Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
1970s show about a female cyborg has mild romance, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Bionic Woman
What's the Story?
THE BIONIC WOMAN is the story of tennis pro Jaime Sommers, who's critically injured in a skydiving accident but is rescued by doctors who give her body some impressive cybernetic upgrades. With a new lease on life, she works as a schoolteacher by day while also employing her new bionic hearing, super-strength, and super-speed as a secret agent on government crime-fighting missions. She also works on rebuilding her familial and romantic relationships, which is challenging due to the amnesia she suffered after her accident.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard not to like a show about a beautiful and charming super-powered woman whose adventures see her fighting various spies, criminals, and even the legendary cryptid Bigfoot. Lindsay Wagner and her perfectly feathered 1970s hairdo are just plain fun to watch, and The Bionic Woman has more warmth and relatability than Steve Austin (aka the Six Million Dollar Man, the show's parent series). The trademark sound effects and theme song are a nostalgic blast too. That said, the series is definitely of its time and has some borderline creepy dynamics between men and women -- the way those around her manipulate her memory when it serves them is gross and infantilizing. If kids are provided with some much-needed context, though, this could be an entertaining choice for family viewing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how women are depicted in action films and television shows in current times versus the 1970s. What differences do you notice in the way women and people of color are represented?
The Bionic Woman was made before CGI became the Hollywood standard. Talk about the practical effects used to illustrate Jaime's superpowers, and how you think they created them.
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 14, 1976
- Cast : Lindsay Wagner , Richard Anderson , Martin E. Brooks
- Network : Roku Channel
- Genre : Science Fiction
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 1, 2024
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