Of the low-rated series that have been given full-season orders, “”Jake 2.0″” is, by far, the most worthy. This odd melding of “”Spider-man”” and “”The Six Million Dollar Man”” has shown itself to be consistently well done on every level: writing, direction, acting, and production values.
It is true that the show’s plots are variations on superhero and spy themes that we have seen before, but it’s the variations on those themes that make the show such a delight. Like “”The Flash””, NSA computer tech Jake Foley [Christopher Gorham – Neil from the inexplicably cancelled “”Odyssey 5″”] gains superheroic abilities in a lab accident. Unlike “”The Flash””, Jake’s accident is collateral damage to the assassination of a scientist who is working on nanotechnology.Where “”The Flash”” gained super speed from the combination of being doused in chemicals and struck by lightning, Jake gains his abilities from having nanobots [molecule sized computers, programmed to keep a living organism in perfect health] invade his body when their container breaks and cuts his arm. In short, he becomes a version of “”The Six Million Dollar Man”” only his technology is actually a living part of him – where Steve Austin’s abilities, though a part of him, remained inorganic attachments.Before long, Jake has shown new abilities – he’s stronger and faster than anyone, and has heightened senses of sight and hearing. Even better, he now heals incredibly fast when injured [the cut from the lab accident is healed over in just a couple days]. He also develops a wild card ability – thanks to the nanobots, he can access any computer driven device [computers, newer cars, boats, etc.] and control it – in one sequence, Jake changes traffic signals to ‘walk’ because he’s in a hurry.Unfortunately, Jake remains a nerdy computer tech at heart, getting flustered around Sarah Heywood, the girl of his dreams [Marina Black], and flinching from danger even though he’s now more than capable of dealing with it. Fortunately, Jake has an experienced field agent, Kyle Duarte [Philip Anthony rodriguez], to help him adjust, and the requisite no-nonsense boss with a heart, Deputy Director Louise Beckett [Judith Scott], to make sure that Kyle keeps Jake focused. Their relationship is both rookie/trainee and odd couple.There’s also the scientist who is now in charge of the nanotechnology project, Dr. Diane Hughes [Keegan Connor Tracy], who is at almost as much of a loss as Jake – she was really only an assistant to man who ran the project, and is pretty treading water now. Still, she’s the only person on the project that has any significant knowledge of the work, so she’s indispensable. She also seems to have the slightest crush on Jake.Over the course of the show’s seven episodes to date, Jake has saved the love of his life from the IRA, overcome his body’s rejection of the nanobots, had to put up with a visit from his obnoxious younger brother, and found a traitor within the NSA. Not bad for a few weeks’ work.””Jake 2.0″” could easily have become a boringly predictable show, but its writers have worked hard to develop three-dimensional characters so that they give the superhero/spy plots depth. They also make certain to balance out screen time amongst the excellent cast – thus we see as much of Diane as we do of Sarah, for example.This does not come as any great surprise – the show was created by Silvio Horta, whose excellent “”The Chronicle”” should never have been cancelled.Christopher Gorham is the heart of the show, and he is up to the challenge. Whether giving his kid brother hell for being annoying and irresponsible, or, as best man, choosing to dance with Diane at a wedding, rather than Sarah, who was maid of honor, Gorham makes Jake’s quirks and traits completely believable.After a rogue NSA agent has kidnapped Diane, to be sold to the highest bidder for her knowledge of nanotech, she tells Jake that she has just had the most pathetic break-up in history. Jake who has tried to be honest with Sarah, and told her about the nanobots, and his being an NSA agent, just to be shot down in flames when she doesn’t believe him, replies, “”Second most pathetic, actually – I win that one.”” But he can only laugh when Diane laments, “”Why can’t I find a guy that’s just after my body.”” He knows when to shut up! How rare is that for a TV superhero?UPN announced, last week, that “”Jake 2.0″” had been picked up for a full season despite its low ratings. Apparently, it has made some slight inroads against “”Angel””, which has gone off in some wildly experimental directions [like last week’s homage to Mexico’ s luchadores films of the 40s and 50s]. If “”Jake”” can continue to make more slight gains, it might even get renewed for next season.””Jake 2.0″” has certainly been the best show in its timeslot, so far this season, and is definitely deserving of the chance that it has been given. Check it out. If you enjoy a good action series, with well-drawn characters and interesting spins on the usual action plots, you’ll love it.Final Grade: B+