Bionic Woman, the
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Bionic Woman, the
 | |
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| Episodes: | 57 |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Country: | United States |
| Seasons: | 3 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | (1) 13, (2) 22, (3) 22. |
| Category: | Crime |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Series |
| Company: | AN MCA TELEVISION PRODUCTION |
| Creator: | MARTIN CAIDON (original concept) |
| Run Time (mins): | 60 |
| Language: | English |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | |
Summary
Jaime Sommers is introduced as the former high‑school girlfriend of Steve Austin. During a visit to their hometown, the two reunite, rekindle their relationship, and become engaged. Jaime is subsequently critically injured in a skydiving accident. She survives only through the application of advanced bionic technology, the same experimental system previously used to reconstruct Steve following his own near‑fatal crash.
Jaime receives a bionic right arm, two bionic legs, and a bionic ear. These augmentations grant her enhanced strength, the ability to run at speeds approaching 60 mph, and acute auditory perception capable of detecting sounds over long distances. Her abilities prove valuable in various operational contexts, including covert surveillance and technical infiltration.
Although initially believed to have died due to complications from the procedure, Jaime is later revealed to have entered a deep coma. She is placed in suspended animation until the instability in her bionic systems can be corrected. Steve is not informed of her survival, as her prognosis is uncertain and her recovery cannot be guaranteed. Upon awakening, Jaime suffers significant memory loss, particularly regarding the renewed relationship with Steve, effectively severing their emotional ties.
Jaime becomes the central figure of The Bionic Woman (1976). In this series, she returns to Ojai, California, where she resides in an apartment above the barn on the farm owned by Steve’s stepfather and mother, Jim and Helen Elgin. Having been raised by the Elgins following the deaths of her parents, Jaime maintains a close relationship with them. She accepts a position as a junior‑high school teacher on a nearby Air Force base, as her bionic enhancements prevent her from resuming her former career as a professional tennis player.
Like Steve, Jaime undertakes missions for the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI) under the supervision of Oscar Goldman. Her assignments frequently involve undercover work, during which she adopts various disguises, including those of a nun, a flight attendant, a professional wrestler, and a beauty‑pageant contestant.
Recurring characters appearing across both The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman include Dr. Rudy Wells, the scientist responsible for the development and maintenance of bionic technology.
Cast
Jaime Sommers LINDSAY WAGNER, Oscar Goldman RICHARD ANDERSON, Dr. Rudy Wells MARTIN E. BROOKS, Jim Elgin FORD RAINEY, Helen Elgin (Steve Austin's mum) MARTHA SCOTT, Chris Williams CHRISTOPHER STONE (3).
See also: Bionic Woman (2007), Six Million Dollar Man, the