four upside the head but a round of hot sex. I don't know many women with half a brain who wouldn't escape from that facility and then turn around and say, "Yeah, you saved my life but I can officially say that you've lost your free pass to my vagina."

[poisontaster]

Oh, SWEET JESUS, thank you! I was beginning to think it was just me! I have not seen ONE other review (besides my own, obviously) that picked up on that skeeviness and I was starting to think I was crazy. Well. Crazier.

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Up until the part where she had sex with him anyway, that would have been making a point about bodily integrity and violation. But... instead it's just o_O

[poisontaster]

*nods* I agree. What I said to my roommate was "They're writing a show about two rape victims and they don't realize it."

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

I wonder if that's how it happened in the original series. I have no idea if it did.

[poisontaster]

Sorta yes, sorta no. I went and looked it up on Wiki. The person who "gave" the original Jaime Sommers up was Steve Austin, not one of the scientists. He promised her as an agent if they would 'fix' her. And then once they'd done it, he tried to renege on her behalf and she decided to go through with it anyway.

Really, either way, it's kind of skeevy, don't get me wrong. But there are marginal differences like someone who's BEEN through the process volunteering her versus the head scientist dude. The fact that twenty-ish years have past and they should know better now, even if they didn't then. The fact that they COULD have made it either a) more empowering or b) less skeevy and they CHOSE not to. I mean, the original Jaime Sommers was an athlete, a woman with a career and a purpose, etc. The new Jamie is a dropout bartender? I don't know. I don't usually get all "THAT IS ANTI FEMINIST!" but I really feel hit in the face by that one.

[anne-jumps.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just... I'm not sure what point they're making doing it this way. Are we supposed to think it's fucked up?

[partners4life.livejournal.com]

The original Jaime and Steve were childhood sweethearts, there was so much history between them that I think Steve's motives were pure more so than Will in the remake.

Personally as a huge fan of the original Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman, I find most of the "new" BW to be ridiculous plot-wise and filled with bad acting. Lindsay Wagner didn't win a Emmy for her fashion sense after all, there was real emotion to that show (6 Million Dollar Man was more campy).

I knew things were bad when I was rooting for Sarah Corvis to kick Jaime's ass. *g*

[scary-being-me.livejournal.com]

If memory serves; In the original series ($6M Man); she was romantically involved with Steve Austin (the main character). I believe it was a car accident. She was unconscious and couldn't give permission As soon as she recovered; she dumped Steve, moved to a rural area, became a school teacher, and got her own show.

[beanside.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was pretty bad. My current plan is to keep an eye on the spoilers, and only tune in when Katee Sackhoff is on. Cause I'd totally do that woman. If she had been the main character, I think I'd have liked it a lot more. *nod*

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

I swear I don't know how she delivered half of her dialogue. Particularly that part where she stopped the fight to go on and on and ON about what they put in her. Blech.

[witchofthedogs.livejournal.com]

I loved Life... I think it's the only "new" show I'll follow this year.

And I love, love, love Alan Arkin.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

Heh. I knew it. Meant to type, "Adam Arkin," typed, "Alan Arkin."

*headdesk*

*fixes*

[witchofthedogs.livejournal.com]

I love Adam Arkin far more than I love Alan Arkin, but I love Alan Arkin, too.

Whoever he is.


*snicker*

Life

[dhark-charlotte.livejournal.com]

Charlie is the BEST! I wondered what would fill the space left by Burn Notice... "It was just a dream, go back to sleep."

Bionic waste of my time...

[affectingly.livejournal.com]

Life! Oh man, I just randomly started watching it and was all, "Um... made of WIN."

[whatdanidigs.livejournal.com]

The way the actor in Life plays his character reminds me of the way he acted in Stephen Kings Dreamcatcher in a good way.

[pie-is-good.livejournal.com]

Not many people on my flist have mentioned Life yet...I'm glad someone else liked it. I absolutely loved it to bits. :)

[crediniaeth.livejournal.com]

Besides Sarah Shahi (our Woman In White), the coked-out druggie.?

ASH. SANS MULLET. NO PARTY IN THE BACK. :(

[faith21.livejournal.com]

I loved "Life" also.

"I am not attached to this car. *pause* Okay, I'm a little attached to this car."

And him not figuring out bluetooth and picture messaging. Hee.

[deanbear25.livejournal.com]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!