How a Shocking On-Screen Death Led to the Birth of ‘The Bionic Woman’
What To Know
- Jaime Sommers, originally introduced and killed off in The Six Million Dollar Man, sparked an overwhelming fan response that led producers to revive her character.
- Lindsay Wagner’s return as Jaime resulted in a ratings boost and paved the way for The Bionic Woman, making her the first female-led science fiction action hero on television.
- The Bionic Woman can now be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, The Roku Channel, and purchased on Apple TV+, Fandango, and Amazon.
When Jaime Sommers first appeared on The Six Million Dollar Man, she was introduced as a memory. Played by Lindsay Wagner, Jaime was a woman from Steve Austin’s past, someone who existed before everything in Steve’s life became classified and controlled. Jaime was beautiful and kind, and her chemistry with Lee Majors immediately resonated. Then, just as audiences were settling into their love story, the story took a devastating turn.
Jaime had a skydiving accident left her critically injured and near death. In desperation, Steve begged Oscar Goldman to authorize experimental bionic surgery to save her life. The operation was successful, but only temporarily. Jaime’s body began rejecting the implants, and over the course of a two-part storyline, she died. At the time, Jaime’s death was meant to be exactly that: a tragic story designed to deepen Steve’s character and then move on. Instead, it triggered one of the most significant audience responses of the era.
How fans reacted to Jamie Sommers’ death
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Viewers reacted immediately and intensely. Universal and ABC received thousands of letters from fans who were angry, heartbroken, and confused by the decision to kill off a character who had so quickly become meaningful to them.
Hard data matched the emotional reaction. Ratings had risen during Jaime’s storyline, particularly among female viewers. Network executives took notice and the conclusion became unavoidable. Jaime had connected with audiences in a way the producers had not anticipated, and removing her had been a mistake.
Behind the scenes, plans were quietly made to reverse the decision. There was, however, a complication. Wagner’s contract had expired. Universal briefly discussed recasting the role, but the idea was quickly dismissed. The network made it clear that Jaime could not exist without Wagner.
How The Bionic Woman‘s creators brought the character back to life
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Negotiations followed, and Wagner ultimately returned for The Return of the Bionic Woman, airing in 1975. The episode was a major success, pushing The Six Million Dollar Man into the Top Ten for the first time. Jaime was alive again — however her memories, including much of her relationship with Steve, were gone, allowing the story to move forward. In 1976, The Bionic Woman debuted, giving Jaime her own series and making her the first female-led science fiction action hero on television.
Wagner once said about playing Jaime, according to Woman’s World, “I’m flattered to be playing the lead in a dramatic television series. Except for Angie Dickinson, the other actresses are starring in situation comedies. And there’s a difference between the character I play and Angie’s. She’s surrounded by an entourage of men who help her get out of trouble. I play a school teacher who is called upon by the government for dangerous assignments. I’m making sure the Bionic Woman isn’t a fighter, but she does have a lot of physical adventures that keep me fit and the show has been fun so far. I’m a dramatic actress and not really emotionally exhausted at the end of the day like I was in my two movies, Second Wind and Two People. But I think it’s about time little girls had a heroine of their own.”
Where to Watch The Bionic Woman
You can currently stream The Bionic Woman on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock or watch it for free with ads on The Roku Channel. You can also purchase episodes on platforms such as Apple TV+, Fandango and Amazon.
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