Birds Of Prey (2002) (TV Series)

Birds of Prey (serie of 2002/3) I understand why people didn’t like the series.I can understand why they were glad it only lasted one season. But, once again, I had a lot of fun with these thirteen episodes. And yet, I don’t purposely contradict the world over and over again.

Birds of Prey didn’t have the success of Buffy or Charmed. The 90s were all about series like Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place, but DC series like The Flash were seen as kitsch and ridiculous. Yet I loved this single season of the ultra-fast superhero too. Exactly in the same way as I loved Bionic Woman (also rejected by the masses), the remake of Super Jamie starring the excellent Michelle Ryan (who was notably in the horrific comedy Cockneys vs. Zombies, but she made her name with the role of Zoe Slater in a British BBC TV series called EastEnders).

One thing’s for sure: this series, created and shot in 2002/2003, has a trio of actresses who work like a charm. The fusion of Ashley Scott, Dina Meyer and Rachel Skarsten is excellent. And each of them is devastatingly charming in her own way. I watched the series mainly for Dina Meyer and because I love the DC universe, especially Batman. I didn’t think I’d be so seduced by the rest.

As for Ashley Scott, something tells me this is her best role, just as Florence Pugh cracks us up in Black Widow. Ashley appeared in Dark Angel, apparently, alongside Jessica Alba. They collaborated again in 2005. They met again in front of the camera in John Stockwell’s Into the Blue, where Ashley played the girlfriend of Scott Caan’s character and played a diver who is attacked by a tiger shark while recovering drugs from a crashed plane. In this action film, Alba and Paul Walker were given the lead roles. Ashley plays a dark avenger as Helena Kyle/Huntress, the daughter of Batman and Catwoman, in this American series.

I first met Dina Meyer on B H 90210, then in her various, more or less unsuccessful films. But her charisma is still intact. Even in TV movies, she manages to shine! Here, she plays Batgirl. But after being shot by the Joker, she ends up in a wheelchair.

As for Rachel Skarsten, she’s a really nice surprise. She’s also a terrific actress. She plays Dinah Lance. Ultra interesting fact: from 2019 to 2022, she starred in the Batwoman TV series. I’m looking forward to rediscovering her there.

I don’t yet know what role she plays. I was also delighted by the other actors. Whether it’s Shemar Moore (known for his soap operas (The Young & the Restless) and crime series like Criminal Minds), Ian Abercrombie (who plays the butler Alfred, as British as ever) and Mia Sara in the twisted, diabolical role of Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn).

I totally embrace the humor of this series. The music is well chosen. The action scenes are entertaining. The pace of the episodes is pretty good. The special effects are pretty cool. Not ultra-well done, but still excellent for the time. The stunts and fight choreography may make you laugh, but… no, really, apart from a few imperfect details that make this not the best series of the century, it was a real pleasure for me to watch these thirteen episodes. And I confess: I clearly preferred this series to the film, although the trio of Margot Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell works extremely well and was also perfect.

It was after the film that I did some research and discovered this series, which had been overlooked and forgotten by everyone. I’m glad I’m not one of them.

Note that Jurnee plays Black Canary in the film, whereas she died in the series and her daughter, Dinah, seeks to avenge her. That’s it!

My Rating