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Painkiller Jane(2007)
Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 5:22 pm
enterprise_admin
SCI-FI 'SPACE' GENERAL
Joined: 05 May 2007
Posts: 728
Discuss and Post about this series on this thread.
What's it all about?
Quote:
Painkiller Jane is an American-Canadian science fiction and action television series based on the comic book character of the same name. Airing on the US Sci Fi Channel starting April 13, 2007 and Global in Canada, it starred Kristanna Loken as the titular character. On August 15, 2007, it was cancelled after one season of 22 episodes
Painkiller Jane
Reviewed by Sackett,
Review Date: April 21, 2007
RevSF Rating: 3/10 (What Is This?)
I really, really didn't like this show. For one reason: The star, Kristanna Loken. She was in Terminator 3, BloodRayne, and The Dragon King. None of which prepared me for this.
I never read the comic, so I came into the program fresh. I loved the concept of psionic mutants causing trouble for society, and it was pretty well articulated. The bad guys, called Neuros, had neat powers, and those powers were used, and countered, pretty realistically.
I was OK with the idea of yet another ultra-secret, unofficial, paramilitary unit whose purpose is to keep the knowledge of psionics secret and hunt down the Neuros. Hardly original. But this is TV.
The supporting cast was great. The Unit Leader was standard Unit Leader material: Tough, objective oriented, patriotic, cares for the team. Big Tough Ex Con, who handles the snark factor. Sleazy Communications Guy to make the ta-ta comments. The Brilliant Compassionate Doctor who will surely fall in love with Jane. And a couple of other gophers to round the team out.
Then there is Maureen, Jane's best friend, who I thought was a great idea. She worked with Jane in DEA, and the idea of two female friends joining the all-testosterone Unit at the same time has a certain merit.
The story itself was entertaining. It kinda started in the middle, then flashed back, then continued. Jane's origin was clear, nothing flashy. It gave you an idea of what kind of woman Jane was supposed to be. The introduction of the unit was standard fare, serviceable. Like I said before, the bad guys were cool and a legitimate threat.
As a first mission for Jane, it worked. It threw her into the midst of things, left tantalizing clues to a larger threat, and showed off Jane's special power. The dialog was pretty good, and once the writers get into the groove, could prove to be Firefly good.
Jane was supposed to be a tough, smart, justice-driven officer tied down by regulations. Loken makes her into an incompetent Sgt. Riggs from Lethal Weapon. Who isn't funny.
So it is absolutely jarring when the writers spring a brilliant ploy on the viewer (as when Jane killed her first Neuro). I was left feeling "Where did THAT come from?"
If Painkiller Jane were played for laughs, she would be bearable, but as actiony drama or dramatic action: Ow.
While I don't need my female leads to parade across the screen like Pamela Anderson (in fact, I prefer they don't), I want to feel some femininity. Painkiller Jane came across as manly, which I don't think was the intention.
Kristanna Loken is the executive producer, so it's not like she is in any danger of being replaced.
Painkiller Jane is the perfect example of a good idea ruined by casting. Loken is wooden as a totem pole. She couldn't act like she was hungry. Smart dialog was rendered flat by her monotone and her facade. She makes Suzanne Somers look like a master thespian
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