Birds of Prey (2003)

Birds of Prey: TV Series (2003)

Dirs. Various | Episodes: 13, approx 43 mins each.

Birds of Prey is set in New Gotham, built atop the ruins of old Gotham. Batman went AWOL years ago and left the city without a hero; perhaps he got tired of being the only one of the League that had to take the Bat-bus. 

In his absence, Oracle (Barbara Gordon) and Huntress (Helena Kyle) continue to fight crime. They suck at it. It's not really much of an issue because almost everything about the series sucks, so they're at least well-suited.

A third team member, a teenage metahuman (it's not even worth explaining what that is), strolls in and upsets the wonky apple cart.

The dynamic trio struggle with bad guys, bad acting, and poorly scripted interpersonal relationships. There's a cringe-inducing romance between one of the team and a police detective (Shemar Moore) who has a poker permanently up his ass. It's as passionate as a damp patch on the bed sheets that an aged cat left behind.

Along the way a number of DC characters drop in as guest of the week; that's what kept me watching. I wanted to see who they would choose and whether or not they would attempt to tie the story in with existing continuities. There's a vague reference to Smallville. It's implied the team are aware of what's happening there, but I'm guessing for legal reasons it was never developed further. Both shows share the same producers, so there was potential, at least.

Oracle (Dina Meyer) / Dinah (Rachel Skarsten) / Huntress (Ashley Scott)

Dr. Harleen Quinzel (Sherilyn Fenn in the Pilot; Mia Sara thereafter) pops up regularly to give the series something resembling a story arc. She's the most interesting part of the show, but like all the rest suffers from some underdeveloped and lazy characterisation.

It picks up around Ep 09. It drags itself out of the pit of awfulness and reaches heights of mere mediocrity until Ep 12. The double length 13th and final episode is actually really good, with the exception of an extended and dodgy fight scene. It gives the sense of camaraderie, danger, and heart that everything prior to it had been lacking. It's ironic that the last episode is the very best.

Birds of Prey had the potential to be more adult orientated than Smallville. Most of the characters are orphaned adults with unresolved issues that could've produced something dark and complex. Unfortunately, it didn't, and the show got cancelled after just one season.