It's a shame Bionic Woman wasn't good enough to avoid the chop on NBC – if only because Michelle Ryan's the perfect role model for young girls: a pleasant, beautiful, well-spoken, intelligent, girl-next-door type. Did you see her on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross? Unpretentious, charming and eloquent throughout, I thought...
She just needs a role that plays to her strengths. Something light-hearted and fun. Bionic Woman wasn't it, with its chilly business-like vibe and bone-crunching martial arts. Ryan did well to look half-way proficient at the violence, but the best episode of the 8 produced had her undercover (and out of black clothes) as a nice English girl at a university campus.
I think she'd be the first to admit she's not the greatest actress in the world, but years working on a soap like EastEnders allows you to access big emotions more easily, and the work schedule is gruelling. Soaps are a good foundation for a teenage actress, and first-hand experience of the US TV system can only be a good thing. Oh, and she can do a decent American accent, of course.
Jonathan Ross avoided mentioning Bionic Woman was axed in the States, and thus perhaps damage ITV2's audience for the show when it starts on Tuesday (11 March) -- which was fair enough. You wouldn't really want to make Michelle Ryan uncomfortable, would you?
She did extremely well to land a plum role in the USA. Of the many problems Bionic Woman had, her performance wasn't really one of them. The revamp of the concept was flawed in so many ways, and there was no clear direction or vision for the show. Gritty espionage drama? Globe-trotting adventure? Frothy superhero show? Romantic thriller? It was all of those, and none of those.
Oh well. I look forward to see the gorgeous Michelle Ryan in something better; back here in the UK (no shame in that), or cast in another US show by a producer who recognised she was the glistening cherry on a cake burnt by too many cooks.
I completely agree that Michelle Ryan was not the problem with Bionic Woman, it was the network's constant meddling and the show's damning inconsistency that drove fans away and caused most of the show's problems. She is a lovely actress and hopefully the fact that she has managed to accumulate more fans and more respect for her professionalism during this experience will lead to her landing more roles.
It was disappointing to read somewhere that producers believed Michelle Ryan was the problem -- failing to connect with the audience. They should look closer to home. While I agree Katee Sackhoff had more charisma and magnetism as Sarah Corvus -- she was playing a villainous character with broader appeal, who's easier to write for. BW died, for me, purely because every character except for Jaime and Corvus were pretty drab, and the whole Berkut Group thing stank of mid-90s sci-fi.
I just want to say that I totally agree that Ms. Ryan is a wonderful role model for girls & young women everywhere.Such a dynamic,highly intelligent,vibrant,talented,gorgeous,life-affirming young woman.Perhaps it's better that she's back in her native land,as we here in the USA just didn't seem to appreciate her.Whatever she does in the future,whatever challenges & struggles she faces,I'm sure she'll always land on her feet & keep moving forward.May the wind always be at your back & the sun always shine brightly on you,Ms. Ryan.May a battalion of angels always keep you safe-warm regards.