Comic-Con 2007

They’ve rebuilt the “Bionic Woman." She’s better, stronger, faster – not to mention modern, darker, British.

It’s tempting to dismiss the show in light of the recent spate of remakes in both film and television. However, creator David Eick proved himself adept at adapting campy 1970s classics with “Battlestar Galactica.”

He assured those in attendance that the new show would not revisit such plots as the brainwashing of the wives of powerful people with shampoo, Sasquatch or fembots. However, a cameo by Lindsay Wagner – the original Bionic Woman – has not been ruled out.

The show was, in fact, in development prior to the decision to obtain the rights to the original. Eick intended to create a show where the protagonist was a woman who, in broad terms, was a success in both the domestic and professional sphere.

Series star Michelle Ryan, who takes up the role of Jaime Sommers/Bionic Woman, expressed extreme gratitude at the opportunity to play the icon, especially in light of the trend of strong female roles being relegated to older actresses.

But unlike the tough female leads of “Alias” and “Dark Angel,” according to the panelists, this was the story of a woman who’s not cut out for the task set before her. Eick described it as “the Peter Parker ethos as told through the point of view of a woman.”

– Dean Leng